On the 11th of February we celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. We want to dedicate this day to give visibility to all the female fertility specialists and researchers at IVF-Life. To all those girls who dreamed of working to contribute to the scientific community and succeeded in doing so.
Why are we dedicating a day to women and girls in science?
Throughout history, the role of female scientists has been fundamental in making great discoveries in fields such as medicine, physics and technology.
In some countries around the world women are deprived of participation in science. As a voice for equality, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the International Day of Women and Girls in Science in 2015. This day is an acknowledgement of the key role women play in the scientific community.
Fertility specialists in the IVF-Life Group
To commemorate this day, we asked all our female colleagues what they would highlight about their work as fertility specialists and they all agree that there is one particularly special moment: the creation of life.
Direct contact with patients and support in all phases of the fertility process, professional involvement in research and being at the forefront of technological progress is undoubtedly what the female fertility experts of the IVF-Life group love about their daily work.
“Reproductive medicine is a field that is continually advancing. What we did 15 years ago is not the same as five years ago and not the same we do now, and I hope we will continue to develop more treatment options in the future.”
Dr Rut Gómez de Segura.
The professional background of each of our doctors, embryologists and nurses in the IVF-Life group of clinics allows our patients to feel well cared for.
“The sheer delight of seeing how a couple of small cells can make one of the biggest dreams come true for the families who visit us, or the happy faces of patients when they have their baby, is incredible.”
Dr Llanos Medrano – Embryologist at IVF-Life Alicante.
As a clinic, we could not be prouder of our fertility specialists and their knowledge, experience in the scientific community and the humanity they convey to each patient.
Each consultation begins with an initial interview with the patient: determining the reason why you can’t get pregnant is fundamental, but it is also important to understand the emotional situation of each patient. Providing company, support and advice along the journey towards motherhood has become standard practice.
“We share every moment of the cycle with lots of different people, and can see the different stages of our work, which is really beautiful.”
Dr Alejandra García-Villalba.
Why choose to become a fertility specialist?
Reproductive Medicine focuses on human reproduction and investigating factors or conditions that affect reproductive capacity throughout life. Together with the best fertility experts and the most advanced technology we detect the causes of infertility and determine the right treatment. These treatments, for both men and women, can be medical, surgical or by assisted reproduction.
In the last decade, assisted reproduction has helped not only heterosexual couples, but also women to face motherhood individually, without a partner, and female couples to become mothers together. New family models have emerged which, in turn, have created specialities in medicine such as Assisted Reproduction.
“The possibility of helping fulfil a family’ s dream of forming a family, it’s a job that allows you to constantly learn”.
María Velasco Álvarez – Co-director of the IVF-Life Donostia Laboratory.
Furthermore, the revolution of being able to slow down the passage of time. As you know, from the age of 35 onwards, the oocyte quantity and quality decreases rapidly. A woman’s fertility is limited. There may also be cases where, due to medical indications, a woman undergoes other treatments, such as chemotherapy. These treatments further reduce the possibility of being able to become a mother later on.
When to see a fertility specialist?
When a couple decides it is time to start their own family but are unable to get pregnant for several months, it is normal to feel some concern. It is then that many couples consider consulting fertility specialists to find a solution.
“I became a specialist in reproductive medicine because to be in such direct and continuous contact with the creation of life from the hormonal cycle of the ovary to that tiny little embryo that we put into the womb… is truly wonderful.”
Dr. Elisa Pérez Larrea – Medical Co-Director and Gynaecologist at IVF Donostia
Numerous studies in the field of reproduction medicine have estimated that couples of childbearing age, with no reproductive problems who have regular unprotected intercourse, have a 20-30% chance of achieving pregnancy in each ovulatory cycle.
Based on these data, IVF-Life advises to consult a specialist in reproductive medicine after a year of unsuccessful relations. It is not a question of going to a consultation and starting treatment, but rather of determining the cause for infertility.
As mentioned above, couples over the age of 35 should consult a fertility clinic earlier. This one-year timeframe should be shortened in cases of low ovarian reserve, illnesses or surgical procedures that may have had an impact on the patient’s reproductive capacity.
We usually recommend that the assessment is carried out after only 6 months in order to gain time in case there is a potential problem and to increase the chances of a successful treatment.
“What I like most about my profession is the possibility to see the results of our work in a short period of time”.
Ana García – Embryologist at the laboratory of IVF-Life Alicante.
The importance of a good diagnosis
Making an accurate diagnosis is key to the success of any fertility treatment. Each stage of our life is different, changes us and we develop with it. So how can standard treatments or protocols be effective without considering the different issues of each patient?
The first step to solving the problem is to determine the causes that keep a woman from getting pregnant. In this way, we prevent patients from suffering the financial and emotional toll of repeated failed cycles.
At IVF-Life we offer the most advanced technologies to diagnose the state of the reproductive system in order to define the most appropriate treatment for each individual case.
Our fertility specialists know how challenging the road to motherhood can be, alone or with a partner. However, at IVF-Life we are aware that in cases of infertility, reproductive medicine can often provide a glimmer of hope.
Consult your case with one of our fertility specialists
