The Acting-Director, In-Vitro Fertilisation Centre at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Dr. Lukman Omokanye, has said that between five and 10 per cent of married women in Nigeria are infertile.
According to him, infertility is a burden among couples as it constitutes 70 per cent of all gynaecological consultations in the nation’s clinics.
Omokanye stated, in an interview with our correspondent in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on Tuesday that the most common causes of infertility in women included tubal pathology and blockade, as well as infections like gonorrhoea and fibroid.
According to him, low sperm count is one of the causes of infertility in men. He added that male and female factors constituted about 60 per cent of infertility cases globally.
The reproductive medicine specialist urged affected couples to go for evaluation and assisted conceptions. He noted that UITH had recorded the births of 30 babies through IVF since the unit was established in 2012.
He added that five babies were born recently in the centre within two days.
Omokanye said, “Today over five million babies have been born through IVF worldwide. UITH has recorded the birth of about 30 babies since the inception of its IVF programme in 2012.
“We achieved this through determination, dedication, support from the management and international health institutions that help to train and re-train our medical personnel.
“We do not have enough IVF centres in the country and most of them are privately owned. There are about 25 in all. There are only four tertiary hospitals that offer IVF in Nigeria.”
He said there was a need for public awareness of the IVF programme in the country and appealed to the federal and state governments to subsidise fertility care either by ensuring that the equipment is made available or by helping indigent indigenes.
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