The Chief Executive Officer of Nordica Fertility Centre, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, has raised concern over the growing number of Nigerian men facing infertility, blaming poor lifestyle habits, stress, and ignorance for the rise.
Speaking during the 13th anniversary of Nordica Fertility Centre in Abuja, Ajayi said studies carried out by the centre showed a sharp drop in sperm quality among Nigerian men over the years.
“Male infertility is rising fast. In one of our studies, we found that about 12 percent of men had no sperm at all, while almost half had a low sperm count,” he said.
He explained that many young men are damaging their fertility without knowing it. “Some men use drugs and supplements they don’t understand. Others live under too much pressure and stress. All these things affect fertility,” he added.
Ajayi also mentioned that environmental pollution, especially from mining activities, is another hidden cause. “When people engage in mining or are exposed to heavy metals, it can affect their reproductive health over time,” he warned.
He urged Nigerians to take fertility and reproductive health more seriously. “We need more awareness. The media must help people know that infertility is not a death sentence. It can be treated if we take the right steps,” he said.
On women’s fertility issues, Ajayi said endometriosis is now one of the main causes of female infertility, not just infections as many people believe. “We used to think infections were the major problem, but now we know that endometriosis is a silent cause of infertility in many women,” he said.
Speaking further, Ajayi noted that Nordica Fertility Centre has helped thousands of families achieve their dream of having children. “In the last 13 years, we’ve recorded over 5,000 births across our centres. That’s something we’re very proud of,” he said.
As part of its anniversary activities, Nordica announced a special giveaway of one free fertility treatment, in partnership with the Fertility Awareness Advocate Initiative, FAAI.
Also Speaking, Vice President of FAAI, Vivian Patrick, said the partnership with Nordica was aimed at supporting couples seeking fertility treatment.
“We get sponsors to support families who can’t afford the full cost of treatment,” she said.
Patrick noted that public awareness about IVF has grown significantly in Nigeria over the years. “When we started around 2013, not many people talked about IVF, even those who knew about it kept it secret. But now, it’s on everyone’s lips,” she said.
She added that FAAI continues to push awareness through webinars and interviews while advocating for government support.
On the raffle draw held during the anniversary event, Patrick explained that it was a fair way to select couples for free IVF cycles.
Also speaking, Dr. Jesse Atungo, a fertility expert at Nordica Fertility Centre, explained that IVF treatment is not only expensive but also emotionally demanding for clients.
“The fertility journey and IVF process come at a high cost financially, physically, and emotionally. Many of our clients have endured years of pressure and rejection from society before seeking help,” he said.
He added that some clients arrive already depressed or emotionally drained. “When an IVF cycle fails, it can be devastating because they’ve invested their time, money, and hope into it,” he said.
Dr. Atungo explained that IVF success largely depends on the quality of the eggs and sperm used in the process. “The quality of the embryo comes from the sperm and the egg. If either has genetic or chromosomal defects, the embryos may not implant or may lead to early miscarriage,” he said.
He noted that Nordica chose to mark its anniversary by addressing why IVF cycles sometimes fail and by offering hope through improved awareness and support systems for clients.
