28 Jan 2019

Infertility rates in women is said to have gone up in the Mochudi area.

The problem, according to obstetrician and gynecologist, Dr Jobert Bethuel of Jobert Medical Clinic in Mochudi is due to endometriosis, a condition where the tissue lining the uterus grows in other places such as behind the womb, in the pelvis or ovaries. 

Speaking in an interview with BOPA recently, Dr Bethuel said endometriosis could rander conception difficult because fallopian tubes would have blocked, thus disrupting implantation. 

As a preventative measure and to reduce the risks of infertility, he said women should quit smoking, avoid too much alcohol and limit caffeine intake. 

“Smoking tobacco or marijuana by either partners reduces the likelihood of pregnancy. 

Alcohol use increases the risk of birth defects and may contribute to infertility. 

For men, heavy alcohol use can decrease the sperm count and motility,” he said. 

He said the most common cause of infertility in women was ovulation issues, which might be a result of polycystic ovary syndrome - a hormonal imbalance which interferes with normal ovulation. 

Meanwhile, Dr Bethuel said the other health problems that women commonly encountered were vaginal infections and cervical cancer, which he said they could guard against by paying regular visits to health facilities. 

He urged women to cultivate the culture of reading brochures found in clinics so that they become knowledgeable about diseases and ways of preventing them. ENDS