Gynaecologist harps on timely infertility treatment for couples

A gynaecologist, Dr Tayo Adeiyi, has emphasised the importance of seeking medical assistance for infertility after a year of unprotected intercourse.

Adeiyi gave this advice in an interview with the newsmen on Friday in Lagos.

Adeiyi, Medical Director, Amuwo Odofin Maternal and Child Centre (AOMCC), said that couples should seek medical assistance against infertility after 12 months of unprotected sex.

According to him, normal pregnancy should occur within 12 months of unprotected sex.

“If there’s regular sexual intercourse, and by regular, we say between two and three times weekly.

“If the sexual exposure is unprotected, no use of any family planning method, no use of condoms.

“If all is well, a couple should be able to achieve pregnancy within 12 months, which is one calendar year,” he said.

The gynaecologist listed risk factors for conception to include age, infections, abnormalities with ovulation or menstruation, hormonal imbalance, damaged or blocked fallopian tubes and abnormal sperm parametre.

Adeiyi said that others include pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), myomectomy, surgery to remove fibroids, or surgeries that can impact fertility and a history of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

He said that couples with hormonal imbalance defects could be treated with medications.

The gynaecologist, however, said those with conditions like bilateral tubal blockage, damaged fallopian tubes or certain kinds of male infertility, might need artificial conception such as In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF).

Adeiyi cautioned against attributing infertility to women, saying both men and women could be responsible.

“Infertility is not a problem of a woman but that of a couple. That’s the first thing we must get right.

“If there’s infertility in a couple, it could either be the result of a male or female factor.

“If there are issues of the sperm parameters not being too good, such a woman cannot get pregnant.

“Even if all other factors are right in the woman but the male that is supposed to fertilise the egg sperm parametres are not good, then there’ll be infertility,” he said.

The gynaecologist advised advanced age couples and women of over 35 years, not to wait for one year before investigating the cause of delay in conception.

Adeiyi also advised women with a history of first-trimester pregnancy losses to take folic acid to avoid neural tube abnormalities.