Single Men Will Get the Right to Start a Family Under New Definition of Infertility
Single men and women without medical issues will be classed as “infertile” if they do not have children but want to become a parent, the World Health Organisation is to announce.
In a move which dramatically changes the definition of infertility, the WHO will declare that it should no longer be regarded as simply a medical condition.
The authors of the new global standards said the revised definition gave every individual “the right to reproduce”.
Until now, the WHO’s definition of infertility – which it classes as a disability – has been the failure to achieve pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sex.
But the new standard suggests that the inability to find a suitable sexual partner – or the lack of sexual relationships which could achieve conception – could be considered an equal disability.
The World Health Organisation sets global health standards and its ruling is likely to place pressure on the NHS to change its policy on who can access IVF treatment.
Legal experts said the new definition, which will be sent out to every health minister next year, may force a law change, allowing the introduction of commercial surrogacy.
However the ruling is also likely to lead to accusations that that the body has overstepped its remit by moving from its remit of health into matters of social affairs.
Under the new terms, heterosexual single men and women, and gay men and women who want to have children would be given the same priority as couples seeking IVF because of medical fertility problems.
Dr David Adamson, one of the authors of the new standards, said: “The definition of infertility is now written in such a way that it includes the rights of all individuals to have a family, and that includes single men, single women, gay men, gay women.
"It puts a stake in the ground and says an individual's got a right to reproduce whether or not they have a partner. It's a big change.
"It fundamentally alters who should be included in this group and who should have access to healthcare. It sets an international legal standard. Countries are bound by it."
Critics last night called the decision “absurd nonsense” as they raised concerns that couples with medical infertility could lose the chance for a child if NHS authorities rewrite their rules.
Under current NHS policies, fertility treatment is only funded for those proven infertile, and those where fertility is unexplained but attempts at conception have failed.
Guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) says women under the age of 42 should be offered three full cycles of IVF, with access for same-sex couples if surrogacy or privately funded fertility treatment fails.
But few areas achieve this, with rationing deepening across the NHS amid financial pressures. Last month figures from the charity Fertility Fairness showed the real provision of free IVF on the NHS is at its lowest since 2004.
