Robert Edwards is awarded the 2010 Nobel Prize for the development of human in vitro fertilization (IVF) therapy. His achievements have made it possible to treat infertility, a medical condition afflicting a large proportion of humanity including more than 10% of all couples worldwide.

From Medscape Medical News

October 4, 2010 — It is hard to deny a scientist a Nobel Prize when there are 4 million good reasons.

In the case of Robert Edwards, PhD, who was awarded the 2010 Nobel Prize in medicine or physiology today, the reasons are roughly 4 million people born over the past 32 years due to the therapy he is being honored for — in vitro fertilization (IVF).

2010/04/29 20:11:31



Taipei, April 29 (CNA) A biotechnology company in Taiwan said Thursday that it has helped a local woman who carries the hemophilia gene to conceive a baby who will not suffer from hemophilia -- a genetic disease that makes bleeding uncontrollable -- and hailed it as the first case in Asia.

Our Japanese patient is now 43 years old. She has been married for three years when she first came to e-Stork Reproductive Center about a year ago. During that time, she has already undergone three procedures of intrauterine insemination and three procedures of In Vitro Fertilization in Japan.

Married and trying to get pregnant for the past four years, our Brazilian client is a typical 30-year old Chinese beauty with her fair, porcelain complexion – a sharp contrast to her Latin American husband’s Western looks and golden skin.


They arrived at e-Stork Reproductive Center with the complete documentation of all medical examinations they have conducted so far. Reviewing their results, I believed there is an abnormality with the husband’s sperm quality as each c.c. contains 10 million counts of white blood cells. The presence of such a high quantity of white blood cells would affect DNA and counter the benefits of using assisted reproduction techniques. Seeking a solution to their problem, they made the long journey from one end of the globe to another.

One day, I received a phone call from our patient in Switzerland. She happily informed me that she has already moved from Paris and her two children are both doing well. Securing her promise to send us their recent photos, I gave her our most heartfelt congratulations again– expressing our fervent hope that she can visit us soon.

“ 34-year old patient once said to me, ‘Doctor, if I fail again to get pregnant this time, I am thinking of just having my ovaries resected.’ “

My husband, Tarzan, and I have been married for 10 years. Throughout this time, we have been unable to conceive a child. Although Tarzan has always been very supportive and our life together has been very
 happy, there still remained a feeling of emptiness in my heart that only a child can fill.

A wife’s story

‘His wonderful smile gave me a profound sense of relief.’

It is very hard to put into words the feeling of a wife who yearns to give her husband the pleasure of having his own son or daughter. I never used to understand what the elders meant when they told me ‘Time does not wait for anyone,’ but now I do.

It is always so sad to read newspaper articles about denizen spouse who are mistreated and unloved by their husbands. My heart bleeds for the loss of innocence and crushed dreams of these women who most probably agreed to such marriages only for a chance for a better life.

One day, we received a phone call from an English teacher inquiring about the procedures and health requirements needed before qualifying as an oocyte donor. I informed her that though our clinic is always on the look-out for potential donors, a meticulous screening process would first be conducted for pre-selection. In the next few days, she would keep calling us to ask for more details, once even spending 6 hours in long commute to us confirming her needed egg quality in order for it to be suitable for the program.

It may be true that money makes the world go round but there are still a number of things that can’t be bought or measured in monetary values. For example, the professional medical care we provide at e-Stork Reproductive Center and our sincere concern for all our patients are not for sale. One will be hard-pressed to find such exemplary service to match our track records in the present local market.

Perimplantation Genetic Diagnosis（PGD） is an advanced technology, combining IVF and cell molecular biology, taking the third day embryo (about 6-10 cells now) or the 5th day blastocyst cell for chromosome and genetic analysis. PGD can select the chromosome normal and non genetic disease embryos before implantation.

Personal incubator can simulate the maternal environment and provide a steady and proper environment for embryos; it equipped with controls for temperature, humidity, and the proper ratio of the gas concentration (CO2：N2：O2）.




