By Adewale Banjo
Gynaecologists and other medical experts have revealed the reason behind the increasing number of Nigerians experiencing infertility.
The experts revealed this during the 2024 fertility conference in Lagos, at the weekend.
The annual event, themed: “Infertility – Need for Knowledge and Early Intervention,” was organised by the Parah Family Foundation (PFF).
The lead speaker, Preye Fiebai, a specialist in Obstetrics and Gynaecology from the University of Port Harcourt, highlighted ignorance and lack of awareness as major factors contributing to the rise in infertility cases.
He said many Nigerian men were unaware that the ability to ejaculate did not equate to being fertile.
According to Fiebai, research indicates that 20 to 45 per cent of women in Nigeria are infertile, but often, the cause of infertility in marriages is not the women.
The research breakdown shows that 40 percent of infertility cases are due to male factors, 40 per cent to female factors, 15 per cent to combined male and female factors, and five per cent are unexplained.
Fiebai listed causes of infertility in men, including erectile dysfunction, impotence, decreased libido, psychogenic issues, endocrinopathies, age, and overweight, among others.
For women, he fingered cervical factors, uterine factors, diseases of the fallopian tubes, and problems with ovulation.
Kehinde Tijani, professor of Surgery from the University of Lagos, added factors such as age, weight, stress, excessive alcohol consumption, exposure to radiation, and constant exposure of the testicles to high temperatures as contributors to infertility.
Kemi Ailoje, managing director of Lifeline Fertility Clinic, and Tony Akinyemi concurred with the other speakers and offered various remedies to overcome infertility. They also advised women over the age of 54 to avoid aspiring for pregnancy due to the associated risks.
In her welcome address, conference convener, Dayo Odukoya, described the infertility rates and causes as ‘alarming’.
She emphasised the need for ongoing awareness to encourage couples experiencing infertility to seek solutions early in their marriages rather than delaying.
At the conclusion of the conference, the PFF offered two free IVF treatments and one free fertility investigation to three participating couple