Board Certified Fertility Specialists: The Gold Standard in Reproductive Care

When choosing a fertility specialist for IVF treatments, you should only consider clinics with Board Certified Reproductive Endocrinologists on staff. Being board certified is a significant distinction in the medical field and indicates that your doctor has undergone extensive training to diagnose and treat fertility issues.

A physician must complete a four year residency, and then a three to five year fellowship program before being awarded board certification. This process is rigorous and competitive.

IVF

IVF is a fertility treatment in which an egg and sperm are fertilized outside of the body. It is one of the most popular and effective treatments available.

During IVF, medication is used to stimulate your ovaries into producing multiple eggs. Once the eggs are mature, they are combined with sperm in a lab and fertilized. After fertilization, the embryo is transferred into your uterus. Pregnancy occurs if the embryo implants.

In some cases, it is necessary to check for genetic disorders in the embryo before transferring it. This is called preimplantation genetic testing.

Tubal Ligation

Tubal ligation, also called getting your tubes tied, is surgery that closes your fallopian tubes so you can’t get pregnant. During this procedure, your doctor may burn (cauterize) or clamp and tie (ligate) the ends of your fallopian tubes or surgically remove them.

During tubal ligation, you will receive medicine that prevents pain and puts you in a sleep-like state. The surgery is done through a small cut near your bellybutton, also called the navel.

The chance of pregnancy after your tubes are tied depends on many factors, including whether you ovulate and the quality of your partner’s sperm. This is why women who have had their tubes tied often consider in vitro fertilization (IVF) for reversal.

Reversal

If you had a vasectomy, reversing it can help you become fertile again. During this surgery, your urologist uses a surgical microscope to repair the tubes that carry sperm from your testicles to your penis (vas deferens). He or she cuts through the scarred ends of your vas, and then uses stitches thinner than a human hair to join them back together. This surgery is typically done while you are asleep under anesthesia. Reversals aren’t medically proven, but they do work in many cases. The Abortion Pill Rescue Network claims 60-70% of reversals are successful and result in a baby.

Male Infertility

Male factor infertility is present in over 50% of all infertility cases. In most of these cases, the male’s inability to conceive is due to a problem with the production of healthy sperm or their delivery to the female partner.

Males who have attempted to conceive for 1 year with no success should be evaluated by a fertility specialist. This evaluation will include a detailed health history and physical exam, 2 semen analyses and hormone testing. Many male infertility problems are reversible and may be treated by lifestyle changes, medications or surgery.