Bangkok--16 Dec--Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital
Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital held the “Welcome IVM Babies Party” to congratulate two customers who will soon become the proud mothers as Samitivej’s In Vitro Oocyte Maturation (IVM) technology successfully helps them solve infertility problem. The celebration was held at L’avenue restaurant at Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital.
IVM is the latest technology that helps infertile couple to have children. It is more natural because it requires no hormone injections as in the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), IVF or ICSI technologies. IVM is a minimally invasive surgery (MIS) which means less pain for the patients. With the help of the recently launched technology, the first two patients are now expecting their long-awaited babies. The two moms-to-be are Ms. Pattanee Uthaisiriroj and Ms. Kantika Kernick.
Dr. Somsiri Sakolsatayadorn, Director of Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital, said, “Family is the most important unit in our society and we do highly value and care for promoting healthy family. We always do anything to help families establish strong bond and live a happy life. That’s why we have been relentlessly trying to help infertile couples and bless them with healthy children. We are glad that now we are successfully helping two families to fulfill their life with our IVM technology. On behalf of Samitivej Sukhunvit Hospital, we sincerely congratulate the new mothers.”
Dr. Boonsaeng Wutthipan, head of Women’s Health Center, Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital, who played crucial part in developing this new technology, said, “In the past, we saw a lot of women suffering from side effect from hormone injection as part of the IVF technique. This is a big problem. After one full year of study and participating in a medical symposium in Canada, we found that IVM is very natural, safe and quite effective.”
In simple words, IVM involves collecting young or immature ovum from the ovary and nurture them in the lab until they are fully developed and fertile. Then sperm will be injected and the fertilization process begins. When the process is completed, the embryo is moved back to the uterus. The entire process takes shorter period than that required by the IVF technique and does not require hormone injection that can cause implications. IVM is less costly too.
“This method is perfect for POC or PCOD patients or those who have many stigma around the ovary, which cause infertile ovum, or those who have problems with hormone injection or do not fully respond to hormone injection. Cancer patients who wish to have babies later can also have their ovum stored in our lab and use this technology later when the cancer treatment is over, if they wish to have babies. In the future, women can have their ovum stored when they are young so that they don’t have to worry although they actually get married late,” added Dr. Boonsaeng.
Despite several advantages, the new technology still has lower success rate compared to IVF. Maximum success rate for IVM is 30-35% while IVF’s success rate is 40%. However, IVM cost is 30% lower. (Generally, IVM costs Bt200,000). It can also be repeated in a very short period if the first try does not work out. The patient does not need to wait for a long time like in IVF technology.
The head of the Women’s Health Center added that there are other factors causing infertility, including changing social environment, higher education and stress. Some people get married late. One of the most important factors is smoking which makes ovums infertile. Coffee also plays important part in fertility. As a result, women are recommended not to drink more than two cups of coffee a day or four glasses of alcohol per week.
“A healthy couple who cannot have babies naturally, any couple aged below 35 who have married for more than one year, or those who are over 35 years old and have been married for more than six months but cannot have baby, they should consult doctor,” said Dr. Boonsaeng.
Now, let’s hear from the new mother. Ms. Pattanee Uthaisiriroj, 36, said, “I’m thrilled. My husband and I have been married for six years. We actually planned to have baby four years ago but we have never been successful. After consulting with Dr. Boonsaeng, I learned that I have PCOD. I was given some pills to boost ovum fertility. However, I didn’t take the pills constantly so it was not successful in the first place. I don’t want to have hormone injection. Dr. Boonsaeng therefore recommended this new technology and I decided to try. I did it on September 23 and I am now 10-week pregnant. I am expecting on June 18, 2009.”
Kantika Kernick, 28, who is married to an Australian, suffered ectopic pregnancy twice and had to have the oviducts removed. Hormone injection also caused too many stigmas to grow. When she learned of the new technology, she decided to try. “I am very happy. Earlier I was hopeless because I have a lot of problems with hormone. Having hormone injection everyday is painful. But using IVM, it hurt a bit when the doctor took out the ovum. Now, I am nine week pregnant. My twins will be born on June 28, 2009 .
Don’t lose hope if you are childless. Any problem has a solution. Take these two mothers for example. They are going to be the proud mothers soon because they never give up and keep looking for the best technology.
For more information, please contact
Punchama Chatchen Tel. 0 2378 9200 Email: [email protected]
Chanthana Ongphiboon Tel. 0 2378 9145 Email: [email protected]
Suranchana Sitthiphoon Tel. 0 2378 9155 Email: [email protected]