Men Are Not 'In The Know' About Fertility

- New, Free Resource In The Know: What No One Tells You About Male Fertility Now Available for the 7.3 Million Americans Who Experience Infertility

ROCKLAND, Mass., June 16 /PRNewswire/ -- New survey data released from Fertility LifeLines(TM), a free patient resource provided by EMD Serono, Inc., and Men's Health Network (MHN) illustrates the need for resources targeted specifically toward men affected by infertility. In conjunction with Men's Health Week (June 15-21, 2009), Fertility LifeLines(TM) and MHN are proud to announce the availability of In The Know: What No One Tells You About Male Fertility. This free booklet was created to provide men and couples a reliable, unbiased resource for these unmet needs.

The survey highlighted men's concerns and uncovered their misconceptions about fertility health; key findings include:

• 28% of the men surveyed reported feeling embarrassed when dealing with fertility issues and 39% reported feeling sad or depressed.(1)
• Nearly half (45%) of the men surveyed would wait more than a year to seek medical attention after struggling to conceive with their partner, although most of the men surveyed (84%) agreed that infertility is a significant medical condition and 69% think that it is very common.

"This survey found that there is a significant need to provide men with additional information on ways to educate themselves about infertility," said Scott Williams, Vice President, Men's Health Network. "In The Know for men is a great guide to understanding fertility health written specifically with a man in mind."

In The Know: What No One Tells You About Male Fertility provides an overview of male infertility, including biological and lifestyle factors, tips on dealing with stress, ways to communicate with your partner or spouse, and a checklist of questions to ask your healthcare provider and insurance company. Patients and healthcare providers can receive a free copy of the booklet by registering at Fertility LifeLines(TM) by visiting www.FertilityLifeLines.com/intheknow.

Dr. Stanton Honig, Director of the Male Infertility and Sexual Dysfunction Clinic at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and exiting President of the Society for the Study of Male Reproduction, wrote the foreword to the booklet.

"Through years of experience, I have found it challenging for male patients and their partners to understand and address the cause of their infertility," said Dr. Honig. "The In The Know booklet discusses the importance of evaluating the male, explains the medical, lifestyle and environmental factors that can cause male infertility and the options that may be available for treatment. In addition to providing men and women important questions to ask healthcare providers about the specific conditions causing male infertility, this booklet will serve as a foundational resource for men and couples struggling to conceive."

Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after one year of regular, unprotected intercourse, or six months if the woman is over 35 years of age. It affects approximately 7.3 million Americans, or about 1 in 8 couples, with male factor issues involved in about half of all cases.(2) A small percentage of men that present with male infertility may have a significant medical condition such as cancer.(3)

"EMD Serono is committed to raising awareness of infertility by creating reliable patient awareness programs for women and men," said James Hoyes, Chief Commercial Officer, EMD Serono. "As a leader in the fertility market, it is our goal to continue to provide high quality resources like the In The Know series and Fertility LifeLines(TM) that increase understanding about, and help to demystify infertility, while encouraging patients to seek treatment sooner."

Patients can receive a free copy of the booklet by registering at Fertility LifeLines(TM) by visiting www.FertilityLifeLines.com/intheknow or calling the toll-free hotline at 1-866-LETS-TRY (1-866-538-7879). Current Fertility LifeLines(TM) members and healthcare providers can order free copies by calling the hotline.

Survey Parameters

204 men answered a survey about their experience with fertility concerns over an approximately four-week time period from 03/16/09 to 04/10/09. The average age of the men surveyed was about 45 years old. The survey was posted on the Men's Health Network's Web site and distributed to over 12,000 men and healthcare professionals.

Fertility LifeLines(TM)

Fertility LifeLines(TM) is a free patient resource provided by EMD Serono. Fertility LifeLines(TM) is available via the Web at www.FertilityLifeLines.com or by calling toll-free 1-866-LETS-TRY (1-866-538-7879). It is staffed with highly trained customer service representatives, infertility nurses, and benefits specialists ready to assist callers with general infertility information, insurance assistance, local fertility specialist referral, EMD Serono product support, and emotional support through compassionate listening to help put the patient journey into perspective and provide information about additional support and resources.

Men's Health Network

Men's Health Network is a nonprofit organization of which the mission is to reach men and their families where they live, work, play and pray with health prevention messages and tools, screening programs, educational materials, advocacy and patient navigation.

The Society for the Study of Male Reproduction

The Society for the Study of Male Reproduction's purpose is to encourage the study, to elevate the practice and to improve the quality of care of the subfertile male through its members' abilities to identify existing and emerging issues in the field. For additional information, please visit www.ssmr.org.

About EMD Serono, Inc.

EMD Serono, Inc., an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is a leader in the U.S. biopharmaceutical arena, integrating cutting-edge science with unparalleled patient support systems to improve people's lives. The company has strong market positions in neurodegenerative diseases, with Rebif(R) (interferon beta-1a), as well as in endocrinology, with Saizen(R) [somatropin (rDNA origin) for injection] and Serostim(R) [somatropin (rDNA origin) for injection]. EMD Serono is a leader in Reproductive Health, with Gonal-f(R) (follitropin alfa for injection), Luveris(R) (lutropin alfa for injection), and Ovidrel(R) Prefilled Syringe (choriogonadotropin alfa injection). With a clear focus on the patient and a leadership presence in the biopharmaceutical industry, EMD Serono's U.S. footprint continues to grow, with more than 1000 employees around the country and fully integrated commercial, clinical and research operations in the company's home state of Massachusetts.

For more information, please visit www.emdserono.com.

About Merck KGaA

Merck is a global pharmaceutical and chemical company with total revenues of euro 7.6 billion in 2008, a history that began in 1668, and a future shaped by 32,700 employees in 60 countries. Its success is characterized by innovations from entrepreneurial employees. Merck's operating activities come under the umbrella of Merck KGaA, in which the Merck family holds an approximately 70% interest and free shareholders own the remaining approximately 30%. In 1917, the U.S. subsidiary Merck & Co. was expropriated and has been an independent company ever since.

For more information, please visit www.emdserono.com or www.merck.de.

(1) 204 men answered a survey about their experience with fertility concerns over an approximately four-week time period from 03/16/09 to 04/10/09. The average age of the men surveyed was about 45 years old. The survey was posted on the Men's Health Network Web site and distributed to over 12,000 men and healthcare professionals.

(2) RESOLVE. (2008). Fast Facts about Infertility. Retrieved March 5, 2009, from http://www.resolve.org/site/PageServer?pagename=fmed_mcff_ffi

(3) Walsh, T. J., Croughan, M. et al. (2009). Increased risk of testicular germ cell cancer among infertile men. Arch Intern Med, 169(4): 351-356.

SOURCE EMD Serono, Inc.

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