Purpose

• The bill aims to improve reproductive health education by teaching about the root causes of infertility and reproductive health conditions. It emphasizes restorative reproductive medicine, fertility awareness-based methods, and body literacy, and to integrate these topics into existing public health programs.

Main Provisions

• Education integration in public health programs
  • The Department of Health must include information about infertility causes, reproductive health conditions, restorative reproductive medicine, fertility awareness-based methods (FAMs), and body literacy education in existing programs such as family planning, maternal and child health, and women’s health initiatives.
• Update of materials
  • Existing health education materials and resources must be updated to include restorative reproductive medicine content.
• Collaboration with Title X facilities
  • The department must work with Title X funded facilities to integrate restorative reproductive medicine, fertility awareness-based methods, and body literacy education into programs within 12 months of the act’s effective date.
  • The department must provide guidance and support, including training for health care providers and development of patient education materials, to implement these services.
• Definitions and key concepts
  • Fertility awareness-based methods (FAMs): Methods that track the menstrual cycle using signs like basal body temperature, cervical fluid, and hormonal indicators (LH and estrogen); examples include the symptothermal method, Creighton model, and Billings ovulation method.
  • Fertility education and medical management: A program developed with the Reproductive Health Research Institute to educate women about their hormonal health and to train health care professionals to apply current research in practice.
  • Infertility: Defined by age-related timeframes for trying to conceive (noting a 12-month period for those under 35 and a 6-month period for those older), recognizing infertility as a potential underlying health issue.
  • NaProTECHNOLOGY (Natural Procreative Technology): An approach to reproductive health that uses medical techniques and surgery to monitor and maintain reproductive function without suppressive or destructive methods.
  • Reproductive health condition: Conditions that make conceiving difficult or impossible (examples listed include endometriosis, adenomyosis, PCOS, uterine fibroids, blocked fallopian tubes, hormone imbalances, thyroid conditions, ovulation dysfunction, and male factor infertility among others).
  • Restorative reproductive health and restorative reproductive medicine: A scientific approach aimed at restoring normal physiology of the reproductive system, including body literacy, teacher-led education, NaProTECHNOLOGY, and fertility awareness-based methods; uses tools like ultrasounds, blood tests, hormone panels, surgeries, and consideration of environmental factors.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Adds a duty for the Department of Health to incorporate restorative reproductive medicine, fertility awareness-based methods, and body literacy into public health education and to update related materials.
• Establishes formal definitions for key terms (FAMs, NaProTECHNOLOGY, restorative reproductive health/medicine, reproductive health conditions) to guide policy and program implementation.
• Requires collaboration with Title X funded facilities and provides mechanisms (guidance, provider training, patient education materials) to implement these services within a set timeframe.

Implementation Timeline

• Within 12 months of the act’s effective date, the department must begin integrating restorative reproductive medicine and related services into Title X–funded programs and provide necessary support and training.

Potential Impacts to Note

• Public health education would broaden to include restorative care approaches and fertility-focused education, which may be a shift for some programs.
• Emphasis on specific medical approaches (e.g., NaProTECHNOLOGY, fertility awareness-based methods) could influence which treatments and educational materials are promoted.
• A formal framework for infertility thresholds by age is introduced, which may affect how infertility is defined clinically in state programs.

Relevant Terms fertility awareness-based methods, FAMs, symptothermal method, Creighton model, Billings ovulation method, body literacy, restorative reproductive medicine, NaProTECHNOLOGY, natural procreative technology, reproductive health education, infertility, infertility thresholds, reproductive health conditions, endometriosis, adenomyosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), uterine fibroids, blocked fallopian tubes, hormone imbalances, thyroid conditions, male factor infertility, family planning, maternal and child health, women’s health initiatives, Title X, healthcare provider training, patient education materials, environmental endocrine disruptors