Infertility is a common problem for women in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 12% of women between the ages of 15 and 44 years old have difficulty conceiving or carrying a pregnancy to term. During National Infertility Awareness Week, April 21-29, take this opportunity to share these resources with Veterans you know.
VA infertility services are available to help eligible Veterans. Through VA health care, enrolled Veterans have access to many different types of fertility treatments, procedures and services including infertility counseling, laboratory blood testing, genetic counseling, sperm testing, ultrasounds, surgery, reversal of a vasectomy or tubal ligation, medication and other treatments.
Veterans with certain service-connected conditions that result in infertility, and their spouses, may be eligible for in vitro fertilization (IVF) or another form of assisted reproductive technology services. Coverage is determined case by case, based on an infertility evaluation at a VA medical center. Qualified Veterans or their spouses may be eligible for up to three IVF treatment cycles.
To qualify for the benefit:
- The Veteran must be legally married.
- The Veteran must have a service-connected condition causing infertility.
- The Veteran or spouse must have an intact uterus and at least one functioning ovary or own cryopreserved eggs.
- The Veteran or spouse must be able to produce sperm or own cryopreserved sperm.
This benefit does not cover surrogacy, donor eggs, donor sperm or donor embryos.
To receive treatment for infertility, Veterans enrolled in VA health care can take the following steps:
- Veterans can schedule an appointment with a VA provider (e.g., primary care provider, gynecologist or urologist) for an evaluation to identify the cause of infertility before determining eligibility for the benefit.
- Veterans can contact their local VA medical facility to schedule an evaluation.
- For questions regarding eligibility and services, contact the Women Veterans Call Center at (855) 829-6636.
- If the Veteran is eligible for assisted reproductive technology (ART)/IVF, VA will refer the Veteran (and spouse) to a Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) specialist in the community.
- The community provider works with the Veteran and spouse to perform any evaluations and tests to develop a treatment plan.
- Medical care is provided based on the treatment plan developed by the Veteran and community provider.
To learn more about IVF treatment and other services through VA, visit VHA’s Office of Community Care.
About the author: VHA’s Office of Community Care works closely with Veterans, their families, community providers, and VA staff to ensure Veterans can get care from community providers when needed..
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My husband and I were very excited to find out the VA offered infertility help. I made an appointment after my doctor put in a referral, and I was disappointed when the physician informed me that one of the criteria is that I must have a service connection related to infertility. I have Turner Syndrome, and the symptoms became more frequent in the military. I complained to the doctors, and the told me that I missed my period for six months due to the fact that I was stressed because I was on my first deployment. This also occurred on my second deployment.
If they had done further testing, I could have started the process of freezing my eggs, because I was so young, and have eggs to receive in vitro fertilization so that when I got married, I could give my husband children. My husband and I would like to have children, so I would like to know if someone could provide me with a list of ALL SERVICE CONNECTED CONDITIONS RELATED TO INFERTILIY, so that I can see if I possibly have a condition related to infertility, in order to get help with in vitro.
my name is grace jose, i want to tell all the women in the world with no child that there is hope for you all, because i was also a barren woman, i had no child for the past 8 years and i contacted my doctor and he told me that there is no way on earth that i can ever getting pregnant,.. so i was confused and my husband was tired and told me that we should adopt a child, so i was so sad in such a way that i had to talk to a friend about adopting a child my friend told me to forget about adopting a child, with this she then introduced me to a spell caster whom i contacted and i explained everything to him and immediately he told me not to worry that all my problems will be solved, so i believed and did as he asked me.After two week i went to the hospital for a total test and i found out that i was pregnant and today am now a mother, so if you are barren or childless kindly contact Dr ORAL on his whatsapp number:+2349031111198 or emai him on droralherbalhome@gmail.com so be a mother now
I would like to share my personal experience in this field. Some time ago I was ready to give everything for the opportunity to become a mother. Biologically I am now my baby mother. I have no eggs and due to cancer and I lost my uterus. I had no variants. Since I am from Hungary surrogacy is illegal here. We started looking for variants abroad, here a cost varies greatly. After reviewing a large number of clinics, we contacted native iyabasira native clinic They offered an ‘all inclusive’ package that we were very happy with, as we were only focused on winning. And it is much cheaper than somewhere else and we were surprised with conditions and attitude to us. After 1.5 years we became parents. And it is priceless. this is mother iya herbs works, email info (redacted) In such cases her herbs is a real solution to become a happy mum.
Is there help for Combat Wounded Vets with ED. Maybe a little help would be appreciated there.
Ive heard rumors the anthrax vaccine causes infertility, anybody know if this is true or just a rumor?
I am 100% disabled veteran of the Gulf War. Our youngest daughter has been married for ten years and they have not conceived. Will you please send me all related information, references, referrals etc available so that I can share with them. They have exhausted all avenues of which they have knowledge.
I appreciate your favorable consideration of me request.
Sgt retired
Donna S. Bradford
(redacted)
Tuskegee, AL 36083
I had a miscarriage while on active duty that is well documented in my medical record. Why should I have to get married when I have 2 nieces under 25 that have a total of 6 kids all with different fathers???
My wife and I are going through fertility treatments, well my wife is and we are having to pay out of pocket the va will not cover a veterans spouse which is about 99% of who needs the help I am 100% rating it’s very cruel to post things like this getting veterans Hope’s up that they can receive help with having a child when they have been trying to have children for 6 plus years just to find out that really maybe 1 in 10,000 veterans can receive any help period with in veto fertilization
our son was 4 months old when I went overseas . our plan was to have 4 sons 2 daughters , which was common in our families . fortunately , we had our son, because I came back , with no chance of further children . serviced connected , no rating after 40 yrs . even though I do have ratings due to agent orange.
