Dubai Gynaecology and Fertility Centre(DGFC) discusses infertility problems during smart clinic.

United Arab Emirates, Dubai, January 16, 2013: The  Dubai Health Authority's (DHAs) Dubai Gynaecology and Fertility Centre(DGFC) took part today in the DHA's smart clinic to discuss infertility problems and treatment methods.

Doctors advocated the need for couples who are concerned about fertility issues to come forward at the earliest, as early detection and management significantly improves medical outcomes.

Dr Wael Madkour, endocrinology and infertility consultant at the Dubai Gynaecology and Fertility Centre, said: “ If a couple have been trying to conceive for over a year, they should visit an infertility specialist, however if they feel anxious or if they are aware of some underlying problems that they have, they should meet a specialist at the earliest.”

He said the chances of pregnancy  reduces with advancement in the woman's age and therefore it is best to approach a specialist sooner than later. “The average success rate of all infertility treatments is 55 per cent.”

He said since the inception of  DGFC in 1991, the centre has treated 19,000 couples. “Over the years, we have seen an increase in infertility problems, but this is a global trend. At the same time, there have been tremendous advances in medicine. For instance, the oldest woman at our centre to have a baby through IVF was 44 years old”

He said lifestyle changes, late marriage, obesity and smoking are some of the contributing factors for infertility problems.

He said male to female ratio in terms of as cause of infertility is 50:50. “This shows a shift from female predominance which was the case earlier. Presently, we see 50 per cent of infertility problems, if not more, are due to problems with the male partner.”

He said the main cause of male infertility is decrease in quality or quantity of sperm and for women the main reasons are problems with ovulation such as polycystic ovaries, tube defects and uterine defects.

He said age is a parameter but not a cause for infertility and that presently the average age of women patients at the centre is 35 years.

He said the other contributing factors for infertility are smoking, obesity, medical disorders such as uncontrolled diabetes etc.

He said to improve outcomes for fertility treatments, couples should follow a healthy lifestyle and women should exercise on a regular basis. “ Which strenuous exercise isn't recommended, moderate exercise for 30 to 45 minutes, three times a week is essential as it helps reduce stress and improve blood circulation.” He said once women begin treatment, they can consult their infertility specialist with regard to duration and intensity of exercise.

He reiterated that infertility should not be considered taboo and that there are several medical alternatives available to help couples conceive.