Frequently Asked Questions
- Why see a subspecialist in infertility
rather than my general gynecologist?
- Is Board certification important?
- IVF, GIFT, or ZIFT?
- What is "Blastocyst transfer"?
- What is "Assisted Hatching?"
- Why choose the Southeastern Fertility
Center for IVF?
- Do you offer a money-back guarantee?
- When do I need to be evaluated for infertility?
1. Why see a subspecialist in infertility
rather than my general gynecologist?
A specialist in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility
has not only completed a residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology, but has
also competed for and successfully completed an additional two to three
years of training in infertility. Subsequently, he or she sees infertility
patients on a daily basis, usually comprising 80-90% of his or her practice.
This compares with a general Gynecologist, who receives only 3-4 months
training in the field of infertility, thus equipping him or her to handle
only the most basic needs of infertility patients, which make up 2-3%
of their practice.
2. Is Board certification important?
There is a considerable difference between being Board
eligible and Board certified. While most
infertility specialists are board certified in general Obstetrics and
Gynecology, many are not board certified in Reproductive Endocrinology
and Infertility. Board eligible means that a physician has
completed a fellowship training program in Reproductive Endocrinology
and Infertility, but has not completed or passed the written and
/or oral exams required to become Board certified. Thus, board certification
implies a higher level of knowledge and/or commitment to factors deemed
important by the certifying board.
3. IVF, GIFT, or ZIFT?
The SART registry of U.S. ART programs continues to
show higher pregnancy rates with GIFT/ZIFT compared to IVF. However, prospective
studies at the world's leading ART programs reveal that pregnancy rates
are equivalent between the various procedures. Our experience confirms
this observation. The SART data is necessarily biased due to its inclusion
of many ART programs with unacceptably low IVF pregnancy rates.
4. What is "Blastocyst transfer"?
"Blastocyst transfer" refers to replacement
of the embryo into the wife's uterus at a more advanced stage of development
called the blastocyst stage. Blastocyst transfer results in generally
higher implantation and pregnancy rates than earlier stage transfer, because
it 'culls out' embryos that will not survive. However, blastocyst transfer
requires superb culture systems and techniques that are not available
at all ART centers. For this and other reasons, blastocyst transfer is
not routinely recommended for all patients. The Southeastern
Fertility Center is fortunate to have outstanding success
with its blastocyst transfer program.
5. What is "Assisted Hatching?"
Assisted Hatching is a procedure that is performed
to enhance pregnancy rates with IVF. The technique involves the creation
of a small opening in the "zona pellucida", or "shell"
of the early embryo. Consequently, the embryo can more easily "hatch",
a necessary prerequisite for implantation and pregnancy. This procedure
is used very successfully at the Southeastern Fertility Center, but is
not appropriate for all patients. Also, the experience and technique of
the IVF laboratory team is critical in order to prevent embryo damage
and other complications.
6. Why choose the Southeastern Fertility Center
for IVF?
For many reasons! Obviously, success rates, as defined
in our IVF page, are the most important consideration. No ART program
in the region offers success rates that are superior to ours. Cost
is another important consideration. By using an efficient clustering of
IVF cycles, we maintain costs far below the national averages despite
success rates that are approximately twice as high! Other programs,
which claim low costs, often achieve this at the expense of inferior pregnancy
rates.
Convenience is another factor. "Satellite"
Programs that send patients to other cities for their egg retrieval and
embryo transfers are inherently inconvenient, and substantially increase
the cost of an IVF cycle.
The experience and credentials of the ART team are also
crucial. The Southeastern Fertility Center's ART program is the only
program in the region directed by a board certified specialist in reproductive
endocrinology and infertility. Our laboratory team has the experience
of thousands of IVF cycles from centers around the country. Our laboratory
director is a fully trained and certified Ph.D. embryologist, not a physician
or technician who learned IVF at a weekend seminar.
Finally, our patients are routinely impressed by our
personal, caring staff and the intimate, confidential atmosphere of our
office. This is in sharp contrast to some of the large IVF "mills"
that they may have previously encountered.
7. Do you offer a money-back guarantee?
No! We consider such offers to be largely unethical.
If one examines these programs carefully, it is apparent that the conditions
and screening procedures used to accept patients are biased in favor of
selecting patients with a good prognosis. As such, a clinic can easily
double its profits with such programs. Consideration for our patients
will not allow us to profit unfairly from their difficulties.
8. When do I need to be evaluated for infertility?
In general, if a couple has had unprotected intercourse
for one year, an evaluation should be performed. However, couples with
irregular cycles, a history of tubal or pelvic infection, and those over
the age of 35 should be evaluated after 6 months of unsuccessful efforts.
If you have other questions, please contact your
fertility specialist or call or email the Southeastern
Fertility Center.
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