Huong and her husband, who work in a factory, sought examination at the Center for Reproductive Support, Tam Anh Hanoi General Hospital, after five years of marriage without children.

Master, Doctor Le Quang Do, stated that this was a case of infertility with multiple contributing factors from both partners. He noted that while it cannot be definitively said that Huong's late-night shifts or her husband's frequent exposure to chemicals were the direct causes of infertility, studies indicate that high temperatures, industrial solvents, chemicals, prolonged sleep deprivation, or chronic stress are linked to reduced sperm quality and menstrual disorders. The extent of the impact depends on the duration of exposure, concentration, protective measures, and each individual's underlying health.

The doctor recommended in vitro fertilization (IVF) for the couple. To facilitate treatment, Huong decided to leave her job, and her husband requested a transfer to a department with less chemical exposure.

Doctor Do advises Huong. Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital

Doctor Do proceeded with egg stimulation for Huong, retrieving 17 oocytes. The embryologist washed the husband's sperm sample, selecting suitable ones for intracytoplasmic sperm injection. The embryos were cultured and continuously monitored in a time-lapse incubator integrated with artificial intelligence (AI), resulting in two day-3 embryos and six day-5 embryos. Huong successfully became pregnant on her first embryo transfer, giving birth to their first son weighing 2,8 kg.

Five years later, the couple returned to Tam Anh IVF, hoping for another child. The doctor transferred frozen embryos from their previous treatment cycle, and Huong conceived, giving birth to their second son weighing 3,3 kg last August.

Doctor Do shared that Tam Anh IVF has treated many infertile couples working in industrial zones. Shift work, overtime, and economic pressures often lead people to attribute delayed conception to fatigue and lack of rest. However, abnormalities such as blocked fallopian tubes, ovulatory dysfunction, or low, poorly motile sperm are only detected during medical examination.

The doctor advises couples preparing for marriage, especially those working in environments with chemicals, high temperatures, dust, or frequent shifts, to undergo reproductive health checks before marriage or pregnancy. This allows for early identification of factors that could affect their ability to conceive.

Van Anh