Dr. Simon Kipersztok

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Taking a look back at the most popular fertility videos Shady Grove Fertility uploaded this year.

Best Fertility Videos of 2013

1. Shady Grove Fertility Staff Shares Words of Wisdom
Shady Grove Fertility staff members share words of wisdom to current and future patients. Simon Kipersztok, MD and Gilbert Mottla, MD are featured in this video and offer patients tips for a smooth fertility journey.

2. Inside the IVF Lab: Embryo Cryopreservation
This video shows an embryo being exposed to cryo-protectant, exchanging inter-cellular water molecules with CPAs (cryo-protectant agents).  Then the embryo is frozen via a fast-freeze process known as vitrification.

3. EmbryoScope – New IVF Technology
Shady Grove Fertility offers new IVF technology in our Philadelphia area fertility center. The EmbryoScope develops a time-lapse movie from thousands of images as the embryo is developed inside the IVF lab.

4. How to Diagnose Infertility
Isaac E. Sasson MD, PhD with Shady Grove Fertility Center in Chesterbook, PA near Philadelphia discusses how to diagnose infertility. After your initial consultation with a fertility specialist, patients will undergo a fertility work-up including a blood test, hysterosalpingogram (HSG), and other diagnostic testing.

5. Physiology of Human Reproduction – Fertility
Isaac E. Sasson MD, PhD with Shady Grove Fertility in Chesterbrook, PA shares the physiology of human reproduction. From the egg and sperm to the hormones and follicles, Dr. Sasson offers a quick look at reproduction.

If you are ready to schedule an appointment at Shady Grove Fertility, please speak with one of our New Patient Liaisons at 877-971-7755.

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What a great way to truly kick off the holiday season this year in Waldorf to fill our spirits with joy and love. It was a great chance for our Waldorf, MD office staff and patients to gather and mingle, while supporting all patients in this community who truly pride themselves on togetherness and family. “We weren’t sure what to anticipate when planning this First Annual Waldorf Holiday Social,” said Heather Davis, Financial Counselor and Patient Services Representative. “We wanted to do a spin on an Open House, so it seemed like a natural fit and great idea to include Shady Grove Fertility graduates. It was awesome to see such as great turn out.”

“A patient actually came up to me and said, ‘Walking into the room and seeing the miracle babies made me really stop and think WOW, this stuff really works. They really do build families.’” Heather continued, “For myself, it was amazing to know that I had seen a lot of those couples when they felt like it was at the end of the road, and now I see them with their new babies! It was an awesome feeling.”

There was a sense of abounding joy and compassion in the room and around this party, because little miracles were really walking and crawling around everyone. Past, present and future patients gathered together giving patients going through treatment a real glimmer of hope. Dr. Simon Kipersztok said the event was a real success and can’t wait to see what next year’s event will bring.

Photos from the Holiday Social in Waldorf, MD

If you are ready to schedule an appointment with Dr. Simon Kipersztok or another physician at Shady Grove Fertility, please speak with one of our New Patient Liaisons at 877-971-7755.

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I started my journey December 27, 2012 during the first consultation with Dr. Simon Kipersztok. During this conversation, he communicated a very strong concern regarding my weight and how it was impacting my ability to ovulate. He offered several options to help me get pregnant, but not until I dropped some weight to make sure it was safe for me to get pregnant.

Finding Weight Watchers

diet diary and fresh fruits – diet and breakfast

Dr. Kipersztok suggested that I join Weight Watchers and see if the program would work for me. When I got home that day after our appointment, while somewhat discouraged, I logged in and signed up for a monthly pass with Weight Watchers and made plans to attend my first meeting on January 3, 2013.

Weighing in at 244.4 pounds at my first meeting on January 3, 2013, removing any weight was such a daunting task. During my introductory meetings, I was taught how to do the Weight Watchers Points program and encouraged to attend meetings each week to keep me motivated. The weight started to fly off and I was amazed. To date, I am 210 pounds and still coming down. It appears that my ovulation has returned on its own without the need for extra help from the doctor, but we are monitoring it to make sure.

The hardest thing about this journey was getting started. I never thought I would look up and see myself at 210 pounds ever again in my life. I was often scared and reluctant to get on the scale at the doctor’s office because I did not want to see how much weight I gained from the last appointment. Now, when I visit the doctor, I ask to be weighed because I like to see my progress!

A Good Team

I am almost 32 years old and have wanted to have a baby for as long as I can remember and never understood why I wasn’t getting pregnant. There have been times during this process where I have been discouraged and just wanting the weight to come off faster, but the good thing about it is, my Weight Watchers leader, Dr. Kipersztok, and Nurse Kristal Lewis keep me focused and motivated to reach my goal.

