The President of the Academy of Medical Sciences, Prof. Oladapo Ashiru, has raised concerns over declining sperm concentration among Nigerian men.
He warned that exposure to environmental toxins, unhealthy lifestyles and sexually transmitted infections could worsen infertility.
Ashiru on Saturday called for greater awareness of reproductive health and preconception care, stressing that infertility affects both men and women and should not be treated as a problem solely associated with women.
He spoke at an event organised by the Circle Mom Fertility Foundation, where its founder, Dr. Charles Ojeabuo, announced 10 free in-vitro fertilisation treatments for financially disadvantaged couples struggling with infertility.
The initiative comes amid concerns about the affordability of assisted reproductive technology in Nigeria, where the cost of fertility investigations, medications and procedures can put treatment beyond the reach of many couples.
According to the World Health Organisation, approximately one in six people of reproductive age worldwide experience infertility during their lifetime. The WHO defines infertility as a disease of the male or female reproductive system characterised by failure to achieve pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse.
Speaking at the event, Ashiru said infertility had become a significant global health challenge, citing estimates that about 48 million couples and 186 million individuals worldwide experience the condition.
He expressed concern about declining sperm concentration in Africa, particularly Nigeria, warning that the trend could have serious implications for reproductive health.
“We know that we have found out that in Africa, especially Nigeria, the sperm is decreasing. So, the male population is at risk due to decreased sperm concentration,” he said.
Ashiru added that infertility was a shared reproductive health challenge requiring both partners to be assessed and treated where necessary.
“This problem affects both male and female. It’s not just the wife alone, but husband and wife,” he said.
The professor identified smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, poor nutrition and exposure to environmental toxins as factors that could compromise fertility.
He also raised concerns about exposure to pesticides, industrial chemicals, petrochemicals and diesel emissions, as well as potentially harmful substances found in plastics and cosmetics.
“We have smoking, excessive alcohol, obesity, poor nutrition, and exposure to environmental toxins. This is very important,” Ashiru said.
He further identified sexually transmitted infections, including gonorrhoea, syphilis and chlamydia, as possible causes of reproductive complications.
Ashiru called for greater public awareness of preconception healthcare, urging couples planning to have children to seek appropriate medical advice and address reproductive health risks before pregnancy.
He also urged government institutions, fertility societies and practitioners to promote reproductive health education and support couples experiencing infertility.
Meanwhile, Ojeabuo said the foundation had, in the past year, provided free fertility counselling, consultations and registration for couples, alongside discounted treatment to reduce the financial burden of care.
He said the provision of 10 free IVF treatments was part of efforts to ensure that financial constraints did not prevent couples from pursuing their desire to have children.
“Today we are giving 10 free IVF treatments for couples who are financially disadvantaged,” he said.
Ojeabuo added, “We will ensure that people will not have to choose between financial limitation and their dream of parenthood. We will create the access, we will create the awareness and take action.”
He said two families who benefited from the foundation’s interventions in the previous year were present at the event to share their experiences, while several other patients were pregnant and awaiting delivery.
The foundation’s founder described infertility as an often-overlooked health challenge because it does not necessarily leave patients physically bedridden, despite its emotional and psychological consequences.
“Infertility is a health challenge. But people don’t pay so much attention to it because people are not bedridden from it,” he said.
“Emotionally, there’s a dream that happens and it’s affecting, it’s becoming a global health issue right now, mental health. And people, we need to begin to pay attention to it and advocate for fertility treatment.”
The initiative received support from the Secretary to the Independent National Electoral Commission, Dr. Rose Oriaran-Anthony, who said her commitment to fertility support was informed by personal experiences within her family.
Oriaran-Anthony disclosed that she had previously pledged to sponsor six women undergoing fertility treatment and subsequently contacted Ojeabuo to help fulfil the commitment.
Also speaking, a former member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Joseph Haruna Kigbu, called for specific legislation to regulate assisted reproductive technology in Nigeria, warning that gaps in the existing legal framework could expose patients and vulnerable women to exploitation.
Kigbu said the National Health Act and other laws governing medical practice did not adequately address the complexities of assisted conception, including IVF, surrogacy, gamete donation and embryo management.
Similarly, fertility law specialist and mental health counsellor, Victoria Ojeabuo, called for comprehensive legislation addressing the medical, ethical, psychological and legal implications of assisted reproductive technology.
She said existing laws and ongoing discussions about regulating the sector needed to produce a framework that protected everyone involved, including patients, surrogate mothers, donors and children born through assisted conception.
“One in six couples will experience infertility. So it’s going to be a global health challenge. It’s already a global health challenge, and we need to fix it,” she said.
Ojeabuo stressed that legislation must evolve alongside advances in reproductive medicine.
“I’m making sure that there are enough enabling laws that suit the science as the science evolves. So are the laws also evolving to meet the needs of those that are crying for children?” she asked.
She said a comprehensive law should address surrogacy, gamete donation, embryo management, informed consent, counselling requirements and the welfare of children born through assisted reproduction.
“It has to be specific. What is applicable? Counselling. Are the patients getting informed and emotional, psychosocial support enough before they embark on this journey?” she said.
Ojeabuo added that patients needed to understand the medical, emotional and legal implications of their decisions before beginning fertility treatment.
“We want to see a holistic act. We want to see a holistic solution as regards to this area of human society,” she said.
The speakers called for stronger legal safeguards, improved public awareness, greater philanthropic support and more affordable fertility services to help couples overcome infertility while protecting the rights and welfare of everyone involved in assisted reproduction.