Rising Infertility Rates & advancements in Tanzanian Fertility Care
Dr.Nayana Patel,a world-renowned IVF specialist,recently emphasized the critical need for complete reproductive health education,starting in schools adn universities. A key concern she highlighted is the lack of awareness among young women regarding the natural decline in egg quality as they approach their 40s,and the potential challenges of conceiving after childbirth. Dr. Patel advocates for open conversations about these issues to empower informed decision-making.
Education should extend to both male and female students, notably those with family histories of fertility complications, as a proactive step towards lowering infertility rates. Contributing factors to infertility, according to dr.Patel, include smoking and the prevalence of infections, specifically sexually transmitted and terminal infections, impacting both men and women.
Secondary infertility – difficulty conceiving after a previous pregnancy – is a meaningful issue in Africa, often linked to tubal blockages resulting from miscarriages or deliveries. Fibroids also pose a major health concern, particularly for African women. Specialists recommend early detection and laparoscopic surgery for fibroids, as this approach yields better reproductive outcomes compared to open procedures. Dr.Patel encourages women to consider starting families earlier in life due to the increased risk of fibroids with age.
Looking at the Tanzanian landscape, Dr. Patel expressed optimism. “Tanzania is progressing well and moving in the right direction,” she stated, noting the country’s potential to exceed its neighbors by strengthening training for gynecologists and increasing awareness of innovative fertility treatments.
Dr. Madhav Hirani, Medical Director at nulife, an IVF specialist and laparoscopic surgeon, reported a consistent increase in couples seeking fertility care at their center, with hundreds of patients treated annually. Over the past five years, NuLife has facilitated over 500 pregnancies, a success attributed to increased service utilization and growing expertise.
The clinic currently boasts an average success rate of 65%, positioning it as a leading fertility provider in Tanzania.This trend, according to Dr. Hirani, reflects both earlier patient referrals and growing trust in local IVF and fertility services. “our outcomes show that success is possible when patients come early and receive the right treatment,” he emphasized.
NuLife services Tanzania has invested in advanced reproductive technologies to expand treatment options and improve success rates. These include Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI),a technique that directly enhances the likelihood of egg-sperm fusion,and also rejuvenation techniques utilizing platelet-rich plasma and exosomes. Furthermore, the center employs pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT), which Dr.Hirani explained ”drastically improves success, reduces miscarriage risks and helps prevent major genetic diseases at the embryonic stage.”
