National Infertility Awareness Week, observed April 21-27, 2024, serves as a time to remember the millions of individuals and couples worldwide facing infertility challenges. Beyond raising awareness, observing this week brings into focus the importance of empathy, understanding, and support for those on the journey to parenthood.

In this blog, we explore the the impact of National Infertility Awareness Week on helping to break the silence and stigma surrounding infertility.

Raising Awareness

Infertility is a widespread issue, affecting approximately 10-15% of couples globally. Despite its prevalence, infertility continues to remain shrouded in stigma and misconceptions. National Infertility Awareness Week is the time to shine a spotlight on this topic to bring awareness to the issue, and help to educate the public about its causes, challenges, and available resources. By increasing awareness and challenging societal taboos around infertility, we can empower individuals and couples to seek support and care without shame or judgment.

These surprising facts underscore the complexity of infertility and the importance of understanding its various causes and contributing factors:

Stress

Chronic stress and depression can affect reproductive health in both men and women. High levels of the stress hormones cortisol can disrupt hormone balance and interfere with the ovulation process in women and sperm production in men. (Source) 

Obesity

Body fat levels that are 10 percent to 15 percent above normal can overload the body with estrogen, throwing off the reproductive cycle. Excess body weight can disrupt menstrual cycles and ovulation in women and can lower sperm quality and quantity in men. (Source)

Smoking

Smoking cigarettes and using tobacco products can harm fertility in both men and women. In women, smoking can accelerate the loss of eggs and decrease ovarian reserve. In men, smoking can reduce sperm quality and motility in men. Smoking plays a role in 14% of infertility cases. (Source)

Alcohol

Even moderate alcohol intake (as few as five drinks a week) can impair fertility. Compared with women who didn't drink alcohol, those who drank more than seven drinks weekly were 7% less likely to conceive after fertility treatment. Chances of a live birth dropped 9% in women whose male partners drank that same amount. (Source)

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) 

In women, STDs such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) causing scarring and blockages in the fallopian tubes, leading to infertility. Let untreated, about 10-15% of women with chlamydia will develop PID. STDs in men can cause inflammation of the reproductive organs, affecting sperm production and motility. In the U.S., there were an estimated 4 million new chlamydia infections and 1.6 million new cases of gonorrhea infections in 2018 alone. (Source)

Environmental and Occupational Risk

Studies suggest that prolonged exposure to high mental stress, high temperatures, chemicals, radiation, or heavy electromagnetic or microwave emissions, as well as environmental toxins, such as pesticides, heavy metals, and chemicals found in plastics, can disrupt hormonal balance and reduce fertility in both men and women. (Source)

Cancer Treatments

In men, chemotherapy can cause permanent infertility if the cells in the testicles are too damaged to produce healthy, mature sperm again (Source). Chemotherapy (especially alkylating agents) can affect the ovaries, causing them to stop releasing eggs and estrogen. Radiation therapy to or near the abdomen, pelvis, or spine can also harm nearby reproductive organs. (Source)

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus and can cause inflammation, scarring, and adhesions, leading to infertility or difficulty conceiving. Endometriosis affects approximately 1 in 10 women of reproductive age has a prevalence of 0.5-5% in fertile and 25-40% in infertile women. (Source)

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

PCOS is a predominant cause of infertility and a common gyne-endocrine disorder affecting 7 to 15% of women of reproductive age. PCOS is a hormonal disorder characterized by irregular menstrual cycles, excess androgen levels, and ovarian cysts. (Source)

Secondary Infertility

Secondary infertility occurs when a couple has difficulty conceiving or carrying a pregnancy to term after previously having a child. It can be just as emotionally challenging as primary infertility and may be caused by factors such as age, changes in health, or new fertility issues. The signs of secondary infertility are the same as for primary infertility, not getting pregnant despite having 6 to 12 months of unprotected sex. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 12% of women trying for another child have trouble conceiving. (Source)

Breaking the Stigma

Infertility affects people from all backgrounds does not discriminate based on age, race, gender, or socioeconomic status, highlighting the universal nature of human vulnerability. Infertility Awareness Week reminds us to approach this issue with empathy and compassion, and acknowledge the unique challenges faced by those on this journey. Offering support and understanding can help alleviate some of the isolation and stigma associated with infertility, which can include:

Verbal Stigma

One of the distressful behaviors is verbal stigma which can come in the form of sarcasm, humiliation, and the use of offensive terms for infertility by acquaintances.

