Bridge Clinic records 49 per cent pregnancy rates

A report by Alexandra Forbes has stated that the Bridge Clinic, a fertility centre in Lagos, recorded 49 per cent pregnancy rate for its gold standard patients in 2015.

According to the company’s Head of Verification Services in Nigeria, Ibilola Akinla,  available data shows that the clinic recorded 215 pregnancies from 758 couples that had valid fertility treatments in 2015.

She stated, “We found that the clinic achieved a pregnancy rate of 49 per cent from its client who are between 21 and 34 years of age. It also achieved an overall pregnancy rate of over 22 per cent.

“Our audit also found that the clinic had a total of 91 babies, comprising of 61 single births and 15 twin births in 2015; and has delivered a total of 1,203 children since 2006.”

Speaking at the presentation of the audit report to the clinic in Lagos, the General Manager, Dr. Ekundayo Omogbehin, said  the assessment was carried out in order to have a credible and independent assessment of its practice.

Omogbehin, who called for regulation of IVF practices in Nigeria, said the Forbes results could compete favourably with the success rates of fertility clinics in Europe and the United States.

He said, “We have a culture of transparency and it is in line with this that we submit ourselves to scrutiny.

“The achievement of 49 per cent pregnancy rate for our gold standard patients is a feat no other clinic in Nigeria has been able to achieve. It means we are competing with our peers in Europe and North America.”

Omogbehin however said that the pregnancy rate of its older patients was lower, compared to the younger ones due to the fact that most fertility-challenged couples do not seek IVF treatment early.

The gynaecologist said the delay often times weakens their chances of getting pregnant.

PUNCH.