You’re not alone. It’s a simple phrase, but it’s one that 186 million individuals affected by infertility worldwide would appreciate hearing. No matter a person’s gender, race or ethnicity, infertility impacts everyone.
As defined by The International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ICMART), infertility is “a disease characterized by the failure to establish a clinical pregnancy after 12 months of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse or due to an impairment of a person’s capacity to reproduce either as an individual or with his/her partner.” But for those going through the challenges of building a family, this disease goes well beyond a definition. Feelings of frustration, sadness and anger are all emotions that many people experience while they are on their journey to having a baby. Struggling through infertility can be confusing and incredibly isolating.
This is why it’s so important to raise awareness around infertility, and it’s why we’re recognizing World Fertility Day today on November 2. An annual event hosted by IVFbabble, World Fertility Day aims to highlight the facts about infertility to dispel common misconceptions about the disease. For instance, did you know that 1 in 8 couples in the U.S. are unable to get pregnant or sustain a pregnancy? Or that approximately 30 percent of infertility is due only to a female factor and 30 percent is due only to a male factor? This isn’t just a disease that affects one group of people. What was traditionally thought of as a “female” issue is actually a problem that requires serious attention from everyone.
Helping those who are experiencing challenges on their fertility journey is about offering support and access to reliable resources and networks. Here are a few helpful resources to get started:
- How is infertility diagnosed?
- Are there indicators that could suggest I am infertile?
- What do I need to know about fertility treatments?
- What is the probability of success for IVF treatments?
- How do I choose the right fertility treatment for me?
- When is the right time for treatment?
- Where can I find more information about fertility care?
- World Health Organization Infertility Fact Sheet
We’re celebrating World Fertility Day today, and we remain dedicated every day to empowering people with the information they need to understand and cope with infertility. For more information on how you can participate in this infertility awareness day, please visit IVFbabble.com.
