• There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

Invia Fertility

Specialists Blog

What is Ovulation?

When trying to get pregnant, it can help to know all about your menstrual cycle. Ovulation is the part of your menstrual cycle where you are most likely to get pregnant. read more

Male Infertility

Choosing to become a father is one of the biggest decisions most men will ever face. While fatherhood is extremely rewarding, becoming a new parent can be challenging for many men. Male infertility ... read more

How to Prepare for Your First Fertility Appointment

For all of our patients in Illinois, the first fertility consultation is a crucial start to your fertility journey. The time leading up to your first appointment is a great opportunity to consider ... read more

IVF in Illinois

In vitro fertilization (IVF) allows us to support couples and individuals who need assistance growing their family. At InVia Fertility, our board-certified reproductive endocrinologists and team of ... read more

LGBTQ+ Services near Chicago IL

InVia Fertility is committed to supporting the family-growing goals of every person, including LGBTQ+ couples and individuals. If you are seeking fertility services near Chicago, Illinois, you can ... read more

Egg Freezing in Illinois

If you want to have a biological child someday but you want to delay starting your family for personal, professional, or medical reasons, you may benefit from preserving your fertility with egg ... read more

Male Infertility Treatment near Northbrook IL

Infertility can be a complex and overwhelming issue. When it comes to fertility issues in men, InVia Fertility is prepared to offer comprehensive care, reliable support, and the necessary testing and ... read more

Egg Freezing near Chicago IL

Many people are interested in having a family later in life, whether that’s due to a current illness, a busy job, or you just aren’t ready to start your family yet. Egg freezing, also known as ... read more

Treatments for Infertility in Women

One in five women of childbearing age struggle with infertility.1 Despite this, many women who struggle with infertility end up having children. read more

Benefits of Taking Prenatal Vitamins

Prenatal vitamins are a common recommendation if you’re trying to get pregnant. These vitamins are part of a routine you develop in order to have the best outcome possible for your pregnancy. read more

How Do I Track Ovulation When Trying to Get Pregnant?

One of the most obvious questions women may ask when trying to conceive is, “How do I track ovulation?” It is essential to understand that it is not always possible to get pregnant at any time. You ... read more

The Relationship Between Stress and Fertility

There is a strong relationship between stress and fertility. If you are struggling to have a baby and seeking fertility assistance, managing your stress can positively impact your experience. read more

InVia Fertility Opens New Location in Arlington Heights

Arlington Heights, Illinois, November 2, 2023 – As a leading provider of innovative, evidence-based fertility treatments in the Chicago area, InVia Fertility is proud to announce that our new ... read more

Dr. Klipstein Announced as Arnold P. Golf Foundation Humanism in Medicine Award Recipient

We are proud to announce Sigal Klipstein, MD, FACOG is the 2023 recipient of the Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism in Medicine Award for Practicing Physicians given by the American Society for ... read more

Good News for PCOS Patients (Yes, Really)!

There are a few things that I would really like patients to know about PCOS and infertility. Yes, it is upsetting to get this diagnosis. However, I find this diagnosis is the BEST of all infertility ... read more

What if My FSH Level Is Normal but My AMH Level Is Low?

A cycle day-3 follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level and anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) level are commonly used to evaluate ovarian reserve. FSH level generally predicts pregnancy rates with in vitro ... read more

Is it safe to use Zofran during pregnancy for morning sickness?

Morning sickness in pregnancy is common. In fact, over half of women will vomit during pregnancy, and 80% will have some level of nausea. In most cases, these symptoms improve by the end of the first ... read more

Can You Do Genetic Testing on Frozen Embryos?

Many patients who have been through an in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle have blastocysts that have been frozen. These blastocysts are cryopreserved by a process known as vitrification, which is a ... read more

When is the Right Time to Use Donor Eggs?

I met with a group of people last week who were considering using donor eggs to start or grow their families. My impression was that they were all in various stages of the decision-making process. ... read more

Does the IVF Process Hurt?

As a nurse doing consultations before IVF treatment, I'm often asked, "Does it hurt?" The IVF process can be intimidating, and many patients naturally have a fear of the unknown. To help ease this ... read more

Will COVID-19 Affect Male Fertility? What We Know So Far.

The sudden resurgence of COVID-19 cases due to the omicron variant has once again upended our lives. In recent months, medical and media attention has been on the impact of COVID infection on ... read more

6 Reasons for Embryo Freezing

Embryo freezing has become common practice, and we have been doing it successfully for more than thirty years. Previously, the technique used for embryo freezing utilized computerized freezers with ... read more

What Can Be Done When Sperm Motility is Zero?

The treatment of male factor infertility was revolutionized in 1992 when Palermo and co-workers introduced intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). With ICSI, embryologists use a micromanipulator to ... read more

10 Facts About Metformin and PCOS

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a relatively common hormonal disorder that is one of the leading causes of infertility. Some women who have PCOS develop insulin resistance. This occurs when the ... read more

Understanding the Blastocyst Grading Scale | The IVF Process

If you're undergoing or researching IVF, you may have learned that not all embryos are able to implant, and therefore sometimes the decision is made not to transfer an embryo to the patient after an ... read more

What to Expect at a Male Fertility Examination

The male partner can sometimes be overlooked when couples try to conceive. Approximately 15% of couples pursuing a pregnancy experience infertility. Within these couples, a “male factor” is the sole ... read more

I Have PCOS and I Don’t Ovulate. What’s the Best Fertility Treatment for Me?

