PRASHANTH FERTILITY RESEARCH CENTRE - PFRC


Prashanth Fertility Research Centre, best of its kind houses latest ultra modern facilities and state-of-the-art equipment from all over the world. A highly motivated and dedicated multidisciplinary team of, well qualified doctors with vast experience of working in western hospitals, work together to offer the best and ultimate in reproduction care.


The center offers excellent facilities and well equipped infrastructure for various procedures such as Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF), Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), Assisted Hatching (AH), Blastocyst Transfer, Sperm and Embryo Cryopreservation, and a well equipped Andrology Laboratory for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. A fully equipped laparoscopic setup for minimally invasive surgery is also available.


The Donor Egg" and "Surrogacy" programme is one of our highlights and more than 500 babies have been delivered as on date. This Centre has also acquired The Diode Laser for assisted embryo hatching. Facilities for genetic studies such as "Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis and Pre-Natal Testing" for chromosomal and genetic disorders are also available.


ASSISTED REPRODUCTION LABORATORY

The laboratory is fully equipped with the latest technology with duplication of all laboratory equipments, so that there is an effective back up system. Our clinical team includes in-house embryologists trained by SIVF Scientists, who will be involved in all procedures. We also have consultant Embryologists from Australia. We perform routine quality control assays to ensure high performance.

INTRAUTERINE INSEMINATION - (IUI)


Intrauterine Insemination The highly motile and morphologically normal sperm are harvested by density gradient separation technique from the semen which is usually a mixture of pus cells and abnormal sperm. The separated good sperm is enriched with special medium using highly sterile technique. We also prepare sperm sample for other clinics so that they can perform IUI independently at their centre and improve the success rate of intrauterine insemination. Woman with ovulatory dysfunction, treated endometriosis with patent tubes, luteal phase defects, cervical factor incompatibility, polycystic ovarian disease , can try IUI first before trying more advanced techniques of Assisted Reproduction. Men with slightly compromised semen parameters can also benefit from IUI. A cozy room specially designed for semen collection is available for the male partner. The room provides absolute privacy. The cumulative pregnancy rates after 6 cycle of IUI is about 70 - 80%. Read More ...

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IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION - (IVF)


In-Vitro Fertilization IVF achieves pregnancy by fertilizing the women's oocytes (eggs) outside her body. Under general anaesthesia, the oocytes are obtained by transvaginal ultrasound.The semen is processed in order to harvest the most robust sperm with maximum fertilizing capacity. The egg and the sperm are incubated together. Sperms which have abnomalities in the acrosome and those with globozoosprime are treated specially to achieve higher pregnancy rates.

The fertilization check is done on the next day, and the embryos are transferred on the third day or fifth day. IVF is most beneficial for patients with blocked tubes, unexplained infertility, poor sperm parameters, some patients with endometriosis and those with ovulatory dysfunction.

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INTRA CYTOPLASMIC SPERM INJECTION - (ICSI)


In this procedure, the oocyte is prepared by removing its outer coat of cells called cumulus complex.Once laid bare, the oocyte is held gently by a holding pipette under an inverted microscope.The sperm that has been prepared for micro injection is injected through a very fine micropipette into the cytoplasm (body) of the oocyte.The microinjected egg is returned to the incubator and checked the following day for fertilization. Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

ICSI is ideally suited for couples with severe male factor infertility such as low sperm count or zero count (azoospermia), very little or complete lack of motility and abnormal shape of the sperm. ICSI is also suitable for women with previous IVF failure, women suffering from immunological and unexplained infertility. In azoospermia and congenital absence of vas, the testicular and epididymal sperms are recovered and fertilization is achieved by ICSI. PREGNANCY RATES 40 - 60% BASED ON AGE, SPERM QUALITY AND OTHER ASSOCIATED FACTORS.

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LASER ASSISTED HATCHING


Assisted Hatching Assisted hatching is a procedure in which the zona(shell) of the embryo is opened using the technique of micromanipulation. This facilitates its hatching in the uterus and improves implantation and pregnancy rates. Pregnancy rates rise upto 70% with this technique.

In order to further enhance our pregnancy rates, the laser technology is used for assisted embryo hatching. The Laser beam is focused, so as to thin out "The ZONA" at a point generally 1/4 of the embryos circumference in order to facilitate embryo hatching.The entire procedure is completed in a few milli seconds. Laser Assisted Hatching is particularly useful for older women (more than 35 years), women with oocytes showing a thick zona and women who have had previous failed IVF attempts.

We also use the laser for sperm immobilization. The sperm is immobilized prior to its injection into the cytoplasm of the egg by knicking its tail. Instead of using the micropipette to perform this procedure, the laser beam is focused on the sperm tail thus immobilizing it in a few milliseconds without damage to the rest of the sperm. Sperm tail immobilization by the laser obviates the need to suspend the sperm in PVP.The diode laser is also used to make the opening in the zona through which a single cell (blastomere) is aspirated out for genetic analysis.

