🚨 Trump’s IVF Order: Real Change or Just Headlines?

Updated March 6, 2024

Trump’s IVF Executive Order: What It Changes & What It Doesn’t

On February 18, 2025, former President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order (EO) titled “Expanding Access to In Vitro Fertilization” (IVF). While this move signals recognition of IVF’s importance, the reality is more nuanced. The EO does not mandate insurance coverage or directly lower costs—it only directs the Deputy Domestic Policy Advisor to issue policy recommendations within 90 days on IVF affordability and accessibility.¹

How Trump’s IVF Policy Affects Patients & Fertility Costs

For the millions of people who rely on fertility treatments, the EO does not guarantee real relief yet. Key patient concerns:

• Cost remains prohibitive: IVF costs range from $12,000 to $25,000 per cycle, often requiring multiple cycles.²

• Insurance gaps persist: Only a quarter of U.S. employers cover IVF in their insurance plans.²

• State-by-state disparities: According to RESOLVE, as of October 2024, 22 states plus Washington, DC have passed laws around fertility coverage.

Bottom line: Without insurance mandates or federal funding, IVF remains inaccessible for many, and this EO alone doesn’t change that.¹

The Hidden Risks: How Policy Uncertainty & Research Cuts Impact IVF

Medical Research at Risk

While the EO raises awareness of IVF, simultaneous cuts to NIH funding pose a serious threat to reproductive health research. RESOLVE and ASRM warn that these cuts could hinder advancements in fertility treatments.³

Political Uncertainty & Future Policy Risks

The EO does not ensure long-term protections for IVF. Ongoing debates over embryo rights and reproductive medicine could create new legal and regulatory challenges.³ RESOLVE has noted that while this EO is straightforward, the real test will be in the actual policies that follow. Advocacy remains critical to ensuring real progress, not just political optics.

How Trump’s IVF Order Impacts Fertility Clinics & Startups

While patients wait for real change, fertility startups and benefit providers are watching closely:

• Progyny’s stock rose 2.6% after the EO, reflecting investor optimism.4

• Companies like Frame & Conceive may see increased demand for fertility navigation support.4

• Kindbody & other clinics could benefit if more patients seek treatment—but only if access truly expands.4

IVF Access: What’s Next & Key Policy Questions to Watch

✔️ Will the 90-day policy recommendations lead to real legislative action? 

✔️ Will insurance mandates for IVF be introduced at the state or federal level? 

✔️ Will research funding be restored to ensure continued innovation? 

✔️ How will political debates over embryo rights impact IVF access?

How to Advocate for IVF Access & Reproductive Rights

🔹 Advocate for real change—Join RESOLVE’s Federal Advocacy Day on May 20 to push for meaningful legislation.¹ 

🔹 Push for employer coverage—Use RESOLVE’s toolkit to advocate for fertility benefits in your workplace.⁵ 

🔹 Stay informed & spread the word—Share this article and join the conversation about making IVF accessible to all.

Final Thoughts

This executive order acknowledges the IVF access crisis but lacks the structural reforms needed for real impact. Patients, providers, and advocates must keep pushing for tangible changes that go beyond political headlines.

The Fempower Health community will continue tracking these developments—because reproductive healthcare isn’t just about politics; it’s about real people, real families, and real futures.

👉 Share this newsletter with like minded women in your community who want trusted information on navigating the healthcare system when it comes to the health of women.

Sources

1. White House Executive Order: "White House Executive Order Update: What we know, what we don’t know, and what’s next." RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, February 20, 2025.

2. "Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Expands Access to In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)." The White House, February 18, 2025.

3. Collura, Barbara, and Sean Tipton. "Statement: Resolve + ASRM: Infertility Patients and Physicians Object to Latest Threats to Medical Research." RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association and The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), February 10, 2025.

4. "Progyny Stock Rises 2.6% Following Trump’s IVF Executive Order." Investing.com, February 18, 2025.

5. Collura, Barbara. "Statement from RESOLVE on President Trump Signing Executive Order on IVF." RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, February 18, 2025.