Geneva: Infertility affects one in six people of reproductive age worldwide, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced as it released a new global guideline aimed at improving access to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

According to Philippines News Agency, the WHO stated that despite the widespread nature of infertility, access to fertility care remains severely limited. In numerous countries, individuals are required to pay for tests and treatments largely out of their own pockets, resulting in significant financial burdens. In some regions, the cost of a single round of in vitro fertilization (IVF) can be double the average annual household income.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted infertility as one of the most overlooked public health challenges and a major global equity issue. Millions of individuals face the journey of infertility alone, often having to choose between unaffordable treatments, unproven alternatives, or sacrificing their financial well-being for the hope of having children.

The newly released guideline is WHO's first on infertility and contains 40 recommendations. These cover clinical pathways for diagnosing common causes of infertility and provide guidance on treatment progression, ranging from counselling and timing advice to more advanced procedures such as intrauterine insemination or IVF.

The health agency emphasized that infertility can lead to significant stigma, distress, and financial hardship. It called for increased investment in prevention measures, including education on fertility, age-related factors, and untreated sexually transmitted infections. The guideline also recommends lifestyle changes such as a healthy diet, regular physical activity, and cessation of tobacco use for those planning or attempting pregnancy.

Additionally, the guideline underscored the importance of psychosocial support. Pascale Allotey, director of WHO's department of sexual, reproductive, maternal, child, and adolescent health and ageing, stated that infertility prevention and treatment must be firmly rooted in gender equality and reproductive rights.