Fertility Out Loud Docuseries Shares Diverse Paths to Parenthood, Real-Life Journeys and Support Resources

A new docuseries featuring four different fertility journeys among couples as they navigate their own unique paths to parenthood is now available on YouTube.

The Fertility Out Loud docuseries by Ferring Pharmaceuticals is part of their Fertility Out Loud platform and social community designed to build awareness, provide education, and address the stigma associated with infertility.

“The four incredible couples highlighted in the Fertility Out Loud Docuseries humanize the varied journeys to parenthood and exemplify the emotional and sometimes very complex experience of growing a family,” said David Powley, vice president of Reproductive Medicine/Maternal Health and Operations at Ferring Pharmaceuticals U.S., in a news release. “Ferring admires the passion of this community made up of people and advocates, including the couples featured in the docuseries, who share their stories to help support others navigating their own fertility journeys.”

The docuseries aims to highlight personable and relatable narratives of aspiring parents from all over the U.S., displaying the diverse paths to parenthood.

The four real-life journeys include:

• Alex and Chardé of Long Island, NY, who conceived their first child through in vitro fertilization (IVF) and are exploring IVF for a second time as they seek to grow their family.
• Ben and Monica of Petaluma, CA, who pursued a number of treatments over several years before ultimately deciding to explore surrogacy.
• Cindy and Sarah of Rochester, NY, who are an LGBTQ+ couple going through IVF, while navigating the decision of selecting a donor and determining who will carry during pregnancy.
• Hannah and Shane of Minneapolis, MN, are a couple pursuing options to treat male-factor infertility as they look to grow their family.

Ali Castro, senior director of Marketing & Strategic Engagement at Ferring Pharmaceuticals U.S., said in the release that she hopes this series helps “foster a sense of hope for aspiring parents undergoing similar challenges.”

“While no two paths in a fertility journey look exactly the same and needs can vary based on circumstances, one element is consistent across all paths to parenthood – and that is the importance of an inclusive and supportive community.”

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) recently emphasized the importance of active inclusion in the fertility community.

By updating its definition of infertility, ASRM aims to ensure equitable access to treatment and care for all individuals pursuing family-building, irrespective of relationship status or sexual orientation.

With rising infertility rates and increased demand for reproductive technology services in the U.S., it's crucial to acknowledge and respect diverse paths individuals and couples take to achieve their parenthood goals.

Episode one and two of the four-part series are now available on the Fertility Out Loud YouTube channel. The next two episodes will launch through the end of 2023.

Outside of the docuseries, Fertility Out Loud now also offers their newest support resource, Fertility Outreach, which provides users with personalized guidance and advice from trained fertility specialists in your area with access at your fingertips.