In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) at Pindara Initially, the targets for In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) were women who had absent or obstructed fallopian tubes. The IVF process “bypassed” the role of the tubes in oocyte retrieval, facilitated fertilisation and transportation by allowing direct transfer of an embryo to the endometrial cavity via a transcervical approach. The advent of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and the progressive refinement of laboratory techniques, protocols and culture media to allow embryo development to the Blastocyst stage have dramatically improved success rates. ICSI allows the treatment of significant male factor infertility as well as the use of aspirated testicular sperm (post vasectomy or obstructive azospermia) by directly injecting a single sperm into each oocyte. The evolution of recombinant technology and pharmaceuticals for pituitary downregulation, LH surge suppression, Ovulation Induction (OI), Controlled Ovarian Hyperstimulation (COH), Ovulation triggering and Luteal phase support now allow precise and “patient specific” cycle planning to maximise success rates and minimise sides effects and complications. Scientific advances in ART can now be applied to older couples, single women, same sex couples, and to overcome or prevent transmission of an ever increasing range of genetic disease. Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) on embryo biopsy, both specific and by array technology (24 Sure Advanced Embryo Selection®) allows us to select and avoid transfer of embryos with aneuploidies and many singe gene defects. The merging of Queensland Fertility Group (QFG) Gold Coast with the Virtus Health network, the largest IVF group in Australia, has greatly facilitated access to this amazing technology. Since establishing QFG Gold Coast at Pindara Hospital in 2001, the group has consistently achieved and often exceeded industry standard success rates. Continual accreditation by the Assisted Reproduction Technology Accreditation Committee (ARTAC) has been achieved with ISO9001 compliance, which is also considered to be industry best practice. Specific attention to detail and patient focused care from all staff, embryologists, counsellors, nurses and receptionists, remains the hallmark of the unit. Medical staff continually invest their time and effort to maintain knowledge, expertise and apply the latest research to clinical practice. Dr Gary Swift, Senior Clinician at QFG Pindara holds a Masters Degree in Reproductive Medicine which, combined with over 15 years direct experience in this specialised field, allows him to contribute additional expertise to the unit and to deliver the highest quality care and “take home baby rates”. Patients are not just in safe hands at the Queensland Fertility Group Pindara Unit, they are in the best hands. pm The birth of Louise Brown in 1978 proved that a healthy baby could result from the fertilisation of a human oocyte in the laboratory. Since that momentous occasion, the field of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) has developed exponentially and revolutionised the management of infertile couples. Dr Gary Swift MBBS FRANZCOG MReprodMed Senior Clinician QFG Pindara Women ’s Health Pindara Magazine 48 Autumn - Winter | 2014
Pindara Private Hospital Magazine - Issue Two
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