Your Impact

In a time of deep uncertainty for scientific research, the mission of the ASRM Research Institute has never been more urgent. With the NIH announcing significant funding cuts for 2025, especially for studies involving gametes and embryos, countless critical research projects now face an uncertain future. Since its founding in 2018, the Institute has stepped in to fill that gap—funding groundbreaking work that would otherwise go unsupported.

One of those projects is led by Elizabeth Rubin, MD, who was awarded the Reproductive Scientist Development Program (RSDP) fellowship in 2024. Her study is entitled, the impact of high dose androgens on non-human primate oocyte competency and preimplantation embryo development and genetics. For Dr. Rubin, this support is more than a grant—it’s a lifeline at a pivotal moment in her career and in the broader scientific community.

“The recent changes regarding NIH funding eligibility are a devastating setback to scientific progress regarding gender affirming care and the medical treatment of transgender people. I am very fortunate to have funding from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine to continue my translational research in this area. As an early career physician-scientist, my work could not be continued without the generous support of ASRM. During this extremely challenging time when so many of my colleagues are being stripped of their funding, I am thankful that ASRM continues to recognize the importance of robust research to improve the health, well-being, and fertility outcomes for transgender people.”

Dr. Rubin’s words are a powerful reminder of what’s at stake—not just for researchers, but for the communities they serve. When public funding falls short, programs like the ASRM Research Institute become essential—not only to protect innovation, but to ensure that all people have a place in the future of reproductive medicine.

By supporting studies that explore complex, often underfunded areas of science, the ASRM Research Institute ensures that progress doesn’t stall. It helps young investigators continue their work. And it reaffirms a simple truth: that advancing reproductive health for all is a mission worth fighting for.

Preparing Experts in Reproductive Medicine to Engage Decisionmakers

Family-building lies at the heart of every community. As federal policies continue to redefine the nation’s stance on reproductive rights, no voices are more essential than those of physicians, researchers, and professionals in reproductive medicine. Regardless of political affiliation, expert perspectives are critical to helping legislators—and the public at large—navigate this complex and urgent issue.

CPL PRIMED, a training program of the ASRM Center for Policy and Leadership (CPL), equips reproductive-health professionals with the language, skills, and confidence to advocate for reproductive rights within America’s political system.

“We can’t afford to be silent,” says Becca O’Connor, ASRM CPL Director.

The CPL is a nonpartisan think tank that advances reproductive medicine by delivering fact-based, science-driven information to inform both policymakers and the public. PRIMED launched in 2024 to cultivate a new generation of advocates ready to speak with authority and purpose.

Each PRIMED cohort is intentionally small, just 12 members per term, to ensure a deeply engaging and personalized experience. Participants receive comprehensive, skill-based training that covers the fundamentals of the legislative and appropriations processes (state and federal), persuasive advocacy communications, and best practices for social media advocacy. They confront real-world legislative scenarios and present capstone projects at the ASRM Scientific Congress. The program culminates in a cohort visit to Washington D.C., where PRIMED members, guided by ASRM staff, put their skills into action by meeting with federal lawmakers to advocate for policies promoting access to scientifically backed reproductive health care. By the end of the program, participants leave with not only new skills but also a strong sense of autonomy and agency.

“I applied to PRIMED because I was tired of talking about injustices and inequalities in accessing reproductive care,” recalled one participant.  “I wanted to do something about it, but I had no idea when or where to start. PRIMED not only taught me but also showed me how to navigate the political sphere. PRIMED gave me the tools and confidence to tackle [the system] head on.”

This is the empowerment PRIMED strives to provide.

“We have REIs, fellows, early-career professionals, embryologists, and members of our Mental Health Special Interest Group,” says O’Connor. “You don’t have to run for Congress to make an impact.”

PRIMED is building a coalition of reproductive medicine experts prepared to respond to public need in real time. With a commitment to expanding this network of professional advocates and strengthening its sense of community, the CPL recently welcomed Amelia Letson as PRIMED Program Coordinator and Special Projects Associate.

“I’m thrilled to be joining the ASRM team. Watching the PRIMED advocates in action reaffirmed the power and purpose of our program. Our cohort witnessed firsthand how their voices not only mattered but actively contributed to advancing comprehensive, pro-reproductive health policy,” said Letson.

By bringing together such a diverse network, PRIMED ensures the full spectrum of reproductive medicine is represented in policy conversations. This breadth of expertise not only strengthens the program’s collective voice but also ensures lawmakers and the public have access to timely, accurate, and compassionate guidance. At a moment when reproductive rights are under constant debate, a coalition of experts ready to engage is not just valuable—it is essential.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE 2026 PRIMED COHORT

ASRM Patient Story: Mary Dolan

I was diagnosed with diminished ovarian reserve/premature ovarian failure at 28 years old. At the time it was devastating news, and I felt blindsided by a diagnosis that was so unfamiliar. Our first visit to a reproductive endocrinologist did nothing to ease my fears—I was told bluntly that my labs were so poor that they wouldn’t even consider IVF with my eggs and my only options were donor eggs or adoption. I felt certain I was meant to be a mom and was convinced I could make it happen another way. Luckily, we lived in Boulder, Colorado where holistic medicine and healthy living are revered. It felt instinctual to me to learn about my body and to make lifestyle changes to heal and improve my overall health, outside of the intended outcome of having a baby.

