If you leave out the counselling bit, it can really affect the patient. There are some who will accept it if they fail—because you’re not the first person they’re seeing. They’ve seen multiple people; they know why they are coming. There are also people who know that, for some reason, they are never going to succeed—but they still want to give it a try. Q Do you counsel them yourself ? We usually refer them to a counsellor, but it often starts with us. Not everyone wants to see a psychologist, as they may prefer to share their story with as few people as possible. For those who are open to it, we refer them to a professional counsellor. Q Have you faced any ethical challenges on the job? IVF involves a lot of legal and ethical issues. Ethically, there are situations where you treat HIV-discordant couples, or cases where the semen quality is poor and requires donor sperm or surrogacy. Sometimes, a man who has previously fathered a child may be told he now has no viable semen and must consider donor options. Similarly, a woman may need to undergo egg donation. In some cases, a woman delivers a baby, and immediately the child is handed over to the intended parents. This can be emotionally challenging for the birth mother. These scenarios are all deeply embedded in legal and ethical complexities. Such issues require careful consideration and clear boundaries. Counsellors play a crucial role in providing support, but ultimately, individuals must feel empowered to decide whether or not this path is right for them. These are the kinds of ethical dilemmas we face regularly. As professionals, we navigate them daily, and it’s important to handle each situation with sensitivity and care. Q If a young person is interested in embryology, what advice would you give them? First, they should have a background in reproductive biology or reproductive medicine. There are now a few institutions training embryologists, and new clinics are opening regularly. Beyond technical skills, they need to have good character, dedication, confidentiality, and integrity. Once you meet these requirements, you can start as a trainee, and within about two years, with supervision, you should be able to work independently. Q Let’s talk about your personal life a little. How do you balance your professional and personal life? It’s manageable if you have a partner who understands the demands of the work. There are calls from patients at all hours, The Birthday Journal 55 E L L I S AT 6 0
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