But these cases are not the only instances where IVF is used as a fertility option.  It is not uncommon for women to have trouble producing their own healthy eggs, which are an essential piece of the fertility puzzle.  Sometimes the medical conditions associated with egg production can be treated, but in other case they can not.  This is where the concept of egg donation comes into play.

Egg donation involves healthy females providing their own eggs for use by couples who are having infertility problems.  In some cases women do this as a way of giving to those less fortunate than themselves, but more commonly it is done for financial compensation.  The average compensation for egg donation ranges from $5000 to $10000 depending on the health and genetic record of the donor.  While this sum may appear to be a substantial amount of money, the process involved with egg donation can be mentally and physically taxing on the donor.

Only a small amount of women who sign up to be donors are ever accepted into the donation program.  Most of the time it is the strict physical and genetic requirements by doctors and potential parents that eliminates a women from consideration.  The typical screening process includes weeks of blood tests and psychological screening.  When a physical donor is approved, she is also screened by the couple for their personal requirements of physical and mental attributes.

There is some uncertainty as to the health effects related to the vetting process.  While the most common side effects are generally mild (abdominal discomfort and bloating) the procedure does not have a long enough history to estimate long-term effects.  This unknown parameter is a risk that the donor must accept in return for the opportunity to earn extra money.

While some may criticize women who sell their eggs for financial gain, the fact is that there is a growing market that supports the market.  As medical technology continues to advance, the success rate of in vitro fertilization has increased substantially.  But without the availability of healthy eggs the entire process is impossible.  Thus, those who can afford to compensate healthy egg donors are usually more than happy to do so.

Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) is considered a non-invasive or minimally invasive type of procedure. Frozen embryos can be thawed and then implanted into your uterus. If you have ovarian or ovulation problems, then FET might be a good option for you when you are considering your infertility treatment options. If you have uterine based problems with carrying out a pregnancy or other disorders, then FET may not be for you. Consult your infertility specialist about what infertility treatments might help you conceive.

Many couples are very concerned with what happens to their extra embryos during an IVF procedure. Educating yourself on how FET works can be very comforting and informative. When pursuing IVF, the man donates sperm and the woman donates eggs. The two are combined in a lab under special environmental and clinical circumstances to create as many embryos (fertilized eggs) as possible. The embryos are studied for viability. The ones that develop the most normally are selected as the ones that will most likely implant. You and your doctor will decide how many embryos to transfer and how many will be cryopreserved.

After viable embryos are chosen, they will be placed into glass tubes. A cryoprotectant is added to the tube. This keeps the embryo safe during the freezing process by not allowing ice crystals to form inside of the embryo. The embryos and cryoprotectant tubes are placed in a special freezer cooled by liquid nitrogen. They are slowly cooled down to one -196 degrees Celsius.

When you are ready to use your frozen embryos, they will be thawed to room temperature, usually the day before the transfer. The cryoprotectant will be completely washed away during a series of solution soakings. Next, the embryos are warmed up to body temperature and mixed with a solution medium.

Your body will be monitored for optimal implantation timing. Normally, three to four embryos will be transferred at once to increase the chances of implantation. You will need to discuss how many embryos to transfer with your infertility doctor. Your ovarian follicles will most likely be suppressed with medications, and your uterine lining will be developed with other medications. Ultrasounds will help your doctor determine the best time to transfer the embryos.

Embryos are easily transferred through your cervix and directly into your uterus. This is a minimally invasive, only slightly uncomfortable procedure. Your cervix will most likely allow entrance of the transfer catheter without difficulty or pain. You may experience some mild discomfort and cramping during and after the procedure. Success rates depend on your individual condition, so you should discuss your chances of a successful pregnancy through FET with your reproductive endocrinologist before you begin any type of infertility treatment.

About the Author: Eric Daiter is the medical director of The NJ Center for Fertility and Reproductive Medicine, LLC, a leading NEW JERSEY INFERTILITY CENTER that offers a complete range of MALE INFERTILITY AND FEMALE INFERTILITY TREATMENT. For more information on The NJ Center for Fertility and Reproductive Medicine and Dr. Eric Daiter please visit http://www.drericdaitermd.com

If your infertility specialist has recommended IVF for you, then there are several things that you can expect when going through the procedure. First, medication to assist in ovarian follicle stimulation will be given. These medications will cause several follicles to be produced on the ovaries. This is called ovarian stimulation. The medication usually consists of gonadotropins injected daily for around ten days.

