The former First Lady has since inspired more black women to seek fertility treatment just one year after her memoir was published, which experts call the “Michelle Obama effect”. Michelle wrote in ‘Becoming’ how she and the former president used IVF to conceive their two daughters, 21-year-old Malia and 18-year-old Sasha, after suffering a miscarriage. Resolve: The National Infertility Association CEO and president, Barbara Collar, told ABC News: “There is a whole long list of celebrities who have shared something about their infertility but this was different.
“When Michelle Obama spoke out it was like earth-shattering. It was a very big deal.”
Shady Grove is a chain of centres in six states and the District of Columbia.
Its data shows the share of black women starting treatment at the centres grew 50percent faster this year compared to treatment rates as a whole.
The clinics Atlanta region medical director, Dr. Desiree McCarthy-Keith, claimed when it came to IVF, which Michelle wrote about in ‘Becoming’, the centres saw a 10 percent increase in black women undergoing treatment compared to 12 percent of all women.
Dr McCarthy-Keith said: “Obama was so genuine and it shows that infertility touches everyone.
“You can be black, white, high-income, low-income or first lady, none of that matters.
“Women brave enough to speak on their own situations, it’s empowering for all of us to hear that.”
CCRM Fertility’s Dr Aaron Styer has anecdotally noticed an uptake in interest from black female patients.
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The former First Lady added: “I realised that as I was 34 and 35. We had to do IVF.”
Michelle said she decided to get candid about her miscarriage and her journey to motherhood in her memoir to help other women.
She added: “I think it’s the worst thing that we do to each other as women, not share the truth about our bodies and how they work.”
Speaking to the news outlet, Erika Millon, who suffered a miscarriage, claimed Michelle’s memoir helped her overcome the experience and explore IVF.
Ms Millon said: “At the time I didn’t know anybody who had gone through IVF so ‘Becoming’ and Michelle Obama’s experience was my only familiarity.”
She recalled reading and rereading the section where Michelle wrote about her own infertility.
Ms Millon added: “Reading her book really helped me to not feel so alone.”
The ex-FLOTUS visited southeast Asia last week as part of her Obama Foundation conference tour to inspire and empower women in the region.
While in Kuala Lumpur, Michelle and Barack took a break from their conference to take part in a DIY workshop.
The pair shared a tender moment as Barack helped his wife when she wielded a drill.