Preserving Fertility: A Deep Dive into Modern Methods

Reproductive Health Innovations

If you are struggling with infertility, working with a specialist can help you determine which treatments are right for you. As science progresses, more and more treatments are available, both in terms of achieving pregnancy and fertility preservation options. Both male and female infertility issues can be overcome with the correct strategies when you work with an experienced reproductive specialist. Here, we look at some modern IVF techniques, along with other treatments available to overcome infertility.

Overcoming Obstacles to Fertility

Certain physical barriers to fertility can be treated by specialists, like a blocked fallopian tube. Tubal blockage is overcome using IVF, which allows fertility specialists to retrieve eggs without the help of the fallopian tubes, allowing fertilization to occur. This is not the only way to deal with blocked fallopian tubes, as there are also medications that can encourage ovulation if only one side is blocked, and procedures that can help unblock a tube. There is also medication to help overcome male infertility, and ICSI allows sperm to be directly introduced into an egg, for higher success rates with in vitro fertilization.

Pre-Implantation Genetic Screening

One of the most amazing advances in modern fertility treatment is the ability to genetically test embryos before attempting to transfer them into the uterus. Preimplantation genetic testing allows doctors to choose a genetically healthy embryo to transfer, reducing the rate of failed embryo transfers and miscarriages. This also reduces the risk of multiple pregnancies, because the fertility specialist can find the correct embryo to transfer, rather than transferring several at once in the hope of successful implantation. Preimplantation screening also helps detect genetic disorders and reduce the risk of birth defects.

Vitrification

This fast freezing method is used to cryopreserve embryos and eggs, so that they can be preserved for years in glass-like structures. This is one of the most popular fertility preservation techniques available, allowing women to postpone pregnancy when battling cancer or for some other reason. Sometimes young women want social egg freezing, so that they can delay pregnancy until they are financially stable and emotionally able to raise a child. When compared to the older slow freezing method, vitrification has doubled pregnancy rates. It helps women receiving fertility treatments to avoid ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, and enables preimplantation genetic screening.

Ovarian Tissue Freezing

Sometimes, especially for women and girls facing cancer treatments or undergoing gender affirmation surgery, ovarian tissue freezing is the best option for preserving future fertility and hormone production. In this procedure, the egg-producing portion of the ovary is removed, frozen, and stored, until years later, when it can be transplanted to make pregnancy possible or resume natural hormone production. Ovarian cryopreservation success rates are at about 30 percent right now, and as technology leads to improved methodology, that rate is expected to increase.

Freeze-all strategy

This approach is a combination of IVF, vitrification and preimplantation genetic testing, in which healthy embryos are frozen to be implanted at a later date. This way, patients can us the frozen embryos when they are ready to resume IVF treatment. This avoids the risk of hyperstimulation from fertility drugs and hormones, by allowing the woman to take a break from fertility treatment for a time. It also allows the fertility specialist to help correct hormone levels that may not be conducive to a successful pregnancy. Once the hormones are in balance, the embryo can be transferred.

Center for Vasectomy Reversal Cares About Men’s Health

All of these advances in fertility preservation are very exciting, and the best way to assure your best chance at conceiving is to work with experienced fertility specialists who care about the health of everyone involved in the pregnancy. At the Center for Vasectomy Reversal, men’s health is our priority. We pride ourselves on helping men improve their health and fertility through uncompromising, concierge-level patient care. Dr. Green and his team provide state-of-the-art treatment for men who need a reversal of their vasectomy or have other fertility concerns. Having had extensive training in urology, microsurgery, and vasectomy reversal, Dr. Green founded the Center for Vasectomy Reversal to provide the highest level of patient care while delivering optimal surgical results. To learn more about how our experienced team can help you reach your reproductive goals, contact us through our website or call 941-894-6428.