Fertility Experts are at SCRC - Los Angeles

At SCRC, we have performed thousands of successful IVF procedures, making us one of the leaders in the field of IVF. Los Angeles and indeed, Southern California, have thousands of happy parents over the past 20 years who are a testament to this. In fact, the SCRC fertility center has the highest success rate for in vitro fertilization procedures on the West Coast.

What is IVF?

"In vitro" is a Latin phrase that means "in glass." In vitro fertilization (IVF) provides a controlled environment that significantly enhances the opportunity for fertilization of the oocyte, or egg. IVF combines egg and sperm together in a laboratory dish containing a culture solution that provides nutrients to support the fertilization and development of the egg. Monitored microscopically, successfully fertilized eggs develop over a three-day period into embryos. Then, our team of embryologists conducts a qualitative assessment of the embryos to determine which embryos will be selected for embryo transfer, cryopreservation, or further culturing and development. It was over thirty years ago that the world first learned of IVF. Los Angeles, surprisingly, did not debut the procedure; the first "test tube baby," Louise Brown, was conceived via IVF in 1978 in London by a team consisting of SCRC's own Dr. Mark Surrey.

In Vitro Fertilization vs. Surgery for Tubal Infertility

SCRC has helped pioneer significant improvement and advancements in IVF as well as surgical infertility treatments. The choice of which treatment to use is not an easy one, as there are many factors involved, including:

• Maternal age
• Surgical skill of the physician
• Expected pregnancy rates (fecundability)
• Operative risks and recovery

Surgery offers the benefits of the potential for many future pregnancies, and eliminates the risks of increased multiple pregnancy and hyperstimulation reactions associated with IVF medications.  If the woman has had tubal ligation (“having the tubes tied”), microsurgical reversal may be an option. On the other hand, IVF offers advantages such as significantly higher monthly pregnancy rates (known as fecundability), as well as the possibility of extra embryos that may be cryopreserved for a subsequent pregnancy attempt. The IVF physicians at Southern California Reproductive Center can fully discuss the merits of each approach to help you determine the best treatment option for you.

Step-By-Step Overview of the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Treatment Protocol

IVF is an important option in fertility treatment. The physicians at the SCRC Los Angeles fertility clinic offer the utmost in technical experience and the highest standard of care available in any IVF program. That has made our facility the clinic of choice for thousands of couples dealing with infertility in Los Angeles. IVF patients go through a carefully structured program at our offices. Here’s what you can expect during the process:

• Initial Consultations with Your Personal Infertility Specialist
• Clinical Coordinator Consultation
• Financial Consultation for IVF
• Pretreatment Preparation for IVF
• Start of Oral Contraceptive Suppression
• Controlled Ovarian Hyperstimulation (COH)
• Monitoring Visits
• hCG Injection
• Transvaginal Egg Retrieval Procedure / the IVF Lab
• IVF Lab Daily Reports
• Embryo or Blastocyst Transfer
• Pregnancy Test #1
• Pregnancy Test #2

1. Initial Consultations with Your Personal Infertility Specialist

In initial consultations with your personal fertility specialist physician, an extensive medical history of both partners will be established, and all questions, concerns, and issues will be fully addressed. We understand that the IVF procedure is sometimes intimidating, and we strive to make sure that you are comfortable and confident about the process before, during, and after your treatment. If you live in or near Los Angeles, IVF consultations can be scheduled by calling the Southern California Reproductive Center’s Beverly Hills main office.

2. Clinical Coordinator Consultation

A clinical coordinator is a specially trained staff member who will oversee your IVF journey at SCRC. In your first consultation with the clinical coordinator, the details of your desired treatment plan and your diagnosis will be reviewed, and the coordinator will then schedule all the necessary procedures, which are performed in our offices in greater Los Angeles. IVF treatment questions will be answered by your clinical coordinator, who is always available to assist you throughout the entire IVF process.

