UAE doctors say people are ‘suffering in silence’ from STDs

Dr Fady Hachem, an obstetrics and gynaecology consultant at Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi, says regular check-ups are vital. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National

ABU DHABI // One in six patients checking into gynaecology or urology clinics are suffering from sexually transmitted diseases, doctors say.

Most patients, mainly unmarried, visit the clinics after they have been “suffering in silence”, and do not expect to find that they have an STD.

Dr Manaf Al Hashimi, a urology specialist at Burjeel Hospital, said many patients were “shy and ashamed”, and visited a doctor only after weeks of pain.

“From 30 patients every day, we see about five patients with a sexually transmitted disease. It is very common,” said Dr Al Hashimi.

“There is not much orientation about sexually transmitted diseases, or about screening tests. They are shying away and not expressing their pain.”

Dr Nazura Siddiqi, a gynaecologist at Lifeline Hospital in Abu Dhabi, said there was an increase in the number of patients suffering such diseases. There were many causes, and not all were from sexual activity.

“The definite rise is due to increased unsafe sexual practices, increased travel worldwide and a casual attitude to sex,” said Dr Siddiqi.

“The germs that cause STDs are spread by sexual contact but can also spread by skin contact, such as herpes,” she added.

“You can get hepatitis B by sharing razors, or trichomonas by sharing wet towels or wet clothes.”

Dr Fady Hachem, an obstetrics and gynaecology consultant at Burjeel Hospital, said other ways through which diseases could be transmitted included shared needles while injecting drugs and through contact with the blood of anyone infected.

“There are people who are at risk,” said Dr Hachem. “They are very sexually active so they have check-ups every three months to see if they are healthy.

“Sometimes it is discovered when expats renew their visa.”

He said sexually active people could also contract a disease in other parts of the body. “You can have a systemic manifestation of the disease,” he said.

Dr Afaf El Ghanimi, a consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology at HealthPlus Women’s Health Centre, Abu Dhabi, said some diseases could be transmitted from a mother to her unborn child, or through breastfeeding.

Cancer, infertility and blockage of the Fallopian tubes are some of the issues that can arise in women if diseases are not treated, Dr El Ghanimi said.

In men, STDs can lead to blockage of the urethra, which prevents the flow of urine, or they can infect the testes, which can lead to infertility.

She urged patients suffering from STDs to be honest with their partners and to advise them to also get treated.

Most diseases can be cured or contained with tablets, capsules, injections or a course of antibiotics.