The World Health Organization has issued its first guideline for preventing, diagnosing and treating infertility, urging countries to reform how they provide and finance fertility care. Infertility—defined as the failure to achieve pregnancy after 12 months of regular unprotected sex—affects an estimated one in six people of reproductive age worldwide, yet access to care is often limited and financially crippling. The new guideline contains 40 recommendations that aim to strengthen prevention, diagnosis and treatment while integrating fertility services into national health strategies, service delivery and financing. It stresses cost‑effective, people‑centered, evidence‑based care.
The WHO calls for greater investment in prevention, including education about fertility and infertility in schools and primary‑care settings, and action on major risk factors such as untreated sexually transmitted infections and tobacco use. Lifestyle interventions—healthy diet, regular physical activity and smoking cessation—are recommended for individuals and couples trying to conceive. Clinical pathways outlined in the guideline address the diagnosis of common male and female biological causes and describe a progression of treatment options, from guidance on fertile periods to more complex procedures such as intrauterine insemination and in‑vitro fertilisation (IVF). Ongoing psychosocial support is highlighted as essential because infertility can cause significant stigma, financial strain and psychological distress.
WHO Director‑General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus described infertility as a major equity issue, noting that millions face severe financial and emotional challenges in their quest to have children. He urged nations to adapt the guideline so that more people can access affordable, respectful, science‑based care. Implementation should align with rights‑based sexual and reproductive health approaches that support informed decisions about whether and when to have children. Dr Pascale Allotey, director of WHO’s Department of Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing, said that empowering people to make informed reproductive choices is both a health imperative and a matter of social justice.
The guideline acknowledges gaps in current evidence and identifies areas for further research. Future editions are expected to address fertility preservation, third‑party reproduction and the impact of pre‑existing medical conditions. As countries work to adapt and implement the recommendations, the WHO aims to tackle the public‑health challenge of infertility and promote greater equity and access to fertility care worldwide.
Comments are closed for this story.