THE ASSISTED REPRODUCTION LABORATORY
The laboratory is fully equipped with the latest technology with duplication of all laboratory equipment so that there is an effective back up system. Our clinical team includes an in-house Embryologist, who will be involved in all procedures. We perform routine quality control assays to ensure high performance.

THE INSTITUTION
Billroth Fertility Research Centre houses ultra modern facilities and state of the art equipment from all over the world. A highly motivated and dedicated multidisciplinary team of doctors work together to offer the ultimate in reproductive care.
The Centre offers excellent facilities for Intra Uterine Insemination (IUI), In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF), Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), Assisted Hatching, (AH), Blastocyst transfers, Sperm and Embryo Cryopreservation and a well equipped Andrology Laboratory for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. A fully equipped laparoscopic set up for minimally invasive surgery is also available. Our future plans include facilities for genetic studies such as pre-implantation and prenatal testing for chromosomal and genetic disorders.

FACILITIES OFFERED   In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
IVF achieves pregnancy by fertilizing the woman's oocytes (eggs) outside her body. Under short general anesthesia, the oocytes are obtained by transvaginal ultrasound. The semen is processed in order to harvest the sperm with maximum fertilizing capacity. The egg and the sperm are incubated together. The fertilization check is done on the next day and the embryos are transferred on the third day.

BLASTOCYST CULTURE
With suitable culture conditions, embryos are cultured up to the blastocyst stage and then transferred. This ensures selection of the best embryo and also decreases the incidence of higher order multiple pregnancies.

INTRA CYTOPLASMIC SPERM INJECTION (ICSI)
In this procedure the oocyte is prepared by removing its outer coat of cells called the cumulus complex.
Once laid bare, the oocyte is held gently by a holding pipette under an inverted microscope, with a micropipette a single sperm is injected into the cytoplasm (body) of the oocyte. The microinjected egg is returned to the incubator and checked the following day for fertilization.
ICSI is ideally suited for couples with severe male factor such as low sperm counts or low motility of sperms. ICSI is also suitable for women with advancing age, women suffering from immunological and unexplained infertility. It is a break through in the management of patients with azoospermia and congenital absence of vas where testicular and epididymal sperms are recovered and fertilization is achieved by ICSI.

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. This technique is useful in older women where the zona may be thickened and in women who have had failed attempts in IVF. Pregnancy rates rise upto 40% to 45% with this technique.

SPERM PROCESSING FOR INTRAUTERINE INSEMINATION (IUI)
By washing, centrifugation and migration the semen sample is processed. A suitable culture medium is used. The final migration is done under stringent culture conditions using CO2 incubation. The spermatozoa thus obtained are free of debris and bacteria, are energetic and improve the success rate of intrauterine insemination. We have a special room for semen collection. We also prepare the enriched sample for other clinics so that they can perform the intrauterine insemination. Women 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.

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.

EMBRYO CRYOPRESERVATION
Treatment with medicines for ovulation induction (COH) at the time of Assisted Reproduction produces many oocytes. We cyropreserve the extra embryos for future use. Our freezing protocol is completely computerized. All embryos are coded, labeled and stored in special containers to maintain their identity.

DONOR INSEMINATION PROGRAMME, SEMEN CRYOPRESERVATION AND BANKING
Our sperm bank uses donor semen, which undergoes stringent evaluation. The donors are tested for HIV, Hepatitis, VDRL and Gonorrhoea. Besides the semen quality is 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 HEFA. 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 will 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, at obtaining fresh epididymal and testicular sperm are avoided.

DONOR OOCYTE PROGRAMME (EGG SHARING)
We plan to have a program for oocyte donation for women with premature ovarian failure, surgical or induced menopause and those in the perimenopausal group. Some women with repeated poor recruitment of follicles at the time of IVF, women with extensive endometriosis, severe pelvic adhesions and inaccessible ovaries might also qualify for this programme.

COUNSELLING
Infertility and its treatment cause significant stress to couples. Before definitive treatment begins we encourage couples to talk about their stress factor and initiate counselling.

OUR AIM
We aim to provide a world class center in Assisted Reproduction Technology on par with international standards.