ARC^® Fertility Articles

By Susan Conway M.D., M.P.H., M.M.Sc.© Download a PDF of this article. Sterilization is the most common contraceptive method utilized by couples in the United States. Approximately 27% of fertile women choose tubal sterilization as their method of contraception. About half of these surgeries are performed within 48 hours post-partum and the other half as […]

As embryologists, one of the most common questions that we get from patients is “What do the grades of my embryos tell us about my chances of becoming pregnant?” The answer to this question is not a simple one. The objective of this article is to explain how we grade embryos and what those grades […]

Eli Reshef. M.D. http://www.integrisok.com/fertility INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center 3433 NW 56th, Building B Oklahoma City, OK 73112 Ph: (405) 949-6060 Endometriosis Definition: A condition in which tissue that resembles the lining of the uterus (endometrium) is found outside the uterus. While the most common locations for the lesions are behind the uterus (cul-de-sac), on the ovaries, […]

A Journey through an In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Cycle Cameron John Mullinder’s birth in late 2006 was a milestone. His mother, Louise Brown, was the first in vitro fertilization (IVF) baby in the world, born in England in 1978. Her birth generated a firestorm of criticism. His birth was a mere curiosity. Louise Brown’s conception […]

A condition affecting 5 million American women, endometriosis derives its name from the word endometrium, the lining in the uterus that your body produces each month in case of egg implantation. If conception does not take place during a given month, then your body will shed the endometrium and a menstrual period will occur.

By Gail F. Whitman-Elia, MD, MPH, HCLD© West Columbia, South Carolina Many centers have come to rely on ovarian reserve testing in order to identify those patients unlikely to become pregnant prior to initiation of a first IVF treatment cycle. In theory, women unlikely to conceive can be given the opportunity to avoid the financial disappointment […]

Joseph S. Sanfilippo, MD, MBA© Professor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Vice Chairman of Reproductive Sciences Magee Womens Hospital Pittsburgh, PA http://www.upmc.com/locations/ hospitals/magee/services/ center-for-fertility-and-reproductive-endocrinology/ Pages/default.aspx The area of Reproductive Surgery continues to witness advances in surgical technology. Minimally Invasive Surgery is associated with new and innovative procedures […]

Center for Fertility and Reproductive Endocrinology Magee Women’s Hospital 300 Halket Street, Suite 5150 Pittsburgh, PA 15213 Ph: (412) 641-1600 In life, there are a great number of things that are intended to be permanent and cannot be undone. Fortunately for women, this is not always the case in regards to tubal sterilization. While tubal […]

James Goldfarb, MD.© www.uhhospitals.org/fertility University Hospitals Fertility Center at Ahuja UH Ahuja Medical Center Kathy Risman Pavilion 1000 Auburn Drive, Suite 310 Beachwood, OH 44122 216-285-5028 Fax: 216-201-5385 It is now possible to test embryos created by In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) for genetic diseases by utilizing Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT). The primary goal of PGT […]

http://infertilityupg.med.wayne.edu/index.php Wayne State University Physician Group  26400 West Twelve Mile Road, Suite 140 Southfield, MI 48034 Ph: 248-352-8200 30 to 40% of infertile women have problems with ovulation. An egg has to be released from the ovary each month in the middle of the cycle to have the opportunity to be fertilized in the tube […]

http://infertilityupg.med.wayne.edu/index.php Wayne State University Physician Group  26400 West Twelve Mile Road, Suite 140 Southfield, MI 48034 Ph: 248-352-8200 In vitro fertilization is a procedure used to fertilize an egg outside the woman’s body in a specialized laboratory when other simpler methods of conception have failed. Some common reasons for IVF are when the woman has blocked […]

http://infertilityupg.med.wayne.edu/index.php Wayne State University Physician Group  26400 West Twelve Mile Road, Suite 140 Southfield, MI 48034 Ph: 248-352-8200 Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a procedure in which a washed semen sample is directly placed into the top of the uterine cavity with a very soft catheter at or near the time of ovulation. This procedure is […]

http://infertilityupg.med.wayne.edu/index.php Wayne State University Physician Group  26400 West Twelve Mile Road, Suite 140 Southfield, MI 48034 Ph: 248-352-8200 Infertility Evaluation Definition The textbook definition of infertility is when a couple has difficulty achieving pregnancy after trying for one year. However, the work-up can be started earlier even if a couple has attempted pregnancy for a […]

Prior to conception, any patient desiring fertility has an opportunity to insure her health is optimal for a pregnancy. Her health care provider is in a unique position to offer counseling on medical care and behavior modification, if applicable. This article will address appropriate preconception screening.

Over the last several years, the field of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) has advanced rapidly in providing assistance to couples with male factor infertility. In couples that are having difficulty trying to conceive a child, approximately 40% will be diagnosed with a male problem. A routine semen analysis is used to determine the adequate number […]

1. What is the definition of infertility? An accepted definition of infertility is the inability of a couple to conceive after 12 months of unprotected intercourse appropriately timed with ovulation. The estimated incidence of infertility is 10-15% of the general population. Interestingly, the monthly rate of conception for couples without fertility problems is only 20-25% […]

Approximately 50 percent of fertilized oocytes end in spontaneous abortion, most occurring before or at the time of the next expected menses. Of clinically recognized pregnancies, 15 percent result in miscarriage.  Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) has been defined as three or more spontaneous losses, usually in the first trimester.  However, evaluation after two losses (up […]