National Infertility Awareness Week (April 19–25), themed “More Than,” highlights infertility as not just a medical condition, but a deeply personal journey shaping lives.
Founded in 1989 by RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association in the United States, the campaign now reaches a global audience, offering support and education to the estimated one in six people affected worldwide.
The week calls for recognition of infertility’s emotional, social and medical dimensions, while pushing for improved access to care and reduced stigma.
Clinically, infertility is defined as failure to conceive after 12 months of regular, unprotected intercourse. It affects both men and women, with causes spanning biological, environmental and lifestyle factors.
In women, common causes include ovulatory disorders, blocked fallopian tubes, endometriosis, uterine abnormalities and age-related decline. In men, low sperm count, poor motility, abnormal morphology, hormonal imbalances and lifestyle factors such as smoking and obesity are key contributors.
These complexities underscore the need for early diagnosis. Locally available investigations include hormonal profiling, ultrasound scans, hysterosalpingography, laparoscopy and semen analysis, alongside genetic and advanced hormonal testing.
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Treatment options range from lifestyle changes and medication — including ovulation induction — to surgical correction of anatomical issues. Assisted reproductive technologies such as intrauterine insemination (IUI), in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) offer further pathways to parenthood.
Zimbabwe has expanded access to such services, with centres like IVF Zimbabwe reporting more than 400 IVF births.
“Every child born through IVF represents not just medical success, but the fulfilment of a family’s dream,” said Dr Tinovimba Mhlanga, noting the milestone reflects both scientific progress and growing public trust.
“Infertility is more than statistics. It is about real people, real struggles and real hope. Our mission is to ensure couples access world-class care locally,” he said.
The “More Than” theme reinforces that patients are more than a diagnosis, deserving dignity, empathy and solutions.
Beyond medicine, infertility carries social consequences, including stigma, discrimination and heightened vulnerability to gender-based violence and HIV, demanding a broader, integrated response.
As the week unfolds, it underscores a shared global challenge — and the growing capacity of local systems to deliver hope, innovation and pathways to parenthood.