KQED Quest ran a piece tonight on science cafes. It is focused on an Ask a Scientist event on math, specifically the Golden Ratio. I agree with the piece in regards to deep discussion of math, it’s broadly inaccessible. Plus, I personally suck at math.

I try to focus on science issues that intersect social issues. It makes the scientific dialogue more pertinent to everyone. And that’s the core of this series, a scientific dialogue can really affect great social change.

And it will as long as we keep talking…..

Video, Pics, and Presentations from the Fertility Science Cafe are now up on the website.

The fertility cafe was a great event, I encourage anyone that has general fertility questions to watch the video and download the presentations.

Videos are also up on my YouTube channel in smaller 10 min segments.

Almost no insurance coverage exists for fertility treatments, even if your plan covers obstetrics. However, a new bill in front of Congress aims to change that. Rep. Anthony Weiner introduced legislation a couple years ago regarding infertility coverage. The bill is now being resubmitted to Congress.

A few highlights of the bill include:

* The bill acknowledges in its opening lines that infertility affects approximately 10% of the reproductive-aged population; that the majority of insurance plans do not provide coverage for infertility treatment; and that “a fundamental part of the human experience is fulfilling the desire to reproduce.”
* The bill defines infertility as “a disease or condition that results in the abnormal function of the reproductive system,” and encompasses not only those of us who can’t conceive within a year, but those who can’t carry a pregnancy to term.
* The bill calls for coverage of up to four IVF retrievals, or, “if a live birth follows a completed oocyte retrieval, then at least 2 more completed oocyte retrievals shall be covered, with a lifetime cap of six retrievals.”
* The bill’s definition of ART includes IVF, GIFT, ZIFT, embryo cryopreservation, egg or embryo donation, and surrogate birth.

RESOLVE has created an online form letter that can be sent to your congressman to support the bill.

It’s no shock fertility treatments aren’t cheap. Babycenter.com estimates the prices/success for many of the common treatments. Here is a quick look table with more details further down the page. These costs are all averages and may or may not be accurate for your particular situation.

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You can now check out video of DtaS on YouTube as well as our Past Cafes page.

All of DtaS’ videos will be on my channel: http://www.youtube.com/kishorehari

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