Women who drive barefoot may face an increased risk of infertility due to exposure to toxic heavy metals, according to fertility experts. This warning comes amid growing concerns about a hidden reproductive health crisis in Africa.
Professor Oladapo Ashiru, a Nigerian fertility specialist and head of the Africa Reproductive Care Society, revealed that many women who prefer wearing high heels often drive barefoot for comfort. This habit could expose them to harmful metals that affect fertility.
Speaking at the Merck Foundation First Ladies Summit in Dubai, Prof. Ashiru explained that recent research in Sub-Saharan Africa found a link between miscarriages and exposure to antimony—a toxic metal found in car pedals. The metal can enter the body through the skin when women press the pedals barefoot.
“The toxic metal antimony enters the body gradually through skin contact with car pedals,” Prof. Ashiru said. “It affects embryos and can cause miscarriages. Women can only conceive or carry a pregnancy to term once the antimony is removed from their bodies.”
Antimony is a brittle, silver-white metal commonly used in car brake and clutch parts, as well as in batteries and machine bearings. Studies show that antimony and other heavy metals disrupt hormone function and the endocrine system, which can lead to infertility.
Confronting the Stigma of Infertility
Dr. David Mwesigye, a consultant obstetrician-gynecologist from Rwanda, agreed with Prof. Ashiru and stressed the urgent need to address the stigma around infertility in Africa.
“Infertility is not witchcraft or a punishment from God. It is a medical condition that requires understanding, diagnosis, and treatment,” Dr. Mwesigye said. He urged the media, policymakers, and communities to raise awareness and promote empathy.
In many African societies, women face harsh blame when couples cannot conceive, even though infertility affects men and women almost equally. Myths linking infertility to witchcraft, religious punishment, abortions, or contraceptive use remain widespread.
Ignoring infertility can hurt social and economic development, Dr. Mwesigye added. “No family can grow without children. Childless couples often face discrimination, losing inheritance rights and social status.”
This exclusion leads to depression, poverty, and broken relationships. Treating infertility should be a public health priority, not a luxury, he emphasized.
Causes of Infertility in Africa
While hormonal and structural issues like endometriosis are common causes of infertility in developed countries, preventable infections are the main cause in Africa.
Dr. Edem Hiadzi, a Ghanaian obstetrician-gynecologist, explained that sexually transmitted infections (STIs), post-abortion sepsis, and postpartum infections damage fallopian tubes and block conception.
Male infertility in Africa is also largely due to untreated STIs like chlamydia and gonorrhea, unlike Western countries where hormonal causes dominate.
“In Africa, infertility affects 20–30% of couples — three to five times higher than in developed nations,” Dr. Hiadzi said. “The social stigma is often worse than the condition itself.”
Data shows that 40% of infertility cases are caused solely by male factors, 40% by female factors, and 15% by problems affecting both partners. The rest remain unexplained.
Infections are more common in infertile women’s reproductive fluids and cause scarring and blockages in the fallopian tubes. Unsafe abortions also increase infertility risk by damaging the uterus.
In many communities, contraception is stigmatized as promiscuity, but unsafe abortions are less shameful despite their dangers. Poor maternal healthcare, including unsafe delivery practices, also raises infection risks.
Other causes include tuberculosis, schistosomiasis, and female genital mutilation. These conditions harm reproductive and urinary systems, worsening infertility.
Shared Responsibility and Hope for the Future
Dr. Hiadzi emphasized that infertility affects both partners, but cultural beliefs often unfairly place blame on women. Men frequently avoid testing, while women suffer stigma, abandonment, and abuse.
Despite funding cuts, health systems must improve access to contraception, safe abortion services, maternal care, and STI treatment to reduce infertility.
“Infertility may not kill, but in many African communities, it destroys lives and marriages. Until infections, ignorance, and inequality are addressed, infertility will remain a silent epidemic rooted in injustice,” Dr. Hiadzi concluded.
Fortunately, modern medicine offers hope through fertility treatments such as drugs, intrauterine insemination, and in vitro fertilization. Egg freezing is an emerging technology allowing women to preserve fertility while pursuing careers or education.
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