PETALING JAYA: Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah spoke out today on her trials and tribulations with pregnancy.
At the launch of Alpha IVF & Women’s Specialists, a fertility centre today, Tunku Azizah addressed her 10-year journey of conceiving four children through in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and various other fertility treatments.
“I am not ashamed to tell and share to the world all the problems and difficulties I had with getting pregnant,” she said.
“You yearn for a child and face the world asking you when you are going to have a child. You have to bear the stigma where women are always blamed. Now at least there is gender equality in that men also get blamed.”
Tunku Azizah acknowledged the success rate for IVF treatment back then was very low.
“There is hope nowadays. Back then, the success rate was only 20%.”
Dr Colin Lee, the founder of Alpha IVF Group, said the price for the treatment varied, according to the requirements.
“The first visit is RM100 or RM200 and payment depends on the complexity.
“Some just require fertility tablets and that will cost around RM60.
“Those who need more complicated treatment like IVF will have to pay more, ranging from RM14,000 to RM30,000.”
He said the success of the treatments also depended largely on a woman’s age.
“If a woman is aged 35 and below, for one session of IVF treatment, they can expect a 60% to 70% chance of getting pregnant.
“If a woman is in her late 30s, for one session of IVF treatment, the chances of pregnancy will be a little bit lower at around 50%.”