The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) is not a government agency. It is actually a voluntary membership non-profit organization. The goal of the organization is to promote patient care, research and knowledge in all areas of reproductive medicine. These areas include infertility, contraception (birth control), sexuality and menopause. Rules related to gender selection procedures performed by health professionals are generated by this organization.

The ASRM was founded in 1994 by a small group of fertility experts in Chicago. It is now head quartered in Birmingham Alabama. Members come from all 50 states and several foreign countries. They include not only OB-GYN’s and reproductive endocrinologists, but pediatricians, nurses, lab technicians, veterinarians and more. Since its inception, the Society has led the way in the field of reproductive medicine. Members have developed the technologically advanced treatments used today, including IVF and donor insemination. Policies are written by an elected Board of Directors.The Society provides education to physicians and other medical providers. Doctors can earn CME’s (continuing medical education credits) by attending programs run by the ASRM.

In addition to programs for physician education, the ASRM also provides patient education and advocacy. The members have helped develop reproductive rights legislation .It publishes the peer-reviewed medical journal, Fertility and Sterility, for healthcare providers, as well as two newsletters, ASRM News and Menopausal Medicine.
ASRM is very dedicated to patient education. It provides a series of booklets and fact sheets written to help patients understand the complicated processes involved with reproductive medicine, including information about diagnosis and treatment options.

If you are interested in gender selection through artificial means, then the ethics policies provided by the ASRM should be reviewed. The ethics committee at the ASRM writes the ethical guidelines that physicians follow when treating people for reproductive issues. While not mandatory, almost all highly qualified and respected physicians abide by the guidelines. Gender selection for non-medical reasons is not prohibited by these guidelines.