Social Stigma

Social Infertility Stigma can come in the way of negative attitudes and views of community members toward infertility. Couples unable to have children may feel ostracized and criticized by society.  

Same-Sex Stigma

Same-Sex Infertility Stigma refers to a situation in which infertile women fear facing discrimination from other women. 

Self-Stigma

Self-Stigma is internal stigma and refers to negative attitudes created in individuals by themselves due to the conditions they have been put through. One of the factors destabilizing individual identity is self-stigma which seems to affect their self-efficacy. (Source)

Supporting Those Affected

For individuals and couples navigating infertility, support is paramount. Whether through online communities, support groups, or counseling services, connecting with others who understand their experiences can provide much-needed validation and encouragement. Offering compassionate listening, practical assistance, respect for boundaries, sensitivity to triggering topics, and unwavering emotional support can make a meaningful difference in the lives of those struggling with infertility.

Many individuals affected by infertility hide it from the world. By hiding behind a mask and remaining silent about their fertility problem, they hope to escape the judgment and pitiful looks of others. These individuals may use excuses such as working and being busy, studying, or pretending to have decided not to have children to avoid encountering curious questions from others. (Source)

To help modify the pressure of infertility stigma women may seek out emotional support from various sources including their husbands, families, peer groups, and, in a limited number of cases, their friends. For most women, husbands were the most important source of emotional support. (Source)

Advocating for Change

Beyond raising awareness, National Infertility Awareness Week also serves as a platform for advocacy and policy reform. Access to fertility treatments and reproductive healthcare services varies widely depending on factors such as geography, insurance coverage, and socioeconomic status. Advocates use this month to call for greater accessibility, affordability, and inclusivity in fertility care, ensuring everyone can pursue their dream of parenthood.

Assisted Reproductive Technologies 

For those on the infertility journey, there are positive statistics that offer hope and encouragement. Due to advancements in reproductive medicine and assisted reproductive technologies (ART), the success rates of fertility treatments have steadily increased over the years. For example:

1. In vitro fertilization (IVF), one of the most widely used ART procedures, has seen remarkable success rates, with approximately 2 out of 3 women under 35 achieving a live birth after treatment.

2. With the advent of techniques such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), couples facing male factor infertility or genetic disorders have greater chances of conceiving healthy pregnancies.

3. Egg freezing, a fertility preservation option, has become increasingly popular among individuals who wish to delay childbearing for personal or medical reasons. Advances in cryopreservation techniques have led to high survival rates of thawed eggs, offering hope to women who may face fertility challenges in the future.

4. Donor conception, including sperm, egg, and embryo donation, has provided a pathway to parenthood for many individuals and couples unable to conceive using their own gametes. Donor-assisted reproduction has opened doors to diverse family-building options and expanded the possibilities of parenthood.
   (Source)

Start Your Journey to Parenthood with Pozitivf Fertility 

At Pozitivf Fertility, we champion reproductive justice for all by providing access to high-quality, affordable fertility care because we believe having a family on your terms should not be a privilege for the few. Traditional fertility clinics have made starting a family cost-prohibitive. 

Focusing on the most successful infertility treatment options and operating with complete transparency allows Pozitivf Fertility to provide more access to fertility care to a greater majority of prospective patients. We have thoughtfully engineered a streamlined approach, eliminating unnecessary tests and appointments.

Pozitivf offers the most proven and effective fertility care treatments including In vitro fertilization (IVF) and INVOcell. Our world-class care team surrounds each patient with compassion, comfortable facilities, and patient-centric technology which helps enhance our success rate.

Schedule an appointment with a Pozitivf Fertility Advocate to learn more today.