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Finding Your Voice for National Infertility Awareness Week

by MyEggBankin InfertilityApril 11th, 2023

Having problems conceiving is a common issue, but despite nearly 1 in 8 people having infertility, there continues to be a stigma surrounding the condition. Struggling with infertility can often make people feel powerless, but there are several ways you can speak out against the stigma of infertility during National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW). Held every year during the last week of April, NIAW is a time to identify what family means, make positive choices for our families, and bring awareness to assisted reproduction and family planning issues to the community.

Taking action to honor NIAW is significant, whether you are seeking reproductive assistance, a professional healthcare provider, or a person who wants to support a friend or family member. Here are a few ways to get involved and find your voice in fertility advocacy.

Request a Proclamation

To raise awareness about local efforts, governors, mayors, and city council members may issue proclamations to mark a specific day, week, or month as a commemoration timespan to increase public awareness about specific issues. For example, National Infertility Awareness Week is designated for one week in April each year.

Getting the support of an elected official helps validate one of the goals of National Infertility Awareness Week, namely, “Changing the conversation about infertility and family building.”

The National Infertility Association is asking people to request proclamations across the country. The goal is to reach as many cities as possible leading up to April 23-29th (i.e., National Infertility Awareness Week). Learn more about how to submit a proclamation request here.

Engage in Social Media

Find your voice on social media by posting about your infertility experience on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, or other social media platforms.

The National Infertility Awareness Association encourages people to use their themed Instagram filters to show their support. Whenever possible, use the #NIAW2023 and #FindYourVoice hashtags and tag RESOLVE (@resolveorg) to help make the movement a success. Several options for engaging in social media include:

  • Sharing messages of support with family and friends who are struggling to start a family.
  • Sharing a linkable story on Instagram and/or Facebook.
  • Posting a selfie with a caption about your relationship with the fertility community on social media.
  • Creating a YouTube video about your infertility journey and posting it on various social media platforms. Email [email protected] to share your video with RESOLVE.

Participate in a Fundraising Event

If you are a "go big or go home" kind of person, consider starting a fundraiser to make a big impact on raising awareness of people struggling with infertility. It doesn't matter whether your fundraiser is big or small, every dollar makes a difference. Types of fundraisers include:

  • Host an event, like a party, happy hour, or even a virtual event.
  • Organize a donated virtual or in-person workout, yoga, or another type of fitness class.
  • Organize a DIY Walk of Hope event in your local community.
  • Start a Facebook fundraiser to support advocacy agencies, such as RESOLVE.

Learn more about the details of starting a fundraising event here.

Wear Orange

Infertility awareness has been promoted by supporters wearing orange since 1989. Show your support of National Infertility Awareness Week by wearing orange gear on Wednesday, April 26th. Wear orange to work, school, or other places you engage in social interaction. When people ask you about wearing orange, encourage them to learn more about fertility or donate to the cause.

Share Your Story

You can play a key role in spreading awareness during NIAW by sharing your own personal story. Storytellers significantly impact creating change and your narrative is most impactful when you describe how your fertility journey has affected your life and the lives of those around you. Learn how to write and submit your personal story here.

Learn More

Another way to become empowered and find your voice is to learn more about infertility, the laws governing it, and more. Education can empower you to have a conversation about important issues such as insurance coverage, laws governing paternity, and more.

To learn about assisted reproduction options using an egg donor, you can read about the egg donation process on our website or contact us at MyEggBank.

If you are under 35 and have not been able to conceive in one year, or over 35 and have not been able to conceive in six months, request a consultation here.

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