Infertility Jargon: Acronyms You Should Know
If you are seeking fertility treatment you’ll find that there are unfamiliar terms and jargon used. While there are treatment related terms such as IVF, IUI and ICSI that patients commonly come across, what are other terms that are important for patients to know and to learn about? Here are some of the most important […]
The Silent Fertility Issue – Understanding Male Infertility
It takes two to make a baby, so why do many think it is only women who have fertility issues? When it comes to conception and fertility, the focus has centered mainly on women. There is a considerable awareness of female fertility and if a couple is having difficulty in conceiving, the natural conclusion is […]
NIAW 2018: Change the Conversation About Infertility
National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW) is later this month from April 22nd to 28th! This year’s theme is #FliptheScript to help change the conversations so that the community understands how far reaching the issue is and how factors such as insurance, laws, costs, sexual orientation, and religion play in the ability to build a family. […]
How Reliable is Sperm Morphology in Determining Male Fertility?
Male fertility specialists have numerous tests at their disposal. One of these relates to sperm morphology. Understanding more about sperm morphology provides couples with an additional option for resolving fertility issues. Sperm morphology involves reviewing a semen sample to measure the size and shape of the sperm in order to determine the percentage of normal […]
AFRM/Westlake IVF publishes study on harmful impact of Promescent® on sperm in vitro
Research experiments performed at the Westlake IVF laboratory revealed that a topical medication commonly used for men with premature ejaculation, called Promescent®, is toxic for sperm cells. The team at Austin Fertility & Reproductive Medicine/Westlake IVF published these results in Urology Gold Journal. These findings indicate that couples trying to conceive should avoid using this […]
Why Men Should Choose Microsurgical Repair of Varicoceles Over Embolization
A varicocele is an abnormal dilation of veins draining the testicle. Varicoceles are found in 15% of men in the general population and 40% of men presenting to fertility clinics for subfertility. Varicoceles have been shown to decrease sperm production (counts), the ability of sperm to swim (motility), and the number of sperm with normal […]
Dr. Parviz Kavoussi reviews abstracts for American Society for Reproductive Medicine 2017 annual meeting in San Antonio
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine, or ASRM, is an organization dedicated to the advancement of the science and practice of reproductive medicine. The society holds an annual scientific congress and expo to present the latest research and promote treatment for infertile couples. As a nationally recognized expert in male fertility, Dr. Parviz Kavoussi was […]
FAQ: Is it typical to perform ICSI for IVF?
ICSI is recommended in cases of frozen oocytes that are thawed, due to the hardening of the zona pellucida (the cover or “shell” that surrounds the oocyte) when oocytes are frozen. “Standard insemination” for IVF (also known as “conventional” insemination for IVF) does not result in good fertilization rates in the case of frozen-thawed oocytes; […]
Sperm DNA Fragmentation Testing: A Higher Level of Evaluating Male Infertility
As male factor contributes to 60% of couples struggling with infertility, we have been striving for better ways to evaluate the subfertile male. The standard evaluation of the male partner includes a semen analysis which assesses the sperm count, motility (percent moving), forward progression (percent swimming in a linear, rapid, directional manner), and morphology (percentage […]
FAQ: What are the different types of sperm retrievals when it is due to an anatomic blockage?
In those cases in which a man has a blockage (non-surgically correctable) that prevents the sperm to reach the semen, several options still exist for sperm retrieval that may be utilized in combination with assisted reproductive techniques (ART), including in vitro fertilization (IVF), to successfully achieve a pregnancy. Sperm retrieval may be accomplished via several […]
