A survey conducted by experts from IVI Middle East Fertility Clinic, Muscat sheds light on pre-conceived notions about infertility
Muscat, Oman, 11 December 2017: Infertility remains a social taboo despite the availability of successful treatments, according to Prof. Dr. Human Fatemi, Subspecialist Reproductive Medicine & Reproductive Surgery, Medical Director, IVI Middle East Fertility Clinic.
“In today’s time infertility can be easily treated. In-vitro fertilization (IVF) is one of the most popular infertility treatments that has brought hope to couples who want to experience parenthood. While IVF is a great solution to treat infertility problems, we often meet couples who have extremely unclear notions as to why they are unable to conceive naturally. In fact, for most of these couples infertility is a complex and often misunderstood condition. Every couple believes that while they are having problems starting a family – this probably is just a passing phase,” said Dr. Human Fatemi.
A recent survey conducted by IVI Middle East Fertility Clinic shed light on some of the most common pre-conceived notions that couples in the Middle East and particularly in Oman hold regarding infertility. Leading the charts was the perception that infertility was a woman’s problem. However, experts at IVI Middle East Fertility Clinic reported that infertility is a woman-related problem in approximately 40 per cent of the cases, male-related in another 40 per cent of the cases, and many times a combined problem of the couple in 20 per cent of cases. It is therefore advisable that the couple goes through a detailed evaluation to determine the exact cause.
Additionally couples in the region believed that parental consanguinity had no real impact on infertility. However, according to a recent study, parental consanguinity has been associated with both male and female infertility and this cause is very specific to the Middle East. Research has proved that consanguinity has contributed greatly to the growing menace of infertility in the region.
The survey also outlined Vitamin D deficiency as a major cause of infertility as against the pre-conceived notion – exposure to sunlight has no real benefits. According to experts at IVI Middle East Fertility Clinic, a simple 10 minutes of daily exposure to the sun can help the body fight the deficiency and increase the chances of being pregnant. Furthermore it was noted that most of the couples believed that consuming special foods could boost chances of getting pregnant. While there is no scientific evidence to prove that certain foods are fertility boosting ,there is no doubt that an overall healthy diet comprising whole grains, lean protein, fruits and vegetables maximize health and the health of the baby.
It was noted that most couples in the region didn’t find it important to see a specialist to start a family. However, experts suggest that if you and your partner are of the age 32 or older, and if you have irregular periods or conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or if the male partner has reasons to believe he may have a low sperm count, it’s best to talk to a fertility expert. Many couples also had a strong belief that genetically transmitted diseases from parents to children couldn’t be avoided. However, experts at IVI Middle East Fertility Clinic suggest that genetically transferred diseases in offspring can be totally avoided. The Carrier Genetic Test – exclusively available at IVI Middle East Fertility Clinic, rules out any possibility of genetic diseases in children. This is a simple blood test checking for 549 diseases, 600 genetic disorders and 4000 genetic mutations.
Lastly, the survey noted that most couples were of the opinion that Oman does not have the best IVF treatments and preferred to travel abroad. However, Middle East and Oman in particular is equipped with the best IVF institutions. IVI Middle East Fertility Clinic is a European institution, the world leader in IVF services and is based in the heart of Muscat helping several couples overcome infertility and realise their dreams of parenthood. IVI Middle East Fertility Clinic has the perfect combination of an international institute with global protocols; some of the most highly experienced and well trained international doctors and the world’s most advanced technology.
“In today’s technologically influenced era, IVF is a great tool to bring hope and joy to couples aspiring to be parents. However, before the treatment is undertaken, it is essential to know the exact cause of the difficulty conceiving, to enable the clinician to tailor the treatment to suit the needs of the couple and thereby significantly increasing the chance of treatment success,” said Dr. Francisco Ruiz, IVF Specialist, IVI Middle East Fertility Clinic, Muscat.
IVI is the world leader in delivering fertility care with 71 clinics worldwide and more than 160,000 healthy babies born worldwide. They offer a comprehensive range of infertility treatments for both male and female conditions including specific genetic screening, where applicable, to avoid inherited diseases. IVI has the world’s most advanced research technology and a team of highly experienced specialists. Their compassionate staff ensures that couples seeking IVF treatment are well informed about the details of their treatment and expected results. It is their unique combination of expertise, science, technology and care that enables IVI Muscat to deliver pregnancy success rates of over 72% in the region.