The Nation Newspaper

Tag: fertility

  • Infertility: These fruits can boost fertility

    Infertility: These fruits can boost fertility

    Many couples are grappling with infertility without knowing what to do.

    A naturopath, Dr Solomon Abutoh, says there is no cause for alarm because the condition can be treated.

    According to him, regular consumption of juicy fruits, such as oranges, pineapples and water melon can help to correct the condition.

    He  suggested that apples, pawpaw, bananas and strawberry should be part of daily diet to help detoxify the system.

    According to him, vegetables, such as waterleaf, pumpkin leaves (ugu), ewedu, lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, Brussels sprout and carrots are also useful.

    He said: “When couples clear or detoxify their systems, especially digestive, hormonal and reproductive pathways, they would be fertile enough to produce their young.”

    The alternative medicine practitioner recommended whole meal, bread and oats for men challenged by infertility.

    “Similarly, seeds, such as ogbolo, melon (egusi in Yoruba) and sunflower oil as well as wheat germ oil and peanuts are good in boosting fertility. They should reduce alcohol consumption; nicotine from tobacco should be minimised or done away with, as these deplete male’s semen production capabilities,” Abutoh said.

    Honey, he said, should replace white sugar during breakfast. For women, he approved plants, such as hormonal adjusters like jokoje in Yoruba, milk thistle and ewedu.

    Pounded yam, Abutoh said, should be consumed moderately three times a week, adding that eggs and oily fish are ideal for male and female.

    “Beef is not too good at this period, though it contains iron and protein, which could be sourced from fish, eggs, vegetables.  Where there are infections, a physician must be consulted to determine type of infection and appropriate treatment thereof,” he said.

    The alternative medicine practitioner identified age, erectile dysfunction (ED) and blocked tube, among others as problems affecting fertility.

    Age, he said, is the major problem because couples above 30 years are more likely to experience the condition since their reproductive organs are losing their natural abilities to perform optimally.

    Describing infertility, he said, it is a health condition that is generating problems in family and social circles.

    “Infertility is a biological situation whereby couples are unable to have children of their own after 12 months of having intimacy,” he said.

    He said infertility can be primary and secondary. “Primary infertility means a couple has never produced any child while secondary portends they have produced, but stopped midway, especially before menopause,” he said.

    Abutoh said women are not the only cause of infertility as men also have something to do with it. “It is wrong to ascribe infertility to women aloneThe fact, however, remains that it takes the male and the female to bring forth a child. It is absolutely wrong therefore to point accusing fingers at the woman alive, as has frequently been the case,” he said.

    He said women who still see their menses should ovulate every 28 days to be able to have babies of their own.

    “The follicle stimulating and the Leutenizing Hormones must be functioning at optimum to make for quality production of eggs in the ovaries. The fallopian tubes which connect the ovaries with the uterus (womb) must be free of any blockade or rupture, however slight, as the corpus leutus are meant to glide through without any form of inhibition,” he said.

    Abutoh said further: “There must not have been any form of mechanical damage to the tubes or the uterus in the process of previous dilatation and curettage (D and C) on the part of the women, especially during previous illegal, termination of pregnancies by the female concerned.

    “The female blood and entire reproductive system including the vagina,                           urethra and even the urinary bladder must be free of infections, especially  bacterial and fungal whether sexually transmitted or not.

    The woman having challenges, he said, must be emotionally balanced as it could interfere with the relevant reproduction hormones.

    Besides, the women must not be exposed to prolonged use of contraceptives, as they are capable of depleting the chances of ovulation, and indeed conception.

    He identified erectile dysfunction, a situation where a man is unable to sustain an erection, stressing that the process of reproduction in males revolves around the question of erection.

    The alternative medicine practitioner said the man’s reproduction system, such as testes, prostate gland and bladder as well as urethra, must be free of infections like bacterial, fungi and viral, whether or not sexually transmitted.

    He said the male sperm bank must not be below 400 million per ejaculation, adding that it must have the needed motility.

