Oversight of IVF in the US
In the United States, medical care is regulated by a complex and comprehensive network of federal and state regulations and professional oversight. In vitro fertilization (IVF), a medical treatment commonly used by those who require medical intervention to build their families, is no exception.
Federal
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
The FDA approves and regulates drugs and devices in all areas of medicine, including those used during the IVF process.If a patient uses donor gametes, those tissues are subject to additional FDA screening. The FDA also enforces regulations pertaining to physical facilities and record keeping for practices that utilize donated tissue. FDA staff conducts inspections and has the authority to issue fines and shut down any non-compliant facilities.
Clinical Laboratory Improvement Acts (CLIA)
The Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) regulations include federal standards applicable to all U.S. facilities or sites that test human specimens for health assessment or to diagnose, prevent, or treat disease.Diagnostic clinical laboratory tests—which, in the IVF process, mostly involve the measurement of hormone levels—are subject to rigorous oversight under CLIA.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
In 1992, Congress passed the Fertility Clinic Success Rate and Certification Act¹, requiring any physician who performs an IVF procedure to report the procedure and its outcome to the CDC. This law establishes a framework to track the outcomes of individual fertility clinics throughout the country. This transparency is a singular requirement to the United States medical field, producing a unique set of outcomes data unavailable for most other clinical procedures.States
The licensing of medical providers is under the purview of the states, whereby each state licenses the professionals who provide care for patients. In the case of IVF procedures, this includes physicians, nurses, embryologists, mental health professionals, and, in some states, genetic counselors.States are also the locus of family law in the United States. Thus, questions regarding establishing or transferring parentage rights and responsibilities, which may come up with the use of tissue donations or gestational surrogacy, are under the auspices of state law.
Professional oversight
Throughout American medicine, professional oversight plays an important role. All medical specialties have independent boards to credential physicians. The American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology certifies physicians in both general OBGYN and the subspecialty of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.The Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) is an affiliate group of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine that accredits and oversees IVF clinics. To be a SART member, clinics must meet a rigorous set of standards, including credentialing of clinic staff, accreditation of their laboratory, and adherence to the routinely updated Practice and Ethics guidelines set by ASRM. SART reports birth outcomes from its member clinics so that patients can make informed decisions. The group sets guidelines for best practices in IVF and plays a major role in quality assurance.
The bottom line is that IVF is already one of the most heavily regulated procedures in all American medicine.
For almost a century, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) has been the global leader in multidisciplinary reproductive medicine research, ethical practice, and education. ASRM impacts reproductive care and science worldwide by creating funding opportunities for advancing reproduction research and discovery, by providing evidence-based education and public health information, and by advocating for reproductive health care professionals and the patients they serve. With members in more than 100 countries, the Society is headquartered in Washington, DC, with additional operations in Birmingham, AL. www.asrm.org | publicaffairs@asrm.org
¹ H.R.4773 - 102nd Congress (1991-1992): Fertility Clinic Success Rate and Certification Act of 1992 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
What support for IVF looks like
Bipartisan support for IVF, that is responsible for the birth of over 2% of all babies born in the USA each year, will ensure that families continue to grow.
It takes more than one
Why IVF patients often need multiple embryos to have a baby
Oversight of IVF in the US
In the US, medical care is regulated by a complex and comprehensive network of federal and state regulations and professional oversight.More Reproductive RIghts Resources
Advocacy
Fertility Care Gets Important Win in California
ASRM celebrates California's SB 729, expanding IVF coverage for same-sex couples and singles, advancing equitable fertility care access.
View the Press Release
ASRM on Increased Availability of Fertility Coverage for Federal Employees
We are pleased with the news shared by OPM today showing more carriers will be providing infertility benefits to federal employees in the coming year.
View the Press Release
ASRM and National Voter Registration Day: Let’s Get #VoteReady!
Join ASRM in recognizing National Voter Registration Day! Verify your voter registration today to ensure a seamless voting experience this November.
View the Press Release
Nation’s Leading Professional Group for Fertility Care Professionals Calls for Passage of Right to IVF Act
ASRM applauds Majority Leader Schumer’s decision to seek reconsideration of the Right to IVF Act.
