National action plan for the prevention, detection and management of infertility and next steps

Infertility is a common disease/disability. In 2002, approximately 2 million American women of reproductive age were infertile and 3.3–4.7 million sexually experienced men reported seeking a visit for infertility services. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has long been concerned with infertility causes and prevention. An agency-wide ad hoc working group formed at CDC in 2007 to coordinate infertility activities found gaps and opportunities in public health surveillance, research, communications, programs and policy development. To address these concerns, the group published a white paper highlighting infertility as a public health issue (Fertil Steril. 2010 Jan;93(1):16.e1-10) and held a symposium at CDC to review infertility causes, consequences and potential interventions. Symposium participants requested the group to outline a national action plan on infertility and public health. The public health and infertility national action plan outline, now complete, incorporates elements from the infertility white paper, suggestions from the symposium, public health principles including primary, secondary and tertiary prevention and the Institute of Medicine's core functions. The plan has five essential components: evaluating impact; advancing knowledge; advancing policy; strengthening capacity; and taking action. We are currently inviting interested stakeholders to draft the final plan by joining work groups on surveillance, research, policy, environmental and occupational exposures, infectious diseases, male infertility and fertility preservation. The plan will address the gaps in surveillance, research, communications, programs and policy development. The working group hopes its activities focus wider attention on infertility as a public health problem.