National Infertility Awareness Week 2020 is bringing infertility into the light
Midwest Fertility Specialists (MFS) believes that understanding your fertility is the first step to take control of it. Our Indiana fertility doctors are using National Infertility Awareness Week 2020 (NIAW) as an opportunity to raise awareness and provide education. We’ve compiled an overview of NIAW and some fast fertility facts.
What is National Infertility Awareness Week 2020?
The most important fact to know about infertility is that it can happen to anyone, regardless of their race, religion, sexuality or economic status. Despite this truth, there’s still stigma surrounding infertility and barriers to fertility treatments for many women and men. National Infertility Awareness Week 2020 is here to destroy this stigma and smash these barriers.
Our Indiana fertility doctors view every day, but especially April 19-25, as a chance to empower our patients and change the conversation about infertility.
Understanding your fertility – A look at some fertility facts
Part of National Infertility Awareness Week 2020 involves sharing information about fertility struggles. As more people realize that infertility is a common and treatable medical condition, the reality of conceiving in the face of infertility will change for the better.
Here are some facts from our Indiana fertility doctors to help with understanding your fertility:
- Infertility is common. 1 in 8 couples in the United States will have trouble conceiving or carrying a pregnancy to term. This is 12% of married women.
- Fertility treatment helps many people. 7.4 million U.S. women (nearly 12%) have received infertility services.
- Infertility affects both men and women. Female fertility issues contribute to 1 in 3 cases of infertility and another third of cases can be attributed to men. The remaining 1 in 3 cases are either a combination of factors or unexplained infertility.
- IVF isn’t the only option. Although in vitro fertilization is a highly effective treatment, only about 3% of patients need to use it to conceive. Most of the time, medications and surgery are enough to make pregnancy possible.
It’s also important to know that fertility declines over time in both women and men. While the decline is more pronounced and happens earlier in women (typically around age 35), men can start to experience a decline in sperm quality starting in their 40s.
When to partner with MFS
If you have been unable to conceive after one year of regular unprotected sex, you should schedule an appointment with our team. If you’re 35 or over, you should reach out to us after trying for six months. Contact us to learn how our fertility doctors can design a customized treatment plan to help you welcome a baby.