Driving in the light mid-morning Lagos traffic of Saturday 2nd June 2018, I suddenly became engaged with the tune playing on the car radio. As a music enthusiast, I reflected on the song titled:  Try Again, by the famous 22-year-old black American singer, actress, and model—Aaliyah—who was killed tragically in a plane crash few months after the song’s release in 2001.  The lyrics of chorus of the popular R&B melody was strongly enticing….” If at first you don’t succeed, then dust yourself off and try again; you can dust it off and try again; try again. Dust yourself off and try again, try again (and again….)” I was on my way to the Failed IVF Cycles Open Forum that was being organised somewhere on Victoria Island by Nordica Fertility Centre, Lagos, and in several ways, Aaliyah’s Try Again was the perfect song for my weekend rendezvous.  

An unsuccessful IVF cycle can be emotionally and financially devastating, nevertheless, it is no longer an assumption that IVF success rates are higher for infertile couples that go through multiple rounds. After three years of marriage and persistent trying, Gbola and Funmi were still not pregnant. The couple, in their late 30s, felt time was growing short so they began seeing doctors and specialists and having emotional conversations regarding available options.

Dr Bukunmi Kolade, a gynaecologist and fertility expert, has advised Nigerians against fear of the unknown and access In Vitro fertilisation (IVF) as a fertility treatment.

IT was a day of smiles and joy for six couples challenged by infertility as they emerged winners of free IVF treatment cycles being offered by the Fertility Treatment Support Foundation, FTSF, initiative in collaboration with Alibaba January 1st Concert and the Fertility Awareness Advocate Initiative, FAAI.

PIONEER of the IVF fertility treatment programme in Nigeria, Professor Oladapo Ashiru (OFR) was recently awarded the African child prize award for Discovery in Science and Innovation.