The 2nd International Obstetrics & Gynecology and Fertility Conference in Abu Dhabi Concludes Today

The 2nd International Obstetrics, Gynecology and Fertility Conference organized by Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women & Children and HealthPlus Fertility Centers, part of United Eastern Medical Services (UEMedical) Group in Abu Dhabi, recommended in its last day on Friday to train physicians to provide accurate reading and interpretation of fetus ultrasound imaging (sonography) during pregnancy and to refer the patient to Fetal Medicine Specialists in a timely manner.

Dr. Sadoon Sami Sadoon, Chairperson of the Conference, Obstetrics & Gynecology Consultant and Medical Director of Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women & Children in Abu Dhabi said that the conference showed the importance of limiting cesarean sections and not to use it unless medically required, utilizing all possible opportunities for a normal delivery, taking into consideration the safety of the fetus and the mother.

Dr. Sadoon also stated that one of the conference recommendations is to avoid pregnancy for 18 to 24 months after a cesarean section to avoid complications such as Caesarean Scar Ectopic Pregnancy or miscarriages.

Dr. Walid Sayed, Fertility & Reproductive Endocrinology (IVF) Consultant and Group Medical Director at HealthPlus Fertility Centers in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, said“the new technologies during the past few years increased the success rates of fertility treatment cycles and increased the pregnancy rates for hundreds of cases that were trying to conceive for many years. We are proud that fertility treatments are spearheading in UAE, and such technologies are adopted successfully locally at HealthPlus Fertility Centers.” He added thata full session at the 2ndInternational Obstetrics, Gynecology & Fertility Conference on its second day was dedicated to infertility problems including a talk on PCOS and infertility, fertility preservation, recurrent implantation failure; and uterine fibroids and infertility.

At his talk, he revealed that 25 percent of women who didn’t get pregnant after undergoing IVF had three previous attempts to transfer embryos, but the pregnancy was not successfully achieved.Dr. Walidsaid that in some cases the scientific reasons behind implantation failure after transfer of embryos that are fertilized in vitro are not yet known, and the reason is not clear whether it is related to the embryos and their incomplete implantation into the uterus, or the failure of the uterus to attract the embryo, or if the embryos are transferred in the right time; in addition to other factors that need to be thoroughly investigated to achieve better results. He pointed out that scientific studies have shown the importance of dealing with such cases on a case-by-case basis by a multispecialty medical team, pointing out that indirect factors may prevent a positive pregnancy result, in cases where all other factors are ideal.

Dr. Patrick O'Brien, Consultant and Honorary Senior Lecturer in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University College London Hospitals (UCLH) in London, revealed that caesarean sections rate is rising steadily in almost every country in the world, reaching as high as 1 in 3 of all births in many developed countries. There are many reasons for this including rising levels of obesity, women having babies older, more women choosing to have a Caesarean, and also fear of litigation. 

In his scientific lecture at the 2nd Obstetrics, Gynecology and Fertility International Conference held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC), Dr. O'Brien said that labor is a time of risk for any baby. “We currently monitor the baby's heart rate during labor (the CTG monitor), watching for any signs that the baby is becoming short of oxygen. If the CTG recording becomes abnormal, we often intervene, for example by doing a Caesarean section to deliver the baby to safety. However, we know that in this situation the baby more often comes out in very good condition – and that it wasn't short of oxygen at all! Thus, it is important for us to understand the limitations of our current technology, take all necessary precautions to avoid unnecessary Caesareans, and explore the use of new technologies, such as fetal ECG, pulse oximetry and fetal NIRS which may help.”

He added, “The Caesarean section rate is rising inexorably in almost every country in the world. There are many reasons underlying this trend, but they include a fear of litigation, particularly when there is a failure to act on an abnormal CTG recording in labor. Through the cooperation of the medical team, being careful in the decision to perform a caesarean section, and using new technologies when appropriate, we believe we can control the increase in unnecessary caesareans while ensuring the safety and health of the baby and mother.”