Professor Oladapo Ashiru, a renowned expert in reproductive endocrinology, has expressed concerns over the impact of environmental toxins on fertility and assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes. Speaking at the 2nd African Federation of Fertility Societies (AFFS) and the 16th Association for Fertility and Reproductive Health (AFRH) conference in Abuja, Professor Ashiru emphasized the need for clinics to assess and support couples through preconception cleansing before fertility treatments. He cited the introduction of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) through contaminated air, water, food, and soil as a major threat to sperm, eggs, and developing embryos.
According to Professor Ashiru, routine semen analysis fails to explain an estimated 30 to 40 percent of male-factor infertility. He attributed this to hidden complications such as sperm DNA damage, oxidative stress, and epigenetic changes, which are increasingly responsible for failed embryo development and lower live birth rates. Data presented at the conference revealed alarming trends, including sperm damage, with DNA fragmentation levels above 30 percent significantly reducing blastocyst formation during IVF.
The conference also highlighted the risks associated with chemical and pesticide exposure. Agricultural workers exposed to organophosphate pesticides face a 50 percent higher risk of sperm abnormality. Occupational exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates is directly linked to low sperm concentration and poor semen quality. Furthermore, exposure to air pollution in the 90 days leading up to semen collection drastically reduces sperm motility.
A prospective study in China found that couples living within 500 meters of a major road suffered a 15 percent lower live birth rate per IVF cycle. Professor Ashiru emphasized that environmental infertility is both a global crisis and a severe local issue in Nigeria, particularly in the oil-producing Niger Delta region, where communities face constant oil spills and severe air and water pollution.
To combat these challenges, Professor Ashiru shared clinical findings from the MART/MARTLIFE Detox Clinic in Lagos, which utilizes a preconception detoxification approach based on Modern Mayr Therapy. This therapy integrates lymphatic drainage, infrared sessions, hydrotherapy, oxygen-based therapies, and antioxidant supplementation to prepare patients with a history of toxic exposure or unexplained IVF failure.
A study published in Global Reproductive Health compared 131 patients who underwent this detoxification protocol with 87 who did not. The results demonstrated a clear statistical advantage for detoxified patients across all major success metrics, with a 41.2 percent pregnancy rate in detoxified patients against 31 percent in non-detoxified patients, and 23.7 percent against 15 percent for live birth rate.
Professor Ashiru called for an aggressive, combined push for public advocacy, clinician education, and expanded research into how environmental exposures dictate fertility outcomes. He advised individuals planning a family to consult qualified fertility specialists regarding their occupational exposures, diets, and lifestyles, emphasizing that every couple deserves to begin their journey to parenthood in the healthiest possible environment.
Key points
- Environmental toxins pose a severe threat to fertility and IVF success in Nigeria.
- Preconception detoxification can improve IVF outcomes for patients with a history of toxic exposure.
- Public advocacy and clinician education are necessary to address the issue of environmental infertility.
