By Ruth Adebayo
Ladies and waiting couples have been advised on behavioural approaches to ensure the achievement of desired results with In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF).
Health experts, who spoke in separate interviews, highlighted the importance of the approaches.
A Senior Registrar in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, Dr Olufiade Oyerogba, assured that IVF has brought succour to many women who were hitherto stigmatized as infertile.
She described IVF as the manipulation and processing of the female egg and male sperm outside of the human body with the aim of both forming an embryo that will be transplanted or inserted into the woman who will carry the pregnancy.
She said that there was a need for waiting couples and families to be aware of the process of IVF, which could help them achieve their dreams of having their own children.
The Gynaecologist advised young ladies to always go for regular health checks to know early if they have any problem with their reproductive organs, and treatment should commence immediately.
Oyerogba underscored the need to avoid dangerous, risky sexual behaviours that could affect future fertility, adding that poorly treated sexual infections can lead to tubal blockage, which is a leading cause of infertility.
“Women should abstain from sexual intercourse if possible, until marriage.
“Those that are already married should be faithful to their partners, while young ladies should ensure that their partner uses condoms to prevent sexually transmitted infections.
“Although IVF has come to stay in Nigeria, it’s available to help couples who have a delay in fertility.
“But it’s expensive and out of reach for many families, it may not achieve a 100 per cent success rate so it’s better to try as much as possible to prevent all causes of infertility,” Oyerogba stressed.
Similarly, a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at UCH, Dr Gbolahan Obajimi described IVF as a procedure designed to help infertile couples to achieve conception.
He explained that IVF has been in use over four decades and has helped infertile couples globally to have their own children, adding that it entails a lot of processes.
“However, it’s safe, ethically acceptable and usually the last option after all had failed.
“It’s readily available now in Nigeria. When a couple has attempted all options, there is no hope, then it’s time to go for IVF.
“It’s expensive, so they need to prepare to get financial support, emotional support and mental health support sometimes.
“It doesn’t always work, but it’s more reliable than any other method.
“IVF is not the first-line treatment; there are other options that can be offered to patients, especially when they are young. They should seek fertility treatment as soon as possible,” Obajimi said while advising couples who are unable to conceive after one year to seek an expert’s management.
