A new World Health Organization (WHO) report reveals that infertility affects about 17.5% of the adult population worldwide—roughly 1 in 6 people. This underscores the urgent need for increased access to affordable, high-quality fertility care.
The report shows that infertility is a global health challenge, with similar prevalence rates across high-, middle-, and low-income countries. In high-income nations, 17.8% of adults experience infertility, while the rate is slightly lower in low- and middle-income countries at 16.5%.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that infertility affects people regardless of their income or region. He stressed the importance of improving access to fertility care and ensuring that this issue is given more attention in health policies and research.
Infertility, defined as the inability to conceive after 12 months of regular unprotected sex, can cause significant emotional, social, and financial strain. Despite the widespread impact, many people lack access to solutions, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), due to high costs, stigma, and limited availability.
Currently, fertility treatments are mainly paid for out of pocket, with those in poorer countries bearing the heaviest financial burden. In many cases, the cost of treatment forces individuals and families into poverty.
Dr. Pascale Allotey, WHO’s Director of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, called for better policies and public funding to improve access to fertility care and protect vulnerable populations from financial ruin.
The report also highlights the need for better data on infertility. There is a lack of national statistics in many regions, making it difficult to understand who needs fertility care and how risks can be reduced. WHO urges more research and data collection to guide future health interventions.
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