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
For more information, please contact:
Serono, Inc., Rockland, MA
Media Relations:
Dana Jessup
Tel. +1 781 681 2443
Fax: +1 781 681 2935
http://www.fertilitylifelines.com
SOURCE Serono, Inc.
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.seronousa.com
http://www.fertilitylifelines.com
CONTACT:
Dana Jessup for Serono, Inc., +1-781-681-2443
|
