April 19 - 25 2020, was National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW). Unilab took the pledge to #FlipTheScript. Heres what you need to know and how you can continue to support NIAW even after the week has ended.
What is National Infertility Awareness Week?
RESOLVE recognized April 19 - 25, 2020 as National Infertility Awareness Week. NIAW is part of a larger collaborative effort to recognize the millions of men and women who struggle with infertility.
This years NIAW theme is #FlipTheScript, encouraging individuals to change the conversation about infertility, to remove the stigmas and barriers that stand in the way of building families.
What does #FlipTheScript mean?
The scope of the problem and who is struggling to build a family. (hint: it’s not just “older women” who “waited too long” to start a family)
There are many barriers for millions of people who struggle to build a family. These barriers include: lack of insurance coverage, out-of-pocket costs, faith and religion, sexual orientation, and state and federal laws.
The impact of infertility is far reaching—it impacts family, friends, co-workers, and employers.
“National Infertility Awareness Week is a great opportunity for the infertility community to come together to make sure that the public, media, insurers, healthcare professionals, and lawmakers focus on the issues that can truly improve the lives of people living with infertility.” - Barbara Collura, RESOLVE’s President/CEO
How can you #FlipTheScript? Here are just a few ways you can change the conversation about infertility.
1. Get informed.
Infertility is not just a female problem. Approximately one-third of infertility is attributed to the female partner, one-third attributed to the male partner and one-third is caused by a combination of problems in both partners or, is unexplained.
2. Talk to family and friends about infertility.
Infertility impacts 1 in 8 families in the U.S. today. Silencing the conversation could prevent people from receiving a medical diagnosis. Normalize the conversation so people facing infertility do not feel alone.
3. Educate others.
Most people struggling with infertility receive no coverage from their health insurance. This inhibits many people being able to move forward to treatment to resolve their infertility. Let’s educate others and change their perceptions.
4. Change the conversation in the workplace.
Aim to change the conversation in the workplace for employers that do not include infertility treatment in their health plans. Many do not know or realize the impact of infertility on a family if they’ve never been through it nor do they realize the limited access to appropriate coverage and care.
5. Get politically active.
Laws and policies can impact access to many family building options. #FlipTheScript on those that may put roadblocks up to families everywhere and stop the anti-family legislation in place today.
How can you get involved?
1. Organize a Walk of Hope in your community to raise awareness on a local level.
2. Take the #FlipTheScript pledge.
3. Contact state legislatures.
4. Raise awareness on social media. Use hashtags: #NIAW #FliptheScript #NIAW18 #IFAwareness #NationalInfertilityAwarenessWeek
5. Host an event that raises infertility awareness.