Global, regional, and national prevalence and years lived with disability due to infertility, 1990-2021: Results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional epidemiological modeling and time-trend analysis using GBD registry and survey estimates
PubMed 41234004 · doi:10.1097/CM9.0000000000003838
What was done
The authors analyzed data on infertility prevalence and years lived with disability (YLDs) from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 study across global, regional, and national levels from 1990 to 2021. They calculated estimated annual percentage changes in age-standardized rates and evaluated associations with the sociodemographic index (SDI).
What was found
In 2021, global infertility cases reached 143,261,562 in females and 55,481,380 in males. China accounted for 33,795,944 female (23.59%) and 11,909,889 male (21.47%) cases. Between 2019 and 2021, global cases grew by 5,286,227 in females and 2,017,271 in males, whereas China had declines of 698,735 female and 154,591 male cases. From 1990 to 2021, global age-standardized prevalence rates (ASPR) and age-standardized YLD rates (ASYR) increased by 0.59% annually in females and 0.50% annually in males. East Asia had the highest ASPR and ASYR for female infertility, and Eastern Europe had the highest for male infertility. A horizontal S-shaped association was observed between SDI and infertility burden, with a rapid decline once SDI exceeded 0.7.
Why it matters
This study maps the expanding global burden of infertility, demonstrating faster growth in females and underscoring health disparities that disproportionately affect lower-SDI regions.
Limits
The findings rely on modeled secondary estimates from the GBD study, which are limited by variable data completeness, diagnostic disparities across countries, and lack of direct primary patient clinical measurements in the abstract.
Cited by
- supports Infertility rates have steadily climbed over the past several decades, with estimates suggesting nearly one in five couples struggle to conceive.