Tuyet and her husband were diagnosed with unexplained infertility, a condition accounting for a significant portion of current infertility treatments. Following a failed intrauterine insemination (IUI) attempt, they sought treatment at the Center for Reproductive Assistance, Tam Anh General Hospital TP HCM (IVF Tam Anh TP HCM).

Doctor of Clinical Oncology Nguyen Thi Thach Thao stated that for cases of unexplained infertility, especially when the husband is older, in vitro fertilization (IVF) offers a higher success rate. This is due to the meticulous control over each step, from embryo creation to implantation. Doctor Thao devised an individualized ovarian stimulation protocol for Tuyet, using appropriate medication dosages, which resulted in the retrieval of 20 mature oocytes (eggs). The husband's sperm sample was processed and selected for fertilization, embryo creation, and culture in an optimal environment, yielding 13 day-5 embryos—a stage known for high implantation potential.

After the uterine lining was adequately prepared, the doctor transferred one high-quality day-5 embryo into Tuyet's uterus. She became pregnant and gave birth to a daughter weighing over 3 kg in early january.

Doctor Thach Thao retrieves oocytes for a patient. Photo: Hoai Thuong

Infertility is defined when a couple, living together, does not achieve pregnancy after one year (or 6 months for women over 35). Common causes in women include: blocked fallopian tubes, diminished ovarian reserve, hormonal disorders, uterine abnormalities, and effects from thyroid disease. In men, primary causes often involve: blocked vas deferens, erectile dysfunction, hormonal disorders, weak sperm, or varicocele.

According to Doctor Thao, approximately 10% of infertile couples have unexplained infertility, meaning clinical examinations and tests reveal no specific cause. This group often faces more challenges in treatment due to complex underlying factors, resulting in a lower chance of conception compared to cases with clear causes. Patients require an individualized treatment protocol to simultaneously address endocrine and immune factors, as well as the embryo's implantation environment. Depending on their condition, infertile couples may be treated with IUI or IVF, or a combination of various methods to achieve success.

At IVF Tam Anh TP HCM, with its ISO 5 standard "lab-in-lab" system, modern embryo culture technologies, and individualized ovarian stimulation and treatment protocols, doctors have successfully treated many infertile couples, enabling them to have healthy children. From 2021-2024, the cumulative pregnancy rate across all patient groups averaged 80,1%.

Hoai Thuong

*Patient's name has been changed