Monthly Archives: October 2017
Benefits of Freezing Your Eggs
Egg freezing is an innovative method of preserving eggs for a time in the future when a woman is ready to start her family. Frozen eggs can also be donated to other couples who are unable to conceive due to poor quality eggs. Women choose to freeze their eggs for a wide variety of reasons. Today’s women must know all of their options to preserve their fertility for future family planning, including:
- Egg Freezing – Oocyte Cryopreservation
- Embryo Freezing and the Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) process
- Ovarian Tissue Freezing
- Gestational Surrogacy
Egg Freezing Through IVF – Oocyte Cryopreservation
Egg freezing performed through In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is the most common type of fertility preservation treatment for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Through IVF, a woman’s natural egg production is stimulated with fertility drugs into producing several eggs – 10 to 15 typically per cycle. These eggs are then surgically retrieved and cryopreserved using an advanced technique known as vitrification.
Vitrification – Flash Freezing Method
New Hope Fertility Center in NYC is a world renowned provider of egg freezing treatment for today’s woman. Dr. John Zhang was one of the first doctors in the United States to implement vitrification as a method of freezing eggs. The Doctor was one of the first doctors in New York to facilitate a live birth using egg freezing fertility preservation.
Vitrification is a flash-freezing method preventing the formation of ice crystals between the cells forming an egg. Ice crystals can damage an egg’s cells.Read more: Benefits of Freezing Your Eggs
How ICSI Enhances IVF Treatment
Male reproductive issues are just as likely to cause a couple’s infertility as female issues. Male fertility issues include low sperm count, the absence of sperm, issues with sperm movement, and abnormal sperm shape. Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is a cutting edge medical technique used in conjunction with IVF to increase the chances of a sperm fertilizing an egg. ICSI is a form of micromanipulation that involves the injection of a single sperm directly into the cytoplasm of a mature egg (oocyte) using a glass needle (pipette). If there is any problem with a sperm’s ability to fertilize the egg (either due to low sperm count or poor sperm quality) ICSI is the most common and accurate method for solving it. Our colleagues were part of the original Belgian team that developed ICSI, and who first introduced it in the U.S. Eggs are retrieved in the same way as if you were doing conventional IVF, however, the eggs and the sperm are then fertilized in the laboratory, by direct injection of a single sperm into each egg. Two to five days later the resulting embryos are placed into the uterus (without surgery), just as with IVF procedures and any other embryos can be frozen for later using our method of vitrification.
ICSI Enhances IVF Treatment
In order to fertilize an egg, sperm must be able to penetrate the egg. This is a problem if there are a low number of sperm, if sperm are abnormally shaped, or if the sperm is not motile enough to reach and penetrate into the egg.
ICSI addresses all of these issues.
- An egg is surgically retrieved via IVF
- A single sperm is placed in a small syringe attached to a tiny needle
- A single egg is held and the single sperm is injected into the middle of the egg
- The egg is then monitored for signs of fertilization
Healthy Lifestyle Choices While Undergoing IVF Treatment
Many of my IVF patients procrastinate on making healthy lifestyle changes before treatment. If you are contemplating IVF treatment, you must begin healthy lifestyle habits at least six months before you begin the process to prepare your body for pregnancy. Don’t wait until you are pregnant to get serious about a healthy lifestyle. Good lifestyle choices will greatly boost your fertility and help you have a healthy baby.
Preparing for IVF Treatment
A successful IVF is greatly supplemented by a patient’s reliable fertility diet and healthy body mass index. I always offer my patients helpful resources by recommending they avoid detrimental lifestyle choices.
This is true regardless of your chosen IVF protocol.
Begin an Acupuncture Regimen
Without a doubt, beginning acupuncture treatment three months before your IVF transfer will enhance your chances of a successful pregnancy. Studies have shown that women who underwent acupuncture before, during and after IVF embryo transfer increased their chances of pregnancy by up to 42 percent. Why is this important? The pregnancy success rate of those who did not undergo acupuncture was only 26 percent.
In-House Acupuncture Therapy and IVF
These phenomenal IVF success rates are why New Hope Fertility NYC unveiled its in-house acupuncture therapy treatment program in July of 2017! Our acupuncturists are specially trained in acupuncture therapy with a focus on treating women’s infertility. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institutes for Health have found that acupuncture is a viable and accepted method of treating female infertility.
- Enhances IVF success rates
- Reduces stress during IVF treatment
- Enhance ovarian function
- Increase blood supply to reproductive organs – especially the uterus
The IVF Embryo Transfer Acupuncture Plan
Acupuncture can begin at any time during your fertility treatment – but this is the best plan of action:
- Plan an acupuncture treatment on the morning of your transfer
- Plan another in the afternoon following your transfer
- Book an acupuncture session five days after your transfer
- Book a follow up acupuncture session 5 to 7 days later
Read more: Healthy Lifestyle Choices While Undergoing IVF Treatment
Preserving Your Fertility Through Egg Freezing in 2017
Too often, I hear stories of women who have been turned down by fertility clinics because they are difficult patients. These women have been declined based on their advanced reproductive age and/or poor prognosis for achieving a successful pregnancy through IVF treatment. At New Hope Fertility Center in NYC, age is never a discriminating factor for my patients.Why is this important? We do not boost our high IVF pregnancy success data by rejecting patients based on strict criteria. Taking on very difficult patients and helping them overcome their infertility encompasses the overall goal of our One Good Egg Policy. Here, we are committed to treating all patients suffering from infertility – regardless of their diagnosed difficulty. Bottom Line: To get pregnant successfully, only one good egg and one healthy sperm is needed.