    Moreover, it is another fact, which determines the liveliness of the male sperm and ability to swim through the female organ to the cervix, to fertilise the female eggs within the fallopian tubes, before implementation in the uterus.

    He said excessive consumption of alcohol is capable of undermining the male’s ability to effect conception, even when the female situation are intact, especially in secondary infertility as the man ages.

    He advised men to be in the right frame of mind, before and during intimacy for the whole process of erection and proper ejaculation.

    Traces of diabetes mellitus, he said, in the male could affect erection as even sustenance thereof.

    Abutoh said orthodox tests remain the best way to determine an infertile woman.

    “We ask them to test for infection (Urine/Blood, Swabs), Then genotype, hormone fests (LH, FSH) and Prolactin. Progesterone/oestrogen and hysterosalpinogram, laparoscopy and fertiloscopy,” Abutoh said.

    Men, he said, are also told totest for infection (Urine/Blood), genotype and diabetes (fasting blood sugar).

    Others are semen analysis/count and motility test for per cent of fully active, slightly active or dead semen.

    This test, he said, determines the capability of the male semen to penetrate right through the cervix, to fertilise the eggs released by the ovaries.

  • ‘How to resolve ethical issues in assisted fertility’

    Experts in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) have met at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos to discuss ethics in IVF – in vitro fertilisation. OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA, who was there, reports .

    The Nigerian Institute of International Affairs’ (NIIA) hall in Victoria Island was  filled when who-is- who in fertility and reproductive health in the country gathered to chart the way forward on germane issues in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART).

    Pro-lifers, religious leaders, pluralists and shapers of thoughts were at the event.

    It was a public forum on Ethics in IVF-in-vitro fertilisation organised by the Ethics Committee of the Association for Fertility and Reproductive Health (AFRH).

    The objective was to gauge stakeholders and public groups opinion on ethics in ART practice with focus on IVF.

    Some of the questions discussed were: Is IVF – in-vitro fertilisation ethical? Is intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection ethical? Is gamete donation ethical? is the use of donour gametes without the spouse/partner’s consent ethical? Is surrogacy ethical?; Is treatment of couples infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) ethical? Is pre-implantation genetic Diagnosis (PGD), use in treatment of the purposes of sex selection or other ethical?; is treatment of single women and unmarried couples ethical? and is the use of gametes and embryos in research ethical? among others.

    The experts resolved that many of the ethical issues in fertility treatment concern one’s views on when life begins. The Catholic Church, for example, believes that life begins at the moment of conception, and only permits the fertilisation of eggs that will be used, insisting on the implantation of all viable embryos.

    AFRH President, Dr Faye Iketubosin, said: “As an association, we are here to advise, we are trying to set a code of ethics for practitioners which includes people having the right qualifications, facilities and knowledge to engage in ART practices. The ethical issues raised at the discussion generated a lot of controversy from religious group, sociologists and the general public at large. The discussion is borne out of the need to speak to the public and get their opinion on certain practices of ART that might be controversial particularly when they are in conflict with our culture and religious beliefs.”

    Iketubosin said: “We are sensitive to ensuring that we carry out our practice in an ethical way. The resolution reached at the forum will be deliberated upon and  an acceptable ethical standard for the practice of ART in Nigeria would be formulated.”

    He said there are numerous factors responsible for the increase in infertility. He said the average sperm count in men has dropped from 20 million to 15 million and that is because of a global trend. The reason, according to him, was because of the disruptions of food chain.

    “We now eat a lot of processed foods, foods that are chemically processed that are now affecting us in negative ways including infertility,” he asid.

    On why more women are becoming infertile, Iketubosin said more and more women have embarked on successful careers, they have delayed having children and a woman has a final lifespan within which she can achieve a pregnancy naturally, “by the time they begin that quest for child, they are actually already too old and that is why the issue of egg donation is borne out of the fact that we have seen a lot of older women, over the age of 38 who are now trying to have a child for the first time,” explained.

    On the way out, Iketubosin said is for Nigeria to go back to organic farming/products which  are less expensive than the processed food, “importation of contaminated or processed products can be achieved with government policies which will monitor what comes into the country,” said Dr Iketubosin.

