Editor's note: this week is deemed National Infertility Awareness Week® (NIAW). According to the NIAW website, this movement began in 1989 to raise awareness about the disease of infertility and encourage the public to understand their reproductive health. In 2010, National Infertility Awareness Week became a federally recognized health observance by the Department of Health and Human Services.
A few simple facts about infertility
- Infertility affects one in eight couples.
- Infertility is a disease as defined by the American Medical Association.
- Infertility is often not covered by insurance or inadequately covered.
- Infertility affects both men and women– almost equally.
- Infertility treatment is extremely effective.
Because infertility often gets dismissed as a “lifestyle choice” and not a disease, people affected by infertility frequently avoid the usual social relationships that they count on for support. They feel isolated at a time when they most need their friends and family.
Infertility Advocacy
Friends & Family is an evening that Reproductive Medicine Associates of Connecticut (RMACT) is hosting to support Resolve - The National Infertility Association and their infertility advocacy efforts.
On May 11th, Lisa Rosenthal (RMACT’s Patient Advocate) and Carrie Van Steen (Founder of Ladies Night In – RMACT’s peer support group) will head down to Washington and present letters to our appropriate congresspeople and senators to show how deeply our communities feel about supporting all of us having the families that we are trying to build.
This is your opportunity to come out and support family building. This evening is free and open to all adults. Be part of your community by signing a letter. And if you can’t come, here’s the link to the letter that we are collecting.
Our goal? 1,000 letters. Our loftier goal? 10,000 letters.