200 test tube babies born since 2016
ZIMBABWE has recorded about 200 babies born through the in vitro fertilisation programme (IVF), a procedure that involves fertilisation of a woman's eggs with sperm outside her body.
The process is carried out in a laboratory test tube, and after three to five days, when one or two embryos appear to have been fertilised they are placed in the woman's womb, where they continue to develop normally.
The IVF fertilisation programme, reintroduced in Zimbabwe in 2016, has so far produced 197 live births with more expected before year-end. The IVF procedure resulted in 52 test tube babies being born in the 1980s and 1990s.
The programme has performed almost 500 treatment cycles, giving an overall average success rate of 39%, which compares favourably with the success rate in other countries.
A research carried out by the United Kingdom Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, showed that the success rate in the United Kingdom in 2019 was over 30% for women under 35, just over 25% for women aged 35 to 37, and just under 20% for those aged 38 to 39, over 10% for those between 40 and 42 years and just below 5% for those aged 43 to 44.
IVF Zimbabwe founder and gynaecologist Tinovimba Mhlanga said the success rate varied with age.
“Women aged between 20 and 35 have the best chance of a successful outcome. Once you get to 40 years, the success rate drops to 10%. At age 42, the odds diminish to 5%,” Mhlanga said.
Mhlanga said the notion of infertility sounds final, yet most people can become fertile with the help of modern medical procedures.
“The procedure can be used where a woman is unable to conceive naturally due to factors such as blocked or damaged fallopian tubes, endometriosis, ovulation disorders such as polycystic ovarian disease, premature ovarian failure, uterine fibroids, a genetic disorder or a male infertility factor such as low sperm count or abnormal sperm to mention only a few conditions. We want to involve the clients as much as possible in what is happening. We want them to feel part of the procedure,” Mhlanga said.
IVF embryologist Tinei Makurumure added: “In cases of abnormal semen parameters such as low sperm count, poor motility and abnormal sperms, the embryologist is able to inject one sperm into each egg to facilitate fertilisation with the aid of an intra cytoplasmic sperm injection microscope and needle.”