Facts, Views & Vision
in ObGyn

Journal of the European Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy

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SPERM ONLY PLEASE: Prevention of infections in an assisted reproduction laboratory in a developing country

Keywords:

Affordable, assisted reproduction, developing country, semen decontamination, HIV-1; infections

C. HUYSER, J. FOURIE

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Pretoria, Steve Biko Academic Hospital, PO Box 667, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa.

Correspondence at: carin.huyser@up.ac.za

Abstract

The aim of the current paper is to discuss prevention of infections in a public sector laboratory-orientated assisted reproduction treatment (ART) setting in Gauteng, South Africa. The reproductive profile with reference to the screening for sexual transmitted infections, affordability of care and resources available, should determine the repertoire of fertility screening and ART scheduling. Alternative viewpoints on resource management of an ART laboratory in a public sector setting, semen decontamination for the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) seropositive male and the subsequent choice of ART procedures, i.e. intra-uterine insemination (IUI) as a first-line treatment and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) are addressed. Assistance for the safe reproduction of HIV-1 serodiscordant couples is globally acceptable, and should be moulded into an accessible ART program for developing countries.