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Men often find it difficult to acknowledge and address infertility challenges.

Infertility is a common condition that affects individuals in the reproductive age group, typically between 20 and 45 years old. When couples experience delays in achieving pregnancy, women are often unfairly blamed and stigmatized. However, it's important to recognize that men can also be responsible for these delays. In fact, approximately half of infertility cases are due to or involve male factors. According to experts, infertility affects men and women equally.

Dr. Edem Hiadzi, President of the Fertility Society of Ghana and CEO of Lister Hospital & Fertility Centre, mentioned that men often refuse to accompany their wives to the hospital for check-ups because they believe there's nothing wrong with their sperm.

However, Dr frank Ewusi Brown, a Gyneacologist says "The fact that you release sperm doesn't mean it has capacity"

"A sperm without capacity can't get a woman pregnant. It’s a fallacy that once you can penetrate a woman, you’re fertile...you can produce sperm without capacity. Potent sperm with capacity leads to pregnancy. When the sperm is not formed well, it's not healthy, and hence cannot do anything. A man can achieve an erection, ejaculate but the sperm quality can be so poor that it can't get a woman pregnant" he stated.

According to him, men need to put aside their egos and get checked with their wives.

"Men sometimes are the problem; they’re the difficult ones…they can't accept that they might be the problem. But this can be corrected medically and with a lifestyle change" he added.

Both experts were speaking at a media training organized by Merck Foundation in partnership with First Lady Rebecca Akufo Addo and in collaboration with the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA).

The media was encouraged to serve as a conduit and assist in educating the public about the importance of ending the stigma against women regarding infertility.

They were educated about the social and psychological impact on couples, especially women. They were also encouraged to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about the prevention and early detection of diabetes and hypertension.

Awards 

Meanwhile, Merck Foundation is calling for applications for its 2024 awards.

The awards category can be found below


1. Merck Foundation Media Recognition Awards 2024 “Diabetes & Hypertension”:

Media representatives are invited to showcase their work through strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.

2. Merck Foundation Film Awards 2024 “Diabetes & Hypertension”: All African Filmmakers, Students of Film Making Training Institutions or Young Talents of Africa are invited to create and share a long or short FILMS, either drama, documentary or docudrama to deliver strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.

3. Merck Foundation Fashion Awards 2024 “Diabetes & Hypertension”: All African Fashion Students and Designers are invited to create and share designs to deliver strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle raise awareness about the prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.

4. Merck Foundation Song Awards 2024 “Diabetes & Hypertension”: All African Singers and Musical Artists are invited to create and share a SONG with the aim to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about the prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.

Entries for all the awards are to be submitted via email to: [email protected]