End to long wait for the childless
Published: Mon 18 Apr 2016, 8:09 AM
Last updated: Mon 18 Apr 2016, 11:45 AM
The taboo surrounding infertility is on the decline in the UAE. Couples are now willing to talk about it and seek treatment. A positive trend, given the fact that about 50 per cent of women here are facing issues pertaining to fertility, according to the Dubai Health Authority (DHA).
As such, health authorities and institutions have been investing heavily in specialised services to offer a solution to this drop in fertility rates, including the newly-opened Medcare Fertility Centre in Jumeirah
Helps ease 6-month waiting list
With one government facility dedicated to fertility in Dubai and "about four private clinics" now open, Aysha Al Falahi, Head of Registration Accreditation Centre at the DHA told Khaleej Times that the increase in facilities has helped ease the "six-month waiting list" for Emiratis seeking treatment through its government-run clinic.
Major reasons for infertility
> polycystic ovarian syndrome
> Tubal pregnancy
> Abnormally shaped uterine cavity
> Fibroids in uterus
> Incompetent cervix
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"Infertility in the UAE is rising but so is the success rate of In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF). We are looking to expand more in regards to specialised centres but at the moment there is nothing in the pipeline."
A recent biostatistics report issued by Dubai Statistics Centre (DSC) indicated a decrease in the total fertility of the Emirati woman from 3.7 newborns in 2009 to 3.4 newborns in 2014.
When it comes to the reproduction period, a study by the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) Health System also shows that 20 per cent of newly married Emirati couples are susceptible to one of the problems related to fertility at least once in a lifetime. Meanwhile, the figure is 17 per cent for expatriate couples. The most common cause of infertility among UAE women is noted as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOD).
However, other factors including unhealthy fallopian tubes and deficiencies in the male's semen, are also blamed for rising cases of infertility.
The likelihood of a fertile couple achieving a natural pregnancy each month currently sits at about 20 per cent, but infertile couples could carry a similar chance of conceiving given the introduction of the right medical treatment.
Whether it be through assisted reproduction technology (ART) such as IVF, or surgery to correct anatomical problems, the options are abundant. Though alternative medical routes to conceive are readily available here, Robin Carrow and Loreen Fernandez - parents of IVF twins - offer their views as a "couple who have been through it".
In December 2014, the pair successfully became parents to two healthy babies following their first cycle of IVF.
With Fernandez aged 40 at the time, the news was well received.
"We were lucky. My advice to couples seeking IVF is don't go into it with such high expectations of it working the first time," Carrow said.
Describing IVF as a "non-invasive" procedure, he said couples shouldn't be afraid of the process.
"IVF has been around for a long time and it truly works. Yes, the success rate differs for each couple but it gives an opportunity for those who can't conceive naturally to parent their own children."
With the success rates for IVF largely depending on age, for women under 30 it sits at 50 per cent.
At 40 that drops to 20 per cent, and at 43, it is cut in half to between five and 10 per cent.
But aside from the high financial costs - with some clinics charging upwards of Dh25,000 for a single cycle of IVF - Carrow and Fernandez say couple's need to be "emotionally ready for the psychological impact" it will have on them too.
Male infertility on 'high rate'
Dr Panayota Zarmakoupi, Medical Director at Medcare Fertility Center in Dubai is one of around 15 reproductive endocrinologists in the UAE. With more than 20 years' experience working in the field, she said the patient demographic in this region is slightly different than the West.
"There is a higher incidence of some genetic disorders here which often are linked to consanguineous marriage and the high prevalence of diabetes. A vitamin D sufficiency is often linked too."
She said there is a "high rate" of male infertility in the UAE, a factor which could be linked to the high number of men taking steroids.
"For many of the men I have treated, steroid use has led to a low sperm count." In 2015, doctors attending a pregnancy conference supported by the UAE Ministry of Health categorised the risk of age versus a person's chance achieving a natural pregnancy.
For women aged 25-29, the risk of being infertile was pitted at about 7 per cent - half that of women aged 30-34, who have a 15 per cent chance of infertility.
As expected, this number rises with age, with women aged 35 to 39, 22 per cent more likely to be infertile and those aged 40 to 44 with a 29 per cent risk of being infertile.
Tips to conceive naturallyDr Bohaira El Geyoushi, Clearblue spokesperson and UAE-based Obstetrics and gynaecology, IVF Consultant, has some tips for couples trying to conceive naturally.
> Use a home ovulation predictor kit to tell which days you are most fertile every month.
> Healthy diet, regular exercise a must for both men and women. Too many fat cells produce high levels of adverse hormones which can interfere with ovulation in women, while men who are overweight tend to have poor semen quality.
> Stop smoking: There is strong evidence that the toxic chemicals in cigarettes and shisha can reduce fertility.
> Get enough sleep: Women need to get sufficient sleep in order to produce enough balanced hormones
kelly@khaleejtimes.com Cause of infertility:
Male
In approximately 40% of infertile couples, the husband is either the sole or contributing cause of infertility.
Ovulation disorders
Irregular or abnormal ovulation is found in approximately 40% of all cases.
Tubal
Open, healthy fallopian tubes are necessary for conception. Therefore, tests to determine tubal openness are important.
Uterine
Polyps and an abnormally shaped uterine cavity are found in about 5% of infertile women. Fibroids are found in about 40% of the women (the majority of whom get pregnant without difficulty).
Cervical
If the mucus quality is poor or inadequate, the cervix may not be functioning properly.
Peritoneal
The peritoneum is a covering layer of pelvic organs. Adhesions, endometriosis or pelvic infection are the major causes of abnormal peritoneal function.
Unexplained infertility
In approximately 10% of couples seeking pregnancy, all tests are normal
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