ASRM's Funding and Policy Push Shapes U.S. Fertility Research and Clinic Standards
The American Society of Reproductive Medicine is financing a range of fertility studies and using its influence to steer clinic regulations and legislation.
ASRM’s 2026 grant program funded studies on testosterone-treated female mice, climate impacts on menstrual health, and LGBTQ-oriented fertility services, with awards ranging from $30,000 to $125,000. The organization’s ethics policy endorses embryo research deemed beneficial to health, and it supports in-vitro gametogenesis, acknowledging potential eugenic concerns. ASRM’s partnership with the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology means most clinics follow its guidelines to obtain SART certification.
Lobbying efforts between 2022 and 2024 totaled over $1.2 million, and the group has sent letters urging lawmakers to define embryos as non-persons and to protect IVF access. It also campaigns against restorative reproductive medicine, labeling it unscientific, and attributes opposition to political and religious motives. Recent legislative activity in Tennessee illustrates ASRM’s strategy to embed IVF-centric policies at the state level.
Why it matters
ASRM’s funding and policy influence shape how fertility treatments are developed, regulated, and accessed across the United States.
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