Who Needs IVF?

For some situations or conditions,such as tubal factor, IVF may be the first-line treatment.  In other cases, IVF is recommended only if simpler treatment fails.  Below is a list of common indications for IVF treatment.

Fallopian Tube Damage/Tubal Factor

The only options for treating significant tubal damage are surgical repair or bypassing the tubes with IVF. This decision must be carefully individualized in each situation.

Male Factor Infertility

One of the most dramatic advances in the treatment of infertility has been the capacity to obtain fertilization and pregnancy in the IVF lab with severely abnormal sperm samples by utilizing ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection). ICSI is often recommended if there is any suggestion of a sperm problem, if sperm are obtained surgically, or if there has been a prior failure of fertilization.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis may be effectively treated with a combination of surgical and medical therapy. IVF is very effective as a second line of treatment if the initial treatment is proven unsuccessful.

Age Related Infertility

In normal reproductive life, a woman's ovarian function is diminished with age. In many cases, this reduced function can be overcome through the use of IVF alone or in conjunction with techniques such as Assisted Hatching and ICSI. 

Anovulation

The majority of patients with anovulation will conceive using simpler treatments. However, those patients requiring IVF are typically "high responders" to gonadotropin therapy and have a good prognosis. 

Unexplained Infertility

Approximately 20% of couples will have no identifiable cause of infertility after completing a comprehensive evaluation. IVF is often successful even if more conservative treatments have failed, especially since some of these couples actually have some block to fertilization.

Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT)

Genetic testing on pre-implantation embryos may be indicated for patients who are at risk for genetic disorders such as Cystic fibrosis and Thalassemia and for patients with infertility related to chromosomal abnormalities such as recurrent pregnancy loss or repeated unsuccessful IVF.  Learn more.

IVF Program

Typical IVF Cycle