Published On 30/11/2025
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Last update: 10:16 (Mecca time)
The World Health Organization has published for the first time guidelines to enhance the prevention of infertility, which affects millions of people in the world, and to improve its diagnosis and treatment.
“One in every 6 people in the world will suffer from infertility during their lifetime,” Pascal Allotti, Director of the Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health at the World Health Organization, told reporters, noting that “this problem affects individuals and couples from different regions and income levels. However, access to safe and affordable care remains highly unequal.”
“The topic of infertility has been neglected for too long, and countries, doctors and patient associations are demanding clear guidelines. Therefore, this guide provides a unified framework based on reliable evidence to ensure that fertility treatments are safe, effective and available to all who need them,” she added.
According to the World Health Organization, infertility is a disease that affects the male or female reproductive system, and is defined as the inability to become pregnant after 12 months or more of regular sexual intercourse without protection. This situation may cause severe psychological suffering and social stigma, in addition to the financial cost.
In many countries, patients bear the greatest cost of tests and treatments, and this forces them to spend high amounts. “In some cases, a single IVF cycle may cost twice the average annual family income,” the World Health Organization said.
The day before yesterday, Friday, the organization published 40 recommendations calling for the integration of fertility into national health strategies, services, and financing. These recommendations set out guidelines for providing effective clinical care, from diagnosis to treatment.
The organization stressed the importance of diagnosing male infertility, which is often neglected, and provided guidance ranging from adopting simpler treatment strategies, where doctors initially provide advice on fertility periods and enhancing them without effective treatment, to more complex treatments such as intrauterine insemination or artificial insemination.
It is also recommended to invest more in prevention, with a recommendation to address the main risk factors for infertility, including untreated sexually transmitted diseases and smoking.
The World Health Organization encouraged each country to adapt these recommendations to their local situations and monitor progress.