The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its first global guideline on infertility, aiming to make fertility care safer, more affordable, and accessible to all. According to the WHO, one in six people of reproductive age worldwide are affected by infertility, yet many have limited access to tests and treatments that are often financially devastating. WHO Director‑General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus emphasized that infertility is a major public‑health challenge and equity issue, with millions facing significant barriers to care.
The guideline encourages countries to integrate fertility care into national health systems, ensuring services are accessible, clinically sound, and respectful of patient preferences. It contains 40 recommendations covering prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and system‑wide implementation. Key principles include providing low‑cost fertility information, promoting lifestyle advice, and offering psychological support. The WHO stresses the importance of weighing risks, benefits, and costs before choosing treatments and of tracking outcomes after care.
Recommendations address various aspects of infertility, including prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of female‑ and male‑factor infertility as well as unexplained infertility. The guideline advises the use of cost‑effective diagnostic tests, lifestyle counseling, and evidence‑based treatments. It also highlights the profound psychosocial impacts of infertility—distress, stigma, and financial hardship—and calls for ongoing psychosocial support and a rights‑based approach to care.
Dr Pascale Allotey, WHO’s Director of Sexual and Reproductive Health, noted that empowering people to make informed choices about their reproductive lives is both a health imperative and a matter of social justice. The guideline represents a crucial step toward closing significant gaps in fertility care worldwide, and its implementation is expected to improve access to safe, effective, and respectful services.
The WHO encourages countries to adapt the guideline to local epidemiology, health‑system capacity, and cultural context. The organization will continue to monitor and evaluate implementation, with future updates planned to cover additional risk factors, emerging technologies, and other key areas. By addressing the complex issue of infertility, the WHO aims to promote reproductive health, well‑being, and human rights for all.
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