As the Fertility Hub of Asia, Malaysia elevates advanced and modern fertility preservation treatments to empower women of all ages to build their own family at a time they deem best.
Many couples in present times are opting to start their families later in life after they have achieved their career goals and financial stability. This has seen the average age of first-time mothers rising to 31 years old[1]. However, as a woman ages, she may find her fertility decreasing. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, a woman’s fertility starts to decline at age 30, and by the time the woman is 45 years old, a natural pregnancy is unlikely to happen[2].
Nevertheless, with careful planning, it is now possible for women to take control of their fertility. One way to do so is via elective egg freezing when the woman is in her 20s, when she is in the peak of her fertility, thus giving her the option of choosing when to have children. “Today, healthy, young women in their 20s are opting to do so in a bid to preserve their childbearing abilities so they can concentrate on building a stable environment for their future families,” shared Dato’ Dr. Colin Lee, Founder of Alpha IVF & Women’s Specialists.
According to Dr. Lim Lei Jun, the Medical Director and Fertility Specialist at Sunfert International Fertility Centre, “An optimal time to undergo elective egg freezing would be when you’re in your 20s or early 30s. This will enable your medical practitioners to retrieve healthier eggs more easily, which will contribute to higher success rates in pregnancy when you are ready to grow your family.”
However, time is not the only thief of fertility. Certain treatments for diseases may damage ovaries and impair the reproductive function, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy for cancer. This is where onco-fertility comes in. Onco-fertility is a medical specialty that combines oncology and reproductive endocrinology in order to maximise the reproductive potential of cancer patients and survivors.
“Sunfert offers cancer patients fertility preservation options such as sperm and egg freezing, embryo freezing, and ovarian tissue freezing. These services are frequently provided in collaboration with oncologists to ensure that patients receive the best possible care,” added Dr. Lim.
Besides that, the diagnosis of medical conditions and treatments are often an emotionally distressing time and may affect the woman’s fertility. At times like that, fertility preservation treatment would also be a good option to maintain a woman’s sense of identity and bring an overall positive impact to her quality of life.
Medical practitioners at private medical establishments in Malaysia offer in-depth fertility assessments and counselling to assist individuals in determining the optimal fertility preservation strategies for their personal situation. The clinic has an experienced team of fertility doctors and embryologists who use cutting-edge technology to provide high-quality fertility preservation services.
As Asia’s fertility hub and home to 10 out of only 37 fertility clinics outside of Australia and New Zealand that are certified by the Reproductive Technology Accreditation Committee (RTAC), Malaysia Healthcare is a popular destination for couples seeking fertility treatments[3].
The majority of fertility centres in Malaysia are equipped to serve as a one-stop centre for all fertility-related services, including screening, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care. Healthcare travellers seeking fertility treatments have a lot of discretion in selecting the medical establishment that best matches their needs. Furthermore, there is little to no wait time for an appointment, making it easier for them to receive true care that is ‘lebih dekat, lebih terjangkau’.
For more information on Malaysia Healthcare and its services, please visit https://malaysiahealthcare.org or visit our social feeds at: www.facebook.com/MHTCMalaysia or at LinkedIn (Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council).
[1] https://www.forbes.com/sites/ashleystahl/2020/05/01/new-study-millennial-women-are-delaying-having-children-due-to-their-careers/?sh=4502332a276a
[2] https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/having-a-baby-after-age-35-how-aging-affects-fertility-and-pregnancy#:~:text=A%20woman’s%20peak%20reproductive%20years,getting%20pregnant%20naturally%20is%20unlikely.
[3]https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2022/06/809519/malaysia-top-destination-fertility-treatment