I reach out to the nurse, Kristal, every week on Thursday when I weigh in to let her know how much weight I have removed for that week and what my current weight is. Kristal shares this news with Dr. Kipersztok and they both share their excitement for my progress. I have never had a doctor and nurse so connected and involved in my life to the point where I feel I must share my goals with them. Dr. Kipersztok and Kristal have truly become a part of this journey with me and are just as important to me as my family as I go through this process to reach my goal.

I am motivated and beyond encouraged. Weight Watchers was and will continue to be the right choice for me. I am thankful to Dr. Kipersztok for the suggestion that truly saved my live and helped me take control of my life. I am looking forward to seeing myself under 200 pounds and continuing on to my goal weight of 141.

If nothing else is taken from my story just understand that it can be done. I am living proof that if you want to change your life for the better and have a baby, just listen to the doctors at Shady Grove Fertility. If you help yourself, the outcome can be so much more precious and fulfilling than you ever imagined!

Dr. Simon Kipersztok sees patients at the Shady Grove Fertility office in Waldorf, MD. If you have been trying to conceive without success and would like to schedule a new patient consultation, please call 1.877.971.7755.

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I will never forget my journey at Shady Grove Fertility. I remember going into the office just thinking my only challenge would be my age and the fact that I had a tubal ligation. Since I had conceived naturally three times prior, I thought this time would be a cinch.

Well during my initial consult, Dr. Simon Kipersztok gave me a shocker: I needed to lose weight because my BMI was over the allowable amount for IVF. That first day I expected to hear anything but “I needed to lose weight.” It was devastating to me. I knew I was overweight but I never thought it would affect my ability to have a child. I mean hey, what’s a few pounds? I see plus size women pregnant all the time! Heck, I had been one three times in the past.

Tameenah1a

Over the next year (yes, YEAR) I struggled with weight loss. Since my goal was only 10–15 pounds, I thought it would be a piece of cake. Boy, oh, boy was I wrong. I would lose a few pounds, then schedule a follow-up. By the time I got to the office, the pounds just magically reappeared! Almost like the scale in the office was permanently registered at “overweight.” I would leave in tears feeling devastated to get turned away once again. Dr. Kipersztok would always smile and just say, “Tameenah, you will get there. Just a little more work to go.” He believed in me more than I did.

Tools for Weight Loss Success

Everyone at SGF was like my own personal cheerleading team. One day while leaving the office I noticed a sign about the SGF Facebook page. I checked it out and started participating. I found out that I wasn’t the only one struggling and realized how losing weight gave other women success. Through the page I gained a sisterhood with women who understood my path. Some of them had either lost weight or needed to lose weight. It was great!

We joined My Fitness Pal online and tracked our daily caloric intake and exercise. I cut back my carbs, started eating six small meals a day, cut out all beverages except for water, started exercising three days a week for an hour and said goodbye to the McDonalds double cheeseburger! There’s also a daily calendar on the SGF facebook page where we post our steps in the infertility journey and cheer each other on. I wanted so badly to have my name posted, so it was a great motivator. And in June 2012, my name was on listed!

When I went into the office, Dr. Kipersztok said I was ready, and I felt like I won the lottery. I had lost the weight. The other “Shady Grove Sisters” (that’s what we call each other on the page) were so excited, it felt great. I was on my way!

So now it seems like Cinderella should get the glass slipper, right? Unfortunately, my first IVF turned into a non-viable pregnancy, plus being on the medications prescribed, I packed on a few pounds. When Dr. Kipersztok spoke with me to discuss my results I said, “Okay, it gives me time to lose some more weight.” I lost additional weight and within 60 days I achieved my miracle! I am now 29 weeks pregnant with a girl rightfully named Journey Semira which translates to ‘Journey Fulfilled.’

Thanks to SGF for encouraging me to change my lifestyle, I am beating the odds. I am in advanced age now with diabetes and hypertension, but have had a completely normal, healthy pregnancy! No complications, no illness, not even morning sickness. My OB told me just two weeks ago how I am one of the best patients to have ever come through.

I will be forever grateful to the staff at SGF for their encouragement and support. Those changes I made — I still keep up today! I don’t even miss that double cheeseburger!

Patient Story Update
After a year of trying, Tameenah gave birth to her daughter, Journey.

Watch Tameenah on NBC4 discuss her journey.

Dr. Simon Kipersztok sees patients at the Shady Grove Fertility office in Waldorf, MD. If you have been trying to conceive without success and would like to schedule a new patient consultation, please call 1.877.971.7755.

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