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The Southeastern Center for Fertility and Reproductive Surgery
When searching for the cause of a specific case of infertility, there are
several possibilities to explore. In general, there is a 40 percent chance that
the condition is in the female, a 40 percent chance that it's in the male, and a
20 percent chance that it is unexplained. In trying to determine where the
problem lies, the first questions that come to mind are simple: Are sperm
available? Are eggs available? Can they meet? Can the embryo develop and
implant? Once these questions have been answered, the questions become more
specific. Is the infertility caused by ovulatory dysfunction, mechanical
factors, endometrial receptivity problems, or problems with sperm count,
motility, structure, or function?
Male related fertility factors generally are caused by low numbers, poor
movement, or abnormal structure of the sperm. However, functional abnormalities
of the sperm may
also be present, even if all other parameters are normal.
Methods of treatment for male subfertility include intrauterine insemination,
hormonal therapy, lifestyle changes, various surgical procedures, and of course,
ICSI.
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection has truly revolutionized the treatment of the
subfertile male since it's introduction in 1992.
ICSI is performed in conjunction with other techniques for In Vitro
Fertilization. After stimulation of the wife's ovaries to induce development of
multiple eggs, the eggs are
retrieved and carefully separated from the surrounding, attached cells. Using a
specially developed microscope and glass needles, a micromanipulator is used to
inject a single sperm into each egg. Although one might conclude that all such
injected eggs are now "fertilized", in actuality, the fertilization rate with
ICSI is about the same as in conventional IVF, i.e. approximately 65-70%. Thus,
only a dozen or so sperm (as opposed to many million) are necessary to achieve a
pregnancy with ICSI. This number of sperm are retrievable in the vast majority
of subfertile males. Please refer to our section on IVF.
www.baby4me.net/
10810 Parkside Drive
Baptist Physicians Plaza #304
Knoxville, TN 37934
UT Medical Center
Literally, IVF means “in glass” – it refers to any fertility technique in which
a woman’s egg is fertilized by her partner’s sperm in a petri dish. The
fertilized egg or eggs are
then inserted into her fallopian tubes or uterus, where implantation will
hopefully occur.
If you and your partner are having trouble getting pregnant, you are not alone.
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine estimates there are 6.1 million
people dealing with infertility in the United States -- that's roughly 10% of
those trying to conceive. Fortunately, there are many tests and procedures that
can identify and treat the causes of infertility.
Most physicians will recommend that couples try to conceive for a year before
seeking medical assistance. If a woman is over 30, has a history of pelvic
disease,
miscarriage, painful menstruation, irregular cycles, or if her partner has a low
sperm count, the National Infertility Association recommends that she and her
partner may
want to seek professional advice sooner.
Treatment depends on the cause of infertility for any given couple. It may
include simple education and counseling, the use of medications that treat
infections or promote ovulation, or highly sophisticated medical procedures such
as in-vitro fertilization.
It is important for the couple to recognize and discuss the emotional impact of
infertility, and to seek medical advice from a health care provider. Support
groups for infertile couples may be an important source of strength and comfort.
RESOLVE, a national organization, both provides informal support and serves as a
referral base for
professional counseling specific to infertility issues.
www.utmedicalcenter.org
The University of Tennessee Medical Center
1924 Alcoa Highway Knoxville,
Tennessee 37920-6969
Telephone: 1.865.305.9000.
National Embryo Donation Center
The National Embryo Donation Center (NEDC) is a non-profit organization whose
mission is to protect the lives and dignity of human embryos by promoting,
facilitating and educating about embryo donation and adoption. When couples go
through fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization, there is usually an
excess of fertilized eggs (embryos) that are cryopreserved - frozen and stored
for later use.
It is estimated that 400,000 human embryos are currently in cryopreservation in
the United States. When the genetic parents decide that their family is complete
and
embryos are still available, they are faced with a dilemma: donating their
embryos to research, thawing them and letting them die, or donating them to a
couple who is
unable to conceive. Many believe that embryo donation and adoption is the most
life-honoring solution to this difficult choice.
The NEDC handles the medical, legal and social requirements of embryo donation.
The Center offers a variety of placement options for couples considering
donation of their cryopreserved embryos and also provides counseling for both
donors and recipients. The NEDC is endorsed by the Christian Medical
Association.
The National Embryo Donation Center (NEDC) understands your desire to have a
family and seeks to provide you an alternative method to have children. When
couples go through fertility treatments, such as in vitro fertilization, there
are usually an excess of fertilized eggs (embryos) that are frozen and stored
for later use. When the genetic parents decide that their family is complete and
embryos are still available, they are faced with a dilemma. There are three
options: donating them to a couple who is unable to conceive, destroying them
for research purposes, or thawing them and letting them die. Embryo adoption
allows the genetic parents to give their embryos a chance for life and provides
you with an opportunity to have children. Embryo adoption allows you to
experience pregnancy and the birth of a child.
www.embryodonation.org
116 Concord Road - Suite 400
Farragut, TN 37934
Toll Free: 866-585-8549
Telephone: 865-777-2013
Fax: 865-777-2016
IVF
Clinics Chattanooga : IVF Clinics Johnson City
:
IVF Clinics Memphis :
IVF Clinics Knoxville |
