Dubai: Financial independence and pursuing higher education has become a priority among women delaying plans to marry, making it harder to conceive at an older age, said Dr Awatef Al Bahar, Chairperson of Emirates Infertility OBGYN, at the Ferticare Conference.
This year’s Ferticare conference, held in Al Bustan Rotana today, hosted an array of speakers from the medical field, specifically those with specialities related to women, to discuss the recent advances in the fields of infertility and obstetrics.
Dr Awatef explained that the chances of infertility in married women over the age of 40 increased to 29 per cent whereas 64 per cent remain childless.
“For those above the age of 40, so long as the women’s ovaries are still producing eggs, we do not give up,” she said. “We analyse the situation, give the women proper treatment and examine potential factors that could delay the pregnancy process in order to find solutions.”
She added that there is a certain percentage of each age group that will remain infertile because they were either born with the defect or face severe medical issues.
Dr Awatif explained that sterilisation, a permanent method of contraception, can be affective with women who have had more than three caesarean sections.
“In the case where a mother has had three-four Caesareans it makes sense to undergo sterilisation, ensuring that all the necessary requirements set by the UAE Federal law are met, to avoid disturbance or damage to the neighbouring organs and excessive bleeding,” she said.
Dr Awatif clarified that patients are advised and are never forced to undergo any procedure.
The UAE Federal Law No 10/2008 clearly states that when seeking sterilisation, approval of three OBGYN consultants or one physician and two OBGYN (obstetrics gynaecologist) consultants is necessary, a written consent is a must and the husband should be informed. It is prohibited by law to undergo sterilisation for contraception purposes only with no evident medical indications
Dr Awatif clarified that undergoing several caesarean sections is discouraged, especially for those with more than two children.
Dr C. N. Purandare, President Elect FIGO (International Federation of Obstetricians and Gynecologists), said that half the caesarean sections done are unnecessary, using an unnatural method for such a natural event. He added that there are health risks, such as the weakening of the uterine wall, associated with caesarean sections.
