Mark Yourself as a Resource During National Infertility Week®

When we think of April, our minds tend to gravitate toward spring cleaning or rain showers before May flowers. But did you know that April also holds National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW)? Founded in 1989 by RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, it’s become an annual time to unify the community and raise awareness about a challenge that affects so many — one in six individuals of reproductive age worldwide, to be exact.

Since 2010, National Infertility Awareness Week has existed as the only federally recognized health observance for infertility. And this year’s theme, “Leave Your Mark,” encourages us to go beyond simply acknowledging infertility. Which is why we’re exploring how we can use NIAW as a platform for action, education, and assistance. At Donor Egg Bank USAÔ we’re proud to take this opportunity to offer concrete and actionable ideas for getting involved during National Infertility Awareness Week; to leave your mark by marking yourself as a resource to those experiencing infertility.

Stay Engaged

Marking yourself as a resource can be as simple as keeping up to date with infertility facts and news. When you make the choice to stay informed, you also make the choice to improve the circulation of factual infertility information. Not only does this help reduce the spread of misinformation, but it works to create educated and productive conversations. By staying engaged, you’re doing your part to remove misconceptions and stigma from the mainstream dialogue about infertility.

RESOLVE makes learning about infertility easy and accessible. By visiting the “Learn” tab on their website, you’ll gain access to a wealth of infertility-specific knowledge. From understanding the female reproductive system to discovering the underlying causes of infertility, RESOLVE offers a plethora of articles composed of trustworthy facts and figures. Struggling with family building can be challenging enough without the addition of myths or inaccurate information impacting public knowledge, media coverage, and policymaking.

Another informative source for learning about reproductive health and fertility is ReproductiveFacts. Created by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, this site houses information on patient journeys, LGBTQ+ fertility topics, and even a section dedicated to fertility in the news. Staying current and factually-up-to-date on infertility is a breeze with resources like this!

Be Supportive

Whether it’s lending an ear or sharing your own story, choosing to support others experiencing infertility is another excellent outlet for marking yourself as a resource. If you feel comfortable discussing your own experience, consider visiting our Instagram to share your journey with Donor Egg Bank USA. Our platform is a great space to connect your story with others going through similar challenges. Check out our “Real Stories” story highlight to see some of the other Donor Egg Bank USA community members who have made the choice to share their experiences. Being open and kind to others builds community – and in the face of family-building challenges, togetherness is a source of empowerment. Showing your support can even be as simple as wearing orange on April 24^th as part of NIAW’s #WearOrange campaign. Snap a selfie rocking orange and share on social media with the aforementioned hashtag. Posting your support is a fun (and easy) way to increase both visibility and engagement around the subject of infertility.

Maybe you personally are craving some extra understanding.  RESOLVE provides tools for finding supportive communities. With the “Find A Support Group” feature, it’s easy to search and filter for location, subject focus, and more. There’s even information for connecting with virtual groups if you can’t find what you’re looking for in your area or prefer an online space. Another source of support is The IVF Warrior. This site not only offers educational content related to infertility and IVF, but also many articles that explore more complex and nuanced subjects, such as how infertility can impact relationships or navigating mental health triggers. They even provide comprehensive information about financing IVF treatments and available fertility grants.

For those looking to take on a more dynamic role, being supportive could take the form of advocacy work. RESOLVE offers the opportunity to become an advocate for the infertility community. Support access to care and family-building resources through the RESOLVE Advocacy Network (RAN), while also connecting with other like-minded advocates. This network works on both a state and federal level to increase access and protect options when it comes to family building. Meet your lawmakers, work to improve current legislation, and more!

Share Options

Uplift others experiencing infertility by making them aware of their options. Infertility can often feel isolating and confusing; share what you know about the family-building choices, tools, and resources available. This can be as easy as guiding others to a source that they can trust, like Donor Egg Bank USA. If someone you know is curious to learn more about using frozen donor eggs make sure to have them follow us on Instagram @donoreggbankusa to receive a free resource guide. And, of course, we’re always here to answer questions and share our expertise. Call or contact us today!

We know that infertility can often be a difficult subject, and an even more difficult challenge on the road to building your family. RESOLVE’s National Infertility Awareness Week reminds us that we’re anything but alone in this experience. With the awareness and community surrounding us, we all have the power to leave our mark this NIAW. You can always rely on Donor Egg Bank to not just be a resource, but to be with you every step of the way on your path to growing your family.

Ready to learn more about using frozen donor egg to help grow your family? Just reach out to our qualified team at Donor Egg Bank USA to find out more, including information about our Assured Refund Plan®. Or, if you’re ready to find your ideal donor, start your search here. 

The suggested organizations and links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by Donor Egg Bank USA of any of the products, services or opinions of the organizations or individuals. Donor Egg Bank USA bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.