By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

In a joint resolution issued Wednesday, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights terminated the cases of complaints against the government for lack of processes to develop in-vitro fertilization.

According to the resolution, the court considered that the government complied with the reparation measures ordered in the judgment of Nov. 28, 2012, and Nov. 29, 2016.

According to the complaints filed by the Artavia-Murillo family and other affected couples, in addition to another complaint filed by the Gomez-Murillo family and others affected cited the lack of access in the country to the in-vitro fertilization process.

"The cases are related, fundamentally, to the prohibition that existed in Costa Rica since 2000 to practice the technique of in-vitro fertilization, where the court ordered three reparation measures aimed at implementing the technique in the country again, guaranteeing the rights of the victims and to guarantee the non-repetition of the violations," said the government in its statement.

The court, based in San Pedro, positively assessed the regulations issued by the government, in which it has allowed regulating and providing access to fertilization at both the private and public levels.

According to the minister of Foreign Affairs, on July 1, a delegation of the Inter-American Court visited the High Complexity Reproductive Medicine Unit, located at the Adolfo Carit Eva Women's Hospital, which allowed verifying the actions taken to include the availability of the in-vitro fertilization in the Social Security.

The text of both Resolutions is found on the official website of the Inter-American Court.

In August, after having complied with a process of monitoring, control, and ovarian stimulation, specialists from the High Complexity Reproductive Medicine Unit made embryonic transfers that could culminate in the first in-vitro pregnancies performed by Social Security.

According to Jerchell Barrantes, coordinator of the unit, the first group of couples have been chosen for the embryo transfer.

"On June 3rd, we began the registration process. It has involved thorough monitoring by a team of five specialists of reproductive medicine, three microbiologists specialized in embryology and an entire nursing support team," said Social Security in its statement.

Follicular punctures or ovule extractions were carried out in a completely sterile operating room, the agency said, adding that the patient was anesthetized, and the ovules were removed through the vagina.

In another room, doctors selected the best sperm from the collected semen samples.

Barrantes explained how the medical unit chooses the best sperm. "The ovules and sperm are removed from the body and fertilization is attempted in the laboratory 24 hours later. The team had to wait between three and five days to confirm there was proper embryonic development," said the specialist in his statement.

The next step is the embryo transfer where a specialist places the embryos in a thin catheter to be inserted through the vagina until it reaches the uterus. This painless procedure is done on an outpatient basis so the patient can return home the same day.

After this transfer is made, the embryo should implant itself in the mother's womb, Social Security said. The pregnancy can be confirmed 12 days later.

According to Social Security, after the selection and treatment process, couples can undergo in-vitro fertilization, free of charge, as long as either patient is insured.




--------------------------
How much does the in-vitro fertilization process cost in your home country?  We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com

Booking.com

---