. NEW DELHI: The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday urged countries — including India — to make fertility care safer, fairer and affordable, releasing its first-ever global guideline on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infertility.Infertility affects 1 in 6 adults of reproductive age, yet access to fertility services remains limited and costly. In many countries, including India, treatment is largely paid out-of-pocket, leaving couples to bear catastrophic expenses. A single IVF cycle can cost more than an average family’s annual income, pushing many toward unregulated or unproven therapies.Calling infertility “one of the most overlooked public-health challenges,” WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said millions are priced out of care or forced to choose between treatment and financial security.The guideline issues 40 recommendations to strengthen early diagnosis, cost-effective treatment pathways and integration of fertility services into national health systems. It stresses prevention through awareness about fertility, age-related decline, healthy lifestyles, and tackling leading causes such as untreated sexually transmitted infections and tobacco use.WHO also highlights the emotional burden — depression, anxiety, stigma and isolation — and calls for routine psychosocial support.Countries have been asked to adapt the recommendations to local contexts, expand insurance or public financing, and align fertility care with rights-based reproductive health policies.“The prevention and treatment of infertility must be grounded in gender equality and reproductive rights,” said Dr Pascale Allotey of WHO’s Department of Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing and the United Nations’ Special Programme on Human Reproduction (HRP).Future updates will address fertility preservation, third-party reproduction and the impact of pre-existing medical conditions.About the AuthorAnuja JaiswalAnuja Jaiswal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India, with an impressive 18-year career in narrative journalism. She specializes in health and heritage reporting, expertly simplifying complex health information to make it engaging and understandable for readers. Her deep dives into heritage topics are well-researched, resulting in captivating narratives that resonate with her audience. Over the years, she has worked in Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh and West UP, gaining diverse on-ground experience that shapes her storytelling.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosEU MP Filip Dewinter Labels Pakistan As A ‘Terror State’, Urges Europe To Act And Align With IndiaNepal’s Currency Map Includes Indian Land; Ex-Minister Calls Dialogue Essential Amid Rising TensionIndia’s Maritime Future Is Preordained: CDS Chauhan Predicts Indian Navy’s Decisive Warfighting RolePak Slams Rajnath’s Sindh Remark But Ignores Its Leader Claiming Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana As OwnIndiGo And Air India Warn Of Delays As Airbus Solar Radiation Snag Hits 350 A320 Jets In IndiaPakistan Faces Global Scrutiny as UN Flags Grave Risks to Rule of Law, Judicial Freedom, GovernanceCyclone Ditwah Approaches India: Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh Brace For Impact’Op Sindoor Was Just A Glimpse Of Future Theatre Commands’: Air Marshal Ashutosh DixitPM Modi Unveils World’s Tallest Bronze Statue Of Lord Ram In South GoaIndia Says US Trade Deal Is ‘Only Matter Of Time’ As Tariffs Reshape Bilateral Trade Negotiations123PhotostoriesYour soul temple: 6 powerful temples to visit in India based on personality types7 houseplants to avoid if you have kidsEveryday fashion inspired by Bollywood elegance and effortless celebrity charm influencing real life wardrobes across generations5 must visit places in Delhi for a fun weekend with kidsHow Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge rewrote the way India falls in loveHow Universe Communicate With You According To Your Birth Date7 everyday Indian foods that help improve your child’s memoryExpert-approved 3 best drinks and their right quantity to reverse fatty liver naturallyWeekly Cosmic Messages From November 29 To December 5, 2025 According To Your Birth DateBrainless but brilliant: 5 animals that survive without a brain123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayNew Labour CodeWorld NewsGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingGiannis AntetokounmpoBo BichetteWWE Smackdown HighlightsDonald TrumpPerez HiltonCyclone DitwahR AshwinAyesha CurryFuzzy ZoellerJammie Booker
NEW DELHI: The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday urged countries — including India — to make fertility care safer, fairer and affordable, releasing its first-ever global guideline on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infertility.Infertility affects 1 in 6 adults of reproductive age, yet access to fertility services remains limited and costly. In many countries, including India, treatment is largely paid out-of-pocket, leaving couples to bear catastrophic expenses. A single IVF cycle can cost more than an average family’s annual income, pushing many toward unregulated or unproven therapies.Calling infertility “one of the most overlooked public-health challenges,” WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said millions are priced out of care or forced to choose between treatment and financial security.The guideline issues 40 recommendations to strengthen early diagnosis, cost-effective treatment pathways and integration of fertility services into national health systems. It stresses prevention through awareness about fertility, age-related decline, healthy lifestyles, and tackling leading causes such as untreated sexually transmitted infections and tobacco use.WHO also highlights the emotional burden — depression, anxiety, stigma and isolation — and calls for routine psychosocial support.Countries have been asked to adapt the recommendations to local contexts, expand insurance or public financing, and align fertility care with rights-based reproductive health policies.“The prevention and treatment of infertility must be grounded in gender equality and reproductive rights,” said Dr Pascale Allotey of WHO’s Department of Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing and the United Nations’ Special Programme on Human Reproduction (HRP).Future updates will address fertility preservation, third-party reproduction and the impact of pre-existing medical conditions.
