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 Chicago Infertility Specialist
In 1891, Walter Heape (1855-1929), a professor and physician at the University of Cambridge, England, who had been conducting research on reproduction in numerous animal species, reported the first known case of embryo transplantation. Working with two species of rabbits, he flushed embryos from the oviducts (rabbit fallopian tubes) of one breed (Angora) and placed them into the uterus of a recently mated Belgian hare. In the resulting litter, there were 4 Belgians and 2 Angoras. Heape proved that it was possible to take preimplantation embryos and transfer them to a gestational carrier without affecting their development.
As a result of this work, many scientists became interested in culturing eggs and embryos in the laboratory. Gregory Pincus and colleagues were the first to show how eggs of various animals would undergo maturation if released from their follicle and cultured in a laboratory. In 1939, he reported that human eggs would mature in the laboratory within 12 hours. It was not until 1959, however, that M.C. Chang reported, in the journal Nature, the first unequivocal case of a live birth following egg fertilization in the lab, true in vitro fertilization and subsequent embryo transfer, to the uterus.
Bob Edwards became interested in working with humans in 1958. His first challenge was that he found that human eggs did not mature in vitro (in the laboratory) whenreleased from the follicle as Pincus had reported in 1939. Using ovarian slices provided by Dr. Molly Rose, his wife's obstetrician, Dr. Edwards worked for two years trying to induce human egg maturation without success. As it turned out, human maturation took twice as long as what had been reported by Pincus. This error wasted two years. Eventually, each stage of human egg maturation was timed and in vitro fertilization of human eggs was achieved.
Initially, patients were stimulated with fertility medications in order to help with obtaining eggs. However, several patients developed severe luteal phase deficiency. Luteal phase deficiency is a problem that occurs when there is inadequate progesterone support of the uterine lining after ovulation or egg retrieval. The decision was made to supplement the patients with additional progesterone. Initially, daily injections of progesterone in oil was chosen but due to the problems inherent with the use of intramuscular progesterone (which persist until this day), they switched to a synthetic progesterone that could be given every five days. Sadly, this decision resulted in failure over the course of the next two years due to the abortion inducing properties of the synthetic progesterone.
Diagnosing pregnancy was more difficult due to the lack at that time of sensitive pregnancy tests. Despite this limitation, a few embryo transfers resulted in a brief rise in a serum pregnancy test. These early pregnancies were designated as "biochemical pregnancies" since the blood test was the only proof of their existence.
www.ivf1.com
900 North Michigan Avenue
15th Floor
Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: 312-440-505
Fertility Bridges
The ovaries are magnificent glands which are part of the female reproductive system. The ovaries are about the size and shape of an almond and sit just above the fallopian tubes -- one ovary on each side of the uterus. Every month during ovulation, either the right or left ovary produces a single mature egg for fertilization.
When a baby girl is born, she already has about 1,000,000 ovarian follicles. Each ovarian follicle contains a hollow ball of cells with an immature egg in the center. During childhood, approximately half of ovarian follicles are absorbed by the body. By the time a girl reached puberty and her menstrual cycle begins, about 400,000 ovarian follicles are left to develop into mature eggs.
To begin with, you will be injected with a drug that will inhibit your natural menstrual cycles. The doctor will use this to synchronize your menstrual cycle with that of the
recipient. Once the cycles are in synch, you will begin injections of a drug which will stimulate your ovaries to make extra eggs. This typically lasts 4-7 days. Your ovaries will be examined using ultrasound, and blood tests will be given to check your hormone levels.
Once your ovarian follicles (that produce eggs) have matured, you will receive one more injection (human chorionic gonadotrophin). A few days later, the doctor will extract eggs from your ovaries (usually using a syringe-like instrument) while you are sedated. The average cycle for this process, from the initial injection to the actual withdrawal of the eggs, is about 3 to 5 weeks depending on where you are in your menstrual cycle when you start.
We aim to work with egg donors that are 21-28 years old with some college education. They should be in an excellent health and have no history of health problems that need recurring treatment. They should be non-smokers, drink rarely, and not be at a very stressful times of their lives because they may not respond well to the egg stimulation.
Ideally egg donor candidate should be able to exhibit a high level of intelligence, whether it is from an IQ test, an SAT score or college grades.
Most Intended Parents understand that intelligence is measured in many ways and not just by quantitative analysis. Therefore, emotional intelligence, as well as what we might call artistic and physical intelligence that comes from high achievement in the arts or sports are also considered.
www.fertilitybridges.com
Fertility Bridges Inc.
John Hancock Center
875 North Michigan Avenue, 31st Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60611
Phone: 1-312-794-7857
Illinois Fertility Center-North Shore
Our Illinois IVF clinic is located in Skokie. In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a mainstay of assisted reproductive technology and has allowed many couples to conceive and deliver healthy children.
IVF literally means "fertilization outside of the body". Sperm from the male are combined with the female's eggs in a petri dish (round glass dish) where fertilization occurs.
Developing oocytes produce the hormone estrogen, which stimulates thickening of the endometrium in preparation to receive the pre-embryo. Later in the IVF cycle,
progesterone also supports development of the endometrium. Estrogen levels are monitored via blood tests throughout the IVF stimulation cycle to insure that ovarian
hyperstimulation (enlarged ovaries, changes in bodies fluid distribution, potentially very serious) does not occur.
Non-specialists should generally not administer FSH. Reproductive endocrinologists undergo extensive advanced training and have clinical experience in the use of ovarian stimulation agents. They are best suited to monitor and adjust doses. Ultrasounds and estradiol levels are necessary when receiving these medications and, depending on the patient's response, they may be required from 3 times during the cycle to daily .
During IVF, Lupron is often administered until the eggs are ready to be retrieved immediately before the ovulatory phase. Whether or not it is given depends on the patient’s individual protocol and "response history". Lupron suppresses the body's production of LH and FSH. Since FSH is given by injection, production by the body is not critical
The embryos are often cultured longer to the eight cell or blastocyst stage. Blastocysts are more viable than earlier stage embryos and fewer embryos must be replaced in the uterus thus reducing the chance for multiple births. Blastocysts have a higher implantation rate and three are usually placed back into the uterus.
After incubation, the pre- embryos are transferred back to the uterus via a catheter. This procedure is painless and usually takes ten to twenty minutes to perform. The
patient remains in the bed for twenty-four hours after the procedure. Progesterone is administered via injection after the transfer to provide support for the developing embryo. A series of b-HCG tests and ultrasounds are performed after transfer to document pregnancy
www.northshorefertility.com
4250 Dempster St. Skokie, IL, 60076 and 999 Plaza Drive, Suite 630 in Shaumburg, IL.IVF Clinics Joliet : IVF Clinics Crystal Lake : IVF Clinics Rockford : IVF Clinics South Chicago :
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