Updated: National Infertility Awareness Week Nov. 4-10; Infertility Affects Significant Number ...( ATLANTA Nov. 2 /- National Infert...),Health

ATLANTA, Nov. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- National Infertility Awareness Week is Nov. 4-10. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, infertility affects one in eight couples in the United States. Infertility is a disease of the reproductive system, in either a male or a female, which inhibits the ability to conceive and deliver a child. It is defined as the inability to conceive after one year of trying with unprotected intercourse for couples in which the female is younger than age 35 and six months of trying for couples in which the female is older than 35.

There are a number of factors that can cause the condition. In nearly 30 percent of cases, the cause is attributed to the female, in 30 percent the cause is attributed to the male, in 30 percent the cause is attributed to both and in 10 percent of cases the cause is unknown.

But innovative technology being perfected by Michael Tucker, recognized as one of the world's top 10 scientists in early human reproduction, means there are a host of alternatives for these couples.

Tucker, the scientific director at Georgia Reproductive Specialists (GRS) in Atlanta, is responsible for pioneering the world's first birth from frozen donor eggs. This breakthrough freezing process is offered locally at GRS.

Consider this scenario.

A 27-yr-old Atlanta woman, just ready to start a family with her new husband, is diagnosed with breast cancer. The cancer is detected in its early stages. Doctors are optimistic about a cure, but the woman must begin an aggressive treatment regimen immediately.

The doctor explains the side effects of the chemotherapy that he has prescribed and they fear, among many things, the potential that the treatments will render her infertile. They are deeply concerned, until they are counseled about a revolutionary, new option they can pursue to increase their chances of a successful pregnancy after the cancer treatments conclude. It is the freezing of the hu
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