Test tube twins born in government hospital

A 32-year-old woman has given birth to test tube twins at a government hospital here, said to be the first pair born through In-vitro Fertilisation method in a state-run hospital in south India.
The babies-- a boy and girl---were born to V S Nikhila at the Sree Avittom Thirunal (SAT) hospital here on Friday, hospital sources said.
A team of doctors, led by Dr Sheila Balakrishnan, head of the fertility centre at the hospital, performed a c-section on the woman yesterday morning, they said.
Hospital superintendent K E Elizabeth told PTI that it is a remarkable achievement for a government hospital as IVF treatment has been monopolised by private hospitals, who charge hefty sums for couples wishing to have a baby.

"The woman conceived through ICSI (intra cytoplasmic sperm injection), in which her egg was taken out and sperm injected into it. After growing an embryo outside, it was deposited in her uterus later," she said.
"The babies weigh two kg each and their mother is doing well," she said.

The babies were brought out through caesarean section because of some complications.
Another six women have become pregnant through IVF procedure at the hospital, she said.
However, she said success of such treatment is just 30 per cent and the result would be based on the age and physical conditions of women.

While private hospitals charge huge amount for such treatments, the SAT hospital charges only Rs one lakh, sources added.