Breaking down the buzz about restorative reproductive medicine

Recently, it’s been hard not to notice that fertility treatment has become a political hot-button topic that’s frequently in the news. While a recent presidential executive order is designed to expand access to fertility treatment, including IVF, you may have also heard about IVF alternatives, including what sounds like a new treatment called restorative reproductive medicine. Our Texas fertility specialists want to clear the air about what this term really means, and how these treatments fit into our personalized approach to fertility care for every patient.

What is restorative reproductive medicine?

The term restorative reproductive medicine, or RRM, refers to a philosophy of treating infertility using hormonal testing, ultrasound monitoring, certain fertility medications and surgery for endometriosis – but not advanced therapies such as IVF. These steps are a standard part of the basic infertility evaluation used by most reproductive endocrinologists for most, if not all, new patients. While this term is not new, small disparate groups of individuals who oppose IVF on personal grounds (moral, religious, ethical) have coalesced around it and are proposing it as an “alternative” to advanced fertility treatments including IVF. In our current politically charged environment, some media outlets and groups of people opposed to IVF are using this “option” to intimidate legislators who otherwise support IVF into opposing the President’s expressed desire to expand access and coverage.

Restorative reproductive medicine is said to focus on restoring the body’s natural reproductive function by identifying the causes of reproductive problems and treating them in the least-invasive way – which is what fertility specialists have done all along. Treatments being marketed as RRM might include lifestyle changes, hormone supplementation, or surgery to help patients overcome certain barriers to getting pregnant. While these are presented as IVF alternatives, the truth is, they will only potentially help a small group of infertility patients.

Does TFC offer RRM or other IVF alternatives?

Texas Fertility Center has always approached every patient as an individual. We have no “one size fits all” treatments; rather we offer a complete suite of diagnostic and treatment alternatives that include everything from natural cycle monitoring to surgery and/or IVF.

After performing an initial history and physical examination, we prescribe a regimen of appropriate tests for both female and male patients. These tests are designed to identify any abnormalities that can cause infertility. We then recommend treatment alternatives that we believe will work best for them. Some people may just need a little “boost” of hormone medications to help with ovulation, or surgery to remove endometriosis, fibroids, endometrial polyps, or pelvic scar tissue.

For many people, intrauterine insemination, or IUI, can overcome mild ovulation issues or a lower sperm count. But for about 40% of our patients, these fertility treatments simply won’t be effective, and IVF is the most effective path to parenthood.

For example, for women with blocked fallopian tubes or severely diminished ovarian reserve (a very low egg supply), hormone supplementation or medications won’t work. For men with a very low sperm count, intercourse or IUI is rarely effective. For patients with recurrent pregnancy loss or those with a family history of genetic disorders that can cause inherited genetic illnesses in children, IVF may well be the only answer. Practitioners of restorative reproductive medicine have nothing to offer these patients.

In all of these cases, and many others, IVF is the best or only option. IVF is also the only path to biological parenthood for men and women who need to use donor eggs, donor embryos, or a gestational surrogacy to have a baby.

Trust the experts

Our Texas fertility specialists rely on evidence-based decision-making to create personalized treatment plans for every patient. We start with extensive fertility testing for everyone who comes to us seeking help to have a baby. From bloodwork and semen analysis to ultrasound scans and other advanced fertility tests, we start with a clear picture of exactly what is causing infertility. Many other factors also come into play when making treatment decisions with our patients, including patient age, personal family-planning goals, existing medical conditions, insurance coverage and the patient’s budget.

We typically start with the least aggressive treatment that offers the highest chance of success. For others, treatment recommendations start with IVF, because RRM approaches are simply not going to work.

Patients deserve the most effective treatments for their specific diagnosis, not just buzzwords. This is why experts such as the American Society for Reproductive Medicine recommend that patients suffering from infertility start their journey to pregnancy with fertility testing by a reproductive endocrinologist.

We want you to be an active participant in your fertility care, and we will always support your decisions about your own fertility treatment. We will do everything in our power to help you meet your family-planning goals in the most effective way. Contact us to schedule a consultation and get started on the path to pregnancy.