(FINAL PRODUCTION) MALE INFERTILITY: WHY SILENCED?











" I was shocked when I was told, I really can’t tell how bad I felt”.

When Kwabena Appiah was told no sperm could be detected in his sample, he was broken.

After trying for two years with his wife, he decided to make an appointment for sperm analysis. He felt broken when he realized he couldn’t reproduce.

“I have been married to my wife for 11 years, before the test everyone blamed her for being infertile.” He speaks.

After the doctor said he was infertile. He just stared at his face. There were no emotions from the doctor, no advice, there was nothing, just like his semen analysis.

Mr Adjetey (Trader)













Mr. Adjetey (not his real name) has been married for 4 years.

He has been trying for two years after marriage. After several lab tests and semen analysis, he found out there was a blockage in his tubes. He found it very difficult to believe since he had impregnated someone before. After the test, he consulted pastors for divine interventions. “A pastor took my 5000 cedis for herbal medicine” just like the second coming of Christ, the herbal medicine is yet to arrive.

“Men hardly think about things like this” he added.

There are many causes of male infertility.


According to Dr. Emmanuel Kase who is a reproductive specialist and embryologist at the clinic, male infertility can be caused by, poor sperm quality, low sperm count, sperms that move abnormally, damaged testicles, and male sex hormones. All these can be influenced by modern lifestyles like food, alcohol, smoking, sex enhancement drugs, and many others.

At the walking Egg Clinic in Accra, about 80% of the fertility issues the clinic treat is male related. Infertility is something that affects many men who attend the fertility center , but many are reluctant to talk about it.

“Dr. Kase believes that men have little or no understanding of the problem that can impact their fertility. Most men believe ejaculation alone means they are fertile. Our culture only enlightens us on female infertility.

Dr. Edward Boache is a urologist at the Accra regional hospital, he explains that for some time now, there have been several options to help solve male infertility.

A Sperm Cell (Picture: Getty Images)

Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) allows sperm to be injected into the egg, which is used to treat men with low sperm counts.

In Vitro Fertilization, during IVF, an egg is extracted from the woman's ovaries and fertilized in a laboratory with sperm. The fertilized egg is then returned to the woman's womb to grow and develop.

This is one of the treatments Mr. Adjetey (not his real name) is taking after several herbal medicines. For the past two years, he has spent more than 20,000 Ghana cedis on medication.

 He is fortunate to have the funds for treatment. Unlike Kwabena Appiah, he is waiting till he is financially stable.

 

Health organizations and the media should help increase awareness of male infertility, the need for males to get screened or checked.

This will reduce stigma and create a soothing environment because comfort comes from one another. 


Esther Adomah Osei

NAFTI NEWS

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

ONLINE SHOPPING AND ITS IMPACT ON SOCIETY

Image
Sheila Owusu (picture source: online) We used to live in a world where consumers went to the market in order to gather all of their shopping needs, from food, clothes, electrical, hardware and everything in between, but over the past ten years all that has changed due to the global impact of e-commerce. E-commerce allows consumers to search, compare and buy products and services online at the touch of a few keys either at home or on the move. The simple, flexible and hassle-free nature of e-commerce is the main reason why it is one of the Internet’s most widely used services.  Lady shopping online (picture source : online) According to eMarketer, online retail sales will reach $6.39 trillion, with ecommerce taking up 21.8% of total retail sales.  (picture source: eMarketer website) Most people sell online as a side job, Adepa Yeboah, a student and online seller, says she began her business when she started university and is ready to graduate, and she was able to pay for her studies th...
Read more

DEFECTIVE BRAKE LIGHT

Image
CHIEF INSPECTOR OF THE MTTD BUKARI SEIDU CAUTIONS DRIVERS TO TO ENSURE REGULAR CHECKS OF THEIR VEHICLES TO AVOID ACCIDENTS. by Simon Quaye      -        October 8, 2021 Chief inspector Bukari Seidu at his office Chief inspector of the MTTD Bukari Seidu has cautioned drivers to regularly check their vehicles for faults before hitting the road. According to him, components on the vehicle like the brake lights should be checked to ensure it is properly functioning to avoid accidents. “ Every component of the car needs to always be checked to ensure it functions. Once any of the components of the car is not functioning, it affects the vehicle and makes it not road worthy. When you go for a road certificate at the DVLA, they will ask you to go and fix the fault before you are issued with the certificate”. He further explained the laws and punishments for defaulters adding that they can be fined or imprisoned. “ Many of us do not know that there is a fine at...
Read more

Kayanmata: the prevalent sex aphrodisiacs and their side effect.

Image
source: Hannah Bentum Goron Tula “Kayanmata” originated from the Northern tribes of Nigeria with the main ingridients being honey, tiger nuts, camel’s milk, millet, herbs and roots. There are different types of Kayan Mata namely Gindin Ayu, Zuman Mata, Obaa sima, tighten stone, Vagina candies, vagina sweetening, vagina salt and more.  This act as sex or love enhancers for couples. The products have been trending on social media as the merchants openly advertise them and also post their clients’ testimonies on the efficacy. The business is thriving on social media and drawing more people.   It is literally interpreted as “women sauce” from Hausa language, Kayan Mata. II is a generic name for a range of aphrodisiacs. However, there are some for men and some for women. According to observers, for the products efficacy, some critics insinuate that Kayan Mata products are love potions or charms used by women to keep husbands away from other women.  But a seller, Ameriya ...
Read more