By Rabiat Abdullahi
For countless couples in Nigeria, infertility is a private battle fought behind closed doors—often with whispers, tears, and heavy doses of stigma. In a society where childbearing is deeply tied to identity, family honour and social acceptance, the inability to conceive can bring not only emotional pain but also strained marriages, community pressure, and misplaced blame—too often directed at women.
Yet science tells a different story: infertility is not exclusively a woman’s burden. Experts estimate that men contribute to nearly half of all fertility challenges, with declining sperm quality, infections, and environmental toxins emerging as key culprits. Still, myths, secrecy, and late interventions prevent many couples from seeking timely help. It was against this backdrop that the Association for Fertility and Reproductive Health (AFRH) held its 15th Annual International Conference on September 23 in Lagos—this time as an Open House. The format was intentional: to pull fertility care out of the shadows, to break myths, and to create an open, interactive platform where the public could engage directly with experts.
The day was far from a routine medical conference. It was a melting pot of keynote lectures, spirited panel discussions, and interactive sessions that allowed attendees—patients, couples, policymakers, and practitioners—to sit face-to-face with embryologists, lawyers, doctors, and other fertility specialists. Among the clinics and institutions represented were Alpha Assisted Productive Clinic, Nordica Fertility Centre, Androcare Fertility Centre, Nisa Premier Hospital, George’s Memorial Medical Centre, Havilland Fertility Clinic, Clearview Hospital, Omni Medical Centre, Medical Art Centre (MART), and several others. Together, they underscored a powerful message: fertility care is not the job of doctors alone—it is a multidisciplinary field where science, law, ethics, and empathy must converge.
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“Fertility care encompasses a diverse array of professionals, not solely physicians,” said Professor Preye O. Fiebai, President of AFRH. He explained that while gynaecologists typically undergo six years of training, advanced infertility treatments stretch far beyond general gynaecology. To bridge this gap, AFRH, in collaboration with the West African College of Surgeons, has instituted a post-fellowship certification programme. This initiative equips specialists with deeper knowledge in infertility, ensuring couples are not only seen but treated with the most advanced and appropriate interventions available.
For many Nigerians, fertility remains a private—or even taboo—subject, often confined to whispers, prayers in spiritual houses, or conversations cloaked in shame. But Dr. Adewunmi Adeyemi, AFRH First Vice President and President-Elect, made a compelling case for early and open medical engagement. “There is an intrinsic need for discretion regarding fertility matters among Nigerians,” he noted, “but the role of a fertility expert is to educate couples and encourage them to pursue solutions early. Spiritual houses are essential, but scientifically based treatments provide viable solutions for the fertility concerns of both young and older couples.”
One of the highlights of the day was the address by Prof Osato Giwa-Osagie Ashiru, Secretary General of the International Federation, Chairman of the Medical Assembly, and pioneer of IVF technology in Black Africa. Looking back, he described Nigeria’s reproductive healthcare journey as one of remarkable growth. “We have seen the number of clinics grow from one to four, and now to approximately 200 IVF clinics across the country,” he said. “We are competitive at a global standard.”
But Prof Ashiru also sounded a note of caution: success must never compromise ethics. He urged fertility professionals to maintain global standards, prioritise patient welfare, and practice with patience, empathy, and kindness. “Treatments obtained elsewhere are comparable to the services we provide,” he reassured, stressing that Nigerian clinics now meet international benchmarks. A striking point of emphasis at the conference was the growing recognition that infertility is not solely a “woman’s problem.” Professor Ashiru highlighted that about 50 per cent of male partners face fertility challenges, often linked to infections, sexually transmitted diseases, environmental toxins, poor diet, and lifestyle factors. Declining sperm quality, he warned, has become a silent driver of infertility—yet men are often reluctant to seek help, leaving women to bear the brunt of blame and treatment.