Women's reproductive health has long been a topic of concern. With a rise in the number of reproductive health issues, one can only wonder about the factors that lead to it and how one can prevent these. But women in Kashmir have a unique set of reproductive health issues that continue to remain in the shadows, unaddressed and untreated. The primary problem faced by Kashmiri women is premature ovarian failure or premature ovarian senescence. Dr Firuza Parikh, Director Of IVF And Genetics, Jaslok FertilTree International Fertility Centre, Jaslok Hospital explains this condition as the dwindling of eggs in ovaries. In short, it is 'the feminisation of the male, and masculinisation of the female'.
Why Premature Ovarian Failure Occurs
There are many other reasons for premature ovarian failure. Dr Parikh explains that many of these are genetic, 'There could be an abnormality in the main chromosomes. Sometimes, women suffer from Turner syndrome, where they may face issues in the number of eggs,' she says.
She further goes on to explain that when a child is born, the may have enough number of eggs, but these dwindle away by the time they are teenagers. There are many genes that are present in our body which control the entire cycle of egg formation - known as Oogenesis. This goes on to cause poor ovarian response in the future.
Why Kashmiri Women
While our lifestyles can be blamed for these issues, in some cases, it also depends on the natural factors around us. This is what led Dr Parikh to work with the women in Kashmir to help them understand their issues, and guide them for better health. It has been a long journey since she started in 2001, and has borne tremendous results.
It all started with an interaction with her colleague-cum-patient, who wanted Dr Parikh to have a look at some patients post a convention in Kashmir that she would be attending with fellow gynaecologists. But once she actually started meeting with these patients in a makeshift clinic setup in the hotel premises in Srinagar, she realised that most of the infertile women were suffering from delayed periods, or were under the impression that they were pregnant as their periods suddenly stopped. However, it turns out, that they were suffering from premature menopause.
Now, there are a variety of reasons why Kashmiri women specifically suffer from this. While the soil around that area lacks minerals that help keep thyroid under control, their way of living also hinders them from having a health reproductive system. She mentions that staying indoors for the most part of the colder months, as well as the use of Kangri (an earthen pot filled with hot embers and hidden beneath traditional Kashmiri clothing to keep the cold away) can contribute to premature ovarian senescence.
A Movement To Help Kashmiri Women
Once Dr Parikh understood the reasons behind these health conditions, she made it a point to dedicate a significant amount of her time to help Kashmiri women, as well as set up a facility where they could receive adequate medical attention and care. Over the years, she has been able to work with a team and establish an infertility centre, where they have not only helped women overcome their reproductive health issues, but through their work they have also been able to raise awareness within the community, and even among the spouses. She has also seen a rise in the sisterhood in the community, which she says has been heartwarming.
To know more about her work in the region, watch the interview!