Issa Togola | December 5, 2024
News Brief
In Djalakorobougou, Mali, Odile Dembélé Sissoko cherishes quiet moments with her two children after years of struggling with infertility. After three years of marriage without children, she and her husband sought medical help. Tests revealed issues with Mrs. Dembélé's ovary and fallopian tubes. With her husband’s support, including undergoing his own fertility tests, the couple found success after a year of treatment. Now, Mrs. Dembélé advocates for infertility awareness, emphasizing the importance of hope and professional care in overcoming such challenge
It is 8 a.m. in Djalakorobougou, a suburb of Bamako, Mali. While the large Sissoko family is busy with their daily routines, Odile Dembélé Sissoko enjoys a rare quiet moment with her one-year-old daughter. This moment of joy allows her to forget the years of struggle she and her husband faced in their quest for parenthood. She recalls those years of marriage without children, saying, “Before the arrival of our first child in 2021, we waited with anxiety and stress.” Now, with two children, the Sissoko family is finally complete, and mornings like these are filled with gratitude.
Mrs. Sissoko explains that after three years of marriage without children, she and her husband began to feel concerned. It was then that they sought the help of a gynecologist. The examinations revealed an abnormal swelling of the ovary and a dysfunction in one of Mrs. Sissoko’s fallopian tubes.
She states, “Infertility is very hard to bear, especially in our community where children are the cornerstone of marriage. This situation caused me depression. But with my husband’s unwavering support, we found a solution.” The couple then decided to follow the gynecologist’s treatment.
Mrs. Sissoko explains that she received her husband’s support during this challenging time. He accompanied her to her gynecologist appointments and agreed to undergo tests himself. She says, “In our community, some men refuse to accept tests. They wrongly believe that infertility is solely the woman’s issue.”
Fatamba is Odile’s husband. He underwent a sperm analysis during his wife’s struggle with infertility. Mr. Sissoko recalls that the doctor prescribed medication to improve the quality of his sperm and to treat infections. He also explains that he spent a substantial amount of money on his wife’s treatment. He says, “I was convinced that infertility was not an inevitability, and the solution finally came through a year-long clinical treatment.”
Thanks to Mr. Sissoko’s involvement and patience, the couple found renewed hope with the birth of their first child. Mrs. Sissoko shares, “After having my first child, I understood how much joy children can bring to a marriage. We now have two children!”
Dr. Saleck Doumbia, an obstetrician-gynecologist at the Health Reference Center of Commune V in Bamako, emphasizes that infertility affects couples from all backgrounds in Mali, creating significant emotional and financial challenges for many families. Dr. Doumbia explains that infertility can be diagnosed if pregnancy does not occur after 12 to 24 months of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse. However, this timeframe is shortened to 6 months for women over 35.
Dr. Doumbia explains that infertility can affect both women and men. In women, it can be caused by hormonal disorders, diabetes, hypertension, chronic illnesses, infections, or issues with the fallopian tubes or ovaries. In men, causes include infections, hydrocele problems, hernias, or hormonal imbalances. Dr. Doumbia emphasizes the importance of distinguishing infertility from sterility, which is a permanent condition.
Dr. Doumbia emphasizes that there are treatments available for infertility. These options may include surgery, correction of hormonal imbalances, medical treatments, or assisted reproductive technology. These can be expensive, with a minimum estimated cost of two million CFA francs (approximately $1,643 US) in Mali. The amount is paid by the patients, with the possibility of making payments in installments. These interventions are not subsidized by the state or other organizations.
If a couple cannot afford such interventions, they can continue trying other, less costly solutions compared to medically-assisted reproduction.
For the past six years, Mrs. Sissoko has been a member of the Association of Women Desiring Children, established in 2018 to advocate for the cause of infertile women in Mali, sharing her experience and giving hope to those facing infertility. She concludes, “It is important to have hope and to consult a gynecologist for better care.”
This resource has been produced thanks to the “HÉRÈ – Bien-être des femmes au Mali” initiative, which aims to improve the well-being of women and girls in terms of sexual and reproductive health, and to strengthen the prevention of and response to gender-based violence in the regions of Sikasso, Ségou, Mopti and the district of Bamako in Mali. The project is being implemented by the HÉRÈ – MSI Mali Consortium, in partnership with Radios Rurales Internationales (RRI) and Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF), with funding from Global Affairs Canada.
Photo: Odile Dembélé Sissoko with her two children in Mali, captured by Issa Togola in 2024.