I have been in the medical field for over 24 years.  The last 15 of those years as an RN working everywhere from California to Alaska and Hawaii to the Virgin Islands. I had thought I had seen and done everything until I started working at La Jolla IVF one year ago.  New to reproductive services I was and still am amazed at how science, technology and hope come together to create life.

Equally amazing to me is how pleasant it is to work here. Let’s face it, in my 24 years I have worked in less than desirable settings as a nurse, and I know an enjoyable place to work when I see one.  I attribute this mainly to the founder and medical director Dr. Smotrich.

Dr. Smotrich is professional, compassionate, gracious and truly cares about the happiness of his patients and his staff. In addition, a compassionate, caring wonderful staff has been drawn to him.  My coworkers are positive, professional, hard working AND are still fun to be around!  Everyone works together as team for the common goal- which is patient satisfaction.

It is no wonder that a pleasant doctor, a happy staff and a relaxed environment all contribute to patient outcome.   The negative vibe of a stressed out staff will spread to the patient.  We all know keeping stress to a minimum is important especially in reproductive services.   Since becoming a stress management coach, I was motivated to find out just how critical stress is in the fertility world.

“Stress is number one…” says embryologist  and laboratory director Awi Botes, who so graciously entertained my new passion. He said the pregnancy rate in fertility back in the 80′s was only about 12%.  Today’s increase up to about 40% * is not only due to technology but also because we know so much more about stress and its role in fertility.

As Awi Botes went on describing the fragile environment needed for the survival of an embryo my appreciation for the making of  miracles soared.   There are so many details critical to the laboratory that can cause stress to the embryo, right down to the paint on the wall.  The lighting, strong smells, chemicals and much more are taken into consideration.  Using a special air filtration system is just one of the special cares taken in the lab to reduce and eliminate stress.

Stress can also impact sperm and conception.  Studies have shown that a stressed male, including the stress of a poor diet,  will show decreased sperm count and motility.  Awi Botes said that he can see under his microscope the difference in shape and appearance of less than optimal sperm when stress has been a factor in the male’s life.  As for the female, I have always heard that it is more difficult to become pregnant when you are stressed, but I did not know why until my conversation  with Awi.  If a female is having a stress response her fallopian tubes constrict making it more difficult for the egg and sperm to meet.

It also makes sense that minimizing stress during a pregnancy is critical.  Stress comes in so many forms such as, worry, anxiety, and depression just to name a few.  The stress response begins by  releasing the stress hormones which have significant negative impacts on the body.  Add this to the hormones of pregnancy, the vicious cycle begins and you now have the perfect storm.  Awi Botes states that this may also be why surrogate pregnancy rates are higher because surrogates do not have the same emotional stresses as the intended parent mother might.   In addition, the field of epi genetics has done  fascinating research on the association between stress during pregnancy, DNA methylation and gene expression.

So how can you minimize your stress while you are trying to get pregnant and stay pregnant?  Here are a few tips to get you started:

First, figure out what the stress is and if possible get rid of it. This is the time to lighten your load.

Give yourself permission to decrease your responsibilities.   Delegate and ask for help.

Coaches are excellent at helping you brainstorm ways to shorten your list of stresses.

Second, excellent new studies have shown that relaxation techniques such as meditation and visualization can lower your stress hormones.  You don’t have to sit in one position for hours- all it takes is a few minutes a day to get the benefit.

Third, a healthy diet.   Choose healthy and organic foods as much as possible.   Stay away from the foods with hormones, antibiotics, steroids and pesticides, these things are harmful and illicit the stress response in your body.

Fourth,  have fun and laugh!  Yes there are studies for this too.  Laughter does lower your stress hormones.  Find something you enjoy and do it regularly.  Make having fun a priority!

Fifth, build your support team.   Whether it is a friend or family member or counselor or coach, it is important to have support.  Feelings of loneliness and isolation cause the stress response! Having an objective non-judgmental person on your team can make a huge difference in your fertility success.

La Jolla IVF is a great place to start your fertility journey.  Dr. Smotrich and his staff value integrity, compassion and a stress free environment.  No matter where you have been thus far, and no matter who you are or what you desire for your family, you will find a positive, relaxed and non-judgmental staff to welcome you at La Jolla IVF.

