In a country where people still value folklore and traditions
over medical science despite the trappings of modern technology, it was
refreshing to listen to real medical experts break down the myths on
infertility and offer the right solutions.
With over 20 media representatives listening intently, the online
medical forum dubbed “The Art of Getting Pregnant, Breaking the Fallacies and
Falsehoods on Infertility” appropriately addressed one by one all the incorrect
notions on being infertile both for men and women. False beliefs such as blood
type incompatibility, sexual positions, dance rituals and middle-aged pregnancy
were discussed extensively by doctors and representatives from MERCK Group.
“Nothing beats strict medical science when it comes to
addressing infertility problems. A wholistic, precise examination (work-up) of
infertile couples by thoroughly educated infertility doctors and gynecologists,
combined with true medicine, is the best treatment for infertility,” says Dr.
Eileen Manalo of the Center for Advanced Reproductive Medicine &
Infertility (CARMI) in St. Luke’s Medical Center-Global City.
Today, a couple having a hard time producing an offspring can
now choose among a variety of proven, treatment options.
In her talk “Treatment Options for Infertility,” Manalo says
advances in modern science resulted to new infertility treatments such as drugs
to induce ovulation (ovulation induction), intrauterine insemination (IUI) and
advanced reproductive technology (ART) that includes In Vitro Fertilization, more
popularly known as IVF.
Popular celebrities who have undergone IVF procedures include
husband and wife Dr. Vicky Belo and Hayden Kho, perfume magnate Joel Cruz and couple
Mar Roxas and Korina Sanchez according to a GMA news article.
Diet and lifestyle also play an important role in preventing
infertility. She says eating nuts and other protein rich foods and lessening
intake of carbohydrates and fats can go a long way in allowing pregnancy.
Dr. Manalo also stressed the importance of being fit and trim
and not being overweight. “The body should be in the best shape and health for
it to conceive a child.”
Age is also a big factor. A young female has the best chance
of impregnation. While a young male can produce the best quality sperm.
For his part, Dr. Virgilio Noverio, head of CARMI, gave a run
through on the pregnancy process for people to understand the necessary
interventions to treat infertility. He says there are three key events
necessary to allow pregnancy: Ovulation, Fertilization then Implantation.
“Any condition that interferes with these events may result
in infertility,” he added.
In his presentation “Infertility and Fertility Preservation,”
a snapshot of infertility incidence in the Philippines was pegged at 10%,
according to a Synovate survey conducted in 2014. Factors that induce
infertility for both women and men are tubal factors, ovulation disorders
(PCOS), endometriosis, uterine factors and advanced age.
Asked by a reporter on when is the proper time to seek
medical help, Noverio says after a year of actively working on getting pregnant
without success.
Filipinos normally are shy to seek medical help specially
when it comes to sensitive issues like infertility or being “baog.” They
are afraid of being ridiculed. This is more pronounced in men since being
infertile is correlated to their masculinity. A true-blooded male doesn’t want
his manhood to be questioned. It’s in their nature to listen first to friends
and relatives and exhaust all possible means before going to a doctor hence the
scarcity of couples seeking professional help.
Noverio says seeking professional help the soonest possible
time is critical in the treatment process.
Another resource speaker who came all the way from Singapore,
Henry Wilson, managing director of MERCK Group, introduced his company as a
leading provider of medical solutions for infertility. Aside from infertility,
MERCK, a global pharmaceutical firm, is also into research and development in
the following medical fields: cardiovascular, endocrinology, neurology,
immunology, oncology among others.
MERCK is also spearheading a nationwide awareness program to
educate people about the true nature of infertility.
“MERCK is committed in this worthwhile endeavor so that
people can be aware of the dangers and pitfalls of believing in falsehoods
about infertility. We want to lead society in the right direction and provide
them the correct information about infertility,” says Dr. Raymond Tapang, MERCK’s
medical director.
In essence, the main goal of the forum is to educate the
public about the definition of infertility in the eyes of the medical sector. It
is necessary for doctors to understand the history, lifestyle and contributing
factors of infertile people to come up with the best diagnosis and treatment.
And the right and vital information can’t be
found in your friendly neighborhood albularyos, quack doctors and average joe,
but in the realm of professional medical care.
