Early days of IVF in Vietnam
Participating in the first in vitro fertilization program in Vietnam, MSc. Dr. Ho Manh Tuong - Senior Advisor, Reproductive Support Unit of My Duc Hospital - General Secretary, Ho Chi Minh City Endocrinology and Infertility Association - has been involved in the field of infertility treatment and assisted reproduction for nearly 30 years.
With his passion and passion for the profession, Dr. Tuong not only contributes to the development of assisted reproductive technology in Vietnam, but also helps many couples fulfill their wish to become parents.
Recalling the first time when he and the staff of Tu Du Hospital performed IVF (esthenics in the EU) technique for couples "going to find children", Dr. Ho Manh Tuong could not help but be moved.
In the early days of implementing IVF techniques in Vietnam, this crew encountered many difficulties due to a shortage of equipment and means. Most of the IVF tools such as medicine, chemical tools, farming environment, etc. must be brought from France.
The implementation of the embryo transfer and pregnancy testing for the patient was both done by French experts and instructed the crew. After being directly instructed by French experts in many fertilizers, the hospital team performed the 8th fertilization on their own. As a miracle, this was also the first time the patient became pregnant successfully after the embryo transfer.
The baby was born on the night of April 30, 1998, named Pham Tuong Lan Thy. Also that night, two other babies, Mai Quoc Bao and Luu Tuyet Tran, cried when they were born, becoming the first 3 babies in Vietnam born by in vitro fertilization. The 3 children of that day have now become mature and healthy girls and boys.
Research efforts to reduce costs for patients
According to Dr. Tuong, in vitro fertilization is an advanced assisted reproductive technique, bringing hope to many infertile couples in Vietnam.
With the development of medicine, the success rate of in vitro fertilization is increasingly improved, helping many families realize their dream of having children. However, treatment costs are still a barrier for many people.
"The high cost of IVF is the biggest burden for many infertile couples, especially those with difficult economic circumstances, living in remote areas, remote provinces. In addition, the psychological pressure from prolonged treatment and the desire for children are also major challenges that they have to face," Dr. Tuong shared with Lao Dong Newspaper.
For that reason, for many years, this doctor and his colleagues have always wondered how to improve the success rate, simplify the treatment process and reduce costs and travel time for sick people - infertile couples, eager to seek opportunities to become fathers and mothers.
"From 2006 to 2025, after nearly 20 years of perseverance, we have developed an in vitro fertilization regimen that does not require egg-stimulating hormone injections. This regimen is safer, reducing treatment costs by nearly 50% and shortening treatment time to only 1/3 compared to before," said Dr. Tuong.
This diagram has been published in prestigious scientific journals and reported at many international scientific conferences. Many countries in the world have also come to Vietnam to study.
"Vietnam is 20 years behind the world in in vitro fertilization techniques, but is now leading the world in in vitro fertilization without ovarian stimulation," said Dr. Tuong proudly.
