NHIF urged to incorporate infertility management in their insurance

The Kenya Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society has urged health insurance companies and agencies including the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to incorporate infertility management as an essential package in its cover.

Speaking during its 43rd annual conference held in Nairobi, the society said that infertility had reached epidemic proportions and is yet to be acknowledged as a medical condition.

The society also revealed about nine million Kenyans suffering from infertility-related complications with majority unable to meet the high cost of treatment.

“A study at Kenyatta National Hospital shows that three quarters of gynaecological consultations are due to infertility,’’ said the Secretary General of Kenya Obstetrics and Gynaecologist Society, Kireki Omanwa.

According to the doctors, sexually transmitted infections and consumption of food containing pesticides are the main causes of infertility in Kenya.Change of life style has also exposed 15 to 20 percent of the population to primary or secondary infertility problems.

Fertility experts noted that change of lifestyle has affected men with low sperm count.

For men infertility comes in form of blocked tubes, undescended testicles, varicocele, swollen veins around the scrotum, complication from surgeries etc.

However in women, age is the biggest contribution of childlessness. Many women wait until they are advanced in years to have children resulting to reduced chances of conception. Fibroids and endometriosis are also causes of infertility in women.