Assisted Reproductive Technologies offer an excellent treatment alternative to couples, which have been unable to become pregnant through traditional surgical or hormonal treatments.

Once it is determined if any of these procedures is likely to succeed in your particular situation, our team of physicians, embryologists and nurses will explain and discuss all of your options with you.

In Vitro Fertilization – Embryo Transfer (IVF-ET)

Is a procedure whereby eggs are removed from the ovaries and fertilized in the laboratory with the male partner’s sperm. The resulting embryos are then replaced back in the womb 3 to 7 days later. IVF relies on the inherent viability of the resulting embryos to establish a viable pregnancy.

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

I s a procedure where a single sperm cell is selected and injected directly into each egg to fertilize it. ICSI can be used to overcome virtually any form of male factor infertility (low sperm count, motility, and/or morphology) as well as previous fertilization failure. It can also be used in cases where a previous vasectomy has been done, or when a vasectomy reversal has not been successful.
ICSI is also the approach of choice in couples in which the male partner has suffered injury to the spinal chord (paralysis), which alters the neurologic mechanisms of erection, and/or affects the quality of the sperm.

(Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection - ICSI)

(Hatched Blastocyst)

Embryo Defragmentation

Is a delicate procedure, which requires a high level of expertise. There is experimental evidence that in some cases, embryo quality can be restored, or improved with de-fragmentation. Fragments are membrane-bound, non-nucleated pieces of cytoplasm that are lost during cell division.
Fragmentation significantly reduces the developmental potential of human embryos.

When no more than 35% of the total cell volume of the embryo has been lost to fragmentation and a number of normally appearing blastomeres (embryo cells) are still viable, embryo de-fragmentation might help restore development potential.

This procedure is performed after selective assisted hatching; embryo fragments are removed by extremely gentle aspiration with a special micro instrument 10 to 12 µm in diameter. The procedure is performed under high magnification and using a state-of-the-art microscope; the embryo is continually repositioned and observed constantly during the procedure.


(Left: De-fragmentation in progress / Right: De-fragmented embryo)

Blastocyst Culture
Or extended culture, allows embryos to reach a more advanced stage of development in the laboratory prior to their transfer into the womb. Most human embryos develop relatively well up until 3 days in culture. At this point, normally developing embryos “turn on” their genomic machinery in order to use more complex nutrients.

Blastocyst, is the term to name the stage of development of an embryo by day 5.

Blastocyst culture allows for further selecting embryos that are developing normally, in other words, is sort of survival of the fittest. Blastocyst culture might be beneficial in reducing multiple pregnancies as these more advanced embryos might have higher implantation potential than earlier stages, therefore, allowing for the transfer of lower numbers to the womb.

(Day 5 Expanded Blastocyst)

Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis – PGD
Also known as “embryo screening” is sophisticated technology that allows examination of embryos for anomalies of the chromosomes (numerical chromosomal anomalies also called “aneuploidies”, or structural chromosome anomalies also called translocations, and/or single gene defects).

With PGD, embryo selection can be further determined prior to replacement into the uterine cavity. PGD may increase the chances of carrying a pregnancy to term. In 2002, CARE-LIFE was the first center in the South Florida area with a proven and successful PGD program.

This technology can potentially enhance success rate for patients with advanced reproductive age, repeated miscarriages, history of prior failed IVF treatments, or with family history of certain genetic traits.

When PGD is performed, one or two cells are gently removed from each embryo through an embryo biopsy. Analysis of chromosomes, or a particular gene can be undertaken with the utilization of techniques such as F.I.S.H (Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization), or P.C.R. (Polymerase Chain Reaction).

 
(Left: Chromosomes identified by FISH / Right: Embryo Biopsy for PGD)

Frozen Embryo Transfer
Is a procedure in which embryos frozen from a previous IVF cycle are thawed and placed in the womb. Frozen embryo transfer increases the efficiency of a single fresh IVF cycle as multiple frozen embryo transfers can be attempted without the need for ovarian stimulation. Embryos can be frozen at different stages of development. If frozen and stored properly, their potential viability remains unchanged for many years.

(Frozen-Thawed Blastocysts undergoing re-expansion)

Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer (ZIFT)
Is a variation of IVF and GIFT in which the eggs are fertilized in the laboratory and early developing embryos are placed in the fallopian tubes. Both GIFT and ZIFT may be performed in our office surgical suite.

Ovum Donation
Is a treatment alternative for women who don’t produce eggs due to advanced reproductive age, premature ovarian failure, lack of ovaries, or women who carry a severe genetic condition that would transferred to their offspring. The husband’s sperm is used to fertilize the eggs in the laboratory through IVF. The success rates for ovum recipients are significantly higher than for IVF in the general population, and the CARE-LIFE team can help a couple select an anonymous donor if a known donor has not been selected.

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