    A Consultant/Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and CEO of OMNI Medical Centre, Lagos, Prof Osato Giwa-Osagie, said the role of psychological factors in IVF is complex.

    “Psychological issues intertwine with physical ones, often with additive effects. There is no clear evidence that IVF babies are more at risk from abnormalities, or that women undertaking IVF are at higher risk of certain cancers.

    “IVF is simply fertilising an egg outside  the womb, then re-implanting the embryo. It is not a ‘treatment’ of infertility since it doesn’t treat the underlying problem. The cause of the problem should be investigated thoroughly before IVF is considered.”

    He recalled his many experience with couples, and many litigations, which “outcomes would have naturally set the laws and proper ethics of the practice of ART, especially IVF, surrogacy and other ethical issues in the country but for the demise of the litigants. But it is never too late to get it right,” said Prof Giwa-Osagie.

    He clarified a grey area, “There is no clear evidence that babies from IVF are more at risk from abnormalities than those born through natural conception. Indeed, it seems that certain types of abnormality, such as chromosome problems, are less common with IVF. However, IVF babies tend to have more problems at birth, and stillbirths may be slightly more common. This may not be due to IVF,  it is probably because women who conceive through IVF are more likely to be at high-risk in pregnancy,” he stated.

    Speaking for Muslim faithful, Dr Ahmed Sa’eid of the Department of Surgery, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), said about 90 percent of Nigerians are either Christians or Muslims, so one cannot make a law that would disregard their beliefs.

    “We are hopeful that when policies or laws on IVF and ART are developed, it will also take care of the concerns that our culture is very important to the people who are citizens of this country.

    “The fact that ART/IVF is happening in many other parts of the world does not mean that everything that is happening in there, must be imported wholesale into Nigeria. We need to domesticate it to our people. These are the concerns of religious bodies,” said Dr Sa’eid.

    He added that child-bearing brings joy. “I want to feel the joy of childbearing doesn’t mean that I must have to get that at all cost. I don’t have to become a pagan simply because I am looking for a child, because if I truly believe in the God that I worship, part of the faith will also teach me patience, perseverance and to have trust in that God,” he said.

    Other religious leaders agreed that they would dedicate babies achieved through ART/IVF because, “all good gifts come from God. And nobody should be denied of being a parent, more so that the art and science are available’’.

    ‘’IVF treatment can be very stressful. However, often, infertile couples feel that by undergoing IVF they are doing something positive to resolve their problem. For so many it is undoubtedly better to have gone through IVF and failed, than not to have attempted it all,” they added.

  • Walnut good for fertility, brain, heart, others

    Walnut good for fertility, brain, heart, others

    The ‘African walnut’ known botanically as Tetracarpidium conophorum, has been described as a good remedy for infertility, dreadful cholesterol, poor brain or mental function and cardiovascular diseases, among others.

    According to a natural medicine practitioner, Dr Gilbert Ezengige, people do not take advantage of the nut known as Ukpa in Igbo, Asala (Yoruba), Okhue or Okwe among the Edo people.

    Walnut, he said, has a spermatogenic property, which makes it promote formation of sperm cells in the testicles. “Walnut improves the quality and count of sperm produced. We often prescribe it as a form of treatment for infertility. Its leaf extract has been found to boost female fertility. The African walnut can also help to reduce bad cholesterol level in the blood,” he said.

    The naturopath said African walnut is different from other walnuts from other parts of the world but all walnuts can boost cognitive functions when taken regularly. This, he said, was due to the presence of high level of omega 3 fatty acids and vitamin B6. This helps to support brain functions, he said.

    He said walnuts are eaten across the world but people really do not know their huge benefits.

    “For example, walnut helps to prevent cardiovascular diseases. Heart attack and coronary heart diseases are greatly minimised with moderate consumption of walnut. The harm to the heart resulting from excessive consumption of fatty foods is preventable. People should eat walnuts regularly. It also possesses a heart friendly antioxidant,” he said.

