Beyond IVF: What people really want from fertility care

Most people on a fertility journey want comprehensive, lower-cost options before IVF, but the conversations that would connect them to those options aren't happening.

Carrot's new report draws on a survey of 1,010 adults across the U.S., U.K., Ireland, and Canada who are trying to get pregnant, have tried in the past five years, or plan to in the next five. The findings reveal a clear and consistent message: people want more options, earlier guidance, and care that doesn't default to the most invasive or costly treatment first.

Inside the report, you'll explore four gaps shaping today's fertility care experience:

• High awareness of IVF, high resistance to it. 89% of respondents are aware of IVF, but only 58% are willing to pursue it. 83% would choose lower-cost options first, and 89% of women would prefer to try a less invasive path before IVF if backed by clinical guidance.
• Strong interest in metabolic and men's health, but lacking clinical conversations. 84% would consider metabolic health support and 80% would consider men's health support, both exceeding interest in IVF. Yet fewer than half have discussed either with a provider.
• Fertility education comes too late. 49% first learned about their options only after starting to try or hitting challenges. 58% wish they'd been educated earlier, and that climbs to 70% among those currently on a fertility journey.
• Comprehensive support drives retention. 80% of respondents would be more likely to stay with an employer offering comprehensive fertility coverage, and 83% said the same of their health insurer.

Read the full report to see what people on fertility journeys are asking for, and how earlier, broader, more personalized care can close the gap between what people want and what the system delivers today.