WHO calls for affordable, science-based infertility care worldwide

The World Health Organization WHO on Friday called on countries to strengthen access to affordable and sciencebased care to people facing infertilityThe WHO defines infertility as the failure to achieve pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourseEstimated to affect 1 in 6 people of reproductive age at some point in their lives infertility can cause significant distress stigma and financial hardship affecting peoplersquos mental and psychosocial wellbeingIn its firstever global guideline for the prevention diagnosis and treatment of infertility the global health body urged for safer fairer and more affordable fertility careThe guideline includes 40 recommendations that seek to strengthen the prevention diagnosis and treatment of infertilityIt promotes costeffective options at every stage while advocating for the integration of fertility care into national health strategies services and financingldquoInfertility is one of the most overlooked public health challenges of our time and a major equity issue globallyrdquo said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus WHO DirectorGeneralWhile demand for infertility services is rising worldwide access to care remains severely limited In many countries tests and treatments for infertility are largely funded outofpocket often resulting in catastrophic financial expendituresIn some settings even a single round of in vitro fertilization IVF can cost double the average annual household incomeThe guideline offers guidance on steps for the effective clinical management of infertility stresses the need to tackle leading risk factors for infertility including untreated sexually transmitted infections and tobacco useThe guideline outlines clinical pathways to diagnose common biological causes of male and female infertilityRecognising the emotional toll of infertility which can lead to depression anxiety and feelings of social isolation the guideline emphasises the need to ensure ongoing access to psychosocial support for all those affectedldquoMillions 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 Ghebreyesus saidWe encourage more countries to adopt this guideline giving more people the possibility to access affordable respectful and sciencebased carerdquo he addedWHO urged countries to adapt the recommendations to their local contexts and to monitor progress Successful implementation will require collaboration across Ministries of Health health professional societies civil society and patient groupsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever