Catholics and others in the pro-life movement have been urging these alternative approaches amid ethical concerns surrounding IVF, such as the millions of human embryos killed through the procedure.<\/p>\n
President Donald Trump\u2019s administration has started to incorporate some elements of pro-life reproductive health care<\/a> into its policy goals, which pro-life advocates argue are alternatives to in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures meant to address fertility problems.<\/p>\n So far, the inclusion of these efforts has been limited and the president has remained consistent in supporting IVF as the major solution to fertility issues. Yet some Catholics<\/a> and others in the pro-life movement have been urging these alternative approaches amid ethical concerns<\/a> surrounding IVF, such as the millions of human embryos<\/a> killed through the procedure.<\/p>\n Life-affirming options tend to focus on curing the root causes of infertility. This health care, which many practitioners call \u201crestorative reproductive medicine,\u201d can include charting one\u2019s menstrual cycle, lifestyle and diet changes, and diagnosing and treating underlying conditions that lead to fertility struggles.<\/p>\n The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is currently considering grant applicants <\/a>for an \u201cinfertility training center,\u201d which is the most concrete plan to date to incorporate pro-life fertility care options within the administration\u2019s policy goals.<\/p>\n The potential $1.5-million grant would use federal Title X family planning funds to help the recipient \u201ceducate on the root causes of infertility and the broad range of holistic infertility treatments and referrals available.\u201d The money would also help \u201cexpand and enhance root cause infertility testing, treatments, and referrals.\u201d<\/p>\n When reached for comment, an HHS spokesperson told CNA the agency could not comment on \u201cpotential or future policy decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n Restorative reproductive medicine was also discussed at a recent event hosted by the MAHA Institute, named after HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.\u2019s \u201cMake America Healthy Again\u201d slogan. The institute is run by Del Bigtree, who is Kennedy\u2019s former communications director.<\/p>\n \u201cTraditional women\u2019s health and fertility care has relied heavily on Big Pharma Band-Aids and workarounds that circumvent a woman\u2019s reproductive system rather than working in harmony with it and doing the work of deeper investigation to find and treat underlying causes of infertility,\u201d Maureen Ferguson, a commissioner on the Commission on International Religious Freedom, said at the event<\/a>.<\/p>\n Ferguson introduced a roundtable of doctors who practice restorative reproductive medicine.<\/p>\n \u201cRestorative reproductive medicine is effective, affordable, it leads to healthier moms and babies, and it\u2019s far preferred by couples, most of whom wish to conceive naturally,\u201d Ferguson said.<\/p>\n Emma Waters, a policy analyst at the conservative Heritage Foundation, told CNA there are several ways the government can promote restorative reproductive medicine.<\/p>\n \u201cThis needs to be a project that both states and the federal government prioritize,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Waters said current insurance coding \u201cdoesn\u2019t account for the kinds of care that [restorative reproductive medicine] is offering\u201d or \u201cdoesn\u2019t cover each step.\u201d<\/p>\n She noted that insurance will often cover surgeries to fix endometriosis, which often causes infertility, but will not cover the initial exploratory surgery needed to properly diagnose the condition.<\/p>\n She said this could be improved with broader coverage or a restorative reproductive medicine \u201cbundle package for care,\u201d similar to an OB-GYN bundle package for when a woman is pregnant, to \u201csimplify the billing process.\u201d<\/p>\n Additional policy options, Waters noted, include grant funding for research and training.\u00a0<\/p>\n Restorative reproductive medicine \u201cis aiming to ensure that that man and woman\u2019s body is the healthiest it can be for the pregnancy journey,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Waters noted that this health care \u201crecognizes that infertility is not a disease but is a symptom of underlying conditions.\u201d As opposed to IVF, restorative reproductive medicine focuses on \u201cthe root, rather than bypassing the body,\u201d and helps ensure the body is healthy enough to \u201csustain that embryo through pregnancy and a live birth.\u201d<\/p>\n Theresa Notare, who serves as the assistant director of the natural family planning program at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, told CNA restorative reproductive medicine is often practiced in a way consistent with Catholic Church teaching, such as natural procreative technology<\/a> and fertility education and medical management<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re trying to basically healthfully address whatever problem a patient is having and you\u2019re trying to restore them to the balance that they should have \u2026 to naturally conceive,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n IVF alternatively violates Church teaching because it destroys human embryos and because \u201cconception would be taking place outside of the marital embrace,\u201d Notare said.\u00a0<\/p>\n She said marriage is a covenant in which \u201cthe man and the women are coming together in this one-flesh union.\u201d<\/p>\n Notare said, \u201cThat communion of persons \u2014 that environment \u2014 is where the Lord God gave husband and wife stewardship over the power of life and love.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Catholics and others in the pro-life movement have been urging these alternative approaches amid ethical concerns surrounding 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