It is not uncommon for women with PCOS to have a problem with ovulation. Typically, the over-the-counter ovulation predictor kits do not work for PCOS patients because many PCOS patients will get ... read more

What is the difference between IUI and IVF?

A common question patients ask is, “what is the difference between IUI and IVF?” To some that may come as a relatively easy question to answer, but without the background knowledge of either term one ... read more

Can You Lower My FSH Level?

One of our routine tests is to evaluate egg quality is a day-3 follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level. A high FSH level indicates diminished quality of a woman's eggs (ovarian reserve). Patients ... read more

Tips to Help You Stay Sane While Waiting for Pregnancy Test Results

The time between your insemination or embryo transfer and the pregnancy test result can be stressful. Here are some tips that may help you get through this potentially challenging period. read more

InVia Fertility Journeys: Mehgan and Kevin K.

My husband Kevin and I met in 2000 and got married in 2008. We knew we always wanted children but were in no rush. When the time came to start trying, our mentality was “whatever happens, happens”. ... read more

Abnormal Ultrasound in Early Pregnancy

In a previous blog we discussed the expected ultrasound findings in a normal intrauterine pregnancy. Variations from the expected pattern of development are worrisome or, if major, definitive for ... read more

AMH level and menopause. Does AMH level predict age at menopause?

Anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) level is now routinely used to evaluate ovarian reserve. AMH levels decrease with age and are a more consistent predictor of “ovarian age” than antral follicle count on ... read more

No Fertilization? Why Eggs Don’t Fertilize and What We Can Do

One of the hardest parts of being an embryologist is having to tell a patient that, after all their hard work getting their eggs ready for retrieval, there is nothing good to report the next morning ... read more

How Many Sperm are Needed for Intrauterine Insemination?

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a reasonable first step in patients with unexplained infertility, minimal or mild endometriosis and mild male factor. The pregnancy rate with IUI vs. intercourse in ... read more

FAQ for Gay Men: Sperm Provider Selection, PGS

There are many choices to make in starting a family as a gay male couple. Let's say you've chosen a fertility clinic that has a track record of success serving same-sex couples, and you've secured an ... read more

Single and Same Sex Parenting | InVia Fertility Center

Single people and same sex couples that would like to have children that are theirs, biologically, can use this blog as a guide to starting the single and same sex parenting process. read more

Egg Donor and Surrogacy FAQ for Gay Men | Starting a Family

For same-sex male couples, planning a family starts with a lot of questions—about getting an egg donor, surrogacy, and other fertility treatment options. Some of these questions can be answered by ... read more

Top 5 Questions about Sperm That Men Often Ponder

Much of fertility treatment focuses on the needs of women-- but men play an important role, too! Keeping yourself healthy means looking after your own fertility-- and that means taking care of your ... read more

Same Sex and Single Parent Fertility Treatment Options

Nothing should stop any individual or couple who wants a family from achieving that dream. There are several fertility treatment options for same-sex couples and potential single parents to grow ... read more

Early pregnancy ultrasound -- Normal pregnancy

Early pregnancy monitoring is a topic that has generated a lot of questions from readers of this blog. Early pregnancies are usually monitored with a combination of serial blood tests and ... read more

Actually, Oral Contraceptives DO Lower Women's AMH Levels

An anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) level is a test now routinely used to evaluate ovarian reserve. AMH levels were believed to NOT vary during the menstrual cycle and can be drawn any time. In a recent ... read more

Why Failed IVF Occurs Even With “Normal” Embryos

So, you've been through an IVF cycle. Your doctors have retrieved a good number of eggs with a good number reaching the blastocyst stage. Having counseled about the advantages of SMART IVF, you ... read more

Frozen embryo transfer: natural vs. artificial cycle

It is now more than 30 years since the first live birth after transfer of a frozen (cryopreserved) embryo (Zeilmaker et al., 1984). The ability to successfully freeze embryos had a profound impact on ... read more

Hormonal treatment of male factor infertility

Approximately one in every seven couples in the United States has problems conceiving. Male infertility accounts for half of these cases. Even with these statistics infertility evaluations have ... read more

Approaching Your Mental Health After a Miscarriage

Pregnancy loss is mentally and physically traumatizing, especially for patients who have a history of infertility. The stressors of miscarriage can have both short- and long-term effects. Short-term ... read more

Is it safe to use anti-depressants in pregnancy?