    Ezengige, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), HealthBubbles Online, advised hypertensive patients to eat as much walnut as they can when it is in season to lower their blood pressure.

    Moreover, those suffering from insomnia or sleep disorder can get good sleep as walnut has been found to enhance good sleep.

    This, he said, was due to the high content of pyridoxine and melatonin found in the nut, which makes it support quality sleep. “This nut also relaxes and nourishes the brain. The nut itself from the law of signature resembles the structure of the human brain. People suffering from lack of sleep and other sleep disorders could benefit from regular intake of walnut,” he said.

    He said African walnut is a seasonal plant, adding: “People refer to it as the king of nuts due to the immense nutritional and health benefits derivable from it”.

    Walnut, he said, contains an array of vital essential minerals, vitamins and phyto-nutrients as well as non-nutritive phytochemicals known to impact positively on health.

    He said the plant’s nutrients have the capacity to renew, rebuild, restore and reactivate the human body and walnut is no exemption as it possesses antimicrobial properties and remedies for most stomach and intestinal health conditions.

    Some vitamins present in African walnut include thiamine (Vitamin B1), which is very useful in addressing tachycardia (fast heart beat) and cardiomegaly (heart enlargement).

    “It also has riboflavin (Vitamin B2), which is good for the reproductive health and vision because it alleviates eye fatigue. Walnut also has niacin, niacinamide, nicotinic acid or nicotinamide ( all Vitamin B3), which is an essential ingredient for sex hormone production and healthy nervous system.

    “The fruit has pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5), which plays major roles in fighting infection. It assists in production of antibodies; lowers cholesterol and triglycerides levels in the blood,” he said.

    What about pyridoxine (Vitamin B6), which the African walnut has? It helps in the treatment of premenstrual edema, Parkinson’s disease, nausea and edema.

    Others are toxemia in pregnancy, brain disorders and male sexual malfunctions. “Walnut also has folic acid (Vitamin B9). It is one of the most important nutrients for an expectant mother and the foetus. Folic acid helps to prevent spontaneous abortion and difficult labour as well as high infant death rate.

    The nut contains cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) needed for the production and regeneration of red blood cells as well as ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), which is used to treat infections, allergies, respiratory disorders and urinary tract problems.

    Also on the list is vitamin E (Tocopherol). This is one of the vitamins that possess anti-thrombin property.  It helps to preserve the cardiovascular system as well as increases the oxygen available to the heart and other muscles.

    Ezengige said: “African walnut has many minerals, especially Manganese, selenium and L-arginine.

    Manganese, he said, nourishes the brain and nerves, and assists to correct pancreas disturbances while selenium prevents hardening of arteries. This, he added, also promotes healthy tissue elasticity and helps in regeneration of liver after damage, especially by cirrhosis. It also raises sperm count and increases fertility in men as well as alleviating hot flushes and menopausal distress.

    The natural medicine practitioner said L-arginine is also needed for the normal functioning of pituitary gland, production of insulin, glucagon and heamoglobin. It also enhances the immune system function.

    He said walnut has melatonin, which is the hormone known to enhance sleep and immunity. It helps to preserve the body’s internal clock mechanism, and as such protects cells of the body by arresting proliferation of cancer cells.

    Other nutrients present are ellagic acid, which acts like a powerful antioxidant and oleic acid. This reduces blood pressure and it helps to burn fat. It is useful in the treatment and management of type 2 diabetes, Ezengige said.

  • Fertility: How egg freezing method works, by expert

    Fertility: How egg freezing method works, by expert

    For fertility challenged women, all hope is not lost.They can become pregnant through the oocyte (egg) freezing producure, which is now available in the country. The Bridge Clinic used the process to deliver a baby on February 16. A fertility physician with the clinic, Dr Emmanuel Owie, takes OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA, through the producure’s rudiments.

