Today begins something new and never before discussed on NOH. This week is National Infertility Awareness Week (April 24-30) and although this is a topic and area of life that we have not personally struggled with, I have known several couples who have. And one of my readers in particular shared some insights from her own infertility struggle which have motivated me to raise awareness on behalf of the millions of people, male and female, who have ever been infertile or are considered infertile today.
One in seven individuals in the US experience difficulties when trying to conceiving children. An estimated 7.3 people in the United States are affected by infertility issues. Sometimes there is a problem with the woman’s reproductive system, sometimes the problems stems from the man, and almost nearly as often, there is no explanation as to why these couples cannot conceive. Chances are that you know someone who has struggled with some sort of infertility issues (even if they never mentioned it)– or you might even have dealt with infertility yourself.
Now as someone who has never been in a position where I had to wonder if it would ever be possible for me to have children of my own, I’m not about to give IFers advice. During the following week, the “regularly scheduled programming” of No Ordinary Homestead will be interrupted as I bring you insights into the world of infertility from those who who actually live and breath it.
And for those on the outside, I also want to give some words of wisdom if and when someone divulges to you that they are having fertility issues. These will hopefully keep you from putting your foot in your mouth, coming across as an idiot or seeming insensitive beyond belief.
I would like to personally thank each and every individual who is sharing a slice of their life with us here on No Ordinary Homestead. I was afraid that as an outsider looking in, I was perhaps overstepping my bounds or would offend someone. But I have felt nothing but warmth, the utmost compassion and absolute openness as I put all this together.
And I would like to send a special thank you to Kim who runs the Ladies in Waiting Book Club. She has been very instrumental in helping me to put this event together. This year, members of the LiWBC are joining Resolve in the “Bust an Infertility Myth” Challenge for National Infertility Awareness Week. Be sure to head over there this week and read all that they have put together.
I hope that you learn something valuable this week, National Infertility Awareness Week, and that all of this will help you, wherever your life may currently have led you. I know that I have come through all of this feeling much more informed and simply amazed by the strength of these individuals who have found themselves walking along the path of infertility.
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