The World Health Organisation has released its first-ever guideline on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of infertility, urging countries to revamp how fertility care is delivered and financed.
The guideline comes as infertility affects roughly 1 in 6 people of reproductive age globally, while access to care remains limited and often financially burdensome, the agency noted.
In a Friday release on its website, WHO said that in many nations, fertility tests and treatments are mostly paid out-of-pocket, with a single IVF cycle costing “double the average annual household income” in some cases.
“Infertility is one of the most overlooked public health challenges of our time and a major equity issue globally.
“Millions face this journey alone – priced out of care, pushed toward cheaper but unproven treatments, or forced to choose between their hopes of having children and their financial security.
“We encourage more countries to adapt this guideline, giving more people the possibility to access affordable, respectful, and science-based care,” said WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus.
WHO’s guideline contains 40 recommendations designed to strengthen prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, while promoting integration of fertility care into national health strategies, services, and financing.
It highlights cost-effective approaches and people-centred, evidence-based care.
Infertility—defined as failure to achieve pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sex—can cause significant stigma, financial strain, and psychological distress.
The guideline calls for “greater investment in prevention,” including fertility and infertility education in schools and primary care, and action on major risk factors like untreated sexually transmitted infections and tobacco use.
It also recommends lifestyle measures such as healthy diet, physical activity, and smoking cessation for individuals and couples trying to conceive.
Our correspondent noted that clinical pathways in the guideline cover diagnosis of common male and female infertility causes and outline treatment progression, from guidance on fertile periods to advanced interventions like intrauterine insemination or IVF, based on clinical findings and patient preferences.
It stresses the importance of “ongoing psychosocial support” due to the emotional impact of infertility.
Countries are encouraged to tailor the recommendations to local contexts, monitor progress, and collaborate across ministries, professional bodies, civil society, and patient organizations.
WHO advises that implementation align with rights-based sexual and reproductive health approaches, supporting informed decisions about if and when to have children.
“The prevention and treatment of infertility must be grounded 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,” said Dr Pascale Allotey, Director of WHO’s Department of Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing and the United Nations’ Special Programme on Human Reproduction (HRP).
While thorough, the guideline acknowledges current evidence gaps and areas needing further research.
WHO notes that “upcoming editions of the guideline are expected to cover issues such as fertility preservation, third-party reproduction, and the impact of pre-existing medical conditions.”