‘Around 17% couples suffering from infertility’

Health experts highlight increasing cases of infertility in the country

KARACHI: Infertility is a growing health problem in Pakistan, as almost 15 to 20 per cent of couples are suffering from this disorder. However, almost 80 per cent cases of infertility can now be treated successfully due to better drugs.

This was stated by health experts at the third public awareness seminar titled 'Infertility-Is it treatable?' held at Pakistan Medical Association House on Tuesday, as a pre-event of Pak-China MEDCONG.

Experts believe that out of the infertile couples, 40 per cent men, 30 per cent women and the remaining 30 per cent of both men and women have infertility issues. However, in most cases women are victimised despite the infertility of their spouse.



Civil Hospital, Karachi, associate professor Dr Nusrat Shah expressed concern over the growing rate of infertility cases in Pakistan. "Nowadays we are examining young girls of 19 to 22 years with polycystic ovarian disease, [which leads] to infertility.

Such girls start developing mustaches and hair on chin," she said. Dr Shah suggested that parents of such girls should think of getting them married, as the decrease in such symptoms is noticed after marriage and after giving birth.

While speaking at the seminar, senior gynaecologist Dr Sher Shah Syed said that if any couple does not have a baby in a year despite enjoying a good marital relationship, they should think of the possibility of infertility. "Such couples should contact their doctor, who can refer them to a gynaecologist or an urologist," he said.

The gynaecologist further said that infertile couples should not go to fake 'Bangali babas' and 'hakeems' as they cannot help them at all. Infertility is a medical problem and almost 80 per cent of such cases can be treated successfully, he said.

Dr Sher added that almost 15 per cent of all infertility cases are not diagnosed with any deficiency, but still they are unable to conceive. In such case they should go for test tube babies, he said, adding that some men do not have sperm at all and doctors cannot help them.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2016.