- Nationwide network of FP centers
- Network center hospital - regional center hospitals - each regional hospital
- Educational and technical supports to regional center hospitals(lectures, hands-on workshops, consultation)
- Regional center hospitals: support each regional hospital
Infertility-ART
Why Infertility-ART in Korea
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In Korea, the number of couples receiving infertility treatment support and the number of assisted reproductive technology procedures has steadily increased as the result of active national supports for infertile couples. Since 2006, the number of infertility treatment and the number of infertility medical institutions have increased with support for marital infertility treatment expenses. In line with these efforts, excellent results are shown through the rapid increase in experience and knowledge on infertility treatment. By monitoring the results and side effects of infertility treatment at the national level, quality control is being carried out in the relevant field.
In October 2017, infertility treatment was covered by the National Health Insurance, and the number of infertility treatment increased rapidly from 2018.
Trend of the number of patients by year of infertility treatment
- Source
- Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA), http://opendata.hira.or.kr/op/opc/olapMfrnIntrsDiagBhvInfo.do
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Cancer survivors at reproductive ages are increasing with the improvement of treatment. Cancer patients are at risk of infertility after cure of cancer treatment. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation and re- implantation is an important option to preserve fertility. In 2019, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine defined ovarian tissue cryopreservation as a newly established option for fertility preservation.
In 2015, Korea already succeeded in retrieving oocyte using this novel technology at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital.
- Ovarian Tissue
Processing
- Ovarian Tissue
- Ovarian Tissue
Cryopreservation
- Ovarian Tissue
- Ovarian Tissue
Re-Implantation
- Ovarian Tissue
- Successful Oocyte
Retrieval
- Successful Oocyte
- Active introduction and relevant success of the latest technology in infertility treatment
- Source
- Research paper. Journal of Korean medical science, 2018, 33.21.
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In Korea, from October 1, 2017, the National Health Insurance for infertility treatment procedures was applied. From the implementation of this support, the evaluation of infertility treatment institutions was strengthened, and data on all cycles of ART procedure applying health insurance were collected and evaluated.
The evaluation items for infertility treatment medical institutions are as follows, and are managed to ensure that infertility procedures are safely performed and the best results are achieved.
Trend of the number of patients by year of infertility treatment
| Evaluation Area | Intrauterine Insemination | In Vitro Fertilization |
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| Quality of Equipment and Professional Medical Personnel |
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| Status of Medical Quality Management |
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| Infertility Treatment Performance Analysis |
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- Source
- Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service
Advanced Treatment
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- IVM refers to aspiration and in vitro maturation of immature oocytes from small antral follicles at the stage prior to selection and dominance. Immature oocytes are retrieved from the unstimulated or minimally stimulated ovaries and matured in a maturation medium. Patients can benefit from IVM procedure reducing the risk of OHSS (ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome), avoiding potential side effects of COH (Controlled Ovarian Hyperstimulation), and reducing the cost for COH.
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- Korea has been the pioneer in the field of reproductive medicine using cryopreservation techniques such as vitrification of gametes, embryos, and gonadal tissues. These cutting-edge technologies have brought hope and new life into infertility patients, cancer patients, and single women seeking social oocyte banking.
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- PGT refers to the genetic test on cells removed from embryos (embryos prior to implantation, and sometimes even of oocytes prior to fertilization), to help select the best embryo(s) for pregnancy or to be free of a genetic disease. PGT is an option not to transmission of genetic diseases or recurrent miscarriages in a similar fashion to prenatal diagnosis.
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- The principle of this system is that the embryo is not exposed to the outside of the incubator until the day of embryo transfer, but the image of all embryos is visualized and then the best embryo is selected using a special program.
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- Microsurgical TESE (TEsticular Sperm Extraction) is an effective sperm retrieval from men with NOA (Non-Obstructive Azoospermia). A surgeon opens the testicles through this incision and look under a high power, operating microscope (at 20-25X magnification) for seminiferous tubules that are swollen and contain sperm. The advantages of this technique are minimally invasive technique, removal of minimal amount of testicular tissue and minimally negative impact on testicular function.
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Single Port Laparoscopic Surgery
- Classical laparoscopy is a method of performing 3 to 4 incisions in the umbilicus and lower abdomen. In a single port assisted laparoscopic surgery, about 1~2 centimeter single incision is made in the umbilicus. Since the incision is localized to the umbilicus, it not only has a high cosmetic satisfaction but is also effective in reducing postoperative pain.
Robotic Surgery
- This surgical approach combines the advantages of laparoscopy, but overcome the limitation with the full range of motion that may not have been accomplished with traditional laparoscopy. There are many centers that have Robotic surgery systems and skillful surgeons in Korea.
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07 Korean Society for Fertility Preservation (KSFP) and National Fertility
Preservation Network (KoFPNet) open- The KSFP was established in 2013 to facilitate collaboration between medical physicians and researchers who specialize in reproductive medicine and oncology. The ultimate purpose of the society is to help patients who are undergoing treatments that will affect their fertility and reproductive function. With regard to improving oncofertility research and clinical programs in Asia, the KSFP collaborates with the oncofertility society in Asia and co-found the ASFP (Asian Society for Fertility Preservation) with 14 national societies in Aisa. The KoFPNet is a nationwide network of fertility preservation centers. It has a three-tier structure: national center hospitals, regional center hospitals in each region, and regional hospitals (Figure). The KSFP provides education and technical support to the regional center hospitals of the network, including lectures, hands-on workshops, and consultation. In turn, the regional center hospitals support their associated regional hospitals. The goals of this network are to improve the quality of treatment and to achieve the same level of quality in each institution. In Korea all fertility preservation techniques (oocyte, embryo, and ovarian tissue cryopreservation) are clinically well established.
National Fertility Preservation Network (KoFPNet)
- Source
- Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service
- More foreign patients are annually visiting Korea especially for difficult or delicate treatments, including a living-doner liver transplantation, in vitro fertilization, spinal disease, reconstructive rhinoplasty, obteosarcoma, Micro TESE, etc.
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In vitro Fertilization
- A Middle Eastern couple, who had been unable to conceive naturally, gave birth to twins through a testtube baby procedure in Korea.
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In vitro fertilization
- A Chinese patient, who had difficulty conceiving naturally because of the resection of her fallopian tubes, gave birth to a daughter through in vitro fertilization in Korea.
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Micro-TESE
- A Russian couple, who had been diagnosed azoospermia and failed to TESE, now have a boy with husband’s own sperm through Micro TESE.
