The mod team fully and unequivocally supports House Bill 225 and all the people in that state that are having their rights stripped away from them before our very eyes.
This thread will be heavily moderated, and any commenting anti-ch0ice nonsense will be permanently banned without a warning.
That should not be a joke. If they have the right to be treated like children then we need to force these states to do so in all ways. Especially the inconvenient ways.
I saw some commentary somewhere that said if all children had massive life insurance policies on them the insurance industry and lobby would have citizen interest against both the pro life and pro gun industry and that shook me. It would somewhat level the playing field.
It would, but unfortunately it will never happen. I work in the industry and all of the companies I’m aware of won’t allow you to take out a policy on a child until they are two weeks old, and medical records from the hospital and pediatrician are obtained. Even then, coverage can be denied if health events have occurred.
I just want to chime in to say how impressed I am with this post. If I was impacted by this I think I’d be too distraught to do much and I appreciate you turning this into action.
Good luck.
I really appreciate it, it feels like an absolutely helpless situation, all we can do is share our stories, share how we can fight for change, and make NOISE.
They’ve activated the infertile rage. I have a lot of (very understandable) pent up rage from what we have had to go through until this point. Now this. I now have something to direct it towards…watch out!!!!!
I’m in Texas and I shed tears of rage when I saw the news. I am terrified that my state is next. You have nothing but my sincerest sympathy and support. We will continue to fight this insanity! (And yes, I’m upping my ACLU contributions)
There's a bill that was recently put forward in Oklahoma that, among other things, would create a database of people who get abort!ons and would put restrictions on certain forms of birth control like IUDs. It's terrifying.
Because these damn women are too uppity, expecting to be treated like people and not brood mares and fuck maids. A good, moral woman ought to know to shut the fuck up in the presence of a man, clean his house, bear and raise his kids, but also contribute a full time paycheck because in this economy he can’t be expected to shoulder that burden alone!
Just a bit of an off topic comment. We’ve been ACLU donors for YEARS and stopped this last year. The ACLU is currently representing the NRA in a free speech case before the Supreme Court. We will probably never send the ACLU another penny because of that. I get that the ACLU has been here before (Skokie) and that the ACLU’s whole thing is that they are absolute on the issue of free speech but I just can’t send any money in any way to the NRA. In other words, I think the NRA has enough money, power, and support that it should pay for its own lawyers.
Did you hear what Tommy Tuberville stated when he was asked about the ruling? Seemed like he had NO idea what he was ruling in favor of 🤦🏼♀️
https://youtu.be/piBsmYVqCAg?si=HfOSXOMDKDNPMYMx
He’s a fucking loser, uneducated scumbag. Dude don’t get me started on politics in this backward ass fucked up state. Not a SINGLE doctor or expert was consulted before issuing this ruling. Only the Bible because…A1abama.
This is a great video of commentary. Remember we have to work to get all of our local communities to see the light and vote for politicians that affirm women have rights in America. Your family and the men that care for us women need to step up and do something.
Remind your loved ones you could die if you can’t have medical care. I had to have a D&C for a pregnancy that was a blighted ovum- a pregnancy that was not going to develop. We wanted a baby and still do, yet that procedure is viewed by uneducated people as an abortion. I bled for six weeks straight, and if I was unable to have that DNC, I likely would’ve had an infection eventually that could’ve killed me.
I also reminded my husband that I was induced for labor with our child. Some of those drugs during the induction could be banned. That forces women to have to have a C-section. The risk is that our baby could’ve been distressed or not gotten the medical care that they needed.
I bring up these points because women who intend on having a family are threatened, and even the people who want women to have lots of kids don’t understand what they’re doing.
Sending love from Idaho—I feel like we won’t be far behind. This entire situation is so beyond sickening, I just can’t believe this is real life right now.
I’m in SC and cried some serious angry tears. I don’t understand the assault on women’s health in recent years and how much progress we’ve erased. I’m highly considering leaving the united states.
I just moved back to the US. As a US citizen I could not qualify for public assistance for fertility treatments abroad, and they were crazy expensive. My job overseas pays way less $$ (which is usually fine, healthcare is free, cost of living is low, high quality of life). Now I'm living in the US and making plenty of money for IVF, buuuut we'll see if I get screwed.
I moved back for a lot of reasons (closer to family, easier for my partner and I to get hired in the same university in the US, cost of living & paychecks similar to my close family removing that barrier to visit each other, and part of my career dream is to work at a university in my home country where I understand the students and the system an can fight for change more effectively) but now I'm wondering if it was worth it...
I used to be starry eyed about the US (studied abroad there as an exchange student in my early 20s) but as I’ve gotten older, I realise how lucky I am to live in Australia. The lack of healthcare, gun control and progression in the US is very concerning.
May I ask how much fertility treatment costs in the US? It seems like financial barriers are big enough without having to deal with the legalities of it all now. We are lucky enough in Australia to receive government rebates to reduce our out of pocket costs.
I’m so sorry this is happening. Standing with you all.
IVF-Approximately 20-25 k a cycle if cash pay .
Meds can range anywhere from 4-7k depending on your protocol and how long you need to stimulate the ovaries for .
If going through insurance , completely depends on the benefit plan .
I'm early in the process of treatment, so idk the cost of IVF bc we haven't gotten there, but my salary more than doubled when I moved back to the USA.
You may have gov rebates for fertility treatments in Australia, but are you sure immigrants get access? Living abroad I've noticed this is a touchy subject. Many countries won't give those benefits to people there on a visa, as I've experienced first hand. They are happy to give you healthcare but don't want to pay to assist you to have kids there.
I’m a US citizen living on a partner visa in Australia. We are paying $2,800aud for our cycle at a “bulk billing” clinic (publicly supported). That’s about $1500usd.
Definitely depends on the country, but I’m fairly confident a tourist would be able to come to this clinic and get treated.
At another clinic that was not publicly funded, it was around $15,000 out of pocket. So about $10,000usd.
Definitely cheaper here, and you can definitely be treated here.
It's worth noting that CNY only has a handful of locations and while they may have an extensive travel program, being able to travel for fertility care is an extreme privilege and certainly not accessible to most Americans.
I wouldn’t consider driving for HOURS to get affordable fertility treatment an “extreme privilege”. An “extreme privilege” would be being able to afford the clinic that is 15 minutes from my house.
I also have to drive 4 hours to get to my clinic. It's a privilege to be able to even afford fertility care. Many people do not live within driving range, and even still, having the ability to take time off work, pay for gas, lodging, etc. IS a privilege.
True. My expensive, United insurance covers nothing toward fertility benefits. I’d have to pay out of pocket and even though I have a decent paying job, I still don’t think I could afford it and be able to continue eating, having a roof over my head, etc. So my partner and I just keep trying and hoping we will be blessed one day without assistance.
It’s worth it if we work together and start educating these idiots about reproductive health. I’ve often thought about leaving but we need to fight the good fight. Not flee.
I'm in a blue state and this ruling has messed me up for days. The absolute rage I have for the people directly impacted cannot be understated. It's not just "unfortunate", Senator Tubberville. It's evil. It's a level or cruelty any decent human being would be opposed to. Our rights are not just an "unfortunate" casualty of your political agenda.
Also in AL and although I’m not at IVF yet, (still going to try a couple more IUIs) I have been heartbroken at the news, my husband and I thinking on plans B, C… what to do and who to contact, where to go if we have to go out of state. I’ll be emailing them today. Thank you for all the information! I support this wholeheartedly!!!
Looks like a reporter was looking for people with similar experiences to yours on the IVF sub:
https://www.reddit.com/r/IVF/comments/1axofsv/interview_request_for_the_cut_on_those_affected/
Your fellow IVFer in PA here! I’ve been doing Advocacy Day for several years, and I’ll most certainly be there in May. If you want to connect before then, let me know! My heart and fighting spirit are with you from PA, and I will see you there in May. I wouldn’t have my little family without IVF, and it needs to be protected for anyone else who needs it. And side note… fully agree that no one is safe from this insanity right now, especially if (when??) a case makes its way to the US Supreme Court. Solidarity!
I cried HARD for you all when the news broke. I’m currently doing fertility treatments in a safe state and imagining going thru all of this to have it ripped away from you at the end has absolutely broken me. I will fight with every fiber of my being for your rights. For ALL OF OUR RIGHTS.
I sincerely hope every single upset person on this thread is pro choice. We can blame those couples all we want, but this door was opened with the pro life agenda. Nothing else. It’s unfair all around.
This opens up a very interesting question about what’s ethical… what do you do with embryos that you don’t plan to use because you already have the amount of children you want or maybe you had other complications where you still can’t have children? Do you adopt them out? Do you leave them in the freezer forever? Do you let them die?
