What IVF Champions Are Demanding from Trump’s Fertility Care Agenda

In a bold move, President Donald Trump, who has dubbed himself the “father of IVF,” issued an executive order this February aimed at boosting accessibility to in vitro fertilization (IVF) for Americans. The executive order highlighted that one in seven couples face infertility challenges, turning what should be a joyful milestone into a product of emotional and financial strain.

Trump has mandated domestic policy officials to compile recommendations within 90 days on how to protect IVF access and lower out-of-pocket expenses. However, key IVF advocacy organizations, including the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and Resolve: The National Infertility Association, report they were not consulted during the formulation of this plan.

Sean Tipton, chief advocacy officer at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, expressed disappointment: “We’ve been leading the effort for over a decade…and we clearly have the expertise to assist, but they didn’t want to talk to us.” Barbara Collura, President and CEO of Resolve, echoed these sentiments, noting her organization was also excluded from discussions.

The White House has yet to comment on these claims. Both Collura and Tipton aim for expanded IVF insurance coverage for military personnel and federal employees. They pointed out that the U.S. Office of Personnel Management could require comprehensive IVF coverage, while the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has the authority to classify IVF as an essential health benefit under the Affordable Care Act.

Currently, military members can only receive IVF coverage if they demonstrate infertility linked to combat. The Veterans Health Administration similarly excludes IVF from routine care, which advocates argue must be addressed through legislative efforts. Although Trump raised the idea of insurance mandates during a town hall in Wisconsin, skepticism remains among Congressional Republicans regarding potential costs.

This year has seen the Trump administration cut several healthcare positions, including a six-member Assisted Reproductive Technology team at the Department of Health and Human Services. Amid these changes, a faction of conservatives pushing for “restorative reproductive medicine” has raised concerns regarding the direction of infertility treatment, emphasizing more conservative approaches over IVF.

Critics like Tipton maintain that this push, supported by groups such as the Heritage Foundation, detracts from established medical practices. “It’s a political term backed by political groups that has nothing to do with medicine,” he asserted, emphasizing the need for evidence-based treatment. This sentiment is echoed by healthcare professionals who argue that proper diagnostics form the backbone of effective fertility care.

Legislative efforts in states like Arkansas have gained traction, focusing on fertility awareness methods rather than immediate IVF solutions. However, providers like Arkansas Fertility and Gynecology caution that these methods are not scientifically validated alternatives. Collura warned that a shift towards restorative approaches could lead insurers to require failed trials before approving necessary treatments.

Dr. Karenne Fru, a reproductive endocrinologist, pointed out the essential nature of diagnostics in fertility treatments and criticized misconceptions surrounding doctors’ practices. “It is not a cure-all for someone with a low sperm count,” she remarked, stressing that late intervention diminishes success rates.

Some patients have postponed IVF plans, influenced by Trump’s assurances about insurance coverage. “Playing with people’s hopes and dreams in this way is unnecessarily cruel,” Dr. Fru stated, illustrating the broader implications of policy promises on real lives.