The proud father, Dr Ba Swe, holds Myanmar’s first IVF baby. Pic: Minh Zaw

A WOMAN in Taungoo in Bago Division has become the first mother in Myanmar to deliver a test tube baby conceived using in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) techniques.

The healthy baby girl weighing 3.2 kilograms (7 pounds) was delivered by operation at 38 weeks to Ma Tin May Htwe (Chaw Su), 33.

The birth occurred on August 26 at Taungoo’s Taw Win private clinic, which arranged a television camera and monitor so more than 50 people could watch the historic delivery from the street outside.

“It was a great success for Myanmar doctors and a great moment in Myanmar medical history,” said Dr Khin Maung Htwe, who works at Bahosi Fertility Centre (BFC) in Yangon, where the IVF procedure was introduced to Myanmar last year to help couples with fertility problems conceive children.

“Ma Tin May Htwe was the first woman to come to BFC and undergo the procedure in Myanmar and the first woman to give birth to an IVF baby,” Dr Khin Maung Htwe said.

A crowd gathers around a TV monitor in Taungoo to watch the birth of Myanmar's first IVF baby on August 26. Pic: Minh Zaw

The centre was established as a branch of Bahosi International Clinic in August 2006 by a group of medical specialists led by a local obstetrician and gynaecologist, Dr May Thu Myo Nyunt.

In the past year the centre has performed IVF procedures – in which egg cells are fertilised by sperm outside the womb – on 50 women, six of whom have conceived. Of these, two suffered miscarriages after six weeks.

Ma Tin May Htwe underwent the fertilisation procedure at BFC in December, when 11 of her eggs were removed and combined with her husband’s sperm. Eight of the eggs were fertilised and returned to her womb 21 days later.

“We knew there was a chance that we could end up with eight babies,” said Ma Tin May Htwe’s husband, 36-year-old Dr Ba Swe. “We used so many eggs because we were hoping to have twins.”

He said they spent nearly US$6000 to have the child, including $3000 for the initial IVF procedure at BFC.

“But I don’t want to evaluate our happiness based on the amount of money we spent because we are so thankful for the successful birth,” he said.

Dr Ba Swe admitted that the whole process was stressful and not something he would look forward to repeating anytime soon.

“It was all very risky. We were excited, worried and stressed until she delivered. If she had miscarried, for example, we would have wasted all that money,” he said.

“I would advise anyone considering IVF to first consider all the possibilities and make sure they have the courage to withstand all the gossip in the community. Otherwise they shouldn’t do it,” he said.

Dr Khin Maung Htwe agreed that IVF was a procedure of last resort.
“We’re not suggesting that all women who have not been able to have children should do this. This is the last resort. Couples should make sure they have exhausted all options before looking into IVF,” she said.

Dr Daw Mya Mya from the clinic said one of the main drawbacks of the procedure was the high cost compared to the low success rate.

“Our fertility success rate has been just above 10 percent but we have to charge high fees because all the medical equipment we use has to be imported from developed countries,” she said. “We know the costs are high but we wanted to offer the service to women in Myanmar and help our country’s medical field develop.”

Meanwhile, Ko Ashay Gyi, who lives next door to the couple, said he was happy for Ma Tin May Htwe but was baffled by the whole concept of IVF.

“Ma Tin May Htwe has been desperate to conceive a baby for the past eight years and had consoled herself by looking after neighbourhood children,” he said.

“She seems very happy now that she has a baby of her own but I can’t understand how she became pregnant. I’ve thought about it for many hours and I still don’t have an answer,” he said.

Amid all the stress and confusion, new mother Ma Tin May Htwe kept everything simple and straightforward.

“Now that I have a baby I am very happy. I thank all of you,” she told the well-wishers who had gathered around her at Taw Win clinic.