Colorado Fertility Advocates Oppose “Restorative Reproductive Medicine” and “Ethical IVF”

Protecting IVF Access:
The Truth About RRM / EThical IVF and Its misleading terminology

Colorado Fertility Advocates opposes “Restorative Reproductive Medicine” (RRM) and so-called “Ethical IVF” because these misleading terms hide ideologically driven efforts to restrict fertility care. RRM is not a new specialty but an ideological rebranding that often excludes IVF, delaying or denying proven, time-sensitive treatments many families need to build their futures. IVF is a globally recognized, evidence-based medical advancement, not a political bargaining chip.

As we did with HB25-1259, CFA will continue to advocate for policies grounded in clinical evidence and patient autonomy, ensuring all Coloradans can access inclusive, ethical, and effective fertility care without unnecessary barriers.

From American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM)

What Is RRM? A Rebranding of Standard Medical Practice

What distinguishes RRM is not medical practice but ideology. It typically excludes IVF and related treatments on moral or religious grounds, not clinical evidence. Its proponents create a false narrative that standard fertility care skips proper diagnosis or healing, when in fact, it is based on precisely those principles.

RRM is not a distinct specialty or a new concept. It repackages what fertility doctors already do for every patient:

• Thorough diagnostic workups (e.g., hormone tests, imaging, semen analysis)

• Treatment of underlying conditions like PCOS, endometriosis, or thyroid dysfunction

• Individualized care before moving to assisted technologies like IVF

In short, RRM (and any variation thereof, including so-called “in ventre fertilization”) is simply fertility medicine minus key tools like IVF, which, for some, represents the only way to build a family.