At our North Houston fertility clinic, which is located in Kingwood and The Woodlands, we offer a variety of different fertility treatments and therapies. Among our services, we offer egg freezing as well as embryo freezing. Many of our patients inquire about how these treatments compare, so in this fertility blog, we will explain how both treatments work.
Egg Freezing At Our Kingwood Fertility Clinic
When it comes to egg freezing, we will stimulate your ovaries to produce eggs and then retrieve them. We start this process with hormone injections, which is the same method we utilize with our patients who are undergoing North Houston IVF.
To extract the eggs, we will perform a transvaginal ultrasound-guided needle aspiration. This procedure is painless. Once the eggs have been retrieved, we will immediately dehydrate them and freeze them to be used at a later date. By dehydrating your eggs, we prevent them from destruction due to ice crystals that form from the high water content that women's eggs have.
Embryo Freezing At Our North Houston IVF Clinic
Though embryo freezing is much like egg freezing, these treatments differ in that eggs are retrieved and then frozen until you are ready to get pregnant in the future, at which point you will undergo North Houston IVF to fertilize the egg. Embryo freezing, on the other hand, consists of retrieving the eggs, immediately fertilizing them with sperm through IVF, and then freezing them once an embryo develops.
Which Method Is Better?
In truth, one is not necessarily better than the other. Preference plays a big role in this. Note that it will take several eggs before one embryo is formed, regardless of which method you opt for. Egg freezing allows for more flexibility for a few reasons:
- You can wait until you meet the right partner
- If you’re a single woman, you can always opt for donor sperm when you’re ready
- You can choose not to use frozen eggs and discard them if you get pregnant without them
Embryo freezing has a couple of limitations, but these limitations might be favorable for someone else:
- You need to fertilize the egg with sperm right away, and many women prefer to use their current partner’s
- Discarding embryos is a harder decision to make, and many faiths and/or moral beliefs don’t allow this
The Fertility Specialists At Our IVF Clinic In The Woodlands And Kingwood Are Here To Support Your Decision
Whether you decide on freezing your eggs or freezing your embryos, both methods are great ways to preserve your fertility. Regardless of your decision, our IVF doctors are here to support you the entire way, so if you’re planning to make a decision soon, please request an appointment so we can offer some guidance, so you can make the best decision for yourself.
Relying on donor sperm to conceive through IVF is a highly sought fertility treatment amongst same-sex couples, single women, and couples facing male infertility. In this article, we will discuss how you can pick the best sperm donor for your fertility journey as you prepare to undergo IVF at our fertility clinic in The Woodlands or Kingwood.
Locate The Right Sperm Bank
There are a plethora of sperm banks out there, but not all sperm banks are created equally. Our North Houston fertility specialists–who provide several fertility treatments and therapies to those in Kingwood and The Woodlands–urge you to go to an FDA approved sperm bank. We will give you the names of the FDA approved sperm banks so you can rest assured that all the necessary legalities are already in place and that the sperm you choose has been properly stored and retrieved.
Consider A Sperm Matching Tool
Many couples try to avoid using donor sperm to conceive because they want a baby that is truly theirs, and we completely understand! However, donor sperm is a remarkable way to conceive a healthy baby and carry a pregnancy to term, especially now that there are several matching tools available. Many FDA approved sperm banks also offer a matching tool, which lets intended parents learn more about the donor. Through this tool, you will learn things such as the donor's age, race/ethnicity, overall health, and even career information.
Learn About Sperm Donors’ Personalities
Most FDA approved sperm banks take the time to get to know every donor they come in contact with and create files about their personalities so parents can take into account certain traits similar to the intended father’s. These traits include temperament, sense of humor, likes and dislikes, talents, and what made these donors who they are today. This also makes the search for a donor even easier if you already know what personality traits you hope your baby will inherit.
The Woodlands IVF Specialists Will Support You In Your Fertility Journey
Now that you know more about using a sperm donor to get pregnant, if you are considering this method of fertility treatment, please request an appointment so we can learn more about your needs and goals. Know that our team of IVF specialists at our clinic in The Woodlands is here to support you the entire way and looks forward to helping you achieve your dream of parenthood!
According to Penn Medicine, 1 to 2% of U.S. births every year are achieved through In Vitro Fertilization, also known as IVF. If you have struggled with becoming pregnant and/or with sustaining a pregnancy, then you might be infertile, but the good news is that North Houston IVF at our Kingwood or The Woodlands fertility clinics may be your solution. Here are some things you should know if you are considering North Houston IVF or if you plan to undergo IVF treatment soon.
First Things First: What Is IVF?
IVF is a process of fertilization in which an egg is fertilized by sperm outside of the body in a specialized IVF lab. After the fertilized egg develops into a day-5 embryo (Blastocyst), it is time to implant it in the uterus so that the mother (or the surrogate) can carry out the pregnancy.
