Alabama IVF ruling a political gift for Democrats, headache for Republicans

An Alabama court ruling that frozen embryos created through fertility treatment are children has delivered an election-year opportunity for Democrats - and a political headache for Republicans.

US President Joe Biden's party is already campaigning on the controversy, casting November's vote as a fight over reproductive rights.

For Republicans, the row could pose an obstacle in their carefully laid plans to win back suburban women and swing voters.

At least three fertility clinics in Alabama have paused in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) since last week's ruling.

The all-Republican justices decided that frozen embryos created through IVF are considered children under state law.