Gina Feletar RN, PC, ELI-MP

www.therebelcoach.com

*Please see our website for pregnancy rate details

While I’m past my baby-making days (and probably so are many of you), our lives are full of young women—our sisters, daughters, and friends—who we want to experience the same joy in raising children that we did in raising them. It’s up to us to make sure they have the know-how to make that happen.

Well, there is good news and there is bad news. First, the bad news: About 95 percent of 30-year-old women have only 12 percent of their original number of ovarian follicular cells, which can develop into eggs. And at 40, only 3 percent of the cells remain, according to research from the University of Edinburgh. Now, the good news: The research says that before birth, females have roughly 600,000 cells. That means that even if you lose 88 percent of them by the time you blow out 30 candles, you can still celebrate having 72,000 cells left.

While it’s easiest for women to become pregnant before age 35, all egg-laying ovaries are not created equal, says David B. Smotrich, MD, a Diplomate of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology specializing in Reproductive Endocrinology and Fertility. During your early 30s, your eggs can decline in quality and you might begin ovulating less frequently, even if you are having regular periods, Smotrich says. A 30-year-old woman has a 20 percent chance of getting pregnant per cycle, but by the time she’s 40, her odds drop to 5 percent per cycle, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

That’s where some newfangled fertility tests come in. Yep, Jess and Cece aren’t the only women getting their test on. If you plan to have a baby in the great “someday,” Smotrich recommends treating yourself to a baseline exam or two for your 30^th birthday. Follow up with yearly tests until age 35, semi-annual tests (I suggest you time them with the Victoria’s Secret semi-annual sales!) until 39, and quarterly tests thereafter to monitor your fertility, he says.

Here are some of your fertility-testing options:

Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Test A blood test that measures your body’s levels of follicle-stimulating hormones, which control your menstrual cycle and your production of eggs, he says.

25-Hydroxy Vitamin D Test A blood test that determines if your body is deficient in calcidiol, your body’s main form of stored vitamin D. Calcidiol levels generally decline with age, and deficiencies can predispose your baby to health complications, according to Smotrich.

Estradiol Test A blood test that measures the amount of a hormone called estradiol in your blood. Estradiol is a form of estrogen that is largely made in and released from the ovaries, adrenal cortex, and the placenta, which forms during pregnancy to feed a developing baby, he says.

Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) Test A blood test that estimates the number of the eggs in the ovaries, according to Smotrich.

Running out of eggs—and time? Medical interventions can help women older than 35 conceive. During in vitro fertilization, for instance, eggs are harvested from your ovaries, frozen unfertilized, and stored for later use. Your eggs can then be thawed, combined with sperm in a lab, and implanted in your uterus.

In women ages 35 and younger who undergo up to six cycles of in vitro fertilization therapy, the live-birth rate ranges from 65 to 86 percent. Women ages 40 and older have half the chance of giving birth from in vitro therapy, with their rate ranging from 23 to 42 percent, according to an analysis of more than 6,000 patients published in The New England Journal of Medicine. The procedure typically costs about $10,000 per cycle, according to Smotrich.

During perimenopause, it is possible to conceive a healthy baby, while at the same transitioning to menopause, he says. However, since the risk of chromosomal complications increases with the mother’s age, Smotrich recommends women older than age 35 talk to their doctor about having their developing baby monitored for chromosomal conditions including Down syndrome. Tests include a nuchal scan, a type of ultrasound, and amniocentesis, also referred to as amniotic fluid test or AFT, in which a small amount of amniotic fluid, which contains fetal tissues, is sampled, he says.

While men experience a drop in fertility after age 50, mom’s age is the most important one in terms of conceiving, according to Smotrich. Still, older men have increased levels of sperm DNA instability, which is linked with a higher risk of autism and schizophrenia in children, according to Eric J. Topol, MD, Professor of Genomics at The Scripps Research Institute and author of The Creative Destruction of Medicine.

