MUSCAT: The Fertility Centre at Al Wattayah Gynaecology and Obstetrics Complex, affiliated to the Directorate General of Khoula Hospital, has registered 79 pregnancies since its opening in February 2024.
The cases included 9 twin pregnancies, 13 births and 39 cases of pregnancy awaiting delivery. The accomplishment spreads hope among those wishing to experience parenthood.
Dr Naama al Maamari, Consultant of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) at Khoula Hospital, said to Oman News Agency (ONA) that the centre received more than 5,000 male and female patients, conducted more than 30,000 laboratory tests, 900 treatment sessions, 729 egg retrieval operations and 224 frozen embryo transfer operations.
Dr Naama said that training workshops were organised for some personnel of referral hospitals to qualify doctors to assess cases of delayed childbearing and conduct the initial examinations required for treating patients at the centre.
She added that educational and cultural publications were also issued to raise the awareness of patients about the causes of delayed childbearing and methods of treating it.
Dr Naama pointed out that the Centre established the first specialised fertility-related database to collect reliable information and document observations on cases of delayed childbearing in the Sultanate of Oman. The information was collected from the large numbers of patients visiting Al Wattayah Obstetrics and Gynecology Complex, she added.
Dr Naama explained that, to improve the services provided by the Fertility Centre, this data will be analysed periodically and objectively in accordance with specific scientific methods and accurate statistical analyses.
This data will be used for conducting fresh studies in the field of fertilisation and assisted conception, said Dr Naama, noting that these studies will provide important data for the local community. The studies will help understand the causes of high rates of infertility, determine the rates of infertility among men and women; and find solutions and appropriate treatment methods, she added.
Speaking about challenges facing the Fertility Centre, Dr Naama said that more than 25 per cent of the cases referred to it are over the age of forty, which requires special strategies to deal with this age group and provide appropriate care for them.
Dr Naama said that among major challenges facing the Fertility Centre is the fact that more than 25 per cent of the infertility cases referred to Centre involve patient aged more than 40 years, which requires special strategies to deal with this age group and provide appropriate care for them.
The Fertility Centre at Al Wattayah Gynecology and Obstetrics Complex affiliated with the Directorate General of Khoula Hospital offers hope to couples suffering infertility to overcome the problems of pregnancy and childbirth.
The centre receives cases referred from the obstetrics and gynaecology departments of all government hospitals, as well as health complexes in all governorates of Oman, including urology clinics treating male infertility. It also deals with cases referred from reproductive glands clinics at the Royal Hospital and Al Wattayah Complex, endocrinology clinics and fertility preservation oncology centres around the country. — ONA
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