74% of Americans Back IVF Access, But Many Fear GOP Wants to Restrict It
A recent poll reveals strong support for IVF among Americans, yet concerns linger about potential Republican restrictions on access to fertility treatments.
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Did you know that about 2% of babies in the U.S. are conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF)? It’s a pretty intricate and pricey process where an egg gets fertilized with sperm outside the body before being placed in the uterus.
During IVF, multiple eggs are often fertilized, and some of those fertilized eggs might not be used later. This has raised concerns among some conservatives who believe life starts at conception, leading them to push for limits on the procedure.
Interestingly, at a recent campaign event, former President Donald Trump mentioned he wants to make IVF free for all women, saying, “because we want more babies, to put it nicely.” He didn’t dive into the details, though.
This statement is quite significant, especially since IVF has become a hot-button issue lately, with Democrats using it as a campaign tool. Most Americans seem to be in favor of IVF, according to a Yahoo News/YouGov poll. A whopping 74% believe IVF should be more accessible or at least as accessible as it is now. Only 4% think it should be less accessible, while 23% are unsure.
After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, many worried it would lead to restrictions on reproductive rights, including IVF. In February, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that embryos created through IVF could be considered children under state law. This caused some IVF clinics in Alabama to pause services, fearing legal repercussions if they discarded unused embryos. Although Alabama quickly passed a law to protect IVF, the court’s decision faced a lot of backlash. The recent poll showed that 43% of Americans disagreed with the Alabama ruling.
Both Republicans and Democrats have defended IVF, but many Americans seem skeptical about the GOP’s stance. The poll found that 37% believe Republicans want to limit IVF access, while 42% trust Democrats more on this issue compared to just 23% for Republicans.
Some evangelical groups within the Republican Party are looking to make IVF a new front in the anti-abortion movement. In June, the Southern Baptist Convention condemned IVF, and Senate Republicans blocked a bill from Democrats that aimed to guarantee IVF access nationwide.
Fertility experts are surprised that more people don’t see IVF access as a pressing issue. Dr. Colleen Milroy from the University of North Carolina Fertility Clinic pointed out that delays in getting fertility treatments can be really frustrating for those wanting to start a family, especially with the declining birth rate in the U.S.
She emphasized that with infertility rates rising, we need to tackle this issue on a national level. The cost of IVF is a huge barrier, averaging around $20,000 per cycle, and often isn’t covered by insurance. Improving access and insurance coverage could help, but there are also geographic barriers, especially in rural areas.
Dr. Alex Robles from Columbia University echoed these concerns, noting that many people lack easy access to fertility clinics and that there needs to be more education about fertility treatments.
Dr. Ruben Alvero from Stanford Medicine said he wasn’t surprised by the poll showing strong support for IVF, despite recent political attacks. He believes that most Americans view infertility as a medical issue that deserves support, similar to any other health problem.
In his experience across different states, he found that attitudes toward infertility treatment are generally positive, with many seeing it as a disease that should be treated.