Ms. Huong had three unsuccessful attempts at in vitro fertilization (IVF) embryo transfer. On one occasion, she conceived, but the child was lost early at only a few months old due to Fallot's tetralogy, a dangerous congenital heart condition.

Last year, she and her husband visited the Reproductive Support Center at Tam Anh General Hospital - District 8, seeking a final treatment attempt before deciding to stop. Dr. Tran Ngoc Van Anh noted that Ms. Huong's anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) ovarian reserve was only 1,3 ng/ml (normal range is 2,2-6,8 ng/ml). Her egg quality was also diminished, increasing the likelihood of chromosomal errors in embryos, leading to a low pregnancy rate and a higher risk of miscarriage or birth defects. Ms. Huong also suffered from endometriosis, sometimes accompanied by inflammation, which can affect the uterine lining's ability to accept an embryo, making implantation difficult.

Given her diminished ovarian reserve, the doctor advised oocyte pooling to increase the chances of creating good quality embryos. Ms. Huong was placed on an ovarian stimulation protocol designed to help egg follicles develop while also stabilizing her endometriosis before embryo transfer.

After two cycles of oocyte pooling and in vitro fertilization with her husband's sperm, Ms. Huong had four embryos: one day 3 embryo, one day 5 embryo, and two day 6 embryos. She wished for an early embryo transfer due to personal reasons. Dr. Van Anh transferred one fresh day 3 embryo into Ms. Huong's uterus, leveraging the physiological hormones from the ovarian stimulation process to promote natural uterine lining development.

Ms. Huong conceived immediately and is now over 12 weeks pregnant. The remaining embryos were cryopreserved. She is currently monitoring her pregnancy at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Center.

Embryologists examine the morphology and development of embryos in the culture lab. *Photo: IVF Tam Anh*

Dr. Van Anh stated that numerous factors influence a woman's ability to conceive naturally. Cases involving multiple overlapping medical conditions, such as Ms. Huong's, not only make conception difficult but also reduce the success rate of IVF.

Women experiencing infertility due to multiple factors should seek consultation at reputable reproductive support centers for thorough and comprehensive screening of all potential causes, which can improve treatment success rates.

By Dinh Lam

*Patient's name has been changed