The World Health Organization (WHO) today released for the first time recommendations to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infertility, which affects millions of people around the world.

“One in six people worldwide will experience infertility in their lifetime. The problem affects individuals and couples in all regions and regardless of income level, and yet access to safe and affordable treatment remains highly unequal,” Dr Pascal Alotei, director of the Sexual and Reproductive Health Division at WHO, told reporters.

The issue of infertility has been neglected for too long. Countries, doctors and patient associations are calling for clear guidelines. This guide therefore offers a single, evidence-based framework to ensure that fertility care is safe, effective and accessible to all who need it,” she added.

According to the WHO, infertility is a condition of the male or female reproductive system, defined as the inability to achieve pregnancy after 12 or more months of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse. This condition can lead to significant distress, stigma from society and economic hardship.

In many countries, infertility testing and treatment is heavily burdened on patients, often resulting in “catastrophic” financial costs: “In some cases, a single cycle of in vitro fertilization (IVF) can cost twice as much as the average annual household income,” the WHO explained.

For this reason, the WHO today released 40 recommendations that support the integration of infertility treatments into national health strategies, with the aim of making them safer, more equitable and more affordable. It also outlines guidelines on steps for effective clinical management of infertility, both in terms of diagnosis and treatment.

It also recommends increasing investment in prevention while addressing the main risk factors for infertility, notably untreated sexually transmitted diseases and smoking.