Road to parenthood: Embryologists play an instrumental role in bringing hope to childless couples

(MENAFN- Editorial) Oman, Muscat, 7th July 2019: Specializing in Reproductive Medicine, embryologists play a central role in helping couples who are struggling to get pregnant naturally.

They are biologist specialized in embryo development and also assist in performing various procedures such as the transfer of the embryo to the uterus, egg and sperm selection, vitrification or freezing and preservation of the eggs, Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection or ICSI, fertilization of the eggs via In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), and many more. In some cases, the IVF specialist greatly vales their suggestions on effective treatment options post a detailed understanding of the case.

“Embryologists are fertility experts with a wide-ranging role. We are also critical to a patient’s journey towards parenthood although we work behind the scenes most of the time. For example, we are responsible for fusing the sperm and egg extracted from the patient, hoping that it will lead to a successful embryo development. Once the eggs are collected and the sperm is washed and prepared, the embryologist gets to work. We combine the sperm and eggs to hopefully create a number of embryos. We then carefully monitor the development of those embryos. In some cases, the embryologist will use Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) - a more intensive IVF process that involves injecting a single healthy sperm cell into each mature egg - to increase the chances of fertilization. ,” explained Alberto Liñán Tegedor, Director of the IVF laboratory and Embryologist at IVI Middle East Fertility Clinic in Oman.

Alberto is the only embryologist in Oman with the Senior Clinical Embryologist certification by the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), a prestigious organisation of all individuals active in the field of Reproductive Medicine and Science. According to ESHRE’s website, a certification bestowed on embryologists working in IVF demonstrates their level of expertise and knowledge in the field. With a degree in Biological Sciences from the Biological Sciences Faculty of the University of Valencia, Alberto was awarded an Erasmus Scholarship in Fachhochschule Bonn Rhein-Sieg (2003-2004) in Bonn, Germany. He took up his Master’s in Biotechnology of Human Assisted Reproduction and Embryology from the University of Valencia-IVI Foundation.

Alberto, who has 11 years of experience in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), is also a specialist in all the procedures involved in the Embryology and Andrology Laboratory with expertise in Blastocyst Biopsy, array Comparative Genome Hybridization (aCGH), Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tubing cells. Working for IVI Middle East, he has helped many couples achieve their dream of becoming parents.

“Being an embryologist is a satisfying profession. Knowing that we are part of a team that brings hope to our patients is highly fulfilling. Additionally, it is also a privilege to be working alongside fertility experts with world-class talents like our well renowned Medical Director, Dr Francisco Ruiz who is very dedicated and inspiring,” added Alberto.

Dr. Frank Ruiz, IVF Specialist at IVI Middle East Fertility Clinic, Oman, said: “Part of the success of IVI Middle East in Oman is its well-trained and highly experienced team of fertility specialists and Alberto is one of them. As an embryologist, he has been instrumental in delivering high-quality IVF treatment to all our patients. Couples may not deal with embryologists directly as much as they do with their fertility doctors, but they nonetheless work tirelessly, hoping to see a successful treatment outcome for every case they handle.”

IVI Middle East Fertility Clinic in Oman is the only healthcare unit in the country that has a Senior Clinical Embryologist certified by the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) and delivers the highest success rate in the region.

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