25 Apr National Infertility Awareness Week – Start Asking
This week kicks off National Infertility Awareness Week, which as stated in the name is obviously a week to bring awareness to infertility. The theme for this year is “Start Asking.” There are so many questions when it comes to infertility. I don’t think the questions ever stop, but before we talk discuss the theme, let’s talk about some facts about infertility (taken from resolve.org):
- Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive for 12 months or to carry a pregnancy through a live birth
- 1 in 8 couples go through infertility. Yes, that means someone you know is currently going through it whether they are open about it or not.
- 1/3 of the diagnosis have to do with problems with the female, 1/3 is male and 1/3 are both
- Only 15 states have an insurance mandate to offer some form of insurance
Now to the theme. What questions can you start asking?
- Ask your doctor about tests, diagnosis, medical procedures, and options
- Ask yourself what natural steps you can take to increase your fertility
- Ask your spouse where they stand on medical intervention, adoption, etc
- Ask your friends and family to support and pray for you
- Ask your insurance what coverage you have
- Ask your employer for better coverage for infertility
- Ask your spouse how they are doing
- Ask your friends who are going through infertility how they are doing
- Ask your church to acknowledge infertility
- Ask your congressmen for better coverage for infertility.
This is my quick and limited list. Clearly as stated earlier the questions can go on and on. Don’t ever stop bringing awareness to infertility, but instead just as this theme encourages, start asking!
Are you an infertility blogger? Join us this Friday as you share your story in a link up! Have questions or want to join? Please email me for details!
Are you looking for infertility support? Come join us for encouragement and support!
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Cheryl
Posted at 07:10h, 25 AprilI am so thankful this subject that is so dear to our hearts is being discussed and brought more to the forefront. Thank you ever so much for all you are doing to help make that happen! God bless you, sweet friend. 🙂
ellesees.net
Posted at 07:47h, 25 Aprili am so glad there is a week devoted to this issue!!
Stephanie
Posted at 08:57h, 25 AprilThanks for sharing! And it’s super important to ask your spouse how they are. When suffering infertility it’s hard not to get lost within yourself, and to remember there’s someone suffering right there beside you. Praying this is your year! <3
Kristy
Posted at 09:51h, 25 AprilI love this and definitely will be sharing.
Rebecca Jo
Posted at 09:59h, 25 AprilI love you bring awareness all year round to this issue
Jessica Bradshaw
Posted at 10:04h, 25 AprilLove that you have this platform to share your story. I pray this isn’t a struggle for you for much longer, but its beautiful you are honoring God with it. I have had several friends struggle with infertility, so I know this week is important for them.
Melissa
Posted at 10:28h, 25 AprilOops… I shared our story TODAY… can i use that one to link up Friday?! Haha. Clearly I didn’t read the directions in your email!
Angela
Posted at 10:28h, 25 AprilPinned. Thanks for sharing about this heartbreaking issue. You are always in my thoughts and prayers.
dia
Posted at 10:44h, 25 AprilI think it’s great that this issue has been getting more attention lately. There are so many women out there who want children and who struggle to make that dream come true. So many people don’t understand or say ridiculously insensitive things to people because they don’t understand. This week can help change that.
Biana
Posted at 12:01h, 25 AprilThe statistics are staggering…I think it’s so important to bring awareness to this!!
Shann
Posted at 12:21h, 25 AprilI have many friends who have struggled with infertility, and I’m so glad there is more awareness now. I hope it continues to grow, and I also hope insurance starts to cover treatments.
Fatima
Posted at 12:47h, 25 AprilI have friends who are going through this and it really hurts to know I can’t help with the pain.
Amanda
Posted at 13:16h, 25 AprilI was actually just looking at the Resolve website over the weekend. It’s ridiculous that more states (all of them) don’t offer better/any coverage for infertility. Like it’s as optional as a nose job. Thanks for sharing and continuing to bring awareness!
