Your Care Team

Many people think planning for a baby should start after you’ve learned you’re expecting, but really the planning should begin before you’re even expecting.

Shady Grove Fertility Atlanta physician, Dr. Desireé McCarthy-Keith shares with Today.com the number one thing to think about before planning for a baby: your fertility.

“We always want women to think about their age when it comes to fertility,” says Dr. McCarthy-Keith. “For men, if the testicles are functioning properly, they will produce brand new sperm every 72 days, usually into their 50s, 60s and 70s sometimes. But for women, we’re born with all the eggs we’ll ever have. From birth on, egg count starts to decline. Once we get into the 30s, mid-30s, that process really accelerates.”

One reason fertility declines as maternal age increases is because women are less likely to ovulate regularly as they age. In addition, they are more likely to have medical problems that can cause infertility. However, the most important reason relates to the quality and quantity of a woman’s eggs. As the eggs age, they become more resistant to fertilization, resulting in lower pregnancy rates. Also, more of the eggs also tend to have chromosomal abnormalities, making miscarriage more likely.

“While age is the biggest factor of fertility, infertility can affect both men and women at any age, which is why we encourage people to find other ways to boost their fertility naturally by maintaining a healthy diet, exercising, eliminating smoking, and reducing alcohol consumption,” adds Dr. McCarthy-Keith

If you are trying to conceive without success, it’s important not to wait to see a fertility specialist. “A lot of people think coming to a fertility office means you’re committed to big, invasive and expensive treatment, and that’s not always the case,” Dr. McCarthy-Keith said. At SGF, we take a stepped approach care to treatment, starting with the basic, most affordable options first, before moving on to more high-tech treatment.

The recommended guidelines for when to see a fertility specialist are to try on your own to get pregnant for a year if you are 35 or younger, 6 months if you are between the ages of 35 and 39, and 3 months if you are 40 and over. There are also some warning signs that signal the need to see a fertility specialist sooner that you should be aware of. A fertility specialist will provide you with an individualized treatment approach based on simple diagnostic testing that will allow him/her to determine the cause of your infertility.

To learn more about your fertility or to schedule an appointment with Dr. McCarthy-Keith or another physician at one of Shady Grove Fertility Atlanta’s three locations in Atlanta-Northside, Alpharetta, or Buckhead-Piedmont, please contact our New Patient Center at 1-877-971-7755 or click here to complete this brief online form.

Congratulations to Shady Grove Fertility Atlanta’s own Dr. Mark Perloe, who was recognized as the Top Reproductive Endocrinologist in Georgia by HealthTap, a global health practice that provides immediate access to top doctors via video, text, or audio. This award recognizes Dr. Perloe for providing help and resources to engaged users on the HealthTap app and represents the highest distinction for his area of expertise.

In addition to this award, Dr. Perloe was the 2017 Ricardo Azziz PCOS Challenge Advocacy Leadership Award Recipient, which honors individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary dedication to advocacy and public policy efforts that expand access to resources and support for women and girls with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), one of the most neglected, underfunded, and underdiagnosed areas of health.

“When you’re not getting pregnant and aren’t sure if you have infertility, a lot of questions can arise. Many people wait to see a fertility specialist thinking it will happen on their own. What most people don’t realize is that early intervention is key. By educating people about infertility and the different treatment options that are now available, it is my hope that I will be able to help more people build their families,” says Perloe.

About Dr. Mark Perloe:

Dr. Mark Perloe earned his medical degree from Pennsylvania State University, Hershey Medical Center, and served his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Wisconsin. Dr. Perloe completed his fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of Minnesota.

He has extensive experience treating conditions related to infertility including polycystic ovary syndrome, recurrent pregnancy loss, menstrual disorders, fibroids, male factor infertility, endocrine disorders, and other reproductive health problems. His patients have access to the latest in vitro fertilization techniques including fertility preservation, the use of donor eggs, donor sperm, and gestational surrogacy.