New Trends in Egg Freezing
In recent years, egg freezing parties are being sponsored by many fertility clinics. Fertility specialist reach out to women wanting to know more about the medical phenomena of egg freezing to preserve their future fertility. Potential patient are invited to a social party where they will be educated and informed about the benefits of egg freezing.
Candidates for Egg Freezing
It’s very important to realize that egg freezing is not just beneficial to young women in their 20s. Today, many women in their late 30s or early 40s have successfully frozen their eggs.
These women were blessed with a baby when they decided the time is right for them to get pregnant. I recommend women take action to freeze their eggs in their mid to late 30s for the best chance of a successful pregnancy in their 40s.
Successful pregnancies achieve the highest rates when eggs are thawed and transferred to the patient within five years. However, oocytes can be frozen indefinitely.
As the Medical Director for New Hope Fertility Center, I see many women considering egg freezing in their late 30’s and early 40’s.Read more: Preserving Your Fertility Through Egg Freezing in 2017
Prevent Pregnancy Loss and Infant Loss, Best Fertility Doctor Recommendations
Pregnancy Loss Awareness Month in October is a national movement spearheaded by PAil FAMiLiES UNITED IN SOLACE & SUPPORT. During the month of October, PAiL International will promote awareness, remembrance, and support for families who have experienced a pregnancy loss or the loss of an infant.
- Spontaneous Abortion (SAB)
- Still Birth
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Preventing Pregnancy Loss
The fertility experts at New Hope Fertility Center in New York City want to spread awareness about pregnancy loss and how to cope with this devastating event through Professional In-House Fertility Counseling with Allison Rosen Ph.D. That’s not all: In their role as partners in spreading awareness about pregnancy loss, New Hope Fertility Clinic’s New York fertility doctors are dedicated to promoting how patients can reduce their risks of having a miscarriage through genetic testing in conjunction with In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).
Introducing In-House Fertility Clinical Psychologist, Allison Rosen, PhD
As an experience clinical psychologist specializing in infertility, Dr. Allison Rosen has helped hundreds of couples cope during their struggle to have a baby.
- Experienced Clinical Psychologist
- Researcher
- Author
- Educator
Through individual, couple, and group counseling, the doctor addresses the many challenges of dealing with infertility including:
- Pregnancy Loss
- Couple Conflict and Coping
- Complex Decisions Involved in Family Building Through Donor Egg or Sperm
- Parenting After Infertility
Read more: Prevent Pregnancy Loss and Infant Loss, Best Fertility Doctor Recommendations
Down Syndrome Awareness Month- Prevent Trisomy 21
Down Syndrome – also known as Trisomy 21 – is a birth defect affliction happening to a child born with an extra 21 chromosome. Normally, a person has two copies of chromosome 21 – a baby with Down Syndrome has three copies. This common syndrome leads to delayed physical and mental development in babies born to women over 35. Children born with Down Syndrome suffer from medical problems like heart defects and sleep apnea, as well as mental and social development complications.
Genetic Screening (PGS/NGS) Helps to Prevent Down Syndrome
The Down Syndrome Awareness Month is October and is a national movement focused on helping couples trying to get pregnant understand the risks of chromosomal birth defects. Why does this matter? Our fertility experts prevent birth defects and want to spread awareness about how genetic testing can help prevent Downs Syndrome. Bottom Line: In their role as partners in bringing awareness about Down Syndrome, New Hope Fertility Center NYC has the most advanced genetic testing technology and is dedicated to helping fertility patients reduce their risks of having a child born with a birth defect.
Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGS, PGD, NGS) in Conjunction With IVF
Preimplantation Genetic Screening (PGS) is the testing of an embryo’s overall chromosomal normalcy prior to being transferred to the patient’s uterus in conjunction with In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). Specifically, PGS identifies the most suitable and healthiest embryo to transfer by detecting chromosomal deficiencies – aneuploidy – an extra or missing chromosome.
Today’s Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) helps to increase the healthy birth rates of babies through genetic screening. This is because only the healthiest embryos are transferred for implantation during a fresh IVF cycle and/or Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET).
PGS Increases Pregnancy Success Rates Up To 30%
PGS dramatically increases a woman’s chance of conception. Embryo biopsy and screening can increase a patient’s chance of a successful pregnancy by 25 to 30 percent.Read more: Down Syndrome Awareness Month- Prevent Trisomy 21
Increase Your IVF Vocabulary: Infertility Treatment Terms
During infertility treatment, you will commonly be confronted with unfamiliar acronyms and terms describing your diagnosis and treatment plan. These acronyms and terms may be confusing and can make understanding your diagnosis and treatment challenging. Dr. John Zhang has compiled a list of acronyms and definitions of terms you should familiarize yourself with as you begin your infertility treatment.
