FAQs: Roe v. Wade’s overturn and the possible impact on fertility treatments
[June 29, 2022, updated July 1, 2022] – US Fertility and its partner practices — Fertility Centers of Illinois, IVF Florida, Reproductive Science Center of the San Francisco Bay Area, and Shady Grove Fertility — understand that many of our patients have concerns about how their fertility care may be impacted by the recent Supreme Court decision. At present, the ruling does not limit US Fertility or any of its partnership practice’s ability to provide IVF, fertility care, or fertility preservation. All US Fertility partnership practices are maintaining current patient treatment plans. US Fertility will continue to monitor all enacted and pending legislation and will be as transparent as possible in communicating how this may affect our patients’ care.
Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions below for more information.
WHERE DOES US FERTILITY STAND ON THE OVERTURN OF ROE V. WADE?
USF CEO Mark Segal shared the following statement on June 24, 2022:
Today’s historic and unprecedented Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade is undoubtedly causing consternation and angst among many. As stated in the ASRM response “This decision removes an essential civil liberty that Americans have relied upon for nearly 50 years, one that is well-grounded in the history and best traditions of our country.”
While this decision will undoubtedly have an effect on the entire nation, rest assured US Fertility and its partner practices — Shady Grove Fertility, Reproductive Science Center of the San Francisco Bay Area, Fertility Centers of Illinois, and IVF Florida — will remain vigilant in providing the highest quality care to our patients. We will fight to ensure anyone who comes to a US Fertility practice will continue to have the opportunity to start or grow their family in the most inclusive, respectful, safest way possible.
We stand with the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. We stand with RESOLVE, the National Infertility Awareness Association. We stand for empowering our physicians and care teams. We stand for and believe that health care decisions are best determined between physicians and their patients. We stand for protecting our right to provide the most advanced, evidence-based medicine equitably to all patients. We stand for, besides, and among those struggling with the pain of infertility, those who have experienced a pregnancy loss, or those who face barriers to building their family. We are here for you.
We will remain vigilant and active in protecting access to care. And we will be as transparent as possible in communicating how this may affect our patients’ care as we navigate what tomorrow will bring.
We are #OneUSFertility.
WHAT WAS THE SUPREME COURT RULING ON DOBBS V. JACKSON WOMEN’S HEALTH ORGANIZATION ON JUNE 24, 2022?
Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization is a decision of the U.S. Supreme Court which held that the Constitution of the United States does not confer a right to abortion, and overruled both Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, leaving abortion to be regulated by the individual states.
DOES THE OVERTURNING OF ROE V. WADE IMPACT IVF AND FERTILITY TREATMENT?
The recent ruling does not limit US Fertility or any of its partnership practice’s ability to provide IVF, fertility care, or fertility preservation. Although none of the current or pending legislation in states where US Fertility operates directly addresses fertility treatment, there are concerns that interpretations of some of these laws could lead to unintended consequences regarding embryos and other aspects of fertility preservation and treatment. US Fertility will continue to monitor the legal landscape should any legal challenges be raised in this arena and is actively committed to working to ensure continued access to fertility care for its patients.
ARE US FERTILITY PARTNER PRACTICES ALTERING PATIENT TREATMENT PLANS?
No. All US Fertility partner practices — Fertility Centers of Illinois, IVF Florida, Reproductive Science Center of the San Francisco Bay Area, and Shady Grove Fertility — are maintaining patient treatment plans that are currently in place between patients and their physicians.
HOW IS US FERTILITY STAYING ABREAST OF DEVELOPMENTS AND POTENTIAL IMPACTS ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE?
US Fertility has been tracking and analyzing the potential impact that the Dobbs ruling and state laws could have on our clinical and laboratory operations across the country. US Fertility has formed a task force comprised of physicians from all US Fertility partner practices, as well as legal counsel and executive team members, so that we remain vigilant and active in protecting access to fertility case for our patients, as well as to ensure that all our patients can benefit from the knowledge and support of our large network of professionals as well as clinics and laboratories throughout the United States.
WHAT CAN I DO IF I HAVE QUESTIONS?
Should you have any questions, please reach out to your case manager, physician, or local clinic. US Fertility will remain vigilant and active in protecting your access to fertility care.
ABOUT US FERTILITY
US Fertility, the nation’s largest partnership of physician-owned and physician-led top-tier fertility practices, along with Ovation Fertility, a national network of premier IVF laboratories, are united under a shared mission to deliver the joy of parenthood through advanced reproductive medicine and innovative science. To date, US Fertility and Ovation Fertility practices have helped more than 225,000 individuals and couples build their families using assisted reproductive technology. US Fertility supports over 200 physicians by leveraging collective expertise, driving innovation, and by providing advanced business and digital solutions that streamline and enhance the delivery of exceptional patient care. Together with a growing suite of life science services, US Fertility is expanding access to the highest quality reproductive health care across over 100 clinic locations and 32 IVF laboratories. https://www.usfertility.com