Getting a child is a blessing from God. However, research and experience have revealed that some individuals will not be able to make their own babies naturally; as a matter of fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that one in five couples in the world have infertility. While many do all they can to complete their families, some take the bold step of accessing technology through IVF.
The
very process of using assisted reproductive technology comes with its
challenges including steep investments in time, hope and money. There will be
lots of probing, prodding and anxious monitoring of cycles. There may be lots
of uncomfortable hormone injections. The patient will have to expose her
physical and emotional vulnerabilities to the trust of strangers in the white coat.
The patient might have to come to terms with painful setbacks in the course of
the journey.
For
those who have been through this before, they know that taking such a decision
and staying by it is always very tough but the end result is always worth it.
According to popular fertility expert, Dr Abayomi Ajayi, ‘everything about IVF
is decision. The quality of the decision made by the patients will to a large
extent determine how successful the whole process will be’’
Taking
a cue from what the expert had said above, DAMILARE SALAMI
08155134152 brings you ten things to look out for when choosing an IVF centre,
enjoy.
QUALITY
OF MANAGEMENT AND CERTIFICATION
First
thing’s first: Do the doctors have the highest training possible in infertility
and reproduction? Are they board-certified REIs (Reproductive Endocrinology and
Infertility specialists)? Some practices use the term “fertility specialist” to
describe a person that does not have these credentials, and frankly, that’s not
giving you to best chance to achieve your goals. What makes an REI doctor your
best option? The robust medical journey that these doctors experienced give
them the best tools to hear your unique situation and know what the next steps
are. In addition to the four years of medical school and four years in a
residency for obstetrics and gynaecology, they must complete three years of
speciality training in reproductive endocrinology and infertility.
Then,
after eleven years of intense training, they must pass certain
knowledge-based tests (both written and oral) in order to be considered “board
certified.” In short, Board-certified Reproductive Endocrinologists are your
elite option in family-building.
RANGE
OF SERVICES OFFERED
If
you’re new to the infertility game, you might be surprised to find out that
there are other options than just heading straight to in vitro fertilization
(IVF). While it offers the highest success rates by far, it is the most
invasive and very expensive. Make sure you’re choosing a clinic that offers you
a variety of treatments and not a one-size-fits-all approach. Some examples of
other treatments include timed intercourse, intrauterine insemination,
surrogacy, and cryopreservation options.
During
your initial consultation, your doctor and/or fertility team should get to know
you. Once they hear your story and know everything there is to know about your
diagnosis, they will be able to recommend a family-building game plan based on
the treatments they offer.
Often
times, the first round of treatments can start with timed intercourse or
intrauterine insemination (IUI). These options can include a protocol of
medication to assist in egg production and an ovulation trigger. The timed
intercourse option is just that – private intercourse on the clock. An IUI
involves inserting a sample from your partner or donor inside the uterus,
giving it the better chance to fertilize an egg.
While
your journey might not include timed intercourse or IUI, it’s nice to know that
the clinic offers it. A clinic with broad treatment options will give you the
best chance for not only success but a positive experience.
EXTENSIVE
TESTING
Testing
is another key component that makes up modern, state-of-the-art clinics. Make
sure the clinic offers pre-genetic testing. This is usually administered during
your initial rounds of testing and examinations and will report whether you or
your partner are carriers of any genetic mutations (i.e. cystic fibrosis, Tay
Sachs disease, and sickle cell anaemia).
Another
important test you might be interested in is pre-implantation genetic
screening or PGS. This is where your embryos created from IVF are biopsied
(totally safe) and tested for their number of chromosomes. This type of testing
can also expose potential chromosomal abnormalities. All this information helps
your doctor and embryologist choose the best embryo for transfer.
QUALITY
OF THE TECHNOLOGY
Some
of the smaller fertility centres do not have their own Embryology and Andrology
lab onsite, while the larger ones might. Either way, it is of the utmost
importance that your clinic uses the highest standards in quality control
within the labs they utilize. An embryology lab is where embryos are created
(by fertilizing an egg with sperm), nurtured, and prepared for transfer. While
an andrology lab is where sperm is collected, analyzed, and prepped for IUIs or send to the embryology lab for egg fertilization.
