A recent World Health Organization (WHO) report reveals that 17.5% of adults globally (approximately 1 in 6 people) experience infertility, underscoring the critical need to expand affordable, high-quality fertility care for those in need.
Key Findings: A Universal Health Challenge
Regional and economic parity: Infertility prevalence shows limited variation across regions, with comparable rates in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries. This highlights its status as a major health issue affecting all nations.
Human and societal impact: Infertility—a disease of the male or female reproductive system defined as inability to conceive after 1 year of unprotected sex—causes profound emotional distress, stigma, and financial hardship, impacting mental, social, and physical well-being.
Gaps in Care and Equity Concerns
Access barriers: Despite effective solutions (e.g., preventive measures, diagnostics, assisted reproductive technologies like IVF), funding for infertility care remains inadequate. High costs, social stigma, and limited availability prevent many from accessing treatment.
Financial burder: Most countries rely on out-of-pocket payments for fertility treatments, often leading to catastrophic expenses. People in low-income countries spend a larger proportion of their income on care compared to wealthier nations, risking poverty or debt from treatment-seeking.
Policy imperative: Strengthening public funding and policy frameworks could improve access and protect vulnerable families from financial ruin, as noted by Dr. Pascale Allotey, WHO Director of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research.
Data Gaps and Call to Action
While the report confirms the global scale of infertility, it also highlights persistent data shortages in many countries and regions. The WHO urges increased collection of national data on infertility by age and cause to:
Quantify the burden accurately,identify populations in need of care,develop targeted strategies to reduce risks.
WHO Leadership on Prioritizing Infertility
“Infertility discriminates against no one,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “The prevalence rates demand expanded access to fertility care and ensure this issue is no longer marginalized in health research and policy, so that safe, effective, and affordable options are available to all who seek them.”
The report serves as a rallying cry for global action to address infertility as a public health priority, ensuring no one is denied the right to reproductive health due to economic or systemic barriers.
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