Srinagar, December 26 (KMS): The psychological pressures and stress posed by the decades long conflict has given rise to the reproductive health problems amongst the women of occupied Kashmir.

As per the Jammu and Kashmir Family Health Survey report, 61 percent of currently married women in the occupied territory suffer from one or more reproductive problems, which was 39 percent earlier.

Dr Farhat Jabeen, a gynaecologist, said that there was an increase in the reproductive problems in the occupied valley. “The mental stress posed by the conflict is the main reason behind these problems,” she added.

She said that the psychological and mental stress did play a role in disturbing the reproductive health of the females. The dramatic incidents witnessed by the people over past many decades had disturbed their psychological health with women forming a major ratio, she maintained.

The Gynaecologist said that a large number of women had become victims of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other psychological problems. She said that the chronic stress was associated with hypertension, peptic ulcer disease, fluctuating blood sugars in diabetics, menstrual irregularities, abortions and other reproductive problems.

Professor A.G. Madhosh, a psychologist, while commenting on the effect of psychological problems and depression on the reproductive system of women said, " The conflict had resulted in reproductive problems amongst the women in the territory."  He said that the psychological health was related to general health of a person and thus to the reproductive systems too.
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