    Age or menopause may no longer be a barrier to a woman having a child, thanks to oocyte cryopreservation, which is available in the country. Human oocyte cryopreservation (egg freezing) is a process where a woman’s eggs (oocytes) are extracted, frozen and stored to be used when she is ready to become pregnant.The ‘frozen’ eggs can be thawed, fertilised, and transferred to the uterus as embryos. The cooling of cells and tissues to sub-zero temperatures stops all biological activities and preserves the eggs for future use.

    The Bridge Clinic is the first fertility clinic to record the feat in the country. A male child, Tiwatope, was delivered in the clinic on February 16, through the process.

    According to Dr Emmanuel Owie, a Fertility Physician with the Bridge Clinic, egg freezing is a way of “thwarting” the ticking biological clock’ of women, who when they grow older, are more likely to produce eggs that will have chromosomal abnormalities that can make it harder for them to conceive and carry pregnancies to term.

    “But with Cryopreservation, which is the cooling of cells and tissues to sub-zero temperatures in order to stop all biological activities and then preserve the eggs from future use, a woman’s chances at child bearing, is increased. Human oocyte cryopreservation (egg freezing) is a process in which a woman’s eggs (oocytes) are extracted, frozen and stored. Later, when she is ready to become pregnant, the eggs can be thawed, fertilised, and transferred to the uterus as embryos,” said Dr Owie

    He said “egg freezing is particularly recommended for the women diagnosed with cancer that may lose their fertility during chemotherapy, women with a family history of early menopause, women with objections to storing frozen embryos for religious and/or moral reasons and women who want or need to delay childbearing in order to pursue some personal goals such as career building”.

    Explaining the procedure, using the clinic’s Tiwatope’s accomplishment, Dr Owie said the baby’s birth is significant in many respects, as it has put the country on the global map as regards the practice of oocyte cryopreservation; a new offering in the in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) space.

    He said: “Before Tiwa’s birth this new practice seemed to be an exclusive preserve of the developed world of Europe and North America. It is even more significant, considering the fact that since the report of the first pregnancy through this protocol in 1986, the practice has resulted in the birth of only about 5,000 babies worldwide. And Nigeria has added  one with Tiwa’s birth.

    “Tiwatope’s mother had her eggs frozen using the vitrification, also known as flash-freezing, process. This is the cutting edge technology in cryobiology, where the eggs or oocytes of a woman is dehydrated and the water content is replaced with ”anti-freeze” solution (cryoprotectants) before freezing. This prevents the formation of ice crystals, which could destroy the cell.”

    Tiwa’s parents had battled infertility for eight years, but had the mother had her eggs frozen for two months and on her readiness for pregnancy.

    “We fertilised the eggs, using a standard technique known as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in order to overcome the egg shell, which normally gets hardened with freezing. The fertilised egg was subsequently transferred into her womb, resulting in the conception of Tiwa,” “She had her ante natal care in her family hospital and delivered the baby boy through caesarian section (SC),” Dr Owie added.

    Explaining the process further, Dr Owie said: “Egg freezing works in a simple way. Though basically sperm and embryos have proved easy to freeze, the egg is the largest cell in the human body and contains a large amount of water. When frozen, ice crystals form that can destroy the cell. We must dehydrate the egg and replace the water with an “anti-freeze” (cryoprotectants) prior to freezing in order to prevent ice crystal formation. We also learned that because the shell of the egg hardens when frozen, sperm must be injected with a needle to fertilise the egg, using a standard technique known as ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection).

    “And in order to retrieve eggs for freezing, a patient undergoes the same hormone-injection process as in-vitro fertilization (IVF). The only difference is that following egg retrieval, they are frozen for a period of time before they are thawed, fertilised and transferred to the uterus as embryos.”

    Asked when a woman should freeze her eggs, Dr Owie said the chances for success (pregnancy) are greater if a woman uses ‘younger’ eggs—meaning either eggs she froze in her 20s or early 30s, rather than later on. And for how long can the eggs remain frozen? He said eggs are frozen in the same manner as embryos, utilising a freezing temperature of -196 degrees Celsius. Eggs could be preserved for more than ten years. Long-term storage of frozen eggs does not result in any decrease in quality. And how many eggs should a woman store to achieve pregnancy? He said, based on studies, egg thaw rates of 75 per cent and fertilisation rates of 75 per cent are anticipated in women up to 38 years of age. Thus, if 10 eggs are frozen, seven are expected to survive the thaw, and five to six are expected to fertilise and become embryos. Usually three to four embryos are transferred in women up to 38 years of age. It is recommended that 10 eggs be stored for each pregnancy attempt.

