http://www.arabnews.com/?page=7§ion=0&article=91941&d=9&m=2&y=2007
Friday, 9, February, 2007 (21, Muharram, 1428)
Health Options for Saudi Women
Maha Al-Hujailan, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Women in this country have only very limited choices when it comes to
healthcare. We can illustrate this by tackling the issue of a married woman's
health problems and her right to choose to become pregnant or not.
There is an emergency contraceptive that can still prevent a pregnancy
after a contraceptive failure (Plan B). It's used when things don't go as
planned for the woman; for instance, when forgetting to take the pill or have
sex without normal precautions.
The pill works like a regular birth control measure. It prevents
pregnancy mainly by stopping the release of an egg from the ovary, and may also
prevent the fertilization of an egg.
Plan B may also work by preventing it from attaching to the uterus
(womb). These pills may reduce the risk of pregnancy by up to 89 percent.
It's well known that contraceptives don't prevent pregnancy 100 percent.
There's always a small chance that pregnancy might happen. Using antibiotics
for example to fight a disease might reduce the effectiveness of contraceptives
and increase the chances of pregnancy. A large number of women don't know this
piece of information. A woman might be taking her pills regularly while using
antibiotics; then she gets shocked when she discovers she's pregnant. Her
health might be in danger because of this pregnancy or she might not want it
for some psychological or financial reasons. Doctors usually advise these women
to take Plan B as an alternative method to prevent unwanted pregnancy.
This type of contraceptive is a very helpful tool that serves the woman
by giving her and her husband the choice to control pregnancy before it is too
late. I must mention that these pills don't have any side effects that might
harm the child if pregnancy happens. It just prevents it from happening just
like all contraceptives do.
Therefore, Plan B is effective only during the crucial initial period
where the egg has not been fertilized yet if we keep in mind that the egg needs
a few days to grow and that the fertilization process doesn't happen in the
womb, but in the Fallopian tube.
After conception the egg falls into the womb within a few days; that's
why pregnancy takes much more time than what many people think. Plan B is
available in many countries around the world except our own. I believe that
officials in the Ministry of Health have their own reasons for prohibiting the
importation of this contraceptive even though it's necessary for many women who
care about their families and children.
I personally don't know why Plan B isn't available in Saudi Arabia since
all other contraceptives can be bought at all local pharmacies. Plan B is
similar to any regular contraceptive in containing hormones and preventing
pregnancy; so where is the problem?
If we assume that a couple didn't plan to have children and then suddenly
and unexpectedly the wife becomes pregnant. This pregnancy will bring about
health problems, psychological and social complications for her, her husband
and the child.
Sometimes certain psychological and financial situations might not be
conducive to receiving a newborn baby. And even though there are religious and
cultural ideas advocating bringing more children into the world, it still needs
financial and psychological efforts.
Children are a huge responsibility that parents must be dedicated and
committed to take care of. Many Saudi families might not be able to provide
this because of different circumstances. In the US and Britain there are
private health centers dealing with gynecological problems that keep all
patients information confidential and provide them with the necessary medical
care.
They regularly organize lectures and awareness campaigns in schools and
universities emphasizing the importance of sex and body awareness. And because
some people practice sex outside wedlock, these centers enlighten them with the
dangerous consequences, health wise and socially of such acts.
In Saudi Arabia, there is no need to make people aware of the dangers of
such things.
But there is definitely a need to educate women, especially the
illiterate ones, on how to use healthy methods to deal with pregnancy or with
their bodies prior to pregnancy.
What's worthy of mentioning is that there are plenty of Saudi women who
use alternative medicine or herbal remedies instead of proper medical
treatment.
They tend to buy different remedies from spice dealers or old ladies who
promote certain material for different uses.
Women seek these remedies either wanting to become pregnant or to prevent
pregnancy. These remedies come in different forms and shapes such as ointments,
capsules, or suppositories and they are likely to be contaminated or polluted
endangering women's health.
When some are asked why they use these methods that might have terrible
side effects instead of seeking medical consultation, they either say that they
have no other available options or because they believe contraceptives are
injurious to health.
People need to understand the dangers of alternative medicine. Dr. Jabir
Al-Qahtani had made great efforts in this field explaining the possible damages
such remedies might cause. But the problem won't end unless women start to
receive education and awareness that include presenting alternative medical
solutions that are healthy. Medical and science developments bring new means
and methods to serve the human being and achieve the highest levels of health
and comfort. And we have to follow up the new innovations to serve our country
and its citizens.
- Maha Al-Hujailan is a medical researcher at King Khaled University
Hospital in Riyadh.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Post message: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Unsubscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED]
List owner : [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
