Dr. Gutierrez, partner and medical director of Inebir
Today we present to Dr. Pedro Gutiérrez, partner and medical director of Inebir.
Dr. Gutiérrez has over 20 years of experience and was a pioneer in Seville in the field of assisted reproduction. In 1985, he joined the Human Assisted Reproduction team at the In Vitro Insemination and Embryo Transfer Center, which was the first center in Andalusia to achieve a live birth following assisted reproduction treatment. Dr. Gutiérrez worked at this center for seven years and, subsequently, in 1993, became a founding partner of the Hispalense Assisted Reproduction Center, where he served as director of the Assisted Reproduction Unit until 2008. In 2009, he joined the Bionac team as medical director and currently holds the same position at Inebir.
In this interview he answers our questions Frequently asked questions that patients ask themselves before going to an assisted reproduction clinic.
What are the most common causes of infertility in Spanish couples today?
Today, the causes of infertility are usually almost equally male and female.
Among the female causes of infertility, the ovarian factor stands out, since in our society the age of first pregnancy has been significantly delayed. Therefore, when patients decide to attempt a natural pregnancy, they often discover that their ovarian reserve has diminished and the quality of their eggs has also been affected by aging. We also encounter many cases of infertility due to endometriosis and tubal pathologies.
Regarding the male factor, the most frequent causes are alterations in the number, mobility, and morphology of sperm.
Does a man's age affect semen quality and, therefore, male infertility?
Normally, the age of the man does not have much influence on male infertility; semen quality is maintained except at very advanced ages.
In women, age has a greater influence because ovarian reserve is limited and decreases over time.
How long does it usually take from when a patient first comes to Inebir until their treatment begins?
Generally, two to three months usually pass between the first visit and the start of treatment. This will always depend on the time needed for patients to undergo the fertility tests (some of these tests must be performed at specific times in the cycle, and the results of certain analyses may take several weeks), the type of treatment proposed, and the patients' decision about when to begin treatment.
At what point is it recommended that a couple who are trying unsuccessfully to have a child go to a fertility clinic?
It is recommended to seek professional help one year after beginning to try to conceive, provided there is no reason to suspect a pre-existing condition in either partner and the patient is under 35 years of age. If she is older or if any type of condition is observed, it is advisable to visit a fertility clinic as soon as possible.
What tests are performed at Inebir before starting treatment?
Typically, after the initial visit, patients are recommended to undergo a series of tests to help determine the causes of infertility and, consequently, decide on the most appropriate treatment. The most common tests included in this series are: ultrasound for follicular counting and hormonal analysis on the third day of menstruation, serological tests, embryo transfer trial, hysterosalpingography, and semen analysis.
What are the most in-demand treatments today? What do they involve?
Currently, the most requested treatments are in vitro fertilization (IVF) and egg donation. In both cases, it is a procedure in which the woman's eggs, previously retrieved, are fertilized by sperm in the laboratory using the ICSI technique, under optimal conditions for embryo development. These embryos are then transferred to the woman's uterus.
The difference between these two treatments lies in the fact that in egg donation, the fertilized eggs come from a donor. As in in vitro fertilization, these eggs are fertilized with sperm from the partner or a donor, and subsequently, the embryos are transferred to the patient.
Treatments such as ovulation induction and artificial insemination are also common, either with the partner's or donor's sperm.
Once treatment has started, can the patient lead a normal life?
Without any problems. The patient should lead a normal life, exactly the same as a couple who conceives naturally. Except in very specific cases, patients do not need to change their lifestyle.
What advice would you give to couples who are thinking of going to a fertility clinic?
In cases where women have been trying to conceive naturally for a long time without success, are over 35 years old, or suspect a medical condition, my advice is always to go to a fertility clinic as soon as possible.
Before going to a clinic, I recommend researching different clinics and their results. This way, you'll make a good choice and be in the hands of true professionals.