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Infertility affects 10 to 15 per cent of couples in the world

“As many as ten to fifteen per cent of couples in the world are infertile. However, a number of them can be managed with different methods,” said Dr Fauzia Haq Nawaz, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at a public health awareness programme organised by Aga Khan University (AKU) on the International Day of Action on Women's Health. Male infertility is the cause of 40 per cent of all cases and she advised couples to see a specialist if they have been unable to conceive after trying for a year. Discussing several treatment options, she pointed out that a woman's age is the most important factor in the success of a treatment.

The International Day of Action on Women's Health has been celebrated since 1987 to put a special focus on women's health problems. During the AKU programme, experts discussed a range of issues specific to women like jaundice during pregnancy, infertility, women's mental health, osteoporosis and physical fitness for new mothers.

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. Dr Lumaan Sheikh, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist said that during a pregnancy, jaundice may be coincidental or caused by the pregnancy itself. Jaundice not related to a pregnancy may be caused by viral hepatitis, gall stone complications or drug reactions.

Dr Nargis Asad, Consultant Psychologist, informed the audience that women have a greater risk of mental disorders. She pointed out that 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.

Dr Kamran Hameed, Consultant Rheumatologist, 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. “The problem is already huge in the developed world and is responsible for more than 1.5 million fractures annually in the US , a number which alone cost s their health services $13.8 billion,” said Dr Hameed. Stressing on prevention through sufficient calcium and vitamin D intake, he said that as life expectancy increases in the developing world, more osteoporosis-related fractures will be seen in our population. He advised women to encourage their children to take adequate calcium and vitamin D from an early age; to get themselves tested if they have risk factors or are post-menopausal and to take appropriate treatment once the diagnosis is established. “Try and reduce the risk of falling in your environment with non-slip flooring and proper footwear,” he advised.

Another important aspect of women's health is her fitness after having a baby. Having a baby means lots of things – losing sleep and dealing with the weight gained during pregnancy as mothers settle into a new routine. Discussing physical fitness for new mothers, Ms Naheed Tariq, Staff Physiotherapist AKU, stated that pregnancy results in a gradual change of body, shape and function. “Exercise may seem like the last thing you feel like doing after delivery. But being active now is more important than ever because it helps to raise your metabolism, shed extra weight, provide much needed energy and reduce stress and tension,” she said. The abdominal muscles need the most attention. Similarly, pelvic floor exercises after delivery help to tighten the pelvic muscles and prevent incontinence.

As part of its outreach programme and societal commitment of creating awareness of early diagnosis and timely treatment, A ga K han U niversity H ospital (AKUH) organi s es such programmes. The Hospital has organi s ed over 300 ‘Signs, Symptoms and Care' programmes in Karachi , Hyderabad , Quetta and the UAE, benefiting more than 50,000 people. Similarly, AKUH 's Pat ient Welfare Programme reaches out to patients by providing assistance to those patients who are unable to afford the medical cost of their treatment. 73 per cent of all patients treated at AKUH are from low- to middle-income areas. Since the inception of this welfare programme in 1986, PKR 2.0 billion has been disbursed to more than 300,000 needy patients.

For further information, please contact:

Rida Turabi, Senior Media Executive, at 486-2931 or rida.turabi@aku.edu ;
Hassaan Akhter, Media Executive, at 486-2927 hassaan.akhter@aku.edu ;  
Fabeha Pervez, Media Executive, at 486-2925 fabeha.pervez@aku.edu .

Department of Public Affairs
Aga Khan University , Stadium Road , P.O. Box 3500, Karachi-74000.
Fax: 493 - 4294, 493 - 2095 www.aku.edu

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