Our baby makers don’t work forever. Thank goodness. Can you imagine if they did? But if we keep an eye on our fertility clock, we can help make sure that when our lives are ready for pregnancy, childproofing, and dirty little handprints all over our walls (and our hearts), so are our bodies. If you are more in the grandma stage of life than the mom stage, share this information with the young women in your life who are in their childbearing years. It is up to us to help educate the younger generation so they can someday have the families of their dreams.

Reaching out is IN! Suffering in silence is OUT!

The ‘race’ between human sperm to the eggs might just look like a bunch of wriggling tadpoles – but it makes a big difference which sperm wins, say Stanford researchers.

Full Story:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2176016/It-DOES-make-difference-wins-race-Scientists-scan-100-sperm-man–huge-DNA-differences.html

30 July 2012
www.dailymail.co.uk

Who Uses Donated Eggs?

There are a wide range of reasons a woman may choose to use an egg other than her own to have a baby, all of which are related to infertility in some way. Singlemen and gay couples must also use an egg donor in order to have a baby. In these instances the egg is usually fertilized using semen from one of the men who will raise the baby.

There are many situations in which an individual or couple can use an egg donor to start a family. Some common reasons to use an egg donor include:

• Age – A woman’s ovaries contain all the eggs she’ll ever need from birth. As a woman ages, so do her eggs. For some women, usually after age 35, this means that her eggs are no longer able to produce a successful pregnancy.

• Early Menopause – The early onset of menopause can begin at age thirty or younger, leaving these women very little time to start a family.

• Medical Reasons – A woman with a reproductive disorder, ovaries damaged by a disease or disease treatment, or who was born without ovaries may choose to use an egg donor to start a family.

• Repeated Failed Pregnancies – Women of all ages have a hard time getting or staying pregnant, often for unknown reasons.

Overview of the Egg DonationProcess

Egg donation takes place at a fertility clinic and is performed by a fertility specialist.

Finding donors: When eggs are needed for reproductive assistance, egg donors are often recruited. Not just anyone can be an egg donor. The preferred candidate is in her twenties, a non-smoker or drug user (prescription or illegal), physically fit, in good health, and has no history of genetic diseases on either side of her family.

Egg donors are usually anonymous, but in some instances, when both parties agree to it, the person or couple who will use the donated eggs is able to meet the donor before moving forward with the process. In the rarest of instances, the donor stays part of the child’s life in some way; however, usually a child from a donated egg never meets his or her biological mother.

Some parents will request a certain genetic profile in a donated egg. The parents may be looking for an egg donor who has a similar hair color, eye color, and complexion as they do, so their child is more likely to look like them. Sometimes a donor that fits the criteria can be recruited through an agency that specializes in oocyte donation.

Extracting eggs: A fertility specialist harvests eggs at a time from the donor. Egg donors are given a health screening to determine whether or not they are physically and mentally suitable to donate eggs. The exam includes a pelvic exam and pap smear, a pregnancy test, blood tests to determine hormone levels and the presence of any infectious diseases, and a psychological screening by a mental health professional.

The egg donation process lasts from three to six weeks each times eggs are extracted. Both the donor and the recipient who will carry the fertilized egg to term are given hormone therapy for the first few weeks to get them onto the same reproductive cycle.

The donor receives a series of injections of follicle-stimulating hormone therapy that tells her ovaries to prepare several oocytes (mature eggs) for release. The egg extraction procedure itself is done under sedation on an out-patient basis and takes about 15 to 20 minutes. Guided by ultrasound, the fertility specialistuses a long, thin needle to aspirate the eggs from the follicles of both ovaries.

What happens to the eggs after extraction?

A prepared sample of sperm is used to fertilize the eggs after extraction. Fertilized eggs are monitored for about five days in a lab until they reach the blastocyst stage. Fertilized eggs that have matured to blastocysts are capable of producing their own nutrients for survival until implantation occurs. One or more blastocysts are transferred to the recipient’s uterus for implantation in the uterine wall, which takes about one week.

After 3 years of not being back, Dr Smotrich was happy to return to the Bishop Asili Health Center in Luwero Uganda. Amazed by the positive energy and the vast changes that had taken place; he was delighted to being able to share these experiences with his son Ariel, who this time traveled with him.

