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

Washington, DC - The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) today 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 and access to reproductive health care.

At a Washington, DC press conference organized by Rep. Susan Wild (D-PA) and the Pro-Choice and Democratic Women's Caucuses, ASRM member Dr. Mark Payson emphasized the importance of patient-centered medical decisions supported by the best science.

ASRM joins Rep. Wild in calling for a House floor vote on the Right to IVF Act, a bipartisan measure with 201 cosponsors. Majority support is crucial to ensure the measure clears procedural hurdles for a floor vote, which is key to protecting patients' access to the care they deserve. In his remarks, Dr. Payson said, "Politicians should not dictate medical choices about how to have a child. These deeply personal decisions should be made by patients and their providers and empowered by the best science. This legislation will protect our ability to do that."

Paula Amato, MD, President of ASRM, echoed these sentiments, stating, "It is unfortunate that as we mark World IVF Day - which celebrates medical innovations that have led to the birth of millions of babies - we find reproductive healthcare caught in political crosshairs that threaten our members' ability to provide patients quality care, free of political interference. We applaud Congresswoman Wild and other supporters of this legislation for leading efforts to right this wrong."