Globally, About One in Six Experience Infertility in Their Lifetime

TUESDAY, April 4, 2023 (HealthDay News) — About one in six people experience infertility at some time in their lives, according to a report published by the World Health Organization.

Researchers from the WHO identified studies reporting the prevalence of infertility between 1990 and 2021. After screening of records, a total of 133 studies were selected that met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review. Ninety-one data points were used to generate pooled 12-month infertility estimates.

The researchers found that based on data from 1990 to 2021, about one in six people have experienced infertility at some stage in their lives, globally, with lifetime prevalence estimated at 17.5 percent and period prevalence estimated at 12.6 percent. Some regional variation in infertility was seen, with lifetime infertility prevalence ranging from 10.7 percent in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean region to 23.2 percent in the WHO Western Pacific region and period prevalence ranging from 10.0 percent in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean region to 16.4 percent in the WHO African region. Lifetime and period infertility prevalence did not vary between high- versus low- and middle-income countries (17.8 versus 16.5 percent and 12.6 versus 12.6 percent, respectively).

“The report reveals an important truth — infertility does not discriminate,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Ph.D., WHO director-general, said in a statement. “The sheer proportion of people affected show the need to widen access to fertility care and ensure this issue is no longer sidelined in health research and policy, so that safe, effective, and affordable ways to attain parenthood are available for those who seek it.”

Infertility Prevalence Estimates, 1990 to 2021