THURSDAY 24 JULY 2008- FAMILY PLANNING EDUCATON FOR KK WOMEN

Family planning education for KK women

KOTA KINABALU:

By inducing amenorrhoea(the absence of menstrual periods), a woman would have less to worry in her life, a forum on family planning here heard. “Studies published during the 80’s and 90’s suggest that attitudes of women may be changing and an increasing number ofwomen welcome a contraception method that induces amenorrhoea,” said Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Dr Philip Kho who spoke about ‘Monthly Bliss with Intrauterine System (IUS)’ at the forum on Saturday. The public forum organised by Bayer Schering Pharma,is part of the women’s healthcare pharmaceutical giant’s ongoing efforts to educate women nationwide on effective and reliable contraceptive methods for a well- planned family. Bayer Schering Pharma Marketing Manager for Women’s Healthcare, Elaine Leong, said that every child conceived and every experience in lifeshould be ‘by choice, not by chance’. Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Dr Ho Choon Moy, who spoke about ‘Empowering Women with IUS’,said that the IUS was initially used as a contraceptive method that is long-term, reliable and effective. “However, its additional benefit of inducing amenorrhoea has led it to become an option to treat menorrhagia.” Menorrhagia is heavy menstrual bleeding of up to 80m1 of blood loss each day. It is experienced by 30 percent of women of reproductive age at some point, and menorrhagia cases make up 12 percent of O&G referrals each year. “However, one does not have to have menorrhagia to treat heavy bleeding. The IUS can be considered if a woman feels that her periods are disrupting her daily activities. The ITJS is a soft Tshaped plastic frame about the size of a 20-sen coin that is easily inserted into a woman’s designed to release a small dose of progestin (levonorgestrel) into the uterine cavity every day for up to five years. “The IUS works by thickening the cervical mucus and the fluid inside the uterus and fallopian tubes, preventing fertilisation, and at the same time, thins the uterus lining (endometrium) which means that the women will have very little to shed as menstrual blood each month. This is how women can enjoy lighter or even no menstrual flow with the IIJS,” she said. The contraceptive effect of the IUS is fully reversible. “When a woman is ready to havea child, the IUS is removed and fertility returns soon after”, said Dr Ho. This public forum is the fourth of a series of forums initiated by Bayer Schering Pharma nationwide. The next forums will beheld in Kota Kinabalu (Aug 20), followed by Kota Bharu (Aug 8), Kuantan (Aug 17) and Johor Bahru (Aug 24)