FERTILITY TREATMENT
CENTER offers fertility treatment & services including...
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and Embryo Transfer (ET) – are the most common ART procedures. They are used to treat
infertility problems caused by adhesions, endometriosis, sperm antibodies, low sperm count, and unexplained infertility. The eggs are retrieved
and then processed by the laboratory. They are isolated and mixed with properly processed sperm, and are then placed in an incubator where fertilization
takes place. After fertilization, embryos that have developed satisfactorily are transferred into the uterus three to five days after egg retrieval.
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) - is also called artificial insemination. It is
a low tech form of fertility treatment. It is generally used in two ways: natural and with ovulation induction. Couples who are experiencing
fertility problems may be able to use IUI as a means to increase the likelihood of pregnancy. IUI is an in-office procedure and uses a specially
prepared semen sample that has been obtained from the partner or donor. (You and your partner may elect to use donated sperm if the male partner
has no sperm or very poor quality sperm, if he has undergone previous radiation or chemotherapy treatment, or if he has a genetic disorder
that might be inherited.) The sperm is placed gently in the uterus using a catheter carefully maneuvered through the cervix. IUI is considered
a relatively painless procedure.
Semen Analysis - is a test that assesses the formation and maturity of sperm as well as how the sperm
interact with the seminal fluid. A fresh semen sample (no more than a half hour old) is collected and then analyzed in a laboratory for a
variety of different factors. In order for sperm to be able to fertilize an egg, it is necessary for seminal fluid to be of the correct consistency
as well as for sperm to have maximum motility and ideal morphology. If any of these factors are revealed to be less than perfect in a semen
analysis, male fertility may be compromised. Male infertility testing is an important part of making an accurate infertility diagnosis.
Super Ovulation – Some causes of infertility can be effectively treated with super ovulation
therapy. During super ovulation therapy, the woman is treated with medications that increase the number of eggs she ovulates each month.
At the appropriate time, intrauterine insemination is performed. Causes of infertility that can be treated with this therapy include ovarian
dysfunction, infertility associated with endometriosis, cervical factor infertility, and infertility in which the exact cause cannot be
identified. Super ovulation therapy is also an effective addition in treating couples with male infertility.
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) – is a procedure used in conjunction
with IVF in which single egg is inserted with a micro-needle into the cytoplasm of a mature egg. ICSI is often used if the male partner
has very low sperm count, low sperm motility, or poor quality sperm. If fertilization occurs after ICSI, the embryo may then be transferred
into the uterus.
Assisted Hatching - is a process used to aide the embryo to emerge from its covering prior to
implantation in the uterus. In some cases, particularly as women age, the membrane hardens which can interfere with the natural hatching
process.
Cryopreservation (embryo freezing) – is the process of freezing embryos
at a very low temperature so that they can be thawed and used later. IVF success rates with frozen embryos are very high at FTC because of
our Day 4 ET (embryo transfer) protocol, which may allow couples multiple chances to achieve pregnancy from a single oocyte retrieval cycle.
During a traditional cycle of IVF, we usually transfer 2 embryos to the uterus to maximize the chance of conception while minimizing the
likelihood of multiple births. If pregnancy does not occur during the stimulated cycle, the frozen embryos may be thawed and transferred
to the uterus during a spontaneous menstrual cycle. If conception does result from the initial stimulated cycle, cryopreserved embryos can
be used later in an attempt to achieve another pregnancy.
Embryo Storage - upon completion of your IVF treatment, any remaining embryos will need to be
stored for your possible future use. Cryopreserved or frozen embryos can potentially remain for an indefinite period of time at FTC’s
cryobank.
Sperm Aspiration and Extraction – Microepididymal sperm aspiration (MESA) and percutaneous
epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA) are available for men with obstructed or absent ejaculatory ducts (i.e. unsuccessful vasectomy reversal,
congenital absence of the vas deferens). Sperm are aspirated directly from the epididymis (the tiny collecting tubules next to the testes)
for use in the ICSI procedure. The few drops of fluid may contain sufficient sperm to be frozen for several ICSI procedures. Testicular
sperm extraction (TESE) is available for men with obstructions or ejaculatory problems that cannot be treated by any other method. Small
samples of testicular tissue are obtained by needle biopsy and a few sperm are painstakingly dissected out of the tissue for use in the ICSI
procedure.
