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April 23, 2012 7:08 am ET

For the 1 in 8 Couples Having Difficulty Getting Pregnant, New Campaign Offers Encouragement and Resources to Help Spark the Conversation with a Fertility Doctor

Why me? It’s a powerful question that more than 1 in 8 couples –
seven million Americans – will likely ask themselves if they have
trouble getting pregnant. Infertility is a common medical condition, one
that can be an extremely emotional and difficult experience for couples.
It’s often the emotional barriers, or simply a lack of information, that
leads couples to delay seeking the help of a fertility specialist, which
may impact their success. Today – the first day of National Infertility
Awareness Week (NIAW) – Merck is introducing FertilityGuide.com, a new
resource for couples, and collaborating with RESOLVE: The National
Infertility Association to launch It’s Just A Conversation. Both
the online destination and the awareness campaign aim to inspire couples
to remain hopeful and educate themselves by starting a conversation with
a fertility specialist.

According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), for
women over 35 years of age who have been trying to conceive for six
months, or for women under 35 and have been trying to conceive for over
a year, it may be time for a fertility evaluation. A recent survey of 57
participants showed that 91 percent of those currently seeing a
fertility specialist wish that they had gone earlier.

“Many couples having difficulty conceiving are looking for answers and
don’t know where to turn. To some, speaking to a fertility specialist
seems intimidating, but in reality, a specialist can be your biggest
ally, providing you with the information you’re looking for and
presenting options you didn’t know you had,” said Dr. Roshini Raj, MD.
“As a doctor and a mom, I’ve been on both sides of the conversation – in
fact, I spoke to a fertility specialist in my journey. Our message to
couples today is, don’t wait to get the right kind of help. A
conversation with a specialist is a first step.”

Patient advocate and RESOLVE support group leader Kim Griffiths knows
firsthand how valuable that conversation can be. “I never imagined that
I’d have trouble getting pregnant, so when my ob-gyn referred me to a
fertility specialist, I didn’t know what to expect. I thought that a
specialist was a last resort that I would never need, but my specialist
gave me options and helped to support me in my journey to become
pregnant.” Griffiths continued, “I would encourage women to be their own
advocate and to make that appointment. After all – it’s just a
conversation.”

The It’s Just A Conversation campaign includes:

• Insight and tips from leading women’s health expert, Dr. Roshini Raj
• A new interactive website, www.fertilityguide.com,
  provides the guidance we know couples are looking for, such as:
  • Fertility Knowledge Quiz
  • Doctor Discussion Guide
  • Fertility Specialist Locator

Couples are encouraged to visit www.fertilityguide.com
to help them start their own conversation with a fertility specialist.
Visiting a specialist and having an open conversation may be a
productive and rewarding step in a couple’s fertility journey.

“At RESOLVE, we are committed to empowering women and men living with
infertility and that’s why we are excited about this initiative,” said
Barbara Collura, RESOLVE’s Executive Director. “We want couples to
remain hopeful in their journey and visit a fertility specialist
early-on to get the support and help that they deserve. During that
important conversation, you will learn about your specific circumstances
so you can explore your options from a place of knowledge – that’s when
everything can begin to change.”

About RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association

Established in 1974, RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association is a
non-profit organization with the only established, nationwide network
mandated to promote reproductive health and to ensure equal access to
all family building options for men and women experiencing infertility
or other reproductive disorders. One in eight U.S. couples of
childbearing age has difficulty getting pregnant. RESOLVE addresses this
public health issue by providing community to these women and men,
connecting them with others who can help, empowering them to find
resolution and giving voice to their demands for access to all family
building options. For more information, visit www.RESOLVE.org.

About Merck

Today’s Merck is a global healthcare leader working to help the world be
well. Merck is known as MSD outside the United States and Canada.
Through our prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, and
consumer care and animal health products, we work with customers and
operate in more than 140 countries to deliver innovative health
solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to
healthcare through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. For
more information, visit www.merck.com
and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.