Sharing your personal experience is one of the most powerful ways to move decision‑makers, educate the public, and push for policy change. Here’s a simple guide to help you write and submit an op‑ed to your local newspaper.
Getting Started
Outline Your Op‑Ed (Simple Formula)
Use this easy 6‑part structure newspapers love:
Next Steps
Take these steps to ensure that your op-ed is published.
Template Op-Ed: Infertility, My Story, and the Need for Better Access to Care
Approx. 600–700 words; supporters can trim to meet their paper’s word count.
Title (choose one or customize):
- Everyone Deserves a Fair Chance to Build a Family
- Infertility Care Shouldn’t Be Out of Reach
- Why Our Community Needs Better Access to Family Building Care
By [Your Name]
Infertility is something most people don’t talk about until they’re living through it. For me, it became an unexpected and overwhelming part of my life when [briefly describe your diagnosis, experience, or what led you to seek care — 2–3 sentences]. What surprised me most wasn’t just the emotional difficulty of infertility. It was how hard it was to access the medical care I needed.
For one in six people, infertility is a disease — recognized by the World Health Organization and major medical organizations — yet the treatments required are often financially out of reach because they are not covered. In my case, [add one key detail about your personal struggle: cost barrier, insurance denial, lack of coverage, confusing policies, long wait times, financial strain, etc.]. These barriers made an already painful journey even harder.
My story is not unique. Millions of people worldwide experience infertility at some point in their lives, and countless families here in [your state or city] are struggling to access the care they need. Despite advances in medical science, many people still face enormous obstacles because insurance coverage is inconsistent and often nonexistent. Too many families must choose between their financial stability and their dream of becoming parents.
Better access to care matters not just for people pursuing parenthood, but for the health, stability, and economic well‑being of our communities. In fact, when surveyed, 86% of people support access to IVF. When people can get timely, appropriate medical treatment, they are less likely to face prolonged emotional distress, medical complications, and financial hardship. Access to care also helps reduce inequities: people of color, lower‑income families, LGBTQ+ individuals, and single parents often face the greatest barriers to fertility services, even when their medical needs are the same as everyone else’s.
[ONLY USE IF YOUR STATE DOES NOT HAVE A MANDATE OR IF THE MANDATE COULD BE IMPROVED]
Here in [your state], we have an opportunity to make things better. Policies that support access to family building care — including coverage for medical treatments, fertility preservation, and other essential services — can offer real hope to thousands of individuals and families. These policies aren’t about politics; they’re about health, fairness, and allowing people to make decisions about their own futures.
We need solutions that recognize infertility as the medical condition it is and ensure that people aren’t denied care based on their income, employer, or zip code. Improving access to care can help families thrive, strengthen communities, and reduce the long-term strain that untreated medical issues place on our health system.
During my own journey, what made the greatest difference was [mention something supportive: a doctor who listened, a friend who shared their story, a support group, a policy that helped, a moment someone showed compassion]. But support shouldn’t be dependent on luck. Everyone should have the opportunity to build a family if that’s what they choose — and access to medical care should never be the barrier that stops them.
Infertility can happen to anyone. Access to care should be available to everyone.
Everyone says they are supportive of building families, but real action is need to make that a reality.
Your Name
Your City
[Optional: A one‑sentence bio, such as “___ is a resident of ___ and an advocate for improving access to fertility care.”]