 When the follicles mature, your doctor will move on to oocyte retrieval. You will be injected with luteinizing hormone which will cause ovulation to happen, usually within 36-40 hours. Your doctor will attempt to take the matured eggs and follicle fluid before ovulation occurs. A needle is used to extract the eggs and fluid from the follicles. The fluid will be sent to the lab to identify mature eggs. They will be prepared for fertilization there. 

While the eggs are being prepared, the semen will need to be retrieved and prepared as well. The sperm and the egg will be put together for about eighteen hours to allow time for fertilization to occur. If there is a very low sperm count, then the sperm may be injected directly into the mature egg through a process called intracytoplasmic sperm injection. 

Embryos will be judged for quality. If they reach a six to eight cell stage within a reasonable period of time, then they will be transferred to the uterus after about three days. If a lot of three-day embryos are available, then your doctor may wait for the blastocyst stage to transfer the embryo. This happens in healthy fertilized eggs after about five days. The blastocyst consists of around twenty cells at day five. Waiting for the blastocyst stage may help determine which eggs are most likely to implant in the uterus. 

Once your eggs are selected, your doctor will place them into a small plastic tube. The tube will be inserted through the vagina and cervix. Embryos are placed into the uterus. If any of the embryos implant in the uterus, then pregnancy is achieved. The success rate of IVF varies widely. The factors involved in determining a success rate include the health of the egg and sperm, number of embryos implanted, the age of the couple and the health of the uterus. Medical expertise comes into play as well. Weigh doctors’ success rates with the number of multiple pregnancies resulting from their IVF attempts. Some may have a high success rate from implanting a lot of embryos, resulting in many high-risk multiple pregnancies. 

Choose your doctor wisely. A reproductive endocrinologist specializes in infertility treatments and can inform you of all of your options before you go forward with IVF. This information is brought to you by Dr. Eric Daiter, MD. Occasionally doctors, nurses and patients have offered their testimonials of their experiences with Dr. Eric Daiter, MD. Here is a patient testimonial for you to consider when you choose your reproductive endocrinologist:

Dr Eric Daiter’s high level of professionalism, compassion and character can be best illustrated through example. Upon first meeting with Dr Daiter he presented as an extremely articulate and intelligent doctor. This is something that is expected from a healthcare provider; however, Dr Daiter’s qualities went well beyond the intellectual. His kind hearted nature and authentic caring is something that is rarely experienced in the medical field today. Something that struck me is his personable manner. How often is it that the doctor is the one to open the door and greet the patients? In my experience, never and this seemingly small act made an enormous impression upon me. I believe that this small act was reflective of his caring disposition. During my meetings with him, Dr Daiter took the time to speak with me in great detail regarding my medical history, was sensitive to my concerns and past experiences, demonstrated a high level of willingness and patience to answer any questions and provided extensive explanation regarding my specific situation – doing so with undisputed care. Dr Daiter’s gentle presence made me feel extremely comfortable and provided a well spring for hope for my medical condition. 

Dr Eric Daiter’s pre and post operative treatment went well beyond my expectations. Through his incredible bed side manner he made me feel relaxed and at ease – he checked in with me prior to surgery to make sure the hospital staff was “treating me ok”, he visited with me after surgery to make sure I was comfortable during my hospital stay, and called me the next morning to see how I was feeling. Dr Daiter was always available to answer my concerns regardless of the time or day and he did so with kindness and compassion – always with kindness and compassion.

About the Author: Dr. Eric Daiter is the medical director of The NJ Center for Fertility and Reproductive Medicine, LLC, a leading NEW JERSEY INFERTILITY CENTER that offers a complete range of MALE INFERTILITY AND FEMALE INFERTILITY TREATMENT. For more information on The NJ Center for Fertility and Reproductive Medicine and Eric Daiter please visit www.drericdaitermd.com.

Perhaps the most discussed fertility treatment option is in vitro fertilization, or IVF.  Because of its exposure in major media outlets, many people mistakenly think the IVF may be the answer for them.  But there are specific circumstances doctors look at before recommending IVF.  Here are some of the basic qualifying conditions.

