GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — This week is National Infertility Awareness Week. According to RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, 1 in 8 couples will have trouble getting pregnant or sustaining a pregnancy.
"It's important to realize that infertility is a medical diagnosis and fertility treatment is it's not elective," said Dr. Valerie Shavell, reproductive endocrinology and fertility specialist at the Fertility Center in Grand Rapids, "More employers should be offering coverage to assist with the cost of fertility treatment."
Shavell said infertility comes in many different forms. According to RESOLVE, one-third is attributed to the female partner, one-third to the male, and one-third caused by a combination of both partners or unexplained.
Often a person you may know could be struggling with infertility without your knowledge.
"This is very personal," said Shavell, "And a lot of individuals or couples don't feel comfortable sharing their story."
She said listening to friends or family with infertility, and supporting and understanding their journey in a non-judgmental way is critical.
"It's a very emotional roller coaster, a lots of highs, lots of lows," said Shavell, "It's not easy. It's a difficult journey for our patients to be on."
The Fertility Center is running a contest during National Infertility Awareness Week. Three families are finalists in an essay contest, sharing their infertility story. On its Facebook Page, you can vote for one of the contestants by liking, commenting and sharing.
The winner will receive $10,000 toward their treatment.
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