Shine OnDoctors develop low-cost version of IVF
Infertility can be a devastating blow for so many North Americans, yet those with the appropriate financial means can dig their way out of an unwanted childless life.
Couples in the developing world aren't so luck. In vitro fertilization treatments remain untouchable due to its high cost in most countries in Africa.
In an attempt to equalize the global playing field, Belgian doctors have developed a low-cost version of IVF intended for the developing world. Twelve babies have already been born using it.
"Infertility care is probably the most neglected healthcare problem of developing countries, affecting more than 2 million couples according to the World Health Organization," researcher Elke Klerkx from the Genk Institute for Fertility Technology tells Reuters.
Also see: Fear of older women's drop in fertility may be overblown
Eliminating the need for expensive laboratory equipment, Klerkx has developed a method that costs merely 10 to 15 per cent of Western-style IVF treatments.
Despite the fact that approximately five million babies have been born around the world using IVF since the first test tube baby in 1978, the treatment remains largely the domain of developed countries.
The average cost of an IVF treatment in Canada is anywhere between $7,750 - $12,250 and has a 28-35 per cent success rate. Earlier this year various special interest groups put pressure on provincial governments to cover the cost of IVF for would-be parents.
The Belguim team mixed inexpensive citric acid and bicarbonate of soda to produce high levels of carbon dioxide needed for growing embryos.
Also see: Pregnant car crash victim wakes from coma to meet her three-day-old son
"We succeeded with an almost Alka-Selzer like technique. Our first results suggest it is at least as good as normal IVF," lead researcher Dr. Willem Ombelet tells BBC.
The results, presented to the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology conference, showed a success rate of 30 per cent.
The researchers believe that even Western nations may one day benefit from the new IVF method, as many couples cannot afford IVF treatments.
What are your thoughts on a cheap IVF method? If it shows promise in the developing world, do you think it could take off here?
