DUBAI // A lack of knowledge about a disease that can cause infertility in women means only about 100,000 are being treated in the UAE, while many more are thought to be suffering in silence, doctors have warned.
Specialists from across the Arabian Gulf have met to discuss a campaign to raise awareness of endometriosis. The disease is the biggest cause of infertility in women and affects 176 million worldwide.
Although there is no known cure, hormonal treatments such as the oral contraceptive pill can help.
It is estimated up to 10 per cent of women in the UAE experience the condition during their reproductive years, but just 100,000 have been diagnosed.
By comparison, 2 million women were found to be sufferers in both Egypt and Britain.
The disease occurs when hormones during the menstrual cycle cause tissue from the uterus to grow outside the womb.
Dr Naglaa Rizk, a consultant gynaecologist at Al Zahra Hospital, Dubai, said once women recognise the symptoms they can then get help to avoid complications.
“We would like to show the benefits of the use of oral family planning methods to alleviate some of the issues that women face and allow them to live a healthy, productive life,” she said.
“Painful menstruation could be a sign of endometriosis. We need to find out what is causing the long-term pain before we can make a full diagnosis.
“There are multiple theories of the cause, but there are many cases in the Middle East, possibly due to genetics.”
During the awareness drive, women will be offered information on endometriosis at Latifa Hospital in Dubai, Al Qassimi in Sharjah, Corniche in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Tawam and private hospitals including Medcare, Al Zahra, Saudi German Hospital in Dubai, Health Plus in Abu Dhabi and Al Noor.
Cultural issues could be preventing women from asking for help, with some preferring to suffer in silence.
Dr Sony Singh, vice chairman at the department of obstetrics and gynaecology at Ottawa Hospital in Canada, said it is important to educate doctors and patients.
“If menstrual pain is bad enough for a young girl to miss school or work, it is a problem. Ten years of pain is not normal, yet some women ignore it and live with it. It is a very personal issue.”
Some women are reluctant to talk to their GP and must be encouraged to do so, he said.
While use of the pill can reduce the risk, doctors have said in extreme cases it can cause blood clots, deep-vein thrombosis, heart attacks and strokes.
Women who are smokers, and over 35, are said to be particularly vulnerable, as are those with a history of breast cancer.
A daily prescription of the pill contains a combination of hormones that prevent pregnancy, with those who take the medication having up to a 60 per cent less chance of developing endometriosis, up to 80 per cent less risk from ovarian cancer and up to a 40 per cent less chance of contracting colorectal cancer.
Dr Lee Shulman, head of clinical genetics at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, Chicago, warned against mixed messages discouraging women from taking the pill.
“We usually notice a general tendency to focus on the risk factors associated with oral pills, without background knowledge and low awareness of the benefits,” he said.
“We can target that with the benefits of contraception and the reduction in cancer risk.”
nwebster@thenational.ae
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MOST%20POLLUTED%20COUNTRIES%20IN%20THE%20WORLD
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BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Friday (All UAE kick-off times)
Borussia Dortmund v Eintracht Frankfurt (11.30pm)
Saturday
Union Berlin v Bayer Leverkusen (6.30pm)
FA Augsburg v SC Freiburg (6.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Werder Bremen (6.30pm)
SC Paderborn v Hertha Berlin (6.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Wolfsburg (6.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Borussia Monchengladbach (9.30pm)
Sunday
Cologne v Bayern Munich (6.30pm)
Mainz v FC Schalke (9pm)
RESULT
Manchester City 1 Sheffield United 0
Man City: Jesus (9')
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
Managing the separation process
- Choose your nursery carefully in the first place
- Relax – and hopefully your child will follow suit
- Inform the staff in advance of your child’s likes and dislikes.
- If you need some extra time to talk to the teachers, make an appointment a few days in advance, rather than attempting to chat on your child’s first day
- The longer you stay, the more upset your child will become. As difficult as it is, walk away. Say a proper goodbye and reassure your child that you will be back
- Be patient. Your child might love it one day and hate it the next
- Stick at it. Don’t give up after the first day or week. It takes time for children to settle into a new routine.And, finally, don’t feel guilty.
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
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