Only 25% of men have optimal sperm quality, Nordica Fertility warns
Only one in four men currently has optimal semen quality, Nordica Fertility Centre CEO Victor Ajayi said, citing a 2012 study that found just 25% of men meet the threshold for natural conception. He warned that World Health Organisation data show sperm counts have fallen more than 50% over the past fifty years, driven by obesity, unhealthy lifestyles, DNA fragmentation, heat exposure, psychological stress and other medical conditions. Ajayi challenged the notion that infertility is mainly a woman's issue, noting that male factors contribute to half of all infertility cases yet men often avoid testing and bear little of the social stigma. Psychologist Gbolahan added that many men hide emotional distress tied to infertility and skip therapy, while gynecologist Jesse Atongo explained that infertility can be diagnosed through history, exam and semen analysis and treated with medication, surgery or assisted reproduction. He urged men to avoid illicit drugs, excessive heat, alcohol, maintain a healthy weight and practice safe sex. The talk also noted Nigeria's fertility rate has fallen to 4.8 children per woman according to the latest NDHS.