Fertility centers around the nation are gearing up to honor 2021’s National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW), which takes place this year from April 18 to April 24. We encourage anyone who is going through – or been through – fertility treatments to find a way to participate. 

Even more importantly, we invite friends and family to help spread the word about their loved ones’ infertility journey (with respect to privacy, of course). Spreading the word about how common infertility really is spreads awareness and promotes legislation that supports funding fertility treatments through health insurance carriers.

Celebrate NIAW By Sharing Infertility Stories

There are so many ways you can get out there and share your infertility stories, and to get the word out there about the 1 in 8 reality (1 in 8 individuals and couples will struggle to get pregnant when they’re ready to start a family). 

Here are ideas about how you can participate in NIAW:

Wear Orange or Purchase the Merchandise

Orange is selected as NIAW’s signature color because, according to RESOLVE:

The color orange promotes a sense of wellness, emotional energy to be shared: compassion, passion, and warmth. Helps to recover from disappointments, a wounded heart, or a blow to one’s pride. Studies show that orange can create a heightened sense of activity, increased socialization, boost in aspiration, contentment, assurance, confidence and understanding.

 Wearing orange each day of NIAW is a way to celebrate your solidarity with the infertility community.

You can also scroll down the #WearOrange Campaign webpage to purchase merchandise specifically designed to bring awareness around this important healthcare topic.

Share information with your social media network

With a 1 in 8 statistic, it’s a given that many people in your social media network have struggled with infertility themselves, even if you don’t know it. Imagine how good it will make them feel to have others honor their journey via public awareness and support.

NIAW organizers have put together a simple list of things you can do to leverage social media pages and spread the word through your network. Examples include:

• Changing your Facebook banner to an NIAW banner or logo
• Add one… OR a few of NIAW’s images to social feeds and let people know what you want them to learn about infertility. 
• Consider sharing your tie to infertility. The patients you work with or how it has impacted you personally as someone living with the disease.

Click Here for more tips and easy copy/paste logos you can add to your social media pages.

Go on a virtual DIY walk

We are heartbroken to go through a second year of DIY walks, rather than the huge city and community NIAW walks we’re used to participating in this time of year. Hopefully, 2022 will be the year we get back to community norms. These walks serve as a huge source of strength, inspiration, encouragement and support for the infertility community.

In the meantime, you can participate in a Virtual DIY Walk with yourself or with your social bubble of friends and family. And hey! Making banners that are size feet wide and walking them down the route is a great way to gather multiple people together at safe distances in a fun walk of your own. You can also Click Here to see if a Walk of Hope is already scheduled in your area.

Participate in FUNdraising (or make a donation of your own)

Are you a born fundraiser? If so, you’ll be off and running. If you’re not, there are still so many ways you can help to raise funds for this worthy cause. NIAW organizers recommend that participants Put the Fun in Fundraising, and they have lots of wonderful ideas to do just that:

• Schedule a fitness class or workshop and dedicate the funds to NIAW
• Host a virtual event
• Spread the word that you’re requesting $$ or direct financial contributions to NIAW or RESOLVE rather than holiday or birthday gifts this year
• Post donation links on your social media channels and websites

Don’t forget to thank your donors in a heartfelt way so they know their donation truly made a difference.

Be an advocate

RESOLVE hosts Advocacy Day each year in June. As with the Walks for Hope, this year brings us another virtual Advocacy Day on June 17th, but there are still all kinds of ways to be involved. 

You should consider participating in Virtual Federal Advocacy Day if you:

• Want to educate your elected officials about the disease of infertility.
• Are dealing with infertility and want to feel a sense of control.
• Have a loved one touched by infertility and want to show your support.
• Want more public understanding about the disease of infertility.

Visit NIAW’s Virtual Advocacy Day Page to learn more about how to get involved.

The Reproductive Resource Center are enthusiastic participants in National Infertility Awareness Week each and every year. We hope to see you at one of the many virtual events, and we’ll be sure to say hi to anyone wearing orange or sporting NIAW t-shirts or merch.

Are you interested in learning more about the Kansas City infertility community or to connect with a KC fertility specialist? Contact us here at the Reproductive Resource Center.