About 270,000 couples in Bulgaria have reproductive problems and cannot have children naturally. A real chance for them is the method of in vitro fertilization. Last year marked the 25^th anniversary of its application in this country. The first successful in vitro fertilization was done in the UK. The birth on July 25, 1978 in Oldham of Louise Brown revolutionized reproductive medicine and gave hope to millions of infertile couples around the world to have their own child. Ten years later, in 1988, the first baby conceived by in vitro fertilization was born in Bulgaria – Iliyana.

Since then the method is gaining momentum, getting developed and refined. The success rate of Bulgarian IVF clinics is comparable to that in the developed European countries. Exact statistics on births in recent years using in-vitro fertilization at home is missing. There are procedures that are ongoing and it often happens that patients do not wish to disclose this. However, the children born via this method in Bulgaria are several thousand. More from Dr. Daniela Savova, director of the Medical Center for Reproductive Health at Dr. Shterev Maternity Hospital.

“IVF is a measure of last resort, Dr. Daniela Savova explains. In vitro fertilization is applied only in the event of obstruction of the fallopian tubes. This is the key and is the first indication for a general IVF procedure. There are many diseases that may result in the need for IVF. This is endometriosis, inflammatory pelvic diseases, which can lead to occlusion of the fallopian tubes. The male factor is also important. When the semen analysis has low values, a variety of in vitro procedures is applied in which embryologists inject sperm directly into the egg, because the amount is very small and they don’t have fertility. Basically, these are the causes that can lead to the need for IVF. There are also cases of sterility of unknown causes. Everything is fine with the man and the woman, but not a single pregnancy occurs. Then we do a diagnostic in vitro to assess the chances of success."

Are families in Bulgaria sufficiently informed of the opportunities offered by IVF?

"Bulgaria has over 25 IVF centers that specialize in exactly these issues”, says Dr. Savova. “Many GPs need to know and direct their patients to specialized centers to conduct more specific tests and define the behavior of the couple. There are plenty of women and couples who do not know where to seek help. At the same time, there is plenty of information. There are patient organizations which also provide information on where a couple can find advice. The choice is wide, specialists in Bulgaria are numerous - both doctors and embryologists. So appropriate treatment can be performed in Bulgarian clinics which are in no way inferior to the world's major IVF clinics."

Because of the lower cost of the procedure and the high professionalism of Bulgarian doctors, IVF clinics in Bulgaria are in demand from foreign patients.

“We constantly improve and develop by participating in many international scientific conferences”, says Dr. Savova. “We exchange experience with leading European and world clinics. The development of embryology, genetics, and immunology enables us to deploy the achievements in this field. All this, coupled with the introduction of new methods and modern equipment, stimulates us to move forward."
Is the cost of in-vitro procedures affordable for Bulgarians?

“IVF is expensive”, says Dr. Savova. “A procedure including the medicines and supplies costs some 5,000 Levs. Abroad, however, it is much more expensive. The fact is that, years ago, the Health Fund provided financing for medicines, then the Assisted Reproduction Fund was set up. Once the patients get approval, they are entitled to three IVF attempts as the fund provides up to 5,000 leva per one procedure. And because the success rate is not one hundred percent, this put an additional financial load on patients. It is namely this fund that gives the chance to many Bulgarian couples to have a child."

English version: Rossitsa Petcova