Affordable ART services in Africa: synthesis and adaptation of laboratory services

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to provide information, opinions and suggestions on affordable laboratory-orientated fertility screening and treatment. Resource management to provide such services in developing countries, basic and advanced assisted reproductive services and assisted reproduction treatment (ART) of patients with sexually transmitted infections are addressed. Alternative viewpoints and parallel thinking should be encouraged to synthesize and adapt first-world ART guidelines and recommendations into safe and workable directives for developing regions. Affordable African ART programmes, devoid of commercialism, can provide essential sexual health screening services en route to safe fertility services for human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) serodiscordant couples (male HIV-positive), who wish to have their own biological child.

Assisted reproductive technologies in developing countries: are we caring yet?

“…The development and validation of low-cost ART treatments has attracted much interest, including media attention (17). Recent reports appear optimistic about the feasibility of low-cost ART that are suitable for low-resource settings (18)(19)(20). However, to date there are no clinical data for assessing outcomes of low cost ART.…”

Office-based sperm concentration: A simplified method for intrauterine insemination therapy

“…Three levels of reproductive healthcare are currently available: (i) a large number of primary centres/clinics performing initial inexpensive diagnostic fertility assessments, including a basic semen analysis; (ii) a smaller number of intermediary practices that offer screening and essential reproductive healthcare treatments; and (iii) tertiary care centres and private institutions providing advanced assisted reproductive technologies in an established academic setting. [1] Treatment for the infertile couple in a First-World setting developed rapidly through access to high-technology procedures and equipment, ready-made culture media and the finest monitoring systems in a controlled environment. However, a very different scenario exists in developing countries where clinicians manage an office-based infertility counselling service.…”