In a report published on Tuesday, April 4, the World Health Organization warns of a “major health problem” – infertility. 17.8% of the adult population in rich countries and 16.5% in low- and middle-income countries are affected.
One in six people in the world suffers from infertility, “regardless of where they live and what resources they have,” emphasized Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, in the foreword to the new report. on Tuesday, April 4.
As the institution reminds, infertility refers to “a disease of the male or female reproductive system characterized by the inability to conceive after 12 months or more of regular unprotected intercourse.” On average, this “major health problem,” according to experts, affects 17.8% of the adult population in rich countries and 16.5% in low- and middle-income countries.
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A subject that is still very little studied
This report does not intend to return to either the medical or environmental causes of infertility, nor its evolution over time. On the other hand, the goal here is to get a first idea of its prevalence. To do this, the researchers analyzed all relevant studies from 1990 to 2021. Apparently, “infertility affects a significant portion of the world’s population,” as the problem affects approximately 17.5% of the adult population.
“Infertility affects millions of people, yet the topic remains under-researched and solutions remain underfunded and out of reach for many due to high costs, social stigma and limited access,” lamented WHO Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Before adding: “A significant number of survivors demonstrate the need to expand access to fertility care and ensure that this issue is no longer marginalized in health research and policy, so that safe, effective and affordable ways to become a parent are available to them. who want them.”
Infertility affects millions of people, but the topic remains understudied and solutions remain underfunded.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director
Although this new report presents data on the “high global prevalence” of infertility, experts also highlighted the lack of data in many countries, particularly in Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean and South Asia. in the east. The WHO director called on countries to provide more data on infertility, disaggregated by age and cause, to help quantify the problem, as well as who needs health care, fertility and how risks can be reduced.
Anxiety, depression, and increased risk of domestic violence
During a press conference, Dr. Pascal Alotey, Director of the WHO’s Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and rapporteur on the case, recalled how this situation can cause great concern to those concerned. “Procreation is accompanied by significant social pressure. In some countries, pregnancy is important to the perception of femininity and the couple. He affirms that failure is often stigmatized. People with infertility often suffer from anxiety and depression. He also added “the risk of domestic violence associated with infertility”.
“We want to make sure we break the silence on infertility by ensuring it is mainstreamed into sexual and reproductive health policies, services and funding,” said WHO’s Dr Gitau Mburu. In its conclusions, the body calls on countries to develop solutions for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infertility, including assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization.
Among the ways envisaged in France to remedy this, we find that we want to create a “National Fertility Institute” on the model of the National Cancer Institute, states a report by Public Health France, published in February 2022 and quoted: The Express . Its role will be to coordinate research and prevention, particularly for men, a population that is “underinformed about their own and their partner’s fertility,” according to the report’s authors.
Source: Le Figaro
