Your Care Team

Shady Grove Fertility’s (SGF) state-of-the-art embryology, andrology, and endocrine laboratories have reached national and international distinction for offering highly sophisticated laboratory procedures that increase your chance of pregnancy and keep your frozen eggs, embryos, and sperm safe.   

All SGF labs are equipped with the very latest technology and are operated under the distinct leadership of Michael J. Tucker, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Director of SGF’s IVF and Embryology Laboratories, and Jim Graham, Senior Director of SGF Laboratory Services. 

1. SGF maintains stringent chain of custody protocols  

SGF has one of the most stringent, long-standing chain of custody protocols in the industry developed according to the highest industry standards and continuously refined alongside the latest research.  

SGF’s chain of custody protocol requires that two embryologists verify the identification of samples at each stage of the process to ensure, for example, that the correct sperm is paired with the correct eggs. Patients also take an active role in the protocol when they are asked to verify their identification verbally at several points. 

Because of our commitment to these procedures, SGF has never had an incorrect identification.  

2. SGF uses the most sophisticated technology to protect genetic material  

Our chain of custody at SGF is maintained using an electronic witnessing system, RI Witness. Developed by CooperSurgical, RI Witness is an assisted reproductive technology (ART) management system. This technology enables every sperm, egg, embryo, test tube, and petri dish to be electronically connected to the specific patient. 

Electronic witnessing creates a detailed, time-stamped log of the step-by-step movement of a patient’s genetic material and has an alert should there be a possibility of an incorrect mix. This alarm occurs prior to a potential mix-up. Final approval and validation are performed by the physician or embryologist performing the procedure. 

3. Improved air quality  

When creating and developing embryos, maintaining an environment with exceptionally clean air is essential. 

Clinical evidence proves that poor air quality negatively affects both fertilization and early-stage development of embryos. 

We maintain the best possible air quality in our IVF labs with a state-of-the-art Hepa filtration system. Our multi-faceted system filters out both solids (or particulate matter) and gasses (or volatile organic compounds (VOCs)). 

Even the humidity within the room is controlled, ensuring pristine air quality throughout the laboratory space. 

By maintaining a clean room in which we perform delicate procedures, we eliminate the possibility of poor air quality negatively impacting our work. Instead, we increase the likelihood of successful fertilization, embryo development, and, ultimately, pregnancy. 

Learn more about Shady Grove Fertility

4. Isolated incubator spaces  

The longer we can leave your embryos undisturbed to develop, the more likely they are to become high-quality, viable embryos. 

The use of isolated chambers represents a major improvement in the IVF process. Previously, spaces were shared by multiple patients — meaning the environment for one patient’s developing embryos would impact another each time an embryologist needed to access the embryos of another patient using the same space. 

Now, each patient’s space is only accessed when an embryologist is doing an assessment or performing a procedure for that particular patient. Because we can keep embryos in a more controlled, consistent environment, we can ensure optimal success rates for our patients. 

5. SGF labs are accredited by the Joint Commission Lab Accreditation and SART 

All SGF labs are accredited by the Joint Commission Lab Accreditation. The Joint Commission is an independent, not-for-profit organization whose accreditation and certification are recognized nationwide as a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to meeting or exceeding specific performance standards. 

Our embryology labs are also accredited by the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technologies (SART), an organization whose mission it is to establish and maintain standards for assisted reproductive technologies (ART) to ensure patients receive the highest possible level of care. SART clinics meet the highest standards for quality, safety, and patient care. SGF reports birth outcome data to SART on an annual basis. 

6. SGF embryologist undergo rigorous and comprehensive training protocols  

SGF embryologists undergo a rigorous training program. The program takes 4 to 5 years to complete and requires trainees to progress through a robust series of mentorships, on-the-job training, and scaffolded exposure to different procedures. 

Our embryologists learn procedures in isolation, often taking several months to master each one before receiving the necessary clearance to perform the procedure unassisted. 

Our embryologists have a wealth of experience, even prior to our training. Members of our team come to us after earning their stripes in research or biological sciences fields. Before joining our team, they earned a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or Ph.D. 

