Infertility in Nigeria at 60% – Gynaecologist

BY VICTORIA OJEME

ABUJA – The Chief Medical Director, Consultant Obstetricians/Gynaecologist of Maitama Hospital, Dr Francis Alu, weekend, said that 60% of gynaecologic clinic consultations were infertility-related.

He, however, assured that government hospitals might in the near future assist couples to have children through Invitro-Fertilization procedure.

Dr Alu in a chat with Vanguard said, though studies were inclusive, cases of infertility  “worldwide is put at 10 to 30%, but in Nigeria, we know that about 60% or over of gynaecologic clinic consultations are infertility-related.

“This is attributed to the high incidence of tubal damages in our environment and, of course, causes of infertility in Nigeria is different from the causes in the western world where we have ovulatry dysfunction.

“This is very easy to treat. Once you ovulate, you can take in. In our own environment, the major cause of female infertility is tubel damage and it accounts for 60% of the causes and it is very difficult to treat, infertility through tubal damages is about 60%.

“High incidence of sexually transmitted infections, toilet diseases are are also responsible.