EBSA-2026-0232-0001, Anonymous

I am writing from the perspective of a nurse practitioner working in one of the top hospitals in the US and as a patient of one of the top 10 infertility centers in the US. My experience has been extremely disappointing and shockingly revealing of the lack of comprehensive fertility management available for many Americans struggling with infertility. After a basic workup, I was diagnosed with "infertility of unknown cause", a diagnosis that came with the following clause: "unexplained infertility does not dismiss the possibility of underlying issues, it is simply a blanket term used to describe the situation in which the female partner is ovulatory with at least one patent fallopian tube and the male partner has normal semen parameters." Although this explanation in itself acknowledges the fact that infertility can be a side effect of underlying issues, the fertility center did have the knowledge or protocols to pursue further evaluation. Instead, I was immediately encouraged to pursue IUI and IVF, procedures that are not only invasive but also ethically conflicting with my personal and religious beliefs. This conflict is true for many of my acquaintances and patients. It is hard to belief that one of the top 10 fertility centers in the US is practicing in a way that is not up to speed with the medical evolution of today's world. After learning about restorative reproductive medicine (RRM), I am more confident in the future of medicine and have decided to pursue this route. I know of many patients who would benefit from the comprehensive care RRM provides, and denying this integration into modern medicine would not only be unethical, but would also set us back in our progress as a nation.