Fertility preservation creates hope for future pregnancy

Physicians and speakers at the 1st HealthPlus Middle East Fertility Conference, organized by United Eastern Medical Services in Abu Dhabi represented by HealthPlus Fertility Centers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, emphasized on the importance of fertility preservation for females and males who are in need for chemotherapy treatments or radiation therapy. Attended by over 250 healthcare professionals from the fields of fertility, IVF, Obstetrics and Gynecology with speakers from the UAE and from all over the world, the conference has emphasized also on the importance of reducing multiple pregnancy rates during IVF treatments and encourage single embryo transfer.

Dr. Bohaira El Geyoushi, Obstetrics & Gynecology and IVF Consultant at HealthPlus Fertility Center in Dubai and the President of the Conference said, “the discussions throughout the conference have encouraged doctors to transfer one embryo. This is to reduce the burden of twins and multiple pregnancy on resources and society, unless there were clinical indications. Having twins after IVF treatments may increase the rate of premature births and the need for the newborn to stay at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Successful fertility treatment can result in 25% twin pregnancy rate. There is a strong global direction to reduce the percentage, and in UK the direction is to reduce this 25% to 10%.”

Dr. Wael Ismail, Medical Director of HealthPlus Fertility Center in Dubai said that some young men and women who are diagnosed with cancer or other hematology diseases that require chemotherapy or radiation therapies are advised to preserve their eggs and sperms before undergoing treatment to preserve the chances of conceiving after treatment. He also highlighted that chemotherapy and radiation therapies usually kill cells and tissues of the ovaries and testicles that are responsible for reproduction, which makes conceiving very challenging and difficult after treatment affecting their future fertility.

He also clarified that experts discussed this issue intensively, in which they highlighted that scientific researches recommend egg and sperm freezing for these cases and that oncologists and fertility specialists need to work together especially for young patients to preserve future fertility.

Recommendations from the conference also included conducting pre-implantation genetic testing at fertility centers in specific cases to eliminate transferring abnormal embryos. Speakers emphasized on the important of conducting these tests if the medical history of the couple shows the necessity to undergo pre-implantation genetic testing of the embryos such as unexplained recurrent miscarriages or if the wife or husband or both have genetic disorders or had a previous child with a genetic disorder.  

Physicians at the conference also spoke about the importance of diagnosing and treating Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) which can affect about 23% of women in the region. PCOS is the leading cause of infertility and thus requires comprehensive management and appropriate and timely treatment.