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 this 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:

• Nicola Smuts-Allsop – Fertility Astrology
• Tertia Albertyn – Nurture
• Dr Danie Botha – SASREG
• Christos Bouloutis – Feng Shui Corp
• Prof. Patrick Bouic – Synexa
• Zoe Cohen – Adoption social worker in private practice
• Andrew Coutts – International Fertility Clinic
• Greg Tinney-Crook – Aevitas
• Dr Yusuf Dasoo – BioART
• Robynne Friedman – Surrogacy attorney
• Samala Kriedemann – Mama Nurture
• Molatelo Mainetje-Bossman – IFAASA
• Dr Thato Maoto – Femicare Fertility Centre
• Dr Goolam Mohamed – Sandton Fertility Clinic
• Dr Zozo Nene – Steve Biko Academic Hospital
• Dr Christa North – Supreme Fertility
• Dr Olufemi Olarogun – HART Fertility Clinic
• Mandy Rodrigues – Clinical Psychologist
• Dr Tony Rodrigues – MEDFEM Fertility Clinic
• Beatrice & Nicola Rabkin & Rona Mirimi – Hormonal Harmony
• Dr Marienus Trouw – PTA Fertility Centre
• Dr Yossi Unterslak – Vitalab
• Dr Anneen Venter – PTA Fertility Centre

Talks include:

• How to enhance your fertility naturally
• Natural cycles and mild IVF
• Female infertility: Endometriosis
• Embryo and Sperm selection
• Female infertility: PCOS – Myths and facts
• Male Infertility
• Lab procedures
• Fertility Astrology
• Immunology: your best chance of success
• Egg Freezing & Oncofertility
• Egg Donor Cycles – the process and role of an agency
• Surrogacy: The legalities involved
• Adoption in South Africa
• Fertility and your DNA
• The benefit of an early infertility diagnosis
• Legal Issues around Donor Cycles
• Healthy lifestyle, diet and targeted supplements to optimise fertility
• Recurring Pregnancy Loss – the Superfertile Uterus
• Baby loss support
• Dealing with pregnancy/infant loss
• A personal story of infertility, loss and adoption
• Infertility in the African culture
• The ins and outs of IVF
• Transgender Care: Reproductive options
• What Makes A Good Clinic? -Choosing The Right Fertility Clinic Abroad
• Feng Shui – Fertility the natural way

 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. Many of those taking part in the Support Zone have travelled the infertility road themselves and understand the struggles and the grief people experience on their journey. So they are in the perfect position to offer help, advice and support to those in need. The area will be supported by a professional counselling and support team headed up by clinical psychologist, Mandy Rodrigues.

Topics include:

• Dealing with the emotional rollercoaster of infertility
• The acceptance of infertility and cycles of emotion
• The grief cycle of infertility
• Infertility and the marriage
• Alternative parenting specifically donor sperm and single moms
• Coping, creating and manifesting on your fertility journey
• Egg & Sperm donation
• Surrogacy a more personal journey
• Meditation and yoga for infertility
• Ethics in ART and what to do when morals and ethics clash
• Mindfulness techniques in the stress response and the role of complementary medicine in infertility
• The legal aspects of IVF
• Managing chronic stress in infertility
• Ethical issues on surrogacy

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 wide range of 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.

Entry tickets are available at Webtickets at R195 a person or R350 for two people. A two-day entry pass is R315 (single) or R565 per couple. The IFAASA Expert Talks and support sessions cost R50. To book, go to: https://www.webtickets.co.za/EventCategories.aspx?itemid=1495566920.

FSA is proudly supported by IFAASA (Infertility Awareness Association of South Africa) and SASREG (South African Society for Reproductive Medicine and Gynaecological Endoscopy).