Male Infertility in Nigeria: What Your Sperm Analysis Reveals

The Silent Half of Infertility

Male factor infertility — including absent sperm (azoospermia), low count, poor motility, or abnormal morphology — contributes to approximately 50% of infertility cases globally. Yet in Nigerian culture, infertility is overwhelmingly attributed to and investigated in women, while men often refuse or delay semen analysis. This delays appropriate treatment for years and causes unnecessary suffering.

What a Semen Analysis Reveals

FXMed tip: If any of this sounds familiar, our Hormone Balance Programme may be exactly what you need. Book a free assessment to find out where your health stands today.

• Count — number of sperm per millilitre; below 15 million/mL is considered low (oligozoospermia)
• Motility — percentage moving progressively forward; below 32% progressive motility is abnormal
• Morphology — percentage with normal shape; below 4% normal forms (Kruger strict criteria) suggests poor fertilisation potential
• Volume — low volume may indicate retrograde ejaculation or ejaculatory duct obstruction
• Azoospermia — complete absence of sperm; may be obstructive (treatable) or non-obstructive (requires further investigation)

Correctable Causes of Poor Sperm Parameters

• Varicocele — enlarged testicular veins that raise scrotal temperature; the most common surgically correctable cause
• Hormonal (see our hormones guide) imbalance — low testosterone, elevated FSH/LH, hyperprolactinaemia, and thyroid (see our hormones guide) disease all impair spermatogenesis
• Nutritional deficiencies — zinc, selenium, vitamin C, CoQ10, and folate are essential for sperm production and protection from oxidative damage
• Heat exposure — prolonged sitting, laptops on lap, tight underwear — all raise scrotal temperature above optimal
• Infections — chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and mumps orchitis cause lasting damage; often subclinical in Nigerian men

FXMed's Male Fertility Assessment

We facilitate semen analysis referral, run hormonal panels (testosterone, FSH, LH, prolactin, thyroid), assess oxidative stress markers, and provide a targeted nutritional and lifestyle plan. Many men see significant improvement in sperm parameters within 3–6 months of addressing modifiable factors. Book a male fertility consultation today — confidential, non-judgmental, and evidence-based.