News | WHO Issues First Global Infertility Care Guideline to Advance Affordable Fertility Care
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued its first global Guideline for the Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Infertility, calling on countries to integrate fertility care into public health systems to make it safer, more equitable and more affordable. Intended for all countries, the guideline offers systematic recommendations spanning policy, health systems and clinical practice to address growing demand for infertility services and widespread gaps in access worldwide.
Infertility affects one in six people of reproductive age worldwide, yet testing and treatment in many countries are still largely paid out of pocket, exposing many families to catastrophic health spending. In some regions, a single cycle of in vitro fertilization (IVF) can cost twice a household's annual income. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “Infertility is one of the most overlooked public health challenges of our time and a global equity issue. Millions of people are forced to make painful choices between costly, unproven alternatives and financial security. We encourage more countries to adopt this guideline so that more people can access affordable, respectful and science-based care.”
The guideline presents 40 recommendations covering the full pathway from prevention through diagnosis and treatment. It emphasizes more cost-effective strategies at every stage and encourages countries to incorporate fertility care into national health strategies, health service systems and financing mechanisms.
The guideline places particular emphasis on person-centered, evidence-based care. Infertility is defined as failure to achieve pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. The resulting psychological stress, social stigma and financial burden can severely affect mental health and social life. In addition to specific steps for clinical management, the guideline therefore calls for systematic investment in prevention, including education about fertility, age-related factors and infertility risks in schools, primary care settings and reproductive health centers.
For prevention, the guideline calls for attention to major risk factors, including untreated sexually transmitted infections and tobacco use. It also recommends lifestyle interventions for individuals and couples preparing for or trying to conceive, such as a healthy diet, regular exercise and smoking cessation. WHO notes that the earlier people receive accurate information about fertility and infertility, the better able they are to make reproductive plans suited to their circumstances.
For diagnosis, the guideline sets out standardized testing pathways for common biological causes in both women and men, with stepped treatment plans based on clinical findings and patient preferences. Care begins with basic strategies such as guidance on the fertile window and support for natural conception, then progresses to more complex treatments, including assisted reproductive technologies such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF).
The guideline also addresses the emotional distress associated with infertility, including depression, anxiety and social isolation, and explicitly requires continuous psychosocial support throughout the care journey.
WHO said it will support countries in adapting the recommendations to local circumstances and continuously evaluating progress. Successful implementation will require collaboration among ministries of health, medical associations, civil society organizations and patient groups. It must also align with a comprehensive, rights-based model of sexual and reproductive health services, enabling people to decide freely whether and when to have children throughout their lives.
Dr. Pascale Allotey, Director of WHO's Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research and the UN Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), emphasized: “Infertility prevention and treatment must be grounded in gender equality and reproductive rights. Enabling people to make informed reproductive choices is both a health necessity and a matter of social justice.”
Despite the guideline's broad scope, WHO notes that evidence remains limited in several areas. Future updates will further address fertility preservation, third-party reproduction and the effects of pre-existing conditions on fertility.
News | WHO Issues First Global Infertility Care Guideline to Advance Affordable Fertility Care
News | WHO Issues First Global Infertility Care Guideline to Advance Affordable Fertility Care
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued its first global Guideline for the Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Infertility, calling on countries to integrate fertility care into public health systems to make it safer, more equitable and more affordable. Intended for all countries, the guideline offers systematic recommendations spanning policy, health systems and clinical practice to address growing demand for infertility services and widespread gaps in access worldwide.
Infertility affects one in six people of reproductive age worldwide, yet testing and treatment in many countries are still largely paid out of pocket, exposing many families to catastrophic health spending. In some regions, a single cycle of in vitro fertilization (IVF) can cost twice a household's annual income. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “Infertility is one of the most overlooked public health challenges of our time and a global equity issue. Millions of people are forced to make painful choices between costly, unproven alternatives and financial security. We encourage more countries to adopt this guideline so that more people can access affordable, respectful and science-based care.”
The guideline presents 40 recommendations covering the full pathway from prevention through diagnosis and treatment. It emphasizes more cost-effective strategies at every stage and encourages countries to incorporate fertility care into national health strategies, health service systems and financing mechanisms.
The guideline places particular emphasis on person-centered, evidence-based care. Infertility is defined as failure to achieve pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. The resulting psychological stress, social stigma and financial burden can severely affect mental health and social life. In addition to specific steps for clinical management, the guideline therefore calls for systematic investment in prevention, including education about fertility, age-related factors and infertility risks in schools, primary care settings and reproductive health centers.
For prevention, the guideline calls for attention to major risk factors, including untreated sexually transmitted infections and tobacco use. It also recommends lifestyle interventions for individuals and couples preparing for or trying to conceive, such as a healthy diet, regular exercise and smoking cessation. WHO notes that the earlier people receive accurate information about fertility and infertility, the better able they are to make reproductive plans suited to their circumstances.
For diagnosis, the guideline sets out standardized testing pathways for common biological causes in both women and men, with stepped treatment plans based on clinical findings and patient preferences. Care begins with basic strategies such as guidance on the fertile window and support for natural conception, then progresses to more complex treatments, including assisted reproductive technologies such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF).
The guideline also addresses the emotional distress associated with infertility, including depression, anxiety and social isolation, and explicitly requires continuous psychosocial support throughout the care journey.
WHO said it will support countries in adapting the recommendations to local circumstances and continuously evaluating progress. Successful implementation will require collaboration among ministries of health, medical associations, civil society organizations and patient groups. It must also align with a comprehensive, rights-based model of sexual and reproductive health services, enabling people to decide freely whether and when to have children throughout their lives.
Dr. Pascale Allotey, Director of WHO's Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research and the UN Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), emphasized: “Infertility prevention and treatment must be grounded in gender equality and reproductive rights. Enabling people to make informed reproductive choices is both a health necessity and a matter of social justice.”
Despite the guideline's broad scope, WHO notes that evidence remains limited in several areas. Future updates will further address fertility preservation, third-party reproduction and the effects of pre-existing conditions on fertility.
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