30 pages of research
Draft is due Saturday July 5, 2025
Final Paper is due July 29, 2025
Peer review comment; Please incorporate some of these ideas.
1) When developing the legal analysis, ensure that state comparisons highlight not only statutory differences but also practical enforcement and case outcomes.
2) Expand on ethical implications where legal gaps exist (e.g., lack of protection for single individuals).
3) Clarify the bullet hierarchy; some subpoints are ambiguous or inconsistently formatted (e.g., inconsistent punctuation in section III).
4) The proposed exploration of state-specific regulations and consent issues is particularly commendable. Emphasizing differences in statutory language and court interpretations will strengthen the paper.
Outline- To be expanded on
Title: Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and Its Barriers Preventing Couples and
Singles Who Seek to Conceive but are faced with challenges.
While vitro fertilization (IVF) offers a solution for individuals experiencing infertility, it inevitably raises a complex array of ethical and social dilemmas that need thorough examination. This research thesis aims to explore the significance of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) in mitigating infertility and to provide a comprehensive overview of the barriers encountered by both singles and couples seeking reproductive assistance. including financial limitations, legal restrictions, social stigmas, and emotional challenges. It also aims to analyze how differing policy frameworks affect the accessibility and affordability of these vital reproductive services for prospective parents. The research will specifically focus on the barriers present across five selected states: Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, and Connecticut, thereby providing an understanding of the difficulties surrounding access to ART.
I. Introduction
A. Definition and history of ART (IVF)[1], [2]
B. Importance of the topic in addressing infertility
C. Overview of the barriers faced by couples and singles seeking to conceive
II. Understanding ART
A. Comparison to other ART techniques such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), and donor sperm/eggs.
B. Key scientific advancements (e.g., hormonal treatments, embryo freezing)
C. Detailed explanation of IVF process
D. The first IVF baby and the evolution of the technique
E. How AI assists in reproductive healthcare[3]
III. Financial Barriers: IVF and Insurance Coverage
A. Coverage for ART Procedures in the selected states[4], [5],[6], [7], [8], [9]
B. Overview of typical insurance coverage note
C. Variations by state and insurance providers [10]
D. Costs associated with ART (IVF, medication, etc.)
E. Out-of-pocket expenses and financial assistance options
IV. Socio-Emotional Barriers:
A. Stigma and societal perceptions of infertility and ART[11] [12]
B. Cultural beliefs [13]
C. Stress associated with the ART process
A. Psychological impact and the fear of failure to conceive due to age [14]
VI. Case Studies and Legal Precedents
A. Difference in State Laws and regulations regarding ART
B. Informed Consent and process Ethical Considerations [15]
C. Consent for donors (egg, sperm, embryo)
D. Interpretation of laws in different jurisdictions
E. Legal Rights of single versus couples in five selected jurisdictions
VII. Conclusion
A. Reflection on the ongoing barriers preventing ART
B. Address ethical, social, financial and medical considerations surrounding ART (IVF)
C. Call for action for policy reforms and support system to enhance access to the financially
vulnerable individuals seeking to conceive.
1. [1] Patel, M. (2016, March 31). The socioeconomic impact of infertility on women in developing countries. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5096428/#B13
[2] Clarke, G. N. (2006). A.R.T. and history, 1678–1978. Human
Reproduction, 21(7), 1645–1650. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/del067
[3] Olawade, D. B., Teke, J., Adeleye, K. K., Weerasinghe, K., Momudat Maidoki, & David-Olawade,
(2024). Artificial Intelligence in in-vitro fertilization (IVF): A New Era of Precision and
Personalization in Fertility Treatments. Journal of Gynecology Obstetrics and Human
Reproduction, 102903–102903. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogoh.2024.102903
[4] Debra E. Guston, Jump Through This Hoop and over This Hurdle Barriers to
Family Building Through Assisted Reproduction for Lgbtq Couples and Singles, N.J. Law., August 2020, at 24, 26
[5] New York State Assembly/Senate Bill No. S5545, (2025)
[6] Louisiana Senate Bill 156, Regular Session (2024). Retrieved from
https://apnews.com/article/alabama-supreme-court-from-embryos
[7] Mississippi Senate Bill No. 271. (2006(https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents).
[8] Medicine, A. S. for R. (2024, July 31). Maryland insurance. Insurance |
ReproductiveFacts.org. https://www.reproductivefacts.org/patient-advocacy/state-
and-territory-infertility-insurance-laws/maryland
[9] Extend marketing. (2020b, January 17). New York’s fertility coverage mandate.
Extend Fertility. https://extendfertility.com/new-york-fertility-coverage-mandate/
[10] Insurance Coverage by State | RESOLVE: The National Infertility
Association.(2021, August 27). RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association|
[11] Shefali Luthra, T. 19th. (2024, March 1). Will states follow Alabama in ending
IVF access? Them. https://www.them.us/story/what-is-ivf-future-access-states
[12] Richburg, C. E., Levin, N. J., & Moravek, M. B. (2022, March). Laboring to conceive:
Reducing barriers to fertility care for same-sex mothers pursuing parenthood. Women
[14] Hvidman, H. W., Bentzen, J. G., Thuesen, L. L., Lauritsen, M. P., Forman, J. L., Loft,
Pinborg, A., & Nyboe Andersen, A. (2016). Infertile women below the age of 40 have
similar anti-Müllerian hormone levels and antral follicle count compared with women of
the same age with no history of infertility. Human Reproduction, 31(5), 1034–1045.
https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/dew032
[15] Jody Lyneé Madeira, The Art of Informed Consent: Assessing Patient Perceptions,
Behaviors, and Lived Experience of Ivf and Embryo Disposition Informed Consent
Processes, 49 Fam. L.Q. 7, 8 (2015)