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It was a double celebration in the Lok family with their bundle of joy, conceived with the help of IVF, arriving on the eve of his mother’s birthday.
When nature failed to take its course
He is tiny, toothless and can be demanding. But the couple fussing over him is enjoying every moment of attending to his needs. After all, Jeffrey and Monica Lok finally had baby Ian after six years of trying and waiting. The couple wanted to start a family two years into their marriage. When nature failed to take its course, the Loks sought help. Jeffrey says, “We tried everything including taking Chinese medicine and following a prescribed timetable. Monica also underwent intrauterine insemination twice. We went to three fertility clinics. Each expert said different things.” The good news was that nothing was wrong with either Jeffrey or Monica.
IVF was their final hope
Their last resort was In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF). The Loks chose to undergo treatment at Singapore General Hospital's Centre for Assisted Reproduction (CARE) with its director Dr Yu Su Ling.
In May last year, Monica began the first phase of treatment which required her ovaries to be stimulated to produce more than one egg per cycle. This involves hormone injections every morning for two weeks, followed by day and night jabs over the next fortnight.
The 37-year-old financial controller recalls her determination to be a mother. “I had to overcome my fear of needles and give myself the injections. My hands were trembling and I had to keep looking away. Jeffrey asked if I wanted him to do it but I told him no.”
Unfortunately, the cycle of treatment had to be stopped when Monica’s body overproduced eggs, leaving her nauseated and bloated. She had to be warded in SGH.
Finally pregnant
A month later, Monica underwent a second cycle of treatment. Her eggs were successfully harvested and placed with Jeffrey’s sperm in a culture dish. The resulting embryos were transferred into her body. Monica spent the next two weeks taking it easy while patiently waiting to see if the embryos transferred successfully would attach to her womb.
In October that year, her pregnancy was confirmed. Monica recalls, “I went to CARE in the morning for a pregnancy blood test, the result was to be out at noon. The next few hours, I kept busy by running errands. Then the nurse called and told me I was pregnant. I was quite surprised because I had cramps during the incubation period and thought my chances were gone. So it was unexpected news.”
Over the next few months, the ecstatic couple prepared for the day they were to become parents. On the eve of Monica’s 37th birthday in July, baby Ian finally arrived, making it the perfect present for Mum and fulfilling Jeffrey’s wish to be a Dad. Their son weighed nearly 3.5 kilogrammes and is a healthy, cuddly bundle of joy.
Staff really cared
To the Loks, the birth of their only child marked the end of the emotional opening chapter of their journey to be parents. Jeffrey says, “My role so far was just a supporting one. All I could do was to hold Monica’s hand throughout. Bringing up Ian is chapter two.”
Monica was all praise for the professionalism and concern shown by the staff at the CARE clinic. “We were with another hospital’s fertility clinic for two years, but surprisingly, the staff there merely knew us by number. At CARE, they addressed us by name and the nurses were always cheery. It made a difference. On days when Jeffrey wasn’t able to accompany me to the clinic, I didn’t feel afraid to go alone because I felt taken care of.”
So will the Loks try for baby number two? Monica laughs and says, “We’ll consider this in a couple of years.” For now, little Ian has the undivided attention of his parents and both his grandmothers who take turns at babysitting.
About IVF
In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) is the process used to conceive a baby outside the body. Commonly known as making a ‘test-tube baby’, a cycle of treatment involves a series of steps over several weeks.
- Stimulating the ovaries with hormone injections to produce more than one egg per cycle.
- Harvesting the eggs using a fine needle under the guidance of ultrasound images.
- Fertilisation of the egg and sperm in a culture dish and transferring the resulting embryo into the womb in the hope of a pregnancy.
The pregnancy rate at the SGH Centre for Assisted Reproduction (CARE) is an average of 45 per cent based on the number of patients seen between 2005-06. To book an appointment with CARE’s fertility experts, call 6321 4377.
We’ve been trying for a baby but…
Sexually active teenagers often bemoan how easy it is for them to get pregnant when they least expect it. But for some married women ready to embrace motherhood, pregnancy may not come easy.
Infertility is the failure to conceive after a year of unprotected sex. Dr Yong Tze Tein, senior consultant of SGH’s Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department reveals some sobering facts. “About one in seven couples have difficulty conceiving. It appears to be more common because our society is more aware and ready to talk and deal with it. A woman’s biological clock is very real and fertility is reduced once a woman hits age 35 and especially when she’s 37. She remains potentially fertile as long as she’s menstruating although very few women conceive after 43 even with test tube babies.”
Twice weekly intercourse
A successful conception means allowing the egg to meet the sperm. Dr Yong advises couples trying to have a baby to have regular unprotected sex at least twice a week. If there are no results, it’s time to seek help. “If you are young, you can wait for another year or so, but if you are in your 30s, it’s prudent to have a check-up after a year of trying.”
A check-up involves taking the couple’s medical history and doing blood tests, a sperm analysis and ultrasound scans to identify and treat problems.
Men, do your part
For women, common problems are irregular ovulation, endometriosis, cysts, blocked or damaged fallopian tubes and unproductive ovaries. Men usually have problems related to the quality of sperm or sperm ducts. Some of these problems can easily be corrected with hormone supplements or surgery. Ideally, couples should undergo check-ups together. As Dr Yong explains, “Men have an important contribution; hence it is advisable that they are assessed together with their wives.”
IVF can help
In-Vitro Fertilisation is the only treatment for women with two blocked or damaged fallopian tubes, endometriosis and ovulating problems. Also, if their hubbies have a low sperm count or need their sperm to be surgically retrieved. IVF can be considered by couples trying unsuccessfully for a baby for three years.
Dr Yong says, “But even technology cannot reverse the ravages of time. The success rate depends very much on the age of the female partner. For women under 35, the pregnancy rate can be as high as 50 per cent but for those over 40, it is only 10 per cent. This is because the quality of the eggs and resultant embryos are very much dependant on the women’s age.” So if you are ready to be a parent, do start early for a higher chance of success. |