\u201cShe has been in that marriage for 5 years and still no child. What\u2019s she doing there?\u201d
\n\u201cMaybe he\u2019s not man enough.\u201d
\n\u201cThey need to go to the village for cleansing.\u201d
\n“It’s their people.”<\/p>\n
If you live in Africa, you\u2019ve probably heard comments like these whispered at weddings, family gatherings, or over a neighbour\u2019s fence.<\/p>\n
But here\u2019s what many still don\u2019t understand:
\nInfertility is a medical condition. Not a curse. Not punishment. And not anyone\u2019s fault.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s time to talk about infertility, not with judgment or shame, but with understanding and kindness.<\/p>\n
\u25cf What Is Infertility?
\nInfertility is the inability to get pregnant after 12 months of regular, unprotected sex. It also includes difficulty carrying a pregnancy to full term. It affects both men and women, and is more common than people think.<\/p>\n
\ud83c\udf31 Causes of Infertility in Men and Women<\/p>\n
In Women:<\/strong> In Men:<\/strong> In some cases, NO CLEAR CAUSE IS FOUND, this is called unexplained infertility.<\/p>\n In many cultures, having children is not just expected; it\u2019s a badge of honor, especially for women. A woman is often judged by how quickly she conceives, while a man\u2019s masculinity is questioned if his wife isn\u2019t pregnant.<\/p>\n This pressure leads to: And all of this happens before a proper medical test is even done.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udde3\ufe0f Why We Must Speak Sensitively<\/p>\n Infertility is deeply emotional. For many couples, it\u2019s a painful private journey filled with tests, prayers, hospital visits, and silent tears. The last thing they need is a careless question or cruel comment.<\/p>\n Avoid saying things like: Instead, try: For Couples on This Journey: You Are Not Alone\u2757<\/p>\n If you or someone you love is facing infertility, know this: Infertility is real. It\u2019s complex. It\u2019s emotional. It\u2019s wrapped in layers of culture, religion, and expectation, but if we must move forward as a healthier, more informed society, we must replace gossip with grace, and replace judgment with genuine compassion.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cShe has been in that marriage for 5 years and still no child. What\u2019s she doing there?\u201d \u201cMaybe he\u2019s not man enough.\u201d \u201cThey need to go to the village for cleansing.\u201d “It’s their people.” If you live in Africa, you\u2019ve probably heard comments like these whispered at weddings, family gatherings, or over a neighbour\u2019s fence. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5773,6555,5810],"tags":[2094,2987,479],"class_list":["post-94642","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-health","category-men","category-women","tag-infertility","tag-men","tag-women"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94642","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=94642"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94642\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=94642"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=94642"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=94642"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n– Blocked fallopian tubes (from infections like STIs)
\n– Ovulation disorders (e.g., PCOS, hormonal imbalances)
\n– Uterine fibroids
\n– Endometriosis
\n– Age-related egg decline<\/p>\n
\n– Low sperm count or poor sperm quality
\n– Hormonal issues
\n– Testicular injuries or infections
\n– Lifestyle factors (smoking, alcohol, poor diet)<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Depression and anxiety
\n\u2022 Broken marriages
\n\u2022 Social isolation
\n\u2022 Unfair blame (usually on the woman)<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWhen are you people giving us twins?\u201d
\n\u201cYou\u2019ve been married since; what are you waiting for?\u201d
\n\u201cIs it that you don\u2019t like children?\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cHow are you both doing these days?\u201d
\n\u201cI\u2019m here if you ever want to talk.\u201d
\nOr say nothing, and just show love and support.<\/p>\n
\n\ud83d\udcccYou are not less of a man or woman.
\n\ud83d\udcccYour worth is not tied to your ability to bear children.
\n\ud83d\udcccYou are allowed to grieve, seek help, and take your time.
\n\ud83d\udcccYou deserve dignity, support, and medical care, not shame.<\/p>\n