Innova Invitro – The Place Where Parenting Dreams Come True

Infertility was always a very serious problem for society, both as a medical and as a social-demographic issue. In an era of late parenting, combined with career growth goals which weakened the institution of family, the hazardous effects of toxic influences of ecology and environmental factors saw infertility becoming not just a personal tragedy but a global problem.

Innova Invitro, established and guided by Dr. Ketevan Osidze who is well-known for as being a doctor with excellent results, is fully dedicated to meeting patient’s expectations. The clinic has been operating since 2016 and is recognized worldwide as having international standards and high pregnancy rates.

We all know that to be a leading clinic in Tbilisi requires hard work. Please tell us a little more about Innova Invitro.

I am really happy to have such an amazing team. I have 16 years’ working experience in the field of IVF but my goal was to start with the best possible embryology lab. I chose one of the leaders in the field of IVI, the Valencia Institute of Infertility, as a provider of accreditation and runner of our embryology service. Our Embryology Lab Director Jordan Garcia Ortega is a well-known professional worldwide with amazing experience. I think having such an influential person here had an overall impact on the service and quality in this region. We are proud that several Georgians have been trained by him. We continue to employee embryologists from IVI as the number of patients is growing constantly.

What is main activity of your clinic?

We offer services of any difficulty as we are fully equipped and have the know-how. To performing IVF and ICSI – intracytoplasmic sperm injection, we can add genetic tests of embryos PGT-A, PGD, and NIPD tests for pregnancies. Our main activity includes ambulatory treatment and diagnostics of infertility. The clinic has all the necessary means to treat women and men: an external control hormonal lab, referral department of laparoscopy, endocrinology and andrology services, and outstanding specialists with up to date ultrasound and XR machines. We think that only proper diagnosis can ensure a successful medical intervention. Our multidiscipline team of gynaecologists, obstetricians, endocrinologists, therapeutics, and anaesthesiologists care about the well-being and satisfaction of patients and their babies.

We feel special responsibility providing donation and surrogacy services, as it is not only medical intervention. We care very much about the transparency and safety of the process for all parties – couples, egg or sperm donors and surrogate mothers. This is an absolutely legal process which is well controlled by the government.

We know that you have very positive feedback from patients. What makes your clinic different from others?

Our priority is high standards of medical service, and an individualized and timely approach to any case with properly planned interventions. We have a special department for international patients to make it easy for them to plan and prepare for surrogacy and donation services. They arrive only at the final stages for the procedure and have to spend only several days in Tbilisi. I have to mention that they usually want to stay longer just as tourists and usually come back for several weeks with friends after the babies are born. I can say that medical tourism is contributing a lot to the rise of tourism activity overall. Timely and planned visits and long-distance services are very important to local customers as well, as a lack of time is a reality for many.

What is main diagnosis of your patients?

It is most commonly infertility due to tubal patency problems post-inflammation or post-surgery. Everyone is concerned about the very fast decline in sperm parameters and subfertility and infertility. Along with genetic errors in the Y chromosome, this situation is connected with ecology, air pollution, chemicals in food, steroid abuse and heavy metals in building materials, possible the harm of Wi-Fi and other urban factors, including stress. We are really glad to see men overcoming the stigma of coming for a check-up and visiting earlier, sometimes even before marriage. Infertility is problem of a couple not of a single individual, so faster diagnosis gives faster results.

What are your plans?

We follow all the advances in reproductive medicine field. We would like to share our experience and expertise with professional society by participating in international research and training programs. As part of social responsibility, we will continue to make efforts to make society more informed and educated about infertility treatment and prevention.

What does partnering with IVI mean for your clinic and what is the priority area of activity for Inova Invitro?

The priority area for Inova Invitro is the comprehensive diagnosis and management of all pathologies of infertility, all the while adhering to international standards pertaining to the treatment procedures. The main focus is on vitro fertilization and donation-surrogacy programs. We are home to personnel of the highest calibre with 15 years’ working experience in the realm of in vitro fertilization. The collaboration with IVI gives our specialists the opportunity to, along with providing the best standards of treatment, develop an integrated approach that incorporates complex diagnostics and consultation.

What makes patients turn to donation or surrogacy? What do these two procedures entail?

Premature ovarian syndrome, genetic abnormalities, poor quality eggs or embryos are among the conditions that urge us to recommend egg donation. Egg fertilization is carried out in the embryological laboratory by the recipient's partner or donor sperm, then transplanted into the uterine cavity of a "potential mother" under ultrasonography. About 12 days after embryo transfer, a pregnancy test or blood test is performed to determine pregnancy.

In case of infertility, when referring to the surrogacy program, stimulation is provided for the biological mother or the donor, and the fertilized egg is transferred to the surrogate mother’s womb. Surrogate mothers have no genetic relationship with the embryos.

What are the root causes of infertility?

Infertility is a sensitive global issue. The causes may range from stress, late marriage, ecology, or the deterioration of male spermogram, among others. Quite often, a delayed visit to a doctor becomes one of the major obstacles.

What do you see as the major priority of Inova Invitro?

Our collaboration with Spain, an indisputable leader in the field, and working in accordance with the standards that they set, has been Invitro’s major asset. Partnering with IVI is a major advantage in terms of research, results and technical support.

Inova Invitro is a clinic that never fails to adhere to the best of European standards, which is also stressed by its maintenance of an embryological laboratory, headed by Jordan Garcia Ortega, a leading specialist at IVI.

How does your team work towards the clinic’s common goal?

The success of Inova Invitro almost entirely lies in our team's passion and effort to deliver the latest in state-of-the-art expertise and innovation. IVI specialists are valuable members of our team. Our clinic is home for specialists from all the adjacent fields to fertilization, which is another remarkable asset. One can benefit from all the services he/she needs in the comfort of a single space.

What is the pace of development for the field of reproductive medicine?

The field is developing rapidly; new methods are emerging, such as the so-called "gene modification" or embryonic genetic evaluation. All new discoveries are accessible at our clinic and we apply them strictly in accordance with healthcare licensing.

The field of reproductive medicine is undergoing some outstanding developments in Georgia, as the country's healthcare system actively supports it. Under our state-controlled regulations, the patient receives a safe and comprehensive service within a high quality program. The rights of patients, donors and surrogates (with whom the clinic works in close cooperation) are maximally protected.

Tell us about the improving trends of late.

The newly emerging trend is that an ever-increasing number of men address our clinic.

Even before marriage, the couples conduct research and check on their health. Egg and embryo freezing methods are also becoming popular- all these are vital turning points!

What are your last thoughts or advice for patients?

This century has brought to light that the ecological situation and a stressful backdrop work against us. Even with Wi-Fi, the spermogram concentration is weakened and the indicators are corrupted.

Consequently, there are many things to consider in terms of pregnancy. Timely referral to a doctor will prevent many problems.