"Inconceivable" - Believable?

Slowly but surely, infertility is coming out of the taboo closet and into everyone's livingrooms. First, there were books. Then, a television movie or two and a few off-Broadway plays. Now, the first weekly drama about the lives of patients and, mostly, professionals in the infertility arena is premiering on September 23.

Many patients have already seen initial advertisements for NBC's "Inconceivable," leading many to express both eagerness and skepticism about the unique show's portrayal of the "Family Options Fertility Clinic." The physicians and staff of the IntegraMed Network are also eager -- to respond to any resulting concerns from viewers.

Jay Higham, President and Chief Operating Officer for IntegraMed America, says that the network's physicians have been sent "screeners" -- previews of the show's pilot episode -- which can help prepare them for any contacts by local media. The screeners will also give the professionals an opportunity to view what current and potential patients may see when the show premieres.

"I think the physicians in our network are in an ideal position to address any questions or misconceptions that the show brings up," says Higham.

Dr. Art Wisot, of Reproductive Partners Medical Group in the Los Angeles area, participated as a technical consultant for the show's pilot, making sure that clinical phrases and behaviors were accurate. He did not, however, have any input on the show's storyline.

One of the show's creators, Oliver Goldstick, says that while the show may have "some outrageous representations" of the fictional fertility clinic professionals, he and his collaborator, Marco Pennette, are serious about avoiding mockery of patients. Goldstick says that the first advertisements about "Inconceivable" were a little off-track from the creators' intentions, but he's been told that later ads have been "more representative" of the show they have in mind to present.

For many viewers, the show will be an introduction of sorts to fertility treatment -- from the relatively mundane details of medication self-injection to the hotter, headline-grabbing incidents like embryo mix-ups. For viewers who are already involved in fertility treatment, some of the show's planned plotlines could create a bit of consternation.

"Our doctors are ready to be the voice of reasonable reality," assures Higham. "If someone watching the show becomes worried about their own experience from, say, one of the character's shenanigans, any of our experts can easily explain how the real standard operating procedures simply aren't going to let such things occur."

As producer Goldstick himself explains, the show is not for educational purposes. "The show ultimately has to be entertaining," he asserts. As a parent through surrogacy himself, Goldstick, a seasoned TV veteran with a number of very popular credits to his name already, hopes that all the talk about "Inconceivable," positive and negative, will result in more productive attention in general for those impacted by infertility.

Higham echoes, "We recognize that the show will raise the visibility of fertility services and that can be a good thing - but only if people with questions can access real fertility experts to dispel some of the notions that seem likely to arise."