Most people trying to conceive want comprehensive fertility care that goes beyond IVF, including metabolic health support, men's health guidance, and less invasive treatment options. However, a significant gap exists between what patients desire and what healthcare providers are actually offering. A new survey of over 1,000 adults across the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, and Canada reveals this disconnect, showing that while people are eager for earlier guidance and multiple pathways to conception, these conversations rarely happen in clinical settings .

What Are People Actually Asking For in Fertility Care?

The research, titled "Beyond IVF: What People Really Want from Fertility Care," surveyed 1,010 adults who are currently trying to conceive, have tried in the past five years, or plan to try within the next five years. The findings paint a clear picture of patient preferences that differ significantly from current practice patterns .

When asked about their ideal fertility care journey, respondents expressed strong interest in several key areas:

• Metabolic Health Support: 84% of respondents said they would consider metabolic health support as part of their fertility care, recognizing the connection between metabolic factors and conception outcomes.
• Men's Health Guidance: 80% said they would consider men's health support, yet this remains largely absent from standard fertility consultations.
• Lower-Cost Alternatives: 83% of respondents said they would choose lower-cost options before pursuing IVF, and 89% of women specifically stated they would prefer to try less invasive options first if given clinical guidance.
• Earlier Education: 58% of respondents wished they had received fertility education earlier, rising to 70% among those currently on a fertility journey.

These preferences reveal a fundamental shift in how people want to approach family planning. Rather than defaulting immediately to in vitro fertilization (IVF), which involves extracting eggs, fertilizing them in a laboratory, and implanting embryos back into the uterus, patients want to explore foundational health improvements first .

Why Is IVF Awareness So High But Willingness So Low?

One of the most striking findings involves IVF itself. While awareness of IVF is nearly universal among survey respondents at 89%, willingness to pursue it is significantly lower at just 58%. This represents the largest gap between awareness and actual consideration of any fertility option studied .

The reasons for this resistance are straightforward: cost and invasiveness. When asked what would shift their fertility path, 78% of respondents said a better understanding of non-IVF options would make them more likely to pursue alternatives first. This suggests that many people aren't rejecting IVF outright; rather, they want to exhaust other possibilities before turning to such an intensive and expensive treatment .

"People are telling us exactly what they want: earlier guidance, more options, and care that doesn't default to the most invasive treatment first. The gap between that demand and what the system currently delivers is not subtle, and it is not inevitable. Clinicians want to offer comprehensive care. They need benefit structures and care pathways that make room for it," said Tammy Sun, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Carrot.

Tammy Sun, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Carrot

The Metabolic Health and Men's Health Disconnect

Perhaps the most revealing gap in current fertility care involves metabolic and men's health support. Despite 84% of respondents expressing interest in metabolic health support and 80% interested in men's health support, fewer than half have actually discussed these topics with a healthcare provider. Only 44% reported discussing metabolic health with a provider, and just 43% discussed men's health .

This disconnect is particularly significant because metabolic factors directly influence fertility outcomes. Metabolic health encompasses how your body processes energy, manages blood sugar, and maintains hormonal balance, all of which affect reproductive function. Yet in most fertility clinics, these foundational health factors are rarely addressed in a structured, ongoing way .

"These findings confirm what many of us in the field have long observed: factors like metabolic health, nutrition, and lifestyle are central to fertility outcomes yet rarely addressed in a structured, ongoing way. In this report, 84% of people recognize the link between metabolic health and fertility, underscoring the need for care models that integrate evidence-based guidance and longitudinal follow-up into the fertility journey," explained Asima Ahmad, Chief Medical Officer at Carrot Fertility.

Asima Ahmad, Chief Medical Officer at Carrot Fertility

How to Advocate for Comprehensive Fertility Care

If you're navigating your own fertility journey, the research suggests several actionable steps to ensure you receive the comprehensive care you deserve:

• Ask About Metabolic Health: During your fertility consultation, specifically ask your provider about metabolic health assessment, nutrition guidance, and lifestyle modifications that could improve your fertility outcomes before pursuing more invasive treatments.
• Request Men's Health Evaluation: If you have a partner, ask whether they can receive a comprehensive men's health evaluation as part of your fertility care plan, including assessment of lifestyle factors that affect sperm health.
• Seek Education Early: Don't wait until you've been trying to conceive for months or years to learn about your options. Request educational resources about fertility pathways, non-IVF treatments, and preconception health during your initial consultation.
• Discuss Treatment Sequencing: Have an explicit conversation with your provider about the order in which different treatments will be considered, ensuring that less invasive and lower-cost options are explored before moving to IVF.

Why This Matters for Employers and Insurers

The research also reveals important implications for workplace benefits and insurance coverage. Among respondents, 80% said they would be more likely to stay with an employer offering comprehensive fertility coverage, and 83% said the same about their health insurer. This suggests that expanding access to a broader range of fertility pathways could improve employee retention and satisfaction .

Additionally, 84% of respondents said that access to multiple fertility options would make them feel more confident in their decisions, the most widely endorsed statement in the entire survey. This confidence boost could translate to better health outcomes and more informed decision-making throughout the fertility journey .

The Timing Problem: Why Fertility Education Comes Too Late

Nearly half of all respondents, 49%, said they first learned about fertility options only after beginning to try to conceive or after encountering fertility challenges. This late-stage education means many people miss opportunities to optimize their health before conception attempts begin .

The implications are significant. Preconception health, which includes metabolic optimization, nutritional status, lifestyle factors, and stress management, can meaningfully influence fertility outcomes. When education arrives only after conception attempts have begun, patients have already lost months or years of opportunity to address these foundational factors. This timing gap suggests a need for earlier, broader fertility education that reaches people before they actively begin trying to conceive .

The research makes clear that the current fertility care system is not meeting patient needs. While clinicians may want to offer comprehensive care, the benefit structures and care pathways in place often don't support this approach. Closing the gap between what patients want and what they receive will require systemic changes in how fertility care is organized, funded, and delivered. For now, patients navigating their own fertility journeys should advocate for the comprehensive, multi-option approach that research shows they prefer.