By Henrylito D. Tacio
Filipinos are prolific beings. In fact, the Philippines is now home to 113,580,000 people, based on Worldometer elaboration of the latest United Nations data.
But despite this fact, the country still has problems when it comes to fertility: one in 10 Filipinos suffers from it, according to a 2013 survey done by market research company Synovate.
The Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) describes infertility as a “disease of the reproductive system defined by the failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse.”
Filipinos are not alone in this dilemma. In fact, large numbers of people are affected by infertility in their lifetime, according to a new WHO report released last April 4.
“Around 17.5% of the adult population – roughly 1 in 6 worldwide – experience infertility, showing the urgent need to increase access to affordable, high-quality fertility care for those in need,” the United Nations health agency said.
The new estimates show limited variation in the prevalence of infertility between regions. The rates are comparable for high-, middle- and low-income countries, indicating that this is a major health challenge globally. Lifetime prevalence was 17.8% in high-income countries and 16.5% in low- and middle-income countries.
“The report reveals an important truth – infertility does not discriminate,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “The sheer proportion of people affected shows the need to widen access to fertility care and ensure this issue is no longer sidelined in health research and policy, so that safe, effective, and affordable ways to attain parenthood are available for those who seek it.”
Not getting pregnant is the main symptom of infertility. “There may be no other obvious symptoms,” the Mayo Clinic states. “Sometimes, women with infertility may have irregular or absent menstrual periods. In some cases, men with infertility may have some signs of hormonal problems, such as changes in hair growth or sexual function.”
According to the WHO, infertility can cause significant distress, stigma, and financial hardship, affecting people’s mental and psychosocial well-being.
Despite the magnitude of the issue, solutions for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infertility – including assisted reproductive technology such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) – remain underfunded and inaccessible to many due to high costs, social stigma and limited availability.
At present, in most countries, fertility treatments are largely funded out of pocket – often resulting in devastating financial costs. People in the poorest countries spend a greater proportion of their income on fertility care compared to people in wealthier countries. High costs frequently prevent people from accessing infertility treatments or alternatively, can catapult them into poverty as a consequence of seeking care.
“Millions of people face catastrophic healthcare costs after seeking treatment for infertility, making this a major equity issue and all too often, a medical poverty trap for those affected,” said Dr. Pascale Allotey, Director of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research at WHO.
“Better policies and public financing can significantly improve access to treatment and protect poorer households from falling into poverty as a result,” added Dr. Allotey, who is also the UN’s Special Program of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction. – ###
