NISA Premier Hospital, Abuja, has called on the Federal Government to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) and surrogacy.
The Group Managing Director (GMD) of NISA Medical Group, Dr Musa Shuaibu, made the call in an interview with reporters on Tuesday in Abuja.
Shuaibu said such a framework would address misconceptions, unethical practices and other challenges associated with assisted reproductive technology (ART).
He said that although acceptance of ART was growing among educated Nigerians, cultural beliefs, religious considerations and limited understanding continued to influence public perceptions of fertility treatments.
According to him, greater awareness was necessary to help Nigerians understand how medical science could assist couples experiencing difficulties conceiving, while distinguishing legitimate medical practice from unethical activities.
“Among the enlightened, I would say we are making progress, but in many communities, people still have questions about what these procedures mean and what they are all about.
“We need enlightenment across different communities to let people understand that science and technology can assist couples to have babies,” he said.
The GMD, however, warned that reported cases of unethical practices by unqualified individuals could undermine public confidence in ART and increase apprehension among prospective patients.
He also urged journalists to verify medical claims and consult qualified specialists when reporting on fertility treatments to avoid spreading misinformation and creating unnecessary fear.
Shuaibu attributed persistent misconceptions surrounding IVF to a combination of educational, cultural and religious factors, noting that beliefs varied across communities and religious groups.
He said sustained public education was necessary to improve understanding of fertility treatments and encourage informed decisions among couples seeking medical assistance.
On the belief that infertility was primarily a woman’s problem, the GMD said fertility investigations should involve both partners because difficulties conceiving could result from male or female factors.
“Infertility is not exclusively a male or female issue; it is a couple’s concern. When they come for investigation, both partners are evaluated to identify the factors affecting their ability to conceive,” he said.
He explained that treatment depended on the findings of medical investigations, adding that some men required assistance with sperm collection or delivery, while some women needed interventions to address reproductive conditions.
The GMD said the assumption that women were solely responsible for infertility placed unnecessary pressure on them and overlooked the possible contribution of male-factor infertility.
He also dismissed misconceptions that children conceived through IVF were biologically different from those conceived naturally.
Shuaibu explained that IVF assisted fertilisation rather than creating reproductive cells artificially.
“There is no difference in the sense that the sperm and the ovum are the same reproductive cells that would have come together naturally.
“What we do is use science and technology to assist fertilisation,” he said.
He explained that IVF involved collecting eggs and sperm and bringing them together in a laboratory, after which an embryo could be transferred into the woman’s uterus.
According to him, when a woman could not carry a pregnancy, a gestational carrier could be considered, subject to appropriate medical assessment and applicable professional and legal requirements.
The GMD said surrogacy and IVF were related but distinct concepts, explaining that IVF was a fertilisation technique, while surrogacy involved another woman carrying a pregnancy for the intended parent or parents.
He noted that the two procedures could be combined when an embryo created through IVF was transferred to a gestational carrier because the intended mother could not safely carry the pregnancy.
He said surrogacy required extensive psychological preparation because pregnancy could create a strong emotional bond between the woman carrying the baby and the unborn child.
Shuaibu cited cases in which gestational carriers had refused to hand over babies after delivery despite previously signed agreements.
He said such disputes highlighted the need for clear rules and adequate psychological preparation, adding that Nigeria’s legal framework for ART and surrogacy remained inadequate.
This, he said, meant practitioners relied substantially on professional guidance and practices in jurisdictions with more established regulatory arrangements.
“Our call to government has always been that appropriate regulation should be put in place.
“Without a clear framework, there is room for sharp practices by people who may not be qualified to provide these services,” he said.
He urged the government to establish clear standards to guide fertility treatments, protect patients and children, and distinguish qualified practitioners from unlicensed operators.
The GMD also said NISA was open to collaborations with organisations seeking to address the financial burden of fertility treatment.
According to him, partnerships with relevant institutions could help improve access to fertility services, particularly for couples who struggled to afford treatment.
