The 9th national congress on Assisted Reproductive Technology and Advances in Infertility Management organized jointly by the Indian Society of Assisted Reproduction (ISAR), `Life' Dr Gada Research Centre and Indore Obstetrics and Gynaecological Society began with two pre-congress workshops here on Wednesday.

Excellent arrangements of live transmission of surgical demonstrations were made in the auditorium from the operation theatre. The workshops aimed at providing in-depth information and know-how by experts.

Around 48 doctors from across the country participated in the first workshop on Male Infertility at Medicare Centre. Renowned surgeon Dr HWG Baker from Australia discussed various problems faced by surgeons in beating male infertility and shed light on its management.

Dr Rupin Shah demonstrated fine microscopic surgery for vesicocoel and VEA. He also talked about problems and management of azospermia. Dr K R Sharma shed light on use of hormones in management of male infertility, while Dr Bajaj discussed correct method of semen analysis and significance of different parameters.

Dr Avinash Phadke (Mumbai) and Dr K Nadkarni also addressed gathering on interpretation of testicular biopsy and recovery of sperm in azospermia, respectively.

This pre-congress workshop was inaugurated by Dr Dhiraj Gada, Organising Chairman, and the coordinators were Dr Rajendra Punjabi, Dr S Shinde, Dr P D Patwa, Dr Anil Bandi, Dr C S Thatte and Virendra Shah.

Dr Asha Baxi conducted the second pre-congress workshop on Basics of Gynaec Endoscopic Surgery at CHL-Apollo Hospital. Dr Mahendra Pareikh explained the gathering about various instruments used in endoscopic surgery, Dr Mukesh Sodani talked about starting procedures of the endoscopic surgery and precautions during surgery and Dr Narendra Mehrotra explained to the gathering principles and use of cautery.

Dr Edward J Shaxted, Dr N Shelat and Dr Jaideep Mehrotra demonstrated hysteroscopic surgery, laproscopic ovarian drilling and endoscopy of fallopian tubes, respectively. Dr Shaxted also explained about use of endoscopic surgery in congenital malformation of uterus and use of robotic assistance in complicated laproscopic surgery.

The workshop was coordinated by Dr Vidya Pancholia, Dr M Sodani and Dr V Bhoraskar. Around 74 delegates participated in this workshop.