KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 15 – The Malaysian Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (MSART) celebrated a momentous occasion on October 7 and 8, 2023, as the highly anticipated MSART Continuous Medical Education (CME) 2023 Fertility Conference took centre stage at Wyndham Bangsar in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
With a resolute commitment to advancing Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), the conference united more than 260 distinguished professionals, including doctors, embryologists, nurses, and health care experts from across the globe with a specific emphasis on the Southeast Asian region.
Featuring an exciting line-up of esteemed international speakers from countries like Vietnam, India, Spain, Indonesia, Singapore, China, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, and Australia, as well as some of Malaysia’s foremost medical experts from both the public and private sector, the two-day symposium was packed with insightful sessions, engaging discussions, and valuable exchange of knowledge, all geared towards pushing the frontiers of fertility treatment.
In his welcome speech, MSART president Dr Navdeep Singh Pannu noted the importance of the occasion, particularly in light of the challenges brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic in the last few years.
“This annual event, organised by MSART since 2021, carries special significance this year as it marks our first in-person gathering after the global pandemic,” he said, adding that the community fostered by MSART has enabled the spirit of innovation and collaboration among professionals in the ART field in Malaysia.
“Our members, who come from all around Malaysia, form a community that has served as the foundation for a vast majority of ART cycles conducted in Malaysia,” Dr Pannu said.
“It includes doctors, nurses, embryologists, counsellors, basically anyone who is involved in fertility treatments.”
Diverse, Enriching Platform For Knowledge Exchange, Collaboration
A steadfast advocate for Malaysian ART practitioners and allied health personnel, MSART has expanded its focus over the years to provide a common platform for ART practitioners to share ideas, research, and knowledge, ultimately advancing fertility practice across the region.
In keeping with this mission, the MSART CME 2023 Fertility Conference, which comprised 12 symposiums and over 50 talks created a diverse and enriching platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration. This convergence of brilliant minds and passionate individuals laid the groundwork for new collaborations and innovative approaches in the realm of reproductive medicine.
One of the highlights of the conference was the keynote address by Dr Tuong Manh Ho, which offered a compelling exploration of “In Vitro Maturation (IVM) in Clinical Practice.” Dr Tuong who has a distinguished career in ART dating back to 1997, is the director of the HOPE Research Center in My Duc Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
In vitro maturation (IVM) is when a woman’s eggs (oocytes) are collected and matured outside the body as part of an in vitro fertilisation (IVF) procedure.
In his address, Dr Tuong talked about the advantages of various IVM protocols, particularly underscoring the significance of the CAPA-IVM protocol. This innovative protocol has demonstrated substantial enhancements in oocyte maturation, quality, and pregnancy rates, promising to overcome challenges associated with older IVM protocols, said Dr Tuong.
Dr Tuong also explored the application of IVM in fertility preservation, especially for cancer patients and individuals with conditions like resistant ovary syndrome. He highlighted the recent acknowledgment of IVM as a standard treatment for various indications, encompassing high-risk patients and women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
“IVM stands as a symbol of hope, affordability, and the ever evolving landscape of fertility treatment, ushering in an era of improved effectiveness in IVF,” said Dr Tuong.
Highlights From The Symposiums
The conference covered a wide spectrum of topics in reproductive medicine, from clinical and embryology to nursing. Some sessions focused on the latest technologies for enhancing fertility care and refining strategies to optimise ovarian stimulation, thus improving IVF outcomes.
In parallel, other symposiums delved into crucial areas, including oncofertility, infertility, and the latest advancements in reproductive genetics. Engaging discussions ranged from a retrospective exploration of historical and modern fertility techniques to a deep dive into the factors influencing ART outcomes, particularly from the embryological perspective.
The conference also underscored the vital roles of nurses, as well as patient mental health and support services in the context of fertility. Specific symposiums addressed recurrent miscarriages and introduced groundbreaking IVF surgical interventions, while others provided practical guidance for successful embryo transfer and introduced innovative approaches to ovarian stimulation.