At InVia Fertility Specialists, a small but significant percentage (? 5%) of our patients are taking antidepressants. The commonest medications being used are the selective serotonin reuptake ... read more

3 Key Steps for Handling the Stress of Infertility

Feeling stress is part of our biological survival mechanism as human beings. It is a signal that danger is impending and action must be taken to seek safety. While it is a simple matter to obey ... read more

What to Do if You Don’t Qualify to Be an Egg Donor

It’s a scary, unexpected thing, when as an egg donor you have your hormones drawn and an ultrasound performed, and then are told you don’t qualify medically for an egg donor program. In addition to ... read more

Male age and donor egg pregnancy rates

“I’m using an egg donor to have a good, high quality egg, should I be concerned about my partner’s age?” Is there a connection between male age and donor egg pregnancy rates? read more

Top 10 steps to prevent ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome

In a recent issue of Fertility and Sterility, Dr. David Meldrum from Reproductive Partners Medical Group, Redondo Beach, California discussed the different facets of preventing ovarian ... read more

Top 10 Facts About Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone and Fertility

I have previously discussed the impact of the thyroid gland on female reproduction. Hypothyroidism (“low” thyroid) is fairly common and according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination ... read more

Using Androgel or DHEA for infertility

If you are having trouble getting pregnant and are a poor ovarian responder, you may have heard that ovarian response can be increased with testosterone during IVF. The possibility of using ... read more

Does COVID-19 Vaccination Affect IVF Success Rates?

With the use of COVID-19 (COVID) vaccines, we are slowly recovering from the COVID pandemic. There, however, remain a significant percentage of individuals that refuse to take the vaccine due to ... read more

Will I Have Trouble Getting Pregnant with a Low AMH Level?

One of the commonest questions I get is from women with low AMH (anti mullerian hormone) levels who are having trouble getting pregnant. These women are often frantic and worried that they will never ... read more

Do I Need an Egg Donor?

Women are born with all the eggs that they will ever have. In fact, when a female fetus is only 5 months along, she has approximately seven million eggs in her ovaries. By the time that baby girl is ... read more

Endometriosis Pain: How To Manage It | InVia Fertility Blog

Endometriosis happens when the lining of the uterus (womb) grows outside of the uterus. It affects about 5 million American women. Endometriosis is especially common among women in their 30s and 40s; ... read more

How Many Times Can You Donate Eggs?

I’m often asked by donors how many cycles they are allowed to do and the answer is always six. But where did that number come from? Did we make it up? Can they go somewhere else and do more? read more

Does Endometriosis Cause Infertility?

Endometriosis is a condition where the uterine lining (endometrium) is found outside the uterus. It is a common, chronic disease that typically presents with pelvic pain, infertility or an ovarian ... read more

What is endometriosis? Endometriosis and IVF

Endometriosis is a condition where cells that normally line the uterus begin to grow on the outer surface of the uterus and can invade the ovary, causing blood-filled cysts called endometriomas. ... read more

Can Endometriosis Cause Cancer?

While many people understand why and how endometriosis causes infertility, fewer know whether endometriosis can cause cancer. This is one of the key questions addressed by a group of experts from The ... read more

Imaging Endometriosis on Ultrasound | InVia Fertility Blog

Let me describe a common clinical situation to you. It goes like this: read more

Egg Donation and Donor Age

In order to maximize pregnancy rates in an egg donor program, it is very important that a good egg donor is selected. You may already know that it's important that the egg donor be in good health, ... read more

A Positive Pregnancy Test After IVF | What’s Next?

You've been waiting for this for so long and at last your pregnancy test after IVF is positive. Now what happens? Well, in spite of the fact that you might want to shout the good news from a rooftop, ... read more

Top 10 Questions About Endometriosis

Endometriosis affects one in ten women in the United States, and can cause fertility problems. At InVia Fertility, we have treated many women who have this condition over the years. Here are the top ... read more

The Egg Donor Screening Process

One of the questions I get asked the most is about our donor screening. How thoroughly do we screen our donors? What does the screening entail? read more

Top 10 Questions Our Fertility Nurses Answer

Fertility treatment can be stressful on your emotions, your schedule and your finances. Fortunately, you have someone in your corner the entire way: your fertility nurse! Your fertility nurse is here ... read more

All About Thawing Frozen Embryos

In many cases couples decide to cryopreserve their remaining embryos after an in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. They could freeze the embryos right after treatment before proceeding to a ... read more

Don't Delay Frozen Embryo Transfer After Failed IVF

Many times women are concerned after experiencing failed IVF with a fresh embryo transfer if it is best to move right along into another cycle for a frozen embryo transfer. They wonder if there are ... read more

Optimizing Implantation: How Can We Treat a Thin Endometrium?

In a previous blog post, I discussed how a thin uterine lining may reduce IVF success rates. In this post, we will discuss management of a thin uterine lining in the context of artificial cycles ... read more

Embryo freezing: how long can they stay frozen?

Successful embryo freezing dates back to 1984. Since then hundreds of thousands of babies have been born from successful frozen embryo transfers. Embryo freezing usually occurs when there are excess ... read more

Facts on AMH Levels and Ovarian Reserve Testing

AMH or anti mullerian hormone level testing and ovarian reserve testing are frequent topics of questions from people who are having trouble getting pregnant. Since my last blog on this subject, a lot ... read more

Top 5 questions about freezing sperm

Freezing sperm, or sperm cryopreservation, is a simple procedure used to store sperm cells for future use. Here are the top 5 questions patients usually ask regarding freezing sperm: read more

The Optimal Age for Egg Freezing

Egg freezing is now an option available for patients to preserve their fertility. It was initially used for fertility preservation in cancer patients. It is now widely used for non-medical, social ... read more

Dealing with Insensitive and Hurtful Comments during Infertility

Let me be the first to say that before infertility smacked me in the face, I may have hurt or offended others by asking insensitive or even ignorant questions about their fertility struggles. I want ... read more

Donor Recipients: A Visit With the Mental Health Professional

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine has as part of its practice guidelines that a couple wishing to engage in an egg donor recipient cycle must visit with a mental health professional. ... read more

Does Endometrial Scratching Help with Implantation?

