Infertility is increasingly becoming a pressing public health concern, with causes ranging from infections and hormonal imbalances to lifestyle choices. Recent discussions at a major fertility summit highlighted a lesser-known contributor to infertility: barefoot driving. Women who regularly drive without shoes, especially after wearing high heels, may unknowingly expose themselves to toxic heavy metals such as antimony found in car pedals.
Antimony is a silvery-white metal used in various automotive components, including brake and clutch parts. When individuals drive barefoot, prolonged contact with pedal surfaces allows this toxic metal to seep through the skin over time. Medical observations suggest that the accumulation of antimony can interfere with hormone regulation and disrupt the reproductive system, leading to infertility or recurrent miscarriages. Some women have only been able to conceive after undergoing detoxification to eliminate these metals from their bodies.
In sub-Saharan Africa, the infertility crisis is compounded by preventable infectious diseases, unsafe abortions, poor maternal healthcare, and widespread stigma. The condition is often misunderstood and shrouded in myths, with many communities attributing infertility to witchcraft, punishment, or spiritual causes. This deeply entrenched cultural narrative disproportionately blames women, even though infertility affects men and women equally.
Male infertility in Africa is largely due to untreated sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhea. For women, common infections result in pelvic inflammatory disease, causing scarring and blocked fallopian tubes major barriers to conception. Other contributing factors include complications from unsafe abortions, prolonged obstructed labor, and practices such as female genital mutilation. In many rural areas, deliveries conducted by untrained birth attendants using unsterilised tools further increase the risk of reproductive infections.
The societal consequences of infertility are severe. Couples without children often face social exclusion, are denied inheritance rights, and suffer strained family relationships. The emotional toll includes depression, isolation, and even violence especially toward women. Men, on the other hand, are often reluctant to undergo fertility testing due to cultural perceptions of masculinity.
Despite the challenges, modern medicine is offering new hope. Fertility treatments like intrauterine insemination (IUI), in vitro fertilisation (IVF), and egg freezing now provide viable paths to parenthood. However, access to these solutions remains limited due to inadequate healthcare infrastructure and lingering social taboos.
For infertility to be tackled effectively, it must be seen not as a personal failure or taboo, but as a public health priority. Addressing the root causes including infections, misinformation, and inequality can reduce the prevalence of infertility and restore dignity and hope to millions of affected couples.
