Treatment

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EmbryoScope: Time-Lapse Video May Help IVF Treatment

A revolutionary new instrument is offering fertility specialists a different perspective when selecting embryos for transfer. The EmbryoScope® provides the medical team with a time-lapse video featuring thousands of snapshots of each embryo over the 5 to 6 days of in vitro culture. Based on what is seen in the video, embryologists and physicians are able to identify particular developmental patterns that may help in the selection of the best embryo(s) for transfer.

EmbryoScope – New Philadelphia IVF Technique

Shady Grove Fertility in Chesterbrook, PA, located outside of Philadelphia, is one of twelve such fertility centers in the country, and the only center in the Philadelphia metro area, to utilize the EmbryoScope. Currently, all patients having IVF or donor egg treatment at this location are benefiting from this new technology. All embryos are placed within a specialized incubation tray, and monitored in the EmbryoScope. The team is able to review time-lapsed video and select the most normally developing embryos prior to transferring into the patient.

Isaac E. Sasson, MD, PhD of Shady Grove Fertility in Chesterbrook knows the value of the information the EmbryoScope provides the clinical team. “I think the EmbryoScope will have a significant impact for future fertility treatment.  Physicians prefer to culture embryos to Day 5 to select the single best blastocyst for transfer. This reduces the number of embryos needed to transfer to result in a successful pregnancy, and consequently reduces the number of multiple pregnancies.”

Dr. Sasson continues to explain, “There is excellent emerging data in the field of morphokinetics – the speed at which the embryo divides and changes its morphological features. The EmbryoScope is a unique incubator that provides the appropriate environmental and nutritional conditions for an embryo development while taking pictures of the embryo every 5 minutes. The images are put together into a mini-movie of biology in action and to characterize the time frame in which embryo development occurs.  Furthermore, sensitive embryos are not exposed to the temperature changes that occur when embryos are removed from the incubator to be graded using a traditional morphological techniques.”

The Philadelphia regional embryology lab cultures embryos in the EmbryoScope and reviews their morphokinetic data prior to selecting the best embryo for transfer. Patients are emailed a copy of the movie of their embryo development.

If you are interested in building a family through fertility treatment or learning more about the EmbryoScope® at Shady Grove Fertility, please speak with one of our New Patient Liaisons at 877-971-7755 or click here.

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SGF Nurse

by Dr. Joseph Doyle

Egg freezing as a means to preserve fertility is once again in the headlines. While for many egg freezing seems like new technology, fertility preservation and oocyte freezing have been of principal interest for many years now, with substantial investment in research and technology development.  Developing treatment, like egg freezing, takes considerable time to transition from research to a clinical opportunity offered to patients – and importantly so.

An incredible amount of time and energy from laboratories and clinics across the globe were necessary to satisfy the requisite scrutiny of, and finally endorsement by, the greater medical community. Clinicians now turn to it as an intervention for those interested in preserving their fertility for medical and social reasons, the American Society of Reproductive Medicine lifted the experimental designation, and we have many conversations about it when we interact with other physicians and audiences. It is amazing how quickly the interest spread.

What is particularly refreshing is how a clinical opportunity can weave into the social fabric. Ms. Richards’ article in the Wall Street Journal offers a welcome introduction of the topic to the broader media, providing a social interpretation of a topic that was previously so singularly medical. I thought of the patients I have seen for fertility preservation, and how the discussions ultimately gravitate towards technicalities of the process, allowing substance to be applied to more abstract concepts. This article is a 10,000-foot view of the experience, covering many of the facets individuals recount having repeatedly mulled over by the time I get together with them.  Ms. Richards was able to articulate how the institution of medicine intersects with the individual. Empowering, provocative, and individually illuminating, it is an article worthy of its prominence in the Wall Street Journal, and I look forward to reading the book.

There will always be naysayers with the introduction of any substantial shift in medicine, regardless of the field, but particularly so for those that receive so much social attention. However, there is no question that egg freezing is an incredible opportunity, and the success with current methods of fertility preservation will have an impact as prominent as IVF did for the infertile couple, and molecular genetics has had in preventing heritable disorders.

On social issues so fully obvious to us, Ms. Richards gives perspective on the individual front.  Fortunately, on the medical front, we have accumulated the data and expertise to allow this shift in the discussion.

If you are interested in learning more about egg freezing, please call Shady Grove Fertility to schedule a consultation at 1-877-971-7755 or click here.

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Throughout the course of fertility treatment – and often before you even begin – there are many factors that play into conception. Some are easy… “What is your age?” Others aren’t quite as straight forward… “What is your sperm count? How are your hormone levels?“

We put together a quick reference guide for you, so the next time your medical team says, “Your husband’s sperm count is 30 million and your follicles are 16mm,” you’ll know to smile, confident that all is going according to plan.

Fertility by the Numbers – Infographic  

Click to enlarge.

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SGF Nurse

If you are having trouble conceiving on your own, it may be time to see a fertility specialist. Please call us at 877-971-7755 or request an appointment online.

