Despite remarkable advances in IVF treatment protocols, the success rates with poor responder patients remain low (a live birth rate of around 7%). Poor responders are defined as those that satisfy ... read more
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
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 time ... read more
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
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
The first live birth after an IVF frozen embryo transfer was in 1983. Since then, there have been hundreds and thousands of babies born the world over with frozen embryos. A third of the babies born ... read more
We use several blood tests to assess a woman's potential to respond to fertility treatment. Initial research on measuring anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels, used for gauging assessing ovarian ... read more
InVia Fertility Specialists aims to expand fertility options and help improve access to care with the addition of the INVOCELL Intravaginal Culture (IVC) System The INVOCELL IVC System is a ... read more
ICSI is an acronym for intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection. In basic terms it means we are injecting a sperm into an egg. ICSI IVF differs from the conventional IVF process in that a single sperm is ... read more
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
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
The patient in the in vitro fertilization / IVF process who is a “poor ovarian responder” remains a challenge in clinical practice. The European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) ... read more
Given a choice, a majority of patients would prefer to take medications orally. So when it comes to progesterone, why do we prefer the intramuscular or the vaginal route? It's simple: the oral route ... read more
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
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
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
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
The presence of white blood cells (WBCs), or pus cells, during semen analysis often causes concern to infertile couples and their doctors. There are several reasons why WBCs might be present in the ... read more
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
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
Anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) is the substance that is responsible for destroying the mullerian ducts (female reproductive organs) in developing male embryos... read more
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
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
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
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
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
“Should I lie down for a while after my embryo transfer to optimize our chances of success?” That is a question we are asked on a daily basis. We've always advised our patients that bed rest after ... read more
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
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
Anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) levels are now routinely used clinically to assess ovarian reserve. AMH levels are believed to reflect the pool of oocytes (eggs) that remain in the ovary (ies). Low AMH ... read more
We have always done everything we can to ensure you receive the best possible fertility care when you trust InVia Fertility Specialists to help you on your pathway to pregnancy. Now, we’re proud to ... read more
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
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
Letrozole is an oral non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor approved for the treatment of hormonally responsive breast cancer after surgery. It has been used (off-label) for ovulation induction as part of ... read more
Patients are very excited when their HCG test is positive! They are on top of the world that the IVF process has succeeded, and they look forward to cradling their baby in their arms in a few months. read more
The Ovarian Assessment Report from ReproSource Fertility Diagnostics is used by some fertility clinics—including InVia Fertility Specialists—for ovarian reserve testing in patients. According to ... read more
Endometriosis is a common cause of infertility. Findings associated with endometriosis include: painful periods that are getting progressively worse, pain with intercourse, infertility and ovarian ... read more
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