Infertility Treatment Terms You Should Know
AMH
Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) is one of the primary indicators of a woman’s egg reserve. The AMH hormone produces egg follicles in a woman’s ovaries. The lower a woman’s level of AMH, the lower the number of eggs she has remaining. A woman’s ovarian reserve is one of the primary measurements of her fertility.
FSH
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) is one of the primary hormones evaluated as a part of the fertility diagnostic process. FSH is responsible for stimulating ovarian follicles to mature during a woman’s cycle. FSH levels that are outside of normal levels are generally evidence of a low ovarian supply.Read more: Increase Your IVF Vocabulary: Infertility Treatment Terms
Why Opt For ICSI In Conjunction With IVF?
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is an innovative method of fertilizing eggs in conjunction with In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). By using ICSI in conjunction with IVF, we can greatly increase the chances of achieving a healthy embryo and a successful pregnancy.
How ICSI in Conjunction with IVF Works
ICSI is an in vitro (laboratory) procedure that involves injecting a single sperm directly into an egg for fertilization. This is a great option for men who would otherwise be considered infertile due to low sperm count, low motility, or other fertility complications.
The sperm can be removed directly from the man’s fresh ejaculate that has been washed and prepared in the laboratory. Once a single sperm has been immobilized, it is retrieved into a micropipette and then injected directly into an egg.
ICSI boasts a very high success rate and has no harmful effect on the resulting embryos. In fact, over 100,000 babies have been born this way.
ICSI is not just for men who are infertile. At New Hope Fertility Center, ICSI is used as a standard ancillary procedure to IVF because it results in higher fertilization rates of the eggs. Higher quality egg fertilization rates results in more high quality embryos.
Sperm Extraction Techniques
For men that do not have enough sperm in their ejaculate, we can still extract the sperm needed to fertilize the eggs through other methods:
- Microsurgery – In many cases, we can retrieve sperm directly from the man’s testicles through a microsurgical process. This surgery is done under local anesthesia and takes just a few minutes. Most men report little to no pain during recovery.
- Fine needle aspiration – This option also extracts sperm from the testicles and is a good fit for men who do not wish to or are unable to undergo surgery. Instead, a thin needle is inserted into the testicle to extract the sperm.
Using testicular sperm for IVF has virtually the same success rates for fertilization as using ejaculated sperm. The only drawback is that testicular sperm does not freeze as well for future use. It is more practical to fertilize eggs with the testicular extracted sperm and freeze the resulting embryos.
Learn More about ICSI in Conjunction with IVF
Dr. Zhang is a highly trained fertility specialist and can answer any questions you may have about the process of ICSI in conjunction with IVF. Here at the New Hope Fertility Center, we offer ICSI to all of our IVF patients at no extra charge. Dr. Zhang will work with you and your partner to design a customized IVF protocol that is most appropriate to your medical history and personal preferences. Call us at 917.525.5496 to schedule your first consultation. We look forward to helping you conceive.
Discover the No. 1 Fertility Preservation Option for Women: Egg Freezing
Egg freezing – oocyte cryopreservation – is a phenomenal medical technology available for today’s women to preserve their fertility for tomorrow. These women want to ensure they have the ability to be biologically connected to their children in the future. Embryo cryopreservation – using known or donor sperm – is also becoming increasingly popular as a means for women to preserve their ability to have a family.
Candidates for Egg Freezing
Egg and embryo freezing is increasingly being sought out by:
- Today’s modern women who are focused on their education and career opportunities
- Women whose circumstances in life are not presently conducive to rearing children
- Women who have not be able to find their life partner
- Women who are facing cancer treatment – chemo or radiation – that could damage the quality of their eggs and/or destroy their ovarian function by sending them into premature menopause
- Women who are undergoing IVF and are likely to produce excessive eggs, but have ethical or religious concerns over freezing embryos
Egg Freezing
By preserving their eggs through oocyte cryopreservation, women can postpone motherhood past their prime childbearing years. Pregnancy success rates using a woman’s egg that has been cryopreserved, thawed and fertilized are comparable to success rates using a fresh egg.
After a woman’s eggs have been harvested through a fresh IVF cycle, they are frozen using an advanced technology known as vitrification. This is a flash-freezing method to ensure the egg is not damaged by ice crystals forming between cells. New Hope Fertility NYC is an international leader in egg freezing technology. Dr. John Zhang was one of the first fertility specialists in the United States to use the vitrification method to freeze eggs and is celebrated for being the first doctor in New York to accomplish a live birth from a frozen oocyte.
There are varied holistic protocols of IVF offered by pioneering IVF Dr. Zhang
When a woman is ready to start her family, the eggs are thawed, fertilized with sperm in vitro and transferred for implantation into her uterine lining.
Internationally Renowned Egg Freezing Doctor
Contact Dr. John Zhang if you interested in preserving your fertility through egg freezing. It is important to work with a fertility specialist who is accomplished in egg freezing technology.
To schedule your one-on-one initial consultation with Dr. John Zhang – call 917.525.5496.
