Medical workers offer hope to infertile couples

Doctor Lê Huy Khải head of the IVFMD Buôn Ma Thuột Reproductive Support Unit, consults and examines patients. — VNA/VNS Photo Thuỳ Dung

ĐẮK LẮK — With dedication, responsibility and professionalism the IVFMD Buôn Ma Thuột Reproductive Support Unit has realised the happiest of dreams for numerous infertile couples in the Central Highlands region.

The unit is under the Buôn Ma Thuột University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital in the city of Đắk Lắk Province.

After 18 years of waiting, it seemed like all hope had been crushed, but in July this year, D.T.H. burst into tears of happiness when she became a mother for the first time, at the age of 45.

H., who lives in Krông Nô District in Đắk Nông Province, said that she and her husband got married in 2005.

After many years of waiting but no good news, in 2020, they decided to do in vitro fertilisation (IVF) in HCM City, but the procedure failed.

Experiencing many failures, in April last year, the couple went to the Buôn Ma Thuột University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital.

She went through a number of embryo transfers, each time was a mental and physical challenge for her.

By the third embryo transfer, her prayer of more than ten years had come true and H. became pregnant.

“Joy and anxiety mixed together because my middle age made the pregnancy journey not easy. I went through many check-ups and special care. But step by step, with the support of doctors and faith in miracles, we overcame it together. The moment we welcomed our baby was a moment of overwhelming happiness that I will never forget,” H. said.

Happiness for hundreds

H. is one of hundreds of infertile couples who have been supported by the IVFMD Buôn Ma Thuột Reproductive Support Unit.

Lê Huy Khải, head of the unit, said that it had been in operation since March 2022.

Statistics from the Ministry of Health show that each year, the country has about one million infertile couples, accounting for about 7.7 per cent.

It is estimated that in the Central Highlands provinces, there are about 420,000 infertile couples, with Đắk Lắk Province alone having 146,000.

To meet that need, the Buôn Ma Thuột University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital combined with the Mỹ Đức Hospital system in HCM City to found the IVFMD Buôn Ma Thuột Reproductive Support Unit.

The unit is doing all it can to make couples feel comfortable in undergoing the procedures.

Currently, the fee for an IVF course at the unit is about VNĐ80-120 million (US$3,100-4,700).

After nearly three years of operation, the unit has received and examined thousands of couples and about 290 babies were born thanks to IVF techniques.

“When patients come here, each has a different story. The doctors always accompany the family until they have a baby, which is a very miraculous and happy thing. I am lucky to have witnessed many cases like that. The joy here is not only for the couple but also for the family. This is something to be very proud of, so we are always close to the patients,” said Khải.

According to Khải, that at present, the group of infertile women is quite large, concentrated in the 25-35 age bracket, most of whom have decreased ovarian reserve due to diet, lifestyle and work concerns.

For infertile couples, when they come to the hospital, they are examined, consulted and have basic tests done.

Depending on the patient's condition, doctors have different treatment regimens.

The unit belongs to the IVFMD system of the Mỹ Đức Hospital, so doctors are directly trained from basic to advanced treatment at the Mỹ Đức Hospital.

In addition, during the technology transfer process, doctors from HCM City come to directly support the modern reproductive techniques.

In the early stages, difficult cases are supported with daily discussions and consultations.

Currently, the average pregnancy rate at the unit is about 55-67 per cent, a markedly high rate, according to Khải.

Future plan

After nearly three years of operation, the unit has received and examined over 15,443 couples. — VNA/VNS Photo Thuỳ Dung

In the future, the unit will continue to promote its existing strengths, further improve the processes, expertise, clinical skills and procedures for doctors.

At the same time, it will train young doctors, continue to deploy new services such as sperm banks and immature ovum retrieval techniques.

Since last year, the Buôn Ma Thuột University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital has participated in the programme 'Nurturing Happiness'.

It is a free IVF programme for poorer infertile couples and is under a series of programmes initiated by Professor Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Phượng – senior advisor of the Mỹ Đức Hospital.

Since 2014, the programme has gone through ten successful nurturing seasons, accompanying nearly 600 couples, helping them reach their dream of a happy family.

Under the programme, the Buôn Ma Thuột University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital has had seven cases successfully treated with a total support cost of more than VNĐ1.1 billion ($43,500), with three babies born healthy.

P.T.K.L. is one of the beneficiaries of the programme.

After eight years of treatment, she reached the ultimate goal.

“Seeing my child in real life is an indescribable feeling. A tiny embryo that cannot be seen with the naked eye has now become a real baby. Holding my child, I promise to take care of and protect the baby for the rest of my life,” L. said.

This year, 10 poor infertile couples will be examined and treated for free at the unit, with all IVF costs covered by the hospital. — VNS