Dr. Nowiah Gorpudolo Dennis, a fertility specialist, has revealed that untreated infections account for about 85 per cent of female infertility cases in Sub-Saharan Africa.
This is more than twice the global average of 33 per cent.
“In Sub-Saharan Africa, infection results in almost 85 per cent of infertility cases among women, compared with 33 per cent in the rest of the world,” she said during a webinar organised as part of Merck Foundation’s “More Than a Mother Community Awareness Programme.”
The webinar was held in collaboration with the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Nigeria Union of Journalists, and Sierra Leone Association of Journalists.
Dr. Dennis, who is also the Director of the Family Health Division at Liberia’s Ministry of Health, established a direct link between untreated sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and infertility.
She noted that many people with underlying infections were unaware of them, describing such conditions as “silent infections” that could lead to pelvic inflammatory disease.
Dr. Dennis explained that these infections cause scarring in the fallopian tubes, preventing eggs and sperm from meeting.
“Once you have a blocked tube, it’s impossible for you to naturally conceive,” she stated.
Challenging widespread misconceptions, especially in Africa, Dr. Dennis said infertility was often blamed on women, yet about half of cases resulted from male-associated factors.
“Most times, the men blame the women for being infected, but in reality, once you do the clinical check, you find growing cases of infertility in men,” she explained.
Dr. Dennis also identified stress and unfavourable temperatures as contributing factors to infertiltiy, particularly among men.
To mitigate these risks, she recommended regular exercise, avoiding intense workouts, eating a balanced diet, and maintaining a healthy weight.
Additionally, she advised against smoking, alcohol consumption, drug abuse, and excessive caffeine intake.
Dr. Daliri Dennis Bomansang, Medical Director of Presbyterian Psychiatric Hospital, Ghana, said that infertility affected about 17.5 per cent of the global adult population—roughly one in six people worldwide.
“Infertility is a common phenomenon, and there is no need for stigma because it’s a global issue,” he said.
Citing a study from The Gambia, Dr. Bomansang noted that 33.9 per cent of infertility cases were caused by primary factors, while 59.1 per cent resulted from secondary causes.
He called for an end to the stigmatisation of women facing infertility, linking it to gender-based violence and psychological trauma.
Dr. Bomansang urged the media to play a pivotal role in addressing infertility issues by raising awareness, challenging stigma, promoting gender equality, and sharing inspiring stories of women who had overcome infertility.
“In Ghana, in most communities, just within a year after a couple is said to be married, the next question is, ‘Is she pregnant?’ That alone is the beginning of stress for the woman,
“This then leads to shame, guilt, and embarrassment. And unfortunately, society has already thrown that type of burden on women to say that men cannot be infertile, but women,” he said.
GNA
