WHO’s New Infertility Guidelines: A Wake-Up Call for Modern Families

In an era where careers, finances, and personal milestones often take priority, the World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a stark reminder: fertility is not limitless. 

Its first-ever comprehensive Guideline for the Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Infertility (2025) reports that one in six people of reproductive age—approximately 17.5% globally—will experience infertility in their lifetime.

This guidance is a clear signal for modern families who delay parenthood, emphasizing that biology doesn’t wait for career or lifestyle stability. 

Infertility is defined by WHO as a disease of the reproductive system, marked by the inability to conceive after 12 months of regular unprotected intercourse. 

The causes are varied, affecting men, women, both partners, or sometimes remaining unexplained. Yet societal stigma continues to disproportionately target women.
Understanding the Risks

Age remains the most significant factor in fertility decline. Women experience a gradual decrease in fertility after age 32, with a sharper drop after 37, while men’s fertility gradually diminishes after 40. 

WHO urges early awareness and education on these biological realities through low-cost strategies in schools, workplaces, and healthcare settings.

Lifestyle factors also play a crucial role. Smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, and poor diet significantly increase infertility risks. 

Untreated sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are another preventable cause, yet stigma and misinformation often delay testing and treatment. 

The guidelines recommend that every healthcare interaction include brief advice on fertility risks, particularly related to tobacco use.

WHO also emphasizes practical, evidence-based treatment approaches. Letrozole is recommended over older medications for anovulation in women with PCOS. 

For unexplained infertility, “expectant management,” involving natural attempts with lifestyle guidance, should precede invasive procedures like IVF, which should now be considered a third-line option.

These recommendations aim to reduce the financial and emotional burden on families while ensuring care is accessible, ethical, and guided by evidence. 

The WHO stresses the integration of mental health support from the outset of infertility treatment, countering the common emotional toll of prolonged investigations and ineffective therapies.
The Kenyan Context

In Kenya, infertility carries deep social and cultural implications. Parenthood—especially motherhood—is often seen as central to identity, marital success, and family legacy. 

Women face severe stigma, verbal abuse, social isolation, and, in extreme cases, intimate partner violence. 

Studies indicate that up to 36% of women with infertility experience such violence, and couples often incur high out-of-pocket costs for secretive treatments.

Despite affecting millions, misconceptions persist, with many turning to traditional healers or religious figures instead of evidence-based medical care. 

However, advocacy campaigns like the Merck Foundation’s “More Than a Mother,” in partnership with First Lady Rachel Ruto, are shifting perceptions by framing infertility as a shared health issue rather than a personal or moral failing.

The WHO guidelines deliver a clear and urgent message: understand your fertility early, adopt healthy lifestyles, and seek professional guidance without delay or shame. 

Couples over 35 who have tried for six months—or younger couples after a year of trying—should consult medical professionals promptly.

Infertility is no longer a hidden or taboo topic. The WHO has placed it firmly on the global reproductive-health agenda, highlighting the need for awareness, prevention, and equitable treatment.