Concerns over male reproductive health in Nigeria have intensified following a warning by the President of the Academy of Medical Sciences, Prof. Oladapo Ashiru, about declining sperm concentration among Nigerian men.
Ashiru raised the concern on Saturday, warning that exposure to environmental toxins, unhealthy lifestyles and sexually transmitted infections could further undermine male fertility and increase the burden of infertility among couples.
Speaking at an event organised by the Circle Mom Fertility Foundation, the medical expert called for greater awareness of reproductive health, healthier lifestyles and improved access to preconception care.
“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.
The warning places male reproductive health at the centre of discussions on infertility, a condition often wrongly perceived as a problem affecting women alone.
Ashiru stressed that both partners must be evaluated when a couple experiences difficulty conceiving, noting that infertility could result from factors affecting either the man or the woman.
He identified smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity and poor nutrition among lifestyle factors that could compromise reproductive health.
The professor also raised concerns about exposure to pesticides, industrial chemicals, petrochemicals, diesel emissions and potentially harmful substances found in plastics and cosmetics.
According to him, sexually transmitted infections, including gonorrhoea, syphilis and chlamydia, could also cause reproductive complications if not properly treated.
He urged men and women planning to have children to seek appropriate medical advice and address potential reproductive health risks before attempting pregnancy.
The World Health Organisation estimates that approximately one in six people of reproductive age worldwide experience infertility during their lifetime, highlighting the scale of the challenge.
Calls for awareness and affordable treatment
Beyond the health concerns, stakeholders at the event called for improved access to fertility investigations and treatment, particularly for couples unable to afford assisted reproductive technology.
The founder of Circle Mom Fertility Foundation, Dr. Charles Ojeabuo, announced that the organisation would provide 10 free in-vitro fertilisation treatments for financially disadvantaged couples.
He said the foundation had also offered free fertility counselling, consultations and registration, alongside discounted treatment, to reduce the financial burden on affected families.
Ojeabuo described infertility as a significant health challenge whose emotional and psychological consequences often receive insufficient attention.
Meanwhile, stakeholders called for comprehensive legislation to regulate assisted reproductive technology in Nigeria, including in-vitro fertilisation, surrogacy, gamete donation and embryo management.
A former member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Joseph Haruna Kigbu, and fertility law specialist Victoria Ojeabuo stressed the need for legal safeguards to protect patients, donors, surrogate mothers and children born through assisted conception.
The discussions underscored the need for a broader approach to infertility that combines public education, early medical assessment, preventive healthcare, affordable treatment and appropriate legal protection.
While Ashiru’s warning highlights concerns about sperm concentration, establishing the extent and causes of any nationwide decline would require robust, representative studies of male reproductive health in Nigeria.
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