SGFC Records Highest IVF Pregnancy Rates Ever

New data from Shady Grove Fertility Center shows an increase of 3% in the number of clinical pregnancies resulting from over 4,000 fresh cycle In Vitro Fertilization treatments performed at the Center in 2009. The comprehensive figures represent a pregnancy rate of 43% for each fresh IVF cycle, the highest rate Shady Grove Fertility has ever achieved. According to the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, which records IVF data from fertility treatment facilities nationwide, the most recent figures available show a national average of 36.7% for all fresh IVF cycles performed.

"Our IVF success rates are among the highest in the country, and this has a very personal impact on our patients," says Dr. Michael Levy, a founder of Shady Grove Fertility and Director of the IVF and Donor Egg Programs. "If we produced pregnancy rates only equal to the national average, it would mean that 300 fewer couples would have had a baby in 2009."

The data show that nearly 1,500 Shady Grove Fertility patients have or will deliver a baby as a result of IVF treatments last year. The figures also indicate a significant reduction in the number of twins and triplets born through Shady Grove in 2009. There were just 25 sets of triplets last year - six fewer than in 2008 - and 18 fewer sets of twins. Lowering the number of multiples born has been a stated goal at Shady Grove fertility because of the greater risk to both mother and child. The figures are comprehensive, and include all IVF cycles initiated at Shady Grove Fertility Center between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2009.

IVF Laboratory Director Dr. Michael Tucker says the strong success rates are the result of a concerted effort to create a laboratory setting that closely mirrors the natural environment.

"We've brought in new, smaller incubators so that opening and closing them to monitor the progress of the embryos has less impact on things like temperature and oxygen levels," explains Dr. Tucker. "We also provide a controlled oxygen environment, so the embryos are exposed to the same levels of oxygen they would find naturally. These are important, incremental changes that have made a significant and very positive difference in the outcomes for our patients."

Shady Grove Fertility currently performs more IVF and Donor Egg cycles annually than any other Center in the United States. With over 18,000 IVF babies born since 1992, the IVF and Donor Egg programs have become the hallmarks of the practice. The clinic's reputation of successful treatment is spreading beyond the borders of the local Washington, DC area, as demonstrated by the growing number of patients who are willing to travel nationally and internationally to increase their chances of having a baby.

About Shady Grove Fertility Center

Shady Grove Fertility Center is the largest and one of the most successful fertility and IVF Center in the Unites States, and has a strong reputation among patient and physician communities for ethical, sound and successful medical care. Shady Grove Fertility has pioneered a number of nationally and internationally recognized programs, such as Shared Risk 100% Refund Program, Shared Donor Egg, International Donor Egg, and Shared Help Fertility Treatment Discount Program among others. Twenty-three reproductive endocrinologists, as well as PhD scientists, geneticist, and 350 highly specialized staff care for patients in 12 full-service offices throughout the Washington and Baltimore metropolitan areas. Shady Grove Fertility has extensive experience and success in all aspects of fertility and reproductive medicine, now including egg freezing and storage. Shady Grove Fertility conducts clinical research in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health and is part of their subspecialty training Fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology. Since Shady Grove Fertility's inception in 1992, more than 15,000 IVF babies have born to its patients. Shady Grove Fertility physicians have been featured as experts for comment on media outlets such as NBC's The Today Show, The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN Headline News, Women's Health Magazine, NPR's Diane Rehm Show (WAMU-FM 88.5, Washington, DC), and Parents Magazine.