7. SGF is dedicated to continuously improving outcomes for fertility patients.   

Shady Grove Fertility is a national leader in fertility research and is one of the only private practice fertility centers in the nation to employ a full-time dedicated research team. 

Every year, Shady Grove Fertility is a major contributor to the annual scientific meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), the national organization dedicated to the field of reproductive medicine. Many of these studies are eventually published in the world’s leading scientific journals for reproductive medicine, such as Fertility and Sterility or Human Reproduction. 

To schedule an appointment, please contact one of our New Patient Liaisons at 1-877-971-7755 or click here to complete this brief form. 

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in April 2019, and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness as of August 2023.

Medical contribution by Matthew T. Connell, D.O.

Matthew T. Connell, D.O., FACOG, is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and reproductive endocrinology and infertility. Dr. Connell has published numerous peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts, book chapters, and review articles in many leading scientific journals, and has been invited to present and consult nationally in the fields of endocrinology, infertility, and reproductive immunology.

The two-week wait before you have your beta pregnancy test can seem like an eternity. Each day seems longer than the last, and the question “Am I pregnant?” goes through your mind hundreds of times a day. You might become hyper-aware of your body’s every sensation. To help navigate this time period, we’ve gathered frequently asked questions and asked SGF physician Dr. Matthew Connell to answer them.    

What is the two-week wait?

The two-week wait is the period between the end of your fertility treatment cycle and the beta hCG blood test — the test that determines if you’re pregnant. It takes about two weeks from the time a fertilized egg implants in the uterine wall to start emitting enough of the hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) to be detected by a blood test. We sometimes call the test a “beta” because the test measures a beta chain portion of the hCG hormone molecule and is officially named a beta hCG test. 

Should I take a home pregnancy test after fertility treatment?

We recommend that you refrain from performing a home pregnancy test as it can render false results, either a false negative or a false positive. A false positive result may be due to the fact that in many of our treatments, hCG, the same hormone that measures pregnancy, is given to trigger ovulation in many of our patients. Traces of the administered hCG can still be in your bloodstream and detectable by a test, even if implantation has not occurred. 

A false negative might occur as a low level of hCG may be undetectable in a urine test despite a pregnancy starting, as home pregnancy tests are less sensitive than the blood hormone tests. 

On average, about two weeks following your intrauterine insemination (IUI) or embryo transfer you will come back for your pregnancy test. This reliable pregnancy test is done by blood draw and measures the hCG levels produced by the developing embryo.  

What is happening to my body during the two-week wait?

During this time, you may feel as if you are about to start your period. Your body has been through a lot and the medications you’re taking are designed to promote the optimal environment for pregnancy. You may experience some cramping, spotting or light bleeding, abdominal bloating, fatigue, and breast tenderness. While you may be slightly alarmed to experience some of these symptoms, they are normal and do not signify that you are or are not pregnant. 

Do I take medications during the two-week wait?

Yes. Most patients need to continue to take progesterone supplements in order to produce the same levels of hormones that would occur in early stages of pregnancy. 

While most patients will supplement their progesterone via pill or vaginal insert, patients who are using donor egg or frozen embryos will use the injectable form of progesterone for their cycles. 

Additionally, patients who undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF), donor egg, or frozen embryo transfers may also be prescribed estrogen supplements to help thicken and maintain the uterine lining. 

Please do not stop taking these medications until you have been advised by your medical team to do so. 

Can I continue my normal day-to-day activities during the two-week wait?

We tell all our patients to be cautious during their first 5 days after their treatment. We recommend that you refrain from strenuous physical activities as well as sexual activities during that time as they may cause uterine contractions that might impair the implantation process. There is also a greater risk during that time of ovarian issues arising since, for many patients, the ovaries are still slightly enlarged at that point. 

After those first few days, you can start light aerobic activities such as yoga, swimming, moderate walking, and lightweight training on a stairmaster or elliptical trainer. Activities that can get your heart rate up, but are not demanding, are suggested rather than high-impact activities such as jogging or aerobics. 

Do I need to adjust my diet during the two-week wait?

