In a significant setback for advocates of reproductive rights, Senate Republicans have successfully defeated a bill that sought to establish a federal right to in vitro fertilization (IVF). The legislation, known as the Right to IVF act, was brought to the Senate floor on Thursday by Democratic Senators Patty Murray of Washington state, Cory Booker of New Jersey, and Tammy Duckworth of Illinois.

The proposed bill aimed to override any state-level restrictions on IVF and make the treatment more affordable and accessible, particularly for US military service members and veterans. However, given the need for at least 60 votes to advance in the Senate, the bill was not expected to pass. Instead, Democrats saw it as an opportunity to compel Republicans to take a stand on a popular infertility treatment among Americans.

Last week, Democrats deployed a similar strategy by holding a vote on the Right to Contraception act, which also failed to advance. Senator Murray, highlighting the intention behind these votes, emphasized how the actions of Republicans contradicted their claims of supporting birth control and reproductive rights.

However, Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana denounced the Right to IVF bill, dismissing it as politically motivated and criticizing the lack of proper committee process. While IVF has faced opposition from some anti-abortion campaigners due to the creation of unused or surplus embryos, it has not been a focal point in the US abortion wars.

Nevertheless, anti-abortion activists have been gaining ground on the issue of IVF. In February, the Alabama state supreme court ruled that frozen embryos created through IVF are legally deemed "extrauterine children," aligning with the principles of fetal personhood. This ruling caused temporary shutdowns of IVF operations in Alabama, leading to national chaos and backlash.

The recent annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant group in the US with approximately 13 million members, further highlighted the growing opposition to IVF. The convention voted to condemn IVF, signaling a shift in the debate and suggesting that opposition to abortion now extends to opposition to IVF as well.

Despite the defeat of the Right to IVF bill, advocates of increased access to fertility treatments remain determined. Barbara Collura, president and CEO of Resolve: The National Infertility Association, expressed disappointment but affirmed their commitment to continue fighting for family building options and guaranteeing the availability of IVF in all states.

The political divide on reproductive rights and the pushback against IVF by conservative groups have turned IVF into a contentious issue within the broader reproductive rights debate. As the fight for access to fertility treatments persists, the battle over IVF continues to shape the landscape of reproductive rights in the United States.