BEIJING--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Infertility, defined as the failure to conceive after 12 months or more of regular, unprotected intercourse, may affect as many as 15 percent of couples around the world including Asia.¹ Like other countries, China’s infertility rate is on the rise increasing from 3 percent to 15 percent in the past 20 years.² It is estimated that at least 40 million Chinese couples have difficulty in having children or are actually infertile.³

As a result, the use of assisted reproductive technology (A.R.T.) to increase fertility has been steadily increasing. In China alone, more than 10 million couples need A.R.T. procedures.⁴

As the quantity of A.R.T. cycles increases, scientists and physicians are looking to improve the quality of A.R.T. cycles as well. One critical factor in A.R.T. is the proper culture and selection of fertilized embryos and then their successful implantation in the woman’s womb. These important issues related to A.R.T. are the focus of the 3^rd Congress of the Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction (ASPIRE 2010), 9 - 11 April in Thailand.

Cook Medical Women’s Health Division is conducting a media briefing in Beijing to further explore ways to improve embryo transfer and implantation with a special focus on China.

To find out more, members of the news media are cordially invited to the Cook Medical A.R.T. Media Briefing:

Presenters:

Ms. Christina Anné, vice president and global business leader of Women’s Health, Cook Medical, will host the media briefing. She will be joined by Dr. Qiao Jie, chair-elect of the Chinese Reproductive Medicine Association, director and professor of the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics and vice general secretary of Peking University 3rd Hospital, and director of obstetrics and gynecology faculty at Beijing Medical University; and Kim Giliam, embryologist and Cook Medical global product manager.

Cook Medical and A.R.T.

Cook Medical is a global leader in assisted reproductive technology (A.R.T.). To aid A.R.T professionals and their patients, Cook launched CookARTLab.com. The website features the industry's first interactive video tour of an A.R.T. lab. Visitors to the site can view real-world demonstrations of ovum collection, sperm injection, embryo culture and embryo transfer, with guidance on how to optimize each step for improved pregnancy rates. Transcripts of the video are available in simple Chinese. The website also has a knowledge base with up-to-the-minute links to the most current published research in A.R.T.; a discussion forum and a news center that posts upcoming industry events.

About Cook Medical

Founded in 1963, Cook Medical pioneered many of the medical devices now commonly used to perform minimally invasive medical procedures throughout the body. Today, the company integrates medical devices, drugs and biologic grafts to enhance patient safety and improve clinical outcomes. Since its inception, Cook has operated as a family-held private corporation. For more information, visit www.cookmedical.com. Follow Cook Medical on Twitter at twitter.com/cookmedicalpr and Cook Women’s Health at twitter.com/cookwomenshlth.

¹ Baris A, Seli E. Economics of assisted reproductive technologies. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. 2010:2. http://journals.lww.com/coobgyn/Abstract/publishahead/Economics_of_assisted_reproductive_technologies.99904.aspx. Accessed February 22, 2010.

² <The 2009 Investigative Report on the Current State of Infertility in China>, August 2009

³ Eastday.com, 40 million Chinese couples have difficulty in conceiving babies , 8 January 2010

⁴ Shan Juan, China’s infertility rate on the rise, China Daily, 27 February 2010

For further information, please contact
Professional Public Relations Shanghai for assistance:
Judy Zhu, (86-21) 5169 2005 ext 104 / (86) 138 1875 8266
Email: judyzhu@pprgreaterchina.com.cn
or
Cook Medical
Gail McDaniel, 812-369-9727
Public Relations and Digital Marketing
Email: gail.mcdaniel@cookmedical.com
Twitter: @gmcdaniel