West Alabama Women's Center

PAT DUGGINS-- If I were to say, ‘man, have you seen the price of eggs these days?’ You're probably thinking, Oh, he's talking about inflation and the price of groceries and how it became an issue in the presidential race and how nothing has changed, and so on and so on. That's not what I mean. I'm not talking about the kinds of eggs that build omelets. I mean the kinds of eggs that build families.

The premiere episode of "APR Notebook" looks into the "darker side of infertility." News Director Pat Duggins talks with University of Alabama professor Diane Tober about her book "Eggonomics." It's about the "wild west" atmosphere in the U.S. between wealthy infertile couples and young women who donate their human eggs at a price. It's a story of money, racism, and often—unintended consequences.

It looks like the subject of invitro fertilization will figure prominently in Alabama's election in 2026 an attorney who specializes in helping infertile couples through IVF wants to be on the Alabama Supreme Court and a former high court and a former High Court Justice who helped write Alabama's controversial frozen embryos are children. Ruling wants to be attorney general. That's why I wanted to talk with University of Alabama Professor Diane Tober. She wrote the book “Eggonomics.” It's about the darker side of infertility.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the United States saw its first jump in infant mortality in twenty years. Alabama is among nineteen states that a report for the CDC says saw its rate of infant death increase significantly

A federal judge in Arkansas ruled that Alabama and sixteen other states have no standing to challenge federal rules entitling workers to time off and other accommodations for abortions.

A ruling by Alabama’s Supreme Court is prompting action in Congress. U.S. Senator Katie Britt is co-sponsoring a bill that would protect invitro fertilization clinics.

Democrats in both Alabama and Florida are looking to the possible political blowback from conservative actions like the Sunshine State’s new six week abortion that takes effect starting in May. There's also the ongoing headaches from an Alabama Supreme Court ruling that frozen embryos are children. Activists in both States think reproductive rights could be a rallying cry during the November election

A growing number of progressive politicians are choosing to tell their own abortion stories. The list includes newly elected Alabama State House member Marilyn Lands, who won a special election by focusing on reproductive rights.

When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, Republicans insisted the ruling would mostly impact those seeking abortions to end unwanted pregnancies. But that hasn't been the case. Women who never intended to end their pregnancies have nearly died because they couldn't get emergency treatment. Miscarriage care has been delayed. Routine reproductive medical care has dried up in states with strict abortion bans. And fertility treatments were temporarily paused in Alabama. As the fallout grows, so apparently does the opportunity for Democrats.

Former President Donald Trump said he believes abortion limits should be left to the states, outlining his position in a video in which he declined to endorse a national ban after months of mixed messages and speculation. Here in Alabama, its abortion law makes performing the procedure a felony with up to ninety nine years in prison for the provider. There’s an exception when there is a serious health risk to the mother.