The official definition of infertility now includes LGBTQ+ and single people

Published by Stat. Read the full article.

Infertility has a new definition in the U.S. — one that could make a big difference to would-be parents who are single or LGBTQ+.

Last week, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) issued an expanded description of the condition, stating that infertility involves “the need for medical intervention, including, but not limited to, the use of donor gametes or donor embryos in order to achieve a successful pregnancy either as an individual or with a partner.”

Before this update, the ASRM officially described infertility as a condition in which heterosexual couples weren’t able to conceive after a year of unprotected intercourse. The new, more inclusive definition may help more same-sex couples and single people gain access to assisted reproductive technologies, since some insurance plans rely on the ASRM definition of infertility.