SAAB Londrina Fertility Center

SAAB Londrina Fertility Center

On May 2, 1986, the first page of assisted reproduction in Paraná was written. The first “test tube baby” originally fertilized in the state was born. Paraná then became the second Brazilian state to master the technique that until then sounded like science fiction. This pioneering and successful story began four years earlier, when in 1982 the professor of Human Reproduction at UFPR, Karam Abou Saab, went to the United States to improve his knowledge on the subject with the American pioneer Howard Jones Jr. (responsible for the first post birth IVF in the USA). Four years of study, ingenuity and perseverance stretched until the technique was sufficiently improved. The birth was widely publicized by the Paraná press. 

We provide some clippings from the period. After the initial success, others came. By demonstrating the technique's success, other couples were able to benefit, which significantly reduced the cost. The year 1992 was once again marked by pioneering spirit, Dr. Karam was the first doctor in the world to reverse tubal ligation by video-laparoscopy, which brought him international recognition. In the same year, he was responsible for the first pregnancy in Brazil in a menopausal woman. 

The next few years were marked by the dedication and work of the entire team at the Centro Paranaense de Fertility, with approximately 3,500 births and national recognition. During the thirty years of attention to infertile couples, the concept of simplified IVF was developed, in which patients receive lower doses of medication, but with similar success to conventional IVF (also applicable to IVF-ICSI). This fact results in fewer side effects, less discomfort, less risk of multiple pregnancies and hyperstimulations, in addition to lower costs, optimizing the In Vitro Fertilization process. The year of 2015 marks the transition to a new phase at the Fertility Center. 

We opened a new headquarters with spacious and comfortable spaces with state-of-the-art technology, aimed at providing complete assistance to couples undergoing treatment, the Saab Fertility Center. At the same time, we completely reformulated the Paraná Fertility Center, where, in addition to conventional treatments and Assisted Reproduction, we created Oncofertility and Assisted Reproduction sectors at reduced cost for economically disadvantaged couples.