Join the Movement

Today kicks off National Infertility Awareness Week, or if you're in the know, NIAW. Infertiles everywhere are in the know; e-blasts from organizations like Resolve and our RE's offices keep it ever present in our minds in the month of April. I've been thinking all month about what I wanted to do to mark this week, and I still haven't thought of anything. Sorry, no great ideas here. I feel like I've joined the movement. I feel like I've educated people via this blog and conversations in real life. Sure, I could spend more time being an annoying pest to me representatives on Capital Hill, but it's not really my thing. I guess I could wear a t-shirt advocating infertility, but well, I don't have one. Let me know if you see a cool one.

However, in light of this year's theme and the call to "enhance public understanding", I thought I'd offer myself up to the "public" (i.e. everyone not dealing with a diagnosis of infertility) as your infertile representative. If you have a question about infertility, about treatments, about my journey, or the life of a "typical" infertile, here's your chance. I encourage you to comment on the blog (it doesn't hurt, I promise). I'll do my very best to answer any burning questions you may have.

Also this week is mostly about education and advocation, however I encourage you to do something. If you are not infertile, but you know someone who is, I can guarantee you that a kind word goes along way. So if your friend blogs, leave a comment, even if that's "not your thing", just do it. Tell them you care. If they don't blog, send them a private message on Facebook or an email just to say you're thinking of them. Buy them a coffee (decaf please), give them a hug, send them flowers, buy them some prenatal vitamins. Find some way of telling your friends, that no matter where in their journey they may be on the roller coaster of infertility, that you care, that they matter, and that you support them.

And remember, infertility affects 1 in 8 couples. The odds are that you do know someone who is living with infertility.