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RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association Releases Best Practices Guide On Embryo Donation

Posted on: Wednesday, 22 February 2006, 12:01 CST

BETHESDA, Md., Feb. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association today announced the availability of a Best Practices guide for medical and mental health professionals, social workers, attorneys and others providing services related to embryo donation. RESOLVE's Best Practices guide was recently introduced to reproductive specialists during the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) annual conference.

RESOLVE created this 80-page desk reference as part of a second Federal grant it received to promote public awareness of embryo donation for family building purposes under a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) program. The Best Practices guide includes a section for infertility practices, providing recommendations on operational, clinical and patient-care issues related to the use of donated embryos, including guidelines for psychological and medical evaluation of donors and recipients. A second section for legal professionals provides the history and detail on current laws and ethical issues, as well as guidance for developing contracts, consent forms and other legal documentation needed by embryo donors and recipients. The final section for mental healthcare providers reviews the major issues that should be addressed with both embryo donors and recipients prior to a donation.

"Thanks to support from the federal government, we have been able to create this first-of-its-kind Best Practices guide for use by a broad range of medical, behavioral health and legal professionals working with embryo donors and recipients," said Joseph C. Isaacs, President and CEO, RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association. "This guide is designed to promote the most effective, compassionate and appropriate care and services in the use of donated embryos. It will certainly contribute to the greater viability of this important family building option for those who are infertile."

It is estimated that there are nearly 400,000 embryos currently frozen and in storage in the U.S. as the result of infertility treatment. Thousands of couples undergoing infertility treatment using assisted reproductive technologies, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), have unused embryos that are now cryopreserved and may be donated to help others with their infertility challenges.

"On behalf of the more than 7 million infertile women and men in the United States, RESOLVE applauds the federal government for recognizing the importance of educating professionals, patients and the general public about embryo donation as an important family building option," Isaacs added. "RESOLVE is honored to be of help in creating better understanding of the issues related to embryo donation and improving infertility patient care."

The Best Practices guide is being distributed to over 2,000 infertility clinics and reproductive health specialists throughout the U.S., including members of the Society for Advanced Reproductive Technology (SART) and RESOLVE's professional members. Copies of the Best Practices guide are also available upon request by contacting RESOLVE at 888-623-0744 or via the website at http://www.resolve.org/.

In 2002, RESOLVE was the recipient of a grant from HHS to develop and implement the first-ever comprehensive public awareness campaign on embryo donation, educating medical professionals, patients and the general public about the medical, legal and emotional aspects of embryo donation. Two other organizations received funding from HHS to conduct embryo donation public awareness campaigns.

This material is being produced with funding support from the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services under grant 6 EAA OP002102-01-1. The statements expressed are those of RESOLVE. Although the information contained in the Guide should be helpful to professionals and others involved with embryo donation, it does not constitute the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, nor does it constitute legal advice.

For more information about RESOLVE's embryo donation program, or to receive patient education materials on embryo donation, visit http://www.resolve.org/ or call the RESOLVE HelpLine at 888-623-0744.

RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association is a consumer-based, nonprofit group that, since 1974, has provided education, advocacy and support to those struggling with infertility. Each year, National RESOLVE and its network of more than 40 chapters across the U.S. handle over one million contacts from people seeking information about infertility.

Contact: Gina Cella Cella Communications 781 334-4692 ginacella@comcast.net

First Call Analyst: FCMN Contact:

RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association

CONTACT: Gina Cella of Cella Communications for RESOLVE: The NationalInfertility Association, +1-781-334-4692, ginacella@comcast.net

Web site: http://www.resolve.org/

Source: PRNewswire

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