Muscat, February 13 /Oman News Agency/ – The Fertility Center at the Al Wutiyah Women’s and Children’s Hospital, part of the Directorate General of Khoula Hospital, has recorded 79 pregnancies since its opening in February of last year, including 9 cases of twin pregnancies, 13 births, and 39 cases still awaiting delivery. This has contributed to instilling hope in many who aspire to achieve the dream of parenthood.
Dr. Naima bint Obaid Al Maamari, a consultant in IVF and ICSI at Khoula Hospital, stated to the Oman News Agency that the center has received over 5,000 patients and conducted more than 30,000 laboratory tests, 900 treatment cycles, 729 egg retrieval procedures, and 224 frozen embryo transfers. She mentioned that after six months of the center’s opening and the urgent need for sperm extraction procedures due to a significant number of cases of azoospermia, the laboratory was equipped with a specialized microscope for inspection and sperm extraction. In recent months, a large number of direct sperm extraction and freezing procedures have been performed for use in IVF.
She indicated that training workshops have been organized for reference hospitals to qualify doctors in assessing cases of infertility and conducting the preliminary tests required for treating patients at the center. Educational and awareness publications have also been issued to inform patients about the causes of infertility and its treatment methods.
Dr. Al Maamari noted that the first specialized database has been established to collect reliable information and document observations regarding infertility cases in the Sultanate of Oman, based on the large number of patients visiting the Al Wutiyah Women’s and Children’s Hospital. She explained that this data will be analyzed periodically and objectively, according to specific scientific methods and accurate statistical analyses, to develop and improve the services provided by the Fertility Center.
She clarified that this data will be used in scientific studies, which will be the first of their kind in the Sultanate of Oman in the field of fertility and assisted reproduction. These studies will provide important information to the local community, contributing to understanding the reasons for the rising infertility rates, determining the rates of infertility among men and women, and working on finding appropriate solutions and treatment methods.
Regarding the main challenges faced by the Fertility Center, she pointed out that one of the most significant challenges is that more than 25% of the cases referred to it are over the age of 40, which requires special strategies to deal with this age group and provide appropriate care.
