The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its first global guidelines to help countries prevent, diagnose, and treat infertility—a condition that affects one in six people worldwide.
The new guidance, published Friday, offers 40 evidence-based recommendations to strengthen access to safe and affordable fertility care. WHO officials said infertility, which affects both men and women across all regions and income levels, has been neglected for too long.
“Infertility impacts millions of people globally, yet access to care remains highly unequal,” said Dr. Pascale Allotey, director of WHO’s Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health. “These guidelines establish a unified foundation to support countries in delivering equitable and effective fertility services.”
WHO defines infertility as the inability to achieve pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular, unprotected sexual activity. The condition can cause significant emotional distress, social stigma, and financial strain. In many countries, patients pay most of the cost for infertility treatments, often leading to catastrophic expenses. A single round of in vitro fertilization (IVF) can cost twice the average household’s annual income in some regions.
The guidelines call on national health systems to integrate fertility care into public health funding and services, improve access to male infertility diagnosis, and expand prevention efforts. WHO emphasized that infertility is a public health issue requiring comprehensive, inclusive, and affordable medical care.
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