9 out of 10 Singaporean women do not go for
preconception checks: survey
SINGAPORE: It's estimated that one in five couples here
have problems conceiving and to help raise awareness about
infertility, a voluntary welfare organisation has launched a
Do-It-Yourself Fertility Index to help couples find out if they are
at risk.
According to a recent survey, nine in 10 Singaporean women
do not go for preconception check-ups and doctors said this is a
cause for concern.
DR Peter Chew, senior consultant obstetrician & gynaecologist,
Gleneagles Hospital, said: "People tend to take things for granted.
These preconception checks are very important for couples who want
to have a baby because this will have an impact on the birth, the
pregnancy, as well as after birth."
Preconception screening can pick up any health problem a woman may
have as well as risk factors that could complicate her
pregnancy.
And as more couples delay having kids well into their 30s and 40s,
experts said the risk of infertility goes up.
Selwyn Sundaram, volunteer, aLife, said: "People still think that
it's like a tap, you can turn it on and turn it off. And I think
that's not true. And when you're younger, you tend to take greater
risks, that's one tap you don't take a risk with."
To raise awareness among couples on fertility, the non-profit
organisation has launched a fertility index.
The short questionnaire has a section for women as well as
men.
DR Chew added: "For men, smoking is an important indicator. If they
smoke too much, they burn the sperms. They drink too much, the
sperms get drunk. So all these things can have an impact on their
fertility."
aLife will distribute the questionnaires at their workshops and
talks.
- CNA/vm