Leaving Uganda in 2009 with the promise of funding the “Smotrich Resturant”, first ever hospital restaurant for patients and staff, he could now return to participate in its grand opening where more than 200 people gathered to share the event. Dr Smotrich also noticed remarkable changes and improvements on the grounds including the opening of 3 large fully equipped operating room suites as well as adding three additional doctors to the staff.

Dr Smotrich feels fortunate to be a part of the” Just Like My Child Foundation” and hopes to share future success stories.

In a traditional surrogacy, the surrogate mother supplies the egg to be fertilized and is therefore the biological mother of the child. While the egg can be extracted and fertilized in vitro to ensure fertilization, more often the egg is fertilized inside the woman’s uterus through artificial insemination. Traditional surrogacy is an old practice that’s been referred to throughout written history. It was a way for an infertile couple to become parents and continue the father’s bloodline before modern medical advances created other options. Traditional surrogacy is nowadays not commonly recommended nor utilized due to its potential legal difficulties.

In a gestational surrogacy, the surrogate is not the biological mother of the child and therefore does not supply her own egg for the pregnancy. The egg may come from a donor, or it may come from the woman who will be raising the child. Gestational surrogacy is much more common than traditional surrogacy these days, because it allows a wide range of different individuals and couples who need reproductive assistance to biologically parent a child.

Gestational surrogacy is usually used for one of the following reasons:

•    Female infertility – A woman cannot become pregnant naturally; through artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization;or she cannot carry a baby to term.

•    Medical issues–A variety of medical issues unrelated to fertility can either temporarily or permanently prevent a woman from becoming pregnant, carrying a baby to term, or giving birth.

•    Homosexuality – A single gay man or one partner from a gay couple can biologically father a child by using a gestational surrogate.

•    Single Dads – A single man can start a family on his own by using a gestational surrogate.

If any of the above applies to you and you want to become a parent, it’s time to consider gestational surrogacy. If you are a single woman or a couple who’s been trying to become pregnant or carry a child to term without success for an extended period for any reason, you should also consider gestational surrogacy to help start or add to your family.

More about Finding a Surrogate

There are a number of surrogacy programs that connect surrogates with individuals and couples in need. Sometimes the fertility center facilitating the process acts as a liaison between parents and surrogates.

Women of all races and demographic backgrounds become surrogates for reasons ranging from money to the desire to help others start a family. Some surrogates are only compensated for their medical bills and related expenses and in effect donate their time and bodies to the cause. Many surrogates are paid a fee for their service on top of medical and related expenses.

Parents should get to know any woman they are considering using as a gestational surrogate. The parents must trust their surrogate to make the right choices for their child during pregnancy, including diet, exercise, lifestyle, and medical care. The parents and surrogate have to agree on the type of prenatal care she and the child will receive and the birth plan for the delivery of the child.

While many different types of women become surrogates, most surrogates share some common traits. The typical surrogate is between ages 25 and 40, in good physical and mental health, and has given birth before. A successful implantation, pregnancy, and delivery are all crucial to the success of the entire surrogacy, and a woman who has been through the process of a successful pregnancy and birth in the past has the medical history to show she can succeed as a surrogate.

Surrogacy candidates are screened carefully through medical records, blood tests, psychological testing, and criminal history. It is essential to have a reputable fertility center or surrogacy program or both to oversee the process.

What Happens after a Surrogate is Chosen?

Embryos carried by gestational surrogates must be fertilized in vitro in a clinic. Depending on the parents’ reasons for using reproductive assistance, different combinations of biological and donor eggs and sperm are used.

In the case of a heterosexual couple, the eggs and sperm of the couple/parents are used when possible. A donor egg is needed in cases where the couple’s infertility is related to problems with the woman’s egg.

In cases of gay couples, sperm from one of the men is used to fertilize the egg. In some instances both men’s sperm are used to fertilize eggs from the same donor  and selected eggs are transferred to the surrogate’s uterus for implantation to create fraternal twins with the same biological mother and two different fathers.

Eggs are harvested from the donor or mother and immediately fertilized with either the father’s sperm or sperm from a donor. The fertilized egg cell divides and grows in a lab for about five days until it reaches the blastocyst stage. At this time any genetic prescreening requested by the parents is performed, and the eggs most likely to produce a successful pregnancy are transferred to the surrogate’s uterus for implantation.

