Posted January 30, 2025 in Fertility Blog & Information
14 minute read

Key Takeaways
- Fertility preservation is a preventive measure to safeguard reproductive health. This is particularly crucial for military members who face distinct hazards while serving and deploying.
- Knowledge of eligibility and military healthcare policies are key. This information empowers service members to utilize fertility preservation services and make informed reproductive choices.
- As deployment and combat can affect physical and mental health, possibly diminishing fertility, early planning for preservation is advantageous.
- Military personnel can discover more adaptable family planning solutions with several military sperm and egg fertility preservation methods. These approaches recognize that people’s journeys and timelines are not the same.
- Navigating military healthcare for fertility services requires awareness of available resources and benefits, ensuring service members receive necessary support and coverage.
- Counseling services, along with workshops, offer crucial information and emotional support for military members who are thinking about fertility preservation.
Fertility preservation for military deployment is a new, emerging field and active duty personnel face unique challenges. In addition, military personnel are frequently faced with long, unaccompanied deployments, which may play a role in family planning choices.
Freezing eggs or sperm offers a straightforward remedy. It allows people to focus on military service to our country while not giving up on building a family someday. The process of fertility preservation consists of retrieving and cryopreserving reproductive cells for future use, giving individuals and couples flexibility and peace of mind.
Such accessible options for fertility preservation are incredibly important for those who are active duty. They ensure that individuals of reproductive age can begin or expand their families when they choose to.
Understanding the options and benefits available can empower military personnel to make informed choices about their reproductive futures, aligning personal goals with professional commitments.
What is Fertility Preservation?
Definition of Fertility Preservation
Fertility preservation refers to procedures that can help you save your reproductive cells or tissue to use in the future. Techniques such as cryopreservation are essential, allowing you to store sperm, eggs, embryos, and tissues safely for decades.
This process is bolstered by cutting-edge reproductive technology, protecting your future family with biological children, should you choose them, down the road. Realizing this is a proactive health measure, particularly for young people who may encounter life situations that impact their fertility.
For instance, transgender and non-binary people who want to start hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are dramatically served by having their fertility preserved.
Importance for Military Personnel
Military service brings unique challenges, including increased risks to reproductive health. In addition to the effects of combat-related injuries on fertility, more than 1,800 service members have suffered injuries affecting their fertility in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2003.
Having fertility preservation means you have the peace of mind that you have options for building your family in the future. It’s a smart, cost-saving investment to prevent the need for later, prohibitively expensive infertility treatments.
Private companies such as ReproTech provide discounted storage for active-duty personnel, and financial assistance is available through programs such as Verna’s Purse. Fertility preservation gives you the flexibility and freedom to choose how and when you use your frozen eggs or embryos.
With successful pregnancies from specimens frozen more than 20 years, your future plans remain in focus.
Why Consider Fertility Preservation?
Impact of Deployment on Fertility
Military service can introduce unique challenges that impact fertility. Deployments frequently result in exposure to physical and psychological stress, both of which are well documented to take a toll on reproductive health. Living and working in high-stress environments can push the body’s hormonal balance out of alignment, which can put fertility at risk.
When you layer on combat exposure, the risks compound, harming long-term reproductive capabilities. Timing is everything, and military deployments can often disrupt these family planning goals. If you are looking to start a family, these interruptions can push back or further complicate plans.
Psychological Benefits of Preservation
Preserving fertility through elective fertility preservation gives active duty military personnel that little bit of reassurance. Understanding your available options for future family planning, such as sperm freezing, can alleviate some of the anxiety from the unknown. This emotional safety net provides you with freedom and security.
It ensures that, even in the volatile landscape of military life, your reproductive health services remain intact. Mental health is important, particularly when managing the challenges of military service. Fertility preservation counseling provides options and reassurance.
It frees you to focus on your current obligations without the constant fear of unintended pregnancy issues down the road.
Long-term Family Planning
Thinking ahead is essential. Fertility preservation is an important step toward supporting diverse family structures and timelines with different paths and choices. It’s about imagining your future after leaving active duty, and making sure your journey to start a family is not closed off.
When you proactively think about fertility at the beginning of your career, you create a strong base for what’s to come. This proactive approach provides flexibility, enabling your aspirations for family-building to fit seamlessly with your evolving personal and professional lives.
Eligibility Criteria for Military Personnel
Understanding the eligibility criteria for fertility preservation is key. As a rule, service members need to fulfill certain criteria, including having a medical issue affecting their fertility. The Department of Defense (DoD) requires that injuries or illness be rated as “Category II” or “Category III.
