{"id":9977,"date":"2025-12-02T15:40:57","date_gmt":"2025-12-02T11:40:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/?p=9977"},"modified":"2025-12-02T15:41:18","modified_gmt":"2025-12-02T11:41:18","slug":"who-sets-new-global-standard-for-infertility-management","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/en\/who-sets-new-global-standard-for-infertility-management\/","title":{"rendered":"WHO Sets New Global Standard for Infertility Management"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify\" data-path-to-node=\"3\">Infertility affects approximately 1 in 6 people of reproductive age. It is defined as difficulty conceiving for 12 months or more of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse. Until now, international standards for the prevention, diagnosis, and management of this condition have been inconsistent and fragmented. In response to this challenge, the World Health Organization (WHO) has published the first comprehensive guideline on infertility in history. The document supports accessible, cost-effective, and evidence-based fertility services, radically transforming the global perspective on reproductive health. This guideline is a key milestone, as infertility is not just a &#8220;medical problem&#8221; but a matter of equality and fundamental human rights, requiring the implementation of an integrated approach globally.<\/p>\n\r\n                <style type=\"text\/css\">\r\n                    \r\n                    #tdi_1  .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item1 {\r\n                        background: url(https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-03.24.02-e1764621732544-160x120.png) 0 0 no-repeat;\r\n                    }\r\n                    #tdi_1  .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item2 {\r\n                        background: url(https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-03.22.58-160x120.png) 0 0 no-repeat;\r\n                    }\r\n                <\/style>\r\n\r\n                <div id=\"tdi_1\" class=\"td-gallery td-slide-on-2-columns\">\r\n                    <div class=\"post_td_gallery\">\r\n                       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class=\"td-slide-galery-figure td-slide-popup-gallery\">\r\n                            <a class=\"slide-gallery-image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-03.24.02-e1764621732544.png\" title=\"Screenshot 2025-12-01 at 03.24.02\"  data-caption=\"WHO\"  data-description=\"\">\r\n                                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-03.24.02-537x420.png\" srcset=\"https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-03.24.02-537x420.png 420w, https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-03.24.02-e1764621732544.png 840w\" sizes=\"(-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2) 840px, (min-resolution: 192dpi) 840px, 420px\" alt=\"\">\r\n                            <\/a>\r\n                            <figcaption class = \"td-slide-caption td-gallery-slide-content\"><div class = \"td-gallery-slide-copywrite\">WHO<\/div><\/figcaption>\r\n                        <\/figure>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                    <div class = \"td-slide-item td-item2\">\r\n                        <figure class=\"td-slide-galery-figure td-slide-popup-gallery\">\r\n                            <a class=\"slide-gallery-image-link\" href=\"https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-03.22.58.png\" title=\"Screenshot 2025-12-01 at 03.22.58\"  data-caption=\"\"  data-description=\"\">\r\n                                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-03.22.58.png\" srcset=\"https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-03.22.58.png 420w, https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-03.22.58.png 840w\" sizes=\"(-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2) 840px, (min-resolution: 192dpi) 840px, 420px\" alt=\"\">\r\n                            <\/a>\r\n                            \r\n                        <\/figure>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n                        <\/div>\r\n\r\n                        <div class = \"td-doubleSlider-2\">\r\n                            <div class = \"td-slider\">\r\n                                \r\n                    <div class = \"td-button td-item1\">\r\n                        <div class = \"td-border\"><\/div>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                    <div class = \"td-button td-item2\">\r\n                        <div class = \"td-border\"><\/div>\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n                            <\/div>\r\n                        <\/div>\r\n\r\n                    <\/div>\r\n\r\n                <\/div>\r\n                \n<p style=\"text-align: justify\" data-path-to-node=\"3\"><strong>Prevention: Raising Awareness and Reducing Risks<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\" data-path-to-node=\"6\">The cornerstone of the WHO guideline is prevention, which involves comprehensive education on fertility and infertility risks. The guideline pays special attention to providing timely, reliable, and culturally adapted information to the population before and during reproductive age. Primary risk factors include: advanced maternal age, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) without appropriate treatment, active tobacco use, obesity, and other lifestyle and environmental factors. Raising fertility awareness helps couples and individuals effectively plan pregnancy and prevent cases of infertility that are avoidable.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_9989\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9989\" style=\"width: 696px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-9989\" src=\"https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-03.42.36-1024x792.