Hinds Today

U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), chair of the Senate Pro-Life Caucus, introduced legislation today aimed at addressing infertility and providing couples with more autonomy in building their families. The Reproductive Empowerment and Support through Optimal Restoration (RESTORE) Act seeks to expand access to restorative reproductive medicine within existing federal programs, targeting the nearly 11 percent of women and nine percent of men affected by infertility.

“I strongly support treatments such as IVF, which have helped so many families experience the miracle of life. Healing the actual causes of infertility will only help increase the success rate for couples trying to conceive. It’s time that we look at paying serious attention helping women and couples affected by infertility by treating the underlying conditions that make it hard, if not impossible, to have a baby,” Hyde-Smith stated.

The RESTORE Act aims to focus federal resources on promoting research into leading causes of infertility while making information on possible treatments more accessible. “There is no question how heartbreaking it can be for couples challenged by infertility, and I believe we can do more to help couples trying to conceive get the care they need to understand and proactively treat the underlying conditions that cause infertility,” Hyde-Smith added.

Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.), chair of the Senate Values Action Team, is the lead cosponsor of the RESTORE Act. He emphasized that IVF should not be the sole option available for families due to its high costs: “Infertility is one of the most difficult challenges couples can face, and most Americans have either faced or know someone who is facing the difficult journey to have a baby. IVF is an incredible scientific advancement that allows families to bring life into the world, but IVF is very expensive and shouldn’t be the only option available to families.”

Additional original cosponsors include U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa).

The legislation focuses on reproductive health conditions such as endometriosis, adenomyosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, uterine fibroids, blocked fallopian tubes, hormone imbalances, hyperprolactinemia, thyroid conditions, ovulation dysfunctions among others—conditions identified as leading causes of infertility and painful menstrual cycles.

Dr. Patrick Yeung Jr., M.D., a St. Louis-based board-certified gynecologist specializing in endometriosis excision and restorative surgery supports this initiative: “Patients with reproductive health conditions like endometriosis that can lead to infertility and pain deserve better... Women deserve support and access to root cause treatments that offer real solutions.”

The RESTORE Act also includes strong religious and conscience protections ensuring no hospitals or individuals are required or held liable for refusing restorative reproductive medicine or fertility awareness-based methods.