View the Press Release
Trump Calls for IVF Coverage, California Legislature Sends IVF Mandate Bill to Governor
The California General Assembly approved a bill mandating most private health insurance plans to provide coverage for In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).
View the Press Release
Advocacy in Action
Join the ASRM Advocacy in Action campaign by making a tax-deductible charitable gift Be part of Advocacy in Action
Get Vot-ER Ready This National Patient Advocacy Day!
Celebrate National Patient Advocacy Day by boosting civic engagement! Order your free Vot-ER badge to help patients register to vote and promote healthy communities.
View the Press Release
National Infertility Awareness Week
April 20-26, 2025, is National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW)!
View the NIAW Toolkit
ASRM marks World IVF Day by doing what we do best – advocating for access to reproductive health care by calling for a House floor vote on the Right to IVF Act
ASRM observed World IVF Day, the day marking the birth of the world’s first IVF baby in 1978, by continuing its advocacy for improvements in IVF policy.
View the Press Release
Order your FREE Vot-ER badge to encourage your friends to vote!
ASRM) is pleased to announce our partnership with Vot-ER, a grassroots organization dedicated to driving civic engagement among healthcare professionals.
View the Press Release
ASRM Responds to Senate Vote on IVF Bill
ASRM is disappointed that a filibuster prevented the passage of the Right to IVF Act.
View the Press Release
ASRM Calls for Passage of Family Building Bill
It would increase access to IVF treatments for all Americans, including active-duty service members, veterans, and federal employees.
View the Press Release
ASRM publishes IVF one-pagers for media use
The documents lay out the clinical IVF process, summarize oversight of IVF in the U.S., and explain how lawmakers can support access to IVF.
View the Press Release
Leave Your Mark! NIAW April 21-27
National Infertility Awareness Week Action Round-Up Click here to leave your mark during NIAW2024
SART Fertility Experts - Advocacy and Reproductive Access
Dr. Cristin Slater and Betsy Campbell from RESOLVE discuss: barriers to infertility care; opportunities to get infertility care; and recent trends. Listen to the Episode
SART Fertility Experts - Infertility Advocacy and Government Affairs
In today's episode, Dr. Mark Trolice interviews Sean Tipton about the fact that many infertility patients do not have insurance coverage for treatment. Listen to the Episode
Take Action Now!
Like you, ASRM is extremely concerned over the decision from the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade and its impact. Learn How Your Can Help
Advocacy Toolkit
The importance of your involvement in the lobbying process, especially at the local level, has never been greater.
View the Toolkit
It takes more than one
Why IVF patients often need multiple embryos to have a baby View the advocacy resource
What support for IVF looks like
Bipartisan support for IVF, that is responsible for the birth of over 2% of all babies born in the USA each year, will ensure that families continue to grow. View the advocacy resource
Oversight of IVF in the US
In the US, medical care is regulated by a complex and comprehensive network of federal and state regulations and professional oversight. View the advocacy resource
State and Territory Infertility Insurance Laws
View insurance information by US State and Territory View Insurance Laws by U.S. State
Reproductive Rights and You
The U.S. Supreme Court’s opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (597 U.S. __, 2022), overturned the nearly 50-year precedent set by Roe v. Wade (410 U.S. 113, 1973), which had recognized a constitutional right to abortion. The Dobbs decision has sparked a litany of changes in state laws across the nation, and more are expected. Protect Your RightsReproductive Rights
ASRM Responds to Supreme Court Ruling on Mifepristone
We are thrilled that a unanimous Supreme Court has rejected the ideologically driven lower court decisions on access to mifepristone.
View the Press Release
Take Action Now!
Like you, ASRM is extremely concerned over the decision from the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade and its impact. Learn How Your Can Help
Advocacy Toolkit
The importance of your involvement in the lobbying process, especially at the local level, has never been greater.
