02/25/2026
More than 15% of American women ages 25–49 experience difficulty getting pregnant. But the burden is not shared equally.
Black women are nearly twice as likely to experience infertility compared to white women. Yet a 2013 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that while many women need care, Black women are half as likely as white women to seek infertility treatment.
The gap is also seen in advanced care. In a study of more than 80,000 assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles, 85.4% of patients were white women, while only 4.6% were Black women.
What contributes to racial disparities in fertility care?
👉🏾 Black women are less likely to seek fertility treatment
👉🏾 Black women may wait longer before seeking care
👉🏾 Black women may experience worse outcomes when using donor eggs
👉🏾 Some Black women report their physician does not understand their cultural background
Plus, new CDC data revealed that first-trimester care dropped from 69.7% in 2021 to 65.1% in 2024 for Black mothers.
What can help close the gap?
💪🏾 Expand access to infertility services at public health clinics, especially for underserved communities
💪🏾 Improve training and cultural competency for public health and fertility providers
Awareness matters. Access matters. Representation matters.
🙌🏾 Let’s keep using our voices to strengthen education and connection and support those who want to enter healthcare and reproductive medicine.
We are stronger when care is equitable and when everyone has a path to building their family.
