How politicians are destigmatizing infertility this election season

How politicians are destigmatizing infertility this election season
Infertility is at the forefront of this election season, helping people who have gone through it feel seen

By Nicole Karlis
Senior Writer
Published September 2, 2024 5:45AM (EDT)


(Salon) Tim Walz, the Democratic Minnesota governor vying for vice president, has become a reproductive rights champion, not only advocating against abortion bans, but he has been outspoken about the right to maintain access to fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intrauterine insemination (IUI.) For Walz, as he’s discussed before, the issue is personal. In a couple of his speeches on the campaign trail, including at the Democratic National Convention, he’s talked about how he and his spouse, Gwen, struggled to conceive.

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It’s unusual for a man in politics to talk openly about infertility. Only recently has it become a more discussed topic, in part because it’s difficult to separate from other discussions on reproductive rights, including abortion. As the nation witnessed in February of this year, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are “extrauterine children” sending devastating ripple effects across the state halting IVF treatments. But experts and people who have experienced infertility directly tell Salon that one silver lining of IVF being in the limelight is that it continues to normalize and destigmatize infertility treatments.

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One in six people will experience infertility. More than 2 percent of infants in the U.S. are born through assisted reproductive technology. As public figures continue to normalize conversations around fertility treatments and alternative paths to parenthood, it gives people more opportunities to feel less alone.

“It’s important for public figures to continue to normalize conversations around fertility treatments and alternative paths to parenthood,” Dr. Roger Shedlin, CEO and Founder of WIN (formerly WINFertility), a leading specialty benefit management company that is focused on fertility, family building and family well-being, told Salon. “While many don’t see any stigma tied to infertility treatments, but rather as a way to build their families, politicians’ discussions about fertility treatments in the U.S. have helped further eliminate any stigma by putting it center stage.” ................(more)

https://www.salon.com/2024/09/02/how-politicians-are-destigmatizing-infertility-this-season/