Diona Murray’s 33-Year Battle With Reproductive Health Sparked A Movement

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Philadelphia advocate Diona Nicole Murray transforms personal struggle into a powerful platform for Black women navigating reproductive health challenges  and infertility.

At age 11, when most girls are navigating the awkwardness of elementary school, Diona Nicole Murray was already fighting a battle that she didn’t yet understand. Her first menstrual cycle brought excruciating pain that would become her monthly reality for the next three decades. What she didn’t know then was that this pain would eventually forge her into what she calls “The Infertility Warrior,” a voice for countless women silently struggling with reproductive health challenges.

Today, at 44, Murray stands as a beacon of hope for women navigating the complex world of infertility, PCOS, and reproductive health disparities. As we observe PCOS Awareness Month this month, her real-life story offers both sobering truths about healthcare inequities and inspiring proof that purpose can emerge from the deepest pain.

The Making of a Warrior

Murray’s journey from that first painful cycle to founding two organizations dedicated to women’s health and empowerment wasn’t linear. Based in Philadelphia, she spent over two decades building a successful career as a multidisciplinary creative educator, and founder of Diona Nicole Design Studio, established in 2006. Her background spans fashion, graphic, product, and UX/UI design, helping brands and nonprofits bring their visions to life.

But behind the professional success, a different battle raged. For more than 20 years, Murray lived without answers to her monthly agony. It wasn’t until her 30s that she received a devastating diagnosis: endometriosis, fibroids, ovarian cysts, and a damaged fallopian tube. After surgery to remove scar tissue, fibroids, and her right tube, doctors delivered crushing news. She had less than a 1% chance of conceiving.

“By the grace of God, that 1% became my 100%,” Murray reflects. “I was blessed with my daughter, a living reminder that miracles still happen.”

That miracle didn’t end her advocacy journey but it amplified it. In 2019, Murray founded Barren Fruit, a faith-rooted nonprofit based in Philadelphia, dedicated to supporting individuals navigating infertility and reproductive health challenges through faith, advocacy, resources, and community care.

Breaking the Silence on PCOS

As PCOS Awareness Month shines a spotlight on this often-misunderstood condition, Murray addresses one of the biggest misconceptions she encounters: that women don’t always know they have PCOS.

“The truth is, many, especially within communities of color, go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for years,” she explains. PCOS, a hormonal disorder causing irregular periods, excess hair growth, acne, weight changes, and infertility, often gets mistaken for other conditions because its symptoms overlap with various reproductive health issues.

Murray’s own experience illustrates this complexity. Her doctor told her that she may have PCOS, but it’s likely masked by the multiple reproductive health challenges she’s battled, including endometriosis, fibroids, ovarian cysts, and later, thyroid issues.

The statistics are sobering: In communities of color, delayed diagnoses and misdiagnoses are particularly common, often resulting from systemic healthcare disparities that dismiss or minimize women’s symptoms and treatment.

“I began experiencing painful cycles at age 11, but it took more than 20 years before I received answers,” Murray shares. “ After surgery to remove scar tissue, fibroids, and my right tube, I was told I had only a 1% chance of conceiving.”

Faith as Foundation

What sets Murray’s approach apart is how deeply her faith anchors her advocacy work. She found the strength to transform her pain into purpose through countless nights of prayer, studying scripture, and leaning on her husband and family’s spiritual support. Diona is now the proud mother of her daughter Aariana, her “Miracle Baby,

“Scripture says that God collects our tears, and I found comfort in knowing that my Heavenly Father was in control, even when I didn’t understand the ‘why,'” she reflects. “I have always believed He does something special through the barren woman because we are not forgotten. We are chosen.”

This faith-centered perspective shapes every aspect of Barren Fruit’s work, creating spaces where women can find practical resources and spiritual support as they navigate their reproductive health journeys.

Creating Cultural Change

Murray’s advocacy extends far beyond individual support. Through curated events, healing circles, and the upcoming launch of her podcast, she creates culturally relevant spaces where women can speak openly about reproductive health challenges.

“By normalizing these conversations in culturally connected ways, we not only increase awareness but also help women get the diagnosis, treatment, and support they deserve,” she explains.

One particularly powerful moment affirmed her mission’s impact: A woman who had been told she would never conceive sent Murray a photo after years of prayers, surgeries, and setbacks. While she was pregnant,  the woman wore one of Murray’s shirts that lists seven biblical women who experienced infertility.

“Moments like that are why I keep going,” Murray recalls.

Practical Tools for Empowerment

Beyond emotional support, Murray emphasizes practical advocacy tools for women navigating PCOS and infertility:

Essential Resources:

• Period tracking: Whether through physical journals or apps, documenting symptoms and cycle patterns makes healthcare conversations more productive
• Building a care team: Including OB/GYNs, reproductive endocrinologists, psychotherapists, nutritionists, and herbalists who understand reproductive health
• Self-advocacy: Learning to recognize that severe pain, heavy bleeding, or other disruptive symptoms aren’t “normal”

Murray is also developing a tech-based reproductive health advocacy tool specifically designed to help Black women document symptoms, receive tailored resources, and navigate healthcare systems with confidence.

Measuring Success One Life at a Time

Unlike many advocacy platforms focused on social media metrics, Murray measures Barren Fruit‘s success differently.

“The movement is actually called Barren Fruit, a name chosen intentionally as a play on words. It sounds like ‘Bearing Fruit,’ because contrary to what many believe, you can still bear fruit even in a drought season,” she explains. “For me, fruit is about purpose, joy, healing, and the impact you make in the lives of others.”

Success comes through intimate, personal connections. If one woman walks away feeling seen, supported, and equipped with advocacy tools, that represents victory.

Looking Forward

Murray’s future goals for Barren Fruit include expanding their annual retreat, growing the Be Fruitful Conference, and continuing their signature Warrior Walk. Her long-term vision positions Barren Fruit as a leading voice in reproductive health equity, transforming lives locally, nationally, and globally.

The organization collaborates with Temple Health’s Program for Maternal Health Equity in North Philadelphia , the Maternal Wellness Village in Philadelphia,  and other community partners working toward more equitable reproductive healthcare.

A Message of Hope

For women silently battling infertility or PCOS, Murray offers this powerful message:

“You are not alone. You are seen, you are heard, and you are loved. You are not forgotten. You are not broken, you are chosen. I know it’s been hard, but there is victory on the other side. You are alive, you are the head and not the tail, and you are full of life, blooming with purpose. It’s time to rise and walk in it.”

As PCOS Awareness Month continues, Murray’s story serves as both a call to action and a beacon of hope. Her experience, from that first painful cycle at age 11 to becoming a nationally-recognized advocate, proves that even in seasons of loss or waiting, unwavering determination and beauty can be cultivated.

To connect with Diona Nicole Murray and Barren Fruit’s community, visit barrenfruit.org or follow @barrenfruit on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

This September, as we raise awareness about PCOS and reproductive health disparities, let Murray’s story remind us that advocacy begins with breaking the silence, and that every woman deserves to be heard, believed, and supported in her health journey.

Anand Subramanian is a freelance photographer and content writer based out of Tamil Nadu, India. Having a background in Engineering always made him curious about life on the other side of the spectrum. He leapt forward towards the Photography life and never looked back. Specializing in Documentary and  Portrait photography gave him an up-close and personal view into the complexities of human beings and those experiences helped him branch out from visual to words. Today he is mentoring passionate photographers and writing about the different dimensions of the art world.