Women experiencing difficulties conceiving due to specific health issues, particularly those concerning the uterus, have been encouraged by fertility counselor Olaronke Thaddeus to explore options such as surrogacy and other assisted reproductive technologies to fulfill their desire for children.

As the founder of the Meet Surrogate Mothers Agency in Lagos, the expert advised couples facing infertility challenges to pursue surrogacy without hesitation after attempting other ART methods like in vitro fertilization unsuccessfully. IVF is a type of ART involving the combination of a man’s sperm and a woman’s eggs outside the body in a laboratory dish, using medical interventions to achieve conception.

Thaddeus emphasized the importance for couples struggling with infertility to seek early treatment rather than waiting indefinitely for results.

Surrogacy, according to experts, involves a woman – the surrogate mother – carrying a pregnancy to term and giving birth to a child for another couple, the intended parents. It can be a viable solution for couples encountering difficulties conceiving or carrying a pregnancy to full term, stemming from various factors like male and female infertility.

During a media event in Lagos organized by her agency prior to the launch of a fertility awareness program, Thaddeus highlighted that the inability to conceive naturally does not preclude women from becoming mothers. She pointed out that surrogacy could be an option for women unable to carry a pregnancy to term or those with blocked fallopian tubes to have children genetically connected to them.

The counselor also noted that women facing conditions such as cancer, kidney problems, or threats to pregnancy could benefit from surrogacy. Thaddeus underscored the advantages of surrogacy, providing intending parents with the opportunity to have a biological child.

She emphasized the importance of raising awareness about surrogacy services, stating that infertility has become a global concern that needs attention. Thaddeus revealed that one in four couples grapple with infertility, a statement supported by a World Health Organization report indicating that around 17.5% of the adult population globally struggle with infertility.

The WHO report called for increased policy focus on infertility. The Association for Fertility and Reproductive Health, a non-profit organization, reported that Nigeria has approximately 12 million infertile individuals, nearly 10% of the total population.

Discussing how ART can address infertility, the fertility specialist highlighted that most fertility challenges can be overcome with timely medical interventions, encouraging couples to seek help promptly rather than delay seeking assistance.

Giving insight into how ART is curtailing infertility, the fertility expert stated, “With medical interventions, most of the fertility challenges that couples are facing can be solved if they seek help early and avoid waiting for too long.

“For a lot of women experiencing infertility, IVF is what will solve their problem, especially women that have blocked fallopian tubes.

“The only way women with blocked fallopian tubes can get pregnant is through IVF and the number of women with fallopian tube blockage is alarming. That is to tell you that a lot of women need IVF to have their babies.

“If they can provide the eggs, their husbands provide the sperm and the embryos will be generated. IVF is the only procedure that will bypass their fallopian tubes into their wombs for implantation to take place.”

Infertility in women is a complex issue that can stem from a variety of factors, according to medical experts. Some of the underlying causes include hormonal imbalances that disrupt ovulation, endometriosis, a condition where tissue grows outside the uterus, and adenomyosis, a condition where tissue grows into the uterine muscle.

Additionally, blockages in the fallopian tubes can prevent the union of egg and sperm, making it difficult to conceive. These factors can have a significant impact on a woman’s ability to become pregnant, and seeking medical advice is crucial to understanding and addressing the root cause of infertility.

Thaddeus further noted, “Another set of women are those who have issues with their wombs due to one reason or the other they can’t carry a pregnancy for themselves maybe because they have done a series of fibroid surgeries in the past.

“Fibroid surgeries for instance can cause adhesion and with this getting pregnant will become difficult and if they do IVF, the chances of implantation becomes very minimal. So, these women might consider surrogacy.

“Also, there are so many other women who are battling with a series of miscarriages. You also find some women who have removed their wombs due to one medical condition or complication or the other.

“It will shock you to know that there are a lot of women like this. So, this is why surrogacy is an option for these women.”

She advised these categories of women to go for surrogacy rather than wait endlessly.

“I quite understand that this means of having babies is not very cheap because IVF is expensive and with the current economic situation in the country, it is more expensive to do IVF.

“This is why the Meet Surrogate Mothers Agency has taken it upon itself to bless 15 fertility-challenged women with free IVF treatment in its forthcoming programme in Lagos”, she mentioned.

The fertility awareness program seeks to empower women struggling with infertility by informing them about the various options available to build their families, rather than simply waiting in hope.

Thaddeus lamented that the media often focuses on the negative aspects of surrogacy and assisted reproductive services, despite offering hope to intended parents.

She emphasized the importance of shifting the narrative to encourage couples facing fertility challenges to openly seek help and support. By doing so, we can break down stigmas and provide a more supportive environment for those navigating fertility issues.

“The truth is that the world is evolving and if we don’t move with it, we will be left behind. In the United States and other countries, these are options that are widely practised and widely acceptable.

“But in Nigeria, a lot of women still struggle with it because of societal beliefs, culture, and religion.

“I am determined to change that narrative, to educate and empower women to embrace surrogacy without guilt or shame. I believe that when they begin to see the awareness in the media in support of surrogacy, and IVF, they will leave their shell and be bold enough to go for the services”, she agreed.

According to the fertility specialist, medical interventions in fertility treatment should be viewed as a beacon of hope for couples struggling to conceive, rather than something to be stigmatized.

Thaddeus emphasized that surrogacy is a legal option in Nigeria, as there is no legislation prohibiting it. She went on to explain that there are two main types of surrogacy: traditional surrogacy, where the surrogate mother is also the biological mother, and gestational surrogacy, where the surrogate mother carries the pregnancy but is not the biological mother.

By clarifying these options, Thaddeus aims to educate and empower individuals navigating fertility challenges.