About SGF

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Written by an anonymous Shady Grove Fertility patient:

Let me tell you a story, dear child
Of just how you became you
The road was curvy, long and winding
But love and hope saw us through

We stood in the face of many setbacks
Defeats, loss, and tears
But fixed on our eyes on the prize that was you
In spite of the sorrow and fear

When you desire for something this special this much
And adversity stands in your way
You’re offered two simple options, my dear
So we hit our knees and prayed

At times it was hard to believe you would come
Yet unwavering was our desire
Our strength was tested, our resilience unsure
But we never let our hope grow tired

We loved you before we knew you
It was you our arms would embrace
While it shook our faith, we didn’t give up
God’s love gave us solace and grace

Someday you’ll know this same type of love
As genuine and sweet as can be
You were every bit worth fighting for
The purest of love you give me

Imagine wanting something so bad
Nothing else in this world will do
That, indeed, is your story, my dear
But love and hope saw us through

Read Patient Stories

To learn more or to schedule an appointment, please call our New Patient Center at 1-877-971-7755 or complete our online form. 

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We are proud to announce that three SGF physicians, Michael Edelstein, M.D., Anish Shah, M.D., M.H.S., and Kenneth Steingold, M.D., have been named Richmond Magazine’s Top Docs for Infertility. As leaders in reproductive medicine, SGF Richmond physicians are committed to providing exceptional fertility care at a practice that is at the forefront of cutting-edge reproductive technology.

The top doctors list is compiled by best-in-care nominations in dozens of health specialty categories and voted on by doctors and nurse practitioners.

“I am truly honored to be recognized by my physician and nurse practitioner peers among so many top notch physicians in the Richmond area,” said Dr. Edelstein.

SGF Richmond currently has two locations: Henrico Doctors’ Hospital – Forest Avenue and Stony Point. SGF Richmond provides a full range of diagnostic and treatment options to help heterosexual and same-sex individuals and couples achieve their family-building goals, as well as elective egg freezing and fertility preservation prior to cancer treatment.

“It’s a privilege to be part of the SGF practice that is committed to providing highly personalized, evidence-based care,” added Dr. Shah.

SGF Richmond offers a variety of insurance networks as well as innovative financial programs, including the Shared Risk 100% Refund Program. This exclusive program provides patients with the opportunity to pay a fixed amount for up to six fresh IVF or donor egg cycles and any subsequent frozen embryo transfers (FETs). In the event the patient does not take home a baby, SGF provides a full refund (exclusions may apply). Eighty-two percent of participants take home a baby.

Other popular programs that make treatment affordable include SGF’s Shared Help Discount Program, Military Discount Program, and Shared Donor Egg Program, which reduces the cost of donor egg treatment by up to 50 percent when sharing donating eggs with other patients—an approach that does not lower the chances of conception but does significantly lower the cost.

“We are proud to be recognized throughout the community for our work in helping to build families. Our recent collaboration with Shady Grove Fertility demonstrates our long-standing commitment to helping patients affordably access quality care,” said Dr. Steingold.

Nominated by Dr. Edelstein, phlebotomist Ruth Pacini also received special recognition by Richmond Magazine for her ability to comfort patients and keep them calm during stressful procedures. Dr. Edelstein praises her kindness, professionalism, and soothing nature. “Ruth really cares about our patients. If she has concerns, she will take the patient in a room and have them lie down so they will be comfortable. If they are overly anxious, she will offer them something to eat or drink. She is very calming and makes it so that it’s not a traumatic experience,” Dr. Edelstein continues. “She is someone you can trust who treats patients kindly and professionally. If she has to stay late for a patient, she never complains. She’s always willing. She’s like a mother to all of us.”

Schedule an Appointment

To schedule an appointment with an SGF physician, please contact our New Patient Call Center at 1-877-971-7755 or complete this brief online form.

