The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged countries to make fertility care safer, fairer and more affordable as it released its first-ever global guideline for preventing, diagnosing and treating infertility.
The organization announced this on Friday, describing infertility as a major but often overlooked public health challenge that affects one in six people of reproductive age globally at some point in their lives.
WHO noted that while demand for fertility services is rising, access remains severely limited in many countries, with infertility tests and treatments largely funded out-of-pocket, often resulting in catastrophic health expenditures.
“In some settings, even a single round of in vitro fertilization (IVF) can cost twice the average annual household income, making care inaccessible for many families,” the organization stated.
WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, described infertility as a global equity issue, saying millions are left to navigate the journey alone—often priced out of care or forced to choose between financial stability and the possibility of parenthood.
“We encourage more countries to adapt this guideline, giving more people the possibility of accessing affordable, respectful and science-based care,” Tedros said.
The guideline contains 40 recommendations aimed at strengthening infertility prevention, diagnosis and treatment. It promotes cost-effective approaches at all stages, including integrating fertility care into national health strategies, services and financing. It also emphasizes the psychosocial burden infertility places on individuals and families.
Tedros explained that infertility—defined as the failure to achieve pregnancy after 12 months of regular unprotected sexual intercourse—can cause significant distress, stigma and financial hardship. He called for investments in prevention, education and early fertility awareness.
He highlighted major risk factors, including untreated sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and tobacco use, and recommended healthy diets, physical activity and improvements in lifestyle for those planning or attempting pregnancy.
“The guideline outlines clinical pathways for diagnosing male and female infertility and provides guidance on progressively advancing treatment—from counseling on fertile periods and lifestyle changes to intrauterine insemination and IVF—while considering patient preferences,” Tedros said.
Recognising the emotional impact, WHO stressed the need for continuous psychosocial support for those affected. It added that effective implementation of the guideline would require collaboration across ministries of health, professional bodies, civil society and patient groups.
“Implementation should align with comprehensive, rights-based approaches to sexual and reproductive health, empowering individuals to make informed decisions about whether and when to have children,” Tedros said.
Dr. Pascale Allotey, Director of WHO’s Department of Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing, said infertility prevention and treatment must be rooted in gender equality and reproductive rights.
“Empowering people to make informed choices about their reproductive lives is a health imperative and a matter of social justice,” Allotey said.
She added that gaps remain, noting that future guidelines would cover fertility preservation, third-party reproduction and infertility linked to pre-existing medical conditions.
