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Central Georgia Fertility Institute
In vitro fertilization constitutes the placement of both egg and sperm within
the same space, a petri dish outside the body. This is where fertilization
occurs. This was first
begun as means to bypass the female fallopian tubes for normal fertilization and
passage of the subsequent embryo into the uterine cavity. As time passed it has
increased in scope to include treatment for endometriosis, for donor egg, donor
embryos and gestational surrogates.
During IVF, a woman is given specific medications to stimulate her ovaries to
produce multiple eggs. These eggs are then harvested and placed in the
embryology
laboratory. Three to 4 hours later sperm is placed with the eggs and allowed to
fertilize the egg overnight. The following morning they assessed for
fertilization. Fertilized zygotes are grown in special culture media for a
further 3 or 5 days. Following this period of growth, the resulting embryos are
transferred into the wife's uterus, generally on day 3 or day 5 following
retrieval. IVF may provide significant information about the cause of
infertility by giving direct visualization of female eggs, male sperm, and their
subsequent interaction.
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection is a specialized form of IVF developed and used
to overcome male factor infertility. In this procedure each egg is injected with
only one
sperm, thereby bypassing the need for the sperm to penetrate the "shell" of the
egg to achieve fertilization. ICSI is considered by most to be a safe procedure.
However,
there are studies showing small but significant increases in non-lethal genetic
abnormalities but no increase in birth defects or congenital abnormalities
associated with babies conceived via the ICSI procedure. If there is definite
evidence of genetic factors being the cause of male factor infertility the ICSI
procedure may permit the transfer of these factors. Some of these include the
genes that cause the condition known as cystic fibrosis or micro-deletions of
the Y chromosome. If this is the case then genetic counseling should be pursued
prior to doing ICSI. If the male is carrying the cystic fibrosis genes his wife
must also be tested prior to any procedures since the likelihood of having an
affected child if both partners are carrying the genes is very high. Affected
children may not live long.
www.centralgafertility.com
Central Georgia Fertility Institute
4075 Elnora Drive
Macon, GA 31210
Phone: 1-888-824-7890
478-757-7888
evenings & weekends: 478-633-1000
Fax: 478-757-7887
Lakeshore Tubal Reversal Center
If you have had your tubes tied and are considering IVF it is important to
contact a clinic like ours (there are several in the Southern U.S.) to see if
your tubal ligation can be reversed. This is important even if your doctor has
suggested only IVF. This could save you huge amounts of money and prevent you
from being exposed to unnecessary risks.
Strong words? You bet, but tubal reversal is unfortunately a well kept secret.
Most of the reasons that IVF costs so much is because the powerful drugs that
are used are
extremely expensive. The companies that make them have done a wonderful job of
selling them to the doctors, the media and the general public. You don’t hear
too much about the risks but they are real, including death.
There is a condition called ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome where the ovaries
over react to the drugs used in IVF. It usually resolves with time and pain
medication, but
can require hospitalization and surgery to cure. There have been fatalities
reported! The enlarged ovaries can twist, cutting off their own blood supply. If
this happens, surgery would be necessary to try and save the ovary.
Another condition caused by IVF is known as Hereroectopic pregnancy. This is
where a patient becomes pregnant in the womb and in the tube at the same time.
This occurs in approximately 1 out of 1000 pregnancies where IVF is used.
Without IVF the risks are about 1 in 100,000. Additionally, the babies that are
born as a result of IVF are more likely to be premature and have other health
problems. Even the mother is at risk for ovarian cancer later in life due to the
use of the ovary-stimulating drugs.
www.pregnantagain.org
2320 Limestone Parkway
Gainesville, Georgia 30501
Toll Free: 877-588-5594
Phone: 770-531-0012
Fax: 770-531-0053
IVF Clinics Atlanta :
IVF Clinics Macon |
