Infertility preventable, treatable —Oguntoyinbo, Unilorin don

A professor of Clinical Radiology at the University of Ilorin, Adewale Oguntoyinbo, has said that many of the causes of infertility are either preventable or treatable if appropriately investigated.

Delivering the 181st inaugural lecture of the university, entitled “Delay is not Denial: Invisible made Visible, Giving Hope to the Hopeless Through Medical Imaging in the Management of Female in Fertility,” Professor Oguntoyinbo said that there is a synergy between divinity and humanity.

Professor Oguntoyinbo, who defined infertility as “the inability of a couple (male/female unit) to achieve pregnancy after one year of regular unprotected sexual exposure,” said couples with such fears should take advantage of imaging evaluation, which, he said, makes the invisible visible

He stated, “Infertility is a serious socio-medical problem in our setting. Reports suggest that fear of infertility in both singles and married couples may be the reason for low contraceptive use in Nigeria.”

ALSO READ: FG begins settlement of N22.6bn to ex-Nigeria Airways workers

He urged patients, relations and religious leaders to “be hopeful and stay within the ethical/medical provision available for each case, be more tolerant of infertile couples as patience is a virtue in such cases and allow their followers to benefit from up to date medical facilities while praying for and with them respectively.”

Professor Oguntoyinbo said that many of the causes of infertility are either preventable or treatable if appropriately investigated, adding that infertility cases are not due to evil work or satanic attacks or angry gods but due to causes which can only be identified or made visible through medical imaging and must be recognised as such.

The don said that there is no way a woman can know if her tubes are blocked unless a form of imaging is done.

According to him, “the cutting edge is to investigate early once there is a delay in conception because a delay is not denial; there is hope for all women of child-bearing age to have children”.

The professor of Clinical Radiology said that infertility is the commonest reason for gynaecological consultation, with multiple causations, including disorders of ovulation, defects in the seminal fluid, especially low sperm count, and anatomical abnormalities of the female genital tract.