In Vitro Fertilization at
Tyler Medical Clinic
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In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is one of the most
important developments in infertility
treatment. The first successful IVF
(or "test-tube") baby was born over 20 years
ago, and thousands of successful births
have resulted from this treatment since.
IVF offers hope to many couples who would
not otherwise be able to have children.
The Tyler Medical Clinic's IVF program, one
of the first in the nation, was founded in
1983, under the medical directorship of
Dr. Jaroslav Marik. The program started by
offering a simple In Vitro Fertilization
procedure for patients with absent or
severely damaged fallopian tubes.
Since that time, we have expanded the
program to deal with a broad range of
fertility issues, including male infertility
factors, unexplained infertility, congenital
abnormalities (such as absence of fallopian
tubes or ovaries), egg donation, and
surrogate pregnancies, among others.
We have also been at the cutting edge of
new reproductive technology, such as
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)
and the freezing of fertilized oocytes.
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| For your convenience,
please visit our Glossary of Terms and Definitions |
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| There're a variety of indications for IVF. Among these are: |
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Male Factor Infertility
Age-Related Infertility
Absent or Damaged Fallopian Tubes
Endometriosis
Unexplained Infertility
Recurrent Introuterine Insemination Failure
Tubal and Pelvic Adhesions
Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis
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| What to Know Before You Begin |
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Avoid drugs, alcohol and smoking for three months before treatment and during the IVF cycle.
Have no more than two caffeinated beverages a day.
Avoid dietery changes of weight fluctuation during the IVF cycle.
Avoid hot tubs and saunas.
Abstain from having intercourse 3 to 4 days before the egg retrieval, and after the embryo transfer before the pregnancy test.
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Sperm quality can be affected by fever.
Men who have had a fever 1-2 months before the IVF procedure should inform their doctor.
Avoid hot tubs and saunas.
Avoid wearing tight-fitting underwear.
Avoid drugs, alcohol and smoking for three months before treatment and during the IVF cycle.
Avoid excessive exercise.
Abstain from intercourse at least three but no more than 7 days prior to semen collection.
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In Vitro Fertilization Procedure
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IVF consists of the following steps:
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Ovarian Stimulation - Using fertility drugs, the ovaries are stimulated to
produce several high quality eggs for retrieval.
Multiple eggs increase the potential for producing multiple
embryos, which adds to the likelihood of successful conception.
During the 7-14 day stimulation period, ultrasound examinations
and laboratory tests are performed to follow the development of the
follicles.
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Egg Retrieval - When the follicles are ready for egg retrieval, the procedure is done in our office.
A needle is inserted into the ovaries using ultrasound guidance to locate each
follicle. Fluid from the follicles is drawn into a test tube to retrieve the eggs.
The patient is given pain medication and the procedure lasts about 15 minutes.
Patients are generally able to go home within a couple of hours of egg retrieval.
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Sperm Collection - The male partner typically collects a semen sample through masturbation at our office.
This is usually done while egg retrieval is being performed.
The semen is examined in our laboratory and the best quality sperm is selected.
Men who feel that they may have difficulty producing a semen sample due to
stress or other factors on the day of egg retrieval can have their sperm
collected ahead of time and cryopreserved for use in this situation.
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Embryo Culture - The best quality sperm are added to the eggs after
egg retrieval to achieve fertilization.
In cases where a low number or low
quality of sperm is collected,
or where no eggs are fertilized using conventional IVF procedures, doctors may choose to use Intracytoplasmic
Sperm Injection (ICSI), a process where a single sperm is injected
directly into the egg to achieve
fertilization. Eggs are examined the next day for evidence of fertilization.
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Embryo Transfer - One to five days
after fertilization, the doctor will transfer the embryos into the uterus by passing a thin embryo-transfer
catheter through the cervix. This procedure is similar to a
pap smear and is generally quick
and painless. Multiple embryos are
transferred to increase the probability
of success. Embryos that are not
transferred at this time can be cryopreserved and stored in liquid
nitrogen use in later IVF cycles,
if necessary. A blood pregnancy test
is scheduled approximately two weeks
after the embryo transfer.
An ultrasound is done approximately
two weeks after a positive pregnancy
test.
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All stages of this treatment take place in our facility. You will see the same
familiar faces throughout the entire cycle. For more information
about this procedure, or to set up an appointment with our
doctors, please contact us at (310) 278-7590.
Click here for our competitive
IVF Pricing!
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