The IVF Policy Shift: Why Restorative Reproductive Medicine Shouldn’t Replace Fertility Choice

October 11, 2025•4 min read

Fertility care is changing. The recent shift away from IVF coverage and toward restorative reproductive medicine has raised important questions about access, equity, and choice.

Limiting fertility support to one approach can make it harder for individuals and couples to choose the path that fits their needs. True fertility care recognizes that both medical innovation and restorative approaches play vital roles in supporting reproductive health.

This week at Health Youniversity focuses on how integrating both can strengthen your foundation for conception—combining prevention, restoration, and science to create better outcomes for fertility and pregnancy.

Understanding Restorative Reproductive Medicine

Restorative reproductive medicine addresses the root causes that interfere with natural fertility. Hormonal imbalance, inflammation, toxin exposure, and nutrient depletion can all impact egg and sperm quality, implantation, and cycle regularity.

By identifying and correcting these underlying issues, restorative care supports the body’s natural function while complementing assisted reproductive technologies such as IVF. Improving hormonal balance, circulation, and cellular health before or during treatment enhances the reproductive environment and improves the likelihood of conception and a healthy pregnancy.

Impact of Limiting Fertility Options

When fertility support is limited to a single method, access to care narrows. Same-sex couples, single parents by choice, and individuals who need urgent fertility preservation may lose opportunities to pursue treatments that align with their medical or personal circumstances.

This divide also disrupts collaboration across the fertility field. IVF and restorative reproductive medicine were never meant to compete — each supports fertility differently. Integrating both ensures that every individual or couple has the chance to pursue the care that best supports their path to parenthood.

Preventative Care for IVF Success

Preparing the body before an IVF cycle improves the quality of eggs, embryos, and overall reproductive health. The weeks before treatment create an opportunity to strengthen hormonal balance and cellular function for better outcomes.

The IVF Timeline Creates Opportunity: Each stage of an IVF cycle—from consultation to retrieval—allows time for meaningful physiological change. Focusing on nutrient-dense foods, restorative sleep, and toxin reduction during this period supports hormone regulation, ovarian function, and implantation success.
Role of TEAS Therapy: Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation (TEAS) applies gentle electrical currents to specific acupoints to support circulation and ovarian activity. Studies show TEAS can increase live birth rates by improving blood flow, reducing inflammation, and enhancing ovarian response during IVF.

Preconception Plan Perfected

The Preconception Plan Perfected prepares the body for conception through restorative therapy, nutrition, and mind-body practices. This comprehensive approach helps improve fertility outcomes and overall reproductive wellness.

TEAS Therapy: TEAS sessions are scheduled throughout the menstrual cycle to support hormonal balance and optimize uterine receptivity. Regular treatments help the body maintain rhythm and readiness for conception.
Nutrition for Fertility: A whole-food, anti-inflammatory diet provides essential nutrients for egg and sperm health. Emphasizing hydration, balanced macronutrients, and reducing processed foods supports hormone balance and cellular repair.
Mind-Body Practices: Gentle movement, breathwork, and relaxation techniques help regulate stress hormones and enhance circulation. Mind-body connection is key to creating a calm, receptive environment for conception.

Check out all of our episodes on the following platforms:

Register for a free 28-Day Detox Masterclass to improve Your Fertile Health:
https://susanfox1.easywebinar.live/gentle-detox

Know the status of your fertility health. Take our FREE Fertility Quiz now: http://yourfertilityquiz.com/

Fulfill your dream of a family. Know your best options for a healthy pregnancy: https://www.healthyouniversity.co/programs

Boost Employee Productivity by Investing in their Fertility Health. Check out our Corporate Wellness program and know the benefits it can bring to your company: https://www.healthyouniversity.co/corporate-wellness

Preconception Plan Perfected:
https://healthyouniversity.co/programs

Susan Fox is a women’s health expert and fertility guide with over 20 years of experience supporting women and couples through reproductive challenges. As a devoted mother and longtime practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine, she empowers her clients with holistic strategies, personalized care, and education to nurture health, resilience, and well-being on the journey to parenthood.

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Medical Disclaimer:

By listening to the Health Youniversity podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition for yourself or others. Consult your healthcare provider for any medical issues you may have. This entire disclaimer also pertains to any guests or contributors to any Health Youniversity podcast.

Dr. Susan Fox

I am a women’s health expert with a specialty in working with women and couples navigating fertility challenges for more than 20 years. I look forward to helping you realize your dream of family. I’m also a mother, a sister, a friend. I live in beautiful Northern California, where the nature of Mt. Tamalpais, the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay are my backyard. Traditional Chinese Medicine discovered me in 1978, when I was struggling with digestive complaints that flummoxed medical doctors. It wasn’t until I received my first acupuncture treatment and herbal prescription that I connected my medical condition to grief over loss of a loved one; that the stress of holding in such huge emotions was literally tying me up in knots, and I was finally able to heal. Discovering the powerful links between the physical, the mental, the emotional, the spiritual, and the environmental shifted my understanding of health and wellness forever. For more than 20 years, I’ve had the privilege of learning and implementing Whole Systems Traditional Chinese Medicine to understand the root causes of health conditions and realize optimal health and well-being. I am a strong believer in the importance of health education, for knowledge is power when you have the tools for effective self care.

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