April 23 kicks off National Infertility Awareness Week, an event that brings much needed awareness to a disease that affects over 7 million women worldwide. While infertility is a personal journey that that can affect anyone at any age, it is also a challenge that so many share. NIAW is a great opportunity for anyone affected with infertility to communicate a message of hope and understanding.
Our own Dr. David Hoffman is subspecialty certified in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and has over 25 years of experience in the diagnosis and treatment of infertility. Below he offers valuable information about infertility that may help shed some light on this condition that affects so many.
- Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after one year of unprotected intercourse (six months in the woman is over age 35) or the inability to carry a pregnancy to live birth.
- Six percent of married women aged 15 to 44 years in the U.S. are affected by infertility.
- Twelve percent of women aged 15 to 44 years in the U.S. have difficulty getting pregnant or carrying a pregnancy to term regardless of marital status.
- In 35% of couples with infertility, a male factor is identified along with a female factor. In about 8% of couples with infertility, a male factor is the only identifiable cause.
- Almost 9% of men aged 25 to 44 years in the U.S. reported that they or their partner saw a doctor for advice, testing, or treatment for infertility during their lifetime.
- Infertility impacts 1 in 8 couples of reproductive ages.
- One third of infertility issues are considered “unexplained” infertility.
- Women between the ages of 20-24 have an 86% chance of conceiving after trying a year. As women age, this percentage gradually falls. Between the ages of 40 – 44, the chances decrease to 36%.
- Couples that are between the ages of 29 to 33 with a normal functioning reproductive system have only a 20 to 25% chance of conceiving in any given month. After 6 months of trying, 60% of couples will conceive without medical assistance.
- 7.4 million women (or 11.9% of women) have received infertility services in their lifetime.
- Approximately 85 to 90% of infertility cases are treated with drug therapy or surgical procedures. Fewer than 3% need advanced reproductive technologies like in vitro fertilization.
For more information or to schedule a consultation with Dr. David Hoffman at one of our IVF FLORIDA locations, please call 866.770.2168.
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Dr. David Hoffman IVF FLORIDA at 24 Apr 2017
This year National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW for short) will be the week of April 23-29, 2017. The NIAW movement was founded in 1989 by RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, whose mission is to unite all people struggling to build a family, the professionals, corporate partners, and the media to:
- Enhance public understanding that infertility needs and deserves attention,
- Ensure that people trying to build a family know the guidelines for seeing a specialist,
- Educate lawmakers about how infertility impacts people in their state.
There is a huge need for infertility awareness in our community. RESOLVE offers some ideas on how you can be part of the movement and raise awareness in your community:
Rummage for RESOLVE. Free your mind and your home of clutter and raise money for RESOLVE. We’ve provided an easy checklist to help you have a successful rummage sale and fundraiser. Learn more HERE
Books help. Ask your library to set up a display of infertility/adoption-related books and provide them with signs about National Infertility Awareness Week.
Host a movie screening. RESOLVE has partnered with the documentary, VEGAS BABY and Tugg.com to bring screenings to your community. This powerful film follows aspiring parents through the gamble of fertility treatments and the emotional, physical and financial costs they face.
Food and fun. Host a Dinner Party, Happy Hour, or Benefit Night at a local restaurant: Invite those who have helped you during your infertility journey and others in your community to join together to raise awareness for the disease of infertility. You can even set up a collection for RESOLVE donations in their name or ask them to help you support your favorite infertility charity.
Get Fit. Ask your yoga instructor or personal trainer for a donated class. Invite your friends to a special yoga/aerobics/step class donated by a trainer. Their admission fee of $20 becomes a donation, and the trainer gets the chance to build their client base. It’s a win-win for all.
Finally, always remember that at IVF FLORIDA we are here for you. Reach out to your physician or team to learn more about ways to get involved.
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Dr. Carolina Sueldo at 21 Apr 2017
National Infertility Awareness Week starts April 23rd and throughout the week you will see us promoting infertility awareness through social media and at our South Florida fertility clinics. The goal of NIAW is to bring awareness to a disease that affects over 7 million women worldwide. The CDC tells us that 15% of couples in America. NIAW is an excellent opportunity for anyone involved with infertility to communicate a message of hope and understanding.
Be part of a movement that wants to remove barriers that stand in the way of building families during National Infertility Awareness Week®.
Download the facts HERE.
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IVF FLORIDA at 10 Apr 2017