Fertility Challenges Support

We are an Infertility Support Group reaching out to Dallas Fort Worth Texas and surrounding areas.  Infertility is the diminished ability or the inability to conceive and have offspring or the inability to carry a pregnancy to term. Infertility is currently defined in specific terms as the failure to conceive after a year of regular intercourse without contraception if under age 35 or after six months if age 35 or older.  On their website, Resolve uses the following definition: Infertility is a disease or condition of the reproductive system often diagnosed after a couple has one year of unprotected, well-timed intercourse or if the woman suffers from multiple miscarriages. Infertility can be male or female related.

Coping with a diagnosis of infertility is very difficult and beginning a treatment cycle can be very intimidating and scary.  You don't have to go through it alone.  There is plenty of infertility support available.  Please view our promo video for a better idea of who we are.

By contacting Fertility Challenges Support you will be able to share with others who have been through what you are, or are about to become deeply involved in.  This is the future of your family and we realize the importance and what you have "at stake" in this struggle.  You will receive encouragement, and more so, someone who will listen to your cares, concerns, and frustrations.  We offer group and individual infertility support no matter what part of this journey you are on, be it recently diagnosed, undergoing treatment, pursuing adoption, or choosing to live child-free.

Fear and frustration stem from lack of knowledge...

It is our goal to provide accurate information to assist you in making the important decisions with regards to your family planning.  In our website you will find acronyms and definitions of the medical terminology related to infertility treatments as well as descriptions of the various types of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) such as ovulation induction, IUI, IVF, FET, and ICSI.  Please visit our Infertility Information page for examples of treatment protocols, a terminology page, and much more.

Our Mission

To encourage couples through one of life's most challenging issues - INFERTILITY

• Love - build relationships to earn trust, giving one the ability to share concerns and emotions
• Last - involved for the long haul; support; encourage building relationships with others
• Live - bring to the forefront there is life outside of infertility - this often becomes a fleeting reality

Organization Profile

Fertility Challenges are one of the most difficult issues you will ever have to face in your life, if not THE most difficult.  It takes a lot for most people to enter into the clinic and say – we have got a problem – can you help?  It is a very private issue that you can’t share with everyone.  You should not have to go it alone.

Fertility Challenges Support (FCS) was started in October of 2004 by Lorraine and Mark Thomas who have two beautiful children thanks to the wonders of in vitro fertilization (IVF).  Lorraine lost both fallopian tubes to ectopic pregnancies and would not have become a mother if it were not for assisted reproductive technologies (ART).  After enduring countless obstacles without anyone she could talk to, Lorraine realized she wanted to offer her support to others in similar circumstances, and FCS was born.  It is her goal to reach out to as many people as possible and form a support network for them.  Many lasting friendships have already been forged.

Please visit the about FCS page for more details.

We hold a support group meeting in the DFW (Dallas-Fort Worth) Texas area once a month at Harris Methodist HEB Hospital in Bedford.  The meetings provide a very informal environment in which you can speak about the infertility issues you and your partner are facing, or just sit back and listen to others.  Nobody gets "analyzed" at the meetings.  It is simply a forum to meet and talk to other couples going through the same problems and experiencing the same feelings.  The meetings are held on the last Saturday of every month.  We also organize various other activities throughout the year to allow couples or just the ladies to get together in a social environment.

Please visit the support group  and calendar pages for more details.

Contact Information

Fertility Challenges Support

Telephone

  (817) 656-9566 (home)

            (817) 313-8029 (cell)

Postal address

  4645 Parkmount Drive

            Fort Worth, TX  76137

Electronic mail

  Lorraine Thomas:  lorraine@fcsupport.org

 

Fertility Challenges Support (FCS) does not have a licensed mental health professional and does not provide any type of diagnosis of infertility or mental health related disorders.  The purpose of FCS is to provide emotional support to people and couples facing infertility issues by listening and offering encouragement and by connecting them with other people facing similar challenges.  The information provided in this website is intended to help inform people of the various terminology and types of treatment available, but is in no way a recommendation.  Please consult a reproductive endocrinologist for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.  If you feel you are suffering from depression, please contact a mental health professional.

Send mail to valerie@fcsupport.org with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: March 24, 2008