Don identifies solutions to female infertility

A professor in the Department of Radiology , University of Ilorin , Adewale Oguntoyinbo , has said that female infertility is caused by infections aggravated by multiple sexual partners , poor health facilities and inadequate treatment of affected individuals .
Oguntoyibo said this last Thursday in Ilorin , capital of Kwara State , while delivering the 181 st inaugural lecture of UNILORIN .
He argued that several studies , including those by the World Health Organisation , have indicated that most cases of female infertility in Africa were caused by infections acquired from miscarriages and induced abortions , as well as child labour and sexually transmitted infections .
The don described female infertility as a symptom and not a disease , which simply indicates a disordered state of the female reproductive organs .
He identified other causes of female infertility to include , pelvic infections , peritoneal adhesions and adnexal masses ; congenital or acquired anomalies of the genital tract; coital factors and age.
Oguntoyibo also noted that female fertility would naturally begin to decline from the age of 35 to the mid or late 40 s when the ovaries would cease to mature their eggs and menopause sets in . He described most causes of infertility as either preventable or treatable if appropriately investigated .
However , insisting that there was hope for all women of childbearing age who had not given birth , Oguntoyibo urged government at all levels to promote policies that would improve health standards with better health facilities .
He said , “ Adequate public enlightenment or education should be given to the people in order to reduce or eliminate the activities of quacks or charlatans in medical practice . Allowances must be made for a couple to work and live together through the provision of more job opportunities and other incentives .
“ The patients are to be hopeful and stay within the ethical medical provision available for each case . Relatives are to be more tolerant of infertile couples. Patience is a virtue in such cases .
“ Religious leaders are to allow their followers to benefit from up to date medically facilities while praying for and with them. ”