View the Toolkit
It takes more than one
Why IVF patients often need multiple embryos to have a baby View the advocacy resource
What support for IVF looks like
Bipartisan support for IVF, that is responsible for the birth of over 2% of all babies born in the USA each year, will ensure that families continue to grow. View the advocacy resource
Reproductive Rights and You
The U.S. Supreme Court’s opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (597 U.S. __, 2022), overturned the nearly 50-year precedent set by Roe v. Wade (410 U.S. 113, 1973), which had recognized a constitutional right to abortion. The Dobbs decision has sparked a litany of changes in state laws across the nation, and more are expected. Protect Your RightsIn Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
Fertility Care Gets Important Win in California
ASRM celebrates California's SB 729, expanding IVF coverage for same-sex couples and singles, advancing equitable fertility care access.
View the Press Release
Nation’s Leading Professional Group for Fertility Care Professionals Calls for Passage of Right to IVF Act
ASRM applauds Majority Leader Schumer’s decision to seek reconsideration of the Right to IVF Act.
View the Press Release
SART Fertility Experts - Vanquishing Multiples
Learn how a variety of factors such as geography, race, and the availability of comprehensive infertility mandates affect access to effective infertility treatment. Listen to the Episode
Trump Calls for IVF Coverage, California Legislature Sends IVF Mandate Bill to Governor
The California General Assembly approved a bill mandating most private health insurance plans to provide coverage for In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).
View the Press Release
Advocacy in Action
Join the ASRM Advocacy in Action campaign by making a tax-deductible charitable gift Be part of Advocacy in Action
Get Vot-ER Ready This National Patient Advocacy Day!
Celebrate National Patient Advocacy Day by boosting civic engagement! Order your free Vot-ER badge to help patients register to vote and promote healthy communities.
View the Press Release
SART Fertility Experts - Global Access to IVF and the Status of Women
Around the world, there are vast differences in the number of IVF cycles performed per capita. Learn why these differences exist. Listen to the Episode
ASRM marks World IVF Day by doing what we do best – advocating for access to reproductive health care by calling for a House floor vote on the Right to IVF Act
ASRM observed World IVF Day, the day marking the birth of the world’s first IVF baby in 1978, by continuing its advocacy for improvements in IVF policy.
View the Press Release
Order your FREE Vot-ER badge to encourage your friends to vote!
ASRM) is pleased to announce our partnership with Vot-ER, a grassroots organization dedicated to driving civic engagement among healthcare professionals.
View the Press Release
ASRM Responds to Senate Vote on IVF Bill
ASRM is disappointed that a filibuster prevented the passage of the Right to IVF Act.
View the Press Release
ASRM Calls for Passage of Family Building Bill
It would increase access to IVF treatments for all Americans, including active-duty service members, veterans, and federal employees.
View the Press Release
ASRM publishes IVF one-pagers for media use
The documents lay out the clinical IVF process, summarize oversight of IVF in the U.S., and explain how lawmakers can support access to IVF.
View the Press Release
ASRM Reacts to Cruz/Britt OPED
We are pleased to see Senators Cruz and Britt express their interest in protecting access to IVF.
View the Press Release
ASRM Files Amicus Brief in Texas Embryo Case
ASRM has filed an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief in the case of Antoun v Antoun, which is pending before the Texas Supreme Court.
View the Press Release
Survey shows strong support for increased access to fertility treatments
A new public opinion poll reveals strong support for improved access to In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).
View the Press Release
National Infertility Awareness Week 2024: Leave Your Mark
Next week is National Infertility Awareness Week, a federally recognized health observance founded to increase awareness of infertility.
View the Press Release
IVF-assisted pregnancies constitute 2.5% of all births in 2022
In 2022, the number of babies born from IVF increased from 89,208 in 2021 to 91,771 in 2022. This means that 2.5% of births in the US are a result of ART.
View the Press Release
SART Fertility Experts - Recurrent Pregnancy Loss and Implantation Failure
"I can get pregnant, but I can't stay pregnant," is echoed by patients with recurrent pregnancy loss. Listen to the Episode
SART Fertility Experts - Navigating IVF as a Couple
Mary Casey Jacob, PhD is interviewed by Dr. Daniel Grow, and together they explore the emotional and practical support that couples need. Listen to the Episode
Fertility Rights and Responsibilities
Can a fertility program or clinic deny treatment to patient(s) if there is concern about the ability to care for the child(ren)? Yes. Fertility programs can withhold services if there are signs that patients will not be able to care for child(ren). View this Fact Sheet
Progesterone supplementation during IVF
Progesterone is a hormone produced by the ovary. View the fact sheet
Side effects of injectable fertility drugs (gonadotropins)
Gonadotropins are fertility medications given by injection that contain follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) alone or combined with luteinizing hormone (LH). View the fact sheet
What do I need to know about conceiving after surgery on my Fallopian tubes?
