When I count my blessings, I count my little man twice. Having him in our lives have enriched us in so many ways we could ever imagine. Indeed, having a child is one of the best adventures anyone could ever have.
Unfortunately, not most couples are given the opportunity to have children. In fact, 15% of the population is suffering from fertility problems.
The ART of Procreation
Infertility should not be the be-all and end-all for couples, as there are means and ways to combat this.
One available method for childless couples is Assisted Reproductive Technology {ART}. This treatment procedure enables multiplication of ovarian follicles and facilitates egg cell retrieval. During the process, embryos will be formed outside the body of a female patient and will be transferred once the “cultures” are successfully formed. Patients who are suffering from severe sperm deficits, blocked fallopian tubes, unexplained infertility, mild endometriosis, and ovulation disorders can be candidates for this treatment.
Turning Dreams to Reality
Infertility is defined by the World Health Organization {WHO}, as “a disease of the reproductive system defined by the failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse.”
Based on a 2011 Synovate survey, one out of 10 Filipinos are suffering from infertility. There are different factors that affect a couple’s ability to procreate such as socio-cultural practices, including the marrying age, educational status, and professional goals.
Aside from those, Dr. Virgilio M. Novero Jr., head of St. Luke’s flagship Center for Advanced Reproductive Medicine and Infertility {CARMI}, infertility can also be traced to issues affecting both the female and male reproductive systems, and medical conditions that compromises the quality of egg and sperm cells.
Since 2013, the local arm of the world’s oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company, Merck Philippines, has been proactive in their fertility awareness campaign.
The campaign, aptly named “Bridging Baby Steps,” aims to continue education on infertility and raise awareness about the in-vitro fertilization {IVF} methods available in the country through seminars and information dissemination.
Merck’s Fertility Awareness 2017 Bridging Baby Steps will be held at the Garden Ballroom Hall 3 and 4 of Edsa Shangri-La Manila on 21 October, 2017, 2PM. Join to learn more about egg-freezing and fertility preservation, debunking the myths on infertility, and treatment options for infertility. Registration is free. For more details, visit Fertility Awareness Philippines on Facebook.
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