Dubai Gynaecology and Fertility Centre (DGFC) has recorded a 60 per cent clinical pregnancy rate in the last three months, which is considered to be a high success rate globally and in the region.

 

The centre, which began operations in 1991, is one of the oldest in the emirate and the only government centre that provides a full range of artificial reproduction technology (ART) services in Dubai, said a statement.

 

It has treated over 19,000 couples with infertility problems, since its inception, it said.

 

Styliani Andronikou, laboratory director and consultant embryologist at DGFC, said: “We have reached 62.5 per cent at the moment which is an achievement because the worldwide average is about 40 to 45 per cent. Being a government centre, we do not select the patients we feel are more prone to a successful outcome, in fact our doors are open to all patients, irrespective of previous clinical history and age. 

 

"This in itself further highlights the importance of the result. Of course, we do offer counselling prior to treatment and inform patients who have undergone several rounds of artificial reproduction techniques at other centres or our centre of their realistic chances of conceiving.”

 

The centre also ensures safe individualised care and transfer of embryos is strictly as per the clinical history of the patient so as to reduce the occurrence of multiple pregnancies, she said.

 

“If there is no success after 12 months of trying to conceive naturally, we recommend couples to seek consultation at an ART centre so that they can complete their initial diagnostic tests to identify where the problem lies,” said Andronikou.

 

“It’s important to understand that both partners need diagnostic tests and that infertility is not a female problem alone. In fact global statistics show that on an average, 30 per cent of infertility cases are due to low or poor quality of sperm and in at least 70% of infertile couples there is a male contributing factor to the problem,” she said.

 

The next step is to ascertain the course of action needed and she recommended that women who are undergoing infertility treatment should avoid smoking and maintain a healthy BMI (Body Mass Index). 

 

The women undergoing IVF treatment should also follow the advice of the clinician and embryologist with regard to the number of embryos that need to be transferred per cycle, said Andronikou.

 

“Several factors need to be considered prior to embryo transfer. Women need to understand that transfer of more embryos can result into multiple pregnancies and multiple gestations are associated with numerous complications such as increased risk of pre-eclampsia and development of gestational diabetes. 

 

“Almost 60 per cent of twins are delivered pre-term with low birth weights, followed by admission to neonatal units with great financial costs to the family. The ultimate goal of all fertility specialists and centres should be to achieve the healthy birth of a single baby to a healthy mother and certainly at DGFC that is our aim.” - TradeArabia News Service