For years I tried a variety of modalities to improve my egg quality, increase blood flow, regulate my menstrual cycles (they were unpredictable, then nonexistent), and reduce stress. I tried acupuncture, herbal treatments, supplements, dietary changes, Mayan abdominal massage, fertility yoga, hypnotherapy, meditation, ayurveda, and more! I learned to advocate for myself and my health, but none of the progress I made resulted in a positive pregnancy test. I knew it was time to move on. After 6 long years, we decided to pursue egg donation. It meant my husband would have a biological connection to our child(ren) and I would be able to carry them. It was so important to me to be physically involved in the process after years of yearning to be pregnant.

As we moved forward with this new path, things finally began to fall into place. As soon as we’d gone through the full workup with our clinic (gathering with our doctor, nurses, financial team, business office, and doing extensive labs and other tests), we were granted full access to their in-house donor database. By some incredible stroke of luck, we found our donor right away. Where I once received call after call with bad news (levels too high, levels too low, no follicles, too many cysts), calls with amazing results from our donor started becoming the norm. My confidence grew and I felt more ready than ever to start treatments.

As a result of overstimulation and near-perfect fertilization, we ended up with an incredibly large number of highly graded embryos. I continued acupuncture through my entire IVF medication schedule, and we did our first frozen embryo transfer (FET) in July of 2016. We welcomed our daughter in March the following year. Our second FET was in September 2019 and our son was born in May 2020.

I assumed that once I was pregnant and had a baby, I would be ready to shed my infertility story and just be a “regular” mom. But during both pregnancies and even now as my children are growing, I find myself sharing openly and unprompted the story of how they were created.

I am proud of all the blood, sweat and tears (SO many tears!) that went into all those years of procedures and treatments and lab work. I am proud of not letting the heartbreak and hopelessness overcome me and for continuing on during the darkest moments. Our marriage was tested during the trials and tribulations of infertility, but we ended up stronger parents having already experienced tremendous struggle as a team. I look back on those difficult years with mixed emotions, but most notably a fondness I never expected. They helped me trust myself and gain a deeper appreciation for the family I worked so hard to have.

From Guidance to Global Impact: How ASRM’s Updated Definition of Infertility Helped Shape Policy in Australia

When ASRM released its updated definition of infertility in 2023, the goal was not simply to revise language, but to expand the understanding of infertility so that it would encompass the realities of modern family building and encourage equitable access to fertility care for all individuals seeking treatment. 

Historically, infertility has been centered on heterosexual couples experiencing failure to conceive after a set period of unprotected intercourse. While clinically useful, the framework excluded many individuals and partnerships; single parents by choice, same-sex couples, and others who require medical assistance to build families. 

ASRM’s Practice Committee intentionally moved beyond this limitation by updating its definition and recognizing infertility not only as a disease of the reproductive system, but as a condition shaped by circumstance and access to reproductive resources. 

The resulting impact has been profound. The updated definition became a catalyst for regulatory action internationally and yielded new hope for growing families on the other side of the world.

Dr. Alison Gee, a reproductive specialist based in Sydney, Australia, explained on ASRM’s Podcast ASRM Today, how Australian medical societies leveraged the new definition to address gaps in medical coverage.

“We all agreed that it was a very thoughtful, considered and appropriate definition of infertility,” Gee said. 

In Australia, access to assisted reproductive technology (ART) is closely tied to Medicare rebates, which historically rely on the World Health Organization-aligned definition of infertility. While clinically established, this approach effectively excluded many patients who required donor gametes or other forms of assistance to conceive.

Although Australian medical societies had begun examining the issue, progress was stalled until ASRM released its revised definition in 2023. 

Recognizing its relevance, the Australian and New Zealand Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Specialists formally adopted ASRM’s definition and worked with two other professional bodies to develop a national consensus statement. That statement was then presented to the Australian government.

“I’m very pleased to say that in March of 2025, we had confirmation from the Australian government that they had accepted that expanded definition of infertility,” Gee said.

This has resulted in Medicare rebates for ART being reflected in a more inclusive understanding of infertility, improving access for same-sex couples, single individuals, and others previously excluded. 

For clinicians, patients, and advocates alike, the shift illustrates the possible strides in reproductive medicine worldwide.

ASRM is not a regulatory body, and its guidance is voluntary. Yet, Australia’s response illustrates the influence of clear, values-driven leadership in reproductive medicine.

While the policy shift marks a significant milestone, gaps remain. In Australia, surrogacy-related services are still excluded from Medicare funding, an issue Dr. Gee describes as the next hurdle in achieving full equity.

“That is something that needs to go through a separate pathway for us to get that changed,” she said.  

Still, the broader impact is undeniable. What began as a carefully revised definition has become a tangible policy lever that has improved access to care for patients.