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Over the course of 27 years, Shady Grove Fertility has helped bring 50,000 babies and counting into the world.
While not all of these babies were the result of in vitro fertilization (IVF), IVF is a very popular and effective fertility treatment. Many celebrities thank IVF for making their dream of parenthood come true—Chrissy Teigen, Kim Kardashian, Michelle Obama, and Mariah Carey, just to name a few.
And it’s not just celebrities. Maybe you have a friend, family member, or coworker who has used IVF to start or grow a family. As you see IVF procedures working for so many, you naturally begin to wonder, “Will IVF work for me?”
Let’s explore.
Because each case of infertility brings with it its own challenges, it’s important to remember that no two patients will have the same experience with IVF. Ultimately, the likelihood that IVF will work for you isn’t the same as the likelihood that IVF will work for your neighbor, your coworker, or even your sister.
Your success with IVF will depend on a number of factors unique to you. Fortunately though, at SGF, the resounding answer for the majority is “YES,” IVF does work for most patients, as IVF is a highly effective treatment whose success rates continue to improve steadily.
To reliably predict success, however, we need to take factors specific to each patient into consideration. Fortunately, at Shady Grove Fertility, we have a full-time research team analyzing our internal data and continually refining prediction techniques. In fact, we are one of the only fertility centers in the nation to have a dedicated research department. A key member of this department, Kate Devine, M.D., Director of Research who sees patients out of SGF’s Washington D.C., K Street office, walks us through our prediction methods and explores the reasons why you can trust the counsel our dependable doctors provide.

SGF Predicts Success with IVF Using a Customized Prediction Method

The prediction of success you receive from a Shady Grove Fertility doctor won’t be the same as one you would receive from another clinic. We use a customized predictive model, known as PRISM (Predictive Response to IVF Success Model).
Unlike methods used by many other fertility centers, PRISM analyzes success rates using factors specific to you, that are known to be independent predictors of IVF success.
Based on 15,000 treatment cycles from 10,000 SGF patients since 2009, PRISM leverages our own outcomes to determine probability, offering patients tremendous value and insight when making difficult treatment decisions. The use of internal data is critical because the probability of IVF success depends substantially on the specific IVF lab where the procedure was performed. Because the success rate of our lab will be different from the success rate at a lab down the street, our model relies on data gathered from prior patients who have gone through IVF in one of our labs. Most other labs use national data that is non-specific to any one lab’s protocols and technological capabilities.
“SGF prides itself on being transparent with patients by providing each patient with the most current information about treatment options along with the probability of a successful pregnancy associated with each option,” says Dr. Devine. “By providing personalized, evidence-based predictions to patients, we aim to help couples move through the IVF process with as much clarity as possible,” says Devine.

SGF Predicts Success with IVF Using Multi-factored Calculations

When you decide to begin treatment with us, your doctor will discuss your treatment options and the likelihood of a successful pregnancy associated with each. You’ll discuss this early on, as soon as you have completed all testing. Often, the discussion of treatment counseling and treatment success occurs on your second visit.
To prepare a customized prediction of success, your doctor will input your testing results into our predictive model. This predictor considers an assortment of factors that contribute to the likelihood of IVF success, including (but not limited to):

Schedule an Appointment

SGF Predicts Success with IVF and Answers Multiple Patient Questions

The question you’re probably most eager to get an answer to is, “What’s the likelihood I’ll take home a baby?”
But that’s not all PRISM will inform.
Our team uses the data provided by our prediction method to help you plan not only for this baby, but also for the next. In addition to uncovering your likelihood of pregnancy via IVF, predictions provided by this model will answer questions, such as:

  • What’s the risk that we won’t be able to extract enough eggs to complete the cycle?
  • How much medication will be necessary to stimulate egg development?
  • How many eggs will we be able to retrieve?
  • What percentage of my retrieved eggs will mature enough for use?
  • How many surplus embryos will we have available to freeze, for future pregnancy attempts if we wish?
  • What is my likelihood of a live birth?

SGF’s Predictive Model Allows for Continued Exploration

As technology changes and we gather even more current data, success rates will invariably change. As these rates change, so does PRISM. Our full-time research team allows us to regularly revisit and revise this tool to ensure that the data you are given today is reflective of the most up-to-date information available.
The use of internal data to create structured predictive models isn’t universal in the field of reproductive technology. While some fertility centers can provide individualized predictions like those you would receive from Shady Grove Fertility, most do not.

SGF’s Predictive Model Provides Answers and Offers Choices

The uncertainty you’re likely facing because of infertility can be overwhelming.
While we, unfortunately, can’t tell you that opting for a certain procedure will definitively result in you adding a baby to your family, we do prioritize giving you answers you can trust.
“No prediction method can offer a guarantee, and conditions—especially female age if she’s using her own eggs—affect outcomes significantly. The advantage to our patients is our vast experience having performed more than 65,000 ART cycles since our practice began in 1991; we can fine tune and personalize the treatment protocol with precision to maximize effectiveness,” adds Dr. Devine.
Visit us today for a customized plan to parenthood and a dependable prediction of success.
Regardless of the prediction you receive, it’s important to us that you know what to expect so you can make the most informed decisions as you map out your next steps.

