March 7, 2019 was PCOS Advocacy Day, a day that turned Washington DC teal (yes, greenish blue) in recognition of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). It was a day where awareness was raised and funding was requested for relevant research on a complex syndrome that 1 in 5 women face, with more diagnoses occurring every day.

February 27, 2019 was a historic day in Albany, the New York state capital, with 100 plus advocates coming together for a common cause- the right to have the most appropriate medical treatment, when needed, in vitro fertilization (IVF) for the 1 in 8 couples who struggle with infertility. Advocates spent the day educating and urging lawmakers to #PassFAFTA (Fair Access to Fertility Treatment Act) because of the support and dedication of RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association and the Alliance for Fertility Preservation.

Meet a fertility superhero. Aprill Lane.

I’d like to introduce myself. My name is Kyle Tzanetis and I’m here to represent and support you; all the men involved in the fertility treatment journey. I feel honored to have 2 very special roles at RMA of Connecticut, I am both the Team Lead of Andrology and the Andrology Patient Liaison. Andrology is a field of medicine that is specific to male fertility and reproduction; a field in which I have been in for over 4 years now. As a firm believer that no person should be alone in infertility and family building process, these roles are a very good fit for me. Here’s what you should know...

My observation is that we have gotten away from the natural order of things. With the advent of modern technology, many of us are less in touch with nature than ever before. Days can go by without our feet ever touching the earth, even during the hot summer months. This is especially true for someone challenged by the rigors of infertility. It’s hard for our feet to touch the ground when we’re so caught up in the everyday hormone injections and necessary fertility treatment procedures. The process becomes so all-consuming that we can forget the simple beauty that comes with each day. How long has it been since you have walked in the woods, stood by the ocean, or marveled at the full moon? With the start of fall, this is a good time to offer ourselves yet another chance to truly enjoy the beauty of the season by reconnecting with the universe as well as reconnecting with ourselves. I have always found comfort in the understanding that the laws of the universe apply to all.

One of the hardest decisions Dan and I faced during fertility treatment was making the transition from IUI (intrauterine insemination) to IVF (in vitro fertilization). I remember after failing our third round of IUI treatment (yes, I know, the politically correct way of putting this is, “after my third failed cycle”, but let’s face it, it felt like a personal failure when there was no positive pregnancy test!), my husband and I came face to face with a decision making moment: to pursue another round of IUI or bust out the big guns, moving ahead with IVF. There was a lot of time discussing this potentially life changing decision. We made tons of pros and cons lists because we wanted to ensure we were choosing the best option for the two of us and our situation. We considered lots of factors, but two kept rising to the top of importance: financial cost and our emotional sanity.

Ever wonder who the person behind the white coat really is? Reproductive Medicine Associates of Connecticut (RMACT) invites you to watch our video series entitled, “Beyond the White Coat”, which provides a rare opportunity to get to know all six of RMACT’s dedicated board-certified reproductive endocrinologists. They answer professional questions, such as what RMACT means to them, and they also share personal, little-known insights into their lives outside the office. And when you are ready to schedule an appointment or if you have any initial questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to our New Patient Liaisons at (203) 956-2265.

The seasons in our lives closely mirror those in the physical world. Each of us begin as babies, then children, then move into teenage years and then, after a time as young adults, we typically look at parenthood and family building.