Where
are their labs located? How are the samples/embryos/other items transferred to
and from the labs? What quality-control procedures are in place to make sure
nothing ever goes wrong? Ask these questions – it’s important you feel 100%
comfortable with every aspect of the journey… even the parts you don’t see.
IVF
SUCCESS RATES
Put
simply, it is important to ask about success metrics. A fertility clinic should
be able to fertilize over 70% of the eggs that they inseminate with ICSI
(intracytoplasmic sperm injection). Of that 70%, 40-50% should be able to
transform into blastocyst embryos when they reach the 5th or 6th day of
culturing. The other statistic you may see is the ‘success rate’, which refers
to the percentage of embryo transfers that result in a clinical pregnancy.
In the US, fertility centres must publish their success rates to a database,
though there are concerns about how the clinics report their data. The
situation in Canada can be even harder to navigate, as Canadian fertility
clinics cannot advertise their success rates due to anti-commercialization
regulations surrounding healthcare. This is something the regulators in Nigeria
could enforce so as to help patients in decision making
The
good news is that prospective parents can, and should, ask their clinic
specific questions as part of their IVF decision-making process. Clinics who
are confident in the science, technology, and people that make up their
Embryology Lab will likely be happy to provide you with details.
CHECK
THE COST
The
cost of IVF treatments and diagnostic procedures are usually high because of
complex procedures and expensive medicines used in the treatment. However, some
IVF hospitals offer affordable rates as a part of their campaign and to
increase the success rates. Check for the list of IVF hospitals that offer
affordable prices and also satisfying all other checklists before choosing IVF
clinic.
DOES
THE FERTILITY CLINIC OFFER SUPPORT SERVICES?
You
might think all that goes into fertility treatment is a bunch of lab coats,
microscopes, and medical procedures. Nope! There are so many ways to supplement
your journey that are proven to increase your chances of having a baby. Does
the program have a nutritionist that will help you eat fertile-friendly foods
or manage a particular health issue? Is there acupuncture on-site? (Did you
know that laser acupuncture before and after an embryo transfer can increase
your implantation success rates by up to 15 %?) . What about a social worker or
counsellor? You and I both know the strain this can put on your mental
wellbeing, your relationship, and your day-to-day life. Are there support
groups or fertile yoga available? (Fertile Yoga has been proven to decrease
sadness and stress and increase hopefulness for infertility patients!)
Supplemental offerings are not only a perk but necessary for some patients.
QUALITY
OF ANCILLARY STAFF
Aside
from your Reproductive Endocrinologist (RE), there will be interaction with
other staff members of the clinic: embryologist, nurses and other designated
staff who’d be expected to provide feedback on a periodic basis concerning your
progress in the TTC journey. There will be anxiety-laden occasions, hence it is
important that the fertility clinic has friendly, professional and empathetic
staff human beings handling these sensitive tasks.
ACCESSIBILITY
OF PHYSICIANS
This
measures the ease of access to one’s designated physician. This is a useful
measure to watch for the prospective parent, as it is important to go with a caring
provider that is also easily within one’s reach at various stages of the TTC
process. We have compiled the ranking based on users’ experiences.
PSYCHOLOGICAL
SUPPORT (POST-TREATMENT)
One
of the most daunting issues with assisted reproductive technology is that
there’s really no huge guarantee of success. In the United States, the success rate
among women less than thirty-five years is forty-eight per cent (48%). While a
lucky minority would beat infertility on their first try, the average patient
“will cycle 2.3 to 2.7 times before success” (Fertility IQ).
A
sizeable percentage would require even more cycles than the average, and the
adoption of multiple strategies before achieving success. This means that
before that bouncing baby comes, there would be attempts that end up in failed
cycles and possibly, miscarriage. It is therefore important to choose a
fertility clinic with sufficient expertise in providing the much-needed counsel
and support to the patient post-treatment.
With Additional Details Online
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