WHO fertility care boost unveiled in first global guideline to improve fair, safe and affordable infertility services worldwide

According to the World Health Organisation, a WHO fertility care boost is now underway following the release of its first global guideline on infertility, urging countries to make fertility services safer, fairer and more affordable.

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The guideline, issued on Friday, highlights that infertility affects one in six people of reproductive age globally, yet access to care remains severely limited.

The WHO warned that in many countries tests and treatments are paid for entirely out of pocket, exposing families to financial hardship.

In some regions, even a single cycle of IVF costs more than twice the average annual household income, pushing many towards unregulated or unproven options.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described infertility as one of the most overlooked public health challenges of the modern era.

He said millions are forced to navigate the experience alone, often choosing between the hope of having children and their financial stability.

He encouraged governments to adopt the guideline so that care becomes both accessible and science-based.

The 40-recommendation document covers prevention, diagnosis and treatment, calling for fertility care to be incorporated into national health strategies and financing frameworks.

It promotes cost-effective pathways, beginning with simple interventions and progressing to methods such as intrauterine insemination and IVF based on clinical needs and patient preferences.

WHO reiterated that infertility, defined as the failure to conceive after at least 12 months of regular, unprotected intercourse, can cause profound emotional distress, stigma and economic strain.

The guideline stresses the importance of early education on fertility, integrating information into schools, primary healthcare and broader reproductive health services.

It also highlights preventable risk factors including untreated sexually transmitted infections and tobacco use.

Healthy diet, regular physical activity and smoking cessation feature among recommended lifestyle adjustments for those planning or attempting pregnancy.

The WHO Fertility Care Boost includes detailed clinical pathways for diagnosing male and female infertility, as well as calls for strengthened psychosocial support to address the depression, anxiety and social isolation that often accompany the condition.

Countries are encouraged to adapt the recommendations to suit local realities and to ensure cross-sector collaboration involving government ministries, professional bodies, civil society and patient groups.

The organisation emphasised that implementation must align with rights-based approaches that allow people to make informed reproductive decisions.

Dr Pascale Allotey, Director of WHO’s Department of Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing, said prevention and treatment must rest on gender equality and reproductive rights, calling the guideline a matter of social justice as well as public health.

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While comprehensive, the guideline acknowledges existing research gaps. Future editions are expected to address fertility preservation, third-party reproduction and the effects of pre-existing medical conditions.