The new frontier for reproductive health could be an opportunity for Republicans

A recent Alabama court decision involving whether a couple undergoing in vitro fertilization could sue a fertility clinic for negligently destroying embryos sparked contentious debates about assisted reproductive technology (ART). These debates led the U.S. Senate to bring up two expansive ART bills for a vote on unanimous consent. Republican senators blocked both bills.

While the moral and ethical questions on the merits of ART are worthwhile to consider, the introduction of this topic in Congress has also opened the door for a long-awaited discussion about women’s reproductive conditions and infertility more broadly.