Sexual Dysfunction and Infertility Amongst Spouses in Adamawa State, Nigeria

Deterioration in reproductive health and family food sufficiency leading to increase in marital crisis or divorce, arising from sexual dysfunction and infertility amongst spouses in Nigeria is alarming. An investigation was carried out to find the causes, signs and symptoms of sexual dysfunction and infertility amongst spouses in Adamawa State, Nigeria. Respondents were purposively selected with the use of questionnaires for oral interviews, observations and discussions. One hundred volunteer spouses were screened and sent to hospitals for diagnosis of reproductive diseases through culture of their urine, stool, vaginal swabs, semen and prostate content. These specimens were also examined under the electric microscope. Ultrasounds scanning of prostate glands, bladders, kidneys and ovaries or fallopian tubes of the spouses were also carried out to check for abnormalities. The results showed that, 88% of the spouses suffering from these conditions are youths (the active work force of the nation) between the ages of 20 to 40years while 12% are in the age bracket of 50 to 70years old. The findings indicated that, 90% of them are married while 10% are still single. The results showed that, 78% of the spouses had infection for 1 to 10years while 22% had it for more than 11years. The results showed that, 80% of them contracted the infection through sexual intercourse while 20% don’t know how and where they got infected. The hospital culture of urine, vaginal swabs, semen and prostate content of all the spouses showed negative results. The microscopic examinations of these specimens yielded positive to abdominal Schistosomiasis (bilharziasis). The ultrasound scanning of the prostate glands, kidneys and ovaries/ fallopian tubes revealed abnormalities of various degrees. Spouses with early or mild infections (for 1 to 10years) manifested the first 15 symptoms while those with severe and critical infections (for more than 11years) manifested all the 30 symptoms. Therefore, infections of the urinary bladders, genital organs, prostate glands and kidneys by Schistosome species contracted through sexual intercourse may be responsible for sexual dysfunction and infertility amongst spouses in the study area. There should be proper sensitivity for the diagnosis of mild infections caused by this parasite. Immediate authorities should, as a matter of urgency, initiate and support the development of a drug in commercial quantity that could be used to serve as an intervention programme in Nigeria and the world at large.