By SAM PHIRI –
A GYNAECOLOGIST and fertility specialist has attributed the increasing low sperm count among Zambian men to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV.
Edward Tamale-Sali, operating at a newly-established In Vetro Fertilisation (IVF) Clinic in Lusaka, said statistics at the centre indicated that many men, who sought medical attention of infertility caused by low sperm count, have had a history of STIs which eventually blocked the sperm ducts.
“Although there are other causes like mumps, hernia operations, un-descended testicles and accidents or trauma on the men’s private parts, STIs are still the main cause of low sperm count in men,” he said.
Dr Sali also disclosed that the number of men who had infertility problems was on the rise.
He, however, revealed that the infertility levels were higher in women, standing at more than 60 per cent compared to men who were currently at 30 per cent.
Dr Sali said women had a higher number of causes that would lead to infertility compared to men.
He cited abortion, fibroid operations, premature menopause and STIs as some of the causes of infertility in women.
The gynaecologist cautioned young women against rushing to the surgical knife to have fibroids removed as that had a negative effect on the fallopian tubes.
“Most of these surgical procedures end up blocking tubes in women, making it difficult or impossible for them to conceive before specialist fertility treatment,” he said.
On artificial insemination, Dr Sali said his clinic offered the service but only to couples whose husbands had HIV or low sperm count.
“There is a new technology that cleans up the sperms to get rid of the HIV virus before artificially inseminating it into a woman,” Dr Sali said.
He said single women without partners to sign as sperm donors would not be served at the new clinic, on ethical grounds.
“Every child would one day want to point at the father, so we cannot do that procedure without the woman telling us who is donating the sperm,” he said.
So far, the Lusaka IVF and Fertility clinic has conducted more than 10 artificial inseminations, six of which had been confirmed successful.