Against the backdrop of the fact that many South Africans with AA genotype often feel on top of the world, it is imperative to note that there are some constraints and challenges that come with it. In this regard, this article examines the major health challenge that individuals with AA are likely to encounter through the processes of development in life.

More fundamentally, the AA genotype is quite inseparable from malaria. As a matter of fact, many medical journals have alluded to the fact that people with AA genotype are more susceptible to malaria than other genotype groups. Of course, malaria is still one of the leading killers of human being in Africa even in the midst of the ravaging coronavirus pandemic. A rough statistical estimate shows that the disease claims the lives of 870,000 people per year.

However, a number of researches in the past as well as in contemporary times underscore the fact that the malaria-causing parasite (falciparum malaria) that is gotten from mosquito bites has an alarmingly high rate of oxygen use and consumption. These elements are very deleterious to those with AA blood group. In the same, it is important to note that this parasite consumes a lot of hemoglobin in order to aid its survival.

The connecting dot here is that Genotype AA red blood cells have been known to contain hemoglobin both in quantity and structure. More often than not, this is capable of resulting in extra energy binding capacity which fuels and accelerates the malaria parasite replication and duplication. Little wonder that those with AA genotype easily get laid down by the disease.

However, it is no longer news that those with AA genotypes often get hit by malaria attacks which have tacitly claimed a number of lives.

How can you overcome this scourge?

Adhering to some precautionary medical measures are some of the ways of overcoming or surmounting malaria disease. In a bid to fortify yourself against this deadly disease, you need to ensure that you are well protected against mosquito bites. More often than not, make use of mosquito nets to distill yourself from a mosquito. The logic is quite simple, you cannot get malaria if you are not bitten by a mosquito. 

Relying on the provisions of a number of researches, it has been proven that malaria-causing mosquitoes mostly fly at night. In light of this, it is imperative that those with an AA genotype should sleep under a long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito net. Knowing full well that mosquito attacks are often frequent during this season (rainy season), it is imperative to enjoin you to always close your windows and doors as early as possible and apply mosquito insecticides in your room. There are no means mosquitoes can meander into your room if those precautionary measures are followed.

Worthy of note, however, is the fact that a good air conditioning unit is also another preventive measure against the mosquito. Medical researches have proven that mosquitoes detest a cool environment. Therefore, always make sure your room is kept cool through the application of fans or air conditioners. The wearing of long-sleeve cloth to bed is another traditional preventive measure that should not be relegated to the backyard.

More importantly, always report at the nearest standard hospital when you notice some feverish symptoms so that you can be properly diagnosed for treatment. Early detection will bring about an easy solution or way out. So do not wait until your situation deteriorates before you consult your doctors or hospitals. As a matter of fact, it is expected that everyone should always consult his or her on a periodic basis so as to know his true health status with a view to providing lasting solutions to it. There is no doubting the fact that if the above measures are adhered to

If you and your partner are having trouble conceiving, and his conventional sperm parameters — sperm count, motility (speed) and morphology (shape) — are normal, the problem could still be because of sperm. Talk to your us about screening the sperm for sperm DNA fragmentation, and this may give you more insight into why you are not getting pregnant. A high level of DNA fragmentation... may compromise the possibility of a successful pregnancy no matter what fertility treatment is used. DNA fragmentation occurs when there is an alteration to the bases or a physical break in one or both of the DNA strands."Sperm DNA fragmentation is the physical breaking of one or both DNA strands in sperm chromosomes, if this occurs within a gene in a sperm that fertilized the egg, the consequence may be the death of the resulting embryo or miscarriage."

Do you know?

That sperm DNA fragmentation levels are on the rise due to increased reproductive toxicants in our environment .Dramatic cases are those working with pesticides and heavy metals like lead.In cities with high levels of air and water pollution caused by oil or industrial sources, a documentation of infertility and miscarriages shows that the levels of sperm DNA fragmentation have been very high."

A 2008 report practice committee for the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) states that while currently routine DNA integrity testing in the evaluation of infertility is not done, sperm DNA damage is more common in infertile men and may affect reproductive outcomes in selected couples, including those with recurrent spontaneous miscarriage or idiopathic (unexplained) infertility.

Can you test for sperm DNA fragmentation in Nigeria?

Yes.

Testing for sperm DNA fragmentation is similar to the regular method of semen analysis at a fertility clinic. A semen sample can be obtained and sent to Androcare laboratories and Cryobank for sperm DNA fragmentation test. The test measures the presence of DNA strand breaks and the percentage of sperm with abnormal proteins that inhibit pregnancy success. The test determines the percentage of sperm with fragmented DNA and the degree of DNA damage and provides a DNA Fragmentation Index (DFI) score to indicate the likelihood of sperm contributing to infertility problems. The following scores indicate fertility potential for natural conception and intrauterine insemination:

Less than or equal to 15 percent DFI: Excellent to Good fertility potential

15 percent to 25 percent DFI: Good to Fair fertility potential

Greater than 25 percent DFI: Fair to Poor fertility potential

High DFI values have been shown to reduce the efficacy of intra-uterine insemination (IUI) from 16% to 4%, When facing an DFI above the 30% threshold, it is therefore recommended that clinicians avoid unnecessary IUI cycles

Can You Treat Sperm DNA Fragmentation?

Keep the testes cool — no hot tubs or long hot baths, and wear boxer shorts Stop smoking. Eat a diet rich in antioxidants because oxidative stress is the primary culprit for breaking DNA. Avoid some medications such as cortisone and SSRIs. Get examined for urogenital infections. Eat a healthy diet full of colorful fruits and vegetables. Ask your doctor about supplementary vitamins and antioxidants such as vitamins C and E, co-enzyme Q-10 and supplements containing carnitine.