Ep. 129: Is the RESTORE Act good for women?

In June 2024, a new bill was proposed called the RESTORE Act (or The Reproductive Empowerment and Support through Optimal Restoration Act). Politics aside, what does this bill say and could it be helpful for the real women facing reproductive health challenges in the United States? This episode reviews the goals of the bill and whether or not it could be helpful to women and couples. It wants to redefine the definition of infertility, change education for medical professionals, and study the impact of direct-to-women education. Are these helpful or hurtful? Let's explore together.

Here's a link to read the bill for yourself. 

NOTE: This episode does include terminology like intercourse and may not be appropriate for all audiences.

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Free Resources:
Advocating in the Dr.'s Office: Asking Good Questions

Other Episodes centered on Restorative Reproductive Medicine:
Ep. 31: The NaPro Difference, with Laura Ducote, F-NP, CFCP
Ep. 72: NaProTechnology, with Dr. Pakiz
Ep. 91: Ovarian Wedge Resection with Dr. Christine Hemphill
Ep. 119: Fertility Tests that shouldn't be skipped with Dr. Sarah Pederson

Transcript

Caitlin: 0:06

Welcome to the Woven Well Podcast. I'm your host, Caitlin Estes. I'm a certified fertility care practitioner with a master of divinity degree. Each episode will cover a topic that helps educate and empower you and your fertility while honoring the deep connection your fertility has with your faith. Let's get started. Welcome back to the Woven Well Podcast. I've been a part of some conversations recently about a proposed bill called the RESTORE Act, and I thought if I'm talking about it and I'm seeing others talk about it, you may be interested in knowing more about it as well. So for those who are not regular listeners of Woven Well, we focus a lot on natural fertility topics in ways to identify and heal underlying reproductive health issues. No one should have to live with endometriosis or PMS , for instance, when there are restorative treatments available for both. Well, there is now a bill being proposed called the RESTORE Act that touches on these very topics. The bill's designed to increase education, research, and resources for restorative reproductive medicine. Well, we talk a lot about restorative reproductive medicine here on the podcast because it's an approach that values the female body. These are medical professionals who seek to investigate the underlying causes of symptoms and then treat them at their root source. So not only does this offer women more answers and relief from reproductive health issues, it also treats them with the dignity and respect that they deserve. We at Woven Well, we are women of faith. We believe deeply that women are made in the image of God, just as all human beings are made in the image of God. And so therefore, even in the doctor's office, they deserve to be treated with respect and with dignity. So I'll be sure to link some of our other episodes we have regarding restorative reproductive medicine, and even a few interviews that we have with OBGYNs who practice this approach so that you can understand a little bit more in depth about what this is and why the approach is so different and why it's so beneficial. But how could this new act, this RESTORE act, make a difference for women like you and me? Could it actually benefit us in any specific way? Well, first, let me say that this is not a political podcast, not ever, not even this particular episode. So we don't talk about politics. I do not plan on starting today . So I'm not going to be talking about the leaders behind it, political parties involved, anything like that. Okay. I simply want to explain a little bit more about what this bill is and what potential it has to directly affect you . The name of the bill RESTORE stands for Reproductive Empowerment and Support through Optimal Restoration Act. I admit, I appreciate the name itself. I think it highlights the need for empowerment and support for women and couples seeking to restore their fertility and their reproductive health. And those who want to do that to optimal levels. More often than not, women don't feel very empowered when they begin that journey to diagnose reproductive issues. And even if they do get a diagnosis, restoration is not often the suggested approach. So I appreciate even the title because it is talking about the need for those things. For instance, I mentioned endometriosis a second ago. It takes an average of 10 years for a woman to be diagnosed with endometriosis. And even then, the common response is often to just get on the pill because it'll mask the symptoms of the growth of endometriosis. Whereas you could tell them to remove the endometriosis that's causing the pain and infertility and actually treat the root source of those symptoms. A restorative approach to reproductive health says that suppressing symptoms or bypassing problems isn't really enough. Women deserve better. Women deserve more. They deserve restoration, not suppression whenever it's possible, and I think women know it , that's proven by the way, by this podcast, which is for that exact demographic of women. Those women who are looking for answers and resources and feel like the status quo that they were given is not enough. So that's what this RESTORE Act is responding to. So the bill wants to expand and promote research and data collection on