The Puah Institute left a meaningful impression at the Israel Fertility Association (IFA)

Puah at the Israel Fertility Association conference
May 11, 2009

The Puah Institute left a meaningful impression at the Israel Fertility Association (IFA) annual conference that took place 11-12 of May at the Dan Panorama Hotel in Tel Aviv.

Rabbi Udi Rath of the Puah institute with Dr. Idit Ben-Yair of the Shifra Institute gave an oral presentation at the general forum about a new PCT introduced by the Puah Institute. A PCT is the first test of male infertility that is done by taking a swab from the woman shortly after intercourse. There is absolutely no halachic issue with this test since it is done on the woman.  The problem in the past with the PCT test it is not often a good indication of whether there is an issue with the sperm.  There are many couples who have a poor PCT who go on to have a good SA (sperm analysis), and there are many couples with a good PCT who go on to have male factor infertility.

Dr. Ben-Yair showed a strong correlation between the results of a regular sperm test (that is Halachicly problematic) and the new PCT in providing a good first picture of the male factor condition.

The presentation was marked as outstanding and was one of four candidates for the annual award of the IFA.

In addition Puah counselors presented three medical Halachic posters at the conference. The posters dealt with: egg donation, ovariectomies of BRCA carriers and cryopreservation of ovarian tissue and oocytes – all of which drew attention from medical crowd.