Up to 2019, more than 7'000 babies were born following the treatments carried out by the CPMA Lausanne.

The activity of the team in place at the CPMA began in 1987 with the initiative of Dr. Marc Germond (gynecologist) and Dr. Alfred Senn (biologist). Following specialised training in medically assisted procreation in Australia, Dr. Germond created the Reproductive Medicine Unit in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at the University Hospital in Lausanne (CHUV), where he was appointed Associate Professor in 2002. The team consisted of gynecologists, biologists, laboratory technicians, nurses and secretaries. The field of IT has developed rapidly in the context of research and clinical data management. Similarly, a specific counselling concept has been implemented thanks to close collaboration with family planning and liaison psychiatry teams. From 1999, the team continued its activity on two sites: in the private setting of the Medical Assisted Reproduction Center CPMA Lausanne and at the University Hospital (CHUV). As of September 2005, all activity takes place within the framework of the CPMA only.

The specialisation of this team allows the consolidation of the perspective of excellence for medical and biological support in close collaboration with the andrology laboratory (Fertas) then led by Dr. Alfred Senn, and with scientific research (F.A.B.E.R. Foundation). The combination of these three axes of competence, called the Tripod, gave rise to the influence of the CPMA in the field of medically assisted procreation at the national and international levels. Quality monitoring was implemented by Dr. Alain Chanson, Quality Manager, since 1997. The accreditation of the laboratory of reproductive biology and the certification of the CPMA are accomplished and managed according to the actual ISO standards.

Since 2005, the CPMA Lausanne has brought together experienced specialists on fertility problems in one place; several gynecologists, a urologist, a team of biologists and laboratory technicians as well as counselling specialists all ensure that couples with fertility problems receive care in a comprehensive manner, while respecting their specific needs and expectations.

Upon Dr. Alfred Senn's retirement at the end of 2010, Dr. Françoise Urner is head of the in vitro fertilisation laboratory and Dr. Fabien Murisier is head of the andrology laboratories. Dr. Daniel Wirthner took over the medical management of the CPMA in December 2014 following the retirement of Prof. Marc Germond.

Always concerned with improving the quality of care, the CPMA participated in a very important research project on the quality of sperm in young men in Switzerland: launched 10 years ago as part of a national research programme and currently taken up by the University of Geneva. In addition, the CPMA is involved in other clinical research projects to optimise available techniques, simplify therapeutic management and improve treatments.

In 2013, the CPMA joined the Medisupport laboratory network, which includes Fertas as well as Polyanalytic (blood analyses) and Aurigen (genetic analyses). The CPMA works closely with the Cecil Clinic of the Hirslanden Group, the University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG), the Cantonal Hospitals of Neuchâtel (HNE) and Fribourg (HFR), as well as with an extensive network of doctors throughout French-speaking Switzerland. Multiple partnerships for optimal care.

In 2017, the new Swiss Act on Medically Assisted Procreation (LPMA) induced some changes in clinical practice, in particular the possibility of allowing 12 embryos (instead of 3) to evolve in prolonged culture, and to carry out pre-implantation diagnosis (PGD). The possible storage period for cryopreserved gametes and embryos was also extended from 5 to 10 years. The CPMA has acquired an innovative device with time-lapse technology (EmbryoScope + ®), allowing to incubate and to follow the development of the embryos under even more optimal conditions. The CPMA is the first centre in French-speaking Switzerland to obtain authorisation to carry out pre-implantation diagnosis.

History of the CPMA