Kate Devine, M.D.


Medical Contribution by: Kate Devine, M.D., of Shady Grove Fertility’s Washington, D.C., K Street Office

Schedule an Appointment

To learn more about IVF at Shady Grove Fertility or to schedule an appointment, please contact one of our New Patient Liaisons at 1-877-971-7755 or complete this simple form. 

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Shady Grove Fertility’s Dr. Brianna Schumacher and Dr. Caleb Kallen were featured in Philadelphia’s Suburban Life Magazine’s November issue, opening up about what makes SGF so unique, why they chose to join the growing practice, and much more.

Dr. Schumacher, the newest physician to join the SGF team who sees patients in our Chesterbrook, PA and Philadelphia, PA offices, opens up about her decision to become a fertility doctor and why she joined Shady Grove Fertility.

“Over the years, I have seen friends and family members who haven’t been able to conceive children, and were also unable to adopt, and I’ve seen how hard that experience was on them,” she explains. “Whether someone may be striving to have their first child or trying to have a second or third to expand their family, I want to do everything that I possibly can to help people become parents.”

Dr. Schumacher joined Shady Grove Fertility because “the doctors always put the patients first,” she says.

Brianna Schumacher, M.D., earned her medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin and completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology from the University of Massachusetts Medical School. She then went on to complete a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and a Master in Clinical Research at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

“Patients come to us stressed out, anxious, vulnerable, and feeling hopeless and devastated, but we are consistently able to offer solutions that continually improve over time,” she says. “Even as a reproductive medicine fellow, I did not want to leave before my patients became pregnant and delivered their babies. One patient texted me recently that she delivered a healthy baby boy, and it made me so happy to be able to help them become a family.”

In a previous interview, when asked about her approach to helping patients who are struggling, she replied, “I let patients know that I am here for them and that they are understood. My first step is to talk to the couple to come up with a plan. In my own life, having a plan helps look toward the future and feel like I know where I’m going. Whether it’s trying again, moving to a different treatment, or deciding that a couple wants to take a break to breathe and reassess – I’m here to help guide them through the process of reaching their goal.”

One patient under Dr. Schumacher’s care wrote, “Just met Dr. Schumacher for the first time and my husband and I were very impressed. She was very reassuring and a great communicator throughout our embryo transfer, constantly letting us know what was happening and ensuring I was comfortable. Thank you, Dr. Schumacher!”

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Schumacher, please call our New Patient Center at 1-877-971-7755 or complete our online form.

Dr. Kallen, who also sees patients in SGF’s Chesterbrook, PA and Philadelphia, PA offices, described the uniqueness of Shady Grove Fertility’s approach and the advantages of functioning as an integrated practice. 

“There is power in using more brains to help all of our patients,” explains Dr. Kallen. “Anything we can do to improve patient access, as well as the patient experience, is a priority for our program.”

Shady Grove Fertility has over 30 locations along the east coast, and with five offices in Pennsylvania alone, accessibility and quality of care is unparalleled.

“Since we function as an integrated practice, our multiple locations in the Philadelphia metro area enable day-to-day flexibility for patients undergoing fertility treatments,” he says. “Our team of physicians, nurses, and embryologists work seamlessly to provide world-class and compassionate care for our patients. Every decision we make is based on safety, ethical principles, and success for the patients.”

Caleb Kallen, M.D., Ph.D., earned his medical degree, as well as his doctorate, from the University of Pennsylvania, and he completed his residency training in obstetrics and gynecology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. He also completed subspecialty training in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.

“I am deeply impressed with the intelligence and commitment of my colleagues and staff at Shady Grove Fertility. Beyond this, I observe an insistence on evidence-based and state-of-the-art care. This is coupled with a focus on the patient and his/her experience from the time that care is initiated to the successful completion of his/her sometimes frightening journey. Our team approach to healthcare is personalized for each couple and benefits from our vast clinical experience, ongoing discovery, and our cadre of world-class providers who genuinely care,” says Kallen.

When asked about the most challenging and most rewarding aspects of being a fertility doctor, Dr. Kallen stated, “overcoming fear and frustration can be challenging in the practice of reproductive medicine, but that’s part of what we’re here to do. By far the most gratifying aspect of our work is the joy and appreciation that comes from helping individuals and couples achieve their family building aspirations. It makes every day a special experience.”

Multiple patients of Dr. Kallen’s have voiced their utmost satisfaction and gratitude for being under his care.

