A workplace education pilot has demonstrated how greater understanding of infertility can shift attitudes towards supporting employees experiencing fertility problems.
Surveys before and after the study showed support for workplace adjustments rising nearly eightfold, while the belief that infertility should remain a private matter fell by more than half.
The four-week pilot involved 73 employees, managers, HR staff and senior leaders at three banking, insurance and manufacturing firms in Uganda; the companies have not been named at their request.
The infertility charity Rainbow Hearts Foundation (RHF) led the study, in partnership with the International Federation of Fertility Societies (IFFS), through its More Joy fertility care campaign.
“Infertility can involve repeated medical appointments, emotional strain and uncertainty, yet employees may feel unable to talk about it at work for fear of stigma or discrimination,” said RHF founder and director Phiona Ngoga.
“Our findings suggest even a short period of education can make a difference to how people view infertility and the support employees may need.
“Over the four-week pilot, support for reasonable workplace adjustments rose from 11% to 87%, while the proportion who believed infertility should remain a private matter fell by more than half.”
“These changes are encouraging, but awareness is only the first step.
“Employers need to consider how they can translate this understanding into practical support, including guidance for managers, flexibility for medical appointments and workplace policies that recognise fertility-related needs.”
The results are detailed in the report MoreJoy™ at Work: Building Performance Stability through Reproductive & Family Wellbeing. They highlight the wider role employers can play in supporting people experiencing infertility, an issue the IFFS addresses through its global More Joy campaign.
“We are encouraged by these findings, particularly the shift in attitudes over such a short period,” said Dr Marcos Horton, president of the IFFS, a global federation representing national fertility societies and reproductive medicine professionals.
“Infertility is a health issue, but its impact can extend into the workplace, where employees may struggle to balance treatment with their professional responsibilities or feel unable to talk about what they are experiencing.
“However, the results also show how persistent some aspects of stigma remain. The proportion of respondents who said women receive more blame than men for infertility remained at 97% both before and after the pilot, highlighting the need for continued efforts to address gender-based stigma.
“Through our MoreJoy™ campaign, IFFS is working to improve understanding of infertility and promote fairer, more accessible fertility care. This study reinforces the importance of involving employers in that effort, so employees can seek the care they need without fear of stigma or disadvantage.”
The report comes amid a worldwide decline in fertility rates, according to World Bank data. The global average fell from 2.7 children per woman in 2000 to 2.2 in 2024, while Uganda’s dropped from 6.8 to 4.2, remaining above the global average.
Kampala-based Rainbow Hearts Foundation (RHF) is a not-for-profit organisation working to improve the health and well-being of people affected by infertility.
IFFS is a global federation of national fertility societies that promotes research, education and high-quality fertility care.
Pics and report: Phiona N Ngoga, founder & director, Rainbow Hearts Foundation; Dr Marcos Horton, IFFS president; MoreJoy™ at Work: Building Performance Stability through Reproductive & Family Wellbeing report.
