Former BlackCap speaks out about Infertility

Media Release

1 May 2016

Former BlackCap speaks out about Infertility at Christchurch event.

One in four New Zealanders is affected by infertility, with both men and women equally affected.

Former BlackCap Cricketer Chris Harris and his wife, Linda are one of those couples. After conceiving their daughter naturally, the couple had no idea that they would face a lengthy journey, resulting in 7 rounds of IVF and other medical procedures, to expand their family.

Chris and Linda will speak about their struggle with Infertility at a Christchurch event for Fertility Week. The couple will speak candidly about the shock of being unable to conceive naturally, juggling IVF cycles with Chris’s international cricket commitments and what advice they would have for those dealing with infertility.

In addition to this personal account of infertility, there will be the professional perspective. Dr Janene Brown is an Executive Committee Member of Fertility NZ and a Christchurch Fertility specialist. She will talk about causes of Infertility, the impact of lifestyle and age on fertility and what treatment options are available.

The annual awareness week is run by national Charity, Fertility New Zealand and seeks to highlight a range of issues associated with infertility.

The theme this year is “Fertility, what you need to know, NOW”. Through a range of Webinars with Fertility Specialists and online resources, couples and individuals can learn how to maximise their fertility, plan for a family in the future, find out their chances of conceiving and read the stories of others who have faced fertility challenges. See www.fertilityweek.org.nz for more.

The Christchurch Fertility Week event, Fertility: The Personal and Professional, will be held on Tuesday 10 May 2016, 6pm at Christchurch Viewing Studio 147 Papanui Road. To register; christchurchsupport@fertilitynz.org.nz or phone 021 936516. This is a free event.

© Scoop Media