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Today, infertility affects 10% of Black women trying to conceive. When many of them are experiencing challenges getting pregnant, they are given inaccurate information about their fertility situation and don’t know there are accessible options about fertility treatments near them. Additionally, it is hard for these aspiring mothers to find other women, doctors, or even family members to which they can relate. Consequently, they feel very alone and don’t learn in a timely manner about solutions that could help them become mothers.

The goal of this project is to conduct research to further understand contributors to inequities in fertility among Black women. We have conducted narrative-based medicine interviews with Black women, a systematic review (summary of medical literature), and a survey to identify multi-level factors that contribute to unequal and unjust fertility practices and center and amplify the lived experiences of Black women Recommendations and findings were shared with an equity advisory committees of Black fertility specialists, other health care professionals, patient support groups and Black women to inform  research, practice, and policy to advance fertility equity.

View the program Factsheet here.

Funding Sources: Ferring Pharmaceuticals

Fertility Equity Study in the Media

Fertility Equity Study Published Literature

  • Morgan, I., Tucker, C., Palmquist, A. E. L., Baker, S., Mayo-Wilson, L. J., Martin, C. L., Hernandez, N., & Clarke, L. (2025). Mapping fertility trajectories: An endarkened narrative inquiry of Black women’s fertility experiences and pathways through infertility treatment. Social Science & Medicine376, 118082. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.118082
  • Kue-Ndukwe, J., Clarke, L., Morgan, I., Richard-Davis, G. (2025). Perceptions of surgical intervention for endometriosis among Black women pursuing fertility care: Findings from the Fertility Equity Study. Abstract accepted for presentation at the National Academy of Medicine Annual Meeting, 2025.
  • Clarke, L., Morgan, I., Jellerette-Nolan, T. J., Charles, D., Suarez, A., Patton, D., Jackson-Bey, T., Harris, B., Hernandez, N.D., & Richard-Davis, G. (2024). Advancing fertility equity: uplifting black women’s voices to design culturally responsive support solutions. Fertility and Sterility, 122(4), e137. https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(24)01126-9/fulltext
  • Morgan, I., Tucker, C., Palmquist, A. E., Baker, S., Mayo-Wilson, L. J. J., Martin, C. L., ... & Clarke, L. (2024). Mapping fertility trajectories: examining black women’s fertility experiences and pathways through infertility treatment. Fertility and Sterility, 122(4), e408. https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(24)01849-1/fulltext
FES
In addition to research, the Fertility Equity Study has created eLearning modules- a free, online course from the Center for Maternal Health Equity at Morehouse School of Medicine, with support from Ferring Pharmaceuticals.
Designed for clinicians, accessible to all, this essential course helps clinicians address racial disparities by focusing on the unique fertility challenges faced by Black patients. By equipping healthcare professionals with this essential knowledge, the course is designed to improve access, outcomes, and overall patient satisfaction for Black people seeking to build their families.

Thank you to our funder

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