Ashley LaMar
Posted at 14:27h, 25 AprilYES!!! It saddens me that so many people are scared to ask and I am so thankful for times like this that encourage us to talk about it without being ashamed.
Erin @ Very Erin
Posted at 15:20h, 25 AprilGreat tips! My husband and I haven’t started trying to have children yet, but I have so many friends who have struggled with infertility and I’ve seen hard it can be on them.
Sarah McDonald
Posted at 16:17h, 25 AprilI love that there’s a week dedicated to infertility awareness. I feel like it’s something not enough people talk about and feel ashamed about it. Your story and this week are all part of changing that!
Neely Moldovan
Posted at 16:32h, 25 AprilI wish more people would ask questions!
Sheryl
Posted at 18:47h, 25 AprilIt makes me happy that I feel more young women are gaining knowledge about infertility. The truth is no one thinks it will happen to them. Always cheering for you. XOXO
Melissa Roy
Posted at 20:01h, 25 AprilI think this topic is one that definitely needs to be talked about much more often. There often a stigma around not being able to conceive and the struggle can be so heartbreaking as couples suffer silently. Thank you for helping to start a conversation around this topic!
Lily
Posted at 21:22h, 25 AprilI’m so glad that every year there is more and more awareness. A couple of years ago I was so ashamed of our story…but everything happens for a reason and I hope to help at least one woman in not feeling ashamed either.
Beka
Posted at 21:40h, 25 AprilThanks for sharing more about this. I had no idea that 1 in 8 deal with this. That is a lot of people!
Praying for you, friend!
Justine Y @ Little Dove
Posted at 23:48h, 25 AprilI think it’s terrible that only 15 states offer some type of insurance for that but we have mandated insurance for things that are far less important… grrr… anyway, I don’t want to get into that right now. Thank you for sharing this post. I think it’s interesting that problems with infertility is so evenly split between the males and females.
Angie Scheie
Posted at 02:05h, 26 AprilThis week is actually how I discovered your blog last year! My how time flies and we still need awareness just as much. Thank you for being a light in this fight :).
Patricia
Posted at 12:21h, 26 AprilThis is so informative. Thank you so much for sharing this very important information with all of us.
LizZ H.
Posted at 14:09h, 26 AprilMy baby girl was silently born almost 12 yrs ago. My husband and I have been trying unsuccessfully for 5 yrs, with batteries of tests all telling us there is no explanation. So we wait.
brianna george
Posted at 15:13h, 26 AprilI am glad that there is a much louder voice than there used to be for those struggling with infertility. 🙂 Keep asking, not just insurance and doctors, but asking God for your little one. 🙂
Jen
Posted at 17:13h, 26 AprilIt makes me happy to see people talking about infertility. It’s something we struggled with for a few years before finally conceiving, and my heart will always ache for all those parents who are waiting for their babies.
Jess
Posted at 17:52h, 26 AprilI love the list- especially the “Ask your church to acknowledge infertility.” This hits me deep. I’ve sat through too many sermons that focus on glorifying mothers and fathers for their saying “yes” to God. Having children is not the only way to say “yes” to God. I’ve said “yes” in soany invisible ways: waiting for intimacy until marriage, following what I believe to be God’s plan for human sexuality in the way I am intimate with my husband and the way we pursue parenthood. And apart from feeling forgotten or ignored by God, I feel abandoned by my church- a church that promotes procreation yet prohibits use of ART. On the one occasion I sought spiritual direction, the pastor told me I was acting like a spoiled child to feel hurt and angry about not getting what I want. Another pastor suggested I consider adoption. Not all infertile women are infertile because God is trying to guide them toward adoption- perhaps, but one does not mean the other. There is such a lack of understanding and awareness that if rectified could do a lot to bring peace to the hearts of we who seek it through the church. ?
Laura | Making Baby Provence
Posted at 15:28h, 02 MayI loved this theme this year. I am so glad they did it. You have a great list of questions that people really should #startasking.