According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in six people around the world are being affected by issues with infertility. In other words, it’s a very common condition and cases continue to increase. While there are treatments for it in many cases, not everyone feels comfortable talking to their doctor. Especially for men, the stigma surrounding infertility can keep them from reaching out to doctors and seeking out the treatment they need.

A lack of insurance and affordability can also keep people from looking for infertility treatment. In the United States many insurance policies cover these treatments, but that’s not the case for all insurance companies in the US, or in other countries.

The WHO’s report states that the rates of infertility are similar across regions and countries, showing a global prevalence of 17.5% over a lifetime. Income and other classification factors don’t have much bearing on infertility rates. Where the difference comes in is how people handle the struggles and the options they have available to them.

Inequality of care is a factor, and people in countries with lower incomes tend to spend a lot of their income on IVF. They may only be able to afford one cycle, which might not be successful. One of the issues the WHO report didn’t address was whether infertility rates are changing, or whether they’ve stayed basically the same in recent years.

Even though the WHO has made public statements in the past about overpopulation, the organization realizes this is a separate issue from people who want to have a family and aren’t able to do so. As such, bringing issues with infertility to light is very valuable for anyone who wants to start a family and needs help and support, as well as good and accurate information.

Inaccessible and underfunded are among the words the WHO report uses to talk about infertility care around the world. By bringing the issue to light, though, the hope is that more people will be able to find the care they need. Since this is a worldwide problem, big solutions will be required to reduce its impact, and understanding the significance of it is the first step.

At The Surrogacy Law Center, our thorough contracts establish the intent of the parties regarding their rights, identify the parties’ financial responsibility, and ensure all parties are aware of the importance of informed consent, providing our clients with further peace of mind as they navigate their third party assisted reproduction journeys. Contact us to learn more!