The road to parenthood is not always smooth sailing for couples. Some who have difficulty conceiving, feel despair that their wishes to start a family seem to go unanswered. As Head of the In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) Centre at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKIVF), A/Prof Tan has been journeying with many of these couples for over two decades.

“They can experience tremendous emotional stress due to the long IVF process and the stigma of being childless,” he explains. While the treatment outcome is important, A/Prof Tan believes that it is secondary to the support and care that the medical team provides to the couples during the process.

“It is important for us to spend time to understand their fears and encourage them to press on, no matter how slim the chances are. Most feel regret because they perceive that they have not tried hard enough,” shares A/Prof Tan.

Under A/Prof Tan’s leadership, KKIVF Centre, which is one of the leading fertility centres in Singapore, achieved improved implantation rates and reduced multiple pregnancy rates by actively identifying and encouraging suitable couples to undergo single-embryo transfer. The procedure reduces the probability of multiple pregnancies which are associated with higher risks for both mother and baby.

In 2017, A/Prof Tan spearheaded a project to reduce the no-show rate for start of IVF cycle appointments. “We introduced a new workflow to follow up with couples. Our coordinator calls them a week before their appointment. If they are unable to come, the slot will be offered to another couple in advance,” he explains.

The default rate was reduced from a high of 37 per cent in some months to an average of 12 per cent in 2018. This improved the average waiting time for an appointment from six months to one month.

Beyond clinical care, A/Prof Tan is a passionate and nurturing educator. Since 2008, he has been involved in the development of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology curriculum for Duke-NUS Medical School and Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine.