Fertility problems among M’sian men a concern

KUALA LUMPUR: Male infertility problems are at an alarming level, says Aiman Athirah Sabu.

The Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister said this was based on sperm analysis data from the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) which found that 60% of the tests showed abnormal results.

“This directly contributes to the increase in fertility problems in married couples.

“At the same time, the birth rate also showed a downward trend over the last 40 years and it is closely related to the fertility rate with the data from the Statistics Department showing 1.7 children per every married woman in 2021,” she said during the question and answer session in the Dewan Negara yesterday, Bernama reported.

She was responding to a question from Senator Datuk Dr Dominic Lau about the action taken by the ministry to deal with the declining birth rate.

Elaborating, Aiman Athirah said last October, the Men Wellness Clinic started operating at the LPPKN Subfertility Clinic in the federal capital and the service would be expanded to six other LPPKN clinics in the peninsula and Sarawak this year.

“This clinic offers health screening services, consultation for sexual problems and healthy living practices.

“To help married couples deal with fertility problems, LPPKN has been offering fertility treatment since 1979, namely at the Subfertility Clinic in Penang for the northern zone, in Kuala Lumpur for the central zone and in Johor for the southern zone,” she said.

The deputy minister said the initiative had resulted in 6,000 pregnancies and 4,000 births so far, which is on par with international fertility treatment centres.

Among the factors contributing to the decline in the fertility rate are changes in lifestyle and the high cost of living, the participation of women in the labour force, as well as marrying later.