Sharing Your Story: The Power of Infertility Advocacy
Posted on April 18th, 2024
No matter where you are in your fertility journey, you aren’t alone, even if it feels that way sometimes. Individuals from all walks of life struggle with infertility and sharing your story can help support others and change misconceptions surrounding fertility care. This month, Aspire Houston Fertility Institute celebrates National Infertility Awareness Week® (NIAW) and encourages you to do the same through infertility advocacy.
The Importance of Infertility Advocacy
Being an infertility advocate can help others navigate the complexities of building a family, offering them a community. You can also educate those who may not struggle with fertility, destigmatizing the treatments that so many families need. Additionally, your voice can help break down barriers for couples facing infertility, single parents, and LGBTQ+ families and also encourage protective legislation at the state and federal level.
How to Share Your Story and Advocate for the Cause
We understand that sharing your story may be difficult, so please only share what you feel comfortable with, when you’re comfortable sharing. If you’re open to it, social media is a great place to tell others about your experience with infertility. You never know who else may be struggling with something similar, and your personal journey may inspire them to keep going. Additionally, you can encourage people outside of the infertility community to become allies and help support the cause.
How else can you spread the word? Here are some ideas to help get you started:
Request a Proclamation
A proclamation is an official statement made by a governor, mayor, or city council member regarding a specific time period to raise awareness for a cause. You can request a proclamation to your local legislators, asking them to speak up about NIAW, which always falls during the last full week of April. Proclamations can help raise awareness and educate people about an important cause they may otherwise not have known about.
Fundraise
There are various ways to fundraise for RESOLVE, the advocacy organization that founded NIAW. As a nonprofit focused on providing care and support for those struggling with infertility, they also raise awareness for all family-building options.
You can raise money for this organization by:
Wear Orange
RESOLVE created the #WearOrange campaign to support NIAW. Wear orange during NIAW and use it as a conversation starter to talk to coworkers, friends, and family members about infertility and access to proper fertility care for all families. It doesn’t take a big act to make a big difference within your community.
We’re Here for You
Navigating infertility is challenging, but sharing your story can make a positive impact on the people around you. At Aspire Houston Fertility Institute, our team of fertility specialists is here to help you achieve your family-building goals. For more information about our services or to schedule an appointment, contact us today.
