International Federation of Fertility Societies

International Federation of Fertility Societies
Founded1951
Typenon-governmental organization
PurposeResearch, education and advocacy about Fertility
President
Marcos Horton[1]
Websitewww.iffsreproduction.org

The International Federation of Fertility Societies (IFFS) is an international organization which supports research, education and advocacy related to reproductive and fertility medicine. As an umbrella organization, the IFFS connects about 65 national fertility societies and associated scientists.[2] IFFS is a non-governmental organization (NGO), officially associated with the World Health Organization (WHO).[3]

The predecessor of the IFFS was the International Fertility Association (IFA), founded in 1951 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In 1953, IFA organized the first of a series of World Congresses on Fertility and Sterility.[2] The International Federation of Fertility Societies (IFFS) was formed in 1968, at the Sixth World Conference held in Tel Aviv, Israel. IFFS continues to hold the World Conferences.[2]

The International Federation of Fertility Societies publishes the journal Global Reproductive Health.[4] Its inaugural issue was the report Surveillance 2016, issued in September 2016. This report collected data on global assisted reproductive technology (ART) practices and outcomes. This has been followed by a series of reports.[5]

The International Federation of Fertility Societies has been a leader in researching and addressing the effects of pollutants on reproduction. As many as 1 in 6 couples worldwide have difficulty reproducing,[6] and fertility rates are dropping globally, especially in industrialized regions.[7][8] Consensus data from the IFFS indicates that the percentage of countries that fall below the total fertility rate has changed from 5% in the 1950s to more than 50%.[9] Only 53% of countries offer financial support for assisted reproductive technologies.[6]

The IFFS has called for public policy changes to reduce exposure to air pollution and other chemicals linked to reproductive harms. They advocate for support for research and medical resources, to make fertility care affordable, accessible, and equitable.[7] Their "More Joy" campaign calls on businesses to take steps to improve work-life balance and better support fertility in the workplace. Suggested steps include flexible work hours, fertility health insurance coverage, paid parental leave, and childcare support.[10][11]

Selected publications

  • Fauser, Bart C J M; Adamson, G David; Boivin, Jacky; Chambers, Georgina M; de Geyter, Christian; Dyer, Silke; Inhorn, Marcia C; Schmidt, Lone; Serour, Gamal I; Tarlatzis, Basil; Zegers-Hochschild, Fernando; Ashiru, Oladapo; Brown, Simon; Bye, Karianne; Calhaz-Jorge, Carlos; Collura, Barbara; De Sutter, Petra; Gianaroli, Luca; Giudice, Linda; Ishihara, Osamu; Mocanu, Edgar V; Ombelet, Willem; Pai, Rishma; Pennings, Guido; Raymer, James; Taylor, Hugh (1 March 2024). "Declining global fertility rates and the implications for family planning and family building: an IFFS consensus document based on a narrative review of the literature". Human Reproduction Update. 30 (2): 153–173. doi:10.1093/humupd/dmad028.
  • International Federation of Fertility Societies' (IFFS) Triennial Report 2025: Global Trends in Reproductive Policy and Practice, 10th edition

References

  1. ↑ "Executive Committee | International Federation of Fertility Societies". IFFS. 10 June 2025. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "Top 10 Assisted Reproductive Technology Organizations Across the Globe". www.fertilityin.com. 10 Mar 2026. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
  3. ↑ "IFFS Surveillance 2016". Global Reproductive Health. 1 (e1): 1–143. September 2016. doi:10.1097/GRH.0000000000000001.
  4. ↑ DeCherney, AH (March 2018). "Why Global Reproductive Health?". Global reproductive health. 3 (1). doi:10.1097/grh.0000000000000003. PMC 8130548. PMID 34013149.
  5. ↑ Giudice, Linda C. (December 2017). "Why IFFS is global". Global Reproductive Health. 2 (1): e6–e6. doi:10.1097/GRH.0000000000000006.
  6. 1 2 Connolly, Mark; Kotsopoulos, Nikos; Li, Jinjing; Chambers, Georgina (18 April 2025). "Estimating the Fiscal Value of Children Conceived from Assisted Reproduction Technology in Australia Applying a Public Economic Perspective". Journal of Health Economics and Outcomes Research. 12 (1). doi:10.36469/001c.133796. PMC 12009558.
  7. 1 2 Kelleher, Shannon (10 January 2024). "Doctors raise alarm on dropping global fertility rate, environmental pollutants cited". The New Lede. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
  8. ↑ Swan, SH; Colino, S (2021). Count down: how our modern world Is threatening sperm counts, altering male and female reproductive development, and imperiling the future of the human race. New York: Scribner. ISBN 978-1-982113-66-7.
  9. ↑ Fauser, Bart C. J. M.; Horton, Marcos; Schmidt, Lone; Chambers, Georgina; Adamson, David G. (1 October 2025). "Expanding fertility awareness and choices: a public health imperative". The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, & Women's Health. 1 (2): e88–e89. doi:10.1016/j.lanogw.2025.100049. ISSN 3050-5038.
  10. ↑ Powell, Martin (27 March 2026). "Global fertility experts urge businesses to act as birth rates decline". News By Wire. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
  11. ↑ Jenkins, Sammy (14 October 2025). "World's first IVF baby backs fertility mission as global birth rates fall". BBC. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
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