Walz Can't Tell His IVF from His IUI—Oh, the Embryonic Irony!

Woke Warrior Governor Claps Back at IVF Ignorance

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is not mincing words when it comes to his family's fertility struggles, and he's been on a mission to call out Republicans—especially Sen. JD Vance—for allegedly wanting to shut down in vitro fertilization (IVF).

IVF: The Latest Political Battleground

In February, the Alabama Supreme Court turned frozen embryos into people, making their destruction a liability. This, of course, set off alarm bells among reproductive rights advocates who worry that Republican states will pounce on IVF next.

Walz has been vocal about his family's fertility challenges. In speeches, he often hints at the use of IVF, but let's get one thing straight: he and his wife actually used a different treatment called intrauterine insemination (IUI), which is basically a precursor to IVF.

The Great IVF vs. IUI Mix-Up

• In a July interview on MSNBC, Walz said, "Today's IVF day. Thank God for IVF, my wife and I have two beautiful children."
• On the Aug. 9 "Pod Save America" podcast, he said, "If it was up to [Vance], I wouldn’t have a family because of IVF."
• The New York Times reported that Walz's campaign sent out fundraising letters claiming the couple used IVF.
• In his March State of the State speech, he called the Alabama decision an "attack on our family."

But Wait, There's More

Walz has also made statements that are a bit, shall we say, ambiguous.

• "Look, that includes IVF, and this gets personal for me and my family," he said in his first speech after being chosen as VP Harris's running mate.
• In speeches in Glendale, Detroit, and Eau Clarie, he discussed the personal nature of IVF and the couple’s fertility treatments.

Setting the Record Straight

In a Feb. 25 Facebook post, he mentioned "reproductive health care like IVF." And in a March X post, he talked about years of fertility treatments, naming their daughter "Hope."

The Fertility Experts Weigh In

Fertility doctors interviewed by PolitiFact say it's common for patients to confuse IVF and IUI. Dr. Eve Feinberg from Northwestern Medical Group said, "It's incredibly common," especially among male partners who "often find that male partners use the terms interchangeably."

Dr. Leah Roberts from Boca Fertility added, "Most people who are not OB-GYNs even, most people who are even physicians, or people in the general United States will often conflate the two."

The Political Fallout

After a Glamour article revealed that Gwen Walz had IUI treatments, Sen. JD Vance accused Tim Walz of lying about using IVF. In an X post, Vance wrote, "Who lies about something like that?"

Harris's campaign spokesperson Mia Ehrenberg fired back, stating that Walz "talks how normal people talk" and was "using commonly understood shorthand for fertility treatments."

The Bottom Line

Walz's emphasis on the importance of reproductive care, including IUI, should not be dismissed. Advocates warn that restricting IVF could limit IUI access, as they often take place in the same clinics.

So, let's give Walz a break and focus on the real issue: the GOP's relentless assault on reproductive rights. The fight for fertility treatments is a fight for all, and Walz is right to stand up for it—even if he mixes up his terms from time to time.