Infertility, which affects men and women, is a reproductive
condition defined by the failure to achieve a pregnancy after 12 months or more
of regular unprotected sexual intercourse.
According to the report signed by WHO Director-General,
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, it analysed all relevant studies on infertility
from 1990 to 2021 with the results revealing
17.5 per cent of the adult population experience infertility in their
lifetime.
“The rates are “comparable” for high, middle and low-income
countries,” Ghebreyesus said.
“The report reveals an important truth – infertility does
not discriminate,”
“The sheer proportion of people affected shows 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.”
It also revealed that despite the prevalence of infertility,
diagnosis and treatment such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) – remain
underfunded with many having no choice but to cover the costs out of pocket,
often with devastating consequences.
WHO also pointed out a “persistent” lack of data related to
infertility in many countries.
To combat this it called for better national infertility
statistical data which can be “disaggregated by age and by cause” in order to
target interventions and support prevention.