Infertility a major issue faced by men in UAE

Dubai - These are the things men and women need to know about fertility

With a lot of emphasis on women's health issues, men's health is often neglected. Hence November, also known as 'Movember', is dedicated to encouraging men to go for regular health check-ups.
Infertility is a major issue that men in the UAE face. In nearly 50 per cent of infertile couples, the male partner is either the sole cause or a contributing factor to infertility, say doctors at Bourn Hall Fertility Centre, Dubai.
Male infertility cases are on the rise worldwide, with the UAE showing higher than average increases related to modern day lifestyle issues such as obesity, diabetes, smoking and stress.
Addressing the issue, and to create awareness regarding male fertility health, the centre is offering free semen analysis during the month of November.
"We talk about women's fertility all the time, but generally, men's reproductive health is either not discussed openly or it's completely ignored," said Dr David Robertson, group medical director at Bourn Hall Fertility Centre.
"We are trying to break this taboo, since the repercussions are too significant to turn a blind eye. A free semen analysis is important because most male-related infertility cases are due to deficiencies in the semen. More than 90 per cent of male infertility cases result from low sperm count, and by a simple semen analysis, men can find out where they stand fertility-wise. This is particularly important for couples trying to start a family, and those who are going for fertility treatments. I'm confident that such awareness campaigns will go a long way towards creating an environment where male fertility health issues are addressed head-on.
"Abnormalities in sperm are a critical factor and with the help of a semen analysis, corrective measures can be taken in time," he said.
This test provides information on the volume of semen produced, number of sperm per milli-litre of semen, total number of sperm in the sample, the percentage of moving sperm and the shape of sperm.
Results from a nationwide survey done by the Orchid Fertility Centre based in Dubai Healthcare City found 91 per cent of men and women in the UAE don't know when their biological clock starts ticking.
For women, fertility starts to decline gradually around the age of 27 before dropping more dramatically after age 35. The research commissioned by the Orchid Fertility Centre, which involved more than 1,000 men and women in the UAE, found only nine per cent of respondents correctly pointed out a woman's fertility begins to decline in their late 20s, while 38 per cent of men and women believed a man's fertility declines in their late 50s and 60s despite it dropping from 40s. A further 15 per cent thought it did not decline at all.
While age can affect the success of fertility treatments, such as In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF), awareness of this factor in the UAE also remains low. The survey reported that only 15 per cent of respondents correctly understood that IVF does not easily resolve infertility in a person's 40s; highlighting a prevalent misconception about IVF in the UAE.
"The survey results show an alarming misconception that women can delay getting pregnant until their late 30s and rely on IVF to conceive," said Dr Bohaira El Geyoushi, medical director at the centre.
However, as a woman ages so do her eggs, and this will impact on the woman's chance of conceiving both naturally and with IVF. "It's not just about women either. For couples undergoing IVF, the possibility of not being able to conceive is more than five times higher if the female partner is aged 41 or older," Dr Bohaira said.
The survey found that 68 per cent of respondents believed a holistic approach to fertility would improve chances of getting pregnant.
The survey also revealed that half of people in the UAE did not realise that being overweight (51 per cent) and smoking (48 per cent) can affect fertility in both men and women. Fifty-seven percent of respondents also did not identify diabetes as an infertility factor.
asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com
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Four things men and women need to know about fertility:
1) Fertility isn't just an issue for women
It isn't just harder to get pregnant when you're older if you're a woman - it gets harder for men too. The quality of a man's sperm decreases with age. As a man ages, it takes longer for his partner to get pregnant. There's also an increased risk of not conceiving at all.
2) Be aware - being healthy doesn't guarantee you're fertile
Just because you have overall good health, don't assume that it is a sign that you (or your partner, for that matter) are fertile. One in 10 healthy couples of reproductive age will experience fertility problems.
3) Put that cigarette out... smoking is a no-go.
Men and women who smoke - and women who are exposed to other people's smoke - are more likely to take longer to get pregnant. Both active smoking and passive smoking increases a woman's risk of infertility. In fact, passive smoking is equally harmful to a woman's fertility similar to active smoking.
4) Weight can also affect your fertility
For men, being overweight or obese can also cause hormonal changes that reduce fertility. For women, obesity can affect fertility by causing hormonal imbalances and problems with ovulation, particularly for obese women having their first baby. -Info courtesy Orchid Fertility Centre
Movember is all about men's health
Staff reporter
 Movember is not only about sporting impressive moustaches, it is a month-long initiative to raise awareness about men's health issues with a primary focus on prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and the importance of physical activity.
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men after skin cancer. Early prostate cancer has no symptoms, therefore it is important to have regular screenings according to the American Cancer Society.
Routine screening involves a simple blood test to detect elevated levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA) although this is only an indicator and a physical examination is also therefore necessary. If the results are abnormal, then an ultrasound, MRI or other screening may be advised.
Specialist urologist Dr Manaf Kanakji from HealthBay recommends: "All men should start to have regular screening from the age of 45. However, it is important to be aware of the family history. If there is a history of prostate cancer in the family, then it is advised to begin screening from the age of 40. Screening should be carried out annually."
More advanced prostate cancer may present with symptoms such as slow, weak or frequent urination, blood in urine, erectile problems or pain in other parts of the body in the cases where cancer has spread.
"These symptoms can be caused by other conditions and may not be related to prostate cancer, so there is no need for alarm, but it is always advisable to make an appointment with a doctor," he said. HealthBay is offering free PSA screening on November 22 and 29.
asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com
Prostate cancer facts and figures
Prostate cancer is the fourth most prevalent form of cancer among adult men in the UAE. A recent study by the Health Authority-Abu Dhabi revealed that male UAE nationals were diagnosed with cancer at a rate of 75 in every 100,000 of the population.
The report also indicates that 20 per cent of cancer cases reported in Abu Dhabi relate to cancer of the prostate gland.
A blood test called PSA is recommended after the age of 50 as early detection screening for prostate cancer. It is a tumour marker for the prostate gland.