What if a single female veteran would like to have her own child and raise the child as a single mom, but is not service connected with “service-connected condition causing infertility” – will the VA even consider to assist with such request??
How does this help with reversal of tubal ligation?
Should be on your DD-214 Letter showing there is a service connection. If you are active duty thats all you need.
I am truly sorry ladies, I am a male Veteran who totally has a daughter having major issue getting pregnant. Her and her Husband have thought about this type of procedure but doesn’t Trust VA .
Don’t blame I was after 7 1/2 yrs of seeing the same Social Worker, and a wonderful one, who who was truly taking care of her Patients was basically forced to resign because see wasn’t just crossing her T’s and dotting those I’s but making sure the Veteran was taking care of. (100% PTSD with other deployment issues) I am sorry I don’t mean to take away from infertility , I pray for you all and hope one day your wish for a child comes true. God Bless all couples, singles or partners with this issue.
How about erectile dysfunction
A “service-connected condition causing infertility” is overwhelmingly rare and difficult to prove. To have the heading, “VA infertility services can help Veterans and their families”, sent to mailboxes of veterans with non-service connected infertility (which is closer to 99.9% of cases), it’s actually very cruel and tasteless click bait. If your truly cared about the 12% of women affected by infertility, you would expand coverage so they could actually be treated.
Also, this site is not called “RallyPoint” as the email conveys. RallyPoint.com has nothing to do with the VA.
I agree! I was so excited as a USMC wife to read this and have just a glimpse of hope…only to have it removed after 10 seconds. This is cruel! Especially for all of us out there that know we can’t have kids without help. I’m so upset by this, but at the same time shouldn’t be surprised. Just another let down from our government.
I actually have a service connected infertility condition. It was service connected because I developed ovarian cancer while active duty, and the doctors were negligent and ignored my complaints of wildly erratic and painful cycles. After I separated, the tumor grew to the size of a grapefruit and flipped on the Fallopian tube, requiring immediate removal of the whole ovary. I’d probably still have half of my right ovary, if the military doctors hadn’t just shoved me to the side by saying, “Oh you’re young, this is normal and fine.” Although having only one ovary doesn’t necessarily make someone infertile, the chances of infertility are much higher. And in my case, could’ve been mitigated, if not prevented.
I have endometriosis and was medically retired for it. Im 100%. Remember lady vets, whatever happens to tou while your on active duty the military has to compensate you for that. Its up to you to file a claim, which can be a very lengthy process but well,well worth it. Another suggestion is get stationed in Tx bcuz Wilford hall does do invitro, gastric bypass, breast implants etc. But the last time i checked in 2005 it was a 2 yr wait, not too mention you have to be cleared thru mental health. Good luck ladies
Yes I agree this is like some bait and click thing it’s really kind of cool actually they need to be more up front because you’re right how many veterans have a service connected disability that causes infertility very very rare I can’t say that’s really helping “veterans”
Service connected for infertility. Started through the process… big disappointment. We ended up paying out of pocket and now we have our son.
I actually have a service connected infertility condition. It was service connected because I developed ovarian cancer while active duty, and the doctors were negligent and ignored my complaints of wildly erratic and painful cycles. After I separated, the tumor grew to the size of a grapefruit and flipped on the Fallopian tube, requiring immediate removal of the whole ovary. I’d probably still have half of my right ovary, if the military doctors hadn’t just shoved me to the side by saying, “Oh you’re young, this is normal and fine.” Although having only one ovary doesn’t necessarily make someone infertile, the chances of infertility are much higher. And in my case, could’ve been mitigated, if not prevented.
Will VA cover IVF for service connected erectile dysfunction?
Will VA cover IVF for service connected erectile dysfunction?
i want to know where all this “ help” was wen i came back from the desert… an my marriage disintegrated slowly afterward??
Excellent information! All of these procedures and tests are very expensive. Vasectomy reversal alone is approximately $7500 by civilian doctors. When military life interferes with your personal life and results in fertility issues due to stress, deployments, getting older in reproductive age then the military certainly should cover these services and help veterans and their spouses have a family when they are ready. We gave up enough already.
I’d like to know how tubal ligation or a vasectomy is a service connected condition? Are you saying that if the Air Force performed the procedure, you’ll cover the reversal? How does a vasectomy qualify for this?
How does this help families if the spouse is the one with condition? This will help probably .05% of that 12% of women and won’t help any male vets if the wife has the issue.
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This might help a half dozen couples only. Not even worth writing an article on this. Disappointing.
Agreed
How does one provide service connected infertility? I’m a bit confused!
I actually have a service connected infertility condition. It was service connected because I developed ovarian cancer while active duty, and the doctors were negligent and ignored my complaints of wildly erratic and painful cycles. After I separated, the tumor grew to the size of a grapefruit and flipped on the Fallopian tube, requiring immediate removal of the whole ovary. I’d probably still have half of my right ovary, if the military doctors hadn’t just shoved me to the side by saying, “Oh you’re young, this is normal and fine.” Although having only one ovary doesn’t necessarily make someone infertile, the chances of infertility are much higher. And in my case, could’ve been mitigated, if not prevented.
I actually have a service connected infertility condition. It was service connected because I developed ovarian cancer while active duty, and the doctors were negligent and ignored my complaints of wildly erratic and painful cycles. After I separated, the tumor grew to the size of a grapefruit and flipped on the Fallopian tube, requiring immediate removal of the whole ovary. I’d probably still have half of my right ovary, if the military doctors hadn’t just shoved me to the side by saying, “Oh you’re young, this is normal and fine.” Although having only one ovary doesn’t necessarily make someone infertile, the chances of infertility are much higher. And in my case, could’ve been mitigated, if not prevented.
There are more cases of service connection than one would think.