“I could not have asked for a better experience with Dr. Kallen and the staff at Shady Grove Fertility, Chesterbrook. Dr. Kallen and his nurse Chrissy were more than happy to answer all of our questions and help with any concerns my husband and I had. They truly went above and beyond to keep us informed. The staff at Shady Grove Fertility allowed us to feel more than comfortable and supported in situations that aren’t always so easy to go through. After our first IUI I am now pregnant!! A super huge Thank you goes out to everyone there!”

“I have been seeing Dr. Kallen for 6 months now. He has reassured me every step of the way and his optimism is precious to me. I never leave his office with questions. I would highly recommend Dr. Kallen as well as all of the amazing nurses at Shady Grove Fertility!”

“Dr. Kallen eased our worries from day one. He gave us hope that we had lost after trying to conceive for 2 years. He was always attentive, informative, kind, thorough, and answered any and all questions we had. Thanks to Dr. Kallen and the whole Shady Grove Fertility team we are now expecting our first child. Words cannot describe our gratitude to Dr. Kallen. Thank you for believing in us and helping us start a family.”

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Kallen, please contact our New Patient Center at 1-877-971-7755 or fill out this brief online form.

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We are honored to have 13 of our physicians from the D.C.- metro area named Washingtonian’s 2018 Top Doctors in the field of infertility and urology. This prestigious recognition is voted on by physician peers in various fields of medicine and a testament to the commitment our physicians and care teams display every day.

As leaders in reproductive medicine, SGF is committed to providing our patients with exceptional fertility care, which is evidenced by the fact that 96% of our patients would recommend SGF to a friend or family member.

This year the Washingtonian Top Doc distinction was awarded to:

MARYLAND

Michael Levy, M.D. – Rockville, MD
Arthur Sagoskin, M.D. – Rockville, MD
Robert Stillman, M.D. – Rockville, MD
Frank Chang, M.D. – Rockville, MD
Joseph Doyle, M.D. – Rockville, MD
Paul Shin, M.D. – Frederick, MD

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Anitha Nair, M.D. – Washington, D.C. – K Street
Kimberly Moon, M.D. – Washington, D.C. – K Street
Eric A. Widra, M.D. – Washington, D.C. – K Street and Sibley Hospital Campus
Paul Shin, M.D. – Washington, D.C. K Street

VIRGINIA

Paulette Browne, M.D. – Fair Oaks, VA
(Late) Stephen Greenhouse, M.D. – Fair Oaks, VA and Haymarket, VA
Naveed Khan, M.D. – Leesburg, VA and Dulles-Aldie, VA
Anitha Nair, M.D. – Arlington, VA
David Saffan, M.D. – Fairfax, VA
Paul Shin, M.D. – Fair Oaks, VA and Woodbridge, VA

Why is SGF the preferred choice for fertility care among referring physicians and patients?

We’ve compiled 10 reasons our patients say SGF stands apart from the rest and why 13 of our physicians were named Washingtonian Top Docs in 2018.

1). Exceptional Fertility Care
We offer more than 300 years of combined reproductive medicine and infertility expertise. Each of our physicians understand the importance of interpersonal connection and realize that trust must be earned and relationships must be nurtured. Our physicians make it a priority to understand patients’ concerns in order to tailor their approach to each patient’s unique needs.

2). Unmatched Compassion to our Patients
When skilled team members build caring, trusting, and collaborative relationships with patients, studies reveal more appropriate medical decisions, better patient adherence with treatment plans, and less costly healthcare outcomes result.

3). High Success Rates
With more than 50,000 babies born since the practices inception, our success rates rank among the highest in the nation.

4). Transparent Communication
Not only do we place a high value on providing transparent information about our success, we also provide information for how best to decode and interpret success rates. Each year we publish an IVF Program Report, which highlights the practice’s in vitro fertilization (IVF) success rates as well as our center’s most notable milestones and accomplishments over the previous year.

5). Over 25 Years of Experience
Since we perform over 6,000 in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles, including over 1,000 egg donation cycles, and an equal number of ovulation induction and intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles annually, the quantity of data we can collect in a few months may take smaller centers years to gather. We view this as both a privilege and a responsibility—to make discoveries that benefit all patients struggling with infertility, not just our own.

6). State-of-the-Art Labs and Treatment Advances
Because of the remarkable advancements we made in our embryology lab and treatment protocols, we are able to help couples achieve pregnancy in less time and with more success, with pregnancies that result in healthier babies than ever before. Learn more about how innovations such as vitrification, frozen embryo transfers, and genetic testing of embryos are progressing reproductive technology.