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| PreciousWonders |
Since 1990, FTC has been providing patients with the latest advancements in reproductive medicine to meet their needs, delivered with personalized care and compassion. In keeping with our mission to offer patients options to every facet of service and care in one center, we have established PreciousWonders, our egg donation program. Fertility Treatment Center (FTC) is pleased to offer a unique program that offers our recipient patients qualified egg donors through PreciousWonders. |
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Egg Donation (oocyte) - Egg donation involves a woman (a donor) "donating" her eggs so that
another woman (a recipient) might be able to conceive. In egg donation, in vitro fertilization (IVF) is performed in the usual manner, except
that the donor may receive fertility medications to stimulate the production of multiple eggs in her ovaries. At the same time, the recipient
may also receive medications so that her cycle mirrors the cycle of the donor and her body is prepared to receive the embryo. The egg is
then fertilized in a laboratory and the embryos are implanted in the recipient's uterus. The success rate for couples undergoing in vitro
fertilization (IVF) with egg donation — even when a woman is over age 40 — is approximately the same as the success rate of IVF
in young women.
Generally, egg donation may be an option for a woman if she:
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Is older and has not succeeded with other therapies.
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Has reached menopause prematurely.
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May carry a genetic disorder that may have been determined through blood testing.
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Has experienced unexplained and repeated miscarriages.
Hysterosalpingogram (HSG) - is performed to check for blockage of the fallopian tubes or for growths in the uterus. About
15% of infertility is due to blocked fallopian tubes, which can interfere with egg fertilization or stop a fertilized egg from reaching the uterus.
An HSG can also detect fibroids, polyps, adhesions and/or other growths or scarring in the uterus. The physicians at FTC will perform and interpret
the results of all HSG procedures performed at their state-of-the-art facility.
Infertility Diagnostic Surgery - includes microsurgery, hysteroscopy, laparoscopy,
and laser surgery. Laparoscopy is an outpatient surgical procedure utilized to diagnose and treat a variety of infertility and gynecological
conditions including pelvic pain, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, pelvic adhesions and tubal disease. During laparoscopy a thin fiber-optic
tube, attached to a video camera, is inserted into the abdomen, through a small incision in the belly button. The surgeon can then evaluate the
uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, appendix, liver and gallbladder for the cause of pain or infertility.
Tubal Ligation Reversal (microsurgical tubal reanastomosis) - Tubal
sterilization is one of the more common means of birth control used in the United States. Unfortunately, this permanent form of contraception
will not allow you to change your mind and attempt pregnancy unless you undergo another surgical procedure. This operation is known as tubal
ligation reversal or microsurgical tubal reanastomosis.
The success of this type of surgery is dependent upon several factors. Foremost of these is the amount of fallopian tube remaining after
the sterilization. If at least 4 centimeters of healthy tube is present, then pregnancy rates of 60 - 85% are not uncommon. The amount of
tube remaining can usually be determined by having one of our physicians review the operative report from your sterilization operation. If
your surgery involved the use of cautery or burning the fallopian tube your chances of getting pregnant after this operation may be less,
and in these cases, patients would more likely achieve pregnancy by undergoing In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).
Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) - Preimplantation Genetic
Diagnosis (PGD) is a technique that can be used during in vitro fertilization (IVF) to test embryos for a variety of genetic disorders. This
procedure gives couples a chance to have a child unaffected by a genetic condition, without the uncertainty involved in becoming pregnant and
using prenatal diagnosis. PGD involves harvesting cells from very early embryos after IVF or removing a polar body from an oocyte for analysis.
Some genetic conditions can be diagnosed after amplifying the DNA with polymerase chain reaction; chromosomes can also be studied using fluorescent
in situ hybridization (FISH) techniques.
» Click here for more information on PGD
“FTC is the only fertility center in Arizona currently
performing PGD-FISH analysis on-site.” |
“FTC was the first center in Arizona to report a successful
PGD pregnancy.” |
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