Most IVF cycles fail after embryo transfer when the embryo fails to implant. The three factors that can cause implantation failure are: Problems with the embryo (e.g. embryo abnormalities, ... read more

How to Get the Most from Your Initial Fertility Consultation

Want to get pregnant? Maybe you have been trying on your own for a year (six months if you are more than 35 years old) and nothing has happened. You may have been keeping track of ovulation with an ... read more

COVID-19 Vaccination While Pregnant or TTC: Get the Facts (Updated 2023)

2023 has begun with a new COVID variation to be concerned about: the highly transmissible XBB.1.5 variant. While this variant is not yet causing a wave like the one caused by Delta and Omicron in ... read more

Ten Facts on Pregnancy After 45

Today it has become increasingly common for women to achieve their educational goals, find a partner, and establish a career path before they consider having children. It often takes years to obtain ... read more

I’m Pregnant and I’m Bleeding. What’s Happening to Me?

Bleeding during pregnancy is scary, particularly when you have been trying to get pregnant for a long time with the help of a fertility specialist. In this post, I’m going to look at different ... read more

Top 5 Questions About Fibroids

It is very scary to be told you have fibroids in your uterus. It’s even more scary not to know what they are or how they can affect you. Fibroids are more common than you might think. read more

How Accurate Is a Home Pregnancy Test with IVF?

10 days!? 12 days!? I have to wait how long to find out if I’m pregnant or not!? While patients engaged in IVF are scheduled as early as possible for their serum (blood) hCG level (pregnancy test), ... read more

Why Do We Start Clomiphene Citrate (Clomid) on Day 5 of the Cycle?

Clomiphene citrate (Clomid, Serophene) is a common medication used to treat infertility. It has been used in the United States since 1967. In patients that do not ovulate, clomiphene citrate is used ... read more

What Does My hCG Level Mean?

So you're in the IVF process, and now you’ve waited the long 10-16 days for your first pregnancy test. Your hCG level comes back positive. Congratulations! Then the panic sets in. Is my number too ... read more

Optimizing Implantation

Once a healthy, developing embryo is successfully transferred into your uterus, it has to attach itself to the uterine lining and then grow there, a process known as implantation. For successful ... read more

Embryo Fragmentation: What Does It Mean?

Embryo fragmentation is a fairly common occurance. It happens when there is an uneven division of the cells of the embryo. It's as if you were breaking apart a piece of crusty bread. When you try to ... read more

Embryo Transfer: A Critical Step in the IVF Process

Embryo transfer is arguably the most critical step in the IVF process. On the surface, it seems like a relatively simple procedure. The embryos are loaded in a catheter and the physician deposits ... read more

Tips to Make Your Blood Draw Easier

With the monitoring of your blood and stimulation medication injections, fertility treatment can make you start to feel like a pin cushion! Nobody likes having their blood drawn and most people do ... read more

What Are the Risks of Being an Egg Donor?

Egg donation is generally very safe with no long-term risks. Society would not permit a young, healthy woman to donate her eggs if the procedure was always dangerous. However, there are some ... read more

hCG Levels in Pregnancies | Day 5 vs Day 3 Embryo Transfers

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone produced by the embryo after conception. Human embryos can produce hCG as early as 8 days after fertilization. During IVF, however, final egg ... read more

How Does Cannabis Affect Male Fertility?

Marijuana is a drug derived from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica. Its main psychoactive component is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is linked to altered sensual perception, mood ... read more

Is There Really a Male Infertility Crisis?

"Is there a male fertility crisis? I hear sperm counts are decreasing!" There has been controversy about this topic and many, many news outlets have reported on it. Researchers are also studying it. ... read more

Can I Avoid Having Progesterone Injections During IVF?

Progesterone is an essential hormone needed to support pregnancy. It is produced naturally during both the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. In a normal menstrual cycle, once ovulation occurs, the ... read more

White Blood Cells in Semen - When Are They a Problem?