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"696\" height=\"538\" srcset=\"https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-03.42.36-1024x792.png 1024w, https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-03.42.36-300x232.png 300w, https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-03.42.36-768x594.png 768w, https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-03.42.36-543x420.png 543w, https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-03.42.36-1086x840.png 1086w, https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-03.42.36-150x116.png 150w, https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-03.42.36-600x464.png 600w, https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-03.42.36-696x538.png 696w, https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-03.42.36-1068x826.png 1068w, https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-03.42.36.png 1244w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-9989\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">WHO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\" data-path-to-node=\"7\">The guideline promotes lifestyle management counseling as a critical preventive tool (diet, exercise, cessation of tobacco and alcohol). Special emphasis is placed on tobacco use, due to its harmful effect on both female and male reproductive health. Doctors are obligated to approach consultation with both partners with great responsibility, fully protect confidentiality, and actively combat existing stigmas to maximize the effectiveness of prevention.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\" data-path-to-node=\"7\"><strong>Diagnosis: Patient-Centered Assessment<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\" data-path-to-node=\"10\">The WHO diagnostic approach primarily considers a comprehensive assessment of both the man and the woman, as infertility is often a multifactorial problem. The female assessment includes a detailed patient history, physical examination, and non-invasive diagnostic methods, such as ultrasonography to confirm ovulation and the use of sonohysterography or hysterosalpingography for visualizing the uterus and fallopian tubes. For the male assessment, a Semen Analysis is important and must be performed according to strictly standardized WHO laboratory procedures, which complements the results of the reproductive, sexual history, and physical examination.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_9988\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9988\" style=\"width: 696px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-9988\" src=\"https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-04.13.00-1024x715.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"696\" height=\"486\" srcset=\"https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-04.13.00-1024x715.png 1024w, https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-04.13.00-300x210.png 300w, https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-04.13.00-768x536.png 768w, https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-04.13.00-601x420.png 601w, https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-04.13.00-1203x840.png 1203w, https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-04.13.00-150x105.png 150w, https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-04.13.00-600x419.png 600w, https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-04.13.00-696x486.png 696w, https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-04.13.00-1068x746.png 1068w, https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-04.13.00-100x70.png 100w, https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-04.13.00-200x140.png 200w, https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-04.13.00.png 1300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-9988\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">WHO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\" data-path-to-node=\"11\">The guideline gives special importance to diagnostic cost-effectiveness, recommending stepwise testing protocols. These protocols are based on clinical data and aim to avoid invasive and unnecessary investigations. The document also recognizes the severe emotional burden of infertility and demands guaranteed access to routine psychosocial support. Crucially, the guideline defines unexplained infertility with special caution, as a Diagnosis of Exclusion. Accordingly, this diagnosis is made only after a detailed investigation has been completed and no known medical cause of infertility has been found.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_9987\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9987\" style=\"width: 696px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-9987\" src=\"https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-04.13.16-1024x678.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"696\" height=\"461\" srcset=\"https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-04.13.16-1024x678.png 1024w, https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-04.13.16-300x199.png 300w, https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-04.13.16-768x509.png 768w, https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-04.13.16-634x420.png 634w, https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-04.13.16-1268x840.png 1268w, https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-04.13.16-150x99.png 150w, https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-04.13.16-600x397.png 600w, https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-04.13.16-696x461.png 696w, https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-04.13.16-1068x707.png 1068w, https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-01-at-04.13.16.png 1350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-9987\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">WHO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\" data-path-to-node=\"11\"><strong>Treatment: Decisions Tailored to Individual Needs<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\" data-path-to-node=\"14\">Treatment recommendations are adapted to the diversity of the underlying causes of infertility. In managing ovulatory dysfunction, particularly in women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), the first line of therapy consists of oral agents, specifically letrozole or clomiphene citrate, with the addition of metformin in some cases. The guideline assesses the benefits, potential risks, and patient acceptability of the therapy during the treatment selection process. The document acknowledges the often superior efficacy of letrozole but emphasizes that clomiphene citrate remains an appropriate and justified choice in specific clinical cases.