Both single men and women or couples may choose to use a surrogate mother for a variety of reasons in order to make their dreams of parenthood a reality. Your own reasons for seeking a surrogate will impact your own surrogacy choice. First, in order to understand tips for finding a surrogate it’s important to first understand the different types of surrogacy.

Different Types of Surrogacy

Traditional Surrogacy is an arrangement in which the surrogate is biologically related to the child. This means that the surrogate mother provides her own egg and carries the child to term, but not involved in raising the child after it’s born. Traditional Surrogacy due to its potential legal complications is not as common as Gestational Surrogacy explained below.

Gestational Surrogacy is a more common type of surrogacy in which the surrogate mother is not biologically related to the child she’s carrying. The egg is extracted from the biological mother, fertilized in vitro at a fertility clinic, and implanted in the womb of the surrogate mother. The surrogate agrees to grow the baby in her womb for its parents, who are unable to do so themselves for any number of reasons.

Finding a Surrogate Mother

Here are a few tips to consider when using a surrogate mother,

Tip 1:Legalities.Surrogacy is controversial in the U.S., and laws on surrogacy agreements vary greatly from state to state. Some states have no laws in regard to surrogacy contracts or have declared contracts unenforceable in public policy. Many states that allow surrogacy agreements only allow uncompensated arrangements and gestational agreements (where the carrier is not biologically related to the child). Some states with surrogacy laws prohibit same-sex couples from entering into surrogacy agreements and require intended parents to be a married male/female couple.

Tip 2: Use an Agency. Choosing surrogacy means you’ll need a help to oversee the process. An Agency can assist you with matching you with a surrogate that is right for you as well as screening and legal referrals. An agency also provides a buffer and guidance in discussing complicated issues like pregnancy termination and reduction, as well as compensation and bed rest. They will guide you through what may feel like a strange and surreal situation that is both foreign and frightening.

Tip 3. Expenses.Speaking of financial woes, using surrogacy to have a child is not an inexpensive undertaking. You’ll be responsible for paying the medical bills of the surrogate as well as any legal costs that might arise from the pregnancy. You want to make sure you have an accurate understanding of your financial obligation prior to beginning your journey.

Tip 4. Understand what you want.What are you looking for in a surrogate mother? You’re entrusting the first nine months of your baby’s life with your surrogate mother, so most likely you’re looking for someone who will make likeminded decisions and treat the baby with the same care as you would. If you’re choosing a traditional surrogate, you’ll want to consider genetic factors that are important to you as well.

Tip 5: Interview different surrogates. You’re trusting your child’s life with your surrogate mother, so you need to choose one you trust with full confidence. You want your surrogate to meet all your top criteria, but you also want to choose a woman with whom you feel completely comfortable and at ease.

Tip 6: Consider lifestyle choices. Your surrogate is using her body to grow your child, so you want to choose one who will make the right daily choices for your baby. Ask your surrogate about her diet, fitness level, nicotine habits, and lifestyle choices such as drug and alcohol consumption before and during pregnancy to make sure you’re choosing a healthy surrogate for a healthy baby.

“Ilva plays model” Photo Credit: Edward Visser

Understanding PGD

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (or preimplantation genetic screening) is a standard biopsy procedure performed on embryos prior to implantation to ensure genetic normalcy and a healthy baby. The type of PGD determines the thoroughness of the screening. For example, a FISH (Fluorescent In-Situ Hybridization) PGD could only look up a mere fraction of the chromosomes, up to 12. In the past, FISH was the standard testing, but reliability and accuracy were questionable, quickly forcing the test into obsolescence.

Micro Array is the newest type of PGD that allows an accurate screening of all 23 pairs of chromosomes.

Why Use PGD?

All women have some risk of having a pregnancy with chromosomal abnormalities, a risk that dramatically increases with age. PGD gives prospective mothers at a more advanced age or with dangerous hereditary conditions the option of analyzing chromosomal normalcy of embryos prior to implantation. This ensures a healthy baby and a smooth birthing process.

