The essential event for any fertility journey
It is estimated that infertility in Africa affects one in six couples, which means that in Southern Africa alone there are eight million people who suffer from infertility.
For the first time next year, a dedicated fertility show will be held on the African continent and follows successful international fertility events that offer those struggling to conceive, and those on a journey to parenthood, the opportunity to engage with specialists and experts and be exposed to every conceivable alternative in a supportive and unobtrusive environment.
The Fertility Show Africa (FSA) takes place on Friday, March 6 and Saturday, March 7, 2020 at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Gauteng. It gives attendees the opportunity to chat face-to-face with a wide range of clinics and experts as well as offering an unparalleled speaker programme from leading fertility and adoption experts in a space where visitors can engage, ask questions, find answers and gather information from some of South Africa’s best specialists, embryologists, nurses, psychologists and social workers.
Exhibitors range from doctors to clinicians and practitioners, top class fertility clinics, advice groups, donor agencies, charities, acupuncturists, reflexologists, diet, nutritional and lifestyle advisors, astrologers, yoga and massage therapists.
Says Saskia Williams, CEO of the Infertility Awareness Association of South Africa: “On behalf of IFAASA, I would like to say how wonderful the event will be for the one in six couples going through infertility in Southern Africa. The knowledge that the public will gain will be priceless. We have world class clinics who deserve to have the platform to educate and inform the general population, on a large scale, about their options when it comes to infertility. Industry experts will also be able to network with their industry peers and colleagues and share knowledge and ideas, ultimately benefitting the infertile patient.”
“The South African Society of Reproductive Medicine and Gynaecological Endoscopy (SASREG) supports events that empower women and men with information on infertility and fertility treatment. SASREG will provide leading experts in the field of reproductive medicine to help visitors to become informed and educated to help them in their journey to parenthood,” explains Dr Sulaiman Helylen, SASREG President.
Event highlights and key feature areas include:
IFAASA Expert Talks: A cutting-edge talks programme on current and pertinent topics that impact the journey to parenthood. The Expert Talks will be presented by leading fertility professionals, adoption specialists and medical professionals including:
- Tertia Albertyn – Nurture
- Dr Jack Biko – Femicare Fertility Clinic
- Prof. Patrick Bouic – Synexa
- Zoe Cohen – Adoption social worker in private practice
- Greg Tinney-Crook – Aevitas
- Dr Mohamed Cassim – BioArt/LifeArt
- Dr Sulaiman Heylen – SASREG President
- Robynne Friedman – Surrogacy attorney
- Samala Kriedemann – Mama Nurture
- Dr Goolam Mohamed – Sandton Fertility Clinic
- Mandy Rodrigues – Clinical Psychologist
- Dr Tony Rodrigues – MEDFEM Fertility Clinic
- Beatrice Rabkin – Hormonal Harmony
- Dr Yossi Unterslak – Vitalab
Talks include:
- How to enhance your fertility naturally
- Natural cycles and mild IVF
- Female infertility: Endometriosis
- Embryo selection
- Female infertility: PCOS
- Male Infertility
- Lab procedures
- Immunology: your best chance of success
- Egg Freezing
- Egg Donor Cycles – the process and role of an agency
- Surrogacy: The legalities involved
- Adoption in South Africa
- DNA
- Healthy lifestyle, diet and targeted supplements to optimise fertility
- Recurring pregnancy loss
- Baby loss support
- Dealing with pregnancy/infant loss
- A personal story of infertility, loss and adoption
- Infertility in the African culture
Support Zone & Live Q&A: This intimate stage is the place where visitors can get their questions answered by the specialists and engage with a panel of experts on key topics with a programme supported and hosted by leading professionals in fertility. Each session starts or ends with a 15-minute relaxation technique such as yoga, trauma releasing exercises, meditation and hypnotherapy. The area will be supported by a professional counselling and support team of clinical psychologist, Mandy Rodrigues, qualified counsellor and registered social worker Tanya Rubin and homeopath Dr Leanne Scott.
Topics include:
- How men and women cope differently to infertility
- Considering egg donation
- The grief cycle of infertility
- Music therapy
- Future research for infertility
Other subjects Fertility Show Africa will focus on include:
- Adoption
- Alternative therapies, including acupuncture, reiki, vitamins and supplements, as well as eating and lifestyle options to encourage fertility
- Artificial insemination, IVF and ICSI
- Eating and lifestyle for fertility
- Egg, sperm and embryo donation
- Surrogacy
- The LGBT community and options available
- Legal and ethical aspects
- Treatment options and ways in which to optimise egg and sperm health
- The role of complementary and alternative medicine
- Cultural aspects of infertility
- The role of yoga and meditation
Says Heidi Warricker, CEO and organiser of Fertility Show Africa: “FSA will host fertility patients in a discreet environment where they will be with a likeminded community to share their journey and obtain support while discovering and exploring the myriad options available to them. We feel honoured to have the backing of the fertility industry to create such an important event of quality with all the best minds in the industry under one roof.”
The Fertility Show takes place on Friday, March 6, and Saturday, March 7, 2020 at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Gauteng. Show times are Friday from 9am to 6pm and Saturday from 9am to 5pm.
FSA is proudly supported by IFAASA (Infertility Awareness Association of South Africa) and SASREG (South African Society for Reproductive Medicine and Gynaecological Endoscopy).
Learn more at www.fertilityshowafrica.co.za.
Social media:
- Website: www.fertilityshowafrica.co.za
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FertilityShowAfrica/
- Twitter: @fertility_show
- Instagram: @fertilityshowafrica