Elena Trukhacheva

This year’s NIAW theme invites us all to “Listen Up!” What are we listening to? To start with, health care laws are forever changing.  The battle over the Affordable Health Care Act (AHCA) is in full swing with a new party in the White House.  This was followed by a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) citing that women who have insurance coverage are more likely to achieve success with Invitro Fertilization (IVF).   This points out the importance of ensuring that as many individuals are covered for Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) regardless of age, sexual orientation, gender et al.  As the landscape continues to change, this is one area that we must “Listen Up!”

Another important category is reproductive rights for women.  As professionals in the field of Reproductive Health, it is important that, regardless of our beliefs, we provide our patients with the best and most comprehensive health care and decision-making throughout every stage of their lives, and that of their children.  Ensuring women’s rights is another “Listen Up!” venue.