What if you woke up tomorrow and found out you were blind? Fear, grief, despair— these may be some of the emotions you would feel.
One can argue that a person does not need their vision to live. Yet, without it, a person’s quality of life could be changed forever.
Now, imagine if you woke up blind the day after your wedding. How would that feel? For many couples, this may describe the pain and uncertainty of infertility.
In 2009, the World Health Organization declared infertility a “disease” worthy of insurance coverage. Despite this, insurance companies often deny coverage for assisted reproductive care. In the United States alone, 6.7 million women between the ages of 25 and 44 experience infertility.
Bioethics is a field that explores ethical questions that arise in healthcare. Often, this field focuses on the alleviation of human suffering and the prevention of death. While infertility may not directly pose the risk of death, it certainly may be associated with suffering, which, in some cases, may very well lead to death.
Often, the emotional toll of infertility is significant. Individuals seeking treatment frequently face the financial burdens of limited insurance coverage. Reproductive autonomy—the ability to make informed choices about one’s reproductive health—is compromised when insurance fails to cover necessary treatments.
Infertility treatment raises important issues, including cost and the use of artificial methods to create life. In the United States, treatments can range from $200 to $15,000 per cycle, depending on the specific approach. These treatments vary based on the cause of infertility, whether it is due to male or female factors, and may involve medications, hormone therapy or Artificial Reproductive Technology (ART).
Some individuals or couples facing infertility explore alternative ways to have biological children. Additionally, fertility preservation—collecting and storing reproductive material—is often considered by those concerned about future childbearing due to age or medical conditions like cancer.
Often, those opposed to mandated infertility coverage claim that these treatments fall outside the realm of services deemed “essential” for one’s health. However, this perspective raises several important ethical and spiritual concerns. By categorizing infertility treatment as non-essential, we inadvertently diminish its significance to patients.
Infertility affects millions of individuals and couples, impacting their emotional well-being, relationships and overall quality of life. Denying insurance coverage perpetuates healthcare inequity, particularly along racial and socioeconomic lines.
A 2005 study found that most patients seen for assisted reproductive care were college-educated, middle-class and white. Another study found that 19% of women treated for infertility between the ages of 25 and 44 held a master’s degree or higher.
Everyone deserves the opportunity to pursue parenthood, regardless of their financial resources. However, social disparities in equitable treatment access remain.
If all medical treatments were given only to those who could afford them, then we would consider that unethical. You might say we were doing a poor job loving our neighbor.
Of course, we hope those who long to be parents can provide the care and resources their future child needs. However, being poor does not affect a parent’s ability to love their child. In fact, mandated infertility coverage may help ease the financial burden of growing one’s family.
Some people may argue that infertility treatments are not essential. Yet, we must consider the broader social context.
Insurance companies routinely cover procedures that aren’t strictly lifesaving. For instance, contraception—used to prevent pregnancy—is considered essential, yet infertility is not.
This discrepancy raises questions about our priorities and values as a society. Moreover, what does this say about us as Christians?
Many religious and spiritual traditions emphasize the value of family, procreation, and the sanctity of life.
The spiritual toll of infertility is real, and denying access to treatment exacerbates this burden. Research on the psychological symptoms of infertility indicates that patients are at an increased risk of mental health concerns such as depression or anxiety. This certainly poses risks to individuals’ inherent quality of life.
As we advocate for equitable access to reproductive health services, we must recognize the profound impact of infertility on individuals and families, both medically and spiritually.
Becoming a parent is one of God’s greatest gifts. For those faced with the challenge of infertility, having a child should not be reserved only for those who can afford it.