Black, Indigenous, & People of Color (BIPOC) and IVF

 

The Facts

  • Black women are 3-4x more likely to die from pregnancy related causes than White women.

  • Black infants have 2.3x the infant mortality rate compared to White babies and are 3.8 times as likely to die from complications related to low birth weight.

  • Black women over the age of 30 are 4-5x more likely to lose their baby than their White counterparts.

The Details

  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that Black, American Indian, and Alaska Native (AI/AN) women are 2 to 3 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than White women – and this disparity increases with age.

    • Economically disadvantaged Black women are more likely to live in communities that have fewer educational resources and employment opportunities, and are more likely to have limited access to health care services, adequate food, transportation, and housing.

    • Maternal mortality and injury rates are higher for Black females, irrespective of income or education level.

    • Black women experience disparities in infertility rates, stigmatization, and access to fertility care.

    • Despite Black women having higher infertility rates than White women, Black women are less likely than White women to access fertility care, and they are also less likely to have a successful IVF cycle.

      • A study looking at Society of Assisted Reproductive Technology data found that even after controlling for confounding factors, the black race was an independent risk factor for not achieving a live birth.

    • Underrepresentation in research

      • Health conditions that disproportionately impact Black women, such as uterine fibroids, receive very little government research funding.

      • Black women are underrepresented in clinical trials that require consent and are overrepresented in studies that do not.

      • Black women are significantly underrepresented in key biomedical research datasets, including genomic data repositories and related analyses.

    Sources:

    Endometriosis Foundation of America

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

    Fertility Sterility

  • Let’s FIGHT for a Better World. Here are the things we all can do today:

    1. Anti-racism and implicit bias training must be made mandatory for healthcare professionals (e.g., physicians, nurses, midwives, pharmacist) working with BIPOC mothers. Though the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ (ACOG) commitment is a good start, pushing for anti-racism and implicit bias training to be a required curriculum for healthcare professionals is what will drive change

    2. Data about health outcomes for BIPOC mothers should be transparent, standardized, tracked, and reported in every healthcare institution

    3. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should evaluate and update their policies to address the underlying reasons for low clinical trial and voluntary research participation by BIPOC women

    4. There is a need for policies that exert pressure on government funding bodies like the NIH to dedicate more research funding for conditions that disproportionately impact BIPOC women

    5. As the world advances toward precision medicine, BIPOC women should not continue to be left behind. It is imperative that stakeholders focusing on precision medicine pledge to put BIPOC women at the forefront of this advancement

    6. Join Birth Justice in this movement for change.

    7. Join the #Momnibus!

    Source: Endometriosis Foundation of America

  • The most important thing you can do to empower your journey to parenthood is be your own best advocate. Here’s how:

    1. Build your team early. Do not wait to discuss your fertility with your primary care provider, to seek help from a fertility specialist, and find providers you are comfortable with. Do not be afraid to switch providers if you feel your voice is not being heard, if you feel you are not being listened to.

    2. Come prepared with questions to ask. We have created a list of questions for you here. Another great resource to save, print, and bring to your appointment is this list.

    3. Take notes and document everything. It can help to bring a trusted friend or family member with you for support and to ensure that your concerns are addressed, questions are answered, and that your care plan is well documented.

    4. Ask for documentation and keep a copy of your records across doctors and facilities. Speak up. You know your body best.

    5. Get a second opinion. If a provider refuses treatment or test you think is appropriate, ask them to document their refusal including specifics, and get a second opinion.

    6. Find a community. You do not have to navigate this alone. Going through this with others in a similar situation may help you during this time. Here are some incredible groups and resources:

 

Last Reviewed: September 21, 2023

Last updated: 1/30/2022