-The most common conditions that utilize IVF are tubal problems with the female.  This can include blocked or damaged fallopian tubes that prevent an embryo from being fertilized or traveling to the uterus.

-Low sperm counts with the male can also be treated with in vitro fertilization.  Since low sperm counts reduce the chances that sperm will engage the egg, doctors sometimes find it more beneficial to join the two outside of the body.

-Endometriosis is another health issue that can interfere with pregnancy.  Because persons affected with this disease experience excessive tissue growth outside of the uterus, the environment in which the egg is fertilized can be negatively affected.  While IVF is not a guaranteed solution to the infertility issues found with this condition, most of the problems associated with it center on the fertilization process.

-Ovarian issues can also be addressed with IVF treatments.  If the doctors can successfully extract a healthy egg, then they can fertilize it outside of the body, bypassing the responsibilities of the ovaries.

-Patients who experience unexplained infertility are also candidates for IVF.  Typically, these are couples who have tried less invasive fertility treatment without success.  While it can be a financial gamble to experiment with IVF, the rewards can be great if the treatment is successful.

In vitro fertilization is not designed to treat every case of infertility.  Doctors who specialize in fertilization techniques weigh many different factors before making a recommendation. The best thing any patient can do is to discuss their condition with a medical professional and research the many treatment options available.  Understanding all facets of the couple’s problems as well as their solutions is the first step in making an intelligent decision.

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Treatments can prove to be costly and time consuming when finding one that works. Before starting any treatments, it may be a a good idea to check your insurance plan to see how much they will cover.

The physician you see about your infertility problem may recommend some changes in your life before going further into female infertility treatment options. Some of these changes may be loose or gain weight, stop smoking, cut back on excess caffeine, alcohol, and exercise. You may also be asked to plan your sexual activities according to your ovulation chart. Waiting to become pregnant can be stressful and cause depression.

Sometimes the life changes just are not enough to help you conceive. If this happens, medication might be issued. This medication can improve ovulation and even increase chances of multiple births to take place.

Although your mind will be hopeful that the medication will work, you may still find yourself not yourself on the inside. The doctor will also do a physical examination, and surgery might even be required. Surgery can fix some problems such as blocked fallopian tubes and remove cysts, fibroid, and scar tissue. Surgery is not a guarantee fix to the problem.

When nothing else seems to be working, some last resorts can be taken. The process of assisted reproductive technologies can be used. This is done when a human sperm and egg are joined together in a lab to help with the conception progress. The eggs and sperm can be donated by you and your partner or donated from other people.

Another treatment that can be used is artificial insemination. This occurs when semen is collected and processed in a lab then directly inserted into your cervix or uterus.

The last process is called in vitro fertilization. This happens when an egg is taken from the female and mixed with sperm in a lab. Once this egg and sperm combination is about two or three days old, the embryo is then placed back inside the woman’s uterus. What is suppose to happen is that the embryo is to implant itself in the uterus lining. Infertility is common among women, but you should not let it discourage you. For every problem there are answers and solutions.

www.TheInfertilityCenter.com

Overcoming infertility by a commercial transaction with a woman located through an advertisement or a lawyer remains controversial as a result of the notoriety of the “Baby M” case.  The procedure, which consists of implanting an in vitro fertilized egg in the uterus of a woman who did not produce the egg (a variant of the original in vitro fertilization approach) has been forbidden in many states as well as in many countries worldwide.  Unpaid surrogacy remains a viable option for the woman who can call on the cooperation of a close friend or family member to carry the embryo to term.

Technically called “cryopreservation”, the freezing of eggs, sperm and early stage embryos fertilized in the lab for future use in IVF cycles has become a routine procedure.  For many years, frozen sperm banks have been the source for donor insemination and it is not unusual for men going off to war to leave a supply of frozen sperm to be used in the event of their death in combat.  Male cancer patients under fifty who are scheduled to undergo radiation and chemotherapy likely to leave them sterile are advised to have their sperm preserved before beginning treatments.