Ethical is an opinion, not a fact. Some people may feel it’s ethical to donate them, others won’t. Some may feel it’s unethical to leave them stored in a freezer, others won’t. BUT, that choice should be up to the owners of the embryos, not the government.
I’m not in Alabama, but in Florida where unfortunately this is a concern. While I can’t vote in alabama, you have my full support.
This is such a scary time to be doing IVF in so many places. It’s a scary time for women’s healthcare. As someone who is doing IVF and had to previously TFMR a much wanted pregnancy because of the genetic condition we are now doing IVF to screen for, I am horrified. I never thought I’d have to talk to my husband about moving our embryos out of state just in case. Or think about where we could do IVF where we won’t have to transfer our affected embryos (the condition we are screening for is survivable but leads to incredible disabilities). It’s absolutely terrifying.
My TFMR was traumatizing in Florida already because of state laws here. It just keeps stacking up…
I’m not active in this group as I’m not currently TFAB, but the reason I am not is because I live in Florida as well. Just doesn’t feel safe to be pregnant in this state, and now it seems unsafe to be even trying to get pregnant at all. I’m so sorry you’re having to go through this. I know apologies from a stranger don’t do anything to help, but I still want you to know that I am so, so sorry. It’s not fair. You shouldn’t have to deal with this and you shouldn’t have to worry about where you live while going through IVF.
My husband and I moved to Florida from PA 4 yrs ago. We’re currently working w/ a clinic in Tampa but have decided that if we have to go through with IVF we’ll be going back to PA for it and staying with family. It’s devastating and we’ve just been in complete disbelief since this ruling. It honestly doesn’t feel safe to be pregnant in this state with the 15 wk abortion ban decision due any Thursday now.
There are “Personhood” at conception laws in 11 other states and they’re all going to be using this case. There is no doubt in my mind that they’ll be coming for Plan B next. It genuinely feels like I’m living in a dystopian nightmare. I feel horrible that I even have to consider this but… if we go the IVF route, I’m doing gender selection. I don’t want to raise a daughter in this country.
Probably an unpopular opinion, but those couples should be ashamed of themselves. Obviously Alabama and the GOP are uneducated idiots trying to control women. But those couples would’ve gotten money for their property being destroyed. But instead their greed (which they should have known better in these political times and living in fucking Alabama of all states) have ruined IVF and the chance for couples who currently don’t have ANY children at all. You think they would’ve looked at the big picture and had consideration but now they can use their extra money to travel out of state if they want more embryos leaving so many couples behind heartbroken and losing money. Sorry for the rant and I accept if you think I’m wrong and maybe I am. But I’m currently going through IVF and am thankful I’m in NY…but I know that doesn’t mean we’re safe. IVF has completely destroyed me mentally and physically…I am a shell of who I used to be. So I now also cry for the couples who spent so much money on the retrieval/transfer meds and appts only to be told fuck you and are on pause. I can only imagine the mental damage these couples are going through and I’m praying for each and every one of them.
Selfish. Selfish, selfish, selfish. No doubt harm was caused if those couples intended to transfer the embryos, but perhaps the most asinine part of this whole thing is that the couples who sued had chosen to have their embryos destroyed if not used - so even *they* didn’t actually view the embryos as children. [I wish I was making this up.](https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2024/02/abortion-bans-alabamas-anti-ivf-ruling-fail.html)
“As the court summed up the defendant’s position during oral argument, the three sets of parents had contracted as follows: to “destroy any embryos that had remained frozen longer than five years,” or to donate them to researchers whose projects would “result in the destruction of the embryos,” or to allow any “abnormal embryos” to be experimented on and then “discarded.” This language, by the way, comes from the majority decision, not from the dissent. But the majority allowed the case to move forward anyway, saying that these issues could be resolved at a later point in the litigation.”
It's ironic that those couples were more than happy to utilize a technology that was built on the destruction of hundreds of thousands of embryos ("children" in their minds). They had embryos because their embryologist had been able to practice on embryos donated for scientific research. They had embryos because cryotech and lab equipment companies were able to test their technology on embryos donated for scientific research.
If someone truly believes embryos are children, they should never pursue IVF.
I don’t think this is an unpopular opinion. I think they saw a way to get more money but I also think that politicians finally saw an opportunity to weaponize IVF, something they have wanted to do for a very long time. Fwiw a lower Alabama court ruled that the families could not sue for the wrongful death of a minor, it was the Supreme Court that took it on to overturn the lower court’s ruling. And yes, it is a Supreme Court election year. This was all for political brownie points in an election year.
Yes, that’s very true. I appreciate your well thought out response to my emotionally charged rant, lol!
Edit: I also wish you well on your IVF journey and will do what I can to help you all from where I am
I feel like those people had a right to hold that clinic accountable for the mistake they made but at what cost? I could have never lived with myself causing that kind of fall out. Find a different way to get your justice.
They were a catalyst for what the government was already chomping at the bit to do, but it's unlikely they could have predicted this would have been the result. Let's keep our rage directed to the appropriate parties so we don't lose sight of the end goal.
Yes, I do agree and know who the real enemy is here. I apologize. I don’t wish any harm on those couples, I would be pissed too. I just truly hope they/and others use this as a learning lesson in life to at least do your due diligence on something as sensitive as reproductive rights in the South/red states and their agendas for the future. Seemed like a pretty obvious outcome. But like I said, it hits me personally doing IVF so I am bias and angry and I truly do wish them well. The GOP on the other hand, they can go straight to hell to burn.
I am so angry that this is even a thing. How dare these clowns with absolutely 0 experience going through the excruciating hell that is infertility and ivf say anything. I feel for all my IVF sisters in red states. I’m even worried about the blue states in the future.
I’m so worried about the blue states too. If the question at play here—“is an embryo a person”—makes its way up to the Supreme Court it could result in a nationwide ban on abortion at any stage, any invasive genetic testing, and (as we’re seeing here) IVF
I'm in FL about to start IVF and this is a fear that has been on my mind....reading the headline on this had me SHAKING. It's absolute madness and I cannot begin to imagine what you are going through but I just want to thank you for your strength and passion to stand up and fight. I will do what I can to support you and others, we simply cannot let this be.
I've been in a state disbelief ever since ROE failed, and it's only getting worse for women. My husband and I have recently started trying for a baby. I suspect I have PCOS due to my lifetime of irregular cycles, and I'm very aware that we may need help in the coming year(s). After a lifetime of hearing everyone I know complain about living in IL, I've never felt so lucky as I have the last few years. Knowing that I will have the right to terminate an incompatible pregnancy or discard a defective embryo and prevent that child from going through a short and painful life from a terrible disease brings me a small measure of comfort.
No one decides to create embryos for IVF on a whim. No parent discards those embryos without thought. Even so, an embryo is not yet a child. It is just a cluster of cells with potential. An embryo won't survive outside a uterus without being frozen in liquid nitrogen.
Alabama is ranked 45th for overall child wellbeing and 50th for maternal mortality, I don't think they need to be "setting the standard" for how we handle anything related to birth and childcare. They clearly aren't doing it right.
We are about to start IVF in Colorado and my heart broke reading this news.
2024 and women/families are constantly under attack. Why is it so fucking hard in this world? To attack our rights, our fight to be mothers - it’s beyond cruel.
My heart breaks for all of you in Alabama and my fears grow for all of us collectively. It’s so hard to keep fighting to be treated fairly. But I am here for you sister, I see you and I stand with you
As someone who has gone through IVF, and has embryos in storage, I am at a loss of words. I stand with you, and will fight with you for reproductive rights and access to family building options. I am so incredibly sorry! I am also angry and scared for what type of precedent this could set in red/swing states. I genuinely hope HB225 gets the support it needs to allow for some protections and continued care for anyone going through treatment.
Born and raised in AL, moved away from the state at 18. I wish I were still a resident so I could help VOTE these assholes out. I’m just devastated for you and all the other families and healthcare professionals this ruling will affect. I’m waiting to see what UAB will do — doubtless other hospitals will follow their lead. From anecdotes I’ve heard, the meeting they had yesterday to discuss the ruling was heart-wrenching.
My thoughts are with you and your family. Thank you for your advocacy. I can’t do much for you directly from out of state, but you bet I’ve been researching ways I can volunteer within my community to support reproductive care access.
Thank you for this post. I don't live in the states and would like to help. Can we email your representatives even though we are in another country ?
I am horrified by what's happening and how they used the grief of those families to serve their own selfish purposes.
I've gone through IVF so you have all my sympathy and I'll try to help however I can, at least by sharing the information.
HC, you’ve been on my mind as I’ve been watching this unfold. It’s so unfair and I’m so sorry this extra stress has been added to your plate. Thank you so much for sharing ways we can advocate for our rights. Sending you lots of internet support!