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BLASTOCYST CULTURE


Blastocyst Culture In the past most embryos produced with IVF were transferred on day three of development, known as cleavage stage. When an embryo reaches five days of development it is called a blastocyst. Currently, with advances in understanding of the needs of developing embryos, the ability to produce blastocysts in the laboratory has increased. This extended culture time allows nature to help select those embryos with the highest capacity to produce a pregnancy. Culturing and transferring blastocysts on day five of development allows the transfer of fewer embryos while still maintaining a high pregnancy rate. Normally only two blastocyst stage embryos are transferred, thus reducing the risk of multiple pregnancies higher than twins.

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DONOR OOCYTE PROGRAMME (EGG SHARING)


At PFRC we understand your desire to have a child and build a family. Some women for various reasons may experience diminished ovarian reserve or diminished egg quality and for them donor egg may be a wonderful medically appropriate treatment option. Our physicians and staff are dedicated in helping you to realize your dreams and offer exceptional success rates for patients participating in our egg donation program. Our program offers anonymous egg donation.

At the PFRC, we make it obligatory for the donor to have atleast one child. Our donors are between the ages of 20 and 25 and have completed a thorough medical and psychological screening. They should not have family history of genetic diseases and should have a good body mass index. All donors are routinely tested for HIV, HBs Antigen, VDRL, HBC Antibody, Rubella and other diseases including diabetes, Hypothyroidism. We will also check the hormonal profile and blood group. The clinicians of PFRC make sure that the recipient couple have atleast one detailed counseling session to check for possible psycho factors, which could preclude long term successful outcome. Counseling sessions also include discussions concerning confidentiality of the oocyte collection, written consent, the risk and implications of the donor oocyte program are also explained.

Egg Donation Program

Clinical pregnancy rate per Embryo Transfer - 67%

Take Home Baby Rate - 55%

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DONOR INSEMINATION PROGRAMME
SEMEN CRYOPRESERVATION AND BANKING


Our sperm bank uses donor semen, which will undergo stringent evaluation. The donors will be tested for HIV, Hepatitis, VDRL and Gonorrhoea. Besides the semen quality will be ensured by following the WHO criteria.The Cryopreservation Donor Semen Programme will be in accordance with the guidelines established by the AMERICAN FERTILITY SOCIETY and HUMAN EMBRYO AND FERTILIZATION AUTHORITY - HEFA, LONDON.

We routinely have a back up semen sample frozen for couples who are undergoing treatment in case of inability to give a sample on the day of IUI,IVF or Micromanipulation. Men undergoing Orchidectomy, Cancer treatment, prior to radiation and chemotherapy also use our cryopreservation facilities. Those who are undergoing ICSI are encouraged to freeze their sperm so that we have adequate number of sperm at the time of ICSI. We also routinely cryopreserve testicular and epididymal sperm, so that repeated attempts of obtaining fresh epididymal and testicular sperm are avoided.

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EMBRYO CRYOPRESERVATION


Treatment with medicines for ovulation induction at the time of Assisted Reproduction produces many oocytes.As a routine we cryopreserve the extra embryos for future use. All embryos are coded, labeled and stored in special containers to maintain their identity.

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DONOR IVF/ICSI PROGRAMME


This programme is meant for patients who cannot produce their own eggs and sperms. We offer the donor egg/sperm programme where strict HEFA/ASRM guidelines and quality control criteria are adopted.

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SURROGACY PROGRAMME


Surrogates are commonly used for women with recurrent miscarriages, untreatable problems of the uterus (womb) such as recurrent fibroids, uterine or endometrial scarring (Asherman's syndrome), prior hysterectomy or conditions where carrying the pregnancy would be a threat to the health of the mother. We offer a personalized and professional approach to a sensitive and private issue.

PFRC's Surrogacy Programme is the largest and most successful" All in One" medical, non-agency provider of surrogate services in INDIA, and one of the leading surrogate services in the WORLD. Couples living nationally and internationally, have successfully become parents by working with PFRC.

We have a full service of surrogacy and egg donation in PFRC that includes an attorney assistant. We believe in a well structured professional environment that clearly states the responsibilities of each party. None of our cases have ever been involved in a custody issue.Our program is supported by a strong base of experienced doctors, lawyers, and dedicated associates. The mutual goal of all involved is to create a bond and trust between a couple and a surrogate that results in the fulfillment of everyone's dream.

This approach will provide you with the best possible situation that will alleviate most of your risks and fears. In addition we provide prompt, personal service to help you make the right decisions regarding your medical conditions, because we have medical staffs available full time at PFRC.

Our surrogate database is certainly the most comprehensive because we verify our surrogates credentials and availability each month.This high quality, highly successful services is provided to obtain the finest result and make surrogate pregnancy an affordable option for those who need it.

SURROGACY BY IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION


The Intended Parents creates embryos that are transferred to the surrogate mother, and the surrogate mother carries the child but maintains no genetic ink.

SURROGACY BY ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION


The surrogate mother donates her egg. The biological father provides the sperm that is used to fertilize the egg inside the womb and creates a child.The surrogate mother carries the baby and has a genetic link to the child.

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PFRC STATISTICS

YEAR      OWN      RECIPIENT       FET      RESULTS
2003       099            022             04           58%
2004       170            138             28           62%
2005       206            109             27           59%
2006       400            183             83           54%
2007       660            296             84           56%

OWN - OWN EGGS     RECIPIENT- DONOR EGGS     FET - FROZEN EMBRYO TRANSFER

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