National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW) is a movement that was founded in 1989 by RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, an organization that works toward “ensuring that all people challenged in their family building journey reach a resolution through being empowered by knowledge, supported by the community, united by advocacy, and inspired to act.” A federally recognized health observance by the Department of Health and Human Services, NIAW seeks to empower others and change the conversation around infertility.

6 Second Snapshot

• National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW) is an initiative taken by RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association to tackle misinformation and spread awareness about the realities of infertility.
• This year, it will be from April 24 to April 30, 2022.
• People can get involved by participating in their local communities or online.

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.

Anyone can be challenged to have a family, no matter what race, religion, sexuality or economic status. Change begins with being part of a national movement such as National Infertility Awareness Week.

Alife is proud to support the infertility community and help educate others about the challenges many face when working to build a family.

The Importance of Raising Awareness

As it stands, there are many, many myths surrounding infertility. These myths and misinformation regarding infertility can create stigmas that negatively affect those who experience it or influence lawmakers and companies to enforce policies that create barriers for people who need help building their family. For example, in a study conducted by Fertility Network UK, 50% of women receiving infertility treatments chose not to tell their employers due to concerns that their employers did not take them seriously. In comparison, 40% believed disclosing that information negatively affected their careers.

The Goal of NIAW

Fundamentally, the goal of NIAW is to spread awareness of infertility and help people understand it better so that more effective and appropriate policies can be developed. Specifically, that includes:

• Educating the public about the basics of infertility to break down stigmas and change people’s perceptions about infertility.
• Make sure that people understand what their options are regarding infertility.
• Inform lawmakers of the realities of infertility and how it affects people in their jurisdictions.

How to Get Involved

There are several ways to get involved with NIAW. You can start by downloading the official National Infertility Awareness Week Toolkit available on their website. This toolkit contains campaigns, initiatives, and events hosted by NIAW and is happening now. Here are some additional ways you can get involved:

• Wear the color orange: The official color of RESOLVE is orange! So rock your orange gear in style and support NIAW with the hashtag #WearOrange.
• Host a virtual DIY Walk of Hope: You can either make your own virtual Walk of Hope or join one that’s already been created. These walks are great for spreading local awareness in your community about infertility.
• Join or Start a Virtual Awareness Event: During NIAW, consider finding or posting a virtual awareness event! There are always events going on around local communities. If you can’t find one you’re interested in, you can also start your own.
• Post on social media: Got a story to share that sheds light on infertility and what it’s like to go through it? Post about it. Flood your friends’, family members, and lawmakers’ timelines by posting and sharing your story and other stories about individuals who have experienced infertility. Post accurate data about infertility and advocate for the infertility community on social media. Use the hashtags #NIAW #NationalInfertilityAwarenessWeek #RESOLVE.
• Participate in the NIAW 5 Day Photo Challenge: During NIAW, which falls between April 24 and April 30, 2022, you have the opportunity to share your story and share your voice in pictures. During the NIAW 5 Day Photo Challenge, share five pictures each day of the daily impact that infertility has on you and your loved ones. Help build a better image of what infertility looks like.

For too long, infertility has been a topic that people shy away from. But, with ever-increasing misinformation spreading about infertility, organizations like RESOLVE are raising their voices to bring an end to how people talk and think about infertility. Now is the time to become a part of the change.