One of the first steps in fertility testing for any male infertility issues is a semen analysis. A semen analysis gives a good representation of the male’s quantity and quality of sperm, as shown in ... read more

Top 5 Questions About Recurrent Pregnancy Loss / Multiple Miscarriages

When a diagnosis of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is reached after multiple miscarriages, there are many things to consider, including the causes, tests, and common treatments of RPL. read more

Frequently Asked Questions About Embryo Donation

We have been offering embryo donation at InVia Fertility Specialists since its inception in 2002. Although adoption has been around throughout history, the use of donated embryos for building ... read more

Birth Control Pills in the IVF Process | InVia Fertility

You may be surprised to find out that in many cases, the first step in the IVF process is to take birth control pills. Though this seems to be counter-productive to your goal of getting pregnant, ... read more

Fifth vs Sixth Day Blastocyst Grading

During in vitro fertilization (IVF) in order for implantation and pregnancy to occur, the embryos must reach a stage of development known as ‘blastocyst’. Reaching the blastocyst stage is an integral ... read more

Endometrial Polyps and IVF: What You Need to Know

Endometrial polyps are growths that are attached to the inner wall of the uterus that extend into the uterine cavity. They are usually benign (not cancerous) and are a common finding in women of ... read more

Getting Pregnant at 44: What Are the Chances and Options?

A reader recently posted this question on a previous blog: I am 44 years old healthy non-smoker yoga practitioner, AMH 1.45 and FSH 9, high prolactin (25) but all else normal/good. Cycle regular with ... read more

Does Pre-Treatment Weight Loss Improve Outcomes for PCOS Patients?

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)is the most common cause of infertility in women. PCOS is often associated with obesity. Obesity, however, is NOT a diagnostic criteria for PCOS, as it can also occur ... read more

PCOS and IVF Success Rates

Anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) is a highly sensitive marker of ovarian reserve. It is released by the cells surrounding follicles in the ovary. AMH levels decrease with age and may be the most ... read more

Do I Have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)?

PCOS stands for polycystic ovary syndrome. It is a common condition related to an imbalance of hormones. It affects as many as 1 out of 15 women, and is a leading cause of infertility as well as ... read more

Flu Shots and IVF: What You Need to Know

I am frequently asked by patients whether to get vaccinated for the flu. The answer is an unequivocal yes! Whether a woman is trying to conceive, just found out she is pregnant, or is well into her ... read more

Should We Only Transfer Frozen Embryos?

The technologies for successfully freezing embryos have now been available for more than twenty-five years. With improved freezing techniques, the success rates with frozen embryo transfer (FET) are ... read more

5 Frequently Asked Questions About Intrauterine Inseminations (IUI)

Can’t I just take the meds and have intercourse instead of inseminations? Doing an insemination around the time you are ovulating will increase your chance of achieving a pregnancy. During ... read more

Marijuana and Fertility: What Are the Effects?

As with smoking cigarettes, there's a connection between marijuana and fertility, and it's not a good one. Use of marijuana has a negative impact on trying to conceive, for both male and female ... read more

When Should You Get Started with Fertility Treatment?

When people first start trying for a baby, they are often surprised if pregnancy doesn’t happen right away. The truth is that even a healthy young couple at peak fertility will usually need to try ... read more

Top 10 Facts About Thyroids & Fertility | InVia Fertility

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in the base of your neck just below the Adam’s apple. It produces several hormones, all of which play an important role in your body's metabolism-- and your ... read more

Eggs: The good, the bad, and the ugly.

The importance of egg quality in women trying to conceive can not be stressed enough. Women are born with a certain, and finite, number of eggs. Even though there may be more eggs present in the ... read more

Early Pregnancy Bleeding: Why It Happens, What You Should Do

Early pregnancy bleeding is fairly common and occurs in 20 – 30% of pregnancies. Vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy can be worrying, so it's only natural that if it happens to you, you're concerned ... read more

You Just Need to Relax! Clueless Comments and What to Do About Them

Many years ago there was a show on TV called “Kids Say the Darndest Things.” The host would ask kids questions, and they'd come back with priceless comments that were spontaneous and socially ... read more

Sperm morphology and IUI pregnancy rates

I often get questions from patients with low sperm morphology (shape) during semen analysis. A typical question is “My sperm morphology is only 3% normal forms; what can I do?” or “What is the best ... read more

Ten Quick Tips About Endometrial Thickness

Good eggs and a healthy embryo aren't enough to assure pregnancy during IVF. A receptive uterine lining (endometrium) is also critical for successful implantation after embryo transfer. A commonly ... read more

hCG Measurements Following IVF | InVia Fertility Blog

A pregnancy test, in an IVF cycle, is generally scheduled approximately two weeks after an embryo transfer. This involves a blood test to measure the hormone of pregnancy - hCG (human chorionic ... read more

What is a Good First hCG Level after Embryo Transfer?

You've seen a fertility specialist, started IVF, and gotten through the first embryo transfer. You've spent a long time waiting for good news. And finally you get it! The results of your pregnancy ... read more

Why Do We Freeze Slow-Developing Embryos?

You have had your egg retrieval and are now waiting for your embryo transfer. Instead of having your transfer 5 days later, you are told that the embryos are “dividing slowly” and the transfer is ... read more

What is Uterine Septum and How to Treat It

A uterine septum is a common anomoly of the uterus that is seen in 1 – 15 per 1,000 women (shown in the picture at right). In this condition, the cavity of the uterus is separated by a long piece of ... read more

Does the shape of the sperm (morphology) matter?

For many decades, we focused mainly on sperm count and motility when doing a semen analysis. For the past 25 years or so, especially with the advent of in-vitro fertilization (IVF), fertility ... read more

A Guide to Fertility Treatment Abbreviations and Acronyms

So you are reading your instructions or your prescription bottles and there are all these letters and symbols. What do they mean and why are they used? read more

What Dietary Supplements Can Help Fertility?

