Service & treatment options
Assisted Reproductive Technologies |
Cryopreservation |
Laboratories | Preimplantation Genetic
Diagnosis | Reproductive microsurgery
| Donor services
Assisted Reproductive Technologies
In Vitro Fertilization
The most commonly used form of ART is In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). First, a
woman's ovaries are stimulated by medications to produce multiple follicles.
The eggs are retrieved and are then cultured with the sperm of the male
partner. The resulting embryos are cultured in the laboratory for 3 days,
after which the best embryos are selected for transfer back to the mother's
uterus. The embryos are inserted into the top of the uterus with a soft
ultrasound-guided catheter.
 Assisted Hatching
This technique is used to assist the embryo to hatch from its surrounding
shell. This hatching must occur for the embryo to implant in the uterus. The
procedure consists of making a microscopic opening in the shell to assist
the embryo in the hatching process.
Blastocyst Transfer
Embryos are cultured for 5-6 days to develop into blastocysts. At this point
the embryos have developed into an inner cell mass (the cells that form the
baby) and the cells that form the placenta. Transferring blastocysts on day
5 increases the pregnancy rate and reduces the chance of multiple
pregnancies.
ICSI
One of the best advances in treating male infertility is intracytoplasmic
sperm injection (ICSI), injecting a single sperm directly into a mature egg.
ICSI is used to assist men who have abnormal sperm parameters, low sperm
count and poor motility. This can also
help patients with antisperm antibodies or spinal cord injuries.
Embryo
Often when patients undergo an IVF cycle, more embryos are formed than
should be transferred back. These embryos can be cryopreserved, or frozen
and stored, so that they can be transferred to the female partner's womb at
a later time to establish a pregnancy.
A frozen embryo transfer is less complicated and more cost effective than
a fresh IVF procedure since the eggs have already been retrieved and
fertilized. Instead, the female patient will be monitored by blood tests and
ultrasound for a normal uterine lining and synchronization ovulation, so
that the embryos are returned to the uterus at the correct time in the
patient's cycle.
Semen
Semen cryopreservation is offered through our on-site andrology laboratory.
Male patients who wish to preserve their fertility may store specimens prior
to surgical procedures such as vasectomy, or prior to radiation or
chemotherapy.
Semen cryopreservation is a valuable option for couples undergoing
assisted reproductive procedures as well. By storing semen prior to IVF or
insemination, the availability of semen at the critical time of the
procedure is ensured. Male patients with low sperm counts may elect to
"pool" several banked specimens for future insemination to increase the
chances for pregnancy.
Men who work with hazardous materials, have high-risk occupations, or
travel for extended periods of time, such as professional athletes or
military personnel, may also benefit from semen cryopreservation.
Hormone Laboratory
From the initial workup and throughout the patient's course of treatment,
frequent blood draws are often required. These tests include:
- Progesterone
- Estrogen
- Quantitative (hCG)
- Prolactin
- TSH
- LH
- FSH
Testing is done daily. That means our clinical staff receives the results
and makes any necessary changes and adjustments to your treatment plan quickly,
reducing wait times and improving success rates.
Andrology Laboratory
Our full service Andrology Laboratory provides comprehensive semen testing
to couples undergoing infertility treatment. One of the main tests performed
is the semen analysis where the semen is analyzed on macroscopic and
microscopic levels.
The Andrology Laboratory also provides sperm washes for couples going
through an Intrauterine Insemination. During this therapeutic procedure the
semen is analyzed for concentration and motility and eventually "washed" to
remove the seminal plasma (liquid portion of semen), dead sperm and cellular
debris. The resultant washed motile sperm is then concentrated into a
smaller volume and is used for the intrauterine insemination.
Embryology Laboratory
Our Embryology Laboratory is a state-of-the-art facility staffed with highly
trained embryologists who provide couples with services that include IVF,
ICSI, assisted hatching, blastocyst transfer and embryo cryopreservation.
PGD is an advanced reproductive technique used to diagnose chromosomal
abnormalities in preimplantation embryos. Three days after fertilization,
embryo biopsy is performed to remove one cell from each embryo. Fluorescent
In Situ Hybridization (FISH) or Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is performed
to test for chromosomal aneuploidy or single point mutations.
Results are usually available within a day and only normal embryos are
transferred at the blastocyst stage 2 days later. For couples at risk of
passing on genetic disorders to their offspring, detection and elimination
of affected embryos increase the chance of pregnancy and delivery of a
healthy child. Use of PGD also decreases the rate of miscarriage that has
been linked to aneuploidy or parental translocations.
PGD is particularly appropriate in couples who:
- Experienced recurrent pregnancy loss
- Experienced unexplained IVF failure
- Have an increased risk of chromosomal aneuploidy (e.g. Down's
Syndrome)
- Are at risk of transmitting X-linked disorders (e.g. hemophilia)
- Were previously diagnosed with a specific genetic disorder
- Have been diagnosed with severe male infertility
Prior to the development and success of ART, microsurgery was the most
common treatment. Although the number has decreased substantially, there are
still times when microsurgery is the best form of treatment. For example,
women who have had their tubes tied can have them reattached with successful
pregnancy rates nearing 80% for women up to age 35. Women with severe
endometriosis and pelvic adhesions can also benefit from microsurgery.
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