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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Since many patients who have endometriosis are also infertile, they are not too sure about what they should do. Should the endometriosis be treated first or should the infertility be attended to ... read more
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
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
“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
Acupuncture is a centuries old traditional Chinese medical practice that involves placing thin needles in specific points throughout the body. Studies have shown acupuncture is successful in treating ... read more
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
Want to get pregnant in 2019? 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 ... read more
What is polycystic ovary syndrome? Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common cause of infertility. Briefly, its diagnosis is based on presence of two of the following three criteria: read more
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
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
Unless you live under a rock, you know that as of January 1, 2020, marijuana is legal in the state of Illinois for recreational use. Does this change the drug screening policy of our egg donors and ... read more
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
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
