By Lisa Rosenthal, Board President, and Kate Weldon LeBlanc, Executive Director
We are fast approaching an election where who we vote for can be an opportunity to examine who we are and what we value most. As a 501c3 non-profit organization, AllPaths Family Building cannot endorse candidates or engage in other overtly political actions. This can be quite challenging when advocacy is a core part of our mission and when we have been clear in our strong support for access to the full spectrum of reproductive health care. But as always, what we care about most is making sure our community is informed, empowered and supported emotionally. To this end, here are our thoughts about navigating this election season:
Who needs fertility treatment and reproductive health care?
The World Health Organization has determined that 1 in 6 people globally experience infertility. The definition was redefined by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) in 2023 to include references to reproductive disease and acknowledgment of those who also need to utilize fertility treatment to become parents, such as LGBTQIA+ people or unpartnered people:
“Infertility” is a disease, condition, or status characterized by any of the following:
• The inability to achieve a successful pregnancy based on a patient’s medical, sexual, and reproductive history, age, physical findings, diagnostic testing, or any combination of those factors.
• The need for medical intervention, including, but not limited to, the use of donor gametes or donor embryos in order to achieve a successful pregnancy either as an individual or with a partner.
• In patients having regular, unprotected intercourse and without any known etiology for either partner suggestive of impaired reproductive ability, evaluation should be initiated at 12 months when the female partner is under 35 years of age and at six months when the female partner is 35 years of age or older.
Nothing in this definition shall be used to deny or delay treatment to any individual, regardless of relationship status or sexual orientation.
Fertility care and treatment, comes under the heading of reproductive health care, and as such, IVF specifically has been discussed in many major speeches and interviews during this campaign season. Fertility care is a priority for many people across our country and the world, when it comes to their life’s hopes, dreams and families. People across all political persuasions, races, economic backgrounds, gender identities and more use reproductive health services – clearly, this is a bipartisan issue. This is why we see so many politicians and elected officials explaining their position on fertility care, sometimes in confusing, sometimes contradictory ways.
What can you do?
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Be an informed voter.
If you are a member of the broad community mentioned above, it is likely that reproductive health care, including fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), are one of the most important issues to you, if not THE most critical. We are grateful to policymakers who genuinely want to protect and expand access to reproductive health care. Lately, most candidates are saying that they support IVF, but this needs to have been demonstrated by actions (legislative and otherwise), not just expressed because it has become a critical topic in this election.
There are non-partisan resources available to learn about how candidates have voted on issues, including reproductive rights and fertility care, such as Vote Smart and a Congressional Scorecard developed by ASRM. Consider what has been the impact of their previous decisions, stances and actions on reproductive health care services, including IVF and abortion care. Seek to determine what effects a candidate could have in the future if elected (or reelected).
- Take action.
It can feel good, and just as importantly, be empowering, to “do something” in ways that feel comfortable to you. Volunteer. Contact someone you know who might be undecided. Help people make a plan to vote on November 5th (or earlier). Post on social media about the issues and candidates you care about.
- Nurture yourself.
This can be such a heavy and stressful time. We feel this! Find things that give you moments of peace or joy. AllPaths also wants to help, so we will be sponsoring a free, virtual, non-political and professionally-led meditation session on November 5th at Noon EST.
And/or come have fun with us at our anniversary party this Friday night in Newport, Rhode Island.
Have questions? Get in touch!
AllPaths is here for you, now and always.