Infertility affects one in six people worldwide—around 17.5 percent of the adult population—according to a new report published by the World Health Organisation.
He noted that the many affected people show the urgent need to widen access to fertility treatment.
He also said it’s important to ensure the issue is “no longer sidelined in health research policy so that safe, effective and affordable ways to attaint parenthood are available for those who seek it.”
Infertility is a disease of the male or female reproductive system, defined by the failure to achieve a pregnancy after one year or longer of unprotected sexual intercourse.
The disease has significant negative social and psychological impacts on the lives of infertile couples, particularly women. It may lead to diminished self-esteem, feelings of failure and hopelessness, grief and loss of future plans, anger and social stigma.
Heavy Financial Costs
The study, titled “Financial costs of assisted reproductive technology for patients in low and middle-income countries: a systematic review,” was published on Human Production Open on March 1, 2023.The paper, which examines the financial consequences of infertility, found that fertility treatments are largely funded out of pocket in most countries.
However, people in the poorest countries spend a greater proportion of their income on fertility care compared to those in richer countries.
“In addition, when using average income as a maker of affordability, patients spent approximately half of their average annual income on one ART cycle in countries with mechanisms for government financing,” the research said.
“In contrast, in countries with no mechanisms for financing, the cost for one cycle was even more than double their average annual income.”
The research also emphasised the need for financing and regularity frameworks in low and middle-income countries because these affect pricing and affordability.
It also called for greater availability of national data on infertility disaggregated by age and by cause to help with quantifying infertility, as well as knowing who needs fertility care and how risks can b reduced.
“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, Director of Sexual and reproductive health and Research at WHO.
“Better policies and public financing can significantly improve access to treatment and protect poorer households from falling into poverty as a result.”
