A more credible medical source has asked men not to put the blame of childlessness wholly on the door steps of women.

Men should also bear part of the blame.

“About half of the causes of infertility are due to or include male factors and infertility is one of the commonest conditions affecting reproductive age group between 20 and 45 years,”

Dr. Edem K. Hiadzi, a Consultant Obstetrician  Gynaecologist and Fertility Specialist at the Lister Hospital and Family Centre in Accra brought these to the fore at a Merck Media Training for Journalists in  Asia and Africa via video conference.

He said that there had been unjustifiable condemnation of women who were unable to conceive stressing that women alone should not be blamed but men could also be contributive factor to the problem.

Dr. Hiadzi who is the President of the Fertility Society of Ghana (FERSOG) pointed out that infertility had been a major cause of marital problems in Africa, and had exposed women to ostracisation, social discrimination as well as physical violence.

He  revealed that in Sub-Saharan Africa male factor causes of infertility constituted 40 per cent, while that of female causes of infertility also constituted  40 per cent, with 15 percent being male and female factors and the remaining five per cent being inexplicable factors.

He said fertility was a shared responsibility and ,therefore, it was important for men to equally get tested with their wives when there was a delay in childbirth.

Dr. Hiadzi said it was unfortunate that, due to lack of knowledge, some women  had to carry the burden as the main cause of childlessness of a couple when in fact, the man was the cause and stated that it was important for men to support their wives by getting tested with them.

Giving tips on how to avoid infertility, he advised men to avoid high temperatures as this could affect sperm production and motility temporary.

He mentioned riding motorbikes,  hot tubs and steam baths as some of the activities which should be avoided but men should instead resort to  showers,  wear loose pants, limit their alcohol intake, refrain from drugs and smoking.

He noted that viral infections like mumps may also affect the testes leading to infertility, and gave other causes in the male infertility as previous hernia repair which may accidentally damage the vast deferens and varicose which may also lead to low sperm count.

Dr. Hiadzi further advised men to seek early medical treatment for sexually transmitted diseases especially gonorrhoea and chlamydia which he said, accounted  for a significant proportion of cases.

“These infections cause chronic epididymitis and occlusion of the vast deferens leading to oligospermia (low sperm count) and azoospermia (no sperms in semen)” he disclosed, and

encouraged the media to highlight the need for childless couples to seek help and also for society to stop stigmatising them.