Ovum Vitrification Technique now available in Kolhapur

The ovum vitrification technique (OVT) was used in childbirth arguably for the time in Kolhapur recently.

A 38-year-old woman who was unable to conceive a child for the last 14 years, managed to deliver a baby girl on July 23.

Invitro fertilisation (IVF) expert Dr Padma Rekha Jirge, founder, Sushrut Assisted Conception Clinic in Kolhapur, who used the OVT successfully told DNA that the technique allowed safe preservation of women's ova over a long period of time.

"The technique is available in the country for the last two-and-half years. The technique can prove a boon for women who need to postpone their pregnancies due to the reasons like career and certain diseases like cancer.''

According to Dr Jirge, this particular patient could not conceive for 14 years and had also developed a cardiac ailment. "After the treatment for the cardiac ailment, the woman was advised to opt for IVF. However, due to some unavoidable reasons, the sperms samples from her husband could not be taken at the right time. Hence, the IVF was postponed,'' she said.

Jirge said healthy ova was preserved for vitrification. "The ova was vitrified in September last year and the IVF was done in the next menstrual cycle in November. The embryo was then transferred into her uterus. The patient delivered a healthy baby girl on July 23,'' she said.