One in six people worldwide are affected by infertility, according to a report that lays bare the scale of the problem.
“The report reveals an important truth – infertility does not discriminate,” said Tedros. “The sheer proportion of people affected shows the need to widen access to fertility care and ensure this issue is no longer sidelined in health research and policy, so that safe, effective and affordable ways to attain parenthood are available for those who seek it.”
“For millions around the world, the path to parenthood can be difficult to access, if not impossible,” said Tedros. “Globally, an estimated one out of every six people are affected by the inability to have a child at some point in their life. This is regardless of where they live and what resources they have.”
“Access to sexual and reproductive health services is the primary way for people to have the best chance of having the number of children they desire. However, in most countries, these services are inadequate.” “Millions of people face catastrophic healthcare costs after seeking treatment for infertility, making this a major equity issue and, all too often, a medical poverty trap for those affected,” said Dr Pascale Allotey, the director of sexual and reproductive health and research at the WHO.