New treatment offers hope to infertile women
A ground-breaking new treatment for women undergoing in vitro fertilisation has been introduced and should make patients' lives a lot easier.
The innovative new treatment from MSD is a sustained release follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) – the first of its kind. One significant benefit of using this new fertility treatment is the few numbers of treatments needed. Currently, women now undergoing IVF have to have a daily subcutaneous injection of FSH but this new solution means that they will only have to get an injection once a week.
This treatment is the first sustained follicle stimulant. Due to its ability to initiate and sustain multiple follicular growth for an entire week, a single subcutaneous injection of the recommended dose may replace the first seven injections of any the conventional daily follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) injections for controlled ovarian stimulation (COS).
Today, up to 15 per cent of couples globally experience fertility problems. In Thailand, fertility rates are in decline from 4.9 children per woman (1975) to 1.6 children per woman (2013), which is considered to be below the generally accepted level of 2.1 children to maintain current population levels.
Infertility is a disease that impairs the body’s ability to perform the basic function of reproduction. There are a number of causes including problems with the production of sperm or eggs, with the fallopian tubes or the uterus, endometriosis, frequent miscarriage, as well as hormonal and autoimmune disorders in both men and women.
Treatments for infertility include surgery, hormone treatments, insemination and IVF though these are time-consuming and can be painful. MSD says its new treatment provides an effective, easy, and patient-focused fertility treatment.
Obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Somjate Manipalviratn, who is also a leading reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist, says: “The advent of this new fertility treatment marks a new era of hope for our patients. Infertility is a relatively common problem worldwide and in Thailand, and this new innovative treatment makes it much easier for both patients and doctors. The solution is a positive step towards reducing the burden of daily injections for women experiencing difficulty conceiving.”
