You’ve probably heard of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), one of the most popular fertility treatments available and one that our North Houston fertility clinics in The Woodlands and Kingwood boast a high success rate for. In addition to IVF, however, IUI is another successful (and often easier) fertility treatment. In this article, we will explain what IUI is, how it compares to IVF, and who might be a good candidate for it.
What Is IUI
Simply put, IUI–which stands for Intrauterine Insemination–is a fertility procedure in which we place washed sperm directly into the uterus.
How IUI and IVF Compare
When it comes to North Houston IVF, eggs are retrieved and sperm fertilizes them outside of the body in our laboratory setting. Once fertilized, we wait until the embryo reaches the day-5 blastocyst stage and then we implant the embryo back into the uterus.
IUI, on the other hand, allows for fertilization to take place inside the body. When performing IUI, our fertility doctors will extract a semen sample and wash it in our laboratory to select only the motile (moving) sperm. Following this process, we will use a catheter to inject the now-washed sperm into the uterus in an exam room. This procedure is very simple and brief and causes little to no discomfort, making it an attractive option for couples attempting to conceive or for single women wanting to become mothers.
Who Is A Good Candidate For IUI At Our Fertility Clinics In The Woodlands And Kingwood
We often recommend IUI before IVF simply because it is a more affordable, easier method used in getting pregnant. It is also highly effective if couples are suffering from semen/sperm abnormalities. Other patients who make good candidates may include the following:
Women:
- Women who suffer from PCOS or mild Endometriosis
- Women with cervical abnormalities
Men:
- Below-average sperm count
- Motility problems
IUI At Our Kingwood And The Woodlands Fertility Clinics
IUI is a highly effective and often more affordable option for patients who have mild infertility problems, while North Houston IVF is a viable option for patients who suffer from severe infertility problems. If you’re wondering whether or not you’re a good candidate for IUI, then please request an appointment with our fertility specialists so we can get to know your particular case and proceed with fertility testing. We look forward to helping you achieve your dreams of parenthood!
IVF is a common and highly successful treatment we offer at our Kingwood and The Woodlands fertility clinics for those who are facing the challenge of infertility. As the conversation surrounding the topic of infertility expands and becomes less taboo, a few questions arise about the procedure. In this article, we will answer two of the most common questions regarding North Houston IVF: what is it and when should someone wanting to become a parent undergo the procedure?
What Is IVF Fertility Treatment?
IVF stands for In Vitro Fertilization, an infertility treatment in which we stimulate the ovaries to develop more eggs and then fertilize them with the intended father’s sperm in our onsite IVF lab, outside of the body. Once fertilized, we wait for the embryos to grow for 5 days, at which point they are known as blastocysts. At this point, we will implant the healthiest one into the uterus and test for a successful pregnancy a few days later.
When Should Intending Parents Consider Undergoing IVF At Our Kingwood And The Woodlands Fertility Clinics?
IVF is highly successful, therefore it is a viable solution for couples suffering from a variety of infertility problems, including:
- Fallopian tube damage
- Endometriosis
- Prolonged, unexplained infertility
- Poor semen quality
- Low sperm count
Due to the fact that a number of medical issues can cause infertility, we always recommend beginning with fertility testing if you have been trying to conceive without any success for a year. Undergoing fertility testing helps our IVF specialists and our patients better understand what may be causing their infertility, which means we can determine which of our many fertility treatments and therapies is most suitable for them.
Our North Houston Fertility Clinic Has High IVF Success Rates And A Magnificent Team To Support You In Your IVF Journey
It’s important to remember that getting pregnant when facing infertility takes time, patience, and a loving support system. If you have been struggling to get pregnant for a year, please request an appointment with our fertility doctors so we can get to know you, proceed with infertility testing, and determine if IVF is right for you. We look forward to helping you achieve your dream of parenthood!
Infertility affects many couples. In fact, it affects men and women rather evenly. However, quite often, couples aren’t aware until later that they are infertile, but the good news is that infertility testing is a great option that may help you start on your fertility journey a little earlier. In this article, our North Houston IVF doctors in Kingwood and The Woodlands will talk about when it’s the right time to get tested for infertility and how fertility testing works.
When To Undergo Fertility Testing
Fertility tests can be conducted in a number of ways and they help doctors determine whether a couple is, in fact, facing infertility, what is causing it, and what are the best options for them going forward. If you and your partner have attempted to get pregnant for over a year with no results, then this may suggest infertility. If you are a woman over 35 and have had no success getting pregnant for 6 months, then you may consider infertility testing at this point as well, since infertility is more likely at this age.
How Do Fertility Tests Work?
A fertility test starts out with your doctor asking you and your partner about your medical and sexual histories and then following with a physical exam. Your doctor may test a woman’s eggs, uterus, and fallopian tubes with a pelvic exam and ultrasound.
For men, doctors may evaluate male fertility by examining the sperm and semen through a semen analysis, which will give the doctor insight on sperm count, sperm quality/shape/size, sperm speed, and the amount of seminal fluid.
Once You Learn Of Your Infertility, What’s Next?
