A woman checks the results of a pregnancy test/d3sign/Moment RF/Getty Images
2023.04.04 Tue posted at 17:59 JST
（ＣＮＮ） The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a new report that estimates that one in six people worldwide is affected by infertility. He emphasized that infertility is not an uncommon condition.
Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after one year of unprotected sexual intercourse. Infertility rates are at similar levels in all countries and regions, according to a WHO report on Wednesday. Globally, 17.5%, or one-sixth of the population, will experience infertility in their lifetime. In high-income countries and middle- and low-income countries, the rates were 17.8% and 16.5%, respectively, and there was no big difference between income groups.
For citizens in the poorest countries, however, the ratio of income spent on fertility treatments is significantly higher than in richer countries. The WHO said the results show a high risk of inequalities in access to treatment.
This is the first time such a survey has been conducted in the last 10 years. The analysis used infertility data from 1990 to 2021. The data are derived from 133 previously published infertility prevalence studies.
From the data analyzed, it is not possible to say with certainty whether infertility rates have increased or decreased over the years.
Despite infertility becoming a global health problem, its prevention, diagnosis and treatment remain underfunded, the WHO said. For many patients, treatment is costly and “out of reach,” he said.