As the average age of first-time mothers continues to climb in the United States, a recent Pew Research Center survey reveals a significant uptick in the number of adults who have either undergone fertility treatments or know someone who has.
The survey, conducted over the past five years, sheds light on changing perceptions and experiences surrounding fertility services.
Key Findings:
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Overall Increase: The survey indicates that 42% of U.S. adults have either utilized fertility treatments or have a personal connection to someone who has. This marks a notable increase from the 33% reported five years ago.
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Ethnic Disparities: White and Asian adults are more likely to have experience or familiarity with fertility treatments, with 48% of White adults acknowledging this – up from 37% in 2018. In comparison, about 26% of Black adults and 33% of Hispanic adults report similar experiences.
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Gender Dynamics: Women (47%) are more likely than men (37%) to have undergone fertility treatments or know someone who has, highlighting a gender disparity in these experiences.
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Income Influence: Unsurprisingly, upper-income adults show a higher likelihood of having used fertility treatments or having connections to someone who has. The cost of fertility treatments, often not covered by insurance, contributes to this divide.
CDC Data on Fertility Services:
While the Pew Research Center survey captures the broader sentiment and connections to fertility treatments, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides a deeper dive into the experiences of women who have personally undergone fertility services. Between 2017 and 2019, 10% of women ages 15 to 44 reported having received some form of fertility service.
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Age and Education Impact: Women aged 35 to 44 are more likely to have utilized fertility services (18%) compared to their younger counterparts (7%). Additionally, women with a bachelor’s degree or higher educational attainment (15%) are more likely than those with less education (9%) to have used fertility services.
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Types of Services: Fertility advice is the most commonly sought service (78%), followed by fertility testing (61%), and the use of drugs to improve ovulation (43%). More invasive procedures like surgery or artificial insemination are less common.
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Insurance Coverage: CDC data reveals that 70% of women who received fertility services had their treatments covered by private insurance.
Should Health Insurance Cover Fertility Treatments?
The Pew Research Center survey also delves into public opinion on whether health insurance should cover the costs of fertility treatments.
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Widespread Support: A majority of Americans (61%) believe that health insurance should cover fertility treatments, signaling a growing recognition of the importance of inclusive coverage in reproductive health.
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Demographic Differences: Younger adults (18-49) are more likely to support insurance coverage for fertility treatments compared to those aged 50 and older. There's also a noticeable divergence between Democrats and Republicans, with 69% of Democrats in favor compared to 54% of Republicans.
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Gender Divide: Women (64%) express higher support for insurance coverage than men (57%).
As societal attitudes toward fertility treatments evolve, these findings provide valuable insights into the shifting landscape of reproductive health experiences and perceptions in the United States.
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