Around the globe, the challenges of infertility and/or needing to access fertility treatments to build or expand families extend beyond biology: they include stigma, silence, cost, and a lack of knowledge. When people don’t know their options, or feel ashamed to ask, access remains theoretical. Just like infertility, unfortunately, issues and misinformation surrounding access to care is also a major issue that unites us in every region of the world.
Globally, approximately 1 in 6 adults (~17.5 %) face infertility (and that’s just what’s reported), yet in many low- and middle-income regions fewer than 10% of those in need receive care. To put that in simple numbers, about 130,000,000 aren’t getting the treatment they may need as they try to conceive.
Without awareness and education, infrastructure stands idle or is not demanded enough to be supplied. Fertility clinics and local help may exist, but many people don’t know when to seek help, or feel they have the right to do so.
Consider a few different regions: in North America, fertility clinics are abundant (particularly on the coastlines) and employer-benefits programs are growing increasingly common. According to Pew Research Center data, 7 in 10 U.S. adults believe access to IVF is a good thing, with strong support across most demographic and political groups. Yet affordability, insurance gaps, policy uncertainty, and delayed care persist.
WFA U.S. Ambassador Dr. David Sable shares, “Outcomes should be the same no matter where you go. We now have a way to pick apart the artisanal process that is IVF and make it into something standardized. It should be accessible [geographically] wherever you are and outcomes should be predictable and uniformly good. We need to move to a marketplace in which IVF is a purchasing decision where you’re not squandering your financial stability and future for the sake of having a child...Even if it were free, putting yourself through the current process of IVF with the chance of getting nothing from it is a lot to ask. Plus, writing a check for $15- 20,000 and having nothing to say for it? No wonder people stay on the sidelines...We will get there, but it’s frustrating we won’t get there fast enough to help everyone now.”
Recently in the U.S., the topic of what to do with surplus cryopreserved gametes and embryos has taken center stage. A landmark ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court in 2024 determined that frozen embryos are legally considered children, a decision that has introduced new layers of uncertainty around assisted reproductive technology practices nationwide. More than a dozen other U.S. states have laws that could similarly be interpreted as granting personhood to embryos, even before implantation or pregnancy, raising significant concerns for patients seeking access to care.
Meanwhile, in sub-Saharan Africa, clinics are few and far between, specialists are scarce, and cultural stigma often silences the conversation. A recent study that collected data from Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya and Uganda found that infertility among women trying to conceive ranged from ~8% in Burkina Faso to ~30% in Côte d’Ivoire, demonstrating the substantial variation in infertility prevalence across sub-Saharan Africa, and challenges in precise measurement across geographic region.
Editah Hadassa, WFA Kenya Ambassador and patient advocate, describes, “As someone who has walked the path of infertility, I know the emotional toll it takes. Being part of a global initiative that breaks stigma and amplifies real stories brings healing – not just to individuals, but to communities. In Kenya and many parts of Africa, infertility is heavily stigmatised. Women, in particular, face isolation, blame, and sometimes even violence. Raising awareness allows us to challenge deep-rooted cultural myths and offer solidarity and hope to those navigating this journey.”
Signs of progress exist everywhere. More infertility-focused platforms and charities are launching to spread awareness raising education campaigns, and offering financial assistance grants to families in need. Social-media communities, podcast series, and local patient-advocacy groups are uplifting voices in many regions of the world that previously had been silent.
WFA U.S. Ambassador, and Embryologist, Alease Daniel Barnes is breaking down technical jargon via social media and helping patients understand their path: when to test, when to refer, when to act. In Nigeria, WFA Ambassador Ola Taiwo founded Fertility Conversations, the first fertility based podcast in Africa, and facilitated the first Fertility Awareness Week in Nigeria in 2022 to raise awareness and to help people feel less alone. She shares, “In Nigeria, infertility is often misunderstood, especially for women. It’s time to break the silence, challenge the shame, and recognize infertility for what it truly is: a medical condition, not a moral failure. We need more awareness, access, empathy, and support, and a complete shift in how we talk about it.”
When people know their options, feel empowered to ask questions, and engage in clear conversation with care teams, the first step toward family becomes visible. The work isn’t done, but our collective voices are louder, clearer, and steadier than ever around the world.