It is anticipated that a woman undergoing chemotherapy, perhaps for breast cancer, will be able to have strips of her own ovary removed, frozen and put back in place when treatments are concluded, thus preserving her fertility for the future.  The first In Vitro Fertilization birth using a frozen embryo occurred in the United States in 1986 and since then, doctors have been routinely freezing extra human embryos produced by IVF so that they can be stored until the couple asks for them again.

Until definitive decisions are made by the highest courts on who “owns” theses embryos in the event of a divorce, litigation abounds at the state level.  At the same time, medical ethicists and legal specialists admit current laws were formulated at a time when no one anticipated that the essence of life could be frozen and used to create a new offspring even after the father was dead.

Increasingly popular is the technological advance that eliminates any need for third-party collaboration.  Known as GIFT (gametic intrafallopian transfer) and developed at the Health Science Center of the University of Texas, it proceeds in the following way.  Egg cells (usually two to four) that are extracted from the woman by laparoscopy are mixed with about one thousand sperm from the spouse and again, by using a laparoscope, a catheter is introduced into the open end of one or both of the woman’s fallopian tubes and the sperm and eggs injected.  Thus, the embryo can be fertilized inside the oviduct in its natural environment, where cell division takes place without the need for laboratory culturing.  When the procedure works as anticipated, the embryo descends into the uterus and develops into a normal fetus.  This procedure takes about one hour and can be performed on an outpatient basis.

http://infertility.guide-for-you.com/

It is one of the leading causes of pelvic pain and reasons for laparoscopic surgery and hysterectomy in this country. While the mean age at diagnosis is around 25-30 years, endometriosis has been reported in girls as young as 11 years of age. Endometriosis is rare in postmenopausal women. Endometrial cells (loosened during menstruation) may “back up” through the fallopian tubes into the pelvis, where they implant and grow in the pelvic or abdominal cavities. This is called retrograde-menstruation. When endometrial tissue is located elsewhere in your body, it continues to act in its normal way: It thickens, breaks down and bleeds each month as your hormone levels rise and fall. Because there’s nowhere for the blood from this displaced tissue to exit your body.

It becomes trapped.Trapped blood may lead to the growth of cysts. Cysts, in turn, may form scar tissue and adhesions - abnormal tissue that binds organs together. This process can cause pain in the area of misplaced tissue, often the pelvis, especially during your period. Scars and adhesions related to endometriosis also can cause fertility problems. Pain is one of the most common symptoms of endometriosis. Usually the pain is in the abdomen, lower back, and pelvis. Some women have no pain, even though their disease affects large areas. Other women with endometriosis have severe pain even though they have only a few small growths. Women with endometriosis may also have gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea, constipation, or bloating, especially during their periods.

Causes of Endometriosis

1.Estrogen harmones

2.Retrograde menstruation.

3.Immune system

4.Allergic reactions.

5.Impact of toxins.

Symptoms of Endometriosis

1.Pain with sex.

2.Infertility.

3.Fatigue.

4.Painful urination during periods.

5.Infertility.

Treatment of Endometriosis

Progesterone counteracts estrogen and inhibits the growth of the endometrium. Such therapy can reduce or eliminate menstruation in a controlled and reversible fashion. Progestins are chemical variants of natural progesterone. Gonadotropin releasing hormone agonists (GnRH agonists) induce a profound hypoestrogenism by decreasing FSH and LH levels. While quite effective, they induce unpleasant menopausal symptoms, and over time may lead to osteoporosis. Laparotomy can be used for more extensive surgery either in attempt to restore normal anatomy, or at least preserve reproductive potential. Danazol (Danocrine) and gestrinone are suppressive steroids with some androgenic activity. Both agents inhibit the growth of endometriosis but their use remains limited as they may cause hirsutism. There has been some research done at Case Western Reserve University on a topical Danocrine, applied locally, which has not produced the hirsutism characteristics. Pseudopregnancy can be created using oral contraceptives containing estrogen and progesterone. Women take the medicine consistently for 6 to 9 months. This type of therapy relieves most of the symptoms, but does not prevent scarring from the disease.

