Cost and Access · Access and Coverage
RRM Academy Synopsis
Women Surveyed Prefer Less Invasive Fertility Options Before IVF
89 out of 100 women said they would prefer to try a less invasive option first, before IVF, if their clinicians' guidance supported it. Carrot Fertility surveyed 1,010 adults in the US, UK, Ireland and Canada. Among all respondents, 89 out of 100 knew of IVF, and 58 out of 100 would consider it.
Key Findings
- IVF awareness was 89% and willingness to consider IVF was 58%. The 31-point difference was the widest among all options surveyed.
- 89% of women and 78% of men would prefer a less invasive option before IVF if supported by clinical guidance. 83% of all respondents said they would choose lower-cost options first.
- 84% of respondents would consider metabolic health support, and 85% would seek more information. Only 44% had discussed metabolic health with a clinician during their fertility journey.
- 80% of respondents would consider men's health support, and 43% reported speaking with a provider about it: 48% of male and 39% of female respondents.
- 49% first heard about their fertility options after they began trying or met challenges. 58% wished for more fertility education before trying, and 70% of those mid-journey.
Interpretation
The report is a cross-sectional online survey. Answers show what respondents say they prefer in March 2026. Respondents came from a research panel service (CloudResearch Connect). Of the 1,010, 601 lived in the United States, 216 in Canada, 168 in the United Kingdom, and 15 in Ireland. The 89% figure for women depends on clinical guidance supporting the less invasive option. The report gives no pregnancy outcomes or medical records. Carrot Fertility addresses its recommendations to employers, health plans, and fertility care companies.
RRM Context
Restorative reproductive medicine asks why conception is not happening, in both partners, and includes metabolic health in that question. Respondents showed strong interest in metabolic and men's health support. IVF goes around infertility without finding why conception fails. In the survey, 31 points fewer respondents would consider IVF than knew of it.
Abstract
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.
Sample
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.