KOLHAPUR, July 28: For the first time in medical history, a Russian lady Marina Ravindra Rasaldelivered a test tube baby weighing 3.2 kg after 19 attempts of In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) treatment at Patki Hospital's `Yash Fertility Research Laboratory' here late last night.

Satish Patki today said Marina, a Russian lady, married to Ravindra Rasal, originally belonged to Kolhapur, but settled in Moscow since last one decade. Patki said and Marina had her both fallopian tubes, irrepairably damaged and hence natural conception was impossible. Marina had undergone in Vitro Fertilisation (test tube baby) treatment at Eko Fertility Centre, Moscow for 18 times, during the period of Novmeber 1992 to August 1996, but unfortunately she could not conceive, Patki pointed out.

On the couple's Kolhapur visit, they tried their luck for the 19th time at Patki Hospital and Marina became pregnant. She gave birth to test tube baby girl late last night, Patki said. Getting a success in this IVF type of treatment after 18 failures, appears to be record, he said and added it is a well known fact that being pregnant after ten failures of IVF is a rare situation.

The success rate drastically drops after the tenth attempt cycle. As per record available, so far maximum number of attempts that have successfully made for the birth of a child are 12 in Australia by John Yuvich, he added.yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.