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1 in 6 people globally affected by infertility: WHO
GENEVA, 4 April 2023 --- Large numbers of people are affected by infertility in their lifetime, according to a new report published today by the World Health Organization (WHO). Around 17.5% of the adult population – roughly 1 in 6 worldwide - experience infertility, showing the urgent need to increase access to affordable, high-quality fertility care for those in need.
The new estimates show limited variation in the prevalence of infertility between regions. The rates are comparable for high-, middle- and low-income countries, indicating that this is a major health challenge globally. Lifetime prevalence was 17.8% in high-income countries and 16.5% in low- and middle-income countries.
“The report reveals an important truth - infertility does not discriminate,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General at WHO. “The sheer proportion of people affected show the need to widen access to fertility care and ensure this issue is no longer sidelined in health research and policy, so that safe, effective, and affordable ways to attain parenthood are available for those who seek it.”
Infertility is a disease of the male or female reproductive system, defined by the failure to achieve a pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. It can cause significant distress, stigma, and financial hardship, affecting people’s mental and psychosocial well-being.
Despite the magnitude of the issue, solutions for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infertility – including assisted reproductive technology such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) - remain underfunded and inaccessible to many due to high costs, social stigma and limited availability.
At present, in most countries, fertility treatments are largely funded out of pocket – often resulting in devastating financial costs. People in the poorest countries spend a greater proportion of their income on fertility care compared to people in wealthier countries. High costs frequently prevent people from accessing infertility treatments or alternatively, can catapult them into poverty as a consequence of seeking care.
"Millions of people face catastrophic healthcare costs after seeking treatment for infertility, making this a major equity issue and all too often, a medical poverty trap for those affected,” said Dr Pascale Allotey, Director of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research at WHO, including the United Nations’ Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP). “Better policies and public financing can significantly improve access to treatment and protect poorer households from falling into poverty as a result.”
While the new report shows convincing evidence of the high global prevalence of infertility, it highlights a persistent lack of data in many countries and some regions. It calls for greater availability of national data on infertility disaggregated by age and by cause to help with quantifying infertility, as well as knowing who needs fertility care and how risks can be reduced.
Notes to editors
The embargoed report and soundbites can be accessed here: https://who.canto.global/b/UTTOO
LINKS from the Virtual Press Conference:
Audio: https://who.canto.global/b/JU9HC
Video: https://who.canto.global/b/OQ0HS
About the report
This report provides insight into global and regional infertility prevalence by analysing all relevant studies from 1990 to 2021, taking into account different estimation approaches used.
The search identified 12 241 records of potentially relevant studies across the world. Screening of these records led to the selection of 133 studies that were included in the analysis for the report. From these, relevant data points were used to generate pooled estimates, for lifetime and period infertility prevalence.
New research on fertility treatment costs
Separately, new research funded by HRP and WHO and published in the journal, Human Reproduction Open, assessed the costs associated with infertility treatments in low and middle-income countries. This analysis found that the direct medical costs paid by patients for a single round of IVF are often higher than the average annual income – indicating prohibitive costs for most people in these parts of the world.
This research can be accessed at: https://academic.oup.com/hropen/article/2023/2/hoad007/7066921
Expert Reaction
These comments have been collated by the Science Media Centre to provide a variety of expert perspectives on this issue. Feel free to use these quotes in your stories. Views expressed are the personal opinions of the experts named. They do not represent the views of the SMC or any other organisation unless specifically stated.
Associate Professor Alex Polyakov is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne and is a Medical Director at Genea Fertility Melbourne
As a fertility specialist, I am deeply concerned by the findings of the World Health Organization's recent report, which reveals that approximately 17.5% of the global adult population, or 1 in 6 individuals, experience infertility.
This underscores the critical need to improve access to affordable, high-quality fertility care and emphasises this issue in health research and policy. The comparable infertility rates among high-, middle-, and low-income countries demonstrate that this challenge transcends socioeconomic boundaries. It is essential to recognise that infertility affects both men and women, and it can lead to significant emotional, social, and financial burdens for those affected. To address this global health concern, a concerted effort must be made to invest in preventing, diagnosing, and treating infertility, including assisted reproductive technology such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF).
The current landscape, wherein fertility treatments are predominantly funded out of pocket, often results in exorbitant financial costs that disproportionately impact individuals in lower-income countries. High costs either preclude access to infertility treatments or lead to impoverishment for those seeking care. Therefore, it is vital to develop better policies and public financing to enhance access to treatment and protect vulnerable households from financial distress. While this report sheds light on the high worldwide prevalence of infertility, it also exposes a persistent lack of data in numerous countries and regions. To effectively address this issue, greater availability of national data on infertility disaggregated by age and cause is required. This will facilitate accurate quantification of infertility, identification of those in need of fertility care, and formulation of strategies to mitigate risks.
I urge stakeholders to prioritise infertility as a significant global health challenge and advocate for increased funding, research, and policy efforts to ensure that safe, effective, and affordable fertility care is accessible to all who require it.
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