What are the WHO infertility guidelines?
WHO Fertility Guidelines (full name: Guideline for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of prevention, 2025) announced by the World Health Organization First Fertility Integration GuidelinesThis is it. In the meantime, there have been medical guidelines at the level of individual societies, but this is the first time that a global standard has been applied to all countries, from low- to high-income countries.
This is how WHO defines infertility. “A disease of the reproductive system that does not lead to pregnancy even after 12 months or more of regular sex without contraception.” It is clearly defined as an “illness” rather than an individual fault or a problem of either gender.
Fertility in numbers — the story of 1 in 6 people
The official statistics presented by the guidelines show how common infertility is.
The world's childbearing population 1 out of 6At least once in this lifetime, you experience infertility (17.5% lifetime prevalence).
There is little difference in prevalence between high-income countries (17.8%) and lower-middle income countries (16.5%). Infertility is not a specific country Common public health issues around the worldThis is it.
According to a WHO survey of 8,500 couples in 25 countries, the cause of infertility is 30.6% of female factors alone, Male factor alone 18.7%, men and women were combined at 26.3%, and the cause was unknown at 10.8%.
If you add this up The male factor fully or partially contributes to 45.1% of all infertility casesI will.
Nearly half of the cases have male factors, but in reality, infertility tests and most of the attention have been focused on women. WHO guidelines place great emphasis on correcting this very imbalance.
What's different about men in these guidelines?
First, the evaluation starts for men and women at the same time. The WHO specified that infertility assessments are not performed sequentially for women, but that male and female partners should be assessed simultaneously from the beginning. It puts a brake on the practice of spending time without confirmation from the male side.
Second, the definition of “infertility of unknown cause” has become stricter. Now, if all of the man's medical history, physical examination, and semen tests are not confirmed, the diagnosis “cause unknown” itself cannot be made. Male assessment has become a requirement for diagnosis rather than an option.
Third, the principles for interpreting semen tests were presented. WHO says that if at least one thing in semen test results is beyond the reference range Retest after at least 11 weeksI recommend This is because it takes an average of about 74 days for new sperm to be produced. Conversely, if all indicators were in the normal range, it was determined that re-testing was not necessary. What is noteworthy is that in a study cited by WHO Many of the men whose first test was normal had a different result on the second testIt's true. It means you should watch the flow rather than compare the results of one round.
Fourth, lifestyle habits have come to the forefront. The recommendation that received the strongest rating (Strong Assessment) in this guideline is neither surgery nor advanced testing Quit smokingThat was it. Smoking is linked to an increased risk of infertility, so quitting smoking is the first step when preparing to become pregnant. A balanced diet, sobriety, regular exercise, and maintaining an appropriate body weight were also emphasized.
Why should we pay attention to male reproductive health now?
WHO is a barrier to male testing in guidelines Stigma, social norms about masculinity, costs, lack of specialized personnelI named it. Many men put off checking between “I wouldn't be surprised” and the burden of the hospital threshold, and the couple's time passes in the meantime.
The guidelines point in another direction. To the general population Providing fertility information in a low-cost mannerDoing it — at school, in primary care, and on digital channels. This is because the sooner you become interested in fertility, the longer it takes to respond to correctable risk factors (smoking, obesity, neglected infections, etc.).
Intrin Co., Ltd Hodabo seriesThis is also the reason for making it. Hago Bogo is a sperm microscope (sperm microscope) that allows you to directly observe your own sperm in an environment where privacy is guaranteed at home. The report is not a tool for making medical diagnoses. However, observation is the beginning of interest, and interest leads to the next step of visiting a hospital. We focus on this' bridging 'role — starting with observation, helping you receive accurate testing and treatment at a healthcare provider.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. When should I go to the hospital? A. According to WHO, if a pregnancy does not occur after 12 months of regular sex without contraception, it is recommended to have a fertility assessment. At this time, it's not just women Couple together Being evaluated is a standard proposed by WHO.
Q. The semen test results were bad once. Is it infertility? A. No. You can't make a decision based on a single result. Semen indicators vary greatly depending on the period of abstinence, recent fever, medication taken, etc., and WHO also recommends re-testing after at least 11 weeks if any abnormalities are found. If you're concerned about the results, talk to a urology specialist.
Q. What can I do now for sperm health? A. The WHO's strongest recommendation is smoking cessation. This is combined with sobriety, regular exercise, and maintaining an appropriate body weight. Since sperm is newly produced over a period of about 74 days, the changes that began today will be the result of two or three months from now.
Q. Are fertility supplements (antioxidants) effective? A. The WHO did not recommend either for or against antioxidant supplements. This means that the effects cannot be confirmed based on research to date. You need to be careful with products that are advertised as having proven efficacy.
Q. Can I find out if I'm infertile by reporting it? A. No. Hago Report is a tool to monitor sperm at home, and infertility diagnosis is only possible through standardized tests and specialized care at medical institutions. Hagobo is the first step in becoming interested in my body, and aims to be an opportunity to find a hospital when needed.
Int-In Co., Ltd. Ha-Go Report Series
INTIN Inc.is a health tech company headquartered in Daegu, South Korea, that develops and manufactures home healthcare devices including male reproductive health. HAGOBOGO (HAGOBOGO)is a consumer sperm monitor that allows you to directly observe sperm at home, Hagobogo PRO (HAGOBOGO PRO, model name OM-P2GW)It is an in vitro diagnostic (IVD) sperm analyzer that has received CE IVDR certification and is supplied to the specialized market. INTIN aims to deliver accurate information on male reproductive health through the 'and Report Series', which is evidence-based (evidence-based) information content.
The purpose of this article is to provide health information and is not a substitute for medical diagnosis or personal care. If you suspect or have questions about infertility, please consult your healthcare provider. WHO does not endorse specific companies or products, and references to WHO data in this text are factual citations through source notation.