These designations indicate that a medical separation is imminent. The person’s inability to procreate must be absolute without ART. Policies should include unmarried service members and service members who are pursuing donated eggs or sperm.
These donations have to be secured at the member’s expense. The DoD will cover shared costs of cryopreservation and storage until the end of military service.
Who Qualifies for Preservation Services?
Eligibility includes members of all categories of the active and reserve components of the armed forces. Active duty members are usually given first priority, particularly those with imminent deployment orders.
Deployment status factors heavily, as members slated for overseas deployments are often ineligible. Marital status, in turn, has an impact on access. Married service members benefit from expedited access to some services.
Conversely, unmarried members have more stringent requirements, but recent policy changes have allowed for increased support for unmarried members.
Understanding Military Healthcare Policies
Military healthcare policies influence the availability and accessibility of fertility services. Active duty members usually enjoy full-scope coverage, but reserve personnel may be restricted.
The DoD strongly favors treatment in military hospitals, though private-sector treatment through Tricare is available. Policies are always changing, so it’s important to be aware of the changes that impact reproductive health.
Some states only cover a fixed number of ART attempts, like six egg retrievals and three IVF cycles. Only a small fraction, about 1%, experience infertility due to service, underscoring the importance of understanding available benefits.
Fertility Preservation Options
For active duty military personnel who are preparing for deployment, elective fertility preservation becomes an important option as well. Thanks to advancements in reproductive healthcare technology, there are more ways than ever to preserve fertility. Service members have a variety of fertility treatments to consider, tailored to their distinct reproductive healthcare needs, ensuring they make informed decisions about their reproductive futures.
1. Sperm Cryopreservation
Sperm cryopreservation therapy provides a timely and efficient approach to male fertility preservation. The process of sperm collection and freezing is quick and can be done with very little interruption to a young man’s life. For servicemen, sperm banking provides peace of mind before deployment. This ensures they have viable options for starting a family later.
Additionally, military healthcare easily streamlines access to these services. This makes it a more attainable option for many.
2. Egg Freezing
Egg freezing, a vital part of elective fertility preservation, involves removing a woman’s eggs, freezing, and storing them for future use. This option is particularly beneficial for women who are not in a committed relationship or wish to postpone pregnancy. The outpatient procedure has a quick timeline, making it a convenient choice for many women.
3. Embryo Freezing
Embryo freezing, or embryo cryopreservation, is integrated into the IVF process. It provides a strong solution to fertility preservation needs and family planning decisions. This option carries high success rates for achieving future pregnancies.
For those in a couple, this option enables thoughtful reproductive planning and long-term reproductive flexibility.
4. Ovarian Tissue Freezing
Ovarian tissue freezing is an experimental technique in reproductive health services, offering a promising option for women facing medical treatments that may impair their fertility. Despite its experimental status, the potential benefits of this fertility preservation method make it appealing among reproductive healthcare options.
5. Testicular Tissue Freezing
Testicular tissue freezing as a fertility preservation option is feasible for prepubertal males at risk of infertility, particularly for active duty military personnel receiving medical treatments. This approach is vital for ensuring reproductive health outcomes and allows for reproductive options down the line.

How to Access Fertility Preservation Services
Fertility preservation counseling prior to military deployment is an important option for many active duty military personnel. Here’s how you can maximize access to these reproductive health services.
Steps to Initiate the Process
- Begin with a fertility specialist. This means having a conversation about your personal goals and figuring out what options are best for you.
- Knowing what to expect is key, so be sure to familiarize yourself with the process of egg or sperm freezing. At consultations, ask all the questions you need to be sure.
- This helps you to take the best next steps for your fertility preservation journey.
Navigating Military Healthcare Programs
Accessing elective fertility preservation services through military healthcare can be intimidating, but with some planning, it is achievable.
- Learn the ins-and-outs of military healthcare benefits to find fertility preservation services. There are resources to assist you in understanding what is covered.
- Military treatment facilities should be able to provide guidance and support. They are uniquely positioned to help get you started, guide you through the process, and share helpful resources.
Finding Approved Providers
- Search for TRICARE- or CHAMPVA-approved fertility preservation providers within military health care networks. This helps ensures that the services you receive are consistent with military healthcare quality standards.
- Choose providers experienced in handling military healthcare needs. Their experience can help you navigate the available options and ultimately improve your preservation process.
- Seek referrals from friends, family, or other healthcare professionals. This can help point you to trusted, reliable options.