    Coordinator, Corporate Marketing/Communication and Client Relations, The Bridge Clinic, Dr Ekundayo Omogbehin said aspiring women can be rest assured that the babies born through this medium are normal, as the case of Tiwa has shown, “The baby and the mother are in good health to the delight of the family and friends. We could not put faces (photos of them) to the names due to the sensitivity that still goes with novel developments like IVF, understandably. They have, however, given us permission to use the real name of the baby boy (not surname) as well as the photographs of the new baby.

    “We hope these will suffice in the given circumstances. We also hope that, one day, Tiwa’s parents will overcome these sensitivities and come out to encourage other women, who may be in need of this offering to come for it,” he said, adding that the costs for egg freezing are identical to those of routine IVF.

  • Varsities discuss soil fertility

    A roundtable to create awareness for the Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) project has ended in Accra.

    It was organised by the University of Alicante in Spain, in collaboration with five West African universities — , the Federal University of Technology, Nigeria, the University of Ghana, the University of The Gambia, the University of Dschang in Cameroun and the Njala University in Sierra Leone.

    The Coordinator for the discussion, Ms Ester Boldrini, explained that the ISFM system was a set of agricultural practices adapted to local conditions to maximise the efficiency of nutrient and water use to improve productivity.

    According to her, capacity building in the partner universities was very important and expressed the hope that the outcome of the discussion would impact positively on students from the various universities.

    On the challenges that the implementation of the ISFM en-countered in participating countries, a lecturer of the Federal University of Technology in Nigeria, Prof. Matthew Bajon Ogun, noted that the level of training of extension officers on the ISFM was inadequate, thereby making it difficult for farmers to adopt the programme.

    He, therefore, entreated the governments of participating countries to make incentives available for risk absorption in case the ISFM project failed, so that “farmers will have something to fall back on”.

    Ogun observed that the centres of excellence which would be established would help address issues faced by farmers and researchers who engaged in the ISFM project.

    The forum attracted researchers, lecturers, Soil Science students, policy makers and representatives of the various universities.

    The ISFM project, which spans three years, is aimed at building the capacities of the universities in the ISFM project. It involves training courses for stakeholders and the establishment of centres of excellence in the participating universities.

    It also includes conferences to strengthen cooperation between academia and industry and the establishment of academic and industry funds.

    The project is being sponsored by the African, Caribbean and Pacific/European Union (ACP-EU) cooperation programme in higher education.

  • ‘Why assisted reproduction is gaining ground’

    •Dr Ajayi (in tie) surrounded by his staff in celebration of the award

    Assisted reproduction is gradually being acceptable in the country because there are encouraging results, helping to crash the myths associated with it.

    The Managing Director, Nordica Fertility Centre, Dr Abayomi Ajayi said this while commending his staff for their devotion and professionalism that earned the centre the West Africa’s Best Healthcare Services Brand of the year, 2012. It was given by the African Business Marketing School under the Institute of Direct Marketing.

    Dr. Ajayi, the country’s representative of Obgyn.net, a network of obstetricians/gynaecologists all over the world, said the success story of Nordica Fertility Centre owes largely to the fact that it simplifies the terms and terminologies involved in the techniques and services involved in the assisted reproduction.

    “By word of mouth, everybody can communicate the basics to infertile couples, without misinforming them,” he said.
    For instance, women are often seen as being responsible for infertility in marriage. But the two sexes are responsible and must be examined so as to determine the cause and the treatment options available.

