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| PCOS: What you need to Know |
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             Known to deny women a chance to enjoy motherhood, polycystic ovaries is one of the major causes of infertility among women. A woman with the condition usually has many cysts that develop from ovarian follicles, but which fail to rupture and release eggs, a prerequisite for fertilization. The cause of the condition is still unknown, but doctors’ suspect is both genetic and environmental. What many however agree is the condition occurs due to abnormally high production of the hormone androgen by the ovaries and the adrenal glands, who cause is not known. Currently, researchers are trying to find out whether the primary cause of the condition is due to abnormal insulin activity, or a defect within the ovary. Women who develop Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) have greater risk of developing ovarian cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, especially Type 2 diabetes, and coronary heart disease. It occurs frequently in women who are obese. Doctors usually carry out blood and ultra sound tests when they suspect a woman has PCOS. According to a report published in The Lancet of September 3, 2007, an estimated 1 in every 15 women worldwide are affected by this condition, with burden likely to increase. Although some women with PCOS show no symptoms, others do. These indications include:
Treatment may include a technique known as Ovarian Drilling, which is used to collapse the cyst, allowing the remaining eggs to grow to maturity. If this is not successful, then In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) or now the In Vitro Maturation, are used. The only problem with IVF is such women may be over stimulated with such fertility drugs, making them produce more than 30 eggs. Sometimes this over-stimulation can be fatal, warns Dr Joshua Noreh. Birth controls can also be used for women with menstruation problems. Medicines to combat the excess male androgen hormones can be used as well. For obese women with this disorder, realistic weight loss can help restore regular ovulation and improve their fertility. |
| Kenya Audio Visual Archives Conference |
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The African Woman and Child Feature Service, the Kenya Archival Study Group and the Ford Foundation office in Nairobi, Kenya will hold the Preservation, Conservation and Restoration of Audio Visual Media Conference. The conference will be held at the National Museums of Kenya in Nairobi, from December 3rd – 5th 2008. |
| AWC at the Highway Africa Awards |
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