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Infertility affects millions of people, yet it remains a topic that is often misunderstood or avoided. National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW), held this year from April 20-26, 2025, is an opportunity to acknowledge the emotional, physical, and financial realities of those facing family-building challenges. It’s also a time to push for better access to fertility care, share real stories, and remind those struggling that they are not alone.
For intended parents considering egg donation, infertility can feel like a series of unexpected turns. The decision to use donor eggs is not made lightly—it often follows years of unsuccessful treatments, heartbreak, and soul-searching. But while egg donation offers a viable path to parenthood, the process can still be emotionally and financially overwhelming. This is why we started Cofertility.
Our approach is unique. Intended parents who have faced infertility can build their families through egg donation, while our Split members—who freeze their eggs for free in exchange for donating half—expand their future family-building options. It’s a model that brings more equity to fertility care, helping more people plan for parenthood on their own terms.
In this article, we’ll explore the stigma surrounding infertility, what it means to turn to egg donation, and how people can take action during NIAW.
Why infertility is still hard to talk about
Even with growing awareness, infertility remains a topic many people struggle to discuss openly. For some, it carries a sense of personal failure, even though medical science tells us otherwise. Others worry about judgment from family, friends, or cultural and religious communities.
The emotional toll is significant. Infertility can impact relationships, self-esteem, and mental health. It has been found that stress levels faced by those experiencing infertility are similar to people with cancer diagnoses. And yet, many still suffer in silence, feeling isolated in an experience that affects 1 in 6 couples.
This is why awareness weeks like NIAW matter. They create space for conversations that people may otherwise avoid. For intended parents considering donor eggs, speaking openly about their family-building decisions can help normalize the process and reduce the stigma for future generations.
Why intended parents turn to egg donation
For many, using an egg donor is not the first choice—it’s a decision that comes after exhausting other options. Some people turn to donor eggs due to medical conditions, such as premature ovarian failure, diminished ovarian reserve, or genetic concerns. Others, including LGBTQ+ couples and single parents by choice, use donor eggs as a planned part of their fertility process.
One common fear among intended parents is whether they will feel connected to a child who doesn’t share their genetic makeup. The truth is, parenthood is built on far more than DNA. Research into epigenetics suggests that a birth parent’s body influences how genes are expressed during pregnancy, reinforcing the idea that parenting begins well before birth.
Still, the decision isn’t always easy. Some parents-to-be struggle with grief over not passing on their own genetics. Others feel pressure to choose a donor who looks like them or worry about how to talk to their child about their origin story. These are normal concerns, and part of raising awareness is helping intended parents work through them with the right information and support.
What makes egg sharing particularly special is that it’s not just helping one family—it’s helping two. When a young woman donates half of her retrieved eggs through the Split program, she’s not only giving an intended parent the chance to have a child, but she’s also preserving her own fertility for the future. Our model makes egg freezing more accessible, expanding reproductive choices for more people.
Ways to participate in National Infertility Awareness Week
NIAW is more than just a time for reflection—it’s a time for action. Whether you’re an intended parent, an advocate, or someone supporting a loved one, here’s how you can get involved:
- Share your story. If you feel comfortable, talking about your experience with infertility or egg donation can help others feel less alone.
- Support advocacy efforts. Organizations like RESOLVE fight for better fertility coverage and legal protections. Consider signing petitions or contacting lawmakers.
- Educate yourself and others. Misinformation about infertility and donor conception is common. Use this week to learn and share accurate information.
- Show support on social media. A simple post can help spread awareness. Use hashtags like #NIAW2025 and #InfertilityAwareness to join the conversation.
Moving forward with more support and less stigma
National Infertility Awareness Week is about shining a light on a topic that too often remains in the shadows. Infertility is not a personal failure, and using an egg donor does not make someone any less of a parent. These are real, viable paths to family-building, and they deserve to be talked about openly and without shame.
For those still in the middle of the process, know this: you are not alone. There is a growing community of intended parents, donors, and advocates working to make fertility care more accessible and to ensure that no one has to walk this road without support. The more we talk, the more we normalize—and the closer we get to a world where infertility is met with understanding rather than silence.
For more resources on egg donation and family-building, visit our blog.
Lauren Makler
Lauren Makler is the Co-Founder and CEO of Cofertility, a human-first fertility ecosystem rewriting the egg freezing and egg donation experience. Previously, as an early Uber employee, Lauren founded Uber Health, a product that enables healthcare organizations to leverage Uber’s massive driver network in improving healthcare outcomes through patient transportation and healthcare delivery. Under her leadership, the business helped millions of patients get to the care they needed. Prior to that, Lauren spent the early years at Uber launching the core business throughout the east coast and led the company’s first experiment in healthcare, national on demand flu shot campaigns. After a rare disease diagnosis, Lauren’s fertility journey led her to believe that everyone should have the opportunity to freeze their eggs–and that there should be better access to egg donors. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their miracle baby girl.
Education:
-Bachelor of Arts from Northeastern University in Organizational Communication
Certifications & Accomplishments:
-Fast Company's Most Creative People in Business 2023
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Lauren Makler
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