Once we know more about what exactly causes yours and your partner’s infertility, it’s time to determine how our various fertility treatments and therapies can help. As a fertility clinic in The Woodlands and Kingwood specializing in IVF, we will work with you to help you achieve the pregnancy you dream of with treatments tailored to your unique case.
HART Fertility in North Houston Is Committed to Helping Infertile Couples Get Pregnant And Deliver A Healthy Baby
If you’re in Kingwood or The Woodlands, our North Houston fertility clinic is here to support you in your fertility journey from start to end so you can achieve your dream of parenthood. If you would like to learn more about infertility and the best fertility treatments for you, then please request an appointment with our IVF specialists.
At our fertility clinic in Kingwood and The Woodlands, we offer a variety of treatments that are to be used in tandem with In-Vitro Fertilization, otherwise known as IVF. IVF is a series of steps we take in order to fertilize an egg outside of the body before implanting it into the uterus. In this article, we will explain who may benefit from using donor eggs and how to find a suitable egg donor.
Who Is A Good Candidate For Using Donor Eggs In Their North Houston IVF Treatment
Donor eggs are recommended in a variety of cases that contribute to infertility, including:
- Cancer Survivors: Women who have undergone cancer treatment may benefit greatly from using donor eggs if their ovaries have been damaged or even removed.
- Women With A Low Egg Count: Sometimes, women enter early menopause, resulting in a low egg count. Other times, it is unclear why a woman has a lower-than-normal egg count.
- Congenital Anomaly: Some patients were born without ovaries as a result of a congenital disorder, so they are physically incapable of producing any of their own eggs.
- Gay male couples who wish to have their own baby will also benefit from donor eggs with a gestational carrier.
Finding A Suitable Egg Donor For Your Kingwood IVF Procedure
If a couple has to use an egg donor, we urge them to take their time finding a suitable donor they will be happy with. While relying on someone the couple personally knows is an option, here are two other viable options:
Egg Donor Agency
An egg donor agency is dedicated to connecting egg donors with intending parents and can even help parents find donors with specific traits. The donor and the parent will usually undergo the IVF process at the same time so that their menstrual periods line up.
Egg Bank
At an egg donor bank, donors have already frozen their eggs so we will handle the rest of the North Houston IVF process and discuss your chances of success. Similar to an agency, an egg bank may offer certain characteristics that the intended parents might be looking for.
Kingwood IVF Treatment At Our North Houston Fertility Clinics
If you have been struggling to get pregnant for a year and are considering undergoing IVF with donor eggs, then please request an appointment with us. We will determine whether you are facing infertility and discuss your options in more detail so we can assist you in your IVF journey. We look forward to helping you achieve a healthy pregnancy and deliver a beautiful baby!
When it comes to IVF treatment at our North Houston fertility clinics in The Woodlands or Kingwood, there are multiple steps involved that many of our patients may or may not be fully aware of. In this article, we will break down each of those steps so you are well-informed about IVF, should you consider undergoing this fertility treatment.
Step 1: Ovarian Stimulation
At the beginning of your IVF treatment, our fertility doctors will administer hormones that stimulate your ovaries to produce more eggs at a time. This enables us to find and fertilize multiple healthy eggs to maximize your chances of getting pregnant.
Step 2: Egg Retrieval
Once you have completed the course of your hormone injections, it’s time to retrieve your eggs through a minor, painless surgery. In this surgery, we use a transvaginal probe that will enable us to pull the eggs. Though you are anesthetized, you may feel some minor cramping afterward, but this can be treated with medication. At this point, we will also collect sperm to fertilize the eggs. At this point, you can opt to freeze your eggs, or continue to step 3.
Step 3: Fertilization
In our very own fertility lab at our North Houston IVF clinics in Kingwood and The Woodlands, we will combine the egg and the sperm (or donor sperm). This concept of fertilizing the egg outside of the body is what we refer to as In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF), but IVF is also the name of this entire process.
Step 4: Embryo Development
Once fertilized, we will wait until the day-5 embryo stage, which is also known as the blastocyst stage. At this point, we will either proceed with embryo freezing or move onto the next step.
Step 5: Pre-Implantation Genetic Testing
Although this is optional, we highly recommend undergoing genetic testing, a process in which we can test to find out how genetically healthy the embryo is in order to determine how likely it is that you will deliver a healthy baby.
Step 6: Embryo Transfer
The next step is to ready the body and have it undergo the typical hormonal changes a woman’s body undergoes when she is pregnant. Once ready, we will inject the embryo into the uterus with the help of an abdominal ultrasound. The patient won’t feel any pain when this occurs.
Step 7: Pregnancy Test
10 days following embryo transfer/implantation, you will return to our IVF clinic in North Houston for a blood test to determine if you’re pregnant.
Our IVF Doctors In The Woodlands And Kingwood Are Here To Help You Achieve A Healthy Pregnancy
Infertility is a battle, but we take great pride in helping aspiring parents get pregnant and deliver a healthy baby. We are proud of our high embryo quality rates, so if you’re considering undergoing IVF, please request an appointment so we can assess your fertility and recommend a treatment plan.