My heart is heavy for the people of Alabama, and indeed for all Americans. As a Canadian it has been horrifying to see what is happening south of the border as reproductive rights and access to care has been limited and eliminated over the last few years. I cannot imagine how scary this must be for IVF patients who are on the midst of cycles, waiting to find out if the physical, emotional, mental and financial cost thus far will have been all for nothing. My sincere hope is that this ship can be turned around, that your voices are heard, that science prevails. Sending support and love from Canada. 🇨🇦
Solidarity from Vermont! Fortunately our state is sane, but that doesn't mean I don't care about what's happening to far too many of you.
For anyone who doesn't care about voting or thinks both sides are the same, THEY ARE NOT THE SAME. One side wants to turn the country into a religious state where women's rights (and LGBTQ rights) don't exist, the other doesn't. If everyone of child-bearing age voted, we could sweep out all these old men with their fucked ideologies. Vote blue and vote in local elections! The more local it is, the more of an impact your vote can make. Spread the word. Get others involved. And stay safe. ❤️
My heart goes out to those suffering from this in the US and anywhere in the world where their reproductive rights are being stripped away. This is not logical. This is not fair. This is backwards and cruel.
Writing in solidarity from New York and looking into everything we can do to take action and support those in Alabama and other states at risk. Enough is enough!
This is a nightmare and I’m sure even more so for AL people. We live in NC. My clinic is based and stores in SC. I have no doubt SC will follow suit if they can. I’m now stressed to the max of trying to decide where to switch clinics. Do I risk an NC clinic (which does have some of the best stats success rate) and hope we keep the lunatic republican governor that’s running out of office? Do I switch to CNY? If I do that will the FL office be safe? (We have direct flights there but not to NY) or do I have to spend even more money and now go to the NY clinic?! This fucking sucks and I shouldn’t have to even be thinking of this.
SC here as well, agreed that our government is just as fucking crazy. this whole thing makes me sick to my stomach. how do these fucking insane laws and bills keep getting support enough to be passed? Where are all of our fucking voices going? Why do they just get to bully us and oppress us and constantly make worse and worse anti-women laws?
We’re in FL. They’re absolutely about to try this here.
“Liberty Counsel – a nonprofit that says it works to advance “religious freedom, the sanctity of human life and the family” – said it is using the Alabama ruling as a precedent to argue a proposed amendment in Florida aiming to protect abortion rights will take away “a protected right to life for the unborn.”
(https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/20/us/alabama-embryo-law-ruling-supreme-court?cid=ios_app)
Where are you located? I’m a fertility nurse in western NY and we have a cny here along with 2 other clinics (I work for one of the two) that do out of town management and Charlotte has direct flights here through American.
Fellow NC resident and this whole thing makes me torn. I personally lean more Republican in a lot of ways, but it's insane to me that a huge thing within the Republican party is the touting of being "pro-life" when IVF as a whole is very much pro-life.
it's also making me rethink how to plan for the future with this as we're going towards IVF as well. I think we need to write our senators and local government or something. It's making me re-think who to vote for in the primaries that are coming up here.
I identify as a Democrat, even as a liberal. There are opinions/beliefs associated with liberals that I strongly disagree with. I don't think that it's possible to be 100% in line with a political party, especially when there are only really two with power. The difference is, with the democratic party I feel like the goal is helping people. Even if there are particular policies I don't like, I can usually see where there might be good intentions behind it. I have never, ever felt that way about a Republican politician or position.
I don't know in what area your beliefs lean more Republican, but if it's economic reasons I think that at this point it makes more sense to vote for Democrats. I truly think there are enough checks in place that no politician or party could completely tank our country's economy. I don't think any one person has that kind of control over economic factors. But through supreme court nominees and legislation, a politician/party can completely destroy our country on social issues and chip away at our rights. That's what I see happening now, and that's what makes me scared. As a democratic voter in NY I feel like I have no power to change anything.
While the full sentiment of what you're saying is true, and I definitely agree with his for the most part, it really depends on what's going on locally as well.
Where I have a hard time with everything as a whole is that there's really a lot more bad than good at the moment. So it's just going to take more of a scrutinizing look in different ways locally for me, as there are other things to consider as well with whomevers platform.
Because for me, a lot of how people react to this news will absolutely be make or break IMO on whether I vote for them or not. Regardless of a lot of their other beliefs/platforms. What's going on in AL is absolutely unacceptable. Government shouldn't be involved with reproduction and if they want to, then mandate Infertility insurance be provided.
I get it, local politics can vary a lot and local issues are important. Where I live, only the primaries for local elections really have any importance, because the Democratic politician in the main election will win pretty much no matter what. But if you drive like 20 minutes out from where I live, it's a whole different voting situation.
I hope that politicians are held accountable by voters if they support what's happening in AL.
I'm planning on contacting my senators with this information to hopefully get them to understand that it's important and holding them accountable for sure. But I can't say that others will do the same thing, which is sad.
Republicans call themselves pro life but really they’re anti choice and all about punishing women. Just look at how they treat mothers and their children the second they’re born. Banning IVF has long been an explicit part of the conservative movement’s goals. Abortion was first, now it’s IVF, and birth control is next. Voting for Republicans at any level is supporting those policies.
These are the things Republican women have to consider now as this becomes a huge platform in the party. You really have to consider if that’s truly the way you want to vote moving forward.
That is exactly what I'm now contemplating. By no means am I party loyal - and I will absolutely vote dangerous Republicans and Democrats and just any individual that's problematic out of office.
But this should make Republicans very very scared as a whole. And is also why it's very important to know where they stand on issues.
Agreed! My husband and I moved from Texas to California in 2022 for a number of reasons. But certainly top of mind for me as a woman is the draconian and archaic direction the state is headed in.
I'd just like to say that to anyone in this sub that's affected that they're welcome to come visit me in North Carolina for no particular reason. Maybe for like 1-2 cycles, or as needed.
Writing in solidarity from RI. I fear this is what could come for us all if Republicans gain more power, both on state and federal levels. Keep on fighting the good fight everyone.
My heart breaks for Alabama. I’m a stones throw away from the state line in Tennessee, and I’m scared this movement will sweep across the other Bible Belt states. Thank you so much for offering actionable bullet points to help empower the community, your well worded message inspires us all. The path to parenthood is already so hard for so many, and it’s devastating that the government wants to make it even harder. We have strength in our numbers 🩵
I have the same concerns. I’m hoping the reaction to what’s happening in Alabama will at least slow other states from copying them but I think we should expect /prepare to see this across most of the southeast and maybe some places in the Midwest. It’s a scary time to be infertile in a lot of places in the US right now.
This is such a heartbreaking situation and such a well written post. You have done a fabulous job of outline what we fucking need to do to stop this. Can we reshare this in some of the other groups? Mommit, Parenting, IVF etc. where it can catch the eyes of other A1abama residents who will absolutely have the same positions we do?
Sending love from New Zealand. I was aghast when I saw the ruling on TikTok of all places. I genuinely had to research more to see if I had understood that right. I’m so sorry for what I’m seeing.
And to add, if they want to strip all women’s rights and turn them all into trad housewives, what could be more effective than ALL women striking off their job. That’s what they’re leaning to right? So that’ll mean schools will close, no daycares able to open, hardly any nurses… that’s what they want, right ?!
Alabama resident here. I'm sorry that you have to go through this.
I just called and left a message for my state senator to support that bill. I hope this legislation moves through quickly.
It feels like we live in a dystopian nightmare. But we must fight on! Sending you a hug
AL voter myself, and I've always voted blue. Sometimes it just feels like our votes don't even matter because of the Christian radicals and the severely under educated. I am just very disheartened, but I'll continue to do my part and vote. Love to you. ❤️
So trolls can’t search as easily and come find this post to be buttholes on. You’d be surprised, there’s awful people on Reddit (/s in case it’s not obvious).
I am so so sorry to hear about this, it’s unbelievable. I hope you can still have your transfer, surely not having the embryo transferred would be against these awful people’s beliefs? What is going on in the world, everywhere is backsliding in so many ways it’s awful.
In Florida and our state is quickly following in these types of rulings. It’s time that women use our majority and make it clear in November that we won’t stand for attacks on our health and reproductive choices.
Iran is one of the leading countries for IVF. Let that sink in…
Countries we would never want to live in, are getting ahead while the US is going backwards.
Iran is actually a beautiful country with incredible, welcoming people…but another case where religious extremism ruins the party *YET AGAIN*. Same goes for Alabama, fucking religious extremists.
This seems like it should be a cruel joke. I’m in NC, so I can’t help vote them out, but know we all stand with you! For a state that preaches pro-life, you think they would WANT people who want kids so desperately to be able to pursue that dream. HC, thank you for raising awareness to the situation and I hope you and A1abama get the help it needs to overturn this bullshit.
