Written by DEPKES.ORG March 2023
A new report published Monday by the World Health Organization found that a large number of adults -- nearly 1 in 6 worldwide -- are affected by infertility in their lifetime.
The WHO said that the new finding emphasizes the "urgent need to increase access to affordable, high-quality fertility care," according to a press release.
Previous research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that 1 in 5 women in the United States, ages 15 to 49 years old with no prior births, are unable to get pregnant after one year of trying, which is considered infertility.
Infertility expert Dr. Asima Ahmad is the chief medical officer and co-founder of Carrot Fertility. She said the new WHO report did not surprise her and that the number may be actually higher than reported.
She also stressed the importance of noting that while the "prevalence" of infertility is similar among countries, studying access to care in those countries is far more important.