Senate falls short on IVF vote

The Senate on Thursday fell short of the votes needed to move forward on legislation that would protect access to and expand coverage of commonly used fertility treatments, with just two Republicans joining Democrats in support of the legislation.

Interest in protecting access to and demonstrating support for fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization, otherwise known as IVF, have skyrocketed following a February Alabama Supreme Court ruling recognizing frozen embryos as unborn children. 

IVF involves the union of an egg and sperm outside the body. The fertilized egg is later implanted into a woman’s uterus to increase the odds of pregnancy. Fertilized eggs are sometimes discarded during the process if they are not growing properly or if a family has more fertilized eggs than they need.