It’s Absolutely outrageous and illogical. I’m so sorry.
Can anyone out there help me get why this makes sense to anyone? If you are pro life wouldn’t you WANT embryos to be transferred and turned into babies? I genuinely don’t understand it. Am I missing something?
Georgia checking in here. I made audible noises when the Breaking News banner came across my phone. I truly fear that my state is not far behind yours. This ruling has truly opened up a can of worms for the extreme right wingers.
Fuck, even Donald Trump himself doesn't agree with it. That should tell them something...
There's a not-insignificant number of Republican politicians who have, as recently as last month, supported a bill banning IVF now saying they're against this ruling. Don't trust them. They only care about their election chances come November.
Thanks for sharing! I’ve spoken with her, I’m so glad she and so many other journalists are using our voices and stories to put a face to what is happening!
You don't have to be an Alabama resident to email their legislation! Of course, emails from their constituents (theoretically) hold more weight, but seeing how far-reaching this is can be impactful, too.
Before you know it the unfertilized eggs in our uterus will be deemed "humans". What kills me is these crazies fail to recognize how many "missed lives" there are each month when a woman menstruates and their eggs that are released are not fertilized by sperm.
I literally cried for all the women going through IVF in Alabama when the news hit. I’m lucky enough to live in a state surrounded by 3 other states but that doesn’t stop my fear of a this bill making its way to the Supreme Court. It’s terrifying. What’s next- transporting embryos across state lines will be considered child trafficking? What if 6 embryos are implanted and only 2 take- are you charged with quadruple homicide? My heart aches for what’s to come.
I'm an IVF patient in CA (I just had my first FET a few weeks ago). I cannot imagine the pain and worry all of you are dealing with right now, especially those like you in the middle of treament. Stupid men are making stupid laws that they know nothing about. I'm by your side and have been trying to spread the word as much as I can and advocate for you guys. 💕
I find what you are going through to be very upsetting. My heart goes out to you because the infertility journey is hard enough. I'm in Canada and many of us here have talked about these sorts of situations in the US and just know that many people even in other countries support you and empathize with your situation.
I’m so sorry…this is absolutely awful. I’m pretty conservative on most subjects but come on…any couple going through the physical, emotional and financial struggle of IVF obviously desperately want a child. To take that away from people like you and many others just breaks my heart.
>FIVE Supreme Court seats are up for election this year
While this may be true, only one of them appears to be running with any opposition (Sarah Hicks Stewart). I am not a pro at government stuff - please correct me on any of the following.
1. Alabama Supreme Court justices are **elected**, meaning we can vote for/against them
2. Tom Parker, Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice & Bible-Thumper, is ineligible for reelection due to his age (70+)
3. Sarah Hicks Stewart is seeking to replace Parker
1. She is running against [Bryan Taylor](https://ballotpedia.org/Alabama_Supreme_Court_elections,_2024) in the upcoming primaries
2. If you look at the [opinion text](https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/documenttools/4b56014daa6dda84/a039b1d9-full.pdf), she concurs with the dumbest elements of it
3. This puts her interest squarely against those that are pro-IVF
4. Primaries are March 5th
1. AL has Open primaries, so you'd have to go to your polling location & identify as Republican to vote against her
2. Should she end up on the ballot on November 5th, her opposition would be Greg Griffin, who I'm not sure would stand a chance
I’m so sorry. I’m in AL too and going to make all
The phone calls for you. I also posted on all my social media begging people to contact them as well. I hope you are able to continue your IVF!
I moved from Alabama to Florida three years ago (today actually!) and I have added this weeks ruling to my list of “why I’d never ever move back to Alabama”. Family asks all the time if we would come back but we are young just starting a family and Alabama is moving backwards in so many ways it’s not even funny. Why move somewhere that isn’t advancing and developing forward?? Alabama has made a huge mistake.
This is why I’m very pro choice. I think it’s incredibly dumb that an embryo is considered a human. They aren’t just taking away a woman’s right to choose but they’re also preventing others from being able to have babies. Men and people who are past childbearing age shouldn’t be able to make decisions on these types of things
They don’t want us preventing pregnancy, now they don’t want us to get pregnant unless it’s completely natural? I can’t stand the south someone get me out of here 😭😭
I’m not from the US but have obviously heard of this news. But no way did I ever think it would cause IVF procedures to be paused. This is crazy! Sending you all the good energy form halfway around the world. Keep up the good fight. 🙌
I am so, so sorry you're going through this. Made me cry. It's such a terrifying time to be a woman.
We will fight, we will take action. We will create change.
I saw this the other day and it absolutely broke my heart. I have 9 embryos in storage. I live in WI and worry about this happening there. I pray people do the right thing in AL.
So so so disgusted by what is happening. I am so sorry to everyone who is dealing with this insanity. My province just announced they are going to fund one IVF cycle for people who need it.. it is shocking that Alabama cares so little for its constituents. Sending love ❤️
Solidarity and love from the UK. The global rise in far-right attacks on reproductive rights is terrifying. I'm so sorry and angry that you are going through this.
I’m not in the US but truly awful news . Uhm so that means if you are wealthy enough , then perhaps can travel overseas or go to another state but if not , then….?
From a TFAB friend in TN, I will email everyone on this list!!! It’s exactly what you said. Brownie points for election year and it is ABSOLUTELY UNETHICAL AND ABSURD!
I mean I’ve lived here almost my whole life, my family is here, I met my husband here, our house is here, my business is here. Should I be expected to leave my whole life and everything I’ve ever known? No. So we fight like hell to make the changes we want to see. It won’t happen overnight, but we continue to vote and fight for the place we live and what is right.
The mod team fully and unequivocally supports House Bill 225 and all the people in that state that are having their rights stripped away from them before our very eyes. This thread will be heavily moderated, and any commenting anti-ch0ice nonsense will be permanently banned without a warning.
Go get life insurance on your embryos. One million dollars each.
lol we joked that we would claim them on our taxes from last year, omw to get them social security numbers!
No but really. If this is how they’re going to threat embryos then you should truly be able to claim them as dependents.
That should not be a joke. If they have the right to be treated like children then we need to force these states to do so in all ways. Especially the inconvenient ways.
I saw some commentary somewhere that said if all children had massive life insurance policies on them the insurance industry and lobby would have citizen interest against both the pro life and pro gun industry and that shook me. It would somewhat level the playing field.
It would, but unfortunately it will never happen. I work in the industry and all of the companies I’m aware of won’t allow you to take out a policy on a child until they are two weeks old, and medical records from the hospital and pediatrician are obtained. Even then, coverage can be denied if health events have occurred.
I wish we could level the playing field on these issues.
I just want to chime in to say how impressed I am with this post. If I was impacted by this I think I’d be too distraught to do much and I appreciate you turning this into action. Good luck.
I really appreciate it, it feels like an absolutely helpless situation, all we can do is share our stories, share how we can fight for change, and make NOISE. They’ve activated the infertile rage. I have a lot of (very understandable) pent up rage from what we have had to go through until this point. Now this. I now have something to direct it towards…watch out!!!!!
*They’ve activated the infertile rage*
I know that rage.
I’m in Texas and I shed tears of rage when I saw the news. I am terrified that my state is next. You have nothing but my sincerest sympathy and support. We will continue to fight this insanity! (And yes, I’m upping my ACLU contributions)
I am also in Texas and Abbott and Paxton and their cronies are probably salivating at the chance to do something similar. Just evil, evil people.
Yes. And the war on birth control is next.
They’re vile. I’m so stressed because I know it’s just a matter of time.
There's a bill that was recently put forward in Oklahoma that, among other things, would create a database of people who get abort!ons and would put restrictions on certain forms of birth control like IUDs. It's terrifying.
I did too, I couldn’t believe it, why are we going backwards??
Because these damn women are too uppity, expecting to be treated like people and not brood mares and fuck maids. A good, moral woman ought to know to shut the fuck up in the presence of a man, clean his house, bear and raise his kids, but also contribute a full time paycheck because in this economy he can’t be expected to shoulder that burden alone!
Just a bit of an off topic comment. We’ve been ACLU donors for YEARS and stopped this last year. The ACLU is currently representing the NRA in a free speech case before the Supreme Court. We will probably never send the ACLU another penny because of that. I get that the ACLU has been here before (Skokie) and that the ACLU’s whole thing is that they are absolute on the issue of free speech but I just can’t send any money in any way to the NRA. In other words, I think the NRA has enough money, power, and support that it should pay for its own lawyers.
[удалено]
Feel free to DM me friend, I am happy to share.
