Infertility awareness month: 8 ways to make an impact

May 19

Clinically reviewed by Dr. Chris Mosunic, PhD, RD, MBA

World Infertility Awareness Month is a great time to break down stigma and support others, but it can be hard to know where to start. These 8 tips can help.

For a lot of people, infertility is something they go through largely alone. Not because no one cares, but because it's still one of those things most people don't know how to talk about — including those going through it.

World Infertility Awareness Month, observed every June, is a global push to bring conversations on infertility into the open, so that people facing it feel less alone. Stigma and a lack of cultural vocabulary around infertility mean many people navigate it without support.

Here's a look at what World Infertility Awareness Month is, why it matters, and how to take part in a way that feels genuine and helpful.

What is World Infertility Awareness Month?

Every June, individuals, healthcare providers, and communities around the world come together to reduce stigma, share information, and make sure people facing infertility know they're not alone.

Infertility is generally defined as being unable to conceive after 12 months of trying, or six months for people over 35. It affects people across all genders and can have many causes, including hormonal conditions, ovulation problems, and sperm quality issues. Sometimes there's no clear cause at all. Some cases can be treated, while others can't.

Why World Infertility Awareness Month matters

Infertility is more common than most people realize, but it often stays hidden. Many people don't find out how many others around them are struggling until they share their own story. That silence comes at a cost. People wait longer to get help, carry more shame, and feel more alone than they need to.

Talking openly about infertility helps normalize it, and awareness does more than just make people feel seen. It also puts pressure on systems that need to change. Fertility treatment is expensive, while insurance coverage remains limited and inconsistent. The more awareness there is, the stronger the case for better access and support.

Why is infertility so hard to talk about?

Infertility touches something many cultures treat as deeply personal — the decision to have a family. There's often an unspoken assumption that parenthood happens naturally, so anything that gets in the way can feel like a personal failure rather than a medical one. A few things make it especially hard to talk about:

Gender expectations: For women, infertility can conflict with deeply held ideas about femininity and motherhood. For men, it can feel at odds with cultural ideas about masculinity. The weight falls hard regardless of gender.

Invisible grief: There's no real social script for infertility. Because we’re surrounded by baby showers, pregnancy announcements, and casual questions about when you're having kids, everyday life is full of moments that can feel devastating. And since the struggle is often invisible, you rarely see the kind of support for infertility that shows up for other challenges.

Secondary infertility: Struggling to conceive after already having a child can feel especially lonely. People sometimes assume that having one child means the problem isn't that serious, which can leave those going through it feeling like their grief isn’t valid.

How to participate in World Infertility Awareness Month: 8 ways to join in

If you’re ready to join the cause to help break down the stigma around infertility, here are some tips to get started. You don't need a personal connection to infertility to get involved. What matters most is showing up with genuine care and a willingness to learn.

1. Educate yourself

Start by getting familiar with the basics. What is infertility? What are the common causes? What does treatment involve, emotionally and physically? Most people's understanding is limited or shaped by outdated ideas. Even a few reliable articles can change the way you think and talk about it.

Look to reputable sources such as fertility clinics, medical organizations, and advocacy groups like RESOLVE. Understanding the facts allows you to have better conversations and be a more informed advocate.

2. Share accurate information on social media

Infertility Awareness Month has a natural home online. Sharing resources, statistics, or personal reflections can reach people who need to feel less alone. Use hashtags like #WorldInfertilityAwarenessMonth to connect with the wider community.

Try to keep what you share thoughtful rather than sensational. A well-sourced statistic, a quote from someone who's shared their story publicly, or a link to a support resource can do more good than a dramatic post..

3. Support infertility advocacy organizations

Organizations like RESOLVE (which mark a National Infertility Awareness Week in April) and the American Fertility Association do important work fighting for insurance coverage, research funding, and patient rights. June is a great time to donate, volunteer, or simply amplify their campaigns — your social network is an invaluable resource.

4. Attend or organize a community event

Many fertility clinics, hospitals, and support organizations host events in June, including informational talks, fundraisers, and virtual gatherings. Look for events in your area or online, and consider showing up even if infertility hasn't touched your life directly.

If there's nothing nearby, try hosting a small conversation among friends or share a relevant documentary or podcast episode as a starting point for discussion.

5. Check in on the people in your life

This one doesn't require a platform or a public profile. If you know someone navigating infertility or fertility treatment, a thoughtful check-in matters more than almost anything else.

Something simple like, "I know this is a hard time. I'm here if you want to talk, or if you just want company that doesn't bring it up," can mean a great deal to someone used to people either avoiding the subject or pressing for updates.

💙 Explore 5 Steps to Stronger Relationships with Jay Shetty in the Calm app for guidance on showing up more meaningfully for the people you care about.

6. Be more thoughtful with your language

This is something everyone can do all year round, but June is a good time to start. Phrases like "when are you having kids?" or "you're not getting any younger" can land very differently than intended. So can "just relax and it will happen" or "have you tried..." when said to someone dealing with infertility.

