An unprecedented event in Armenian reproductive medicine took place on February 5th, 2004 – two babies, a boy and a girl were born after being conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF). Later in 2006 the embryos fertilized in vitro were transferred to a surrogate mother’s uterus, this way resulting in the birth of two girls – the first ever case in the history of Armenian reproductive medicine. The same year an IVF /ICSI process/ was conducted through testicular sperm aspiration /TESA/ method. In 2007 the first baby boy weighing 3500 grams was born via ICSI process, while in 2008 an IVF pregnancy was achieved by means of frozen embryo transfer.
In the meanwhile, the long scientific journey started still back in 1996 and in 1997 within the framework of in vitro fertilization program through the efforts of “Diagnostics” medical association a clinical embryology laboratory was established for the purpose of growing eggs retrieved from hyperstimulation. The same year the first human embryos were obtained.
Clinical embryologist Karen Jinanyan (PD in Biological Sciences) stands in the roots of these scientific experiments. He is currently the Head of Diagnostic Laboratory, Research Center of Maternal and Child Health Protection, and Member of the Armenian Medical Diagnostic Association.
The question how many children have ever been born in Armenia through IVF has never been a priority to Karen Jinanyan and he does not keep track.
“I do prioritize raising effectiveness of IVF instead, we have switched it from 30% to 50%. From the very start of introduction of IVF in Armenia, we have a tradition to hang the photos of babies on the walls of the medical unit, and currently the photos are more than 3000. Lately there has been a tendency of increased births through IVF in Armenia. The long years of our efforts and the skills obtained have brought many changes to the mindset of couples fighting infertility. Now they are confident that it is possible, and they should fight infertility and win. More people turn to conception via IVF and the number of couples saying “God does not gift us a child” is decreasing”.
According to Karen Jinanyan, about 15-20% of married couples have fertility issues. In case pregnancy does not occur while there is a regular sexual intercourse without the use of contraceptives for the period of a year, we can start talking about infertility. While deciding to treat infertility we take into consideration the age of the couple and the health issues they have. There are various causes of infertility both among men and women. The traditional treatment methods are not always effective.
“In this case there is a new method of fighting infertility – assisted reproductive technology, based on IVF method. The fertilization of an ovum and maturation of sperm take place outside the woman’s body, and only after 2-5 days the embryo is transferred into the uterine cavity. It is every family’s own decision to choose IVF program”.
The first baby born through this method is Louise Joy Brown (July 25, 1978, Great Britain). Armenian specialists have regularly undergone trainings in leading European clinics during 1996-2005, and the specialists from respective clinics have also worked in Armenia simultaneously, while the success of local Armenian scientific group was achieved with creation of similar medical centers in Armenia afterwards.
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“The number of clinics conducting IVF in Armenia is quite enough, given the population in our country. And the more the number of clinics grows, the more competition we face. This gives opportunities to choose and is beneficial to the couples”.
Candidate of Biology Karen Jinanyan, together with Professors of Medical Sciences Georgy Okoev and Karine Arustamyan and Associate Professor, Candidate of Sciences Emma Tonoyan received President Prize in 2008, for the introduction and implementation of the method of in vitro fertilization in the Republic of Armenia
“To be honest, the prize to me played a momentary role, which took place and passed, turning into a memory. The important thing is the work I do, and I am so happy for this. What concerns the monetary award, together with my colleagues we donated it to the replenishment of embryological laboratory”.
Karen Jinanyan’s son Hovhannes is a dentist, daughter Ani is planning to apply to the AUA, while his wife Karine teaches at National Polytechnic University of Armenia.
Do you consider yourself a happy person, given that you help numerous families to be happy themselves?
“Happiness is a very individual state of one’s soul. Happiness is a feeling which is impossible to sense endlessly, it is a soul’s momentary state, which means it is not possible to be happy in the past or in the future, the feeling of happiness is for the given moment. And yes, I am happy, and I am happy this given moment”.
Ruzan Khachatryan
The President Prize to the Republic of Armenia is initiated and funded by the Boghossian Foundation (Belgium-Switzerland). The Award Ceremony is organized by “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund. The prizes are conferred by the RA President and the representatives of the Boghossian Foundation annually in May.
“Aravot” daily
01.05.2020
