Around 1 In 6 People Experience Infertility Globally, 'Urgent Need' To Increase Access To Fertility Care: WHO

The WHO has said that the fact that a large proportion of the world's population experiences infertility indicates an "urgent need" to increase access to fertility care for the people who need it.

Around one in six people worldwide are affected by infertility, according to a new report published by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. This is equivalent to around 17.5 per cent of the adult population in the world. 

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Infertility is a major health challenge globally not only because it renders one unable to reproduce, but also due to the social stigma associated with it. Around one in six people worldwide are affected by infertility, according to a new report published by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. This is equivalent to around 17.5 per cent of the adult population in the world. 

The WHO has said that the fact that a large proportion of the world's population experiences infertility indicates an "urgent need" to increase access to affordable, high-quality fertility care for the people who need it.

Lifetime prevalence of infertility in different regions

There is limited variation in the prevalence of infertility between low-, middle-, and high-income countries. This signifies that infertility is a major health challenge globally. 

In high-income countries, lifetime prevalence of infertility was found to be 17.8 per cent, and in low- and middle-income countries, lifetime prevalence was observed to be 16.5 per cent.

In a statement released by the WHO, the UN health agency's Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the report reveals an important truth that infertility does not discriminate.

He also said that the sheer proportion of people affected shows the need to widen access to fertility care and ensure that the issue of infertility is no longer sidelined in health research and policy. This will help ensure that safe, effective and affordable ways to attain parenthood are available for those who seek it. 

More about infertility

A disease of the male or female reproductive system characterised by the failure to achieve a pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse or coitus is called infertility. The disease not only affects one's physical health, but also takes a huge toll on their mental and psychosocial well-being. 

Why is fertility care inaccessible to a huge population?

Solutions to infertility include assisted reproductive technology such as in-vitro fertilisation and artificial insemination. However, these technologies remain underfunded and inaccessible to many people due to high costs, social stigma and limited availability.

Most countries suffer from a lot of financial losses because fertility care is mostly funded by them out of pocket. Surprisingly, people living in poorer nations spend a greater proportion of their income on treatments for infertility compared to people living in wealthier countries.

Dr Pascale Allotey, Director of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research at the WHO, said better policies and public financing can significantly improve access to treatment and protect poorer households from falling into poverty as a result. 

The new report also highlights a persistent lack of data on infertility trends in many countries and some regions, and calls for greater availability of national data on infertility.

Primary and secondary infertility

Infertility can be main or secondary. A woman who is unable to conceive after having had at least one pregnancy is said to have secondary infertility, while a woman who has never been able to conceive is said to have primary infertility.

Infertility causes

Causes of infertility can be hormonal, anatomical or lifestyle-related.

Some common causes of infertility include ovulation disorders, the production of too much prolactin, and polycystic ovary syndrome, a condition where the ovaries produce an abnormal amount of androgens or male sex hormones, is characterised by the formation of small cysts or fluid-filled sacs in the ovaries, rendering them unable to release eggs, and results in few, unusual or very long periods. 

Infertility can be prevented by reducing stress, quitting smoking and maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle, and identifying the warning signs of infertility.