Monday, April 06, 2009

New First Response® Fertility Test Helps Women Answer the Question: Am I Able to Get Pregnant?



New First Response® Fertility Test Helps Women Answer the Question: Am I Able to Get Pregnant?

At-home Test Measures Hormone Levels That Indicate Egg Quality and Quantity

PRINCETON, N.J., April 6, 2009 /PRNewswire/ — Women trying to conceive are now able to buy at retail, a new test that can help them quickly and easily identify their potential for becoming pregnant. The First Response® Fertility Test for Women is unique in that it allows women to measure follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels to evaluate ovarian reserve – egg quantity and quality. Low ovarian reserve is one of the leading factors of infertility in women. With the test results, women will be better equipped to have productive discussions with their doctors about getting pregnant.

While many women think that getting pregnant will be no trouble, millions of women in America struggle with infertility. According to a new survey for First Response®, 70 percent of women who may want to have children think they can get pregnant whenever they want. But according to RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, infertility affects 7.3 million Americans.

"Three questions I often get asked by my patients are: am I able to conceive, am I ovulating and am I pregnant? " said Dr. Lisa Masterson, M.D., a Santa Monica-based OB/GYN affiliated with Cedars-Sinai, St. John's and UCLA/Santa Monica hospitals, and a co-host on The Doctors. "The First Response® Fertility Test empowers women to ask the right questions, right from the start, when they're trying to get pregnant so they can take charge of their fertility future."

How the First Response® Fertility Test Works
The First Response® Fertility Test measures FSH levels in a woman's urine on the third day of her menstrual cycle. Results appear on the urine stick within 30 minutes with 95 percent accuracy. If FSH levels are found to be above normal, this may indicate that her ovarian reserve is low and may be interfering with her ability to become pregnant.

A woman should speak to her doctor if:

Her FSH levels are above normal.
Her FSH levels are normal, but she's 35 years or older and has been trying to get pregnant for at least six months, she's younger than 35 and has been trying to get pregnant for at least 12 months, or she's any age and does not have menstrual periods or has irregular periods.
There has been significant growth in consumer demand for over-the-counter reproductive health products. First Response® has become one of the most trusted women's health brands by offering accurate tests that anticipate women's needs, and with the launch of the Fertility Test for Women, First Response® now offers a full range of at-home tests that answer some of life's most important questions.

Surveys Reveals Women Overly Confident About Their Ability to Get Pregnant
First Response® surveyed women of child-bearing age about their knowledge of fertility, their pregnancy potential and views on planning for pregnancy.

Also, members of RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association were surveyed about their knowledge of fertility, their pregnancy potential and views on planning for pregnancy. The studies found:

Three-quarters (75 percent) of women believe it's easy for women in general to get pregnant.
Interestingly, nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of RESOLVE members thought they could get pregnant without any problem when they first started trying. (These women ultimately experienced difficulties.)
Three in four women of child-bearing age did not know what FSH was and how it can affect a woman's ability to get pregnant.
Majority (86 percent) of Resolve members would have taken charge faster and sought the care of a medical professional sooner if they had known more about their fertility potential before they started to try to conceive.
When women plan key aspects of their life, planning for future pregnancy falls to the bottom of the list behind finances, career, education – even planning for vacations.
"Many women don't understand how difficult it can be to become pregnant until they're already experiencing fertility problems," said Barbara Collura, executive director of RESOLVE. "Getting educated about leading causes of infertility, like poor ovarian reserve, arming themselves with the right tools, and starting a conversation with their doctors can help women better plan for a family."

The First Response® Fertility Test for Women is available at major food, drug and mass merchandise outlets. A package with two test sticks has a suggested retail price of $24.99. For more information, visit www.FirstResponse.com.

About the Surveys
The online survey was administered to RESOLVE constituents between November 4-December 15, 2008 through resolve.org, and was completed by over 700 women.

StrategyOne, an applied research consulting firm, conducted a nationwide telephone omnibus study on behalf of First Response® of 260 women 18-44. Interviews were conducted between November 6-November 10, 2008 using the field services of ORC (Opinion Research Corporation).

About Church & Dwight, Co., Inc.
Church & Dwight, Co., Inc., headquartered in Princeton, NJ, distributes First Response® Early Result Pregnancy Test and other First Response® products, including First Response® Rapid Result Pregnancy Test, First Response® Easy Read Ovulation Test, and Answer Pregnancy and Ovulation Tests.

About RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association
Founded in 1974, RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, headquartered in McLean, VA, is the oldest and largest consumer-based, nonprofit group that provides education, advocacy and compassionate support for those struggling with infertility in the United States. Each year, RESOLVE and its nationwide network of affiliates handle more than 1.5 million contacts from people seeking information and help. For more information, visit the RESOLVE website at www.resolve.org.


Press Contact:
Kerry McCauley
Edelman
212-704-8222
Kerry.McCauley@edelman.com


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