DUBAI // A lack of knowledge about a disease that can cause infertility in women means only about 100,000 are being treated in the UAE, while many more are thought to be suffering in silence, doctors have warned.
Specialists from across the Arabian Gulf have met to discuss a campaign to raise awareness of endometriosis. The disease is the biggest cause of infertility in women and affects 176 million worldwide.
Although there is no known cure, hormonal treatments such as the oral contraceptive pill can help.
It is estimated up to 10 per cent of women in the UAE experience the condition during their reproductive years, but just 100,000 have been diagnosed.
By comparison, 2 million women were found to be sufferers in both Egypt and Britain.
The disease occurs when hormones during the menstrual cycle cause tissue from the uterus to grow outside the womb.
Dr Naglaa Rizk, a consultant gynaecologist at Al Zahra Hospital, Dubai, said once women recognise the symptoms they can then get help to avoid complications.
“We would like to show the benefits of the use of oral family planning methods to alleviate some of the issues that women face and allow them to live a healthy, productive life,” she said.
“Painful menstruation could be a sign of endometriosis. We need to find out what is causing the long-term pain before we can make a full diagnosis.
“There are multiple theories of the cause, but there are many cases in the Middle East, possibly due to genetics.”
During the awareness drive, women will be offered information on endometriosis at Latifa Hospital in Dubai, Al Qassimi in Sharjah, Corniche in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Tawam and private hospitals including Medcare, Al Zahra, Saudi German Hospital in Dubai, Health Plus in Abu Dhabi and Al Noor.
Cultural issues could be preventing women from asking for help, with some preferring to suffer in silence.
Dr Sony Singh, vice chairman at the department of obstetrics and gynaecology at Ottawa Hospital in Canada, said it is important to educate doctors and patients.
“If menstrual pain is bad enough for a young girl to miss school or work, it is a problem. Ten years of pain is not normal, yet some women ignore it and live with it. It is a very personal issue.”
Some women are reluctant to talk to their GP and must be encouraged to do so, he said.
While use of the pill can reduce the risk, doctors have said in extreme cases it can cause blood clots, deep-vein thrombosis, heart attacks and strokes.
Women who are smokers, and over 35, are said to be particularly vulnerable, as are those with a history of breast cancer.
A daily prescription of the pill contains a combination of hormones that prevent pregnancy, with those who take the medication having up to a 60 per cent less chance of developing endometriosis, up to 80 per cent less risk from ovarian cancer and up to a 40 per cent less chance of contracting colorectal cancer.
Dr Lee Shulman, head of clinical genetics at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, Chicago, warned against mixed messages discouraging women from taking the pill.
“We usually notice a general tendency to focus on the risk factors associated with oral pills, without background knowledge and low awareness of the benefits,” he said.
“We can target that with the benefits of contraception and the reduction in cancer risk.”
nwebster@thenational.ae
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- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
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Company profile
Date started: January, 2014
Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe
Based: Dubai
Sector: Education technology
Size: Five employees
Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.
Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)
RACE CARD
4pm Al Bastakiya – Listed (TB) $150,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
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6.20pm Jebel Hatta – Group 1 (TB) $260,000 (T) 1,800m
6.55pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 1 (TB) $390,000 (D) 2,000m
7.30pm Nad Al Sheba – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (T) 1,200m
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December 28
Stan Wawrinka v Pablo Carreno Busta, 5pm
Milos Raonic v Dominic Thiem, no earlier then 7pm
December 29 - semi-finals
Rafael Nadal v Stan Wawrinka / Pablo Carreno Busta, 5pm
Novak Djokovic v Milos Raonic / Dominic Thiem, no earlier then 7pm
December 30
3rd/4th place play-off, 5pm
Final, 7pm
Country-size land deals
US interest in purchasing territory is not as outlandish as it sounds. Here's a look at some big land transactions between nations:
Louisiana Purchase
If Donald Trump is one who aims to broker "a deal of the century", then this was the "deal of the 19th Century". In 1803, the US nearly doubled in size when it bought 2,140,000 square kilometres from France for $15 million.
Florida Purchase Treaty
The US courted Spain for Florida for years. Spain eventually realised its burden in holding on to the territory and in 1819 effectively ceded it to America in a wider border treaty.
Alaska purchase
America's spending spree continued in 1867 when it acquired 1,518,800 km2 of Alaskan land from Russia for $7.2m. Critics panned the government for buying "useless land".
The Philippines
At the end of the Spanish-American War, a provision in the 1898 Treaty of Paris saw Spain surrender the Philippines for a payment of $20 million.
US Virgin Islands
It's not like a US president has never reached a deal with Denmark before. In 1917 the US purchased the Danish West Indies for $25m and renamed them the US Virgin Islands.
Gwadar
The most recent sovereign land purchase was in 1958 when Pakistan bought the southwestern port of Gwadar from Oman for 5.5bn Pakistan rupees.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
The%20specs
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New Zealand 57-0 South Africa
Tries: Rieko Ioane, Nehe Milner-Skudder (2), Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Ofa Tu'ungfasi, Lima Sopoaga, Codie Taylor. Conversions: Beauden Barrett (7). Penalty: Beauden Barrett