15% of world population infertile

Staff Report

KARACHI: Infertility affects 10 to 15 percent of married couples worldwide, said a press release from the Aga Khan University on Friday, International Day of Action on Women’s Health.

Male infertility is the cause of 40 percent of all cases. Married couples should seek advice on the issue from experts if women fail to conceive one year of their marriage. The age of a woman is an important factor for successful treatment. However, a number of them can be managed with different methods, said AKUH consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Fauzia Haq Nawaz.

Consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Lumaan Sheikh said that jaundice might be coincidental during a pregnancy or caused by the pregnancy itself. Jaundice not related to a pregnancy might be caused by viral hepatitis, gallstone complications or drug reactions. Jaundice, yellow discoloration of the eyes and skin, may be the first or only sign of liver disease and evaluating it is of critical importance.

Consultant psychologist Dr Nargis Asad said that women have a greater risk of mental disorders. Traditionally, women’s health is discussed as maternal health, which often excludes mental, spiritual and social well-being. “Women's well-being is not solely determined by reproduction and biological factors but must be understood within a broader framework of social determinants such as stress, role responsibilities and workload,” she said.

Consultant rheumatologist Dr Kamran Hameed discussed the rising incidence of osteoporosis in the developing world. Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones become fragile and can fracture easily and older women are more prone to osteoporosis, he added.

The problem is already huge in the developed world and is responsible for more than 1.5 million fractures annually in the United States of America, which costs health services worth US$ 13.8 billion, said Hameed. Stressing prevention with sufficient calcium and vitamin D intake, he said that as life expectancy increases in the developing world, more osteoporosis-related fractures would be seen among the population.

Women should encourage their children to take adequate calcium and vitamin D from an early age and get them tested if they have risk factors or are post-menopausal and to take appropriate treatment once the diagnosis is established, advised Hameed.

Discussing physical fitness for new mothers, AKU Staff Physiotherapist, Ms Naheed Tariq stated that pregnancy results in a gradual change of body, shape and function. She added that exercise might seem like the last thing women feel like doing after delivery.

But being active now is more important because it helps raising metabolism, shed extra weight, provide required amount of energy and reduce stress and tension. The abdominal muscles need the most attention. Similarly, pelvic floor exercises after delivery help to tighten the pelvic muscles and prevent incontinence.

Home | National