Epidemiological Characteristics of Infertility, 1990-2021, and 15-Year Forecasts for Global, China, and the United States: An Analysis Based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background Infertility represents a widespread public health challenge. Gaining a thorough understanding of the burden and the epidemiological patterns associated with infertility is essential for evaluating advancements in addressing this epidemic, as well as for informing policy development and program execution. This research aims to elucidate the degree of infertility across various global regions and nations, offering vital insights that can aid in policy-making efforts aimed at mitigating the infertility epidemic. Methods The research utilized information gathered from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study conducted in 2021. This dataset encompasses statistics related to prevalence and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), as well as age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR) and age-standardized DALYs rate (ASDR) associated with infertility, spanning the years 1990 through 2021. Furthermore, the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) for these figures was calculated, and provided 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for these estimates as a reference. Results In 2021, it was calculated that the global Age-Standardized Prevalence Rate (ASPR) for male infertility stood at 1354.76 cases per 100,000 people, with a 95% Uncertainty Interval ranging from 802.12 to 2174.77 cases per 100,000 individuals. For female infertility, the ASPR was recorded at 2764.62 per 100,000 individuals (95% UI: 1476.33-4862.57 per 100,000 individuals). Between 1990 and 2021, the EAPC in ASPR was observed to be 0.5% (95% CI: 0.36–0.64) for males and 0.7% (95% CI: 0.53–0.87) for females. In that same year, the global ASDR attributed to male infertility was 7.84 per 100,000 individuals (95% UI: 2.85–18.56 per 100,000 individuals), while for female infertility, it amounted to 15.12 per 100,000 individuals (95% UI: 5.35–36.88 per 100,000 individuals). The EAPC for ASDR linked to male and female infertility from 1990 to 2021 was assessed at 0.51% (95% CI: 0.38–0.65) and 0.71% (95% CI: 0.54–0.88), respectively. Among the 204 countries and territories in 2021, India ranked first in both the prevalence of cases and DALYs associated with male and female infertility, followed by China and Indonesia. Conclusions Between 1990 and 2021, the worldwide occurrence of infertility has increased, particularly in countries with low to middle incomes. Developing alternative strategies for coping with infertility and creating comprehensive management plans specific to regions experiencing a significant burden is essential.