The most common cause of miscarriage is chromosomal abnormality. Patients who have experienced a miscarriage in the past may consider a PGD screening to avoid future complications. Patients with a family history of genetic disorders can choose to exclude affected embryos from being implanted.

Timing is Everything

Currently, a typical preimplantation genetic diagnosis biopsy is performed on the embryo at day 3 of development. At this point, the embryo is tiny—composed of only six to eight cells—and only one cell is removed for genetic diagnosis.

However, new research released at The American Society of Reproductive Medicine’s 67th annual meetingshows that waiting until day 5 may be much more effective and yield much more promising results. By day 5, the embryo is in the blastocyst stage and has undergone the first step of differentiation to form the trophectoderm. This eventually becomes the placenta and the inner cell mass which then becomes the fetus.

The embryo contains almost a hundred cells by day 5, which means more cells can be removed for a much safer, more robust procedure. Additional research shows that abnormalities seen at day 3 can actually correct themselves by day 5. Performing the PGD on day 5 has led to significant improvements in implantation rates and excellent results for patients.

Here at La Jolla IVF, we took this research into great consideration. We perform PDG at day 5, and transfer the embryo on day 6. It’s exciting to work in the ever-changing reproductive healthcare industry, consistently taking into account new research that helps our procedures be more successful for our patients.

Check out our recent press release about day-6 embryo transfers

La Jolla IVF, a San Diego fertility center recently received accreditation from the College of American Pathologists (CAP); this is recognition of the highest standards in IVF laboratories.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/SanDiego-fertility-clinic/LaJolla-IVF-CAP-certified/prweb9477304.htm

La Jolla IVF – San Diego Fertility Center and Fertility Specialists

We see this as the gold standard for IVF labs. We really work hard to maintain our high-quality standards, success rates, and continued contribution to reproductive research.

San Diego, CA (PRWEB) May 16, 2012

La Jolla IVF, a San Diego fertility center, was recently awarded with accreditation from the College of American Pathologists (CAP)—a certification that is equal to or more stringent than the government’s own standards.

Laboratory Director Barry R. Behr, PhD, HCLD was informed of this national recognition and congratulated for the clinic’s continued excellence.

“It’s an honor to receive CAP certification,” commented Behr. “We see this as the gold standard for IVF labs. We really work hard to maintain our high-quality standards, success rates, and continued contribution to reproductive research,” he added.

During the CAP accreditation process, inspectors carefully examine the laboratory’s records and quality control of procedures for the preceding two years. Inspectors also evaluate staff qualifications, equipment, facilities, safety programs and records, and overall management. The accreditation program began in the 60s and is recognized by the federal government for stringent adherence to the highest standards.

CAP certification enables La Jolla IVF to make pregnancy rates available to the public via national statistics registers. This is an important statistic for potential patients who are in the process of choosing a fertility center. By sharing success rates, La Jolla IVF will be able to extend their reach, thereby providing high-quality services and the gift of parenthood to even more patients.

About La Jolla IVF

Founded by David B. Smotrich, M.D., F.A.C.O.G., La Jolla IVF is a San Diego-based fertility center specializing in in vitro fertilization (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), blastocyst embryo transfer, surrogacy (including for single individuals and gay males), egg donation, PDG Micro Array technology, , gender selection, embryo freezing, egg freezing, sperm freezing and banking, and more. La Jolla IVF provides an award-winning facility and updates practices routinely to improve results for a wide variety of patients. La Jolla IVF welcomes all patients, regardless of marital status, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. To learn more, please visit. http://www.lajollaivf.com.

About the College of American Pathologists

The College of American Pathologists, celebrating 50 years as the gold standard in laboratory accreditation, is a medical society that serves more than 17,000 physician members and the global laboratory community. It is the world’s largest association composed exclusively of board-certified pathologists and is the world-wide leader in laboratory quality assurance. The college advocates accountable, high-quality, and cost-effective patient care. More information can be found at http://www.cap.org.

Today, a procedure performed in vitro simply means outside the body or living organism. The blastocyst/embryo is implanted inside the uterus after fertilization occurs.

IVF requires three things for success: healthy eggs, fertile sperm, and a uterus that can carry the pregnancy to term. IVF makes the birth of a child possible even when these variables aren’t provided by the people who will parent the child.

