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Good tidings for the childless
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A new technique introduced by the fertility centre of a city-based hospital helps increase the pregnancy rate among women going in for in-vitro fertilisation.
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BEING CHILDLESS is looked down upon in society as a curse. The problem of infertility has wider repercussions, often giving way to social and psychological pressures. In some cases, this may even result in families breaking up.
The test tube baby technique was the answer to fertility related problems. The first test tube baby was born in 1976 and there has been no looking back since then. In India the technique was introduced in early 80s .
The fertility centre of the Kovai Medical Center and Hospital (KMCH) has been treating such cases.
Though the problem of infertility has been addressed to some extent, the success rate of this procedure is a mere 33 per cent. As a result many couples have had to return disappointed despite spending large sums of money.
With the invention of embryo glue, the success rate has improved considerably. The glue helps in facilitating implantation of the embryo. Dr. David Gardener of the U.S introduced the technique in July 2002. "The embryo glue is made from an enzyme derivative called hyaluranon. This is added on to the embryos before they are transferred to the mother's womb.
As a result the problem of implantation has been largely overcome," says Dr. C. V. Kannagi Uthraraj, Director of The Fertility Centre of KMCH.
"It is a huge medical breakthrough as far as the patient is concerned. The biggest problem was that in many cases the mother's womb refused to accept embryo for implantation. When glue was used for transferring the embryos, the implantation became a lot easier and the success rate improved to 50 per cent," she points out.
The centre introduced the new technique in February and has so far treated 15 persons. "Of this 10 women conceived, including two, who were above the age of 40," she says. The derivative was first tested on animals. "The glue brings about changes in the endometrium (womb lining) thus facilitating implantation."
Other than increasing pregnancy rate, what are the advantages offered by the new procedure? It does not increase the treatment costs in a big way. "The cost increases only by about two per cent," Dr. Kannagi says.
M. ALLIRAJAN
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