RESOLVE Launches Public Education Initiative during 2011 National Infertility Awareness Week

“Bust a Myth” Theme Combats Misinformation and Ignorance

(McLean, VA) RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association kicks off National Infertility Awareness Week® (NIAW) next week, April 24 – 30, 2011. This year’s theme, “Bust an Infertility Myth,” focuses on increasing public awareness about the disease of infertility and the ways people build their families.
A recent survey* yielded the following statistics regarding the emotional impact of infertility:

• 65% of couples didn’t realize fertility could be a problem when they wanted to conceive
• 61% of couples concealed their infertility diagnosis from friends and family
• Only 53% of respondents had told their mother about their infertility diagnosis
• 54% of couples received unsolicited advice from family and friends
• The most common type of advice (78%) was to relax and stop worrying so much

“The silence that surrounds infertility is isolating, and the common misconceptions can be a barrier to seeking proper treatment, “ said Alice Domar, PhD, leader of The Domar Center for Mind/Body Health, a member of the survey steering committee and RESOLVE Board Member. “Relax and you’ll get pregnant? If only it were that easy! The fact is, the vast majority of individuals who have infertility have a medical reason, not a stress-related one. Upwards of 90% of all infertility cases are caused by physical problems. In addition, among couples who went to see a fertility specialist, 91% wish that they would have had sooner. Armed with these types of facts, we intend to educate the public about the disease of infertility during National Infertility Awareness Week.”

RESOLVE has lined up a host of medical and legal experts as well as members of the infertility community to provide the facts in response to the misinformation about infertility. During NIAW, RESOLVE.org, the Bloggers Unite initiative, local events, and extensive media exposure will showcase information that debunks common and pervasive myths about all aspects of infertility.

“From insensitive comments from friends and family to inaccurate medical information on the internet, the public misconceptions about infertility are harmful to people diagnosed with this disease,” said RESOLVE Executive Director Barbara Collura. “We are incredibly excited about how the infertility community has come together for National Infertility Awareness Week to provide accurate information about the medical, legal, and emotional issues surrounding infertility.”
RESOLVE’s National Infertility Awareness Week partners are: Attain Fertility®, Design Rx®, EMD Serono Inc., Ferring Pharmaceuticals, First Response®, Merck, New Life Agency Inc., and Rite Aid.

National Infertility Awareness Week is a federally recognized health observance by the Department of Health and Human Services. For more information, visit www.resolve.org/takecharge.

* Source: “The Psychological Impact Of Infertility: Results Of A National Survey Of Men And Women,” by: A.D. Domar, K. Gordon. Fertility and Sterility, Vol. 95, No. 4. (15 March 2011), pp. S17-S17.

About RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association: Established in 1974, RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association is a non-profit organization with the only established, nationwide network mandated to promote reproductive health and to ensure equal access to all family building options for men and women experiencing infertility or other reproductive disorders. One in eight U.S. couples of childbearing age is diagnosed with infertility. RESOLVE addresses this public health issue by providing community to these women and men, connecting them with others who can help, empowering them to find resolution and giving voice to their demands for access to all family building options. For more information, visit www.RESOLVE.org.