Infertility is rising in Hong Kong, and the city lacks medical staff in the field
Infertility is on the rise in the city but embryologists are in short supply, writes Elaine Yau
There's a lot of mystery and guesswork surrounding infertility, but one thing is for certain: Hong Kong needs more scientists and training in this medical field. One in six couples in the territory is infertile, compared to one in 10 two decades ago.
Demand for infertility treatments is therefore high, but there's a lack of embryologists - scientists who study the development of embryos - to carry out the work.
There are 50 embryologists in Hong Kong, spread across 11 assisted reproductive technology centres. That's 30 scientists short of the ideal figure. To plug the gap, Tung Wah College will launch a programme on embryology and reproductive medicine this September. It will cover basic reproductive biology, embryology, quality control and ethics, and assisted reproductive technologies.
Dr Tony Chiu Tak-yu, visiting professor of embryology and assisted reproductive technology with the college's Department of Medical Science, says there should be on average one embryologist for every 150 laboratory cycles, according to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine's guidelines for human embryology and andrology laboratories.
There were 11,631 reproductive technology procedures performed here in 2010, which means about 78 embryologists were needed.
Dr Joseph Chan Woon-tong, deputy medical superintendent and head of the Department of Women's Health and Obstetrics at the Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital, says the role of embryologists in infertility treatments are often overlooked.