One of the biggest breakthroughs in infertility treatment came in 1978 when the first test tube baby was born with In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF).

But In-Vitro Fertilization didn't work well with patients who had low sperm counts. In 1992, the introduction of a new technique called Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) overcame this problem. BLOOM IVF group introduced ICSI in 1996 and started an advanced centre at the Lilavati Hospital, Bandra in 1998.

A lab of hope
The laboratory at Lilavati Hospital is the heart of the IVF program. It is a sophisticated unit with state-of-the-art technology, manned by highly trained personnel. The unit offers the latest services with success rates equivalent to the West, at very affordable costs. This objective has enabled the unit to be at the forefront in offering fertility services in India.


Embryologistu00a0-- Akanksha Mishra and Janavi Sanghvi at
Lilavati Hospital, Bandra

The lab environment is controlled with the help of an Air Handling Unit (AHU) which constantly purifies the air by passing it through special filters. This helps to maintain an even lab temperature between 24-26 C. This device runs 24x7 all year round. This improvement in air quality has dramatically boosted our pregnancy rates.

Breakthrough techniques
Intra-cytoplasmic Morphologically selected Sperm Injection (IMSI) helps magnify the image of the sperm 7,200 times, thereby allowing the embryologist to pick up the best looking, healthier sperm. This machine is an advanced version of ICSI, with a 16 times higher magnification capacity.

IMSI helps improve the success rate among men with severe low sperm count, low sperm motility and abnormal sperms. However, long-term studies are needed to establish its competence.

Assisted Laser Hatching is a technique where laser energy is used to cut or thinu00a0 the covering of the embryo (zona pellucida) prior to the embryo transfer. This technique is very effective in older patients (>38years), patients with recurrent IVF failures and in patients undergoing transfer with frozen embryos.

Simple and easy
The embryo transfers are done under ultra-sound guidance, which helps place the embryos optimally in the uterine cavity. Post, patients can go home in 20 minutes. We have also introduced the metabolomics machine for the first time in Asia. This machine helps us analyse the metabolic activity of the embryo and select the best embryo for single embryo transfer thereby reducing the possibility of multiple pregnancies.

Additionally, our centre utilises the technique for embryo freezing (vitrification), which also gives us equivalent pregnancy rates as compared to the fresh embryo transfers (ie within the range of 40 to 50 per cent in women less than 35 years of age).

Yet there are a few patients who don't get pregnant, and hence are counseled for surrogacy or adoption. Surrogacy is for those women who can't carry their own pregnancy; therefore the embryos are transferred in the womb of another woman who will carry the pregnancy till term. Bloom IVF group has units all over India including Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Vashi, New Delhi and Mohali. The centre does not advocate or practice prenatal sex determination or sex selection.

Contact us:
Lilavati Hospital IVF Centre, Bandra, Mumbai: 022-26438280, 26751000 Ext 8226 (ivfbabies@hotmail.com or gynaeinfo@rediffmail.com)
Fortis La Femme IVF Centre, GK2, Delhi: 011-29220125, 40579493, 09350887858 (fortisbloom@gmail .com)