7). Robust Research Program to Improve Treatment Outcomes
We are one of only a few private practice fertility centers in the country to employ a full-time dedicated research team who perform under the direction of Research Director, Kate Devine, M.D., and Research Scientist, Kevin S. Richter, Ph.D.,. Our research enlightens us to refine our practices so that more patients can achieve the goal of successful pregnancy.

8). 32 Convenient Locations 
With patients coming to SGF from all 50 states and 38 countries around the world, early morning monitoring appointments, and concierge-level patient service, are making access to world-class personalized infertility care more convenient.

9). Affordable Solutions with Financial Guarantee and Discount Programs
We offer patients a myriad of discount, guarantee, and multi-cycle treatment financial programs, as well as accept more than 30 insurance providers. Our financial counselors stand ready to help patients navigate through insurance and other financial options to more easily access the care that they need.

10). SGF Support Network
Our support networks are rich with resources and educational opportunities. Access to our SGF experts through monthly education events both online and in-person address concerns and answer questions about moving forward in your fertility journey. We encourage you to access the resources we provide to help you connect, engage, and become educated about infertility.

What SGF Patients are Saying

“This was truly a remarkable experience. I really appreciated the genuine care provided at Shady Grove [Fertility]. The service, technology, and standards are top class. You are treated personally and your wellbeing is in their hearts’ best interest. Thank you.” – Patient of Dr. Levy

“The service at Shady Grove [Fertility] was outstanding. Dr. Nair was supportive, friendly, and honest. All traits you want in a doctor who specializes in such a sensitive field. There was no question that I couldn’t email my nurse about, the facilities were clean and relaxing, and I never had to wait over my appointment time. Everyone was just fantastic. Thank you for making our dreams a reality.”

“Dr. Browne was especially easy to talk to and very informative. She is a doctor that truly cares about her patients and does everything she can to help them conceive. Thanks to her we are now expecting! Every question I had, no matter when I had it, I was able to get an answer within 24 hrs. Being well informed, feeling like my doctor actually cared, and the friendliness and ease of working with the support staff made this last year of working with Shady Grove [Fertility] a pleasant experience, no matter how awkward and uncomfortable you are physically.”

“I cannot say enough good things about Dr. Moon. She is patient, determined, compassionate, encouraging, fierce, funny, and incredibly smart. I am so happy that she was our doctor during this difficult time, and I am so grateful to her for making us a family of 3!”

“Dr. Shin was amazing today. After our last urologist experience I was nervous but was put at ease immediately after meeting him. He was kind, easy to talk to, and did not rush us out of the office. He took the time to explain every single detail and made sure we had all of the right information to make the best decision. Dr. Shin is wonderful!”

“Dr. Sagoskin is such an amazing doctor. He is knowledgeable, professional, caring, and helpful. He was always there to answer our questions and help us through this long and trying process. We were always confident in his level of expertise, skill, and dedication. We feel blessed to have had him as our doctor. You can tell Dr. Sagoskin really cares about his patients and does everything in his power to help them achieve their goal of having a child.”

“Dr. Saffan is the best. I will forever be grateful to him for my beautiful son, my current pregnancy, and for his compassion during rough patches in our journey. Dr. Saffan is beyond knowledgeable, patient, kind and has a great sense of humor.”

“Dr. Stillman and Joy both provided superior service. Fertility treatment is tough emotionally and physically to go through. I believe I was provided the best medical care and emotional support through the entire process. I would recommend Dr. Stillman to others.”

“We don’t think our baby would have been born if not for the dedication and professionalism of you and your colleagues at Shady Grove Fertility. Everyone there will forever be in our hearts.” – Patient of Dr. Chang

 “My experience at SGF was exceptional from start to finish. I was constantly impressed with the attention, kindness, and personal approach to care I received from Dr. Khan and his entire team.”

“We had been seeking fertility treatments for three years, and had three different providers before we got connected with Dr. Widra. He, and his team have been incredible. They were always helpful, reachable, attentive, personable/caring and met us where we were at in our process, physically and emotionally. And the best part, after five years of trying to get a baby, we’ve got a healthy baby girl on the way in January! (IVF, first time).”

