The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a report that highlights the global prevalence of infertility, revealing that approximately 1 in 6 people, or 17.5% of the adult population, experience infertility at some point in their lives. The study found that the prevalence rates of infertility are similar across high-, middle-, and low-income countries, suggesting that infertility is a major health challenge worldwide. Infertility is a disease of the male or female reproductive system that is defined by the failure to achieve 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 significant impact of infertility, solutions for its prevention, diagnosis, and treatment remain underfunded and inaccessible to many due to high costs, social stigma, and limited availability. Fertility treatments are largely funded out-of-pocket, which often results in devastating financial costs, especially for people in the poorest countries who spend a higher proportion of their income on fertility care compared to those in wealthier countries. High costs frequently prevent people from accessing infertility treatments, or alternatively, can push them into poverty as a consequence of seeking care.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General at WHO, said that infertility does not discriminate and that widening access to fertility care is urgent. Dr. Pascale Allotey, Director of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research at WHO, emphasized that millions of people face catastrophic healthcare costs after seeking treatment for infertility, making this a major equity issue and often a medical poverty trap for those affected. She added that 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 quantify infertility, as well as to identify who needs fertility care and how risks can be reduced. The report underscores the urgent need to increase access to affordable, high-quality fertility care for those in need, particularly as infertility is a major health challenge globally.

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