Jaslok doctors' innovation - 'CAT' increases success of IVF

Mumbai, Dec 12 (UNI) A team of doctors of Jaslok Hospital, led by Dr Firuza Parikh, has developed the CAT (Cumulus-aided Transfer) technique, wherein they have harnessed nature to improve pregnancy rate and dramatically increased the success of IVF (In-Vitro Fertilisation).

Close to 2,300 babies from 45 different countries have been born with the help of advanced procedures carried out by the Jaslok team making it one of the leading fertility centres in the world.

Describing the technique, Dr Parikh, Director of Jaslok Department of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics said, ђThe embryos are transferred into the uterus along with cumulus cells which surround the oocyte at the time of ovulation. We culture these cells in the laboratory and add them during embryo transfer. Cumulus cells are rich in factors which facilitate the growth of embryos.'' The technique was researched on 517 women, more than half of whom had failed IVF attempts in the past. 48 percent of the women who had the CAT procedure conceived as compared to 34 percent women who did not. CAT is specially useful in cases with previous unsuccessful IVF in older women and in cases where few oocytes are obtainable. A preliminary report on 50 women was published in the Journal Of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of India, a release issued by the hospital today said.

Several fertility centres across the world have started using CAT to enhance the pregnancy rate, ''IVF is not merely a science it is also an art, '' Dr Parikh said. ''You look into the little details, work with nature instead of trying to outsmart it and always strive towards improving pregnancy rates-CAT is a movement in that direction,'' she added.

Prestigious international journal ''Fertility and Sterility'' has published the CAT study as a cover article in its October 2006 issue, the release added.

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