Infertility: Stop blame game, search for right information – Lagos First Lady, charges expectant couples

…As experts raise alarm over growing rate of infertility in men

Lagos State First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu has charged expectant couples experiencing infertility to seek for right information and knowledge rather than dissipating their strengths on blame game.

The wife of Lagos State Governor gave the advice at the 5th edition of Parah Fertility Conference, with the theme: “Navigating through Infertility in the 21st Century”, held in Lagos on Saturday, and organised by Parah Family Foundation.

She said experts had affirmed that the appropriate way to go about handling the issue of infertility was for the affected families, especially the couples to jointly investigate the cause, with open minds, with a view to work on the solutions together.

“It is noteworthy that this conference has become a credible avenue to bring issues of delayed fertility in our society to the fore, especially in terms of eradicating ignorance, misguided myths, and social stigma associated with it.

“Without knowledge, destruction is imminent, so says the good book of the Lord. Information is key to the transformation of the human mind and this is why it is inspiring that the conference is focused on demystifying the myths about infertility and helping families affected to understand the best way to handle the issues and challenges presented by infertility, particularly in Nigeria.

“The truth remains that there are spiritual, medical, and family-life teachings and approaches that can help a great deal in overcoming infertility”, Mrs. Sanwo-Olu said.

Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Lagos State University, Adeniyi Adewunmi, who was the lead speaker at the conference, as well as other fertility experts, raised alarm over the growing rate of infertility in men.

Professor Adewunmi, who is also a consultant at the Institute of Fertility Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), expressed worry over the increased cases of infertility in men, saying the apprehension emanates from his professional day-to-day experience and statistic review.

According to him, male infertility indicates a problem with a man’s reproductive system, which makes him unable to impregnate a female, adding that it was a misconception for people to always believe that the issue of infertility could only affect or be caused by a female.

“Research findings show that more men are suffering from infertility than ever. And some of its causes were as a result of smoking, alcohol intake, drugs, obesity, past or present testicular infections, exposure to environmental toxins, exposure of the testicles to excessive heat, hormonal disorders, testicular trauma and ejaculatory/erectile disorders, among others”, he said.

Another fertility expert, Dr. Olufemi Omololu, who is the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, also corroborated Professor Adewunmi’s position on the growing rate of infertility in men.

While the CMD of Lifeline Fertility Clinic, Dr. Kemi Ailoje charged intending couples to live life devoid of stress and anxiety in the course of their waiting to be blessed with a child, and advised them to be closer to God and have faith in Him, noting that there is nothing impossible for God to do.

Earlier in her welcome address, the conference’s convener, Princess Dayo Odukoya, said the rate of infertility and causes were alarming, such that it required continued awareness to enable couples undergoing the challenge to speak out in time, and seek for solution early in marriage rather than leaving it late.

She sought for collaborations with government, agencies, hospitals and individuals to create more platforms where families undergoing infertility could be more comfortable to receive support, guidance and love on their journey to parenthood.

“We call on government to please pay attention to this category of people in our society and create more avenues to accommodate them in government hospitals, through awareness and preliminary fertility investigation. The month of June has been dedicated to creating awareness, showing love and empathising with those affected, we therefore urge us to do so for any family that is undergoing infertility”, she said.

The conference had in attendance dignitaries from not just the medical profession but others from the corporate world.