National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW) is April 21-27, 2024. The week’s goal is to spark conversations and dispel myths about infertility. Despite the increasing utilization of fertility treatments, infertility is a stigmatized topic. Along with NIAW, Fairfax Cryobank wants to change that. Infertility: The Latest Insights New research tells us a few surprising stats about infertility, which is clinically defined as the inability to get pregnant after a year of carefully timed and unprotected sex. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the general fertility rate ..read more

By: Candice Katherine Febrile, founder of Single Mom Mindset & Empowered Woman First things first: Happy International Women’s Day!! What an incredible time we’re living in. The women that came before us, paving the way for us to live lives that we truly enjoy living. I’m eternally grateful to the powerhouse females that came before me, and the women that continue to fight for change today. As a woman that is part of the single mom by choice community, I believe it’s important to thank the solo mothers among me and before me. We are raising a whole new generation of thinkers and changers ..read more

By: Candice Katherine Febrile, founder of Single Mom Mindset & Empowered Woman ‘Tis officially the month of L.O.V.E.. The time of year where you’re bombarded with how “in love” everyone is, and if you’re single, you’re meant to feel like you’re missing out on something special. It is the human condition to require love after all… I’ve never been one to fall for Hallmark holidays. Even when I was head-over-heels for my high school boyfriend, I didn’t succumb to the Valentine’s Day rules. I thought it was silly to designate a single day to show our love for one another. I’d find myself anno ..read more

Male fertility worldwide has been declining over the last 50 years. Multiple scientific studies have shown a decrease in sperm parameters across thousands of men. These decreased sperm parameters include total sperm count, sperm concentration, and total motile sperm. Researchers believe that higher rates of obesity and unhealthy diets are partly to blame for this global change, but these aren’t the only issues hurting male fertility. Issues affecting sperm production, sperm transport, or both production and transport can cause low sperm counts and concentrations. Sometimes, men will have more ..read more

When choosing a donor, you’ll likely consider a few criteria off the bat. A donor’s education, career, personality qualities, or ethnic background may be important in your selection. Another consideration as you begin your family-building process is CMV status. What is CMV status, and why is it important? CMV is short for cytomegalovirus, which is a common virus. It’s so common that over half of adults will have been infected with CMV by age 40. A first infection may result in flu-like symptoms or no symptoms at all. Once the body is infected with CMV, the virus lies dormant for life. CMV is ..read more

Using donor sperm to conceive and create your family is an excellent option for prospective parents and family types. People choose to use donor sperm when the parent or the couple doesn’t produce viable sperm; which includes single moms by choice, female same-sex couples, or those experiencing male factor infertility. Another reason is when a partner carries genetic conditions that the couple does not want to pass down. Success rates with insemination using donor sperm depend on the procedure type and factors that affect any form of conception, like age, ovarian reserve, and overall health ..read more

By: Candice Katherine Febrile, founder of Single Mom Mindset & Empowered Woman Let’s take a moment to absorb the fact that it’s nearly Christmas – already!? It feels like just yesterday that I was complaining about the summer heat, and I’m already dragging out the winter bins filled with itchy scarves and bulky coats. Now that we’re both itchy thinking about wool accessories, let’s jump into a topic that can make anyone squirm… Holiday season as a single woman. The pressures depicted in any Hallmark holiday movie don’t even cut it. Some women really do go to the lengths Melissa Joan Hart ..read more

When pursuing fertility counseling or treatment to identify fertility challenges, it can often feel like you don’t know who’s who. The team is big and confusing, and it isn’t always clear who is in which role. As the person who will be pregnant, you want to be empowered with clear information and knowledge about everyone’s role and responsibilities so you’re clear on who to turn to and what they can do for you. So, let’s look at your roster. Fertility Specialist Your first point person—your quarterback—is your fertility specialist. This person is nearly always an MD and will likely be a repro ..read more

Donor 7218 is a very motivated, hardworking, and honest individual. He was raised to always stay busy whether that meant being out fishing or riding a bike as a kid. He takes great pride in his commitment to his health and always finds time to work out almost every day. He enjoys his career in real estate and home construction. He loves being able to use his creativity during the process of renovating homes and seeing his visions come to life. In his free time, you can find him going to sporting events (football, hockey, and baseball) hanging out with friends, or traveling. He is a handso ..read more

Deciding to start or expand your family is a beautiful and exciting time—but it also comes with much planning. As an LGBTQ+ couple, there are many choices for you and your partner to make, and those choices can range from thrilling to overwhelming. (Decision fatigue, anyone?) The first step is to look at and understand all options for achieving parenthood. Some might not be a fit and the decision is purely personal, but it’s worth being aware of what’s possible. Fertility and family planning journeys aren’t always straight lines from point A to point B, and at some point, you may find yoursel ..read more