A consultant in the profession of gynaecologist, Dr. Babatude Ogunkinle disclosed that women, who are above the age of menopause, but, looking for child, still stand the chance of getting pregnant and have their baby through the adoption of test tube or IVF.
Ogunkinle’s said in advance countries, women use this method most to get baby. He said for this process to be done perfectly, 50%, 50% efforts from men and women are needed. That the man sperm separated from the semen is required, and the women eggs.
Dr. Ogunikinle’s asserted that to ensure easy process of the prescription by using test tube said the younger the woman the better for the medication and the older the woman the more difficult for the process to be carry out.
The specialist in the field of fertility made the statement at an event organized by the Women’s Health and Action Research Centre [WHARC] in commemoration to mark international women’s day in Benin City.
He stressed that the Couples under the age of 30 have 20-25% chance of getting pregnant every month, added that the chance decreases rapidly after the age of 37 years. ‘’When there is no problem, 80% of couples within 1year and 6months and 90% within 2 years. Couples that have been trying for more than 12 months should seek help,’’ he said.
According to Dr. Babatunde’s, he defined test tube or In Vitro fertilisation [IVF], ‘’as a method of assisted reproduction to increase the chance of pregnancy.’’
He averred that it is the procedure to fertilize eggs with sperm outside the woman’s body in a special laboratory, and explained that the fertilized eggs are nursed in a special nutrients and environment in the laboratory to enhance their growth to become embryos.
Dr. Ogunkinle’s said the embryos are transfer back into the woman’s uterus in anticipation that they will attach and become pregnancy.
Commenting on the process of eggs collection, Babatnude’s stipulated that the time collection of eggs is 36 hours.
He further said the eggs collection are performed under ultrasound guidance, fast acting sedation & analgesia with the duration to 20-45 minutes, including out-patient based and return home after 2-3 hours with proper need care after returning home.
Looking at the event procedure after the collection of the eggs, he stated that sperm production, insemination of eggs or sperm injection into the eggs, fertilisation check, observation of growth and selection of embryos for transfer will follow.
He said before the embryo transfer is done three to five days are required, with the selection of the best embryo at the earliest opportunity. He said the choice dependent is total number of embryos available and quality of embryos collected.
Speaking on the factors affecting the success IFV, he said they are; age of the woman, condition of the sperm, condition of the laboratory where the exercise is done, expertise of the team that want to carry out the practice, reason for the treatment and co-existing uterine pathology life, like fibroids, polyps, scars in the uterus.
Babatunde’s said the treatment process are; Long protocol, flare Protocol and antagonist Protocol.
In his opening remarks, the Executive Director of WHARC, Prof. Cyric Said, ‘’ pregnancy remains a highly welcome development among married couples, in Africa as a result of the high premium placed on having children.’’
At questions and answers session, partakers inquired for the total cost of the surgery, how long the process would take and the low turn-out of publicity, from the guest speaker.
Mr. Timonthy Osemwegie, reporter working for Edo State Broadcasting Service EBS, lamented about the inadequate publicity of the event, and urged WHARC to focus on publicity issue in their next occasions.
Buttressing what the guest speaker had disclosed, the convener of the programme, Prof. Friday Okonofua, a expert in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, said to establish such a modern centre of IFV or test tube that will run the procedure will cost 90 million naira.
Responding to their questions, Dr. Ogunkinle’s said the cost implication to carry out the course will take 800,000,000 to 1 million, but stressed that the cost is expensive, but it is affordable.