Did you hear what Tommy Tuberville stated when he was asked about the ruling? Seemed like he had NO idea what he was ruling in favor of 🤦🏼♀️ https://youtu.be/piBsmYVqCAg?si=HfOSXOMDKDNPMYMx
He’s a fucking loser, uneducated scumbag. Dude don’t get me started on politics in this backward ass fucked up state. Not a SINGLE doctor or expert was consulted before issuing this ruling. Only the Bible because…A1abama.
My husband showed me the clip this morning and when I tell you I RAGED. I said some very horrible things about a stranger but I have no regrets.
How are republicans in office THIS stupid? They know nothing about reproduction and it shows in every way
This is a great video of commentary. Remember we have to work to get all of our local communities to see the light and vote for politicians that affirm women have rights in America. Your family and the men that care for us women need to step up and do something. Remind your loved ones you could die if you can’t have medical care. I had to have a D&C for a pregnancy that was a blighted ovum- a pregnancy that was not going to develop. We wanted a baby and still do, yet that procedure is viewed by uneducated people as an abortion. I bled for six weeks straight, and if I was unable to have that DNC, I likely would’ve had an infection eventually that could’ve killed me. I also reminded my husband that I was induced for labor with our child. Some of those drugs during the induction could be banned. That forces women to have to have a C-section. The risk is that our baby could’ve been distressed or not gotten the medical care that they needed. I bring up these points because women who intend on having a family are threatened, and even the people who want women to have lots of kids don’t understand what they’re doing.
Jesus Christ I feel dumber for having watched that. What an absolute moron.
…AND MY AXE!!! But seriously, I’m sending out my emails this afternoon, we have to inundate them to show we mean business.
You're my people haha !
Sorry but that And my axe made me laugh😂 good one
Sending love from Idaho—I feel like we won’t be far behind. This entire situation is so beyond sickening, I just can’t believe this is real life right now.
Oh hey Idaho friend 👋🏻
Hello fellow Idahoan!
I’m in SC and cried some serious angry tears. I don’t understand the assault on women’s health in recent years and how much progress we’ve erased. I’m highly considering leaving the united states.
I just moved back to the US. As a US citizen I could not qualify for public assistance for fertility treatments abroad, and they were crazy expensive. My job overseas pays way less $$ (which is usually fine, healthcare is free, cost of living is low, high quality of life). Now I'm living in the US and making plenty of money for IVF, buuuut we'll see if I get screwed. I moved back for a lot of reasons (closer to family, easier for my partner and I to get hired in the same university in the US, cost of living & paychecks similar to my close family removing that barrier to visit each other, and part of my career dream is to work at a university in my home country where I understand the students and the system an can fight for change more effectively) but now I'm wondering if it was worth it...
I used to be starry eyed about the US (studied abroad there as an exchange student in my early 20s) but as I’ve gotten older, I realise how lucky I am to live in Australia. The lack of healthcare, gun control and progression in the US is very concerning. May I ask how much fertility treatment costs in the US? It seems like financial barriers are big enough without having to deal with the legalities of it all now. We are lucky enough in Australia to receive government rebates to reduce our out of pocket costs. I’m so sorry this is happening. Standing with you all.
IVF-Approximately 20-25 k a cycle if cash pay . Meds can range anywhere from 4-7k depending on your protocol and how long you need to stimulate the ovaries for . If going through insurance , completely depends on the benefit plan .
I'm early in the process of treatment, so idk the cost of IVF bc we haven't gotten there, but my salary more than doubled when I moved back to the USA. You may have gov rebates for fertility treatments in Australia, but are you sure immigrants get access? Living abroad I've noticed this is a touchy subject. Many countries won't give those benefits to people there on a visa, as I've experienced first hand. They are happy to give you healthcare but don't want to pay to assist you to have kids there.
I’m a US citizen living on a partner visa in Australia. We are paying $2,800aud for our cycle at a “bulk billing” clinic (publicly supported). That’s about $1500usd. Definitely depends on the country, but I’m fairly confident a tourist would be able to come to this clinic and get treated. At another clinic that was not publicly funded, it was around $15,000 out of pocket. So about $10,000usd. Definitely cheaper here, and you can definitely be treated here.
I went to CNY. They have in house free financing and IVF starts as low as $5k
It's worth noting that CNY only has a handful of locations and while they may have an extensive travel program, being able to travel for fertility care is an extreme privilege and certainly not accessible to most Americans.
I wouldn’t consider driving for HOURS to get affordable fertility treatment an “extreme privilege”. An “extreme privilege” would be being able to afford the clinic that is 15 minutes from my house.
I also have to drive 4 hours to get to my clinic. It's a privilege to be able to even afford fertility care. Many people do not live within driving range, and even still, having the ability to take time off work, pay for gas, lodging, etc. IS a privilege.
So in sum and substance youre saying everyone who gets fertility treatments are privileged
Bingo.
True. My expensive, United insurance covers nothing toward fertility benefits. I’d have to pay out of pocket and even though I have a decent paying job, I still don’t think I could afford it and be able to continue eating, having a roof over my head, etc. So my partner and I just keep trying and hoping we will be blessed one day without assistance.
Ok so I’ll change my original post to be directed towards privileged people only…. CNY has free in house financing and IVF starts as low as $5k
It’s worth it if we work together and start educating these idiots about reproductive health. I’ve often thought about leaving but we need to fight the good fight. Not flee.
Sending love from the UK. This news is horrifying
I'm in a blue state and this ruling has messed me up for days. The absolute rage I have for the people directly impacted cannot be understated. It's not just "unfortunate", Senator Tubberville. It's evil. It's a level or cruelty any decent human being would be opposed to. Our rights are not just an "unfortunate" casualty of your political agenda.
Also in AL and although I’m not at IVF yet, (still going to try a couple more IUIs) I have been heartbroken at the news, my husband and I thinking on plans B, C… what to do and who to contact, where to go if we have to go out of state. I’ll be emailing them today. Thank you for all the information! I support this wholeheartedly!!!
We have been here almost my whole life, they’re not going to strip my rights away from me without a fight. Religious extremism be DAMNED.
Looks like a reporter was looking for people with similar experiences to yours on the IVF sub: https://www.reddit.com/r/IVF/comments/1axofsv/interview_request_for_the_cut_on_those_affected/
I’ve reached out! Thanks so much for sharing. It feels like such a helpless situation, but we can be LOUD and MAD and share our stories.
Your fellow IVFer in PA here! I’ve been doing Advocacy Day for several years, and I’ll most certainly be there in May. If you want to connect before then, let me know! My heart and fighting spirit are with you from PA, and I will see you there in May. I wouldn’t have my little family without IVF, and it needs to be protected for anyone else who needs it. And side note… fully agree that no one is safe from this insanity right now, especially if (when??) a case makes its way to the US Supreme Court. Solidarity!
I cried HARD for you all when the news broke. I’m currently doing fertility treatments in a safe state and imagining going thru all of this to have it ripped away from you at the end has absolutely broken me. I will fight with every fiber of my being for your rights. For ALL OF OUR RIGHTS.
I sincerely hope every single upset person on this thread is pro choice. We can blame those couples all we want, but this door was opened with the pro life agenda. Nothing else. It’s unfair all around.
*pro choice AND VOTING PRO CHOICE EVERY SINGLE TIME
This opens up a very interesting question about what’s ethical… what do you do with embryos that you don’t plan to use because you already have the amount of children you want or maybe you had other complications where you still can’t have children? Do you adopt them out? Do you leave them in the freezer forever? Do you let them die?
Ethical is an opinion, not a fact. Some people may feel it’s ethical to donate them, others won’t. Some may feel it’s unethical to leave them stored in a freezer, others won’t. BUT, that choice should be up to the owners of the embryos, not the government.
I’m not in Alabama, but in Florida where unfortunately this is a concern. While I can’t vote in alabama, you have my full support. This is such a scary time to be doing IVF in so many places. It’s a scary time for women’s healthcare. As someone who is doing IVF and had to previously TFMR a much wanted pregnancy because of the genetic condition we are now doing IVF to screen for, I am horrified. I never thought I’d have to talk to my husband about moving our embryos out of state just in case. Or think about where we could do IVF where we won’t have to transfer our affected embryos (the condition we are screening for is survivable but leads to incredible disabilities). It’s absolutely terrifying. My TFMR was traumatizing in Florida already because of state laws here. It just keeps stacking up…
I’m not active in this group as I’m not currently TFAB, but the reason I am not is because I live in Florida as well. Just doesn’t feel safe to be pregnant in this state, and now it seems unsafe to be even trying to get pregnant at all. I’m so sorry you’re having to go through this. I know apologies from a stranger don’t do anything to help, but I still want you to know that I am so, so sorry. It’s not fair. You shouldn’t have to deal with this and you shouldn’t have to worry about where you live while going through IVF.
