By Awa DK. Conteh
In fertility is defined clinically as condition in which women cannot get pregnant and in men as situation where a man cannot impregnate a woman after some years of marriage. However, in most cases, women are blamed for not being able to unable to conceive
Dr. Hassan Azadeh, assistant professor at the University of The Gambia and the Clinical Director and Senior Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist at the Medicare clinic said infertility is gradually increasing in the country. He added that some recent population studies have suggested that sperm count have been declining universally even though infertility has not been increasing substantially.
He noted that infertility is either due to environmental, genetic or other identifiable factors.
He noted that the common environmental causes of male infertility are due to male’s occupation, such as truck driving, welding, firefighting, habits such as excessive use of hot tubs or tight clothing.Drugs including certain antibiotics, anabolic and prescription medicine, anabolic steroids, alcohol, marijuana.
Dr. Azadeh explained that the genetic causes of male infertility are mutation inside the genes that determine the male sex which is referred to as the Y-CHROMOSOME. He added that otherirregular changes in the genes in some men are caused by a condition called KLINEFELTER’S XXY SYNDROME in which they have an extra copy of the female-sex determining genes ( X CHROMOSOME).
A research conducted by IVF FLORIDA REPRODUCTIVE ASSOCIATES indicated that male infertility is a subject that many men still find uncomfortable. However, infertility problems in men are not rare. About two thirds of couples undergoing infertility treatment are trying to overcome some type of male infertility. Male Infertility can range from a decrease in sperm production to physical blockage that prevents sperm from reaching its destination.
Another research conducted by Academic Center of Oup.com also reported that many infertile men suffered from stigmatization, verbal abuse and lose of social status. The awareness of male factor infertility was, however high most men appeared involved in the health-seeking process men describe their emotional reaction to childlessness and the impact of infertility on marital stability. In South Africa, 27 men from a diverse cultural urban community participate in in-depth interview at the time of their first visit to an infertility clinic in a tertiary.
