Fertility experts have warned that if nothing was
done urgently to reverse the trend, more Nigerian men will not be able
to impregnate their spouses even as they blamed most cases of
childlessness in marriages to male factor infertility.
Also, most fertility clinics in Nigeria are recording more successes in In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF)/test tube baby technology with the birth of more babies through the technique.
A foremost fertility centre in Nigeria, Nordica Fertility Clinic, with centres in Lagos, Asaba and Abuja Sunday in Lagos celebrated its 10th anniversary and the birth of over 1000 babies through IVF at the clinics.
As part of efforts to enable more Nigerians benefit from the high cost technique, the clinic yesterday offered free pre-IVF treatment screening opportunity to 12 ‘infertile’ couples with the promise of giving free 100 per cent IVF treatment to only three after the screening exercise.
Managing Director, Nordica Fertility Centre, Lagos, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi and Prof. Stanley Okolo, a Nigerian Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist at North Middlesex University Hospital, London yesterday at the clinic’s celebration, blamed the rising male factor infertility in Nigeria on the largely environment and lifestyle.
Meanwhile, a minute silence was observed in honour of the joint pioneer of IVF in the world, Sir Prof. Bob Robert Edwards. VF pioneer, Robert Edwards who died last week, at 87. Edwards co-developed technique that has helped bring more than four million children into the world.
Ajayi said: “Yes there is rising cases of infertility in the country. It is usually a male factor issue. Most of the infertility cases in Nigeria are due to problem with the men. These issues especially of low sperm count are because of environmental issues and lifestyle. Several studies even in Denmark have shown that male sperm count is plummeting.
“The earlier they go for treatment the better because the age of a woman can determine the success of any treatment. Men should stop blaming women for the problem. Both male and female factors can cause infertility.”
The gynaecologist identified low sperm count as the commonest cause of infertility in men. According to him, men with low sperm count cannot impregnate their wives, no matter the rounds of intimate intercourse they have.
Explaining the causes of low sperm count, he said, “Infections can cause it. A lot of people are born that way. Some people inherit low sperm count. Sometimes, it is a tough thing for them to understand.
“They will tell you that their fathers have many children. But we know that in genetics, some genes are recessive, while some are dormant. So it is possible for your father to have a recessive gene for low sperm count, which now manifests in you.”
Ajayi, however, said that in women factors that could cause infertility included blockage of the fallopian tubes, ovulation disorders and fibroids. ”There are some women that do not ovulate,” he added.
He stated that an accident that affected the testicles could also lead to low sperm count. Other factors, according to Ajayi, are occupation, drugs, such as antibiotics; obesity and smoking.
“It has been documented that long truck drivers suffer low sperm count. It has also been documented that those who work in fuel stations suffer it. Commercial motorcyclists, whose testicles are exposed to high temperature for a long period can also suffer low sperm count,” he added.
According to him, the age of a woman plays an important role in invitro-fertilisation. He said, ”The older a woman is, the more it becomes difficult for the IVF to succeed.” He, however, disclosed that Nordica had succeeded in recording pregnancies in women that were 38 years and above through one of the latest technologies in IVF.
To Ajayi, diagnosis is not a problem in infertility treatment. The problem is getting the appropriate treatment.
“The tests are specified and almost everybody can interpret them. The problem is how to get the appropriate treatment. That is why people go for escapist methods. They go from one prayer house to the other. They go to traditional doctors.”
Okolo praised the contribution of Nordica fertility in solving the problems of infertility in the country, adding, “I have followed the progress of Nordica and I can only say without fear of being controverted that Nordica is setting the standards for fertility treatment in Nigeria. They do not just offer IVF but they take care of a range of other issues.”
Source: Guardian
Also, most fertility clinics in Nigeria are recording more successes in In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF)/test tube baby technology with the birth of more babies through the technique.
A foremost fertility centre in Nigeria, Nordica Fertility Clinic, with centres in Lagos, Asaba and Abuja Sunday in Lagos celebrated its 10th anniversary and the birth of over 1000 babies through IVF at the clinics.
As part of efforts to enable more Nigerians benefit from the high cost technique, the clinic yesterday offered free pre-IVF treatment screening opportunity to 12 ‘infertile’ couples with the promise of giving free 100 per cent IVF treatment to only three after the screening exercise.
Managing Director, Nordica Fertility Centre, Lagos, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi and Prof. Stanley Okolo, a Nigerian Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist at North Middlesex University Hospital, London yesterday at the clinic’s celebration, blamed the rising male factor infertility in Nigeria on the largely environment and lifestyle.
Meanwhile, a minute silence was observed in honour of the joint pioneer of IVF in the world, Sir Prof. Bob Robert Edwards. VF pioneer, Robert Edwards who died last week, at 87. Edwards co-developed technique that has helped bring more than four million children into the world.
Ajayi said: “Yes there is rising cases of infertility in the country. It is usually a male factor issue. Most of the infertility cases in Nigeria are due to problem with the men. These issues especially of low sperm count are because of environmental issues and lifestyle. Several studies even in Denmark have shown that male sperm count is plummeting.
“The earlier they go for treatment the better because the age of a woman can determine the success of any treatment. Men should stop blaming women for the problem. Both male and female factors can cause infertility.”
The gynaecologist identified low sperm count as the commonest cause of infertility in men. According to him, men with low sperm count cannot impregnate their wives, no matter the rounds of intimate intercourse they have.
Explaining the causes of low sperm count, he said, “Infections can cause it. A lot of people are born that way. Some people inherit low sperm count. Sometimes, it is a tough thing for them to understand.
“They will tell you that their fathers have many children. But we know that in genetics, some genes are recessive, while some are dormant. So it is possible for your father to have a recessive gene for low sperm count, which now manifests in you.”
Ajayi, however, said that in women factors that could cause infertility included blockage of the fallopian tubes, ovulation disorders and fibroids. ”There are some women that do not ovulate,” he added.
He stated that an accident that affected the testicles could also lead to low sperm count. Other factors, according to Ajayi, are occupation, drugs, such as antibiotics; obesity and smoking.
“It has been documented that long truck drivers suffer low sperm count. It has also been documented that those who work in fuel stations suffer it. Commercial motorcyclists, whose testicles are exposed to high temperature for a long period can also suffer low sperm count,” he added.
According to him, the age of a woman plays an important role in invitro-fertilisation. He said, ”The older a woman is, the more it becomes difficult for the IVF to succeed.” He, however, disclosed that Nordica had succeeded in recording pregnancies in women that were 38 years and above through one of the latest technologies in IVF.
To Ajayi, diagnosis is not a problem in infertility treatment. The problem is getting the appropriate treatment.
“The tests are specified and almost everybody can interpret them. The problem is how to get the appropriate treatment. That is why people go for escapist methods. They go from one prayer house to the other. They go to traditional doctors.”
Okolo praised the contribution of Nordica fertility in solving the problems of infertility in the country, adding, “I have followed the progress of Nordica and I can only say without fear of being controverted that Nordica is setting the standards for fertility treatment in Nigeria. They do not just offer IVF but they take care of a range of other issues.”
Source: Guardian
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