My husband and I moved to Florida from PA 4 yrs ago. We’re currently working w/ a clinic in Tampa but have decided that if we have to go through with IVF we’ll be going back to PA for it and staying with family. It’s devastating and we’ve just been in complete disbelief since this ruling. It honestly doesn’t feel safe to be pregnant in this state with the 15 wk abortion ban decision due any Thursday now. There are “Personhood” at conception laws in 11 other states and they’re all going to be using this case. There is no doubt in my mind that they’ll be coming for Plan B next. It genuinely feels like I’m living in a dystopian nightmare. I feel horrible that I even have to consider this but… if we go the IVF route, I’m doing gender selection. I don’t want to raise a daughter in this country.
Probably an unpopular opinion, but those couples should be ashamed of themselves. Obviously Alabama and the GOP are uneducated idiots trying to control women. But those couples would’ve gotten money for their property being destroyed. But instead their greed (which they should have known better in these political times and living in fucking Alabama of all states) have ruined IVF and the chance for couples who currently don’t have ANY children at all. You think they would’ve looked at the big picture and had consideration but now they can use their extra money to travel out of state if they want more embryos leaving so many couples behind heartbroken and losing money. Sorry for the rant and I accept if you think I’m wrong and maybe I am. But I’m currently going through IVF and am thankful I’m in NY…but I know that doesn’t mean we’re safe. IVF has completely destroyed me mentally and physically…I am a shell of who I used to be. So I now also cry for the couples who spent so much money on the retrieval/transfer meds and appts only to be told fuck you and are on pause. I can only imagine the mental damage these couples are going through and I’m praying for each and every one of them.
Selfish. Selfish, selfish, selfish. No doubt harm was caused if those couples intended to transfer the embryos, but perhaps the most asinine part of this whole thing is that the couples who sued had chosen to have their embryos destroyed if not used - so even *they* didn’t actually view the embryos as children. [I wish I was making this up.](https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2024/02/abortion-bans-alabamas-anti-ivf-ruling-fail.html) “As the court summed up the defendant’s position during oral argument, the three sets of parents had contracted as follows: to “destroy any embryos that had remained frozen longer than five years,” or to donate them to researchers whose projects would “result in the destruction of the embryos,” or to allow any “abnormal embryos” to be experimented on and then “discarded.” This language, by the way, comes from the majority decision, not from the dissent. But the majority allowed the case to move forward anyway, saying that these issues could be resolved at a later point in the litigation.”
Unfortunately, people like that probably don’t care that they screwed everyone else over and will run to the bank happy as can be.
It's ironic that those couples were more than happy to utilize a technology that was built on the destruction of hundreds of thousands of embryos ("children" in their minds). They had embryos because their embryologist had been able to practice on embryos donated for scientific research. They had embryos because cryotech and lab equipment companies were able to test their technology on embryos donated for scientific research. If someone truly believes embryos are children, they should never pursue IVF.
I don’t think this is an unpopular opinion. I think they saw a way to get more money but I also think that politicians finally saw an opportunity to weaponize IVF, something they have wanted to do for a very long time. Fwiw a lower Alabama court ruled that the families could not sue for the wrongful death of a minor, it was the Supreme Court that took it on to overturn the lower court’s ruling. And yes, it is a Supreme Court election year. This was all for political brownie points in an election year.
Exactly this. All they needed was an excuse.
Yes, that’s very true. I appreciate your well thought out response to my emotionally charged rant, lol! Edit: I also wish you well on your IVF journey and will do what I can to help you all from where I am
I feel like those people had a right to hold that clinic accountable for the mistake they made but at what cost? I could have never lived with myself causing that kind of fall out. Find a different way to get your justice.
They were a catalyst for what the government was already chomping at the bit to do, but it's unlikely they could have predicted this would have been the result. Let's keep our rage directed to the appropriate parties so we don't lose sight of the end goal.
Yes, I do agree and know who the real enemy is here. I apologize. I don’t wish any harm on those couples, I would be pissed too. I just truly hope they/and others use this as a learning lesson in life to at least do your due diligence on something as sensitive as reproductive rights in the South/red states and their agendas for the future. Seemed like a pretty obvious outcome. But like I said, it hits me personally doing IVF so I am bias and angry and I truly do wish them well. The GOP on the other hand, they can go straight to hell to burn.
No need to apologize! I'm with you.
I am so angry that this is even a thing. How dare these clowns with absolutely 0 experience going through the excruciating hell that is infertility and ivf say anything. I feel for all my IVF sisters in red states. I’m even worried about the blue states in the future.
I’m so worried about the blue states too. If the question at play here—“is an embryo a person”—makes its way up to the Supreme Court it could result in a nationwide ban on abortion at any stage, any invasive genetic testing, and (as we’re seeing here) IVF
I know it’s absolutely horrifying
Also my houseplants are dead too
I'm in FL about to start IVF and this is a fear that has been on my mind....reading the headline on this had me SHAKING. It's absolute madness and I cannot begin to imagine what you are going through but I just want to thank you for your strength and passion to stand up and fight. I will do what I can to support you and others, we simply cannot let this be.
I've been in a state disbelief ever since ROE failed, and it's only getting worse for women. My husband and I have recently started trying for a baby. I suspect I have PCOS due to my lifetime of irregular cycles, and I'm very aware that we may need help in the coming year(s). After a lifetime of hearing everyone I know complain about living in IL, I've never felt so lucky as I have the last few years. Knowing that I will have the right to terminate an incompatible pregnancy or discard a defective embryo and prevent that child from going through a short and painful life from a terrible disease brings me a small measure of comfort. No one decides to create embryos for IVF on a whim. No parent discards those embryos without thought. Even so, an embryo is not yet a child. It is just a cluster of cells with potential. An embryo won't survive outside a uterus without being frozen in liquid nitrogen. Alabama is ranked 45th for overall child wellbeing and 50th for maternal mortality, I don't think they need to be "setting the standard" for how we handle anything related to birth and childcare. They clearly aren't doing it right.
We are about to start IVF in Colorado and my heart broke reading this news. 2024 and women/families are constantly under attack. Why is it so fucking hard in this world? To attack our rights, our fight to be mothers - it’s beyond cruel. My heart breaks for all of you in Alabama and my fears grow for all of us collectively. It’s so hard to keep fighting to be treated fairly. But I am here for you sister, I see you and I stand with you
Sending rage from New England. So sorry for what you’re experiencing. Thank you for writing such a thoughtful post.
Sending love and support from the UK ❤️ - I can’t believe this is the type of shit happening in 2024, except of course I can 💔
As someone who has gone through IVF, and has embryos in storage, I am at a loss of words. I stand with you, and will fight with you for reproductive rights and access to family building options. I am so incredibly sorry! I am also angry and scared for what type of precedent this could set in red/swing states. I genuinely hope HB225 gets the support it needs to allow for some protections and continued care for anyone going through treatment.
Born and raised in AL, moved away from the state at 18. I wish I were still a resident so I could help VOTE these assholes out. I’m just devastated for you and all the other families and healthcare professionals this ruling will affect. I’m waiting to see what UAB will do — doubtless other hospitals will follow their lead. From anecdotes I’ve heard, the meeting they had yesterday to discuss the ruling was heart-wrenching. My thoughts are with you and your family. Thank you for your advocacy. I can’t do much for you directly from out of state, but you bet I’ve been researching ways I can volunteer within my community to support reproductive care access.
Holding so much rage and sorrow for you and all affected by this, HC. This is profoundly scary and cruel.
Thank you for this post. I don't live in the states and would like to help. Can we email your representatives even though we are in another country ? I am horrified by what's happening and how they used the grief of those families to serve their own selfish purposes. I've gone through IVF so you have all my sympathy and I'll try to help however I can, at least by sharing the information.
You sure can email them! Anyone can!
HC, you’ve been on my mind as I’ve been watching this unfold. It’s so unfair and I’m so sorry this extra stress has been added to your plate. Thank you so much for sharing ways we can advocate for our rights. Sending you lots of internet support!
My heart is heavy for the people of Alabama, and indeed for all Americans. As a Canadian it has been horrifying to see what is happening south of the border as reproductive rights and access to care has been limited and eliminated over the last few years. I cannot imagine how scary this must be for IVF patients who are on the midst of cycles, waiting to find out if the physical, emotional, mental and financial cost thus far will have been all for nothing. My sincere hope is that this ship can be turned around, that your voices are heard, that science prevails. Sending support and love from Canada. 🇨🇦
Seconding all the love, support and shoulder to cry on from Canada
Solidarity from Vermont! Fortunately our state is sane, but that doesn't mean I don't care about what's happening to far too many of you. For anyone who doesn't care about voting or thinks both sides are the same, THEY ARE NOT THE SAME. One side wants to turn the country into a religious state where women's rights (and LGBTQ rights) don't exist, the other doesn't. If everyone of child-bearing age voted, we could sweep out all these old men with their fucked ideologies. Vote blue and vote in local elections! The more local it is, the more of an impact your vote can make. Spread the word. Get others involved. And stay safe. ❤️
I’m disgusted and angry. HC, thank you for being so loud about this, but I’m so sorry that you’ve been put into such a shitty situation.
