One in eight couples in the United States try to get pregnant but can’t. Many suffer in silence even as they live with some of the worst heartbreak of their adult lives.
Couples of all ages, income levels and cultures face stress and even stigma when it comes to infertility. Couples may get questions about when their “bundle of joy” is coming. Women of a certain age may hear “the clock is ticking.”
Such well-intentioned but painful comments can lead those living with infertility to feel there’s something wrong with them. They may feel embarrassed to seek help.
Awareness Week
National Infertility Awareness Week (April 23-29) aims to change all that. Organizers are asking Americans to “Listen Up” to the following facts:
- Infertility affects millions of people. It does not discriminate based on income level, age, culture, sexuality or religion.
- Those living with infertility can get help through support groups, online communities and more.
- There are many ways to resolve infertility.
- The first step is knowing when to seek help for infertility.
OB-GYN Associates of Western New York offers a range of infertility services in the Buffalo area communities of West Seneca and Lancaster. To learn what therapies are available, please call 716-675-5222 or download this “Treating Infertility” document.
Infertility Defined
Experts define infertility as a couple not being able to conceive and carry a baby to term after 12 months of having regular sexual intercourse without birth control. For women over the age of 35, the time frame is six months.
About a third of infertility cases result from male issues and a third are from female factors. The remaining cases result from issues in both partners or are undetermined, according to RESOLVE, the group sponsoring National Infertility Awareness Week.
Getting Help
OB-GYN Associates of Western New York helps infertility patients by starting with a thorough assessment. Depending on the suspected causes, a range of options can be tried, from making lifestyle changes to hormone treatments, surgery and in-vitro fertilization.
Call OB-GYN Associates WNY today at 716-675-5222 and take your first step toward getting help.