The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its first-ever global guideline on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of infertility, calling for safer, fairer, and more affordable fertility care worldwide.

Key Features of WHO Guidelines

• Comprehensive Framework: The guidelines include 40 recommendations aimed at strengthening infertility care across prevention, diagnosis, and treatment stages.
• Health Promotion: WHO advocates for lifestyle interventions, such as healthy diet, physical activity, and tobacco cessation, as preventive measures for infertility.
• Fertility Education: The guideline stresses the importance of educating individuals about fertility and infertility early, to assist in reproductive planning.
• Male Infertility Focus: WHO stresses the under-investigation of male infertility and calls for comprehensive diagnostic approaches. Initial management should include advice before progressing to active treatments.
• Stepwise Approach: The guidelines provide a stepwise clinical management approach ranging from basic advice on fertility periods and promotion to complex treatments like intrauterine insemination (IUI) and IVF.
• Holistic Care: The guidelines call for psychosocial support alongside medical treatments, addressing the emotional toll of infertility, which can lead to depression, anxiety, and social isolation.
• Increased Investment in Prevention: A key recommendation is to invest more in preventive measures, such as addressing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and smoking—two leading causes of infertility.
• Integration into Health Systems: The WHO calls for fertility care to be integrated into national health strategies, services, and funding, ensuring broader access to fertility-related health services.
• Contextual Implementation: WHO encourages countries to adapt the guidelines to local contexts, ensuring they align with comprehensive, rights-based approaches to sexual and reproductive health.

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