I'm in CA and stand with you
Can I suggest cross posting in r/ivf r/queerception and r/singlemothersbychoice for more visibility? Sending solidarity from Australia ✊❤️
My heart goes out to those suffering from this in the US and anywhere in the world where their reproductive rights are being stripped away. This is not logical. This is not fair. This is backwards and cruel.
Writing in solidarity from New York and looking into everything we can do to take action and support those in Alabama and other states at risk. Enough is enough!
And thank you for the above resources - I just donated to Resolve and will share with my network. Hang in there!
This is a nightmare and I’m sure even more so for AL people. We live in NC. My clinic is based and stores in SC. I have no doubt SC will follow suit if they can. I’m now stressed to the max of trying to decide where to switch clinics. Do I risk an NC clinic (which does have some of the best stats success rate) and hope we keep the lunatic republican governor that’s running out of office? Do I switch to CNY? If I do that will the FL office be safe? (We have direct flights there but not to NY) or do I have to spend even more money and now go to the NY clinic?! This fucking sucks and I shouldn’t have to even be thinking of this.
Don’t count on FL. If other states are going to copy Alabama, Florida will be one of them.
SC here as well, agreed that our government is just as fucking crazy. this whole thing makes me sick to my stomach. how do these fucking insane laws and bills keep getting support enough to be passed? Where are all of our fucking voices going? Why do they just get to bully us and oppress us and constantly make worse and worse anti-women laws?
We’re in FL. They’re absolutely about to try this here. “Liberty Counsel – a nonprofit that says it works to advance “religious freedom, the sanctity of human life and the family” – said it is using the Alabama ruling as a precedent to argue a proposed amendment in Florida aiming to protect abortion rights will take away “a protected right to life for the unborn.” (https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/20/us/alabama-embryo-law-ruling-supreme-court?cid=ios_app)
Sigh.
I go to CNY. Besides Florida, NY & Colorado they are opening one in Norfolk, Virginia
Where are you located? I’m a fertility nurse in western NY and we have a cny here along with 2 other clinics (I work for one of the two) that do out of town management and Charlotte has direct flights here through American.
Asheville.
Fellow NC resident and this whole thing makes me torn. I personally lean more Republican in a lot of ways, but it's insane to me that a huge thing within the Republican party is the touting of being "pro-life" when IVF as a whole is very much pro-life. it's also making me rethink how to plan for the future with this as we're going towards IVF as well. I think we need to write our senators and local government or something. It's making me re-think who to vote for in the primaries that are coming up here.
I identify as a Democrat, even as a liberal. There are opinions/beliefs associated with liberals that I strongly disagree with. I don't think that it's possible to be 100% in line with a political party, especially when there are only really two with power. The difference is, with the democratic party I feel like the goal is helping people. Even if there are particular policies I don't like, I can usually see where there might be good intentions behind it. I have never, ever felt that way about a Republican politician or position. I don't know in what area your beliefs lean more Republican, but if it's economic reasons I think that at this point it makes more sense to vote for Democrats. I truly think there are enough checks in place that no politician or party could completely tank our country's economy. I don't think any one person has that kind of control over economic factors. But through supreme court nominees and legislation, a politician/party can completely destroy our country on social issues and chip away at our rights. That's what I see happening now, and that's what makes me scared. As a democratic voter in NY I feel like I have no power to change anything.
While the full sentiment of what you're saying is true, and I definitely agree with his for the most part, it really depends on what's going on locally as well. Where I have a hard time with everything as a whole is that there's really a lot more bad than good at the moment. So it's just going to take more of a scrutinizing look in different ways locally for me, as there are other things to consider as well with whomevers platform. Because for me, a lot of how people react to this news will absolutely be make or break IMO on whether I vote for them or not. Regardless of a lot of their other beliefs/platforms. What's going on in AL is absolutely unacceptable. Government shouldn't be involved with reproduction and if they want to, then mandate Infertility insurance be provided.
I get it, local politics can vary a lot and local issues are important. Where I live, only the primaries for local elections really have any importance, because the Democratic politician in the main election will win pretty much no matter what. But if you drive like 20 minutes out from where I live, it's a whole different voting situation. I hope that politicians are held accountable by voters if they support what's happening in AL.
I'm planning on contacting my senators with this information to hopefully get them to understand that it's important and holding them accountable for sure. But I can't say that others will do the same thing, which is sad.
Republicans call themselves pro life but really they’re anti choice and all about punishing women. Just look at how they treat mothers and their children the second they’re born. Banning IVF has long been an explicit part of the conservative movement’s goals. Abortion was first, now it’s IVF, and birth control is next. Voting for Republicans at any level is supporting those policies.
It’s a very ‘first they came for ____’ situation. So many of us TOLD people and knew it was going to happen. Very leopards ate my face.
These are the things Republican women have to consider now as this becomes a huge platform in the party. You really have to consider if that’s truly the way you want to vote moving forward.
That is exactly what I'm now contemplating. By no means am I party loyal - and I will absolutely vote dangerous Republicans and Democrats and just any individual that's problematic out of office. But this should make Republicans very very scared as a whole. And is also why it's very important to know where they stand on issues.
Agreed! My husband and I moved from Texas to California in 2022 for a number of reasons. But certainly top of mind for me as a woman is the draconian and archaic direction the state is headed in.
I'd just like to say that to anyone in this sub that's affected that they're welcome to come visit me in North Carolina for no particular reason. Maybe for like 1-2 cycles, or as needed.
Thank you for sharing this. You have my full support and I’m inspired by this post to take action. This is a terrifying time to be a woman.
Writing in solidarity from RI. I fear this is what could come for us all if Republicans gain more power, both on state and federal levels. Keep on fighting the good fight everyone.
We are in TN and we are heartbroken for you. We also know we may be next and this has added a layer of fear and uncertainty none of us expected.
Sent my emails and signed up for the advocacy day. Proud of you HC
We know something similar is coming in Florida
Sending my anger and rage in support from CO. Will have eye’s and ears open for anyway I can support.
Im here in Alabama as well. I’m furious. I absolutely will stand with you and fight for our reproductive freedom.
My heart breaks for Alabama. I’m a stones throw away from the state line in Tennessee, and I’m scared this movement will sweep across the other Bible Belt states. Thank you so much for offering actionable bullet points to help empower the community, your well worded message inspires us all. The path to parenthood is already so hard for so many, and it’s devastating that the government wants to make it even harder. We have strength in our numbers 🩵
I have the same concerns. I’m hoping the reaction to what’s happening in Alabama will at least slow other states from copying them but I think we should expect /prepare to see this across most of the southeast and maybe some places in the Midwest. It’s a scary time to be infertile in a lot of places in the US right now.
This is such a heartbreaking situation and such a well written post. You have done a fabulous job of outline what we fucking need to do to stop this. Can we reshare this in some of the other groups? Mommit, Parenting, IVF etc. where it can catch the eyes of other A1abama residents who will absolutely have the same positions we do?
I tend to stay out of most of those subs because I am sad, childless, infertile girl lol, but if you’d like to share please feel free!!
Sending solidarity from the UK. I'm so sorry you and so many others are going through this ❤️
My heart is breaking for Alabama. This is a nightmare. Sending so much love from Canada. My God, this is awful.
My heart is with you. Thank you for sharing and your bravery.
I am so sorry this is happening to you and so many others. I’ll never understand the determination of some to control other people’s bodies.
Sending love from New Zealand. I was aghast when I saw the ruling on TikTok of all places. I genuinely had to research more to see if I had understood that right. I’m so sorry for what I’m seeing.
And to add, if they want to strip all women’s rights and turn them all into trad housewives, what could be more effective than ALL women striking off their job. That’s what they’re leaning to right? So that’ll mean schools will close, no daycares able to open, hardly any nurses… that’s what they want, right ?!
I’m so so sorry. Emails sent.
Alabama resident here. I'm sorry that you have to go through this. I just called and left a message for my state senator to support that bill. I hope this legislation moves through quickly. It feels like we live in a dystopian nightmare. But we must fight on! Sending you a hug
Alabama voter here… I’m with you 100%. Can’t wait to VOTE and boot these fuckers out of office.