Benefits of IVF

Anyone can have a baby. In vitro fertilization makes it possible for nearly any individual or couple to have a baby, regardless of familial status or sexual orientation. Single women and men, gay and lesbian couples, and couples who’ve had a hard time conceiving have all used IVF as a way to have a child.

It addresses infertility issues. IVF was traditionally used to help both men and women address infertility issues. Women with missing, damaged, or blocked fallopian tubes were some of the first patients to carry successful IVFs. The egg is fertilized outside the female body and then placed inside the uterus for a more likely implantation.

Many men with both known and unexplained infertility issues have benefited from IVF, especially in combination with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). ICSI targets and extracts a single sperm from a sample and injects it into the egg’s cytoplasm for optimal fertilization rates.

In many cases, IVF combined with ICSI is the only way for men with a low sperm count to still be able to biologically father a child. Their only other options may be using donor sperm or adoption.

Testicular sperm aspiration can be performed on men who can’t ejaculate sperm, including those with irreversible vasectomies, testicular cancer survivors, and men with low or no sperm count, blockages, and other conditions.

It increases chances of conception. Both IVF and ICSI increase the chances of fertilization regardless of whether infertility is an issue or not. Many couples choose in vitro fertilization because it helps them conceive more quickly at a time that’s right for them.

It increases chances of a healthy pregnancy and child. Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) is possible, allowing couples to identity chromosomal deficiencies in an embryo before is it implanted inside the uterus.

Have a baby when you want to: The availability of IVF means couples don’t have to try for years to get pregnant naturally. IVF gives couples more control over factors such as spacing out children, being pregnant at the right time, and even when a child will be born.

Additional benefits: Other benefits of IVF include factors that simply give parents more options when it comes to having children:

• Frozen eggs and/or sperm can be used, giving people the ability to save their healthy eggs or sperm for future use.

• IVF makes pregnancy after menopause possible because the uterus can still carry a pregnancy to term after a woman’s reproductive cycles have ended.

• An Egg Donor can be used in cases where the woman has a low ovarian reserve or have eggs of poor quality. In other cases it would be a requirement – as for a gay couple wishing to start a family.

• The option of using a Gestational Surrogate can be based on a number of different factors but provides the parent with the option of somebody else carrying the pregnancy for you.

IVF Success Rates

The success rates of in vitro fertilization are another benefit and reason to choose IVF. IVF is successful in one of two capacities: the rate of successful pregnancies and the rate of live births.

Rate of pregnancy: The rate of pregnancy for IVF is determined by embryos which are successfully implanted in the uterus and develop a heartbeat. The national rates of pregnancy in 2010 reported by the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) were 47.7% for women under 35; 38.8% in women ages 35-37, and for women ages 38-40 29.9%. Pregnancy rates drastically decreases when passing the age of 40. The national pregnancy rate for women of ages 41-42 is 20.1% and drops down to 8.9% when older then 42.

Rate of live births: Live births resulting from IVF are determined by the number of successful pregnancies that are carried to term and result in the delivery of a live baby, so it does not account for miscarriage or stillbirth, and the live birth of multiples are still counted as one birth. Live birth rates reported by SART for IVF pregnancies in the United States in 2010 are 41.7% in women under 35; 31.9% in women ages 35–37; 22.1% in women ages 38–40; 12.5% in women ages 41-40 and 4.1% in woman above 42.

As seen by the numbers presented above, age is a vital factor in IVF. When using an Egg Donor and/or a Gestational Surrogate the rates will reflect an increase in pregnancy rates. Only your fertility specialist will be able to determine which treatment is best for you, but in vitro fertilization has brought successful pregnancies to many happy parents around the world, and is an important option to consider for those struggling with fertility issues.

On October 13th 2011, “Just Like My Child” held their annual Gala at El Cortez down town San Diego. Dr Smotrich, known as the donor of ” The Smotrich Kitchen”, was one of the speakers of the evening. The goal for the evening was to raise enough money to put 750 families in the “dairy” business through their partnership with Heifer International in Uganda. An amazing evening with a total of 225,000 dollars raised.

Please click the link below to view the special “wrap-up” video.