Only one in four men has optimal semen quality, according to a Consultant Gynaecologist, Dr Victor Ajayi, who quoted a 2012 study.
Ajayi, Chief Executive Officer of Nordica Fertility Centre, made the statement during a webinar organised by the centre on Saturday. The webinar was themed “The Forgotten Men: Conversation on Infertility.”
He noted that periodic studies by the World Health Organisation show a global decline in male reproductive potential, with sperm counts falling by more than 50 per cent over the past five decades.
“Only a few men now produce the 39 million sperm concentration considered necessary for natural conception,” Ajayi said. This is in sharp contrast to the 300 million to 500 million sperm per ejaculate commonly recorded decades ago.
He warned that this trend could have profound implications for human reproduction if left unchecked.
Ajayi attributed the decline in sperm quality to factors such as obesity, unhealthy lifestyles, sperm DNA fragmentation, scrotal overheating, psychological stress, and other health conditions.
The gynaecologist decried the widespread perception that infertility is solely a women’s problem, noting that men account for about 50 per cent of infertility cases. He said infertility has been culturally framed as a female issue, leaving women to bear the stigma, investigations, and emotional burden.
“It is time to bring men into the conversation about reproductive health, not as bystanders, but as equal participants whose fertility matters,” he said.
Ajayi emphasised that many factors affecting sperm quality are preventable and can be addressed through lifestyle changes. He called for increased public awareness, early intervention, and proper counselling to promote shared responsibility in reproductive health.
Also speaking, Mr Pilot Gbolahan, Clinical Psychologist at Nordica Fertility Centre, observed that many men suffer in silence and rarely seek help for emotional issues related to infertility.
“Infertility is a medical condition, not a reflection of masculinity or strength. Male factors contribute to 50 per cent of infertility cases, yet many men delay seeking fertility evaluation. Breaking the silence is the first step towards finding a solution,” he said.
Gbolahan advocated for routine psychological services in fertility clinics across Nigeria.
Dr Jesse Atongo, Consultant Gynaecologist at Nordica Fertility Centre, added that many men equate sexual function with reproductive capacity. He explained that male infertility is diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, and semen analysis.
Treatment, he noted, is individualised based on the cause and severity, and may include medications, surgery, or assisted reproduction. He advised men to avoid illicit substances, excessive heat, alcohol, maintain a healthy weight, and practise safe sex.
