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When “Restorative Reproductive Medicine” becomes Restrictive

If you’ve come across the term “Restorative Reproductive Medicine,” or RRM, in conversations about infertility, you’re not alone. Almost overnight it feels like our algorithms are filled with ideas on how to help someone get pregnant “naturally” or get to the “root cause” of your infertility. It sounds supportive, even hopeful, like something that helps ‘restore’ your body’s natural ability to conceive. RRM often repackages familiar diagnostics and treatments, like hormone tracking and timed intercourse, but it draws a hard line when it comes to certain evidence-based options, like in vitro fertilization (IVF). And that’s not because of science. It’s because of ideology. Where RRM really stands…

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 This ‘natural’ infertility treatment is backed by Maha. Is it the right’s path to limiting IVF?

Restorative reproductive medicine is a decades-old name for a constellation of therapies that are meant to revive the “natural” fertility of people trying to conceive. Often, RRM entails prescriptions for hormones, supplements and lifestyle changes - such as adopting a better diet - as well as closely analyzing one’s menstrual cycle. Its practitioners also sometimes use aggressive surgeries to root out endometriosis, a common and chronic condition that occurs when tissue that is similar to uterine tissue grows outside of the uterus. And, critically, RRM practitioners avoid the use of assisted reproductive technology such as IVF.

 What is Restorative Reproductive Medicine (RRM)?

Restorative reproductive medicine (RRM) is a specialized field of medicine that focuses on identifying the underlying health conditions that contribute to reproductive dysfunction and suboptimal reproductive health, treating them to restore the natural functions of the reproductive system. Unlike conventional approaches that use treatments that suppress normal physiology to deal with dysfunction, RRM seeks to work with the body, treating reproductive abnormalities, not by bypassing the body’s processes but by diagnosing, understanding, and addressing underlying health concerns. This approach improves overall wellness and restores reproductive abilities such as fertility.

Articles of Interest

An Ethical Alternative to IVF

At its heart, IVF circumvents infertility by moving procreation outside the body. Instead of healing the underlying causes that prevent conception, IVF bypasses them entirely. Eggs are harvested from the woman, sperm is collected from a man and introduced in a petri dish, and multiple embryos are created. A few are transferred to the womb; others are frozen indefinitely, discarded, or used for research.

How a niche Catholic approach to infertility treatment became a new talking point for MAHA conservatives

Clinics that advertise themselves as offering restorative reproductive medicine try to diagnose underlying issues that could make conception difficult, like endometriosis. Typically, a patient and provider will closely monitor the patient’s menstrual cycle to identify potential abnormalities. Interventions include hormone therapies, medications, supplements, surgeries and lifestyle changes.

Making babymaking better

IVF is failing most women. But new research holds out hope for the future.

Restorative Reproductive Medicine Outcomes after Failed IVF: A Review

Over the last four decades, infertility care has developed along two different paths. Conventional reproductive medicine uses assisted reproductive technologies (ART), such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), which often bypass the root cause of infertility. These treatments do not prioritize diagnosis or treating the underlying conditions impairing fertility. In contrast, restorative reproductive medicine (RRM) works to identify and treat the root causes of infertility while restoring normal reproductive function.

Restorative Reproductive Medicine” and “Ethical IVF” are Misleading Terms That Threaten Access

As advocates for evidence-based fertility care, we implore policymakers to uphold the integrity of our healthcare system by protecting access to proven treatments like IVF. It is crucial to be vigilant against misleading terminology, such as “Restorative Reproductive Medicine” (RRM) and “Ethical IVF,” Which can be used to promote ideologically driven restrictions that could limit patient care. Despite strong public support for in vitro fertilization (IVF)—67% of Americans favor mandatory insurance coverage for the procedure (Krewson, 2024)—these labels are intended to mask restrictive policies that could relegate patients to antiquated, unnecessary treatments, and delay or deny effective and time-sensitive interventions.

The Quickie: “Restorative Reproductive Medicine” Is No More Than Repackaged Junk Science

RRM — no more than repackaged junk science — is being peddled as an “alternative” to evidence-based care by lawmakers who know access to fertility care is popular. The RRM approach suggests that women’s lifestyles are to blame for infertility, and completely excludes LGBTQ+ people, single parents, and those with genetic barriers to fertility that require treatment.

Want Babies? Treat Infertility’s Root Causes

Instead of pushing IVF mandates, we should invest in restorative reproductive medicine.

Resources

International Institute for Restorative Reproductive Medicine

IIRRM is an organization of health professionals, students and researchers who are dedicated to education and research in restorative reproductive medicine. It is a registered international charity based out of London, England.

Journal of Restorative Reproductive Medicine

The Journal of Restorative Reproductive Medicine (JRRM) is a peer-reviewed medical journal dedicated to building the scientific understanding of all aspects of human fertility and reproduction from a perspective of cooperation with or restoration of normal reproductive health, in clinical practice and public health. The Journal exists to support and develop the field of restorative reproductive medicine.

RRM Academy

RRM Academy delivers rigorous, clinician-led online courses and free resources that bridge the gap between the conventional model and the latest in restorative reproductive techniques. We are trauma-informed and teach people how to advocate for themselves on their healthcare journey.

ACOG

It is important to understand that RRM is not a medical term. Focusing on endometriosis excision as the chief barrier to pregnancy unnecessarily exposes some patients to the potential risk of complications associated with the procedure and may not be necessary to address in order to achieve a pregnancy. Concentrating on fertility awareness and lifestyle changes can add unnecessarily to the timeline; be ineffective and redundant, as most patients have already tried these methods before seeking infertility treatment; and make patients less likely to have a baby by delaying the identification and treatment process until patients are much deeper into—or even past—their fertility window. Although endometriosis excision, fertility awareness, and lifestyle changes may have value for some patients and should be a part of conversations people have with their doctors, they must not be the sole approaches available to people undergoing fertility treatment.

Reply

IVF routinely bypasses underlying medical problems to try to force a pregnancy. We take the opposite approach with restorative reproductive medicine (RRM). We diagnose and treat underlying health problems to help you conceive naturally and healthily.