MUSCAT : Among these, 9 cases resulted in twin pregnancies, 13 births have already been documented, while 39 cases are still awaiting delivery.

Dr. Naema bint Obaid Al Maamari, IVF and ICSI consultant at Khoula Hospital, told Oman News Agency that the center has received more than 5,000 patients, performed over 30,000 laboratory tests, 900 treatment cycles, 729 egg retrieval operations, and 224 frozen embryo transfer procedures.

Recognizing the urgent need for sperm extraction procedures, the center equipped its laboratory with an advanced microscope six months after opening. This upgrade allowed for a significant number of direct sperm extractions to be conducted and preserved for use in IVF treatments.

To enhance the quality of care, the center has also organized training workshops for referral hospitals, ensuring doctors are equipped to assess cases of delayed childbearing. Additionally, educational materials have been distributed to raise awareness about infertility causes and treatments.

A groundbreaking initiative by the center is the establishment of Oman’s first specialized database for delayed childbearing cases, aimed at documenting patient observations and providing reliable data for scientific research. This will allow experts to analyze infertility trends, determine its prevalence among men and women, and explore effective solutions.

Despite its successes, the center faces challenges, with over 25% of referred cases involving women above 40 years of age. This necessitates specialized strategies to cater to this age group and ensure optimal treatment outcomes.

Dr. Rahma bint Hamoud Al-Ghabshi, Senior Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist and Head of the Fertility Centre, highlighted that this is Oman’s first government-run IVF facility, equipped with cutting-edge embryo incubators and laboratory technology. She emphasized that the center treats cases where natural conception is difficult or where previous treatments for delayed pregnancy have been unsuccessful.

Patients must meet certain eligibility criteria, including being 42 years or younger, having no existing healthy children, and maintaining a body mass index below 35 for better success rates.

Many citizens have expressed gratitude for the center’s role in making parenthood possible.

For all the latest news from Oman and GCC, follow us on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, like us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube page, which is updated daily.