Fertility & Family Jana Rupnow, MA, LPC-I 214-520-4141

1. If you are consumed with thoughts about getting pregnant or are feeling anxious, depressed or resentful. You may be experiencing feelings of loss and grief. Infertility grief involves a range of feelings that a counselor can help you work through. Prolonged infertility can disrupt relationships with friends and family.

2. If you are thinking of using donated sperm, egg or surrogacy. Your fertility specialist may recommend that you seek counseling before deciding to use third party reproduction methods such as egg or sperm donation.

3. If you are having trouble getting pregnant a second or third time. Secondary infertility (a couple having trouble getting pregnant after having a child) can be the loneliest kind of infertility.

4. If you feel angry, resentful, confused or alone. Many women suffer in silence. If you are struggling with infertility, you might feel like others do not understand what you are going through.

5. If you would like to understand your options better. Fertility consultation can provide valuable information on issues such as disclosure, non-genetic parenting or adoption.

Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)- Third Party ReproductionAre you considering gamete or embryo donation? If so, you may have questions beyond medical procedures alone. Some of these concerns may be hard for you to voice. Infertility counseling can help couples talk freely about their concerns.

Mental Health EvaluationsContact us for more information about mental health evaluations and screening for egg donor or surrogacy.

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ASRM - American Society for Reproductive Medicine membership. Fertility and Family, LPC offers infertility consultation and counseling and helps couples explore various reproductive solutions with an open mind, realizing the complicated and personal nature of this issue. Email for an appointment or phone consultation.

When Should You See an Infertility Counselor? Jana’s Blog

fertilityseed.wordpress.comSHHH, WE DON’T TALK ABOUT INFERTILITYI didn’t put infertility in the title of my blog.  No, I’m not in denial (although that popular defensive mechanism has settled in me at times).  Instead, I want to present the positive aspects of infertility while also acknowledging the not-so-positive, not-so-talked about topics.So why aren’t we talking about it, ladies?  I have had quiet conversations with many women struggling with infertility, both behind closed doors and in close friendships.   I had a slightly different experience this weekend.  I ran into an old acquaintance at a wedding and during a brief conversation of catching up on the past 18 years, she shared with me that she is having trouble getting pregnant.  In a speedy, small talk exchange?  I was pleasantly surprised by her open, matter-of-fact approach to sharing this painful subject.  I felt instantly comfortable sharing my own experience with infertility.  What was missing from this exchange was any trace of shame, embarrassment or non-verbal secret sharing. What a breath of fresh air.

Articles Written and Recommended by Jana Rupnow

See: fertilityandfamily.com

Limited Reproductive Donor Regulation Means More Resources and Needed for ParentsAccording to the CDC’s report on ART success rates, just over 1% of all infants born in the United States every year are conceived using assisted reproductive technology, ART. A portion of that 1% is conceived via third-party reproduction which involves using another person’s sperm, ovum (egg), or uterus (surrogacy) to conceive a child. For various medical reasons, some infertile couples cannot use their own sperm or egg to conceive. An emerging option for these couples is using embryo donation. Couples with unused frozen embryos (cryopreservation) are choosing to donate them to infertile couples rather than destroy them. The donated embryo is implanted in a woman who is genetically unrelated to the embryo. As third-party reproduction methods advance, and the number of families with partially biological or non-biological children will increase. Families facing these choices have legitimate questions about the social and psychological impact on their future child.

More Articles:

-Infertility and Stress

-How to Talk to Your Child About Ovum Donation, The

American Fertility Association, 2009.

-Third Party Reproduction Guide

-Hold the Birthday, Please: How birthdays bring up loss for some adoptees.

-20 Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew by Sherrie Eldridge.

RESOLVE Support Group for primary infertility meets every Wednesday night at 6:30 in the back room of Macaroni Grill on Beltline. Contact Staci Gillman at dallasresolve@yahoo.com

Dallas Suburbs Group for all types of infertility. Meets 1st Monday of every month at Dallas Medical Center in Plano. Contact LaraKitchens@yahoo.com

Jana - Founder of Hope for Liberia

Jana Rupnow has years of experience working with both international and domestic adoptive families. She traveled to Africa and China to visit several orphanages, getting a first-hand view of the early experiences of children in an institutionalized setting. Jana created a program called Hope for Liberia to help orphans in West Africa. As an adoptee and adoptive parent, she has a unique understanding of the needs of an adoptive family.

Adoption CounselingCouples and families choose adoption to grow their family for various reasons. Many families are unsure of how to handle common issues that come up in an adoptive family. Adoption counseling helps a couple or family prepare for their new child and adjust during developmental stages. Children may express fear of abandonment or separation anxiety, have control issues or manipulative behavior. Parents may un-intentionally reinforce fears and anxieties in their children.

214-520-4141

fertilityandfamily.com

Fertility & Family Counselingwith Jana Rupnow, MA, LPC-I

ana is experienced in helping individuals during critical life changes.  Her work at Baylor University

Medical Center resulted in numerous publishings on wellness, adult behavior modification and lifestyle change.  In additional to working with individuals, she specializes in family challenges including issues related to parenting, reproductive issues such as infertility, miscarriage, pregnancy loss, and post partum depression and the resulting relationship strain that often occurs. Jana has extensive experience with adoption, both as a

counselor and speaker on the topic, she helps adoptive families with preparation and adjustment, offering education and ongoing support.  As part of her family services, she provides counseling for tweens and teenagers, using age appropriate techniques.  She encourages the exploration of family dynamics that may be contributing to psychological problems within the family.  Jana approach's is flexible, authentic and solution-focused, using a variety of techniques to personalize counseling to your needs. To enhance the therapy process, she offers on-line counseling following office visits.

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Jana Rupnow

Fertility Kitby Belleruth Naparstek & Monica MorellSee: healthjourneys.comThis dynamic kit offers a multimedia approach to fertility issues. Belleruth’s guided imagery reinforces self-esteem, relaxes mind and body, and helps with the ups and downs of daunting medical procedures. Fertility Yoga leads you

through a series of yoga poses designed to stimulate, energize and open hormonal and reproductive channels in the body with beginner and intermediate moves offered throughout the program.

Conquering Infertility-bookConquering Infertility, Dr. Alice Domar's Mind/Body Guide to Enhancing Fertility and Coping with InfertilitySee: domarcenter.com

Relaxation Methods-Breath Focus-Progressive Muscle Relaxation-Meditation-Yoga-Mindfulness-Guided Imagery-Cognitive Restructuring-Journaling-Therapy-Self-care-Mini breaks: from treatment, research, reading, etc.

Resources for Infertility fertilityseed.wordpress.com

214-520-4141

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