ASRM Publishes a New, More Inclusive, Definition Of “Infertility”
For Immediate Release:
Saturday, October 14, 2023 8:00 AM CT
Washington, DC – Today, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) Practice Committee issued a new definition of “infertility” as follows:
“Infertility” is a disease, condition, or status characterized by any of the following:
Nothing in this definition shall be used to deny or delay treatment to any individual, regardless of relationship status or sexual orientation.
Built upon the clinical reality of the disease of infertility, this definition also reflects the fact that challenges in reproduction can have a myriad of causes, all of which deserve to be taken seriously and treated.
ASRM has a longstanding tradition of data-driven, clinically sound positions. This definition builds on that while also responding to the needs of a diverse patient population. This new and inclusive definition is driven by the clinical needs of patients who come from different places and with different treatment needs.
“This revised definition reflects that all persons, regardless of marital status, sexual orientation, or gender identity, deserve equal access to reproductive medicine. This inclusive definition helps ensure that anyone seeking to build a family has equitable access to infertility treatment and care,” said Jared Robins, MD, ASRM CEO. “I thank the Practice Committee, our Board, and other ASRM leaders and staff for diligently and deliberately establishing a definition of infertility that acknowledges the reality of all seeking infertility care. We look forward to working with our members, policymakers, and others to normalize this definition,”
Having been approved by the ASRM Board of Directors, this definition will be published as a report of the Practice Committee in the society’s flagship journal Fertility and Sterility.
Saturday, October 14, 2023 8:00 AM CT
Washington, DC – Today, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) Practice Committee issued a new definition of “infertility” as follows:
“Infertility” is a disease, condition, or status characterized by any of the following:
- The inability to achieve a successful pregnancy based on a patient’s medical, sexual, and reproductive history, age, physical findings, diagnostic testing, or any combination of those factors.
- 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.
- In patients having regular, unprotected intercourse and without any known etiology for either partner suggestive of impaired reproductive ability, evaluation should be initiated at 12 months when the female partner is under 35 years of age and at six months when the female partner is 35 years of age or older.
Nothing in this definition shall be used to deny or delay treatment to any individual, regardless of relationship status or sexual orientation.
Built upon the clinical reality of the disease of infertility, this definition also reflects the fact that challenges in reproduction can have a myriad of causes, all of which deserve to be taken seriously and treated.
ASRM has a longstanding tradition of data-driven, clinically sound positions. This definition builds on that while also responding to the needs of a diverse patient population. This new and inclusive definition is driven by the clinical needs of patients who come from different places and with different treatment needs.
“This revised definition reflects that all persons, regardless of marital status, sexual orientation, or gender identity, deserve equal access to reproductive medicine. This inclusive definition helps ensure that anyone seeking to build a family has equitable access to infertility treatment and care,” said Jared Robins, MD, ASRM CEO. “I thank the Practice Committee, our Board, and other ASRM leaders and staff for diligently and deliberately establishing a definition of infertility that acknowledges the reality of all seeking infertility care. We look forward to working with our members, policymakers, and others to normalize this definition,”
Having been approved by the ASRM Board of Directors, this definition will be published as a report of the Practice Committee in the society’s flagship journal Fertility and Sterility.
For almost a century, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) has been the global leader in multidisciplinary reproductive medicine research, ethical practice, and education. ASRM impacts reproductive care and science worldwide by creating funding opportunities for advancing reproduction research and discovery, by providing evidence-based education and public health information, and by advocating for reproductive health care professionals and the patients they serve. With members in more than 100 countries, the Society is headquartered in Washington, DC, with additional operations in Birmingham, AL. www.asrm.org
For media inquiries regarding this press release contact:
Sean Tipton
ASRM Chief Advocacy and Policy Officer
E: stipton@asrm.org
J. Benjamin Younger Office of Public Affairs
726 7th St. SE
Washington, DC 20003
Tel: (202) 863-2494
Press Releases
Check out these press releases as well
Doctors Group Launches Ad Campaign for Ohio Issue 1
ASRM announced the launch of an ad campaign throughout Ohio urging voters to select “Yes on Issue 1” when they head to the polls on November 7.
Dr. Paula Amato Sworn In As President Of The American Society For Reproductive Medicine
New Vice President and Board Members Announced
New Data Shows The Association Between Air Pollution And Miscarriage Risk
Research presented at ASRM 2023 examines the association between ambient air pollution and miscarriage.
New Research Focuses On The Need For DEI In Reproductive Medicine
New research delves into the challenges faced by underrepresented populations in accessing reproductive healthcare.
The News from ASRM
Latest News
An indispensable news digest for reproductive scientists, clinicians and allied health professionals. The Latest News posts are available to ASRM members in good standing only.
ASRM Press Releases/Bulletins
ASRM Press Releases and Bulletins are published by ASRM's Office of Public Affairs to inform the press and Society members of important recent developments.
Legally Speaking Column
Legally Speaking is a column highlighting recent court decisions affecting the assisted reproductive technologies and the families they create, written by Susan L. Crockin, J.D. and guest authors who offer unique perspectives and expertise on significant legal topics.
Topic Resources
View more on the topic of infertility
ASRM Today: ASRM Advocacy Training Initiative with Becca O'Connor
In this episode, ASRM Today talks with Becca O'Connor, of the ASRM Center for Policy and Leadership, about their first-of-its-kind advocacy training initiative. Listen to the Episode
ASRM Today: The Business of Infertility Treatment with Hary Hokianto
In this episode from ASRM 2023 in New Orleans, I'm talking with Hary Hokianto about the business of infertility treatment. Listen to the Episode
Diagnostic evaluation of sexual dysfunction in the male partner in the setting of infertility: a committee opinion (2023)
It is the responsibility of the clinician to assess for erectile dysfunction, ejaculatory dysfunction, or diminished libido in men presenting for infertility. View the Committee Opinion
Doctors Group Launches Ad Campaign for Ohio Issue 1
ASRM announced the launch of an ad campaign throughout Ohio urging voters to select “Yes on Issue 1” when they head to the polls on November 7.
