I am a lifelong resident of Alabama, a woman of childbearing age who faces medical issues that can result in miscarriages and require more intensive reproductive care. This is not just my story, but the story of many women across our state. The recent ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court that named frozen embryos from In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) as children under Alabama's Wrongful Death of a Minor Act has effectively banned IVF and limited access to vital reproductive care.

This decision has far-reaching implications for women's health in our state and paves a dangerous path for our nation. Infertility does not only impact women, but men too. Research finds that infertility is caused by males 40% of the time (NewLIFE). It is not just about IVF; it is about access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare, which is already dwindling in Alabama. Less than one week following this ruling, University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical System, The Center for Reproductive Medicine in Mobile, and the Alabama Fertility Specialists in Birmingham have suspended their IVF treatments (ABC News). This leaves many women without local access to essential prenatal care.

We must protect every woman's right to make decisions about her own body and her own future. We urge the Alabama Supreme Court to reconsider this ruling that restricts our rights and limits our healthcare options. Please sign this petition if you believe in protecting access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare for all Alabamian women and for the United States as a whole.

El-Bawab, N., Schulze, E., & Haslett, C. (2024, February 22). 2 More Alabama Clinics Pause IVF Fertility Treatment After Court Ruling. ABC News. 

New Leaders In Fertility and Endocrinology. (2022). General Fertility - Patient Education Document. Pensacola.