    “If you are planning to get pregnant, it’s important to consider ways to prevent infertility. Most women are unaware of how to avoid infertility. In fact, few women realise that their fertility clock winds down quickly, declining at around age 27. Surprisingly, the fertility clock declines for men, too. Studies show that men start losing their fertility as young as age 35.  Age is an important fertility consideration for both women and men,” said Dr Ajayi.

    Defining infertility, Dr Ajayi, a member of Global Health Council, said it is the inability of a person to contribute to conception. Those couples who are unable to conceive after 12 months of contraceptive-free intercourse, with the female partner being under the age of 34 should get themselves checked for fertility test.

    Dr Ajayi said: “An important preventable cause of testicular damage in men is uncorrected un-descended testes. Un-descended testes should be surgically treated at an early age to prevent damage, preferably before the age of two years. This requires educating mothers of young boys; and doctors as well. It may also be a good idea to immunise boys against mumps in childhood, thus preventing the ravage which mumps can cause to the testes in later life,” he said.

    The Clinic Manager, Nordica Fertility Centre, Tolani Ajayi said from interactions with clients, and based on clinical assessments, the issue of male infertility could also be traceable to occupational hazards.

    Mrs Ajayi said: “Occupational hazards can decrease sperm counts. Many toxic drugs including radiation, radioactive materials, anaesthetic gases, and industrial chemicals such as lead, the pesticide DBCP and the pharmaceutical solvent ethylene oxide can reduce fertility by impairing sperm production. Intense exposure to heat in the workplace, for example, long-distance truck drivers exposed to engine heat; and men working in furnaces or in bakeries, can cause long-term and even permanent impairment of sperm production.”

    The Clinic Manager said: “Drugs including alcohol, cocaine and marijuana – are all poisons. They can reduce sex drive; damage sperm production; and interfere with ovulation and sometimes this damage is irreparable. Smoking tobacco also affects reproductive function by depleting egg production; increasing the risk of Pelvic Inflammation Disease (PID); and lowering sperm counts. Often, the adverse effect is temporary, so that when these are stopped, the harmful effects on reproductive function are likely to be reversed. However, since abstinence is easier than moderation, the best option is not to smoke, drink or use drugs Wearing loose cotton underwear and trousers is advisable – tight clothes increase testicular temperature and may harm sperm production.”

    Dr Ajayi said: “Exposure to high temperatures on a continuous basis can also affect the sperm production and motility. It is important for men to protect the genital organs from excess heat. X-rays can be harmful to gonads. If X-rays are needed, the scrotum should be covered with a lead shield.

    “Exposure to pesticides, lead, heavy metals, toxic chemicals and ionizing radiations over a long time, reduces fertility in men.  Proper protective gear should be used to prevent such chemicals or rays affecting a man’s health especially reproductive health. Smoking has been found as a major culprit for low sperm counts and sluggish sperm movement in men. Alcohol also reduces sperm counts and can interfere with sexual performance. It may also disrupt hormone balances in women and increase the risk of miscarriage.”

    On the whole, Dr Ajayi, said there are bevavioural changes which can prevent infertility in men. “It is found that about forty percent of infertility is due to the man alone. Adopting healthy lifestyle can help in preventing infertility in men.
    “So it is advisable for a man to use multivitamin supplements which provides selenium, zinc and folic acid. These nutrients are important for optimising sperm production and function. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables which are rich in antioxidants. Such minerals help to improve sperm health. Reduce stress as stress might interfere with certain hormones needed to produce sperm. Get regular exercise to keep healthy and fit as proper blood circulation and functioning of glands are necessary for fertility.

    “Keep your weight in control as too much or too little body fat may disrupt production of reproductive hormones, which can reduce your sperm count. Quit using tobacco which can adversely affect fertility by producing inferior quality sperms. The sperm of men who smoke may be misshapen and may move more slowly than those of non smokers.Smoking can also damage your sperm’s DNA. Most importantly, be your own bodyguard to protect your fertility. Avoid lubricants during sex as even saliva can interfere with sperm motility. However, vegetable-oil-based lubricants are safe and can be used. You and your partner should be educated and aware of problems that can make pregnancy difficult,” said Dr Ajayi.