I imagine you would excel at whatever specialty you decided on. Yet, I cannot imagine you doing anything else. Your natural sincere compassion, combined with your openness and sensitivity make you a doctor that is perfectly suited for helping families through what is often an endlessly heartbreaking process. Thank you. We are both so very grateful for the kindness you showed us.” Patient of Dr. Doyle

“His name, in our house, was synonymous with ‘hero.” Patient of the late Dr. Greenhouse

Schedule an Appointment

To learn more about SGF’s exceptional fertility care or to schedule an appointment with a physician, please contact our New Patient Center at 1-877-971-77555 or complete this brief online form.

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SGF presented two new studies during the American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s (ASRM’s) 2018 Scientific Congress in Denver, CO that sought to better understand the known health disparities affecting reproductive outcomes among African American Women.

Study 1: Aimed to Identify Reasons Why African Americans Experience Reduced Pregnancy, Higher Pregnancy Loss and Lower Live Births from IVF Despite Producing More Eggs and Transferring Higher Quality Embryos as Compared to Caucasian Women

Multiple prior published studies have demonstrated that African-American women experience lower pregnancy rates, higher pregnancy loss, and lower live birth rates from in vitro fertilization (IVF). In this study, SGF evaluated more than 40,000 IVF cycles of more than 22,000 Caucasian and African-American patients to better understand why African-American women experienced poorer IVF outcomes.

What did the findings show?

“Our results suggest that African-American women respond just as well to medications that stimulate egg production, produce as many eggs, and actually produce more good quality embryos than Caucasian patients,” says Dr. Isaac E. Sasson, SGF physician and a key researcher on this study. “However, overall chances of success are decreased among African-American patients. The sum total of these data suggest that uterine factors are the most likely cause of decreased success from IVF among African-American patients,” adds Sasson.

Consistent with prior studies, this study found that birth rates per embryo transfer were 14 percent lower for African-American women compared with Caucasian women as a result of both lower pregnancy rates and higher pregnancy losses.

“The good news is that, armed with this information, African-American women and their physicians can make more informed decisions about their gynecologic and fertility care. Preventive care can help detect potential problems in their earliest, easiest to treat state. Annual OB/GYN annual examinations are critical, as is seeking care early when a woman experiences infertility or recurrent miscarriage. Early treatment leads to much more favorable outcomes,” adds Sasson.

Study 2: Aimed to Identify the Reasons Why African Americans Experience Lower Gestational Age and Increased Risk of Preterm Birth Associated with Singleton Pregnancies from IVF Compared to Caucasian Women

In the second study, researchers set out to identify whether African-American women with singleton IVF pregnancies were more likely than their Caucasian counterparts to experience preterm birth. Prior studies of predominantly naturally conceived pregnancies, have consistently demonstrated that African-American women have a higher risk for preterm delivery, and this has been hypothesized to be largely attributable to decreased access to care. Therefore the investigators set out to determine whether this increased risk was also present in the IVF population, who, by definition, have access to healthcare.

What did the findings show?

“Singleton births among African-American IVF patients occur almost a week earlier, and are three times more likely to be very preterm (28-32 weeks) or extremely preterm (<28 weeks) compared with Caucasians,” says Lauren Bishop, a lead investigator on this study.

“Unfortunately, in addition to lower live birth rates from IVF, African Americans are also more likely to experience preterm birth following IVF, and uterine factors are most likely the cause of both. Fibroids disproportionately affect our African-American population and are likely a major contributor to the poorer outcomes we observed in these two studies. The good news is that armed with this information, we can act as advocates for this patient population and do more research to further evaluate for causes and solutions,” says Dr. Sasson who was also a key researcher on this second study.

What is the biggest takeaway of both of these studies?

Given uterine conditions are more prevalent among African-American women, SGF physicians recommend that when infertility or recurrent pregnancy loss occur, patients should consult with a specialist right away.  One in eight couples experience infertility, and SGF strives to reach as many people as possible, since early intervention offers the best chances of success.

Why Research? 

We view research as a way of “giving back” to our field as it gives us tremendous insights into the best fertility practices. Our commitment to continual improvement keeps us among the forefront, innovating and refining, which ultimately provides better outcomes—not just the treatment of our patients but of those across the country.

“Research remains one of the key pillars at SGF. It is, after all, the only way we can understand how to provide better treatment, improved care, and more successful results,” says Kevin S. Richter, Ph.D., Research Scientist for Shady Grove Fertility.

Schedule an Appointment

To learn more about this study, or to schedule an appointment with one of our physicians, please call our New Patient Center at 888-971-7755 or complete a brief online form.
 

2026 Shady Grove Fertility

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