Fallopian tubes connect the ovary (where the eggs are stored and grow) to the uterus (womb), where the fertilized egg develops into a baby (fetus). View the fact sheet
Hydrosalpinx
The fallopian tubes are attached to the uterus (womb) on the left and right sides. View the Fact Sheet
What is In Vitro Maturation (IVM)?
In vitro maturation (IVM) is when a woman’s eggs are collected and matured outside the body. This is done as part of an in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure. View the fact sheet
SART Fertility Experts - Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
Candace discusses her experience with infertility, IVF, multiple pregnancy losses and ultimately a successful delivery with Dr. Julia Woodward.Listen to the Episode
SART Fertility Experts - Infertility Advocacy and Government Affairs
In today's episode, Dr. Mark Trolice interviews Sean Tipton about the fact that many infertility patients do not have insurance coverage for treatment. Listen to the Episode
SART Fertility Experts - Behind the Scenes in the IVF Lab
Dr. Sangita Jindal, helps patients understand the importance of the IVF lab when choosing an IVF program. Listen to the Episode
SART Fertility Experts - Your Infertility Nurse: Partner in Your Care
Infertility nurse practitioner and health coach Monica Moore explains the essential role of the infertility nurse in the IVF process. Listen to the Episode
SART Fertility Experts - Genetics and IVF
Genetics is a significant part of advanced reproductive technology screening. Listen to the Episode
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
A procedure called intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) can be done along with in vitro fertilization (IVF) if a sperm cannot penetrate the outer layer of an egg. Read the Fact Sheet
SART Fertility Experts - Fertility and LGBTQ
In this episode, Dr. Daniel Grow interviews Dr. Mark Leondires, the founder of Gay Parents To Be. Listen to the Episode
SART Fertility Experts - What is an REI?
These experts in infertility lead IVF programs, perform reproductive surgery, and perform research to enhance the field of reproductive medicine. Listen to the Episode
SART Fertility Experts - What is IVF?
In this episode, we discuss the ins-and-outs of in vitro fertilization (IVF). Listen to the Episode
Start with SART
The very first thing you should do when evaluating a clinic is verify that it is a member of SART. Watch Video
Preparing for In Vitro Fertilization (IVF): Lifestyle Factors
This SART micro-video discusses lifestyle factors that may affect in vitro fertilization, or IVF, outcomes. Watch Video
Assisted Reproductive Technologies (booklet)
This booklet will help you understand in vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technology (ART) that have become accepted medical treatments for infertility. View the Booklet
The Difference Between IUI and IVF
It is important to know Intrauterine insemination (IUI) or In vitro fertilization (IVF) can both be successful at helping grow your family. Watch Video
Understanding the SART Clinic Report
During this video we will discuss the SART Clinic Report concepts and demonstrate some of the report features. Watch Video
Infertility: an Overview (booklet)
Infertility is typically defined as the inability to achieve pregnancy after one year of unprotected intercourse. View the booklet
Kristen Ritchie's Story
I spent seven years navigating infertility, which was tumultuous but also a period of tremendous personal growth in hindsight. Read the story
In Vitro Fertilization Infographics
ASRM has prepared infographics to illustrate the subject of in vitro fertilization (IVF) better. View the infographics
SART FAQ About IVF
Created by the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) the following are answers to frequently asked questions concerning in vitro fertilization (IVF). Learn the facts
It takes more than one
Why IVF patients often need multiple embryos to have a baby View the advocacy resource
What support for IVF looks like
Bipartisan support for IVF, that is responsible for the birth of over 2% of all babies born in the USA each year, will ensure that families continue to grow. View the advocacy resource
Oversight of IVF in the US
In the US, medical care is regulated by a complex and comprehensive network of federal and state regulations and professional oversight. View the advocacy resourceResources For You
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) is committed to providing patients with the highest quality information about reproductive care.
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