The Air Force was committed to supporting members experiencing infertility

Infertility affects 1 in 5 women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and among Airmen and Guardsmen, about 17 percent reported seeking infertility treatments while serving, according to a survey of the Department of the Air Force in 2022.

According to Col. Larissa Weir, a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist and chief women’s health consultant to the Air Force Surgeon General, infertility can impact members’ quality of life and is related to DAF readiness and capability. to retain its members.

Family building is a key factor when it comes to the retention of women in all services, and we know that women leave because of issues related to family planning, Weir said. As with any other health condition, supporting infertility care and treatment is vital to their readiness and our ability to retain talented Airmen and Guardians.

The DAF Womens Initiative team actively addresses barriers affecting Air Force and Space Force women, including barriers affecting infertility treatments. A major accomplishment, the team worked with DAF leaders to update DAF Instruction 36-3003, which allows Airmen and Wardens to assume temporary permissive duty to obtain fertility treatments.

In 2022, thanks to WIT’s efforts, the DAF updated the instruction to allow temporary permissive duty for members to travel to any of the seven military bases where infertility services are available at a military treatment center, he said Weir. This update was soon followed by the Secretary of Defense’s policy of providing travel allowance to service members who had to travel outside their home area for non-covered treatment. Since these policy changes, we are seeing utilization of the two off-duty days and travel expenses for reproductive health services. I believe these policies are having a positive impact on our members’ ability to seek care.

As the policy explains, depending on the member’s situation, an Airman or guardian may choose either temporary permissive service or funded temporary duty to receive reproductive services.

The Womens Initiative Team, or WIT, is comprised of Airmen and Wardens who volunteer to advocate for a range of issues affecting women serving in the Air Force and Space Force. Volunteers include Lt. Col. Jessica Switzer, deputy staff judge advocate at the US Air Force Expeditionary Center, who is leading the effort to support reproductive health and infertility.

“I was motivated to join after my husband and I had been through a lot trying to get pregnant,” Switzer said. We were diagnosed with unexplained infertility and had to go through IVF. That’s when I realized that TRICARE only covered a fraction of the cost associated with treatment, and I was seeing young service members essentially taking out the equivalent of a car loan for something that may or may not work for them. Also, I had to move in the middle of treatment, which added challenges. Seeing all of this motivated me to join WIT and see what we can do to support other people suffering from infertility.

Switzer also highlighted the impact infertility has on mental health.

Infertility can be a roller coaster ride, Switzer said. Every month, every cycle, every attempt. Not only is it expensive, it’s also emotionally taxing. You see your friends have kids and you think you’re next. Then the next thing you know, they have their second or third child. Even though you are so happy for them, many women and families often suffer in silence.

WIT provides needed support and addresses the barriers that Switzer and many others often face when seeking infertility treatment. WIT is currently assessing the impact of relocation and deployments on those receiving infertility treatments.

These treatments often require multiple visits with a provider with whom they have established a plan. If a member is undergoing IVF treatment, something like a short-term deployment can throw off that whole plan, Weir said. We are therefore looking more closely at what can be done to address this barrier and ensure members can receive full treatment without interruption.

For Weir, advocating for policies that support women’s health is not just her job, but something she understands on a personal level, especially when it comes to infertility and seeking treatment.

My family was created through [in vitro fertilization], so I understand the challenges surrounding finding treatment and how easily it can eat up your time and resources, Weir said. I remember how challenging it was to navigate that care as an officer and OB-GYN, so I know how difficult navigating the world of infertility can be for most Airmen and Wardens. We are doing our best to remove barriers for those seeking treatment and make things as accessible as possible.

Understanding that seeking infertility treatment can be expensive, Weir encourages Airmen and guardians to connect with their provider to see what may be covered and what treatments are available at their home MTF.

TRICARE allows infertility evaluation and, in some cases, treatment if it’s related to an underlying cause, Weir said. For example, if there is an abnormality of the uterus or fallopian tubes, these can sometimes be treated surgically and may be covered by insurance. I encourage our members to talk to their providers to see what infertility support they can receive and what their options are.

Switzer echoed the same sentiment, encouraging Airmen and Wardens to stand up for themselves when receiving care.

I think a lot of people are left behind or paying out of pocket simply because they don’t know or understand how to advocate for themselves, Switzer said. TRICARE can cover the initial diagnosis and testing, and if your MTF can’t, they’ll refer you to a fertility specialist. While many fertility interventions are not covered, some aspects of treatment are, and I encourage everyone to talk to their provider.

For those who are motivated to support other members experiencing infertility, Switzer encourages them to join WIT and help provide support and make important policy changes to improve access to care.

We’re always looking for people to help, Switzer said. We have several lines of effort that touch on a range of issues, from flight standards to postpartum and childcare.

For those interested in joining WIT, more information is available on the WIT Air Force Portal page [https://www.my.af.mil/gcss-af/USAF/ep/globalTab.do?channelPageId=sC9710F91735E613101735E85027F0040] [Note: This site is restricted and requires a common access card; users without a common access card will receive a website error message].