Nigeria: Male infertility on the rise, says Bridge Clinic
As three in ten Nigerian couples face challenges in conceiving, Bridge Clinic, an assisted reproductive centre with a 25-year track record, has issued a warning about the increasing prevalence of male infertility.
According to the clinic, factors such as poor diet, recreational drug use, and environmental influences are contributing to more men struggling to produce potent sperm, thereby reducing the chances of conception.
“We are finding out that in a lot of couples coming in, male infertility is on the increase. Studies are going into this to find out.
“Even for young men in their 20s, who voluntarily want to be sperm donors, what they find out when they do their parameter is very scary,” said Toyin Ajayi, the medical director at Bridge Clinic.
To address this growing challenge, Bridge Clinic has adopted Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), a precise technique that involves the direct injection of sperm into eggs.
This advanced technology improves fertilization rates, conception, and birth prospects by bypassing the need for sperm to have exceptional swimming abilities.
Previously, conventional In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) relied on collecting eggs and sperm, hoping for natural fertilization.
However, weak sperm often face challenges in reaching the egg.
Since its establishment in 1999, Bridge Clinic has facilitated the birth of approximately 3,000 children.
Sunny Ekhalume, the managing director at Bridge Clinic, emphasized the commitment to skill development, with partnerships with international experts to deliver cutting-edge reproductive healthcare services.
The clinic acknowledged the challenge of retaining trained staff members due to the increasing scarcity of healthcare workers driven by migration abroad.
In response, the clinic said it has expanded its operations to London, providing access to an extensive network of international experts to support its Nigerian operations and offering a broader stage for educating Nigerian employees.
Furthermore, the clinic announced a public-private partnership with Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, subsidizing the cost of IVF procedures to make high-quality, affordable fertility treatments accessible to impoverished Nigerians.
“Over a thousand couples have benefited from this program, resulting in the birth of many children.
“The clinic remains dedicated to advancing reproductive healthcare and empowering individuals and couples to build the families they desire,” Ekhalume said.