I got married and thought it was only natural to get pregnant just like every other girl. The word infertility never existed in my dictionary because no one ever talks about it.

I never knew people go through it and if not for my own personal experience, never would I have known.

The years I waited to get pregnant were the most difficult time of my life. I was sad, depressed, vulnerable and felt all alone in the entire world. A lot of people blamed me for something that was not my fault.

Due to the lack of awareness and advocacy, there are lots of misconceptions about infertility.

Most people think that infertility is solely the woman's fault while others think that it is because she has committed several sins in the past that she is being punished.

Few weeks ago a popular actress Adesua Wellington shared her story about her journey with infertility. She talked about how she could not have an opinion without being insulted, people will tell her to go and give birth, some call her barren or ask what she did with her womb. She said she was trolled on a daily basis for all the years she waited.

Another message I got from a member of my community, read thus; I have been married for 4 years now with no child, I had 2 stillborn and since then I have been trying to conceive but to no avail. The shame, the pain is so unbearable. I am depressed and I feel like killing myself.

She is not the only one as I have received countless messages like this.

As a result of excessive pressure put on women by our society, they are desperate and would do anything for a child, whether it means sleeping with the so-called man of God, traditional healers or bathing in the river in the middle of the night for spiritual cleansing and all sorts.

On a daily basis women are scammed and exploited even by some doctors as a result of their desperation all because of societal pressure.

Women stay in abusive marriages and accept all forms of domestic violence because of the fear of what people will say if they leave or where they will go if they are driven from their matrimonial homes.

Infertility is prevalent worldwide affecting about 5–8% of couples, the prevalence of infertility in sub-Saharan Africa is higher, with 10–30% of couples affected in Nigeria. It is one of the commonest reasons for women to seek gynaecological consultation.

Infertility is yet to be regarded as a disease in Nigeria despite the emotional, physical and financial stress women with infertility face.

There is little or no form of support from the government, international bodies and non-governmental organizations.

I am therefore appealing to fertility clinics like Nordica Fertility Centre, Nisa Premier Hospital, Diff ,The Bridge Fertility Clinic, Fresh Spring Medical Services and others  to telecast a 60 seconds ad on any of the popular radio or Television station in Nigeria at least once in a month to educate the general public on the dangers of stigmatization and shaming of infertile women as doing this will help to change the perception regarding infertility.

pleases sign this petition .

#DontCallMeBarren