This archive report was first published on 4 October 2021.
As women delay marriage and motherhood to pursue their careers and educational goals, they are increasingly turning to In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) to conceive. According to Dr. Sikolia Wanyonyi, a gynaecologist, this trend is driven by changes in social-cultural dynamics, including career aspirations and finding the right partner.
One such woman is Jemimah Okutu, who was featured in Health & Science last week. At 47, she found it difficult to get pregnant, and by 48, menopause had kicked in. She finally got pregnant via IVF and delivered her twins, Gloria and Angela, at 52 years.
Dr. Wanjiru Ndegwa, a fertility specialist, explains that the genetic risk of carrying an abnormal child through IVF is the same as one carrying a normal pregnancy. However, she advises women who are unsure about their reproduction or want to pursue careers to freeze their eggs, but notes that it's not an insurance policy.
IVF procedures can cost between Ksh 400,000 and 700,000, depending on genetic tests and surgery. Dr. Ndegwa lists one of the biggest advantages of IVF as its capacity for giving multiple births, but notes that this advantage ends especially for women approaching their mid-40s.
Dr. Ndegwa explains that past 43, the aging process kicks in, and the success of an IVF will be only five percent. Most times, women have to use donor eggs past that age. The number of patients who get pregnant with IVF after that age is very low, she says.
Dr. Kireki Omanwa, an obstetrician/gynaecologist and a fertility specialist, notes that in African cultures, the value of a woman is in the children she bears. However, IVF pregnancies have myriad challenges, including high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia, sugar levels, or gestation diabetes. The female body is not geared for late deliveries, he says.
Other challenges include premature deliveries with attendant complications of issuing the baby with medication to prepare their lungs. If IVF does not result in a baby, such outcomes have a psychological impact, Dr. Omanwa notes.