Managing Benefits and Coverage
Understanding Military Health Insurance
Military health insurance is crucial for accessing fertility preservation services, particularly through TRICARE. These services align with known reproductive health needs, and the plan coverage is comprehensive, covering all types of procedures.
Service members should be sure to read the specific details of whatever policy they have. The Department of Defense (DoD) prefers that those treatments be done at military hospitals, such as Walter Reed or Naval Medical Center San Diego.
Private sector TRICARE network providers are also an alternative. Due to policy changes coming in 2024, unmarried service members and those requiring donated eggs or sperm are now eligible for benefits.
Coverage for Preservation Procedures
Military health insurance covers many common fertility preservation procedures, but it does have some major limitations. For instance, the DoD reimburses up to six egg retrievals and three IVF cycles.
Although donated gametes or embryos are permitted, they may only be obtained at the service member’s cost. Pre-authorization is important to secure coverage for these procedures.
Surrogates enrolled in TRICARE may participate, although payment is limited unless a travel waiver is issued.
Reimbursement and Out-of-pocket Costs
Understanding how much they will have to pay out of pocket and how reimbursement will work is key for service members. They will need to keep detailed records of expenses, as timing is crucial in fertility treatments and could result in a lack of coverage.
The DoD cost-shares gamete storage, so members must be prepared to shoulder some costs. It’s also important for them to find efficiencies to avoid incurring significant member costs.
Additional Resources and Support
When exploring elective fertility preservation for military deployment, the following reproductive health services can help. Here are some options to explore.
- Military health facilities offering fertility preservation services
- Online forums and communities for military families
- Educational webinars and seminars on reproductive health
- Access to military family life counselors
Counseling and Support Services
Available counseling services address the unique reproductive health needs of military personnel. These services offer emotional support, aiding in the management of the stress and uncertainty that can often come with making decisions regarding fertility preservation options.
Expert advice makes it easier to navigate complicated choices, helping service members to know they’re supported every step of the way.
Educational Materials and Workshops
These educational materials provide detailed information on available fertility preservation options. These resources help service members and their families to stay informed and make the right choices.
Workshops specifically geared toward reproductive health and family planning provide an invaluable opportunity to hear about the most recent breakthroughs in fertility technology. Knowledge equals power.
Staying up-to-date is the best way to ensure your advocacy is impactful, timely, and effective.
Connecting with Support Groups
Support groups can provide a safe and open environment for military personnel to discuss experiences and available resources. Connecting with others from these communities offers a special bond and shared understanding that can only come from the unique challenges of military life.
Service members find validation from talking with peers who have or are undergoing the same reproductive health issues, creating a healing and understanding network.
Conclusion
Addressing fertility preservation allows military members to take proactive steps to protect their future with peace of mind. With such choices at hand, this experience lays the groundwork for a life where duty and dream go hand in hand. Access to these services means you’re not in this battle alone, with financial protection and support resources available. Being aware of your benefits and understanding who is eligible for what allows you to make the best decision possible.
Fertility preservation is more than a medical decision. It’s a personal journey. For people who want to take this step, there’s no better time to start discussing your options and achieving peace of mind. Connect with your creative community and tap into the network of support that’s out there for you. Follow our journey, learn, and tell us what empowered decisions you are making based on your needs and what you care about.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is fertility preservation for military deployment?
For those called to military service, elective fertility preservation plays a vital role in safeguarding reproductive potential before deployment. This approach addresses distinct reproductive healthcare needs, protecting against known or unknown hazards to reproductive health from military experiences.
Why is fertility preservation important for military personnel?
Military personnel face unique risks, including exposure to combat environments, which can impact their reproductive health outcomes. Elective fertility preservation ensures that despite these challenges, they retain the option for future conception.
Who is eligible for fertility preservation in the military?
Eligibility for reproductive health services is limited but includes active-duty military personnel who are being deployed. Speak with a healthcare provider to understand what specific criteria look like for you and your situation.
What are common fertility preservation options available?
These include sperm banking, egg freezing, and embryo freezing, which are essential components of elective fertility preservation, allowing clinicians to store reproductive tissues for future use.
How can military personnel access fertility preservation services?
If so, contact your healthcare provider or your military medical facility for reproductive health services. They can direct you to services and walk you through the needed procedures.
Are fertility preservation services covered by military benefits?
Needles and storage equipment for sperm freezing may be covered, but coverage would depend on your specific military health care benefits plan. Check your plan information or contact a SHIP benefits counselor for accurate details.
Where can I find additional support and resources?
Leverage existing military support networks and reproductive health services from health care providers. Seek advocacy and support on elective fertility preservation from entities such as the Department of Defense.