National Infertility Awareness Week: Why South Carolina Must Pay Attention
From April 20–26, we join a national movement to recognize National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW)—a time to break the silence around infertility, challenge stigma, and advocate for access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare. At the Women’s Rights and Empowerment Network (WREN), we believe that acknowledging and addressing infertility is not only a matter of healthcare—it’s a matter of equity, dignity, and justice.
Infertility is a Reproductive Justice Issue
Infertility affects 1 in 8 couples in the U.S., and more than 150,000 South Carolinians experience infertility. Yet, for many people in our state, especially those living in rural areas or from historically marginalized communities, access to fertility care is out of reach—financially, geographically, and systemically.
Too often, infertility is treated as a private, even shameful, experience. But infertility is a medical condition, not a personal failure. And the ability to grow a family—by any means—is central to reproductive freedom. Whether someone chooses to have children, how they build their family, or whether they can access care during the process—these are all reproductive rights that deserve protection.
The State of Infertility in South Carolina
This year, Governor Henry McMaster issued a proclamation officially recognizing National Infertility Awareness Week in South Carolina. While this symbolic step is important, we must also address the material barriers people in our state face:
- South Carolina does not require insurance plans to cover fertility treatments, placing a financial burden on families who are already emotionally and physically stretched.
- Black women are nearly twice as likely to experience infertility as white women, yet they are far less likely to receive treatment—due in part to systemic healthcare inequities.
- LGBTQ+ families, single parents by choice, and others often face additional legal and financial hurdles to building their families.
These disparities are not coincidental—they are the result of policy gaps and systemic failures that must be addressed with urgency.
At WREN, We Believe:
- Everyone deserves access to reproductive healthcare, including fertility support, regardless of income, race, geography, gender identity, or relationship status.
- No one should have to choose between financial stability and their dream of building a family.
- Infertility is not a luxury concern—it is a healthcare concern, and policies should reflect that reality.
Here’s How You Can Help:
- Speak Up: Share your story or amplify the voices of those who’ve experienced infertility.
- Push for Policy Change: Demand insurance coverage for fertility care and protections for access to IVF and other reproductive technologies.
- Support Local Efforts: Partner with and donate to organizations working to expand reproductive health access across South Carolina.
At WREN, we are committed to creating a South Carolina where all people have the resources, rights, and support to decide if, when, and how they want to grow their families.
Infertility deserves attention—not just this week, but every day. Together, we can build a future where every South Carolinian has the freedom and opportunity to create the family they envision—on their own terms.