Competitive Pressures and Access to Infertility Treatments by Single Women

With the increase in fertility problems and delayed childbearing, demand for infertility treatments has been rising. Today, in-vitro fertilization (IVF) is the most successful infertility treatment but access to IVF is uneven due to its high costs and personal and religious attitudes. To meet rising demand for infertility treatments many markets saw an increased entry of infertility clinics. This study examines the relationship between competitive pressures and access to IVF in the United States by single women. We use US data from 1995 and 2014 to show that competitive pressures improve access to infertility treatments for single women across markets and over time. Overall, this study finds that competition among IVF clinics has a beneficial effect on access to IVF.