4 out of 10 women have fertility issues due to endometriosis

UAE based Canadian Specialist Hospital embarks on a new journey to spread awareness and offer support to women suffering from endometriosis with the help of their newly launched Endometriosis Support Group, the first of its kind in Dubai. One in 10 women across the globe suffer from this condition and 4 out of 10 women have fertility issues.

Endometriosis is one the most common conditions among women, however, it is one of the least discussed issues worldwide.  On an average, it takes 7.5 years from onset of symptoms till diagnosis due to ignorance and lack of awareness about the condition. The Endometriosis Dubai Support Group by CSH aims to bring together women who have been silently suffering in pain to share their experiences, discuss their issues and support one another with the support of our consultant and specialist gynecology team.

Endometriosis is a benign condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus is found outside the uterus. The most common symptom of endometriosis is servere period pain which starts a day or 2 before the onset of the period. Also some women might experience heavy periods, pain during intercourse, difficulty in conceiving, pain in bowel opening, frequent urination or blood in urine and feces.

“We are pleased to announce the launch our online support group which is a virtual place accessible to the public.  Endometriosis can take a toll on a woman’s physical and mental health and we want our online group to serve as a platform for interactive sessions between patients and doctors to help women overcome their problems and fears associated with the condition,” said Dr. Marlin Mubarak, Consultant Obstetrics and Gynecology, Canadian Specialist Hospital who until recently was the head of Endometriosis centre in the UK and had research in the field of endometriosis.

Endometriosis can be suspected after taking detailed medical history and diagnosed by ultrasound to identify ovarian cysts. MRI is used in selected cases if deep infiltrating endometriosis is suspected by the doctor. The golden standard of diagnosis and treatment is  laparoscopy which is a key hole surgery. Endometriosis is a chronic recurrent disease, however, medical and surgical removal by laparoscopy can improve quality of life and symptoms if managed by the expert surgeon. Following surgery, medical treatment is advised to minimise the risk of recurrence of endometriosis and to avoid worsening of symptoms.

Apart from the online support group, Canadian Specialist Hospital will also be organizing a monthly event for women who manifest symptoms for the condition or suffer from it.  The event will be in the form of a get-together during breakfast in Crown Plaza Hotel, Dubai. The meeting provides patients an opportunity to meet with doctors and other patients, learn about the advancements in treatment and research, share patient experiences, get a second opinion, ask questions and get relevant and valuable information. The first event will be held on 7th April 2018 and will be continued on every last Saturday of the month.

“The Endometriosis Dubai Support Group initiative was launched to educate women about the condition and urge them to seek medical assistance in case of symptoms. We encourage women of all age groups to join our support group on Facebook and interact with our doctors regarding any concerns they may have. We also recommend attending our monthly sessions for one-on-one discussion with our expert team of consultants and specialists for guidance to put an end to your pain,” added Dr. Marlin. For more details regarding the event, please contact endometriosis@csh.ae.