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\" data-path-to-node=\"15\">The strategy for managing fallopian tube pathology is based on the patient&#8217;s age and the clinical severity of the disease. Surgical intervention can provide a better long-term pregnancy prognosis in women with mild or moderate fallopian tube damage. However, for severe pathology or older patients, in vitro fertilization (IVF) is often prioritized, especially when age dictates that conception should occur in the shortest possible time.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\" data-path-to-node=\"16\">In vitro fertilization (IVF) firmly maintains the status of a therapeutic cornerstone, supported by strictly defined monitoring protocols. The main goal of these protocols is to reduce the risk of potential complications such as Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) and the incidence of multiple pregnancies.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\" data-path-to-node=\"17\">The guideline addresses male infertility with equal accuracy and caution. WHO notes that the recent widespread use of antioxidant supplements requires more scientific evidence before recommendations can be issued. Varicocele correction(by surgical or embolization methods) is offered to men who have clinically confirmed varicocele and dysfunctional (pathological) semen parameters. Furthermore, the guideline places special emphasis on the necessity of multidisciplinary, coordinated management, which ensures patient safety, cost-effectiveness of treatment, and equitable access to services.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\" data-path-to-node=\"18\">For couples with unexplained infertility, the guideline primarily recommends an &#8220;Expectant Management&#8221; strategy, which includes lifestyle counseling and close monitoring. In cases of unsuccessful conception, the next stage is ovarian stimulation combined with Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), using oral medications. IVF represents the final option if the above treatments are ineffective. The document requires patients to be exhaustively informed about the benefits, costs, and risks, ensuring a unified, agreed-upon decision-making process.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\" data-path-to-node=\"18\"><strong>Future Perspective<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\" data-path-to-node=\"21\">The WHO guideline aims for large-scale implementation in global and national healthcare structures, professional associations, and patient organizations. Its full effectiveness is directly linked to the successful adaptation of the recommendations to local epidemiological data, the capabilities of the healthcare infrastructure, and the cultural context.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\" data-path-to-node=\"22\">The WHO recognizes significant research gaps\u2014especially in diagnostic methods for male infertility, the long-term effects of treatments, and psychosocial support strategies. The evolution of reproductive technologies, fertility preservation procedures, and the ethical and clinical aspects of third-party reproduction will require the structural update\/expansion of the guideline in the future. The WHO is ready to ensure the continuous monitoring of scientific research progress. This is essential for the guideline to remain relevant and to fully respond to both the changing needs of patients and the evolution of the medical field.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/news\/item\/28-11-2025-who-issues-first-global-guideline-on-infertility\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WHO<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><br style=\"font-weight: 400\" \/><br style=\"font-weight: 400\" \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Infertility affects approximately 1 in 6 people of reproductive age. It is defined as difficulty conceiving for 12 months or more of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse. Until now, international standards for the prevention, diagnosis, and management of this condition have been inconsistent and fragmented. In response to this challenge, the World Health Organization (WHO) has [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":9979,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1596,1594],"tags":[3224,3223,2004],"class_list":["post-9977","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-internal-medicine","category-news","tag-guidline","tag-infertility","tag-who"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9977","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9977"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9977\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9993,"href":"https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9977\/revisions\/9993"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9979"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9977"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9977"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medscriptum.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9977"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}