Ethical Issues in the Practice of Assisted Reproductive Technologies in Nigeria: Empirical Data from Fertility Practitioners.

The need to formulate practice guidelines and ethical framework to guide the practice of assisted conception in Nigeria has been highlighted severally. The Association for Fertility and Reproductive Health (AFRH) ethics committee is charged with the objective of producing ethical guidelines that would govern the practice of assisted conception in Nigeria. This study was a survey of attendees at the AFRH international conference that held in Abuja in September 2017. The aim of the study was to generate empirical data that would form the drafting of ethical practice guidelines in Nigeria. Ninety-seven (50%) of the respondents were of the view that performing IVF for unmarried couples was ethical while about 70 (36%) were of the contrary opinion. Respondents were equally divided (45.26% versus 44.21%) on the ethical standing of performing IVF for single ladies. About 128 (70.33%) of respondents agree that egg donors should be paid more in compensation besides reimbursement for personal expenditure incurred during the process of egg donation and that they should be an upper age limit for clients requesting ART with donor eggs. Several unethical practices ongoing in Nigeria were highlighted including inadequate provision of information and counselling and exploitation of egg donors. Majority agreed on the need for a regulatory framework to govern the practice of ART in Nigeria. The diverse range of views and ethical issues concerning ART practice in Nigeria obtained from this study demonstrates the need to recognise the local context in Nigeria when applying universal principles of ethics.

The use of ultrasound guided transvaginal probe on the anterior abdominal wall for follicular aspiration in a patient with inaccessible ovaries by transvaginal ultrasound.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of ultrasound guided tranvaginal probe placed on the anterior abdominal wall for oocyte retrieval in a patient whose ovaries were not visible trans-vaginally. DESIGN: A case report SETTING: Medical ART Center, Nigeria- Private IVF clinic with an academic setting PATIENT(S): A 35 yr old woman undergoing IVF treatment with ovaries difficult to visualize trans-vaginally having ovarian stimulation pressure effect. INTERVENTION(S): Ultrasound guided oocyte aspiration through the abdominal wall using the trans-vaginal probe. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of oocytes retrieved. RESULTS: 9 oocytes were successfully aspirated using the ultrasound scan guided probe placed over the anterior abdominal wall. CONCLUSION: Successful oocyte retrieval can be achieved via the abdominal puncture with the aid of a trans-vaginal ultrasound probe placed on the abdominal wall.

Multiple gestations/pregnancies from IVF process in a fertility center in Nigeria, 2009-2011: implementing policy towards fewer (double and single) embryo transfer.

BACKGROUND: Infertility is a major problem in Nigeria, which has caused many couples to be burdened with physical, psychological and social issues. IVF (In-vitro fertilization) has played a major role in reducing the burden among infertile couples. However, despite the role of IVF in solving infertility in Nigeria, it is important to address the issue of rising rates of multiple births from IVF. Also to create a balance between the number of embryo transferred and easing the burden couples face from infertility. OBJECTIVE: To determine the trend/rate in multiple gestations from IVF, identify possible factors responsible and proffer ways to reduce multiple gestation rates. METHODS: We did a case series review from 2009-2011 of IVF cycles performed at a private clinic with an academic setting in Nigeria. Our primary outcome of interest was multiple gestations/pregnancies All patients identified with outcome of interest, were included in the study sample. We reviewed the IVF process of each patient using medical records from pre-evaluation to clinical pregnancy confirmed by ultrasound. We reported the multiple gestation trend/rate. RESULTS: 25 women with the mean age of 39.9 +/- 7.3 years had multiple pregnancies from 2009 to 2011. Of the 25 women, 24% of the pregnancies, occurred in 2009, 40% occurred in 2010 and 36% in 2011. In 2009, 83% of the pregnancies were twin gestations and 17% triplets. In 2010, 40% were twin gestations, while triplet, quadruplet and quintuplet gestations were 20% each. In 2011, 66% were twin gestations and 34% quadruplet gestation. The factors we identified that could have lead to an increase in multiple gestations from 2009-2010 included improvement in pre-evaluation work up, stimulation protocol, efficacy of the IVF lab and mean of 5 embryos transferred. In 2011, embryo transferred was reduced to 3-4. From 2009 to 2011, mean number of embryos transferred was 4.2 (95% CI: 3.87-4.47). CONCLUSION: Multiple gestations and associated risk from IVF in Nigeria can be reduced by reduction in number of embryos transferred and possibly by improvement in practice process. As the IVF process becomes more efficacious, fertility centres in Nigeria will not need to transfer up to 4 embryos in order to have a positive pregnancy; and as a result they can move towards two to single embryo transfer.