No special diet is required, but we recommend that you start making nutritional choices as if you’re already pregnant. This means eating well-balanced meals, no sushi or other raw or undercooked meats, avoiding high-mercury fish and soft cheeses, no alcohol, and continuing to take a preconception supplement. 

Learn more about preparing your body for a healthy pregnancy.

Can I travel during the two-week wait (or thereafter if pregnant)?

Traveling during the two-week wait is acceptable as it does not affect the ability for an embryo to implant. We do, however, prefer that patients do not travel beyond the range of reasonable medical care in the event of side effects that would call for medical care. 

What levels of hCG will determine if I’m pregnant?

A blood hCG number over 100 is considered a good first beta. Higher numbers cannot predict a multiple pregnancy, only the ultrasound can determine that. 
 
Additional beta tests will be performed every 48 hours after the first positive test to confirm the hCG level continues to rise. If the number continues to increase, we’re more confident that it’s likely a viable pregnancy. 
 
We will then have you come in for ultrasounds, usually between six and seven weeks, to determine if the embryo continues to develop into a fetus. At about eight weeks, we’ll refer you back to your OB/GYN to continue your prenatal care. 

If I am pregnant, how do you ‘count’ how far along we are?

As soon as it is determined that you are pregnant, we revert to the obstetrical counting/dating system. This is done to avoid using one set of dates from the time of an IUI or IVF versus another set of dates used by obstetricians. The OB doctors determine pregnancy dating to be from the last menstrual period, at least two weeks prior to ovulation. Obviously, we often know more about when ovulation may have occurred than they usually do, but for convention, we add two weeks to our dates to conform with the OB. As an example, if we know when ovulation was triggered and an IUI or IVF was performed, your beta might be two weeks after. If it is positive, the OB would say you are 4 weeks pregnant, not two, and therefore we do, too. 

What are my next steps if I’m not pregnant?

If you are not pregnant, your care team will advise you to stop your medications. You will have the opportunity to talk with your physician to review the past cycle and decide together about your next steps. 

How long after a failed cycle can I do another cycle?

While your physician will determine the timing of a new cycle, it’s not always necessary to take time off between cycles unless otherwise directed. Many of our patients can begin their next treatment cycle immediately. For others, a cycle of rest may be recommended. 

Editor’s note: This blog was originally published in 2014, and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness as of March 2023.

To schedule a virtual consultation with an SGF physician, please call our New Patient Center at 1-888-761-1967 or submit this brief form.

Please join us in welcoming SGF Tampa’s newest reproductive endocrinologist, Dr. Rachel Sprague, who is also US Fertility’s 100th network physician! Individuals and couples alike who are seeking to fulfill their family building dreams can now begin their journeys at our Wesley Chapel office.  

Dr. Sprague earned her medical degree from the University of Florida College of Medicine. It was during this time that her interest in reproductive medicine came to light when she was exposed to the concept of in vitro fertilization and the intricacies of early pregnancy. The interest intensified throughout her clinical rotations where she experienced first-hand the bond between patients and their physicians.   

She pursued her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where she served as Residency Class Lieutenant and earned the Fund for Excellence in Research Award. Dr. Sprague then traveled to Florida to complete her fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Morsani College of Medicine at the University of South Florida.  

Exemplifying Dr. Sprague’s passion for research are her contributions to research abstracts presented at medical conferences nationwide on topics including the environmental effects on a person’s ovarian reserve, preimplantation genetic testing, and endometriosis. Additionally, Dr. Sprague contributed a book chapter on in vitro fertilization in the Encyclopedia of Reproduction, Second Edition. Dr. Sprague is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the American Medical Association, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and the Pacific Coast Reproductive Society.  

Dr. Sprague provides fertility care for patients at SGF Tampa’s Wesley Chapel office. In her free time, she enjoys exploring, singing, and dancing with her husband, two children, and bulldog, Hank.   

Get to know Dr. Rachel Sprague 

Receive fertility care at SGF Tampa 

Patients may schedule a new patient appointment with Dr. Sprague by calling 1-888-761-1967 or by submitting this brief form. As of November 2, 2021, our Wesley Chapel office has relocated to 2590 Healing Way, Suite 160, Wesley Chapel, FL 33544.