In Vitro Fertilization
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is the most
advanced and effective treatment for infertility available today.
It offers new hope and possibilities for couples who would otherwise be
unable to have children. Click here to view our section on
IVF for more detailed information on the IVF procedure. IVF involves
stimulating the woman's ovaries with fertility medications to produce many
oocytes (eggs) that mature and ripen, at which point they are retrieved while
she is under anesthesia, and fertilized with her husband's sperm in the
laboratory. This creates embryos which are carefully monitored by an
embryologist for 3-5 days, and then one or more are placed into her uterus with
the hope that implantation will occur and establish a pregnancy. The pregnancy
rates for IVF far exceed those of any other form of fertility treatment.
Success rates vary from one IVF center to another, but Presbyterian Hospital's
statistics are among the highest in the country.
The decision to
proceed with in vitro fertilization can be one of the most important and
difficult a couple can make. The amount of information and details involved in
an IVF cycle can seem overwhelming, and many questions arise throughout the
process. This page of our website is designed to give you a general idea of
what to expect, but please remember that each patient will receive an
individualized plan to maximize her chances of pregnancy. It is our goal
to provide the highest quality in IVF care, including educational tools and
emotional support.
While most of the treatments and procedures involve
the woman, we encourage the partner to be as much a part of the IVF cycle as
possible. The importance of the emotional support of the husband cannot be
overemphasized. Daily injections, frequent appointments, ultrasounds and blood
tests are required of the woman, in addition to the egg retrieval and embryo
transfer. Therefore, we encourage the partner to administer the injections and
attend appointments whenever possible. IVF is an exciting commitment that
couples make to each other as they work together to fulfill their dreams of
having a baby.
Reasons to do IVF
There are
many different causes of infertility, some of which are definite indications
that IVF may be the treatment of choice. For example, tubal obstruction means
the sperm and the egg cannot meet in the tube, but since IVF bypasses the
tubes, pregnancy becomes very possible. Another factor best treated by IVF is a
very low sperm count in the male. In IVF sperm are placed together with the
eggs in a petri dish, and are therefore not required to swim through the
cervix, uterus and into the tube to fertilize the egg. During IVF an additional
procedure can also be done in which a single sperm can actually be injected
directly into a egg. This is known as intracytoplasmic sperm injection
or ICSI, and is addressed in more detail on the male factor page in
this website.
IVF is often the most efficient and quickest route to
pregnancy for a woman who is over 35. IVF may also be recommended for a patient
with unexplained
infertility who has undergone several unsuccessful attempts with
fertility medications and intrauterine insemination.
As you explore
your diagnosis and treatment options with Dr. Goldstein, you and
your husband can consider whether IVF might be right for you. All patients and
their partners are required to complete a thorough infertility evaluation prior
to beginning their IVF cycle.
Testing for Women
Prior To IVF- Day 3 FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and Estradiol
level. This test must be done on day 3 of your menstrual cycle and may give
insight to egg (oocyte) quality prior to the egg retrieval.
- Hepatitis B (Surface Antigen) and Hepatitis C Antibody
are blood-born viral infections that can pass through the placenta and are
known to have long-term health consequences for both mother and child.
- HIV infection in either parent means there is a high
probability of the virus passing through the placenta to the child
- HTLV
- RPR (Syphilis)
- Pap Smear
Additionally, within a year of IVF, most women should
have a uterine evaluation, such as a hysteroscopy , hysterosalpingogram (HSG),
or sonohysterography to ensure that the endometrial (uterine) cavity is normal.
Most abnormal uterine cavities will need to be corrected before undergoing an
IVF procedure.
Testing for Men
Testing will include blood work for Hepatitis B antigen, Hepatitis C
antibody, HIV, HTLV, and RPR (Syphilis) and Semen Analysis.
|  | Fertility
Specialists of Dallas
Phone: 214.750.5500
Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas
8230 Walnut Hill Lane Suite 300
Dallas, TX 75231
Click
here for Directions
Presbyterian Hospital of Plano
6300 W. Parker Rd
Bldg II, Suite 424
Plano, TX 75093
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here for Directions
Texarkana Satellite
1002 Texas Blvd Suite 401
Texarkana, TX 75503
903.793.5500
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