Vitalab - About us - Our Services

Andrology
Andrology is the male equivalent of gynaecology. It involves the examination of the male, semen analyses, endocrinology, diagnosis and treatment of varicocele and surgery when indicated. Outstanding medical care, years of focused experience and state of the art technologies have made VITALAB a renowned centre for the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility. VITALAB's success rate in this area, allied to a willingness and dedication on the part of our staff to treat even the most difficult male infertility problems, have made VITALAB one of the leading infertility treatment centres in the world.

Artificial Insemination - Husband
Around 40% of infertility cases result from disorders in the male. These factors may be the sole cause of infertility, or there may be a combination of male and female problems. Careful evaluation of the couple's problem will allow our staff to evaluate the need for the procedure of artificial insemination of the husband's sperm (AIH). Inseminations are scheduled to occur around the time of ovulation. VITALAB's medical staff closely monitors the ovulation cycle. The partner's sperm is prepared by a special "washing" procedure for intrauterine insemination following ovulation in the female partner.

Donor sperm may be indicated for a variety of reasons. In order to decide whether to undergo donor insemination (DI), couples need to know the cause(s) of infertility and their chances of pregnancy without DI. VITALAB uses donor sperm from carefully screened and monitored donors. All donor sperm is tested and quarantined prior to use in DI. Inseminations are scheduled to occur close to the time of ovulation. The time of ovulation is commonly estimated by the use of vaginal ultrasound examination. Inseminations are usually performed once or twice around the time of ovulation. The procedure is relatively simple and only takes a few minutes to perform.

The woman lies on an examining couch and the doctor inserts a speculum into the vagina. A sample of specially prepared sperm is inserted directly in to the uterine cavity. Sperm Analysis

There are many psychological issues surrounding DI. It is important for both partners to accept the procedure as an alternative means of having a family. The psychological issues of DI should be resolved before undergoing the procedure. Our highly trained staff facilitates the legal issues concerning donor insemination.

Semen Analysis.
Testing should be obtained before any invasive procedure such as HSG, laparoscopy, or ovulation induction is considered. A semen analysis is considered current if it has been obtained within the last 12-18 months and performed by a reputable laboratory using acceptable criteria. Abnormal values should be rechecked no sooner than 4-8 weeks. If, on repeat testing, the total motile count per sample is greater than 5 million, ovulation induction and intrauterine insemination may be of benefit. Smokers should be placed on antioxidant supplementation (Vitamin C 1gm/day and Vitamin E 400ugmday. Varicocele (scrotal varicose veins) is looked for and treatment is individualised. A bacteriology culture of the semen may be indicated, and if an infection is present, this will be treated with the appropriate antibiotics. A serum prolactin, FSH, testosterone, TSH and sperm antibody testing may follow abnormal semen analysis. In very specific circumstances, genetic studies may be undertaken.

Semen Banking
Vitalab offers cryostorage (freezing) of sperm for patients with sperm production problems, prior to chemotherapy, prior to a vasectomy and prior to treatment by drugs which may affect fertility.

Patient Counselling
Support for the greater variety of life�s challenges invariably comes from family, friends and colleagues. However, for those who are experiencing fertility problems, these avenues of support are often excluded for reasons of privacy or more often, the growing awareness of the general lack of understanding and sensitivity in this area. Experience in fertility problems has shown that supportive counselling must be readily available and encouraged from the beginning of the process.

At VITALAB the couple is treated as the patient. We have trained support therapists, both inside and outside our consulting rooms who deal with the issues of distress, anxiety and the sense of loss fertility problems can create.

We feel it is important to normalise these feelings and to harness alternative coping skills to enable the couple or individual to move forward towards a more positive outcome.