National Fertility Awareness Week is here. Let’s shout about it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

National Infertility Awareness Week is here and what’s more it’s YOUR week.

This is a week I have been looking forward to all year. It’s the week when we can shout about fertility from the roof tops and be PROUD to do so. I am passionate about raising awareness of fertility and getting women (and men) talking about fertility. National Fertility Awareness Week is all about raising awareness of the issues faced by women and men who are struggling to conceive and motivating anyone effected by this (in a big way or small) to speak up and get involved.

This is what we need to shout about…….

• After pregnancy, infertility is the most common reason for women aged 20–45 to visit their GP
• 1 in 6 couples in the UK experience difficulties conceiving – that’s about 3.5m people
• Over 60,000 cycles of IVF are performed in the UK each year yet fewer than 25% of these are successful
• The majority of fertility treatment in the UK has to be paid for privately as NHS provision can vary tremendously depending on your postcode
• In over 40% of instances of infertility, the causes are unexplained
• Fertility declines with age – and that applies to men as well as women, albeit to a lesser extent
• Following a healthy diet and lifestyle can help improve your chances of conceiving, whether naturally or through treatment

The Events

This week there are so many events happening around the country and they are all leading up to the BIG EVENT at the weekend which is the Fertility Show in London.

Here are some of the events that are happening this week, from Zita West Mini clinics to a free webinar where you can find out what to say when someone asks you when you are going to have children, and lots more.

Get Involved

Don’t forget you can always have your own event too. What about getting involved in the Great Cake Bake using National Fertility Awareness Week cake toppers? Not sure what to bake? Then here’s a link to a fab little muffin recipe just perfect for the occasion http://letthebakingbeginblog.com/2014/07/olive-oil-greek-yogurt-blueberry-muffin-recipe/

or you could……

• Join NFAW Embryo Challenge and donate £5 for every embryo created during National Fertility Awareness Week
• Talk to the local media about what you are doing to support National Fertility Awareness Week
• If you are fundraising, ask if your company has a staff fund matching scheme? Or would they consider making Infertility Network UK their nominated charity for a year?
• Add NFAW Twibbon to your Facebook and Twitter (I have!) and get trending by using the #NFAWUK
• Start your own fertility blog
• Write to your MP highlighting the lack of provision of fertility treatment on the NHS
• ‘Tweet’ or post on FB that you are supporting National Fertility Awareness Week.