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SGF Nurse

Donor egg treatment has revolutionized the field of reproductive medicine – allowing women that have either postponed family building or have poor egg quality to still carry their own child. Egg donation has been around since the mid-1980s, but due to high cost and long waits for egg donors, not many men and women were able to take advantage of this new treatment option.

Society of Advanced Reproductive Technology (SART) collects and shares data from fertility centers across the country.* Since 2004, the number of donor egg treatment cycles has increased by 28% nationwide – making up roughly 10 to 11% of all advanced reproductive cycles in the United States.

  • *SART specifically looks at IVF, donor egg, gestational carrier and other advanced treatment options. SART does not track data on IUI, timed intercourse and other low-tech treatment options.

At Shady Grove Fertility, there have been even patients accessing donor egg treatment. In 2004, SGF completed approximately 400 donor egg cycles. In 2011, the number significantly increased to over 1,100 – nearly tripling. Today, donor egg treatment makes up approximately 17% of advanced reproductive treatment cycles at Shady Grove Fertility. And most importantly, with the help of donor egg treatment, over 500 patients were able to take home a baby last year.

SGF Nurse

Increasing Access to Donor Egg Treatment

Always on the forefront of meeting patient needs, Shady Grove Fertility developed an exclusive donor egg treatment and financial option that increases the availability of donors, reduces the cost of treatment, and even guarantees a baby or a 100% refund.

The Shared Donor Egg Program was created to reduce the cost of treatment by sharing the donor with one or two other recipients. When combined with the Shared Risk 100% Refund Guarantee Program, the program becomes even more appealing. For approximately the same cost of traditional donor egg treatment, using these programs, you could receive 6 treatment cycles with a 100% refund if you are not successful.

Greater Selection for Egg Donors

Once patients decide that they want to move forward with donor egg treatment, and they realize that they have financial options, the next step is finding the right donor. Some patients have a dream list of certain characteristics they are looking for; others want a donor that is similar to themselves or family members – no matter what the criteria for your donor selection, variety of selection is key.

At Shady Grover Fertility, the donor database features women who have undergone a thorough medical, genetic, and psychological screening. Every day, there are at least 70 to 80 egg donors from different backgrounds and ethnicities available for immediate donation.

At many fertility centers across the country and internationally, you may be paired with an egg donor. At Shady Grove Fertility, you pick your donor.

The combination of financial options and exceptional medical care have helped make Shady Grove Fertility the largest and one of the most successful donor egg programs in the United States with patients traveling from across the country and internationally to access donor egg treatment.

If you are having trouble conceiving on your own, it may be time to see a fertility specialist. Please call us at 877-971-7755 or request an appointment online.

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Workshop for Patients Who Are Creating
Their Families Through Donor Conception

Thursday March 7, 2013
7-9pm
Shady Grove Fertility
15001 Shady Grove Rd, Ste 300, Rockville, MD 20850

This is a free event. Registration is required.
Please contact Carol Toll, LCSW-C Carol Toll, LCSW-C at 301-924-5124 or Patricia Sachs at 301-951-0206.

Telling Your Kids About Their Donor

In this in-depth, interactive workshop we will explore the issues around talking with children about their donor conception.  The workshop will address:

  • the cognitive development of donor-conceived children and what they can understand at different ages/stages
  • what we know about the impact of disclosure on the child and family
  • creating one’s own “family story”, including practical help with timing and language

This workshop is recommended for anyone considering disclosing to their child their donor conception origins and would like more information and tools to assist them with the disclosure process, including parents who have already created their families with the assistance of donor conception.

What Other Patients Are Saying…

“Thanks so much for taking the time to host this. It was so very helpful.” – S.
“It validated my feelings by hearing other stories that echo ours.” –  K.
“Confirmed the ‘rightness’ of our decision.”  – R.

If you ready to schedule an appointment Shady Grove Fertility, please speak with one of our New Patient Liaisons at 877-971-7755.
Sign up for tonight’s webcast discussing the Shady Grove Fertility Donor Egg Program.

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SGF Nurse

Gift of Life: Sister Donates Eggs

At Shady Grove Fertility there is no “typical patient.” Everyone comes in with their own history and diagnosis – but what they all share is the desire to start or grow their family. Juliet recently shared her journey with the Frederick News-Post.

After several years of trying to conceive with her husband, Lester, the couple decided to turn to Shady Grove Fertility in Frederick. They used donor egg to with no success when her sister, Jen, who had been estranged after a turbulent childhood, came back into their lives with an offer they couldn’t refuse. Jen volunteered her own eggs.

Melissa A. Esposito, MD explains, “While egg donation between known parties is becoming more common, these donations make up only 10% of all egg donations. Most known donations are between friends, not family members.”

Read the rest of Juliet & Jen’s story at the Frederick News-Post.
If you ready to schedule an appointment Shady Grove Fertility, please speak with one of our New Patient Liaisons at 877-971-7755.

2026 Shady Grove Fertility

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