WHO calls for equitable fertility care amid global infertility crisis

One in six people of reproductive age worldwide are infertile, the World Health Organization said, as it released global guidelines outlining recommendations to improve access to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

The organization said access to fertility care remains "severely limited" despite the scale of the issue. In many countries, tests and treatments are largely paid out of pocket, leaving individuals with high financial burdens. In some settings, a single round of in vitro fertilization (IVF) can even cost "double the average annual household income."

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

The organization released its first-ever guidelines on infertility, featuring 40 recommendations that cover the entire care journey—from diagnosing common causes to guiding treatment options such as counselling, timing strategies, intrauterine insemination, and IVF.

WHO noted that infertility often leads to stigma, emotional distress, and financial strain. It called for greater investment in prevention through public awareness on fertility health, age-related factors, and the risks associated with untreated sexually transmitted infections.

The guidelines also highlight the importance of healthy lifestyle practices—such as maintaining a nutritious diet, staying physically active, and avoiding tobacco—for individuals planning or trying to conceive.

Additionally, WHO emphasized the crucial role of psychosocial support throughout the infertility care process.

"The prevention and treatment of infertility must be grounded in gender equality and reproductive rights," said Pascale Allotey, director of WHO's department of sexual, reproductive, maternal, child, and adolescent health and ageing.