Now is the time to introduce new innovative assisted reproduction methods to implement accessible, affordable, and demonstrably successful advanced infertility services in resource-poor countries

TY - JOUR

T1 - Now is the time to introduce new innovative assisted reproduction methods to implement accessible, affordable, and demonstrably successful advanced infertility services in resource-poor countries

AU - Ombelet, Willem

AU - Van Blerkom, Jonathan

AU - Boshoff, Gerhard

AU - Huyser, Carin

AU - Lopes, Federica

AU - Nargund, Geeta

AU - Sallam, Hassan

AU - Vanmechelen, Koen

AU - Campo, Rudi

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.

PY - 2025/1/17

Y1 - 2025/1/17

N2 - Nearly 200 million people worldwide suffer from infertility. Disparities exist between developed and developing countries due to differences in the availability of infertility care, different reimbursement policies and socio-cultural differences surrounding procreation. In low- and middle-income countries, specialized infertility centres are either scarce or non-existent, mostly in private settings, and accessible only to the fortunate few who can afford them. The success and sustainability of ARTs will depend on our ability to optimize these techniques in terms of availability, affordability, and effectiveness. A low-cost, simplified IVF system has been developed and shown to be safe, cost-effective, and widely applicable to low-resource settings. Combined with inexpensive mild ovarian stimulation protocols, this could become a truly effective means of treating infertility and performing assisted reproduction at affordable prices, but only if such programmes are sincerely desired and supported by all relevant stakeholders. A receptive political, governmental, and clinical community is essential.

AB - Nearly 200 million people worldwide suffer from infertility. Disparities exist between developed and developing countries due to differences in the availability of infertility care, different reimbursement policies and socio-cultural differences surrounding procreation. In low- and middle-income countries, specialized infertility centres are either scarce or non-existent, mostly in private settings, and accessible only to the fortunate few who can afford them. The success and sustainability of ARTs will depend on our ability to optimize these techniques in terms of availability, affordability, and effectiveness. A low-cost, simplified IVF system has been developed and shown to be safe, cost-effective, and widely applicable to low-resource settings. Combined with inexpensive mild ovarian stimulation protocols, this could become a truly effective means of treating infertility and performing assisted reproduction at affordable prices, but only if such programmes are sincerely desired and supported by all relevant stakeholders. A receptive political, governmental, and clinical community is essential.

KW - accessible

KW - affordable

KW - assisted reproduction

KW - infertility care

KW - LMICs

KW - low- and middle-income countries

KW - simplified IVF

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85218441026

U2 - 10.1093/hropen/hoaf001

DO - 10.1093/hropen/hoaf001

M3 - Review article

C2 - 39935763

AN - SCOPUS:85218441026

SN - 2399-3529

VL - 2025

JO - Human Reproduction Open

JF - Human Reproduction Open

IS - 1

M1 - hoaf001

ER -