ACCORDING to Buddhism, children are so valuable that only parents with good luck can have them. Yet with a trend towards later marriage in many countries, having children may have less to do with luck and more to do with the decline in people’s fertility as they get older.

In the past, Myanmar couples that wanted to have fertility treatment such as ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) would have to travel to Thailand to get it. However, such treatments are now available in Myanmar at the Baho Si Fertility Centre (BFC).

One of the first couples to try this treatment in Myanmar was actor Lu Minn and his wife Khin Sabei Oo. They have been married for four years and had tried the ICSI fertility treatment three times in Chang Mai, Thailand, without success. The couple had a baby girl in the last week of September after successful treatment in Myanmar.

“I used to make plans for life and I planned to have a baby after one year, but unfortunately we couldn’t have a baby normally so we went abroad to get fertility treatment. But we were not successful. BFC imported the ICSI Machine to Myanmar so we sought treatment here. In Myanmar we don’t need to worry about language, we can stay with relatives and friends, and there is no expense for accommodation like in foreign countries,” said Lu Minn.

The ICSI treatment continues to prove successful for other couples. So far eight couples have sought the treatment in Myanmar with three of them having success.

Dr. May Thu Myo Nyunt, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist at BFC links the trend towards later marriage as the main cause of fertility problems.

Today there are many couples who cannot get children although they want them eagerly. According to research, people get married in their late years or some put off having children while they don’t have a good income but when they want to have babies it becomes a problem. Some women take drugs to restrict fertilisation. Injection has a greater affect than taking drugs; it may take one or two years to return to a normal condition when they want to get pregnant,” she said.

“However, some problems depend on the menstruation cycle. If a woman is not menstruating monthly or if one of the couple is feeling stressed and weak they will not succeed in reproduction. This is a common case in couples but changing lifestyle to reduce stress and relax can be successful,” she added.

BFC say that more than 300 couples have visited the clinic to check on their fertility. Not all of the couples are in their thirties, many couples in their twenties, who want to prepare for their future are also visiting the clinic.