What Patients are Saying about Shady Grove Fertility Atlanta and Dr. Mark Perloe:

“Shady Grove Fertility Atlanta has become like a second family for us. The journey that they went on with us and the support that they gave us through the entire process was more than I could have ever hoped for. Our story was long and arduous, but it had a very happy ending. Dr. Perloe is absolutely top-notch and I couldn’t recommend him more highly.”

“I went in with doubts, fear, aggravation, and concerns about cost. I came out knowledgeable, confident, financially healthy, and pregnant. Dr. Perloe and his team made it all happen. Dr. Perloe is the real deal. He is a gifted and experienced practitioner.”

“Dr. Perloe was very informative and encouraging from our first meeting, and I was pleasantly surprised by his desire to start with the least expensive and least invasive options possible.”

Shady Grove Fertility Atlanta was formed this past July when Georgia Reproductive Specialists and Shady Grove Fertility announced their merger. By combining the successful clinical, scientific, and operational approaches under the brand “Shady Grove Fertility Atlanta,“ the merger offered an exceptional opportunity to provide enhanced fertility services to more patients in Atlanta and surrounding areas.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Mark Perloe or any of our Shady Grove Fertility physicians, please call our New Patient Center at 1-877-971-7755 or fill out this brief form.

SGF Atlanta, formerly Georgia Reproductive Specialists, has been named Best Fertility Specialist Practice by Best Self Atlanta Magazine, voted on by readers within the local community. SGF Atlanta offers advanced, innovative, high quality fertility treatment in a nurturing and supportive environment. Each physician is committed to providing personal and individualized care for each patient’s unique journey.

Other accolades in 2017 include Desireé McCarthy-Keith, M.D., MPH, who was named a Mom-Approved Fertility Specialist in Atlanta Parent Magazine.

Dr. Mark Perloe was honored with the 2017 Ricardo Azziz PCOS Challenge Advocacy Leadership Award. The award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary dedication to advocacy and public policy efforts that expand access to resources and support for women and girls with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), one of the most neglected, underfunded, and underdiagnosed areas of health.

In addition, Dr. Perloe was voted top Reproductive Endocrinologist in Georgia by HealthTap, a global health practice that provides immediate access to top doctors via video, text, or audio. This award honors Dr. Perloe for providing help and resources to engaged users on the app and represents the highest distinction for his area of expertise.

“When you’re not getting pregnant and aren’t sure if you have infertility, a lot of questions can arise. Many people wait to see a fertility specialist thinking it will happen on their own. What most people don’t realize is that early intervention is key. By educating people about infertility and the different treatment options that are now available, it is my hope that I will be able to help more people build their families,” says Perloe.

One of the most common questions when in need of fertility care is, “how will I pay for treatment?” The good news is 90% of patients have coverage for their initial consult and 70% have some level of coverage for treatment. In addition, we have many exclusive programs such as Shared Risk 100% Refund Program, Shared Donor Egg, and Shared Help Discount that put your dream of becoming a parent within reach.

GRS, with three locations in Atlanta-Northside, Alpharetta, and Buckhead-Piedmont, joined forces with Shady Grove Fertility (SGF), which has 25 locations throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., in July. Combining the successful clinical, scientific, and operational approaches of SGF and GRS under the brand SGF Atlanta provides an exceptional opportunity to bring enhanced fertility services to more patients in Atlanta and surrounding areas.

To learn more or to schedule a physician consult, please call our New Patient Center at 1-877-971-7755 or fill out this brief form.
 

SGF Atlanta, formerly Georgia Reproductive Specialists (GRS), is honored to be recognized as a Center of Excellence by Optum™. A leading information and technology-enabled health services business, Optum is dedicated to helping make the health system work better for everyone. In order to earn this distinction, SGF Atlanta demonstrated successful clinical outcomes and exceptional physician experience, staffing, and facilities, as well as maintained accreditation status and continuous quality assurance.

