Ojoma Suleiman found herself one Sunday morning in April among a mass of 500-odd people kneading their hands in prayer. “Remember me, oh Lord. Like Serah, like Hannah, have mercy upon me.”
She had been married for 6 years without a child, as medical diagnoses showed her to be infertile. The delightful memory of her wedding day was swept away by creeping sadness as she worried each day.
Suleiman’s experience is, however, not an isolated case in Nigeria, where infertility is viewed as a woman’s burden. This stereotype condemns women, such as Suleiman, to shame and coercive measures, thereby tightening the noose on them.
Desperate for a solution, some of the women turn to spiritual centers, where they are made to eat awful concoctions or imbibe herbal drinks. In fact, Suleiman recalled one such scenario, where she was made to eat and say her prayers afterwards. Her in-laws consulted medical experts and traditional doctors alike, all to no avail.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), infertility may originate from various factors in either the male or female reproductive systems. Yet, in some cases, the underlying causes are unidentifiable.
Another report released by the WHO in 2023 shows that it affects a significant chunk of the global population, with approximately 1 in 6 adults (17.5%) experiencing troubles with fertility at some point in their lives.
In response to these high statistics, alternative methods of conception have emerged to fill the needs of many clucky women and enable them to bear their own fruit. One such method is in vitro fertilization (IVF).
What is IVF
In vitro fertilisation (IVF), to put it simply, involves the fusion of a woman’s egg and a man’s sperm outside the body, typically within a laboratory setting. Unlike natural conception, where the sperm and eggs bond inside the woman’s body to form an embryo, IVF progresses through several stages to facilitate conception.
First is the administration of fertility drugs to the woman after the couple’s medical history is confirmed. These drugs stimulate egg production, increasing the likelihood of successful fertilization. Once the eggs reach maturity, they are retrieved through a minor surgical procedure. In some cases, donated eggs may be used. The retrieved eggs are then fertilized with sperm in a laboratory dish, and the resulting embryos are monitored for quality. Finally, viable embryos are transferred back into the woman’s uterus, increasing the chances of a successful implantation and pregnancy.
Drawbacks of IVF in Nigeria
Despite its promise, IVF remains out of reach for many Nigeiran couples because of its high costs. Omega Golden Fertility, a specialized facility center in the city of Lagos, puts the cost of IVF around N2,700,000. In a country with a minimum wage of N30,000, procuring an IVF remains out of reach for many women and couples at large.
According to 2023 data from the World Poverty Clock, a staggering 71 million Nigerians are identified as living in extreme poverty, highlighting the apparent inability of many Nigerians to opt for IVF as an alternative to their pursuit of children
Also notable are the misconceptions associated with the sophisticated process of IVF. A popular notion is that IVF is reserved for women with fertility issues, although medical experts have confirmed that the reproductive technology can equally aid men plagued with impotence and infertility.
A study published in the National Library of Medicine confirms that in roughly 20% of cases, males are solely responsible for infertility, while in an additional 30% to 40% of cases, they contribute to infertility as a contributing factor. This, however, does not align with societal beliefs that place blame for infertility on women. IVF can assist men with insufficient sperm to be part of the conception of a child.
The belief that IVF pregnancies are delivered through a caesarean section (CS), rather than a vaginal delivery, is misleading. IVF pregnancies are comparable to naturally conceived pregnancies, and IVF, without other factors, alone is not a reason for a CS. Generally, the decision for a caesarean delivery is based on the obstetric assessments of the pregnancy. Nevertheless, couples who have struggled with infertility for several years, or face a higher likelihood of multiple pregnancies, may opt for the safer choice of a planned elective caesarean delivery. But it is important to note that a normal vaginal delivery is also possible following IVF.
Similarly, many Africans believe in the natural order of things. Conception and delivery are expected to be smooth and not aided by medical procedures.
Religion also describes children as gifts to people, creating the impression of IVF as a practice not backed by God and not even unworthy of religious thanksgiving and testimonies. Experts have, however, identified IVF as a fifty-fifty likelihood of successful fertility, with an element of luck.
The journey of infertility is fraught with emotional, societal, and financial challenges for many Nigerian couples. IVF offers a ray of hope in this regard, yet its widespread adoption is hampered by various factors, including cost and misconceptions. As awareness grows and societal attitudes evolve, perhaps more couples like Suleiman will find solace in the promise of assisted reproduction, ultimately realizing their dreams of parenthood
Ojoma Suleiman, struggling with infertility after six years of marriage, found solace among a group of 500 people at a prayer session. Despite medical diagnoses proving her infertility, she endured societal pressures, shame, and tried spiritual and traditional remedies. Suleiman's plight reflects the broader Nigerian view that infertility is solely a woman's burden, often leading women to seek extreme measures.
Infertility, according to the WHO, affects both genders and can sometimes have unknown causes. A 2023 WHO report showed that 1 in 6 adults globally face fertility issues. In vitro fertilization (IVF) has surfaced as an alternative solution, involving the fusion of egg and sperm outside the body before transferring the embryo back into the uterus. However, the high cost of IVF in Nigeria, around N2,700,000, makes it inaccessible to many, given the country's low minimum wage and high poverty rates.
Misconceptions about IVF, such as it being only for women or requiring caesarean delivery, persist. In reality, IVF can aid both men and women, and pregnancies resulting from IVF can be delivered naturally or via caesarean depending on medical assessments. Societal and religious beliefs further complicate the acceptance of IVF.
The emotional, societal, and financial challenges faced by Nigerian couples in their journey with infertility are profound. While IVF offers hope, its adoption is hindered by costs and societal misconceptions. Increased awareness and evolving societal attitudes may eventually help more couples realize their dream of parenthood through assisted reproduction.
