Reproductive healthcare systems should include accessible infertility diagnosis and treatment: An important challenge for resource‐poor countries

Abstract

Infertility is a central issue in the lives of many couples who suffer from it. In resource-poor countries the problem of childlessness is even more pronounced compared with Western societies owing to different sociocultural circumstances. It often leads to severe psychological, social, and economic suffering, and access to infertility treatment is often limited to certain procedures and certain costumers. The issue of infertility in resource-poor countries is underestimated and neglected, not only by local governments but also by the international nonprofit organizations. Simplification of the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, minimizing the complication rate, and incorporating fertility centers into existing reproductive healthcare programs are essential measures to take in resource-poor countries if infertility treatment is to be accessible for a large part of the population. For reasons of social justice, a search for strategies to implement simplified methods of infertility diagnosis and treatment in resource-poor countries is urgently warranted.

Are Caucasian–European men delaying fatherhood? Results of a 7 year observational study of infertile couples with male factor infertility

“…Finally, for a more complete picture of factors related to increasing paternal age at presentation for couple’s infertility, the current analysis also could have included patients’ monthly income, socioeconomic status and standard of living. Indeed, only a few population‐based infertility studies included income as part of their analyses (Ledger, 2009; Ombelet, 2009). On the one hand, the increased cost of living and of raising children discourages couples from starting families until later in life; on the other hand, improved living standards have increased life expectancy (Ledger, 2009).…”

Affordable ART: a different perspective

“…Surprisingly, the overall median prevalence of infertility around the world remains at around 9%, although there is a wider range of prevalence in resource poor countries (Boivin et al, 2007). However, etiological differences exist, with tubal damage due to sexually transmitted diseases or post-pregnancy complications being one of the principal causes of infertility in developing nations (Ombelet, 2009).…”

In vitro fertilisation/intracytoplasmic sperm injection beyond 2020

“…69 Infertility treatment in low-resource settings is a challenge for policy-makers, and beyond 2020 we must not lose sight of the basic fundamentals of human rights in relation to access to fertility treatment. [70][71][72] Further roll out of low cost initiatives is essential in achieving equity of access to fertility treatment for less-developed nations and in helping millions of couples to achieve their desire to have a biological child.…”

“…Possibly in the future we will see further innovations to help overcome high laboratory costs, such as advances on prior work using the vaginal cavity of the patient as a substitute embryo incubator, with reported single live birth rates of up to 24% . Infertility treatment in low‐resource settings is a challenge for policy‐makers, and beyond 2020 we must not lose sight of the basic fundamentals of human rights in relation to access to fertility treatment . Further roll out of low cost initiatives is essential in achieving equity of access to fertility treatment for less‐developed nations and in helping millions of couples to achieve their desire to have a biological child.…”