Study Finds Male Infertility Behind 70% of Conception Challenges in Accra

Study in Accra Finds Male Infertility Responsible for 70% of Childbirth Challenges — Dr Sefogah

January 27, 2026 

A three-year study conducted in Accra has revealed that male infertility accounts for up to 70 per cent of cases where couples struggle to conceive, according to the Vice President of the Fertility Society of Ghana, Dr Promise Sefogah.

The yet-to-be-published research, carried out between 2022 and 2025, involved couples seeking fertility treatment in the national capital. Dr Sefogah, a Gynaecologist and Obstetrician Specialist, disclosed the findings while in a media interview on Tuesday.

Dr Sefogah, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Shape Healthcare Medical Specialist Centre in Accra, stressed that fertility challenges should be treated as a shared responsibility between partners. He advised couples under the age of 35 to seek medical attention if conception does not occur after one year of trying.

“If you’re below 35, we say try up to one year. If it’s not happening, look for help — together with your partner,” he said.

He noted that societal and cultural perceptions often place the burden of infertility on women, causing emotional and psychological distress, while men are rarely scrutinised. “We tend to wrongly confer some cultural diplomatic immunity on the men,” he observed.

According to Dr Sefogah, many men avoid fertility assessments, making it difficult to diagnose the true cause of infertility. He emphasized the importance of joint consultations to ensure both partners are adequately examined.

Highlighting the health implications of stress, Dr Sefogah explained that prolonged emotional pressure can negatively affect fertility. “When your body is stressed, it produces cortisol, which disrupts hormonal balance and makes conception more difficult,” he said.

He also identified medical conditions such as diabetes as factors that can affect female fertility by reducing egg quality and interfering with regular ovulation.

On fertility preservation, Dr Sefogah encouraged women who plan to delay childbirth to consider options such as egg freezing, noting that younger eggs have a higher chance of resulting in successful pregnancies.

Addressing male fertility and ageing, he cautioned that sperm quality declines with age, particularly after 40, which can prolong the time required to conceive. He further warned that alcohol consumption significantly damages sperm quality, concentration, DNA integrity, and testosterone levels, posing serious risks to male fertility.

Dr Sefogah is also an Expert Reviewer for the World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines on the Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Infertility.