Infertility is a major global health concern affecting millions of people of reproductive age.
Data shows that around one in six individuals worldwide will experience infertility during their lifetime.
This condition is considered a disease of the male or female reproductive system, defined by the inability to achieve pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular, unprotected sex.
Infertility can be classified as primary, where pregnancy has never occurred, or secondary, where pregnancy is not achieved after previously having one.
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The World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases provides detailed information about the various causes of infertility in both men and women.
Infertility can result from male factors, female factors, a combination of both, or may remain unexplained.
Lifestyle factors, such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and obesity, have been linked to increased infertility rates in both genders.
Everyone has the right to the highest possible standard of physical and mental health, including the ability to make informed choices about family planning—such as the number, timing, and spacing of children.
Therefore, addressing infertility is essential for allowing individuals and couples to form families.
Infertility management and fertility care are needed by a diverse range of people globally, but access to these services is often limited for disadvantaged groups, including the poor, unmarried, uneducated, unemployed, and other marginalized populations.
Infertility can have a profound impact on the lives of those affected, particularly women, who may face increased risks of violence, divorce, social stigma, emotional distress, depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem.
In some contexts, the fear of infertility can deter both women and men from using contraception, especially in societies that place high value on early childbearing.
Moreover, infertility treatments can create significant financial burdens for households, leading to devastating out-of-pocket costs.