View the Press Release
New Research Reveals Importance Of Anti-Mullerian Hormone
Research presented at ASRM pointed out the important role that anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) plays not just in fertility but in other areas of health as well.
View the Press Release
Definition of infertility: a committee opinion (2023)
‘‘Infertility’’ is a disease, condition, or status characterized by several factors. View the Committee Opinion
Fertility and Sterility On Air - TOC: October 2023
Topics this month include whether sperm quality affects reproductive outcomes, CRISPR for human embryonic editing, and more. Listen to the Episode
Journal Club Global - Actualización en la suplementación con progesterona en fase lútea para transferencias de embriones congelados
Efectividad del rescate de progesterona en mujeres que presentan niveles bajos de progesterona circulante alrededor del día de la transferencia de embriones View the Video
Endometriosis and infertility: a committee opinion (2012)
Women with endometriosis typically present with pelvic pain, infertility, or an adnexal mass, and may require surgery. View the Committee Opinion
Post Vasectomy Infertility
If a husband has had a vasectomy, does the sterilization code apply to the wife's visits? View the Answer
Pregnancy Of Uncertain Viability Ultrasound
My staff is telling me that I am getting reimbursed for the first sonogram and OB visit (using ICD 10 code for pregnancy of uncertain viability – O36.80X0. View the Answer
Pregnancy Ultrasound
Our practice does routine ultrasounds (sac check- 76817) at the end of an IVF cycle and bill with a diagnosis code O09.081, pregnancy resulting from ART. View the Answer
Self-referred New Patient
A patient self-refers to our physician for an initial new patient consultation instead of referred by another physician, how do we code for the consult? View the Answer
Telephone Consult
Does a physician need to speak directly to a patient to code for a telephone consult (99371-99373) or can a staff member relay physician notes to patients? View the Answer
Testing With No History of Infertility
What diagnosis codes should providers submit to insurance carriers while trying to evaluate fertility issues? View the Answer
Psychological Evaluation
Many REs require patients (and their spouses/partners) who are considering using donor gametes to see an infertility counselor first. View the Answer
Surgery Coding
I took the ASRM coding course, and in that course, coding for bilateral neosalpingostomies was coded using only a dx of N70.11 (hydrosalpinx). View the Answer
IUI or IVF
Should other ovarian dysfunction (diagnosis code E28.8) or unspecified ovarian dysfunction (diagnosis code E28.9) can be used for an IUI or an IVF cycle View the Answer
Infertility Consult
Does ASRM have any examples of evaluation and management documentation for patients being seen for an initial infertility evaluation? View the Answer
Infertility Consult by Nurse
What code is used for a nurse practitioner seeing a fertility patient for the first time? View the Answer
Initial Visit for Infertility With No Mandated Coverage
What code would be appropriate for an initial visit for infertility? View the Answer
Monitoring E&M
Our group would like to know if others are billing an evaluation and management code for ultrasound and blood draw visits? View the Answer
New vs Established Patient
How soon can you bill as a new infertility patient? View the Answer
General E&M Consult
Recently we have received a “re-code” on a new patient (we billed a 99203 and the insurance re-coded it to a 99213). View the Answer
Hysteroscopy Recurrent Implantation Failure
What is the appropriate ICD-10 code for recurrent implantation failure? View the Answer
Diagnosis of Infertility for IVF Procedure
How important is it to have accurate documentation of the type of infertility diagnosis for IVF procedures? View the Answer
Diagnostic Testing of an Infertile Couple
The Z31.41 is or is not the correct code to use for diagnostic testing of an infertile couple? And If so can if be used as the primary and only code? View the Answer
D&C Under Ultrasound Guidance
What are the CPT codes and ICD-10 codes for coding a surgical case for a patient with history of Stage B adenocarcinoma of the cervix ... View the Answer
Blood Tests
Patients are requesting to have lab work drawn from the female patient moved to the males account due to the female fertility coverage being maxed out. View the Answer
Male Infertility
A summary of common codes for Male Infertility compiled by the ASRM Coding Committee View the Coding Summary
ASRM müllerian anomalies classification 2021
The Task Force set goals for a new classification and chose to base it on the iconic AFS classification from 1988 because of its simplicity and recognizability. View the Committee Opinion
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for non–male factor indications: a committee opinion (2020)
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection is frequently used in combination with assisted reproductive technologies. View the Committee Document
Fertility evaluation of infertile women: a committee opinion (2021)
Diagnostic evaluation for infertility in women should be conducted in a systematic, expeditious, and cost-effective manner. View the Committee Opinion
Use of exogenous gonadotropins for ovulation induction in anovulatory women: a committee opinion (2020)
Pretreatment evaluation, indications, treatment regimens, and complications of gonadotropin treatment. View the Committee Opinion
Reproductive and hormonal considerations in women at increased risk for hereditary gynecologic cancers: Society of Gynecologic Oncology and American Society for Reproductive Medicine Evidence-Based Review (2019)
Providers who care for women at risk for hereditary gynecologic cancers must consider the impact of these conditions on reproductive and hormonal health. View the Joint Statement
Current recommendations for vaccines for female infertility patients: a committee opinion (2018)
Encounters for infertility care are opportunities to assess and update immunization status. View the Committee Opinion
American Society for Reproductive Medicine position statement on uterus transplantation: a committee opinion (2018)
Following the birth of the first child from a transplanted uterus in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 2014, other centers worldwide have produced scientific reports. View the Committee Opinion
