Actress Shares Personal Battle with Infertility and Urges Women to Get Informed
NEW YORK, Nov. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Brooke Shields teams up with Fertility LifeLines(TM) to announce a national infertility awareness campaign encouraging women to know their options and take action early. Fertility LifeLines(TM), provided by Serono, Inc., is a free and confidential educational service with trained staff available to talk to people about their fertility concerns.
Ms. Shields, who tried unsuccessfully for over a year to have a baby before getting the help of a fertility specialist, is now the proud mother of daughter Rowan. She acknowledges that her experience with infertility was isolating, causing feelings of failure and frustration and says that until she and her husband consulted a fertility specialist, they didn't know how many options were available to them. Today, as she prepares to expand her family, Ms. Shields encourages women to address their challenges with fertility by reaching out for information and support.
"When you're having trouble conceiving, it's often tough to know where to turn for answers, and when you're undergoing fertility treatment, it's not always easy to find the support that you need," said Ms. Shields. "Today I am partnering with Fertility LifeLines to let women know that resources are available to help them understand their options for having a family."
Infertility is defined as the inability to achieve pregnancy after one year of regular, unprotected intercourse (six months if the woman is over 35). It affects about 6.1 million Americans, which represents about one in seven couples in their childbearing years. The majority of patients who complete treatment succeed in having a child.
"It is important for women to talk to their doctors early if they have concerns about their fertility," said Richard Scott, M.D., a reproductive endocrinologist (RE) and director of Reproductive Medicine Associates of New Jersey in Morristown, NJ. "Fertility declines with age in both men and women, which means the sooner couples seek information and talk to their doctor, the sooner they can learn about their options and make the decisions that are right for them."
Round-the-Clock Information and Support
Fertility LifeLines is a free and confidential educational service provided by Serono, Inc. Available toll-free at 1-866-LETS-TRY (1-866-538- 7879), it offers a single destination for information and support to people with concerns about infertility, including access to special benefits and potential savings on all Serono fertility products. Staffed with fertility nurses, insurance specialists and patient advocates, Fertility LifeLines is available Monday to Friday from 8 am to midnight ET and Saturday and Sunday from 8 am to 6 pm with 24-hour access to fertility nurses and Freedom Fertility Drug(TM) pharmacists. Fertility LifeLines is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by a medical professional. Callers should always consult a healthcare provider if they have health concerns. For more information about Fertility LifeLines, call toll-free 1-866-LETS-TRY (1-866- 538-7879) or visit http://www.fertilitylifelines.com/.
About Serono, Inc. and Fertility
Serono, Inc., a subsidiary of Serono S.A., is a leader in fertility health, dedicated to developing patient-friendly, innovative products that help people build families. It is the only company to offer a full portfolio of fertility medications for every stage of the reproductive cycle and recombinant versions of three hormones used in the treatment of infertility, including the Gonal-f(R) RFF Pen (follitropin alfa injection).
About Serono S.A.
Serono, Inc., located in Rockland, MA, is the US affiliate of Serono, a global biotechnology leader, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The Company has seven recombinant products, Rebif(R) (interferon beta-1a), Gonal-f(R) (follitropin alfa for injection), Luveris(R) (lutropin alfa), Ovidrel Prefilled Syringe(R)/Ovitrelle(R) (choriogonadotropin alfa injection), Serostim(R) [somatropin (rDNA origin) for injection], Saizen(R) [somatropin (rDNA origin) for injection] and Zorbtive(TM) [somatropin (rDNA origin) for injection] on the market in the U.S. In addition to being the world leader in reproductive health, Serono has strong market positions in neurology, metabolism and growth. The Company's research programs are focused on growing these businesses and on establishing new therapeutic areas, including oncology. Currently, there are approximately 25 ongoing development projects.
In 2004, Serono achieved worldwide revenues of US $2,458.1 million, and a net income of US $494.2 million, making it the third largest biotech company in the world. Its products are sold in over 90 countries. Bearer shares of Serono S.A., the holding company, are traded on the virt-x (SEO) and its American Depositary Shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (SRA).
Package inserts for Serono's US marketed products are available at http://www.seronousa.com/ or by calling 1-888-275-7376.
Some of the statements in this press release are forward looking. Such statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements of Serono S.A. and affiliates to be materially different from those expected or anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on Serono's current expectations and assumptions, which may be affected by a number of factors, including those discussed in this press release and more fully described in Serono's Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on March 16, 2005. These factors include any failure or delay in Serono's ability to develop new products, any failure to receive anticipated regulatory approvals, any problems in commercializing current products as a result of competition or other factors, our ability to obtain reimbursement coverage for our products, the outcome of government investigations and litigation and government regulations limiting our ability to sell our products. Serono has no responsibility to update the forward-looking statements contained in this press release to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release
Website: http://www.seronousa.com http://www.fertilitylifelines.com
CONTACT: Dana Jessup for Serono, Inc., +1-781-681-2443
COPYRIGHT 2005 PR Newswire Association LLC
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group
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