reproductive health conditions to provide training opportunities for medical professionals to learn how to diagnose and treat reproductive health conditions. And for a few other purposes, they acknowledge that infertility alone, which they say affects 15 to 16% of couples in the United States, are caused by underlying reproductive health conditions. And they give some examples things like endometriosis, PCOS, uterine fibroids or blocked fallopian tubes, and that the treatment to address infertility often involves treating multiple, like four or more conditions. That infertility is not just one thing, but it is multiple factors that contribute to it. Reproductive health is complex, and there has been such a gap in its research and funding over the years that too many couples are simply told they have unexplainable infertility and they're given no other answers. A restorative approach rejects that premise entirely . It takes the time to investigate , diagnose, and treat those underlying conditions to restore fertility as best as possible. So it's not promising that every woman or couple is can be cured, okay? But it is honoring their experience enough to seek answers and solutions. Keep in mind, this is not just for couples experiencing infertility, although that's certainly an important category, but this is for all women with reproductive health concerns. So this is for women experiencing hormonal acne and weight gain, mood swings, depression, painful periods, inflammation, heavy bleeding, irregular cycles, nerve pain, bowel upsets, pain during intercourse. This is all specifically mentioned in the bill. So how does the RESTORE Act want to go about it? Well, they want to start off by clarifying the definition of infertility, not as a diagnosis, but as a symptom of underlying diseases or conditions that create infertility. Yes, we have said this for years, but it's really exciting to see the possibility of the medical community at large accepting that definition. Why does that matter? Well , it matters because when infertility is a diagnosis, then there's not much that can be done. That's the end of the road. You know, well, you haven't conceived in a year of trying, well, you're infertile. We'll try this 1, 2, 3 thing. But the only thing we can do is try to get around it without really knowing why. If infertility is a symptom, then that means that investigation should and must continue to get to the cause of the symptom itself. So if you haven't conceived a year of trying, let's partner together to discover and address the reasons. Infertility as a symptom is the beginning of the journey to figure out what's going on. Infertility as a diagnosis is the end. Now, the bill specifically states that it wants to implement literature reviews for the standard of care for the diagnosis of infertility. I love this. What should the standard of care be for those who haven't conceived in a year? Is it possible that the first referral should not be to an IVF clinic, but instead to a restorative reproductive medical professional? Should women be offered the basic opportunity to learn to chart their cycles through fertility awareness methods so that they know they're having intercourse during their actual window fertility? I'll never forget the recent couple who was told to have intercourse every other day for a year and come back if they weren't pregnant. That is not good advice. These poor couples that it should not be the standard of care. So redefining the standard of care for those facing infertility could be huge . But also what about the women who have painful periods or irregular cycles or some other reproductive health struggle, but who aren't trying to conceive? Well, the bill addresses their care too. What is the standard of care for all women? Is suppressing symptoms with a pill really and truly the best and only option? Is it in the interest of the woman to take this class one carcinogen so that she will temporarily feel better? Or would the standard of care actually be identifying and treating the health condition so that she no longer has the symptoms at all and doesn't have to take dangerous medication in the process? These are questions worth asking, and the bill encourages the question both for them to be asked and to be studied. So they want reports every two to three years from organizations like the Department of Health and Human Services, the Center for Disease Control, the Office of Population Affairs, the Office of Women's Health. So one of the big things they want studies is the impact of fertility awareness education for women experiencing any sort of reproductive health concern. What kind of a difference does it make? How does this type of education change their health timelines and their health outcomes, their pregnancy timelines and their pregnancy outcomes? Ooh , I cannot wait. I cannot wait for that research because obviously this is what we do behind the scenes of Woven Well as Woven Natural Fertility Care. And we teach the Creighton model system, which is one of the leading methods of fertility appreciation, and it is extremely effective both for avoiding and for conceiving pregnancy. So to actually have that studied on a national and international level outside of just private studies that have been done is really exciting. So not only does the bill suggest that research specifically, but also a lot of funding for research funding for fertility awareness education, as well as studies into the