Advantage:

1. Fine-tuned temperature control device.

2. Auto-calibration for CO2 and oxygen concentration.

3. Built-in air filter for CO2 and Nitrogen

Since 2008, e-Stork introduced ASTEC personal incubator from Japan, and then enhanced it with IR CO2 detector to increase the detection efficiency of CO2 change in the incubator, also HEPA filter to remove as well the particles in the air. Therefore, our personal incubator can provide a healthy and steady environment for embryos.

Vitrification is a technology using limited amount of freezing agent（＜0.1μl） and rapid temperature drop （>20,000℃/min） during the freezing process of cells, in order to make cells become viscous, non-crystalized vitrification matrix to prevent the ice formation and damage during the freezing process. The vitrified cells reserved in liquid nitrogen with －196℃ low temperature can take over the traditional slow freezing process of cells.


Application

1. Freezing oocytes or embryos.

2. The reservation of rest embryos after the implantation.

3. Endometrium condition is not suitable for implantation on the expected date. (over stimulation, hormone concentration too high or low, illness, or slow embryo maturation)

Advantage

Vitrification can effectively increase the survival rate of embryo/oocyte after thawing. e-Stork has been applied vitrification since 2006, and over hundreds of cases shows 70% success rate of pregnancy.

The major ingredient of EmbryoGlue is hyaluronan. When we simulate the environment of endometrium and use EmbryoGlue during the implantation of embryos, the adhesion and apposition of embryo can be achieved faster by molecular interaction. The probability of pregnancy would be increased by avoiding the possible loss from the uterus contraction.

3. Using frozen embryos.

Advantage

e-Stork has applied EmbryoGlue since 2004, and clinically proved the increase of probability of pregnancy.

Assisted Hatching is using high energy laser beans to cut the zona pellucid (ZP) thinner, so the blastocyst can “break out” the ZP and then be successfully implanted.


Applications

1. Failed from IVF。

2. Ladies over 38 years old.

3. Thick ZP（over 15 or 20μm）or abnormal.

4. Over 10% of embryo fragment.

5. Using frozen embryos.

Advantage

Assisted hatching can increase the implantation rate effectively, and consequently increase the probability of pregnancy.

Array comparative genomic hybridization analysis（aCGH） is a method designed for a rapid scan on 23 pairs of human chromosomes to determine the small fragment loss or duplicate, and further detect over 100 diseases.


Analysis timing:

1. Adults: 5 c.c. blood sample。
2. Fetus: during Amniocentesis (usually 17~ 20 weeks), taking 10 c.c. Amniotic fluid for analysis.

Accuracy:

aCGH can detect the disease related to small chromosome fragment loss, such as Prader-Willi Syndrome, Cri-du-chat syndrome, Di-George Syndrome, and Williams syndrome, with the accuracy as high as 99％.

Amniocentesis is determining the chromosome abnormal like numbers, shifting, exchange, etc. However, the resolution is limited and the small DNA fragment deficiency or repeat wouldn’t be detected. As small fragment loss may result retarded, slow development or facial feature abnormal, combining amniocentesis and aCGH can provide more assurance of fetus health.

My husband and I first met when we were students. We dated for 10 years before we decided to get married. I was 28 and he was 30 years old. Afterwards, I spent a month setting-up house, decorating our new pad and adjusting to life as a wife.

Being able to procreate and have children is one of God’s greatest blessings.

According to a study, couples that engage in regular sexual intercourse (averaging 2-3 times weekly) have a 50% chance in six months or a 90% chance in one year of getting pregnant – provided they are not using any birth control methods. Although majority of couples will experience natural conception without any difficulties, there is still a minority who are unable to concieve normally without medical assistance.

However, belonging to this small percentage does not mean conception is impossible. We recommend couples experiencing infertility to consult a medical practitioner to pinpoint the problem and undergo the necessary treatments in order to achieve their dreams of having children.