Burden of female infertility in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2021: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
Yi Wei, Zongyun Lin, Qiuyan Huang, Hui Wu, Rong Wang, Junli Wang
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To explore the global burden of female infertility from 1990 to 2021 by examining trends in prevalence and years lived with disability (YLD). METHODS: Data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 (GBD 2021) were analyzed with a focus on the prevalence and YLD of female infertility in women aged 15-49 years. Statistical models were used to estimate ASPRs and YLD across regions and countries. RESULTS: The global prevalence of female infertility was 110.1 million in 2021, with an age-standardized rate of 2,764.6 per 100,000 population. The YLD for infertility in 2021 was 601,134, which represented a 33.1% increase since 1990. Regionally, East Asia and Eastern Europe had the highest rates of infertility, whereas Australasia had the lowest rate. CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights a significant rise in the burden of female infertility, particularly in high-income regions. Study findings emphasize the need for targeted public health strategies and healthcare interventions to address this growing issue.