When my husband and I decided we were ready to grow a family, we went into the experience armed with the knowledge that we’d need fertility treatments, no matter what. What we didn’t know was that there was an actual, concerted effort to honor people like us through Infertility Awareness Month!
We knew that our journey to pregnancy would be difficult. After all, when dealing with PCOS infertility (me) mixed with a complete spinal cord injury (my husband), natural conception wasn’t the most likely occurrence.
So, we dove in headfirst and began the IVF process.
I felt weak, angry, and completely overwhelmed throughout the days, weeks, months, and moments of our cycle. While I was thrilled to have the chance to take these steps, the reality of the situation felt insurmountable.
My body was doing so many weird things; I was anxious about the results; and I was worn out from endless medications and daily trips back and forth to the doctor.
As with childbirth, though, when you finally see the silver lining at the end of a challenging experience, you can’t help but look back at the process with rose-tinted glasses while you appreciate how hard you worked to get there.
That is what Infertility Awareness Month is for me.
Why Do I Honor Infertility Awareness?
While infertility might not seem like something to “celebrate,” the efforts and turmoil of 6.1 million women diagnosed with fertility troubles each year in the United States deserve recognition.
For me and my husband, Infertility Awareness Month is about looking back at one of the most difficult moments in my family’s life and feeling pride.
It’s about recognizing the struggle 1-in-6 people of reproductive age are forced to deal with on their quest to growing their family.
It’s about caring for the people who are still waiting for their happily ever after.
For this reason, it’s essential to understand the importance of Infertility Awareness Month and the spotlight it shines on the infertility stories of people around the world who have fought, or continue to fight, to build the families they’ve been longing for.
Raising awareness is a great way to highlight this important month.
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What is World Infertility Awareness Month?
There are three separate major celebrations of infertility parents:
- National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW), which occurs in April, is a nationally-recognized movement started in 1989 by Resolve, the National Infertility Association.
- World Infertility Awareness Month is celebrated worldwide during the month of June in the Untied States.
- World Fertility Day was founded by Louise Brown, the world’s first IVF baby, in 2018.
During these periods, countries come together to recognize the difficulties faced by people throughout the world who are struggling to get pregnant.
It’s an opportunity for the education, support, and community that’s necessary for overcoming the battle of infertility.
These days of celebration and recognition are not only meant to support individuals who have previously or are currently struggling with infertility, but it’s also meant to break down the walls about reproductive troubles and how we talk about them (or, in most cases, how we have neglected to talk about them).
All too often, many of us who have difficulty conceiving are too scared to speak out about our troubles. Despite our advancing society, the topic still feels taboo and misunderstood.
The purpose of holidays such as World Fertility Day and National Infertility Awareness Month is to bring these struggles to light and educate people worldwide about them.
How Can You Celebrate Infertility Awareness Month?
You can show your belonging during Infertility Awareness several ways, whether that’s visually through something you wear, or by sharing your story. Here are some of our top ideas.
1. Wear an Infertility Awareness Ribbon
If you’re looking for a subtle way to open up conversation about infertility, you could try the infertility awareness ribbon.
The infertility awareness ribbon features a simple pink and blue design. This ribbon not only signifies your support for infertility awareness, but it also recognizes similar issues, such as:
- Pregnancy Loss
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
- Stillbirth
- Birth Defects
- Premature Birth
There are many great items available that feature the infertility awareness ribbon, such as:
Infertility Awareness Ribbon Necklace
What We Love
- Made of sterling silver with Swarovski pearls
- Choose your own chain length
- Choose your favorite word charm, with options like “strength,” “hope,” “courage,” “believe,” and more
2. Talk About Your Personal Struggles with Infertility
While it might seem strange to think that some people don’t know the meaning of infertility, the sad reality is that it’s true. Sure, most of us understand that some people struggle to get pregnant, but that doesn’t mean we fully comprehend the trials and tribulations they face day-to-day.
If you’re looking for a way to participate in National Infertility Awareness Month, why not start talking?
It took me a long time to open up to people about our conception journey. It felt so personal and private.
Looking around at the variety of people at our fertility doctor’s waiting room, it hit me.
Whether classified by age, ethnicity, education, or sexual orientation, no group is exempt from dealing with reproductive troubles.
I started wondering how many people in my life were facing similar problems, similarly afraid to speak up.
So, what did I do?
Hopped on social media, of course!
I laid out our situation and opened up to the people I was “social media friends” with. At the end of my post, I offered my support and understanding to anyone else who was walking a similar path. I was shocked when friends and acquaintances spoke up and admitted they were in the same boat.
As human beings, we find comfort in connection. We like the idea of having someone close to us who understands what we’re dealing with.
If you’re willing to speak out during National Infertility Awareness Month, you never know what kind of comfort and even joy you could be offering someone else.
3. Put On an Orange Shirt
If you’re not ready to talk about your infertility struggle, that’s okay! You can simply wear an orange shirt and use the hashtag #WearOrange.
Infertility Awareness Shirt
What We Love
- 100% ringspun cotton
- Lightweight fabric
- Orange chosen by the infertility community because it conveys compassion, wellbeing, and warmth
The Resolve website from the National Infertility Association heavily features the color orange. That’s because it has been deemed the official infertility awareness color.
4. Share a Message of Support
In addition wo wearing orange, there are other ways to talk about fertility support in our community.
Maybe instead of posting about your troubles, you could share a fact about infertility. Another option is to write a general message that showcases your recognition and encouragement for anyone who’s having a difficult time conceiving or maintaining a pregnancy.
If you’re having a hard time deciding what to share in your post, why not consider one of these inspiring infertility awareness quotes:
- “And sometimes against all odds, against all logic, we still hope.” – Grey’s Anatomy
- “Be gentle with yourself. You are doing the best you can.” – Paulo Coelho
- “Fertility may have challenged us, but we are stronger for it.” – Unknown
- “Forget all the reasons why it won’t work and believe the one reason why it will.” – Ziad K. Abdelnour
- “The struggle is part of the story.” – Unknown
5. Volunteer or Attend an Infertility Awareness Month Event
If your community has a local Resolve chapter, or you find out there’s going to be an infertility awareness month celebration, why not attend?
Whether you go to receive support or lend it, your presence could make a significant difference to someone who needs it.
Embrace National Infertility Awareness Month 2024 and Make It Count
Some of the most common reproductive challenges faced by people throughout the world include:
For most of us, myself included, we never imagined that an inability to conceive or carry a baby would become a part of our lives.
While it’s easy and understandable to feel defeated by the challenge of infertility, never forget how strong you are.
In my eyes, when a person is yearning for a child and trying desperately to have one, they are a warrior.
We, the infertility and child loss survivors of the world, are stronger than we realize. Embrace that strength and bring it to someone else who needs it. Take advantage of all that National Infertility Awareness Month and Infertility Awareness Week have to offer, and let your story inspire and educate the people around you.
It’s time to open ourselves up and latch onto the respect and admiration we deserve for the complicated yet beautiful journey we’ve had to navigate together.
Recently it dawned on me too that I could be a voice for the many voiceless women out there who have been unable to have children due to different circumstances of course. I too had a very difficult time but thankfully was able to conceive after many years of trying. I went through the treatments but unfortunately I was unsuccessful. I decided to change my mindset, and was not going to let this tear me down. In short, I believe thatโs what helped me to eventually conceive and through prayer as well. Your story is so inspirational and I pray that it is having a positive impact on the people that have come across it.