Whether you’re a member of the fertility community or an ally, there are many opportunities to help strengthen and support the fertility community.
1. Host a fertility support group
There are many types of fertility support groups for couples facing infertility and/or working through fertility treatment can join, including in-person, online, female-only, male-only, and LGBTQ. RESOLVE, the National Infertility Association offers guidelines and advice on how to start a support group.
2. Sign up for local events
RESOLVE hosts the local “Walk of Hope,” a one-mile walk for all ages that takes place in cities throughout the U.S. This past September, Fertility Solutions participated in the first annual Walk of Hope in New England. These sorts of events help raise money for the fertility community and advocates for better insurance coverage for fertility treatment.
3. Become an advocate
It may seem intimidating to write to your local or state representatives about an issue, but now that fertility treatment is gaining traction in the public eye, the time is right to speak with government officials. Our own Dr. Pei-Li Huang recently traveled to learn about fertility advocacy and practice first-hand by knocking on the doors of many Massachusetts legislators, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and U.S. Reps. Stephen F. Lynch (D-8th Dist.), Katherine Clark (D-5th Dist.), Joseph P. Kennedy III (D-4th Dist.), and Niki Tsongas (D-3rd Dist.). We hope you’ll read Dr. Huang’s essay about her experience in Washington, D.C.
4. Learn how conversations about infertility are different
Have you ever had a moment where you realized you may have been insensitive during a conversation about infertility? For those of us who are not members of the infertility community, but know someone working through infertility, it can be difficult to navigate conversations in a way in which you are openly supportive while avoiding questions or comments that may hurt someone’s feelings. Fertility Solutions put together a helpful guide on how to talk to someone struggling with infertility.