Women Want to Know More About Infertility According to Recent Survey

New Resource from Fertility LifeLines(TM) and Conceive Magazine 'In The Know:
What No One Tells You About Fertility' Fills a Gap for Women Experiencing
Fertility Issues

ROCKLAND, Mass., April 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Fertility LifeLines(TM) and
Conceive Magazine today released new survey data illustrating the need for
resources for women seeking information about fertility health. The survey,
supported by a leading fertility company EMD Serono, looked at unfulfilled
needs of women and couples seeking information on infertility and provides new
insights into the emotional impact of infertility. These issues, along with
tips for handling one's personal experience with infertility, are addressed in
a new free booklet provided by Fertility LifeLines(TM) and Conceive Magazine
entitled In The Know: What No One Tells You About Fertility.
The online survey, which was completed by 714 women, found:

-- Women are waiting longer than recommended before seeking medical
advice about fertility issues. It is commonly recommended that couples
should seek medical help from a Fertility Specialist if they are
unable to become pregnant after one year of regular, unprotected
intercourse, or six months if the woman is over 35 years of age. Of
all survey respondents, 64 percent have been trying to conceive for
one year or more, and nearly one-third (32 percent) are waiting to
seek medical help.

-- Women are surprised when it happens to them. The survey found that
although 86 percent of all respondents knew at least one person who
had trouble getting pregnant and 40 percent knew three or more people
who struggled to get pregnant, 70 percent were surprised when they had
trouble initially getting pregnant themselves.

-- Women experience an emotional rollercoaster when it comes to fertility
issues. Survey respondents reported feeling stress (52 percent),
jealousy of other people's happy baby news (44 percent) and depressed
or sad (41 percent), most of the time. They also reported that they
felt fear (78 percent), anger (77 percent) and loss of control (54
percent) at least some of the time.

"This survey found that there is a great need to provide women additional
information on how to handle the emotional and financial stresses associated
with experiencing infertility," said Kim Hahn, founder and CEO, Conceive. "The
goal of the In The Know booklet was to address those and the many issues
surrounding fertility concerns in a quick read, written in a friendly, candid,
girlfriend-to-girlfriend style."
The In The Know: What No One Tells You About Fertility booklet covers
topics such as an overview of treatment options, tips on handling the
additional stress in your relationship, working with your doctor to determine
your treatment plan including financial considerations and talking to your
partner about your concerns. Alice D. Domar, Ph.D., Assistant Professor at
Harvard Medical School, Founder and Director of the Domar Center for Mind/Body
Health at Boston IVF, acclaimed author and the "Fertility Goddess" according
to Vogue, wrote the foreword to the In The Know booklet.
"With current medical advances in fertility treatments, women are having
more success getting pregnant today than they were just 10 years ago," said
Dr. Domar. "Unfortunately, women are waiting longer than necessary to seek
medical help because they are concerned with both the emotional and financial
impact of treatment. The In The Know booklet is a great resource for these
women."
Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after one year of
regular, unprotected intercourse, or six months if the woman is over 35 years
of age. It affects about six 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.
Where Are Women Getting Infertility Information and Advice?
According to the survey, in addition to their healthcare provider more
than 50 percent of women get information from health and women's magazines and
78 percent get information from Web sites and blogs. Women also seek
information from girlfriends (42 percent), support groups (18 percent), family
members (23 percent) and their partner (20 percent).
Only about half of survey respondents felt that the available information
on infertility is sufficient; of the remainder:
-- 23 percent felt there wasn't enough information on emotional issues.
-- 22 percent needed additional information on dealing with stress.
-- 22 percent wanted more male-oriented information.

"As a company, we are committed to providing women and couples with
knowledge they can use at every step throughout their fertility journey," said
Jim Hoyes, Chief Commercial Officer, EMD Serono, Inc. "We will continue to
invest in programs and resources that allow patients access to an array of
educational materials like the In The Know guide and Fertility LifeLines(TM)."
Women and healthcare providers can order a complimentary copy of In The
Know: What No One Tells You About Fertility by registering at
www.FertilityLifeLines.com or by calling Fertility LifeLines(TM) at
1-866-LETS-TRY (1-866-538-7879).
About the Survey
Fertility LifeLines(TM) and Conceive Magazine co-sponsored a survey
answered by 714 women about their experience with fertility concerns. The
survey took place over a five week time period from 12/21/07 to 01/25/08. The
average age of the women surveyed was approximately 35 years. The survey was
posted on the Survey Monkey Web site and distributed to over 6,300 women.
About Fertility LifeLines(TM)
Fertility LifeLines(TM) is a free and confidential educational service
offering customized information and support to people with fertility health
concerns, provided by EMD Serono. Fertility LifeLines(TM) is available by
calling toll-free 1-866-LETS-TRY (1-866-538-7879), or via the Web at
www.FertilityLifeLines.com. It is staffed with highly trained customer service
representatives, infertility nurses and benefits specialists ready to assist
callers with: general infertility information, insurance assistance, local
Fertility Specialist referral, EMD Serono product support, and emotional
support through compassionate listening to help put the patient journey into
perspective and provide information about additional support and resources.
About Conceive
Conceive provides information and inspiration for women who have embarked
on the journey to parenthood. In print (Conceive Magazine and books, including
the new The Fertility Journal, A Day-by-Day Guide to Getting Pregnant and
Fertility Facts, Hundreds of Tips for Getting Pregnant), online
(www.conceiveonline.com) and on the air (Conceive's weekly Internet radio
show, Conceive On-Air), Conceive thoroughly covers the topic of family-
building, including preconception health, fertility and infertility, natural
conception and fertility treatments, and adoption. Through all available media
outlets, Conceive provides accurate and crucial information for women in this
exciting stage of their lives.
About EMD Serono, Inc.
EMD Serono, Inc., an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is a
leader in the US biopharmaceutical arena, integrating cutting-edge science
with unparalleled patient support systems to improve people's lives. EMD
Serono is a leader in fertility treatments, with Gonal-f(R) (follitropin alfa
for injection), Luveris(R) (lutropin alfa for injection) and Ovidrel(R)
Prefilled Syringe (choriogonadotropin alfa injection). The company has strong
market positions in neurodegenerative diseases, with Rebif(R) (interferon
beta-1a), as well as in endocrinology, with Saizen(R) [somatropin (rDNA
origin) for injection], Serostim(R) [somatropin (rDNA origin) for injection]
and Zorbtive(TM) [somatropin (rDNA origin) for injection]. With a clear focus
on the patient and a leadership presence in the biopharmaceutical industry,
EMD Serono's US footprint continues to grow, with more than 850 employees
around the country and fully integrated commercial, clinical and research
operations in the company's home state of Massachusetts.
For more information, please visit www.emdserono.com
About Merck KGaA
Merck is a global pharmaceutical and chemical company with total revenues
of EUR 7.1 billion in 2007, a history that began in 1668, and a future shaped
by 30,968 employees in 60 countries. Its success is characterized by
innovations from entrepreneurial employees. Merck's operating activities come
under the umbrella of Merck KGaA, in which the Merck family holds an
approximately 70% interest and free shareholders own the remaining
approximately 30%. In 1917 the U.S. subsidiary Merck & Co. was expropriated
and has been an independent company ever since.
For more information, please visit www.merck.de
SOURCE EMD Serono, Inc.

Colleen Minden of EMD Serono, Inc., +1-781-681-2192