Because of the emotional, physical, and financial toll exacted by IVF, it is preferable that no one undertake a one‑shot attempt. If a couple can only afford one treatment cycle, IVF is probably not the right course of action. After … Read more
Dr. Sher Blog
Official Blog of Dr. Geoffrey Sher
IVF & Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS): Reducing the Risk of Severe Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS), Improving Egg Quality and Optimizing Outcome
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal system disorder among women affecting between 5% and 10% of women of reproductive age worldwide. Women with PCOS may have enlarged ovaries that contain multiple small collections of fluid (subcapsular microcysts) that … Read more
Deciding Between Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
Many infertile patients, are erroneously advised by their physicians to first try IUI several times before resorting to IVF. Additionally many misguided insurance providers often, purely for economic reasons, require that infertile female enrollees who have at least 1 patent … Read more
How Does Advancing Age and Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR) Affect Egg/Embryo “Competency” and How Should the Problem be Addressed.
It is primarily the egg (rather than the sperm) that determines the chromosomal integrity (karyotype) of the embryo, the most important determinant of egg/embryo competency. A “competent” egg is therefore one that has a normal karyotype and has the … Read more
IVF Outcome in Patients with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal system disorder among women affecting between 5% and 10% of women of reproductive age worldwide. Women with PCOS may have enlarged ovaries that contain multiple small collections of fluid (subcapsular microcysts) that … Read more
Mini-IVF: A Blessing or a Curse?
Mini-IVF is a procedure that involves ovarian stimulation using low dosage medications (often oral drugs like clomiphene and letrozole) under the premise that it is a “safer” and less expensive than conventional gonadotropin stimulation regimes while yielding comparable success. Nothing … Read more
Advanced Endometriosis with Endometriotic Cysts
Advanced endometriosis is often associated with ovarian endometriotic cysts, known as endometriomas. The cysts contain decomposed menstrual blood that looks like melted chocolate – hence the name “chocolate cysts.” They are space occupying cystic lesions within the ovarian connective tissue … Read more
Staggered IVF with PGT – Selection of “Competent” Embryos Greatly Enhances the Utility & Efficiency of IVF
Staggered-IVF involves the use of Preimplantation Genetic Testing of advanced embryos (blastocysts) to identify those that are euploid (“competent”) and thereupon the subsequent transfer to the uterus of embryos identified as being chromosomally “competent” in later cycle(s) of … Read more
Early-Endometriosis-related Infertility: Ovulation Induction and Reproductive Surgery vs. IVF
Endometriosis is a complex condition where, the lack or relative absence of an overt anatomical barrier to fertility often belies the true extent of reproductive problem(s).
All too often the view is expounded that the severity of endometriosis-related infertility is … Read more
IVF and the Imperative to minimize the Incidence of Multiple Pregnancies
All multiple pregnancies pose a risk to both mother and offspring. Pregnancy induced maternal complications such as miscarriage, pre-eclampsia, antepartum and post-partum hemorrhage become progressively more prevalent the higher the multiple gestation. For the babies, it is an … Read more
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