2026/07/08 by Leah Elizabeth Chapman, Mary Kathryn Poole, Jennifer F. Kawwass +1 · 1 voice
Medicine · #Ovarian function and disorders #Reproductive Biology and Fertility #Reproductive Health and Technologies
paper · doi:10.1177/15409996261467343
openalex publication_date 2026/07/08 · openalex created_date 2026/07/09 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/22
Research Question: What is the current lifetime prevalence of infertility in the U.S., and how do U.S. adults view access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and state-mandated insurance coverage? Design: Cross-sectional data were analyzed from a nationally weighted online survey of 1,000 U.S. adults in November 2024. Survey-weighted descriptive statistics estimated lifetime infertility prevalence and support for the right to access IVF and for state-mandated IVF insurance coverage. Survey-adjusted chi-square tests assessed differences in support across sociodemographic groups. Results: The sample included adults aged 18–87 years (median age 51 years). Lifetime infertility prevalence was 8.9% (95% CI: 7.2–11.0). Most respondents supported IVF access for infertility patients (74.2%; 95% CI: 70.9–77.2), and approximately two-thirds supported state-mandated IVF insurance coverage (64.6%; 95% CI: 61.2–67.7). Support for IVF access varied significantly by age ( p = 0.04), education ( p < 0.01), income ( p < 0.01), race/ethnicity ( p = 0.01), political leaning ( p < 0.01), and infertility experience ( p < 0.01). Lower support was observed among adults ages 18–29 and 30–49, those with lower income or educational attainment, Black respondents, Independents/Independent-leaning respondents, and individuals without personal or secondhand infertility experience. Support for state-mandated IVF insurance coverage varied by education ( p < 0.01), income ( p < 0.01), political leaning ( p < 0.01), and infertility experience ( p < 0.01), with the lowest support among respondents with lower income or education, Republican/Republican-leaning respondents, and those without infertility experience. Conclusions: Approximately 1 in 11 U.S. adults has experienced infertility. Although support varied across demographic and political groups, most Americans support IVF access and insurance mandates.