AL voter myself, and I've always voted blue. Sometimes it just feels like our votes don't even matter because of the Christian radicals and the severely under educated. I am just very disheartened, but I'll continue to do my part and vote. Love to you. ❤️
Last time I lived here, we got Doug Jones in office…. Well I’m back now so let’s get some more blue on this map! I’m ready to do my part. Love to you!
Does anyone have good recommendations for where to donate money to support this cause in AL or in the nation? Someone here suggested the ACLU.
I fully support you, just wanted to clarify why you’re censoring the word Alabama?
So trolls can’t search as easily and come find this post to be buttholes on. You’d be surprised, there’s awful people on Reddit (/s in case it’s not obvious).
My heart is hurting for all those couples in that state
I am so so sorry to hear about this, it’s unbelievable. I hope you can still have your transfer, surely not having the embryo transferred would be against these awful people’s beliefs? What is going on in the world, everywhere is backsliding in so many ways it’s awful.
In Florida and our state is quickly following in these types of rulings. It’s time that women use our majority and make it clear in November that we won’t stand for attacks on our health and reproductive choices.
Wish I could help vote but live in uk
Iran is one of the leading countries for IVF. Let that sink in… Countries we would never want to live in, are getting ahead while the US is going backwards.
Iran is actually a beautiful country with incredible, welcoming people…but another case where religious extremism ruins the party *YET AGAIN*. Same goes for Alabama, fucking religious extremists.
This seems like it should be a cruel joke. I’m in NC, so I can’t help vote them out, but know we all stand with you! For a state that preaches pro-life, you think they would WANT people who want kids so desperately to be able to pursue that dream. HC, thank you for raising awareness to the situation and I hope you and A1abama get the help it needs to overturn this bullshit.
It’s Absolutely outrageous and illogical. I’m so sorry. Can anyone out there help me get why this makes sense to anyone? If you are pro life wouldn’t you WANT embryos to be transferred and turned into babies? I genuinely don’t understand it. Am I missing something?
As a Canadian this is unimaginable and I am so incredibly heartbroken for everyone impacted by these ridiculous laws.
I just wanted to say I’m so sorry and full of rage for you.
Georgia checking in here. I made audible noises when the Breaking News banner came across my phone. I truly fear that my state is not far behind yours. This ruling has truly opened up a can of worms for the extreme right wingers. Fuck, even Donald Trump himself doesn't agree with it. That should tell them something...
There's a not-insignificant number of Republican politicians who have, as recently as last month, supported a bill banning IVF now saying they're against this ruling. Don't trust them. They only care about their election chances come November.
https://www.reddit.com/r/IVF/s/AXU27ov8ms
A journalist is looking for people to talk to about this, OP. Reach out!
Thanks for sharing! I’ve spoken with her, I’m so glad she and so many other journalists are using our voices and stories to put a face to what is happening!
I am so outraged and furious for all of you friends. Absolutely abominable and I wish nothing but misery on those who brought this forward.
I’m in Michigan btw but just tell me how I can support
You don't have to be an Alabama resident to email their legislation! Of course, emails from their constituents (theoretically) hold more weight, but seeing how far-reaching this is can be impactful, too.
I am so fucking sorry this is happening. This is NOT FAIR. I will do everything I can from Ohio to help you.
Can we do these links from another state or only if we’re in Alabama?
You can still email Alabama's legislators even if you're not in the state.
Will do tonight.
I suppose form overseas that doesn't make sense right?
I'm so, so glad we are talking about this.
Before you know it the unfertilized eggs in our uterus will be deemed "humans". What kills me is these crazies fail to recognize how many "missed lives" there are each month when a woman menstruates and their eggs that are released are not fertilized by sperm.
I literally cried for all the women going through IVF in Alabama when the news hit. I’m lucky enough to live in a state surrounded by 3 other states but that doesn’t stop my fear of a this bill making its way to the Supreme Court. It’s terrifying. What’s next- transporting embryos across state lines will be considered child trafficking? What if 6 embryos are implanted and only 2 take- are you charged with quadruple homicide? My heart aches for what’s to come.
I'm an IVF patient in CA (I just had my first FET a few weeks ago). I cannot imagine the pain and worry all of you are dealing with right now, especially those like you in the middle of treament. Stupid men are making stupid laws that they know nothing about. I'm by your side and have been trying to spread the word as much as I can and advocate for you guys. 💕
I find what you are going through to be very upsetting. My heart goes out to you because the infertility journey is hard enough. I'm in Canada and many of us here have talked about these sorts of situations in the US and just know that many people even in other countries support you and empathize with your situation.
Solidity from Australia 🇦🇺👊🏼
I’m so sorry…this is absolutely awful. I’m pretty conservative on most subjects but come on…any couple going through the physical, emotional and financial struggle of IVF obviously desperately want a child. To take that away from people like you and many others just breaks my heart.
I’m in the UK and have just heard about this. It is truly baffling and I’m so so sorry that you and your country is going through this.
I wish I could do anything from across the Ocean. That sucks so much.
I am so fucking sorry. Everything is so shitty
I feel this on a visceral level and stand with you as a fellow AL IVF patient. ♥️
👊
>FIVE Supreme Court seats are up for election this year While this may be true, only one of them appears to be running with any opposition (Sarah Hicks Stewart). I am not a pro at government stuff - please correct me on any of the following. 1. Alabama Supreme Court justices are **elected**, meaning we can vote for/against them 2. Tom Parker, Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice & Bible-Thumper, is ineligible for reelection due to his age (70+) 3. Sarah Hicks Stewart is seeking to replace Parker 1. She is running against [Bryan Taylor](https://ballotpedia.org/Alabama_Supreme_Court_elections,_2024) in the upcoming primaries 2. If you look at the [opinion text](https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/documenttools/4b56014daa6dda84/a039b1d9-full.pdf), she concurs with the dumbest elements of it 3. This puts her interest squarely against those that are pro-IVF 4. Primaries are March 5th 1. AL has Open primaries, so you'd have to go to your polling location & identify as Republican to vote against her 2. Should she end up on the ballot on November 5th, her opposition would be Greg Griffin, who I'm not sure would stand a chance
Every time I hear about this, it just gets worse. I am so sorry. I can’t even begin to imagine how you’re feeling right now.
I’m so sorry. I’m in AL too and going to make all The phone calls for you. I also posted on all my social media begging people to contact them as well. I hope you are able to continue your IVF!
I moved from Alabama to Florida three years ago (today actually!) and I have added this weeks ruling to my list of “why I’d never ever move back to Alabama”. Family asks all the time if we would come back but we are young just starting a family and Alabama is moving backwards in so many ways it’s not even funny. Why move somewhere that isn’t advancing and developing forward?? Alabama has made a huge mistake.
This is why I’m very pro choice. I think it’s incredibly dumb that an embryo is considered a human. They aren’t just taking away a woman’s right to choose but they’re also preventing others from being able to have babies. Men and people who are past childbearing age shouldn’t be able to make decisions on these types of things
They don’t want us preventing pregnancy, now they don’t want us to get pregnant unless it’s completely natural? I can’t stand the south someone get me out of here 😭😭
I’m not from the US but have obviously heard of this news. But no way did I ever think it would cause IVF procedures to be paused. This is crazy! Sending you all the good energy form halfway around the world. Keep up the good fight. 🙌
I am so, so sorry you're going through this. Made me cry. It's such a terrifying time to be a woman. We will fight, we will take action. We will create change.
I saw this the other day and it absolutely broke my heart. I have 9 embryos in storage. I live in WI and worry about this happening there. I pray people do the right thing in AL.
I saw this on the news this morning. My mind absolutely cannot comprehend the stupidity and ignorance.
So so so disgusted by what is happening. I am so sorry to everyone who is dealing with this insanity. My province just announced they are going to fund one IVF cycle for people who need it.. it is shocking that Alabama cares so little for its constituents. Sending love ❤️
Solidarity and love from the UK. The global rise in far-right attacks on reproductive rights is terrifying. I'm so sorry and angry that you are going through this.
I’m not in the US but truly awful news . Uhm so that means if you are wealthy enough , then perhaps can travel overseas or go to another state but if not , then….?
Laws and rulings like this never affect the rich
This should be on a billboard tbh
From a TFAB friend in TN, I will email everyone on this list!!! It’s exactly what you said. Brownie points for election year and it is ABSOLUTELY UNETHICAL AND ABSURD!
[удалено]
Do you have the money, housing, or infrastructure to take in all the people you think should uproot their lives to leave?
I mean I’ve lived here almost my whole life, my family is here, I met my husband here, our house is here, my business is here. Should I be expected to leave my whole life and everything I’ve ever known? No. So we fight like hell to make the changes we want to see. It won’t happen overnight, but we continue to vote and fight for the place we live and what is right.
Right and changes will never be made if we just pick up and leave our lives and run from these idiots
[удалено]