A large number of people are affected by infertility in their lifetime, according to a new report published today (April 04, 2023) by the World Health Organization (WHO). Around 17.5% of the adult population – roughly 1 in 6 worldwide – experience infertility, showing the urgent need to increase access to affordable, high-quality fertility care for those in need. The new estimates show limited variation in the prevalence of infertility between regions. The rates are comparable for high-, middle- and low-income countries, indicating that this is a major health challenge globally. Read More: Every 2 minutes a woman dies due to pregnancy or childbirth: UN agencies Lifetime prevalence was 17.8% in high-income countries and 16.5% in low- and middle-income countries. “The report reveals an important truth – infertility does not discriminate,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General at WHO. “The sheer proportion of people affected shows 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,” he said. Infertility is a condition of the male or female reproductive system, defined by the failure to achieve a pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. Read More: Unintended pregnancies surge amid Covid-19 It can cause significant distress and stigma, affecting people’s mental and psychosocial well-being. Despite the magnitude of the issue, solutions for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infertility – including assisted reproductive technology such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) – remain underfunded and inaccessible to many due to high costs, social stigma and limited availability. At present, in most countries, fertility treatments are largely funded out of pocket – often resulting in devastating financial costs. People in the poorest countries spend a greater proportion of their income on fertility care compared to people in wealthier countries. High costs frequently prevent people from accessing infertility treatments or alternatively, can catapult them into poverty as a consequence of seeking care.  Read More: French conservatives protest bill allowing IVF for lesbians “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, including the United Nations’ Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP). “Better policies and public financing can significantly improve access to treatment and protect poorer households from falling into poverty as a result,” he observed. While the new report shows convincing evidence of the high global prevalence of infertility, it highlights a persistent lack of data in many countries and some regions. The WHO report calls 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 be reduced. Read More: Ensure reproductive health rights of all: UN chief

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday said the government is taking measures to promote health research substantially, aiming to achieve successes like in agriculture and other sectors of the country. “We’re definitely a little bit behind in health research. In fact, research on health issues is hardly conducted in our country. Actually, our physicians are not interested in research as much as in providing services to patients. A handful of them conduct research. But we’re taking steps in this regard,” she said. The Prime Minister said this while inaugurating the newly constructed National Science and Technology Complex in the city’s Agargaon area. Read: Get vaccinated and avoid risks: Hasina tells people She opened the complex, joining a function virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban. Others concerned got connected with the virtual event from the complex constructed by the National Museum of Science and Technology (NMST). Hasina said it is essential to conduct health research in the country. “We’ve made good progress in the case of research in other sectors. We’ll have to go forward further.” She said her government put emphasis on agricultural research and also got enough successes in this sector. “The research here will continue.” The PM also stressed the need for scientific research in the country’s every field to make rapid economic progress in this age of science and advanced technology. “We’re also focusing on how to utilise the knowledge and findings obtained through research for socioeconomic development. We’ll have to emphasise practical research alongside basic ones,” she said.