Ocasio-Cortez, who has historically been guarded about her private life, has been notably transparent in chronicling her fertility journey. Ocasio-Cortez has also been explicit about the exorbitant cost of this undertaking, with her insurance plan excluding coverage altogether. This is not the first time that fertility treatments have occupied the national discourse. American women are having babies later in life, such that 21% of births in 2023 were to people ages 35 or older. The good news is that there is broad public support for access to fertility treatments, with a 2024 Pew Forum survey showing 70% of respondents believe access to fertility treatments is a good thing, though there is wide variation based on abortion attitudes.