IVF SUCCESS STORY FROM HOPE VALLEY CLINIC

FROM HOPE VALLEY CLINIC, NIGERIA

“God has done it again! He made it possible one more time! My God has done it again! I feel elated and accomplished.”
These aren’t words of exhortation spewing from a Pentecostal pastor’s mouth. Rather, they are from a fertility specialist Dr. Olugbenga Ogunkoya, a gynaecologist and Managing Director of Hope Valley Clinic located on Etim Inyang Crescent, Victoria Island Extension, Lagos, excited at the successes recorded in his clinic in assisted reproduction.

Such successes are common occurrences at the clinic. But what is not very common are pregnancies in women who are over 42 years of age, even with the help of modern techniques such as in vitro-fertilisation. But this uncommon breakthrough has been achieved in a 45-year old lady through in vitro-fertilisation techniques, using her own eggs. It is probably the first such breakthrough in sub-Saharan Africa, using IVF technology at such an age.

Ogunkoya told The Guardian that through Assisted Reproductive Techniques, many couples in Nigeria have become surprised, happy parents.

And the techniques are varied. The one applied ina particular couple depends on their specific needs. However, each technique or the modalities used in applying it, must be of international standard. And success in the field, he says, depends mainly, if not solely, on two factors, namely equipment and expertise.

“Don’t waste money traveling abroad, Dr. Ogunkoya advises. “It is all here at home. We have brought the technology to your doorsteps at reduced cost and comparable success rate. They don’t have to travel abroad. They don’t have to pay airfare and accommodation fees overseas. But more importantly, they don’t have to leave work for weeks to travel abroad for treatment.”

Culled from the Guardian, Saturday February 25, 2006