Dubai: Dubai not only offers cutting-edge fertility treatment but also has facilities for freezing sperm and eggs to be used at a later date.
This is really effective in cases where a partner may have to undergo some prolonged treatment such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy which can have an adverse affect on fertility.
Gregg and Talia Lapins are thrilled with the birth of their baby boy, Cooper, earlier this year through in vitro fertilisation (IVF). Despite a tumour that Gregg had in a testicle last year, the couple went ahead with IVF at the Dubai branch of the UK-based Bourn Hall clinic, after surgery to remove the tumour and achieved success on the first attempt.
“Cooper is such a lovely little boy and a source of pure joy for both of us. We know many couples who did not achieve success quickly undergoing IVF so we consider ourselves very fortunate,” said Lapins. “We love every minute with Cooper. Initially we had difficulties as we had no experience handling a newborn. Now we have got into our groove and are enjoying parenthood,” said Talia. Gregg and his wife, Talia, from Australia, married four years ago and moved to the UAE to start their new life.
The Lapins had been trying to start a family for nearly 18 months and when they did not achieve success they went in for routine tests. While Talia cleared those tests, Gregg’s tumour was detected in February last year.
“It was by dint of sheer luck that I went in for the screening and the doctors detected the tumour well in time. Here we were trying to start a family and now we were devastated by this news,” recounts Gregg. “In many ways, the wish to start a family alerted us to the potential cancer.”
The couple was advised to go in for freezing sperm in a fertility clinic as there was every chance that Gregg would require chemo or radio therapy. “Just a week before my surgery, we popped into Bourn Hall,” said Gregg.
Luckily for him, early screening and immediate surgery helped his cause and the tumour turned out to be benign. The couple did not have to use the frozen sperm and they had success within three months of IVF treatment using the Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) technique. Cooper was born on January 7 this year.
However, the availability of the sperm bank facility has turned out be a blessing for the Lapins since Gregg has developed a low sperm count and they are reassured that they will be able to use the frozen sperm as and when they decide to expand their family.
Dr Diana Kayal, obstetrician, gynaecologist and fertility specialist at Bourn Hall who worked on this case, is thrilled with the birth of Cooper as the Lapins were one of the earliest couples to seek treatment at the Dubai-based branch. “The Lapins’ case is a real success story of fertility preservation and treatment. I am so glad that everything worked out for them. They can utilise the frozen sperms whenever they take a decision on planning another child,” Dr Kayal said.