Recent studies have suggested a relationship between the diet of both partners and fertility, including the impact of obesity. Dietary supplements for fertility are one of a number of things that ... read more

Christy and Ryan's InVia Fertility Journey: 18 Years, 4 Children!

Christy and Ryan H. first became patients of Dr. Karande’s back in 2001. All four of their children have been born with help from him and InVia Fertility Specialists! Here, Christy explains the ... read more

Choosing a Fertility Specialist for Transgender Parents

There are often social challenges endured by LGBT families and parents. There is a lot of confusion and information to be sorted through, from friends, family members, Internet searches, and even ... read more

Megan and Phil’s InVia Fertility Journey

My husband and I met at the young age of 19. We met one night in Philadelphia through a mutual friend and essentially fell in love. I know it’s extremely cheesy, but it’s the truth. We were both in ... read more

Does Letrozole Increase the Risk of Birth Defects? | InVia

Letrozole (marketed as Femara in the U.S.) is a drug that is approved for the treatment of breast cancer after surgery. It is also used (“off label”) for ovulation induction. I have discussed its ... read more

Preimplantation Genetic Screening: How Age Affects Number of Eggs

For more than a decade, we have been screening embryos for chromosomal number abnormalities (aneuploidy) at InVia Fertility Specialists. The technical term used for this process is preimplantation ... read more

Does COVID-19 Vaccination Affect Your Period?

The number of people infected by COVID-19 (COVID) is decreasing and the pandemic appears to be in the process of resolving. A major contributor to the control of COVID is the availability and wide ... read more

Should You Tell Your Children You Used an Egg Donor?

A recent study showed the majority of parents of egg donor conceived children intend to tell their children – but many put off that conversation. If you've used an egg donor, there are many things to ... read more

You Might Need an Egg Donor IF….

How can you determine if you need an egg donor as opposed to doing IVF using your own eggs? Many factors come in to play in making this decision. Ultimately, it's all about the egg quality. In this ... read more

Why I Chose to Donate My Eggs: An Anonymous Egg Donor Explains

This post is from an anonymous egg donor who responded to a comment on the blog. I liked it so much that I am posting it as a separate post. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank her ... read more

How Does Endometriosis Cause Infertility? | InVia Blog

Endometriosis is a condition in which the lining of the uterus (endometrium) “escapes” and implants on structures outside the uterus. The endometrial tissue outside the uterus is affected by hormones ... read more

Symptoms after IVF Embryo Transfer - The Two-Week Wait

After months or years of having trouble getting pregnant, all the action and the excitement of taking injections, going for scans, monitoring your blood test results and admiring your embryos is now ... read more

Top 5 Things You Should Know about Egg Quality and IVF

When undergoing an IVF cycle, you have a lot on your mind. If you are like most people, egg quality is typically not first on the list. However, egg quality is one of the single most important ... read more

Timeline with images of embryo development in IVF

Many fertility patients are curious about what exactly happens in the embryology lab, from the time their eggs are retrieved to the time they are transferred. When people have answers to their ... read more

Diagnosing Endometriosis: What the Symptoms Are, Why It Takes So Long

Endometriosis is a condition where the lining of the uterus (endometrial-like glands and stroma) is present outside the uterus. These implants are sensitive to hormonal changes and result in chronic ... read more

Why Fertility Doctors Shouldn't Give hCG Booster Injections

I have by now answered several questions from readers who tell me they have a positive pregnancy test. They will often give me their pregnancy test result and ask me if the level is okay. On further ... read more

Can the level of hCG in blood tell me whether my pregnancy is a healthy one or not?

You've had an embryo transfer, and now it's time for a pregnancy blood test. You may be wondering whether the hCG level in your blood predict how healthy your very new pregnancy is. The short answer ... read more

Top 10 Facts About Vaginal Progesterone and Assisted Reproductive Technologies

I have written previously on the role of progesterone (P) and the various methods of administering P. Historically, during the early days of IVF, P was administered exclusively via intramuscular (IM) ... read more

Understanding Progesterone, the Hormone of Pregnancy

Progesterone is a steroid hormone involved in the female menstrual cycle and is essential for pregnancy. Progesterone also has many roles relating to the development of the fetus. read more

Have Insomina During Fertility Treatment? Here's What Helps.

Having trouble sleeping? 1 in 3 people do, according to the CDC. For women who are trying to conceive, chronic sleeplessness can interfere with hormone balance, affecting ovulation and menstruation. ... read more

Understanding the Causes of Failed IVF

A failed IVF cycle is heart-wrenching. Your dreams of a pregnancy are shattered, your hard-earned money has gone down the tube, and you do not know what to do next! As humans we all need explanations ... read more

Does Vitamin D influence anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) levels?

Anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) is now a well-established marker of ovarian reserve. AMH is released by the (granulosa) cells surrounding small (antral and pre-antral) follicles in the ovary. It ... read more

When Egg Donation Is Recommended: Are You Talking to Us?

