What comes next?

Solidarity and acknowledging racism is one step, but we have to ask ourselves what comes next? How do we go beyond listening? We honor lives lost by amplifying the voices of those who are shining a light on institutional racism, providing resources, and continuing to serve communities of color by expanding their access to care.

Thousands took to the ocean over the weekend to honor George Floyd in a paddle out.
Photo credit: Hawaii News Now – Christian Self

Consider these facts:

Black women are twice as likely to experience infertility as white women, completely contrary to pervasive stereotypes that black women are highly fertile.

Black women have double the rate of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and 3 times a greater chance of developing uterine fibroids that cause pain, bleeding and infertility.

Symptoms often are dismissed, and black women seek medical help half as often as their white counterparts.

Black women are 3 to 4 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women.

Black babies are twice as likely to die.

Preeclampsia and eclampsia are 60% more common in black women and the symptoms are often more severe.

Education and income disparities cannot account for these statistics. In fact, a black woman with an advanced degree is still more likely to lose her baby than a white woman with less than a high school education.

At Hawaii Surrogacy Center, we are passionate about improving access to care by helping families close financial gaps – one of the biggest barriers to seeking treatment. Our SeedCoach financial assistance program is completely free of charge and available to families well before they are matched with a surrogate. Financial advisors will help our families apply for grants from organizations like the Cade Foundation. We are sponsors of the Promise Walk for Preeclampsia and encourage everyone to participate in this year’s virtual walk. Please also consider donating to community organizations like the SisterSong Birth Justice Care Fund.

If you are a woman of color who is struggling with infertility, please know that there are specific support resources out there for you:

Fertility for Colored Girls (www.fertilityforcoloredgirls.org)

Black Women and Infertility (https://www.facebook.com/groups/blackwomenandinfertility/)

The Broken Brown Egg (https://www.thebrokenbrownegg.org)

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