Principal Nursing Officer with Tema Metro Health Directorate Francis Peace Adzre has attributed the rising number of infertility cases among men and women in the country to the excessive alcohol consumption.
She said alcohol can affect fertility by altering sperm count size, shape, and motility.
In an interview with Nana Konadu Okontie, host of Plan-Bn BFM “Apomuden Fie”, a weekend health content on the radio station, the Health practitioner stated that, in men, heavy drinking affects fertility by lowering testosterone levels, follicle stimulating hormone and heavy drinking luteinizing hormone and raising estrogen levels, which reduce sperm production in the end.
“We have two types of infertility; Primary and Secondary. The primary one refers to couples who have not become pregnant after 1 year having sex without using birth control methods. The secondary infertility is where couples who have been able to get pregnant at least once, but are unable to do so”. She explained
“People of advanced age can experience infertility and sometimes the quality of eggs produced by the female during sex could be the problem. Blocked fallopian tubes are a common cause of infertility. Sperm and egg meet in fallopian tube for fertilization”
“A blocked tube can prevent them from joining. If both tubes are fully blocked, pregnancy without treatment will be impossible,” she remarked.
“The kind of food we consume nowadays is also a problem; lots of spicy, oily and fatty foods can also cause infertility. We need to eat healthy foods. Pelvic inflammation disorders can lead to serious, long-term problems; it can cause scarring of the fallopian tubes. This scarring can block the tubes and prevent an egg from being fertilized” she stated.
In conclusion, she advised against resorting to herbal concoction and aphrodisiacs. This could have serious implication and also women should refrain from illegal abortion which could have dire consequences on their fertility.
“Serious uterine injury, bowel injury and severe infections are common complications of illegal abortion that could affect future fertility by scarring the uterus or the fallopian tubes. Women who need a hysterectomy to treat the complications of unsafe abortion will also lose their fertility”.
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