Beyond IVF: What People Really Want from Fertility Care

Survey of 1,010 adults across the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, and Canada (March 2026) who are trying to conceive, tried in the past five years, or plan to try within five years. IVF awareness is high (89%) but only 58% would consider pursuing it, a 31-point gap, the largest of any option surveyed, driven by perceptions of cost and invasiveness. 89% of women said they would prefer to try a less invasive fertility option before pursuing IVF if supported by clinical guidance; 83% would choose lower-cost options first. Metabolic health support generated the highest patient appetite of any pathway: 84% would consider it and 85% would seek more information, yet only 44% had a clinical conversation about metabolic health during their fertility journey. Mens health support showed a similar pattern (80% would consider; only 43% of men had a provider conversation). 78% said better understanding of non-IVF options would make them more likely to pursue those options first. 49% learned about their fertility options only after beginning to try to conceive; 58% wished they had received more fertility education before trying (70% among those mid-journey). 84% agreed access to multiple fertility options would increase decision confidence, the most widely endorsed statement in the survey. 80% would be more likely to stay with an employer offering comprehensive fertility coverage (85% of women); 83% said the same of insurers.

mean age 34.3; 56.7% female; 36.4% reported at least one diagnosed metabolic condition; 14.7% of women reported PCOS. Recruited via CloudResearch Connect panel.