In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

IVF was first performed successfully in the United States at the Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School. Our specialized IVF team includes reproductive endocrinologists, IVF nurse coordinators, IVF laboratory specialists, and andrologists. The combined efforts of these individuals are responsible for our consistent pregnancy IVF success rates.

IVF is a process that involves the use of medications (gondadotrophins like FSH), to stimulate the development, growth, and maturation of eggs located within follicles on the ovaries. FSH dosages are individualized for each patient; responses are carefully monitored using transvaginal ultrasound and serum estradiol measurements. State-of-the-art ovarian stimulation protocols are used including adjuvant therapy with GnRH agonists (such as Lupron) or GNRH antagonists (such as Ganirelix or Cetrotide) as appropriate, for the individualized case scenario.

IVF bypasses the fallopian tubes and is therefore the treatment of first choice for most patients with damaged or absent fallopian tubes. IVF also has been instrumental in helping patients with endometriosis, moderate to severe male factor infertility, infertility of unknown causes, and many other infertility disorders.

Four concepts are crucial for an optimized clinical management of ovulation stimulation for IVF. They are: (a) the prospective identification of the ovarian response type; (b) the individualization of treatment such that it is tailored to the recovery of a synchronous cohort of mature and fertilizable oocytes; (c) the prevention of potentially serious complications (such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome) and occurrence of high order multiple gestations; and (d) the optimization of the total reproductive potential by the use of embryo cryopreservation technology.