Infertility and the Need for Public Health Tools

Infertility affects the lives of individuals, couples and families; in addition there are social implications to prevention efforts, use of health resources, and ethical, legal and religious questions raised by infertility. The public health sub-disciplines of epidemiology, environmental and occupational health, social and behavioral
sciences, health services research, health law and ethics, and maternal and child health are already engaged in research and practice concerning several aspects of infertility assessment, prevention, treatment and policy. In addition to the current infertility-related work of public health professionals there is significant need for continued public health efforts in three areas related to infertility and its treatment: data collection and surveillance, public debate on social and ethical issues, and development of health policy.