Infertility is a widespread medical condition that affects an estimated 17.5% of adults worldwide, but it is still often subject to stigma and misconceptions, and treatment remains inaccessible for many.

Alto is committed to making fertility pharmacy care more affordable and ensuring that everyone facing infertility has the support they need. In honor of National Infertility Awareness Week, we sat down with Alto team members Lindsey Primozich and Marquita Hunter and Alto customer Kelly O’Boyle to hear about their experiences with infertility, where they found community, and why awareness matters.

Tell us about your fertility journey.

Lindsey: My husband and I started trying the old fashioned way around the end of 2019. I had no reason to believe we’d have any challenges, but then six months went by. After nine months, my husband and I both did some testing and everything looked good. On paper, we should be making babies, no problem. But it just wasn’t happening.

I started seeking out fertility specialists and did three unsuccessful intrauterine inseminations (IUIs). We eventually did a cycle of IVF in September 2021. We waited a while to do the frozen embryo transfer. The first transfer failed, and it was devastating. We did a second transfer in March 2022, which was successful, and our daughter, Joey Jean, is now 15 months old.

We have unexplained infertility, so we still don’t know why things didn’t work.There was a mantra that got me through all the waiting and disappointment: I may have a higher mountain to climb, but the view is going to be that much sweeter at the end. It was emotionally devastating at times, but every day of this year of her life has been that much sweeter.

Marquita: I’m a single mom by choice — I conceived with a donor — so I went through the process on my own. I started thinking more seriously about fertility and family building options in 2019. When the pandemic put a pause on dating and creating the family I’d always hoped for, I decided that I wanted to have a child whether I was with someone or not.

I had fibroids that needed to be removed so I had to wait a while to move forward with treatment. After doing two rounds of IUI that weren’t successful, I learned through additional testing that I had a closed fallopian tube. At that point I switched to IVF and became pregnant on the first round. My daughter, Neve, is now 18 months old. She’s an October baby, and I named her after Neve Campbell, the ultimate scream queen.

Kelly: My husband and I started trying to build a family soon after we married in 2019. All of our friends were easily getting pregnant, and we did not experience that. I pursued an infertility consultation after a year of trying to conceive. The two main clinics in Charlotte, where we live, both had waiting lists of 5-6 months, so clearly infertility is a prevalent issue. Just as we were about to try our first round of IUI, I conceived naturally — after trying for two years — and became pregnant with our daughter, who is now two. The doctor said the probability of that happening was less than four percent.

We now want to expand our family further. After six months of trying again to conceive, I returned to the same fertility specialist, who again recommended IUIs. We did four this past summer, which were all unsuccessful. My husband and I decided to start the IVF process in October of this past year, which is when I found Alto. We’ve completed our first cycle and recently did the embryo transfer.

I wanted a scientific explanation of why we couldn’t conceive, but we fall into the category of unexplained infertility. There’s no specific medical diagnosis, and the doctors don’t know what the reason is.

Where did you find community and support?

Lindsey: I’m on TikTok and have almost 100,000 followers just from documenting my infertility journey. I’ve always been an open book and for me it was really helpful to share what it looks like — the ups and the downs — and be able to provide awareness.

Community is important but it can also be challenging as you see people find success. I’ve known forever that I wanted to be a mom, and it can feel really lonely when you’re the last one who hasn’t been able to realize this dream. I connected with a friend of a friend whose first transfer failed right around the same time as mine. We had a lot we could bond over, including the same fear about our second attempts. We ended up delivering a week apart, so our babies have grown up together a bit. Only those who’ve been through it can really get how monumental it is to be on the other side. Infertility is always going to be a part of me.

Marquita: I found a lot of support with my doctors and nurses at the clinic. I asked questions that I’m sure they hear at least 50 times a day, but they always answered with such care — I never felt like a number. You have to feel safe, happy, comforted, and supported at your clinic, because you’re spending a lot of time there. As a woman of color, I also wanted someone that represented me. My clinic had a doctor who was Black and that made me feel even more comfortable being in her care.

Everyone has their own journey and path to getting pregnant, and part of support is respecting each path, no matter how long or how short it may be. As a community, each one of us is still feeling the same sentiment of will this work?

Kelly: I joined my fertility clinic’s Facebook group. My college roommate randomly found out about my fertility journey because we were both members of the same group. The two of us are friends, but we never discovered that we had this in common. Everyone’s journey is different — she successfully conceived via IUI several years ago — and if we have more open conversations, we can help each other along.

What’s one misconception about infertility you’d like to address?

Lindsey: Infertility does not discriminate. I hated the idea that if you struggled to get pregnant it meant the universe or God or some force has deemed that you wouldn't be a good parent. That's not how this works. We don't talk that way with other medical disorders, and we shouldn't with infertility.

Marquita: Male fertility matters, too. When a couple struggles to conceive, many people are quick to assume that only the female partner is experiencing infertility. In reality, low sperm count and poor sperm motility are common contributing factors. Another misconception is that infertility is always related to lifestyle choices. Healthy habits can improve fertility, but they can’t overcome underlying problems like a blocked fallopian tube or low sperm count.

Kelly: Many people consider infertility to be solely a physical condition, but it can significantly impact mental and emotional well-being. The cyclical pattern of disappointment adds to the complexity of an already challenging journey.

Why is infertility awareness so important?

Lindsey: Globally, 1 in 6 people will experience infertility, and that statistic demonstrates the urgent need for affordable and accessible fertility care. If you have the ability to be proactive, getting your hormones checked or banking eggs or sperm prior to even thinking about having kids is a great bit of insurance for yourself. If you can do it, do it.

Marquita: People facing infertility are longing to build their own family. They need all the support they can get, because it doesn’t just take a village to raise a child — it takes a village to create one too.

Kelly: You really find that many more people are struggling with infertility than we realize. Greater awareness fosters support and compassion, and it allows people on this journey to experience hope and find brighter paths ahead.

What words would you share with someone just starting their fertility journey?

Lindsey: It’s definitely worth it, but it can be really hard at times. All the waiting can weigh you down. Don’t go through it alone. Find that community, because we’re here, and just remember that you are meant for this.

Marquita: Go get that baseline assessment, no matter how young or how old you are — just to have an idea of what’s going on with your fertility. Get all the information. Even if now is not the right time, you’ll have what you need to make informed decisions down the road. Everything will work itself out the way that it’s supposed to, so just have the initial conversation and let it go from there.

Kelly: Everyone's on their own journey. Take deep breaths as you go along, trust in your medical team, and always advocate for yourself if something feels off. Never hesitate to ask the questions you need for clarity – what is the purpose of this test, what is it looking for, and what is it ruling out.

Start your fertility journey at Alto

Your choice of pharmacy matters during fertility treatment. Since 2016, we’ve helped more than 120,000 customers navigate the physical, emotional, and financial challenges of fertility and family-building care. Learn more at alto.com/fertility.

This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.