Speaking of physician experience, the specialists at SGF Atlanta have all shown remarkable accomplishment in the field of reproductive medicine. Dr. Mark Perloe, who founded GRS in 2000, was recently honored with the 2017 Ricardo Azziz PCOS Challenge Advocacy Leadership Award and voted top Reproductive Endocrinologist in Georgia by HealthTap, a global health practice that provides immediate access to top doctors via video, text, or audio.

SGF Atlanta’s Desireé McCarthy-Keith, M.D., M.P.H., an honoree by Black Health Magazine as one of Atlanta’s most influential African American doctors, was recently named a Mom-Approved Fertility Specialist by Atlanta Parent Magazine.

Anne Brawner Namnoum, M.D., who is board certified in both obstetrics and gynecology and reproductive endocrinology and infertility, is a highly accomplished physician who is widely published and respected by the Atlanta patient community.

GRS, with three locations in Atlanta-Northside, Alpharetta, and Buckhead/Piedmont, joined forces with Shady Grove Fertility (SGF), which has 25 locations throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., in July. Combining the successful clinical, scientific, and operational approaches of SGF and GRS under the brand SGF Atlanta provides an exceptional opportunity to bring enhanced fertility services to more patients in Atlanta and surrounding areas.

SGF Atlanta, also recently recognized as Best Self Atlanta Magazine’s Best Fertility Specialist Practice, is committed to providing quality infertility services to men and women trying to conceive. According to Optum, “The truth is, not all health care providers are created equally. For complex medical conditions, the disparity is especially high. Through a rigorous evaluation process, Optum has developed Centers of Excellence networks that provide access to clinically superior, cost-effective health care.”

“We are honored to receive this designation and proud to serve the Atlanta region with the highest quality fertility care,” says Dr. Namnoum.

To learn more or to schedule a physician consult, please call our New Patient Center at 1-877-971-7755 or fill out this brief form.

Congratulations to our very own Desireé McCarthy-Keith, M.D., M.P.H., who was recognized as a Mom-Approved Fertility Specialist in Atlanta Parent Magazine. The magazine asked readers to recommend obstetricians, midwives and fertility specialists they trust for excellent medical care.

“I am honored to receive this recognition and feel very proud that I get to help make people’s dreams of a family come true. I feel privileged to work at a practice that strives for innovation and advanced fertility solutions, but always stands behind their promise of doing what is best for the patient,” comments Dr. McCarthy-Keith.

Dr. McCarthy-Keith earned her medical degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and also a Master of Public Health in maternal and child health from the University of North Carolina. She completed her Obstetrics and Gynecology residency training at Duke University Medical Center and a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. During her fellowship, Dr. McCarthy-Keith’s research focused on the molecular mechanisms of uterine fibroid regulation and reproductive health disparities. She has special interests in male and female infertility, polycystic ovary syndrome, uterine fibroids, and in vitro fertilization. She has authored several peer-reviewed publications on reproductive and infertility topics and has presented her research nationally. She is honored to serve as Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Morehouse School of Medicine.

Prior to joining SGF Atlanta, Dr. McCarthy-Keith practiced general obstetrics and gynecology in Virginia and South Carolina. While in Maryland, she treated patients with reproductive endocrine and fertility disorders at the National Institutes of Health and Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Dr. McCarthy-Keith was a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and held the position of Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.

SGF Atlanta was formed this past July when Georgia Reproductive Specialists and Shady Grove Fertility announced their merger. By combining the successful clinical, scientific, and operational approaches under the brand “SGF Atlanta,” the merger offered an exceptional opportunity to provide enhanced fertility services to more patients in Atlanta and surrounding areas.

 To schedule an appointment with Dr. Desireé McCarthy-Keith or any of our Shady Grove Fertility physicians, please contact our New Patient Center at 1-877-971-7755 or fill out this brief form.