National Infertility Awareness Week

National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW) starts today and will be observed for a week-long until April 29th 2023.

The NIAW helps raise awareness about infertility and promote education on this common issue affecting up to 15% of couples in the United States. Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive a child after one year of trying despite regular, unprotected sexual intercourse. Both men and women can experience infertility, and many factors can contribute to the condition. For female, causes range from hormonal imbalance, ovulation disorder, blocked fallopian tube to autoimmune conditions while in male, infertility may be caused by a low sperm count or poor sperm quality sometimes due to the presence of varicoceles.

Erasing the stigma often associated with infertility may help couples who are struggling to speak out, share their journeys, hopes and heartaches and seek the help they need.

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) recommends pursuing a fertility evaluation with a reproductive endocrinologist if you:

• Have been trying to naturally conceive for twelve months or more and are under 35 years old (female)
• Have been trying to naturally conceive for six months or more and are 35 years or older (female)
• Are a female over the age of 40 (immediate evaluation)
• If you have irregular menstrual cycles, autoimmune issues, genetic conditions, or endometriosis, you may seek immediate evaluation regardless of your age.

To have access to all the resources NIAW has to offer, consult their website.

To learn more about when to seek help, what to expect, and what you can do if your doctor can’t find a solution, read our blog “The Infertility Patient’s Journey”.