Mirian Gom 
ADO EKITI, Nigeria – Consultant obstetrician and gynecologist, Prof. Adebayo Adeniyi, has warned that untreated pelvic infections remain one of the leading causes of infertility among Nigerian women.
Adeniyi, who is the Medical Director of Olives Fertility Centre, Ado Ekiti, said on Saturday that infections account for most cases of fallopian tube blockage, which prevent natural conception.
“IVF is often a last resort. We classify a woman as infertile if after two years of regular sexual intercourse with her husband she fails to conceive,” he explained.
The fertility expert said poorly treated infections, commonly spread through unprotected sex, often result in abnormal vaginal discharge, tubal damage, and eventual infertility.
“Condom use is highly protective, preventing both infections and unwanted pregnancies. Sadly, nearly 80 per cent of unmarried young people do not use condoms,” Adeniyi said.
He cautioned against self-medication, stressing that women should seek medical care rather than buy random drugs that may mask symptoms.
Since October 2019, Olives Fertility Centre has produced 123 babies through IVF, including 20 sets of twins and eight sets of triplets.
Another fertility expert, Dr Jaiyeoba Adeyemi, recently advised couples who have tried conceiving for a year without success to seek medical evaluation, particularly urging women above 35 to act early due to declining fertility.
Adeniyi emphasised that awareness, prevention, and early treatment of infections are crucial to reducing Nigeria’s rising infertility burden.
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Hussaini Ibrahim 
