Low Sperm Count and the Pulpit: The Silent Struggle - Why Nigerian Churches Ignore Men in Fertility Prayers [OPINION]

In the heart of Nigeria’s bustling religious scene—where miracles are sought, prophecies are claimed, and every challenge is met with prayer—there exists a curious silence. Churches, known for hosting week-long crusades to heal the sick, deliver the oppressed, and open wombs long closed by “spiritual barrenness,” appear to have left one group out of their intercessory radar: men with fertility issues.

Walk into any midweek healing service or Sunday prophetic encounter in Lagos, Abuja, or even smaller cities like Enugu or Ilorin, and the pattern is familiar. Women hoping to conceive flood altars, some wearing white garments, others clutching ultrasound reports or bottles of anointing oil, all seeking divine intervention. Pastors lay hands on them, declare “this time next year, you’ll carry your Samuel,” and the congregation erupts in tongues and thunderous Amens.

Yet, not once is the phrase “low sperm count” mentioned. Not a single call is made for men facing fertility challenges to come forward for healing. The implication is as deafening as it is damaging: when a couple can’t conceive, the problem is assumed to be the woman’s.

Religious institutions often mirror the culture they exist within, and in Nigeria’s deeply patriarchal society, infertility is largely seen as a woman’s burden. The World Health Organization states that male infertility contributes to nearly 50% of all infertility cases globally. Nigeria is not exempt from this statistic. Still, the church, one of the most influential cultural forces in the country, rarely—if ever—addresses male reproductive health in spiritual or practical terms.

Oluwaseun Adeoye, a Lagos-based fertility consultant, observes the pattern with concern. “We see more women coming to fertility clinics alone, often under pressure from both their husbands and their religious communities. But when tests are conducted, male factors like low sperm count or poor motility are very common.” She notes that many women are even afraid to suggest fertility tests to their husbands for fear of being accused of disrespect or faithlessness.

At Christ Light Ministry in Port Harcourt, a recent “Fruit of the Womb” vigil saw over 300 women gathered for a night of prayers, fasting, and prophetic declarations. No man came forward. When asked why, Pastor Emmanuel Opara said, “Men are supposed to carry the spiritual authority of the home. If there's a problem, we believe the man can pray it away. It's usually the woman who needs direct intercession.” This theological stance, while popular, dangerously overlooks the complex medical and emotional realities men also face in the fertility equation.

Even churches that openly discuss marital issues shy away from confronting male infertility. Many pastors are hesitant to speak about it, either due to ignorance, discomfort, or fear of offending male congregants. Instead, they continue to perpetuate a one-sided narrative: that infertility is a woman’s affliction, a spiritual delay, or worse, a curse inherited through her maternal lineage.

The emotional toll on men, though less visible, is equally devastating. Ayo, a 39-year-old banker from Ibadan, revealed anonymously that he has been struggling with low sperm count for three years. “I haven’t told my pastor or anyone at church. I can’t. People will look at me differently. They will think I’m not man enough.” His wife attends fertility prayer sessions alone while shielding him from scrutiny. “The church prays for her, but she carries the shame for both of us.”

Medical practitioners argue that this cultural and spiritual neglect is harmful. Dr. Kelechi Nwosu, a urologist based in Abuja, believes that religious institutions need to lead the conversation on male infertility. “Faith and medicine can coexist. Churches can create platforms for men to talk about these things openly. Healing isn’t just about deliverance—it’s also about awareness.”

As Nigeria’s religious leaders continue to champion healing, deliverance, and family restoration, there’s a pressing need for more inclusive prayer points—ones that recognize the full spectrum of fertility challenges. Fertility is not a female issue alone. It is a shared responsibility, biologically and spiritually.

Churches have the power to shift narratives. If they can rebuke demons causing delay in marriage, if they can proclaim jobs for the unemployed, they can certainly extend the same spiritual fervor to men battling with low sperm count.

Until then, a critical part of the conversation remains absent. And so do the prayers.

*written by DGT!