Infertility prevalent in Africa due to drug abuse, says expert

Infertility is prevalent in Africa due to the frequent use of non-prescribed medications which affect the reproductive organs, says Ifeoma Amugo, a medical consultant with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

Amugo said this in Abuja during the RCCG Women of Zion, FCT province 7 Sister’s Convention 2017.

According to her, cases of infertility was more in Africa than Europe because in developed countries, drugs are not sold over the counter without doctor prescription.

She said some women had mistakenly damaged their wombs and ovaries because of the side effects of drugs used in the past.

“Infertility is high in Africa than in Europe, in Nigeria people just go to the pharmacy and buy drugs without doctor prescription which causes so much damage,” she said.

“In Europe, you can’t buy any drugs over the counter without prescription or proper consultation from the doctor.”

She further listed anxiety, overweight, heavy drinking and smoking as other causes of infertility in both men and women.

Amugo, however, advised women on the importance of family planning and child spacing, stating that if a woman had so many children, she won’t be able to take care of all of them properly.

She noted that there was a natural method of family planning and hormonal methods which included the use of birth controls and pills.

According to her, safe period is a good method of birth control while withdrawal method is very unreliable and basically not advised.

She advised women to seek medical help from the hospital when faced with infertility challenges rather than using herbs and non-prescribed medications.