Avoid coffee and alcohol. Conservative surgery removes endometrial growths, scar tissue and adhesions without removing your reproductive organs. In laparoscopic surgery, a slender viewing instrument (laparoscope) is inserted through a small incision near your navel. The laparoscope is equipped with a laser, a cautery - an instrument that destroys tissue with heat or small surgical instruments. Melatonin and serotonin are increased by meditation, and the stress hormone cortisol is decreased. Oral contraceptive pills (estrogen and progesterone in combination) are also sometimes used to treat endometriosis. The most common combination used is in the form of the oral contraceptive pill (OCP). Treatment of endometriosis has involved the administration of drugs known as aromatase inhibitors (anastrozole [Arimidex] and letrozole [Femara] are examples). These drugs act by interrupting local estrogen formation within the endometriosis implants themselves. They also inhibit estrogen production in the ovary, brain, and other sources, such as adipose tissue.

http://www.women-health-guide.com/

1)Superovulation 

During the IVF procedure the ovaries are stimulated in order to produce more than one egg as they usually produce. This technique is called superovulation. 

If we have more eggs we will have more fertilized eggs (embryos) for transfer and this way the chance for conception increases.

The medications required to boost egg production are injectable only. Risks associated with these medications include: infection, tenderness, hematoma , and bruising or swelling of the injection spot. The medications administrated include risks such as: hyperstimulation of the ovaries , allergic reactions, the ovaries may not respond to the stimulation and the cancellation of the treatment may be necessary. 

Sometimes , during the IVF procedure the ovaries may produce too few or too many eggs after the drug simulation. This may trigger the annulment of the procedure and the stopping of the treatment. 

2)OHSS-Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome 

When the level of estrogen grows to much and, in order to accomplish final maturation of the eggs , hCG is administrated it can appear complications like: 

A big amount of fluid can be retained in the abdomen and chest cavity; Complications like embolus, stroke caused by formation of blood clots (thrombosis of arteries or veins); the ovaries can become very large with the possibility of twisting or rupturing. 

The problems described above may require hospitalization if they become too serious. 

3)Retrieving the Oocytes 

For IVF procedure , the process of eggs collecting is usually performed with transvaginal ultrasound help. Usually this process of egg retrieval takes 20-30 minutes. Risks of oocyte retrieval may include the following: 

1. Anesthesia may cause side reactions from the medications used in it’s administration. 

2. At the passing of the needle through the vagina towards the ovaries it can appear:bleeding, including infection, damage to organs like: the bowel, blood vessels, bladder, ureter, uterus or ovaries, and internal scarring caused by the procedure.

http://in-vitro-fertilization.eu

1) Stimulation of the woman’s ovaries. The woman is given fertility medications in order to produce more than one egg per month as she usually does. This step of the IVF procedure is also called superovulation. The woman is regularly examined with trans vaginal ultrasounds and she takes blood tests in order to check her hormone level.

2)The second step is the egg retrieval. A surgery is performed using ultrasound images as a guide. The doctor inserts a needle in the vagina towards the ovaries and the follicles that contain the eggs. The needle is attached to a suction device that extracts the egg from the follicle. Sometimes the eggs are removed using a pelvic laparoscopy.

3) The sperm is mixed with the egg in a propitious environment. This stage is called insemination. The fertilization takes place after a couple of hours after insemination.  When doctors think that the fertilization might not succeed they perform an intracytoplasmic sperm injection, that is they inject the sperm directly into the egg.

4)After the egg is fertilized it becomes an embryo. After another 5 days the embryo’s cells start dividing. At this point couples who have a risk of genetic disease should take into consideration pre-implantation genetic diagnosis. The specialists extract a cell from each embryo and analyse it for hereditary diseases.

5)The fifth step consist in transferring the embryo in the woman’s uterus. There’s no need for anesthetic for this procedure. A tube which contains the embryo is inserted in the vagina, through cervix and into the uterus. To increase the chance of pregnancy more embryos can be transferred but this also increases the risk of multiple pregnancies. Embryos that aren’t used in the IVF procedure can be frozen for ulterior implantation or donation.

What you should expect after the procedure

Unfortunately not all pregnancies result in live birth, that is not all women who undergo IVF procedure can give birth to a child. The procedure depends highly on the woman’s age. Studies show that the best rate of success had woman under 35 years.

After the procedure most of the women can go back to their daily activities, but they must take hormone progesterone pills for 10 weeks after the embryo is transferred. A progesterone insufficiency in the first weeks of pregnancy can result in a miscarriage.

http://in-vitro-fertilization.eu