The quality of sperm and eggs, not luck or witchcraft, is a major reason why some IVF treatments fail in Nigeria, fertility experts have said.
Speaking at the 13th anniversary of Nordica Fertility Centre in Abuja, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, CEO of Nordica, warned that male infertility is rising rapidly in the country due to poor lifestyle choices, stress, and ignorance.
“Male infertility is rising fast. In one of our studies, about 12 percent of men had no sperm at all, while almost half had a low sperm count,” Ajayi said.
He also pointed out that environmental pollution, especially from mining, can harm reproductive health. “When people are exposed to heavy metals, it affects both male and female fertility,” he said.
Ajayi added that endometriosis is now a key cause of female infertility, not just infections. “We used to blame infections, but endometriosis has always been a silent problem for women with fertility issues,” he said.
He revealed that Nordica has helped over 5,000 families have children in the past 13 years and continues to work on improving fertility care. “We are building a world-class hospital in Lagos to make fertility care more accessible and less stressful,” he said.
The Vice President of Fertility Awareness Advocate Initiative (FAAI), Vivian Patrick, explained the partnership with Nordica.
“We help couples complete their families. If you come through us, Nordica gives discounts. We also get sponsors to support families who can’t afford the full cost,” she said.
Patrick said awareness of IVF has grown since 2013, but stigma and secrecy still exist. “Many know about IVF but don’t talk about it. That’s why we do webinars and interviews — to keep awareness moving forward,” she said.
She also explained the raffle draw held during the anniversary. “We do the raffle to avoid bias. Whoever wins gets the chance to complete their family,” she said.
Dr. Jesse Atungo, a fertility expert at Nordica, focused on why IVF sometimes fails.
“The IVF process begins with eggs collected from the woman and fertilized with the husband’s sperm. The quality of the eggs and sperm determines the genetic quality of the embryos, which is what influences success,” he said.
He added that genetic or chromosomal defects in eggs or sperm can lead to IVF failure or early miscarriage.
“When a cycle fails, it’s devastating because our clients invest time, money, and hope. Some come to us already stressed or depressed from societal pressure,” Dr. Atungo said.
The experts urged Nigerians to take fertility and reproductive health seriously, noting that proper awareness, medical care, and lifestyle adjustments could prevent many cases of infertility.