WHO urges nations to make infertility services equitable and accessible

Infertility, long treated as a private struggle and an expensive medical battle, is now firmly on the global public-health agenda. The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its first-ever global guideline on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infertility, a step aimed at making fertility care safer, fairer and within reach for millions who currently face stigma, delays or unaffordable treatment.

The WHO defines infertility as the “failure to achieve pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse.” It affects about one in six people of reproductive age, and an estimated 17.5 per cent of people experience infertility at some point in their lives, underscoring how widespread the issue is.

“Infertility is one of the most overlooked public health challenges of our time and a major equity issue globally,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Millions face this journey alone — priced out of care, pushed toward unproven treatments, or forced to choose between their hopes of having children and their financial security,” he added.

Beyond the medical struggle, infertility carries a deep emotional and social burden. Individuals and couples often face stigma, isolation and anxiety. Women are particularly vulnerable, with 36 per cent of those experiencing infertility exposed to intimate partner violence annually.

The cost of fertility care adds significant pressure. In many settings, treatments are paid privately, and a single IVF cycle can exceed the average annual household income, pushing families into debt or stopping treatment altogether.