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Brooke Shields: Opening Up

Glossary and Infertility Information You Can Use

When Brooke Shields decided the time was right to expand her family, she was excited about the prospect of motherhood. As a healthy woman, she never imagined she would have difficulty conceiving. However, she soon learned she was among the 6.1 million Americans who face infertility. Uncertain of her options and not knowing where to turn, Brooke felt lonely and isolated.

Finally, after seeking the help of a fertility specialist, she and her husband became the proud parents of a daughter, Rowan. Now Brooke is reaching out to others who face infertility – by sharing her own journey to parenthood – encouraging them to know their options and take action early on when faced with difficulty conceiving.

• Share your concerns with your doctor early, and ask lots of questions.
• Talk to your doctor about seeing a fertility specialist.
• Research, research, research – get educated about infertility and treatment options.
• Create a support network of those closest to you, and don't be afraid to lean on them during this emotional time.
• Remember that parenthood is a journey ... be good to yourself along the way, and stay positive.
• Reach out to educational resources such as Fertility LifeLines™.

Adhesion: The scar tissue that forms around reproductive organs following a previous injury, infection or surgery.

Amenorrhea: The absence of menstruation.

Androgen: Primarily a male sex hormone, also found in the ovaries.

Anovulation: The total absence of ovulation.

Artificial insemination (AI): The depositing of sperm in the vagina near the cervix or directly into the uterus, with the use of a catheter instead of by sexual intercourse. This technique is used to overcome sexual performance problems, to avoid sperm-mucous interaction problems, to maximize the potential of poor semen and for using donor sperm.

Want to see more?

• Fertility Success: One Woman's Story
• Helping Hands: Groups That Navigate the Infertility Roller Coaster
• Beyond Blood Tests and Hormone Levels: What to Expect From Invasive Infertility Diagnosis and Treatment
• Talk about it!