May 28, 2025 9:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

SAN FRANCISCO (BUSINESS WIRE) –With infertility rates climbing in the United States, medical experts from the International Institute for Restorative Reproductive Medicine (IIRRM) are highlighting restorative reproductive medicine (RRM) as an important, cost-effective treatment option that benefits patients and public health. This growing medical discipline focuses on diagnosing and treating underlying causes of infertility, offering couples a path to natural conception by optimizing reproductive health.

“Couples struggling with infertility are best served when they receive a comprehensive evaluation, diagnosis, and restorative treatment to optimize their health and natural reproductive function,” says Dr. Phil Boyle, a dual U.S.-Irish citizen who serves as president of the IIRRM. Dr. Boyle is a leading global provider of RRM who has helped more than 3,000 couples overcome infertility.

IIRRM U.S. Director of Communications & Development, Dr. Monica Minjeur, explains, “Infertility is not a diagnosis in and of itself. We know infertility points to chronic underlying conditions, typically with at least 4-6 factors involved. When we identify these factors, we can provide effective treatment to help optimize fertility for healthy outcomes of mom and baby.”

The RRM Approach

Infertility now affects 1 in 6 couples in the U.S. To help patients experiencing infertility, RRM prioritizes identifying and treating underlying causes and contributors to a couple’s fertility challenge, including anatomical, hormonal, metabolic, autoimmune, infectious, and lifestyle factors. The aim is to improve and optimize reproductive function so patients can conceive naturally and have healthy pregnancies and births. The RRM approach integrates comprehensive diagnostics, fertility awareness cycle tracking for precision care, and personalized treatment plans that consider both female and male components.

“Studies from five different countries all show significant success rates using RRM to treat infertility, even in patients who previously have tried other infertility treatments,” reports Dr. Joseph Stanford, IIRRM Director of Research. “There are many factors that influence an individual couple’s RRM success rate. On average more than 50% of couples who complete their RRM treatment will have a live birth, and higher rates are achieved with continuing care.” Dr. Stanford, a University of Utah clinician, researcher, and long-time global RRM leader, recently had his work honored with the establishment of a presidential chair in RRM at the University of Utah School of Medicine.

There are dozens of underlying factors that can cause or contribute to infertility, and some female factors can be assessed only with the use of fertility tracking of the female cycle. RRM care teams always include a fertility educator who coaches patients on cycle tracking, so they understand how to record medically informative biomarkers of ovulatory and reproductive function. Cycle tracking also is used to identify the fertile window when trying to conceive and it empowers patients with lifelong body literacy.

Impressive Outcomes for Mother and Baby Health

As RRM gains traction in the U.S. and globally, clinical data demonstrate promising results when it comes to achieving live births and reducing risks of poor perinatal outcomes. For example, studies show RRM is associated with significantly lower preterm birth rates, defined as the number of babies born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Preterm babies are at higher risk for a variety of complications including to their respiratory, digestive, cardiovascular and neurological systems. RRM preterm birth rates in the U.S. are 8% compared to 14.1% for IVF; the overall U.S. preterm birth rate is 10.4%.

“The reduced preterm birth rates with RRM are vitally important to consider,” says Dr. Tracey Parnell, IIRRM Global Director of Communications & Development. “Preterm birth can bring not only trauma to the premature babies and their families, but also additional cost. This underscores how important it is to do everything we can to help patients conceive naturally, without resorting to services that may introduce significant new risks.”

Additional advantages of the RRM approach include:

• Patients become full partners in their own care, fostering attention to overall health including lifestyle factors and relationship building.
• Care is more affordable—RRM typically costs only a fraction of the expense for IVF.
• Accessibility increases since RRM can be managed via telehealth in conjunction with local healthcare providers and does not require central laboratories.
• Barriers decrease since RRM is universally ethically acceptable and enjoys widespread appeal among those looking for more “natural” solutions.

RRM represents an important option in reproductive healthcare and is part of the solution to America’s increasing infertility challenges. While IVF currently is the only answer for couples in certain limited circumstances, RRM has tremendous promise for most couples facing infertility. “We are grateful to see increasing awareness and discussion about infertility,” says Dr. Minjeur, “and hopeful for more options for patients and more improvements in the field of reproductive health.”

Click here for expert bios, patient success stories and RRM research findings.

About the IIRRM

The International Institute for Restorative Reproductive Medicine is a medical society founded in London, UK, in 2000. The mission of the IIRRM is to unite medical professionals and researchers to promote and improve clinical practice, research, and education in RRM. The IIRRM currently represents medical professionals and researchers from 52 countries and maintains an academic journal (Journal of Restorative Reproductive Medicine), a clinician recognition program, and an international clinical practice registry (Surveillance of Treatment and Outcomes in Restorative Reproductive Medicine).

CONTACTS