We Will Complete Genetic Testing Prior To Embryo Transfer
If you wish, you can fertilize multiple eggs and then let them develop into the blastocyst. At this stage, we will proceed with Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) to determine which embryos are genetically “normal” and have a higher chance of resulting in a successful pregnancy and birth. If you choose, the remaining embryos can be frozen for a future pregnancy.
Egg Retrieval Does Not Damage Your Ovaries
Many women worry that undergoing fertility treatment and egg retrieval will damage their ovaries or use all of their eggs–especially if they undergo IVF multiple times. The truth is, out of the hundreds of thousands of eggs most women have, we only retrieve a few, and, through ovary stimulation, you will actually produce more eggs. There is no evidence that suggests egg retrieval is dangerous. In fact, women who are egg donors undergo several egg retrieval procedures, yet there is no data regarding any complications. However, keep in mind that short-term risks such as infection or bleeding may occur, but these occurrences are extremely rare.
Visit Our Kingwood IVF Clinic In North Houston
If you are considering undergoing North Houston IVF at our Kingwood or The Woodlands fertility clinics, then please request an appointment so we can address any concerns you may have that we did not mention here. We look forward to supporting you on your IVF journey.
Did you know that it’s possible to follow a fertility-boosting diet while you are attempting to get pregnant and throughout your entire pregnancy? This diet increases your chances of conceiving and giving birth to a healthy baby. In this article, we will discuss the specific changes men and women can make in their day-to-day eating habits and lifestyle to boost their fertility. We also recommend this lifestyle change to perfectly fertile couples, simply because, like our patients, we want what’s best for the baby.
Foods That Women Can Eat To Boost Their Fertility Throughout Their Treatment At Our North Houston Fertility Clinic in Kingwood and The Woodlands
Women who wish to boost their fertility should increase their consumption of whole grains and Omega-3’s through flaxseed, nuts, and fish. While you increase your consumption of these foods, our fertility specialists also recommend you reduce your consumption of red meat and trans fats, which are found in margarine, processed foods, and frying oils.
If you plan to undergo North Houston IVF, egg freezing, or another one of our various fertility treatments, we also encourage you to take a multivitamin that contains folic acid, which prevents birth defects. However, to be sure your embryo is genetically healthy, we will also conduct Preimplantation Genetic Testing.
How Men Can Adjust Their Diet in Order to Improve Their Fertility
Similar to women, men who want to improve their fertility should focus on increasing their consumption of seafood, poultry, nuts, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables in their diet, as these foods help improve the quality and health of their sperm.
Regular Exercise Benefits Both Men and Women Undergoing North Houston Fertility Treatment
If you seek fertility treatment at our clinics in The Woodlands or Kingwood, such as IUI or North Houston IVF, it’s a good idea to add exercise into your daily routine. Regular exercise improves your physical health, mental health, and fertility. Because being overweight may make it more difficult to conceive, moderate to intense physical activity is an effective way to lose weight, and a healthy weight leads to improved fertility.
Our IVF Specialists at HART Fertility in Kingwood and The Woodlands Are Here To Support You In Your Fertility Journey
Following this fertility-boosting diet, along with our support, will certainly help you in your IVF journey. If you believe you may be infertile, please request an appointment with our fertility experts so we can learn more about the root cause (or causes) of your infertility and make appropriate recommendations for treatment. We look forward to helping you achieve your dreams of parenthood.
Egg freezing is a fantastic way to preserve your fertility in the event that you aren’t ready for kids yet, but wish to have some in the future. If it has been a few years and you’re ready to use them, this article will explain the next steps.
Follow Egg Freezing With North Houston IVF
Once you decide you’re ready to attempt getting pregnant, we will proceed with North Houston IVF at one of our IVF labs in Kingwood or The Woodlands. IVF is a process in which we fertilize an egg outside of the body. Once the egg has been fertilized, we will let it grow until the day-5 blastocyst embryo stage and then conduct PGT–Preimplantation Genetic Testing.
Preimplantation Genetic Testing To Improve Chances Of Pregnancy
Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) is a way to determine if your embryo has a high chance of leading to a successful birth. We conduct genetic testing by performing a simple biopsy on the embryo, which gives us insight on embryo quality by showing any genetic abnormalities that may affect your chances of achieving a successful birth. If the embryo is genetically healthy, our Houston fertility doctors will transfer it to your uterus.
North Houston Frozen Embryo Transfer
Once the embryo has undergone PGT, Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) is the next step. At this time, we will prepare your uterus for pregnancy so it can accept the embryo. Our Kingwood and The Woodlands IVF specialists achieve this by administering hormonal medication so that your body undergoes the same hormonal changes it would with a conventional pregnancy. After a period of taking hormonal medication, the uterus is ready. We will then thaw the frozen embryo and inject it into the uterus with the help of an abdominal ultrasound. You won’t feel any pain when this occurs.
IVF Specialists In The Woodlands And Kingwood Can Help You Achieve A Successful Pregnancy
If you have frozen your eggs and are ready to get pregnant, or would like to learn more about egg freezing, then please request an appointment with our IVF specialists. We want to provide the support you need to achieve your dreams of motherhood.
