More couples opting for IVF for safer pregnancies

Dubai - Couples have "certain demands" when opting for IVF.

A fertility expert in the UAE has cited how in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) is redefining modern families who are opting for the procedure not because of infertility, but as a preventive measure.
Although IVF treatment was available since the 1970s, it expanded the realm by redefining its essence from being created to fight infertility to now helping 'balance' families, creating saviour babies and also helping couples have a disease-free baby.
According to Dr Pankaj Shrivastav, director of Conceive - a gynecology and fertility hospital - couples have "certain demands" when opting for IVF. "There are two demands that we get often - first is seeking a baby of a particular gender and second is having twins or triplets to complete their family in 'one-shot'."
Terming the first demand as family balancing, Dr Shrivastav gave an example of a woman who had four sons and wanted a daughter. "The woman said she had four healthy boys, but was worried that they will get married and be busy with their families, which is why she wanted a girl who would care for her better. She also spoke of her interest in jewellery that she would want her daughter to inherit. The woman underwent IVF successfully and is now pregnant with a girl child," he said.
Dr Shrivastav said IVF can also help in checking for genetic diseases. "Both parents may be carriers of thalassaemia but would not know this until they have their first child. To ensure their second child does not have the disease, they may choose IVF. Fertility experts will check the chromosomes of the embryo and only if they are normal, they will put it back to the woman's body. Hence, the couple will have their second child free of thalassaemia. At times, it is possible for this second child (saviour baby) to save the older - by becoming a bone marrow donor.
"Women in their 40s can choose IVF to ensure their child is free of diseases," he added.
Pre-genetic screening
"People nowadays plan to have smaller families and fewer babies. To make sure a baby is born healthy and disease-free, parents can go through a pre-genetic screening before planning a pregnancy," said Dr Shrivastav. "It is also sensible to do pre-implantation genetic screening (PGS) of the embryo to make sure the embryo is disease-free. This is recommended only in cases if there are genetic issues in the family."
Treatment has become safer
In the past, women had to be stimulated to begin fertility treatments and there was always a risk for hyper-stimulation which can be life-threatening. "With new strategies, we have almost been able to get rid of this issue. An experienced fertility specialist will know the strategy to give the right dose of injections. Also, medications have also become simpler, can be self-injected by patients, and this has improved pregnancy rates. Also, embryos can be monitored using CCTV time-lapse technique, which helps us to pick the best embryo to put back into a woman's body," added Dr Shrivastav.
saman@khaleejtimes.com