Being more intentional with your words isn't about walking on eggshells. It's about recognizing that you rarely know what someone is carrying behind a calm face.

7. Advocate for better workplace support

Fertility treatment is time-consuming, emotionally demanding, and often has to be scheduled around work. Many people go through IVF cycles, monitoring appointments, and difficult procedures without any formal support from their employer, sometimes in secret.

If you're in a position to influence workplace culture or policy, World Infertility Awareness Month can be a good time to ask whether your organization has adequate leave or support options for employees going through fertility treatment. Even raising the conversation is meaningful.

8. Take care of your own mental health

For those personally navigating infertility, looking after your mental health is a central part of the process. The emotional weight of the journey is real, and practices like mindfulness and meditation can help with the anxiety, grief, and stress that often come with it.

Small, regular steps matter — a short breathing practice, a few minutes of guided meditation, or simply naming what you're feeling without judgment. Calm's sleep and meditation content includes tools for stress and emotional overwhelm that can fit into even the most unpredictable days.

💙 Learn how to Breathe to Calm Down on the Calm app to help you stay grounded when things feel overwhelming.

How to support someone struggling with infertility

Supporting a friend or family member through infertility can feel daunting, especially if you're not sure what they need or whether bringing it up will make the situation harder. In most cases, people navigating fertility challenges feel more seen, not more burdened, when someone they trust acknowledges what they're going through.

A few principles can help:

Follow their lead: Some people want to talk about it, while others want their friendships to be a space where they can step away from it all. Ask what kind of support they find helpful rather than assuming.
Resist the urge to fix: Infertility rarely has easy answers, and people going through it usually know this better than anyone. Listening without jumping to solutions is more valuable than you might think.
Show up when treatment fails: Miscarriage, failed IVF cycles, and canceled treatment plans are moments of profound loss. Reaching out, even briefly, matters enormously.
Respect their choices: Whether someone pursues further treatment, considers adoption, or decides to stop trying altogether, those are deeply personal decisions that deserve respect, not commentary.
Remember them on the hard days: Awareness months bring attention, but infertility is an ongoing experience. A message six months from now, with no agenda, can mean just as much.

Infertility can be isolating when people sense they've become defined by it in others' eyes. Being someone who treats them as a whole person whose life contains this, but isn't only this, is a genuine gift.

World Infertility Awareness Month FAQs

What is World Infertility Awareness Month, and why does it matter?

World Infertility Awareness Month happens every June. It's a chance to raise awareness about infertility, reduce stigma, and help people find education and support.

Infertility affects around one in six people worldwide, but many still face it in silence due to shame or not knowing how to talk about it. The more openly we discuss it, the easier it becomes for people to ask for help and access the care they need.

How can I participate in World Infertility Awareness Month in a meaningful way?

There are lots of ways to get involved in World Infertility Awareness Month. You could share information on social media, support organizations like RESOLVE, or show up to a community event. Being more thoughtful about how you talk about infertility counts too.

If you're personally affected, looking after your own mental health through therapy, peer support, or practices like mindfulness and meditation, is a meaningful way to take part.

What do I say to someone struggling with infertility?

Keeping it simple and sincere tends to land better than anything elaborate. Saying something like "I've been thinking about you" or "I'm here if you want to talk, or if you'd rather just hang out" acknowledges what they're going through without putting pressure on them to open up before they’re ready.

Avoid advice, silver linings, or comparisons to others' stories. The most helpful thing is usually just a consistent, judgment-free presence.

Why is breaking the stigma of infertility important?

Stigma keeps people isolated and makes it harder for them to seek help. Many people going through fertility challenges don't tell their closest friends and family, partly out of fear of judgment and partly because our culture hasn't given them good language for it.

When stigma fades, people feel more able to reach out for support, access treatment earlier, and grieve openly when things don't work out. It also encourages systemic change, such as better insurance coverage and more equitable access to fertility care.

How can I raise awareness about infertility on social media?

To raise awareness for infertility, start by sharing reliable information from organizations like RESOLVE or the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Use hashtags like #WorldInfertilityAwarenessMonth, and consider sharing stories from people who have spoken openly about their experience.

Steady, grounded posts tend to have more impact than dramatic ones. The aim is to help people see infertility as a common, human experience, not a crisis.

Can infertility affect mental health?

Yes, infertility can affect mental health, often more than people expect. Anxiety, depression, and a lower quality of life are much more common among people dealing with infertility. The experience can bring grief, a sense of lost control, relationship strain, and the ongoing stress of treatment.

Support can help, whether that's therapy, a peer group, or mindfulness-based tools that make the day-to-day a little more manageable.

Calm your mind. Change your life.

Mental health is hard. Getting support doesn't have to be. The Calm app puts the tools to feel better in your back pocket, with personalized content to manage stress and anxiety, get better sleep, and feel more present in your life.

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Calm Editorial Team