As a couple, you have most probably been on the emotional roller coaster ride that comes with infertility treatment for any length of time. Going through the sequence of treatments from fertility ... read more

Implantation Failure in IVF - Why Does It Happen?

“My doctor said that my embryos looked picture-perfect, yet they failed to implant – why did this happen?” This is the question in the minds of women who undergo IVF failure, and this becomes a ... read more

Why Does a Thin Endometrium Lower Embryo Implantation?

For successful implantation to occur, an embryo needs a “receptive” uterine lining (endometrium). A thin endometrium can result in lower implantation of the embryo. In previous blogs, Katie Koss and ... read more

What is the Best Time to Get Pregnant?

Many couples who are trying to get pregnant think that the more sex they have, the better. The truth is that there is only a small window each month during which a woman can become pregnant. This ... read more

How to Increase AMH Levels on Your Own

If you're having trouble getting pregnant, you've probably heard of anti-mullerian hormone or AMH. The level of the hormone's presence in the body is directly linked to the number of growing ... read more

Top 10 Facts about Cycle Day-3 Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Level

1) It is generally accepted that as a woman ages, her ability to reproduce will diminish and she will begin having trouble getting pregnant. read more

Varicocele surgery: does it work?

Varicocele is the presence of abnormally dilated veins in the scrotum. Its association with infertility, treatment and indications for varicocele surgery has been discussed in previous blogs. This ... read more

Recurrent Pregnancy Loss: What if All the Tests Are Normal?

In approximately half the couples with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) the tests will all come back normal. These include tests for checking the uterine cavity (hysterosalpingogram, sonohysterogram, ... read more

Smoking and Infertility

The number of people smoking has decreased significantly over the past 30 years. However, 30% of reproductive age women and 35% of reproductive age men in the United States still smoke cigarettes. ... read more

Letrozole or Clomid - Which Drug is Best for PCOS Patients?

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects 6 – 8% of women and is a common cause of infertility. Women with PCOS often have absent or irregular menses. They therefore either do not ovulate or ovulate ... read more

Does Obesity Affect Live Birth Rates with IVF?

Approximately 64% of American women are overweight or obese. The highest rate of obesity is in women 20 – 29 years old. Obesity is associated with an increase in heart disease, high blood pressure ... read more

Getting Pregnant After 40: Chances and Options

My previous blog addressed the chances of getting pregnant after 43 and the options for those in this age group who wish to have children. read more

Antioxidants and Male Fertility

I have previously written a blog on how to improve your chances of success with fertility treatment. Improving your lifestyle is a big step in the right direction. Weight loss, regular exercise, ... read more

Myths and Tips to Lose Weight to Get Pregnant

Here are just a few examples of what patients on Ideal Protein learn about weight loss from our Health and Wellness Coach Lauren Wismer. read more

Top 5 Takeaways from Our Getting Pregnant with PCOS Webinar

I recently hosted a webinar for InVia Fertility covering polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). If you haven’t had time to watch it, or if you’re wondering what it’s about, here are five quick important ... read more

Elevated Basal FSH Levels Without Diminished Ovarian Reserve

It is now well established that elevated basal (cycle days 2, 3 or 4) follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels can be an indicator of being infertile. This decrease in fertility due to a reduction ... read more

Infertility Rates Are Rising: Should I Be Worried?

Takeaway: If you’re having trouble getting pregnant, don’t wait. See a Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Specialist! read more

What is Fertility Preservation?

A common misconception is that fertility preservation is just for cancer patients. Fertility preservation is exactly what it sounds like; preserving your fertility. For women, it involves stimulating ... read more

What to do with One Frozen Embryo | InVia Fertility Center

Embryos have been successfully frozen (cryopreserved) since the early 1980’s. Worldwide literature has confirmed that there is no increase in birth defects in children born from frozen embryos. The ... read more

The Difference Between Follicles and Eggs | InVia Fertility

We often talk about follicles (affectionately called "follies") during the IVF process. But IVF patients often don’t understand the difference between follicles and eggs. If eggs aren't follicles, ... read more

Should We Call You With Your Pregnancy Test Results | InVia

So, you are going through a treatment cycle and have had an intrauterine insemination or an embryo transfer. You are now in the two week waiting period for the pregnancy test results that will be a ... read more

7 Ways Obesity Affects IVF Success | InVia Fertility Blog

There is an obesity epidemic in America today. More than four in ten women of reproductive age are overweight or obese. Obesity increases the risk of a number of health conditions: high blood ... read more

Ultralow AMH Levels and IVF Success Rates

We have now posted several blogs discussing the impact of anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) and fertility. AMH levels predict number of eggs that will be retrieved during in vitro fertilization (IVF) and ... read more

Do Fertility Drugs Cause Cancer?

Fertility drugs are used to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple follicles. Their use is associated with multiple ovulations and often with high estrogen levels. It would therefore be reasonable ... read more

Top 10 Facts about Adenomyosis

What is adenomyosis? Adenomyosis is defined as the presence of endometrial tissue, which normally lines the uterus, which has grown into the muscular wall of the uterus. It can be diffuse or ... read more

Adenomyosis: Its Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Impact on Fertility

Adenomyosis is a gynecological disease where the glands from the lining of the uterine cavity (endometrium) are present within the uterine musculature (myometrium). Historically, adenomyosis was ... read more

COVID Vaccination: Fact vs. Fiction

The world has now been living with COVID for over a year. Over one hundred million infections have been documented, and over two and a half million people are known to have died from COVID. During ... read more

Is the COVID-19 Vaccine Safe for Pregnant Women?

