Penn Fertility Care has helped thousands of couples become families. Last year alone, fertility specialists at Penn performed more than 400 in vitro fertilization procedures. Fertility treatments have advanced considerably throughout the last 40 years as evidenced by development of reproductive options including in vitro fertilization, cryopreservation of sperm, eggs and embryos, micromanipulation of gametes and embryos, preimplantation genetic diagnosis and third-party reproduction.
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is the most successful infertility treatment, according to Anuja Dokras, MD, PhD, medical director of Penn Fertility Care’s in vitro fertilization program.
It is commonly used when the fallopian tubes are severely damaged or absent, and for other indications such as unexplained and male factor infertility. For IVF, the ovaries are stimulated with hormones to produce multiple egg-containing follicles. The eggs are retrieved surgically and immediately transferred to the laboratory where they are fertilized and cultured for a few days. On a predetermined date, the developing embryos are inserted into the uterus for further growth and implantation.
Due to its high success rate, IVF has been used more frequently in recent years as a therapy for all causes of infertility.
Micromanipulation
Micromanipulation of eggs and sperm can help make IVF more effective, especially in cases of male infertility. According to Dr. Dokras, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a technique whereby a sperm is inserted directly into the harvested egg. Specialized tools are used to pick up an individual sperm and inject it into the inner part (cytoplasm) of the egg allowing sperm that cannot swim (decreased motility) or bind to an egg to fertilize it.
“We have success with this procedure in cases of severe male infertility,” said Dr. Dokras. “If the man produces no sperm, we can also use sperm taken through a testicular biopsy to fertilize the egg.”
Other micromanipulation methods used in infertility treatments include the use of a laser to make a small opening in the shell surrounding the egg (zona) to help the embryo attach to the uterus.
If one or both parents are carriers or affected by a genetic or chromosomal disorder, embryo biopsy for preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) may be performed before the embryos are transferred to the uterus, Dr. Dokras said. This allows couples to make informed decisions about their next steps in the IVF process by ensuring that embryos unaffected by the genetic or chromosomal disorder are selected for transfer to the uterus.
Donated eggs, sperm and embryos have helped many couples realize their dream of starting a family. In other cases, a gestational carrier, or surrogate, helps couples create their family.
“Third-party reproduction is a process where one person (known or anonymous) provides eggs, sperm or embryos to another person or couple so that they may become pregnant,” said Dr. Dokras. "For women who are unable to carry a pregnancy, and for those who have experienced multiple pregnancy losses, surrogacy can be the answer."
Penn has a successful egg donation program that promotes responsible, healthy outcomes.
The donor embryo program is a relatively new service for patients who have not had success with IVF and other fertility treatments. Penn Fertility Care receives donated cryopreserved embryos from patients who have gone through successful in vitro fertilization treatment. Using donated embryos is an excellent form of treatment for couples that have been unsuccessful in achieving pregnancy through assisted reproductive technologies with their own eggs and sperm (or gametes).
Couples who choose to have their child carried by surrogate make most of the arrangements on their own and Penn fertility specialists work with the parties to facilitate the process. IVF is the most common method for achieving pregnancy with a surrogate.
“The third party’s assistance is limited to the reproductive process and does not involve raising the child,” Dr. Dokras said. “This may not be a traditional method to have a baby, but these services have helped to build families around the world.”
Assisted reproduction involving a third-party requires additional considerations including medical, financial and legal issues.
For more information or to schedule an appointment with Penn Fertility Care, please visit PennMedicine.org or call 800-789-PENN (7366).
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment