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President Donald Trump announced the successes of some of his efforts to make in-vitro fertilization more accessible to the average American to solve the infertility crisis. However, the president should push to lower the costs of adoption and address the root causes of America’s infertility crisis.
As of Oct. 16, Trump has partnered with the Department of Labor, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Treasury to start allowing employees to subscribe to their company’s fertility benefits in the same manner as they would subscribe to vision or dental benefits. Trump is also encouraging companies to cover IVF under company insurance plans. Trump also partnered with pharmaceutical company EMD Serono to cut its IVF fertility drug prices by 84% for Americans by enacting a price ceiling.
Instead of creating life through IVF, it would be better for Trump to divert resources and personnel into improving the American adoption process and researching the causes of infertility.
There are about 62 million married couples in the U.S., of which about 9 million are infertile, according to the White House’s statement. About 20 million orphans in the world are in need of adoption. Before funding the creation of new life through IVF, Trump should improve the American adoption process, so the children already in existence can find homes.
Unfortunately, both international and domestic adoptions can cost up to $45,000. Financial obstacles include compensating the birth mother for lost wages, legal fees, and international and state regulations.
Trump could work with states to provide financial support for adoptive families — easing a major barrier for many who would like to adopt. The average cycle of IVF in the U.S. costs $21,000, with most IVF users requiring two to three cycles to achieve a pregnancy, bringing the average cost closer to $52,500 for a single IVF pregnancy. The total cost of an adoption in the U.S. ranges from around $2500 to $45,000, but with government support even expensive adoptions could become more affordable than the average IVF process.
Instead of incentivizing Americans to go through difficult procedures such as IVF, Trump should also address the root causes of infertility.
New research has linked pornography consumption, ingestion of microplastics, smoking, and poor nutritional choices to lower sperm counts in men, problems conceiving in women, and lower reproductive hormones in both sexes. Trump should prioritize working with the FDA and HHS to set standards for the maximum amount of microplastics allowed in food, put regulations on the distribution of porn, and reform the food pyramid to support healthy eating habits.
Trump should also raise awareness about and direct the HHS to research other factors affecting fertility, such as investigating the increasing scientific evidence that polyester underwear contributes to infertility in men.
Trump has good intentions by using IVF to solve America’s fertility crisis. But he could better accomplish his goal of helping infertile American couples by working with adoption services and mitigating causes of infertility.
Blake Schaper is a freshman studying the liberal arts.