One year after the first cases were detected, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect daily life in the United States. It is difficult to take in the full impact of the disruption, illness and loss ... read more

Impact of stress reduction on IVF outcome

Infertility is a profoundly stressful experience, physically and psychologically, write Dr Alice Domar and Lauren Prince in their recent study in Sexuality, Reproduction and Menopause. The study ... read more

Donor Egg Recipient Obesity and Live Birth Rates

In a previous blog, I discussed data that showed a significantly reduced pregnancy rate in obese in vitro fertilization (IVF) patients. This was in regular IVF patients attempting to conceive with ... read more

COVID FAQ's

INFORMATION REGARDING COVID-19 VACCINATION read more

Antioxidants: A Key Ingredient in Your Fertility Diet

Age-related infertility is something fertility clinics are seeing increasingly, as more couples work on getting pregnant after 40. It is a fact that one cannot change one's biological age. The ... read more

IVF pregnancy calculator – When is my baby due?

The moment you find out you are pregnant, the next question is – when is my baby due? This is true, whether you get pregnant in your bedroom, or after doing IVF! read more

What We Know About COVID-19 Infection and Pregnancy

The COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2, Coronavirus 2) pandemic has created a major public health crisis worldwide. At InVia Fertility Specialists, we have been counselling our patients about the possible risks of ... read more

Newer Indications for In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is now a fairly commonly used procedure and has resulted in the birth of tens of thousands of babies every year. According to the latest statistics available (2015, ... read more

Nadine’s InVia Story – Reassurance, Support, and a Baby Boy!

Even before Nadine started trying for a baby, she had an intuition that things might not go smoothly. But she and her husband Steve spent more than two years attempting to conceive before they ... read more

Can I Use My AMH Levels as a “Fertility Test” If I DON'T Want to Get Pregnant?

Ovarian reserve is a term that is used to determine the capacity of the ovary to provide egg cells that are capable of fertilization resulting in a healthy and successful pregnancy. Cycle day-3 ... read more

Single Embryo Transfer: Healthy Babies One At A Time

It is an established fact that risks associated with giving birth to babies conceived through IVF, are increased for both mothers and infants. Most of that increase in risk is related to the higher ... read more

Top 10 Facts about Miscarriage

A lot of information is available about miscarriage. But not all of it is true. Here are 10 facts about miscarriage to help you ensure that you're getting accurate information: read more

Research supports use of metformin with PCOS and IVF

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has become more widely known in recent years as a fairly common hormonal disorder and as a leading cause of infertility. Many doctors prescribe metformin – a drug ... read more

Bleeding During IVF - What's Normal and What Isn't?

One of the most difficult things IVF patients have to deal with is the fact that there are no external symptoms or signs of what's happening inside their bodies. Are the follicles growing well? Is ... read more

Top 5 Things You’ll Learn in Our Infertility 101 Webinar

InVia Fertility Specialists recently hosted a webinar, "Infertility 101", where our three board-certified reproductive endocrinologists spoke on the definition, prevalence, causes, investigations and ... read more

Hysterosalpingography: What It Is, How It Works

A hysterosalpingogram (hystero = uterus; salpingo = fallopian tubes; gram = X-ray) or HSG is a simple procedure where X-rays are used to evaluate the uterus and the fallopian tubes. A HSG is a ... read more

Testing for Pregnancy After IVF Embryo Transfer

While all IVF patients understand that not every IVF cycle results in success, in their heart of hearts, every patient wants to get pregnant every cycle. After months or years of having trouble ... read more

Top 10 facts about the Causes of Premature Ovarian Failure

Premature ovarian failure (POF) or premature menopause is diagnosed when a woman stops getting her periods due to cessation of ovarian function before the age of 40 years. The diagnosis is made based ... read more

How to Support Someone Struggling with Infertility

One in six couples struggles with infertility, so that means someone, somewhere in your life is trying to cope with the stress and heartbreak brought on by not being able to build a family. Offering ... read more

What is the Best Drug for PCOS Patients?

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common cause of infertility. Women with PCOS often have irregular or absent periods and therefore ovulate infrequently or do not ovulate. read more

A Message from ASRM on Coping During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Presented by The American Society for Reproductive Medicine and developed by The Mental Health Professional Group. read more

Do endometrioma cause a decrease in AMH levels?

Endometriosis (the presence of the uterine lining outside the uterine cavity) is a common cause of infertility and affects 0.8 – 2% of women of reproductive age. When endometriosis involves the ... read more

Endometriosis and IVF or Laparoscopy? 4 Steps for Choosing

Patients with endometriosis who are infertile are often very confused. They don't know which doctor they should go to? Gynecologist? Infertility specialist? What treatment they should take? The first ... read more

1 2

Scheduleafafasdfasf

Schedule Now