For many women diagnosed with premature ovarian failure, being told that pregnancy may no longer be possible can feel devastating.
At Alhaya Fertility Centre, however, one patient’s journey is now offering new hope to women facing severe fertility challenges.
Alhaya Fertility Centre, under Alpha IVF Group Berhad, recently achieved what is believed to be Malaysia’s first successful pregnancy following In-Vitro Activation (IVA) treatment — a significant milestone in advanced fertility care for women with severely diminished ovarian reserve and Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI).
A Challenging Diagnosis
The successful case involved a 33-year-old woman diagnosed with Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI), also known as premature ovarian failure or early menopause, where ovarian function declines significantly before the age of 40.
Before seeking treatment at Alhaya Fertility Centre, the patient and her husband had been trying to conceive for several years.
She had previously undergone consultations at other healthcare centres and was informed that her chances of conceiving naturally were extremely low due to her severely diminished ovarian reserve. Even IVF was considered highly challenging, and adoption was suggested as one of the possible options.
Despite the discouraging news, the patient continued searching for answers and eventually sought consultation with Dr. Wan Syahirah Yang Mohsin, Consultant Obstetrician, Gynaecologist and Fertility Specialist at Alhaya Fertility Centre.
Further fertility investigations revealed extremely severe ovarian decline.
Her Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) level was critically low at below 0.07 pmol/L, indicating that only a minimal number of eggs may still have remained within the ovaries.
According to Dr. Wan Syahirah, the condition made the possibility of natural conception extremely low.
“Many women with POI are often told that their options are very limited, especially when ovarian reserve becomes critically low,” she explained.
Exploring New Possibilities Through IVA
At Alhaya Fertility Centre, the patient was introduced to In-Vitro Activation (IVA), an advanced fertility treatment developed to help selected women with POI or severely diminished ovarian reserve.
IVA is designed to activate dormant follicles that may still remain within the ovaries, potentially creating new possibilities for women who previously had very limited fertility options.
The treatment was first introduced in Malaysia by Alpha IVF Group on 21 February 2024 together with Professor Kazuhiro Kawamura from Japan, internationally recognised as the global pioneer of IVA treatment.
Dr. Wan Syahirah explained that before proceeding with IVA, the patient first underwent ovarian stimulation to assess whether any remaining follicles could still respond and grow.
Although only small follicle development was observed, the findings further confirmed the severity of the patient’s ovarian condition before IVA treatment was subsequently performed in July 2025.
The procedure involved minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery to retrieve a portion of ovarian tissue, followed by specialised laboratory techniques to activate dormant follicles outside the body before the tissue was re-implanted back into the ovaries.
An Unexpected Outcome
Several months after undergoing IVA treatment, the patient made an unexpected discovery.
She was pregnant naturally.
The pregnancy occurred approximately seven months after the procedure, with the pregnancy now progressing well.
According to Dr. Wan Syahirah, the successful natural pregnancy within the expected biological response period following IVA is regarded as a highly encouraging development in fertility medicine.
“This case is especially meaningful because the patient had almost lost hope after previously being informed she was approaching early menopause,” she said.
“Seeing her return naturally pregnant after IVA treatment was an incredibly emotional moment not only for the couple, but also for our medical team.”
A New Hope For Women Facing POI
To date, Alpha IVF Group has performed multiple IVA cases involving patients with severe fertility challenges.
While IVA may not be suitable for every patient, the successful outcome demonstrates the growing potential of fertility innovation in helping selected women facing difficult reproductive conditions.
The breakthrough also carries special significance within Malaysia and other Muslim-majority communities, where egg donation is generally restricted or not widely practised.
For many women diagnosed with POI, IVA may represent one of the few opportunities to potentially conceive using their own eggs.
Beyond the medical achievement, the case reflects something even more meaningful — renewed hope for women who once believed motherhood may no longer be possible.
“At Alhaya Fertility Centre, we believe fertility treatment is not only about science and technology, but also about supporting patients emotionally throughout their journey,” said Dr. Wan Syahirah.
“Sometimes, hope itself becomes an important part of the treatment journey.”