impact of restorative reproductive care and further studies on how to actually restore more reproductive health concerns. So there's been a lot of research and study over the years by small independent groups who are focused on this restorative approach. What would happen if that increased exponentially? Imagine what some of the answers we could get to common questions and issues that women experience. So the bill is interested in answering questions about how cycle education in the hands of women could change their outcome . Also, specifically for young women. Could it change their lives? Could it impact their life and their outcomes to have this education earlier? Is it worth adding the education to the Department of Health and Human Services Teen Pregnancy Prevention program? I mean, these are good questions, and this is specifically what the bill has talked about and how it could impact young women specifically. Okay. What would women's healthcare look like if more, or maybe even all women's health providers were taught a restorative reproductive approach and taught about fertility awareness methods under the Reproductive Health National Training Center? Well, this bill wants to find out and they want to protect the providers who offer these options along the way. So this is a big overview of all the different things that it covers and the big picture goal of the bill. But what does this mean for you and me? What does this mean for the real life women of the United States? Well, potentially nothing. The bill may not pass, especially the current upheaval around IVF protection. It could be seen as a way to restrict IVF instead of simply a way to invest in women's health. Overall, I hope that doesn't happen. But it could also start the wheels of change on a much larger grander scale. For decades, there have been OBGYNs and other medical professionals working really hard, setting aside their own time and resources to dedicate their practice, their research, their mission to restorative reproductive health approaches. Modern evidence-based fertility awareness methods have continued to skyrocket and empower more and more women and couples every year. But bringing this to a national stage, I think has the potential to make some real improvements for women. First of all, it could change the insurance coverage for women's health. That is huge. So with new definitions for infertility and reproductive health conditions, more investigation and treatments would be covered as they become the new standard of care. This would be radical for women's healthcare . This would be a very practical benefit for every woman in the country. It could also increase access to fertility awareness methods. So for those of you who are currently practicing the Creighton method or some other form of fertility awareness, how often have you thought, why didn't I have this sooner? Or Why hadn't I ever heard of this? You know, what if that could change? What if young women were taught to understand their cycles and respect their bodies? What if women had the opportunity to be knowledgeable and empowered about their menstrual cycle and hormonal health? And what if insurance covered it? You know what else all this research and funding could do? It could actually get us better, quicker, more effective treatment for these reproductive health conditions. Maybe this larger scale support and funding could help restorative reproductive care be even more effective than it already is. Maybe we could even get to the root causes of conditions themselves. We've long wanted to know what actually causes endometriosis or what the reason is behind women who get PCOS versus those who don't. What if this research could lead us to those answers? I'm sure this bill is not perfect. I doubt there is a perfect bill. It may not pass. It may not make it, but I'm hopeful that it has started a larger conversation about what women deserve. It's not symptom suppressing. It's not the delayed care. It's not bypassing their problems for alternative solutions. It's real care and education and empowerment and restoration. These are the conversations worth having. And that's why I like the bill because it gives us a starting point for conversations with our political leaders . Sure. But also with our doctors and nurses and midwives, with our insurance providers, our medical institutions. Women deserve more. They deserve education and resources and real world solutions, and we are a part of making that happen. So if you want to call your representative and tell them you support the bill, go for it. But I encourage you to have the conversations about these topics with friends and family and medical professionals. Keep this conversation going. Share how this could benefit real women like yourself because you are worth it and we are worth it. And hey, if you're feeling inspired, you want to learn more about your menstrual cycle and health yourself, join us this month for an introductory session that goes over your anatomy and physiology, explaining how your body and your fertility work and how the Creighton model system can allow you to see it happening in real time. You can learn more about the restorative reproductive providers who are already out there working on behalf of women, and I'll be sure to have the registration link in the show notes for those who are interested in more. As always, thanks for listening As we continue to explore together what it means to be woven well.