Europeans come to Iran for infertility treatment

Mohammad Mahdi Akhoundi told Iran Daily that the high quality and low cost of infertility treatment in Iran encourage many foreign patients to seek treatment in Iran.

“About five to 10 percent of total patients referring to Iran’s infertility treatment centers are from overseas countries,” he said.

He put the cost of diagnosing and curing infertility diseases in Iran at $ 1,000 while in other countries the figure varies from $ 10,000 to $ 25,000.

Referring to the country’s standing in the world in the field of infertility treatment, he said Iranian specialists are well aware of all modern methods being applied for treating infertility.

Akhoundi added that all facilities and equipment required for treating infertility are available in Iran, pointing out that more than 100 infertility treatment centers operate nationwide, of which 30 percent are state-owned.

“The first Iran’s infertility treatment center was inaugurated in the city of Yazd in the year to March 1990,” he said, adding Royan Infertility Treatment Center was launched in the year to March 1992.

He noted that according to World Health Organization (WHO), infertility is a disease of the reproductive system defined by the failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months of trying.

Akhoundi said based on WHO’s definition, about 20.4 percent of couples are considered infertile.

“The figure will drop to 12.4 percent after two years of trying,” he said, adding it shows that many infertile couples can have a baby if they keep trying.

He stressed that the couples aged 35 years and above are not recommended to use the method because any delay in childbearing would aggravate their infertility problems.

He said the probability of success with in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment is between 15 and 25 percent in the world, noting repeating the therapy will help increase the chance.

ISERB chief said chemotherapy in cancerous patients and taking bodybuilding supplements have negative effects on reproductive system.

He noted that the Fourth International Congress on Reproduction — organized by ISERB and Iran Scientific Association of Midwifery — will be held in Tehran during April 25-28.

Akhoundi said a number of embryologists, gynecologists, urologists and genetic engineers as well as human science experts specializing in law and ethics will take part in the congress.

He concluded that the latest achievements made in the world in the field of fertility and infertility, embryology, genetic and gynecology will be discussed during the congress.

Source: Iran Daily

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