3. Financial Consultation for IVF

In vitro fertilization procedure plans often involve significant financial commitment. It is important that you are fully aware of the prices involved, as well as the financial options and alternatives that are available. This allows you to match your IVF treatment plan with your overall financial preparedness so that you can feel comfortable with managing the procedure cost before beginning your treatment plan. IVF financing at the Southern California Reproductive Center includes a variety of options to support your overall plan for creating a family.

4. Pretreatment Preparation for IVF

In order to ensure the most positive outcome from your IVF procedure at SCRC, the preliminary evaluation of both partners is reviewed and, if required, pretreatment procedures and stress reduction measures are undertaken. If indicated, laboratory testing, infectious disease screening, uterine evaluation, and male fertility testing are completed.

5. Start of Oral Contraceptive Suppression

Two to four weeks after the female partner’s testing and diagnosis are completed, she’ll begin taking an oral contraceptive (birth control pills) to prepare her ovaries. This integral part of the IVF procedure helps to suppress undesired hormone production, and reduces cyst formation before ovary stimulation.

6. Controlled Ovarian Hyperstimulation (COH)

Prior to the start of medication for the stimulation of oocyte (egg) production, a baseline pelvic ultrasound is performed to evaluate the uterus and ovaries in the resting state. The goal of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, or COH, is the production of at least three mature oocytes. COH is achieved through the use of oral fertility drugs such as Clomid (clomiphene citrate) and injectable hormonal medications called gonadotropins. During COH, the female partner is monitored closely through a combination of ultrasound and blood testing. The risks of multiple pregnancy with such hyperstimulation are minimal, but do exist; however, extreme cases seen in the popular media, such as the octuplets of Nadya Suleman, are exceedingly rare.

7. Monitoring Visits

To accurately assess the development of the eggs, a continuing series of ultrasounds and blood tests for hormone levels are conducted. Ultrasound allows your doctor to physically see the development in the follicle of the oocyte and surrounding cells. Blood tests show how the hormonal function of the follicle is progressing. Collectively, this information enables your IVF team at SCRC to follow the development, growth, and maturity of the follicle. This process typically requires from five to seven office visits.

8. hCG Injection

Before the eggs can be retrieved from the patient, a special medication called hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) will be administered approximately 36 hours before the actual egg retrieval. hCG acts to stimulate ovulation, which is the completion of one stage in oocyte development, and the release of the oocyte from the surrounding cells (follicle).

9. Transvaginal Retrieval of Eggs / the IVF Lab

Retrieving the mature eggs from your ovaries is made more comfortable with the care of a certified anesthesiologist who administers an intravenous anesthetic. Risks of this procedure are minimal.

A semen specimen is given by your partner or donor, and our IVF lab specialists then perform the actual in vitro fertilization procedure. In cases where male infertility is a factor, such as if sperm count and motility are low, or if there are problems with the shape (morphology) of the sperm, normal in vitro is not used. In these cases, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), an infertility treatment involving direct injection of a single sperm into each egg, can be employed in order to improve chances of conception.

Our IVF lab also can perform PGD, or preimplantation genetic diagnosis, to ensure that each embryo selected is free from specific genetic abnormalities; gender determination is also possible. The PGD process, which selects the healthiest embryos for transfer, thus also helps to increase the chances of a successful pregnancy.

While there are many Los Angeles IVF clinics and physicians, the Southern California Reproductive Center’s IVF lab specialists are some of the most skilled and respected professionals in the in vitro fertilization field

10. IVF Lab Daily Reports

Your in vitro fertilization procedure is followed by the Southern California Reproductive Center fertility specialists (including your doctor and IVF lab specialists) on a daily basis. They conduct daily reviews of the status of your fertilization and the quality of your developing embryo. They also confer on the events and decisions that will lead up to the transfer of the developed embryo back into your uterus.

11. Embryo or Blastocyst Transfer

In a meeting with your SCRC fertility specialists, a presentation of your embryo development will be made and will include photographs for your records. You and your IVF team will discuss the number of embryos or blastocysts that should be transferred to give you the best chance of a successful pregnancy and the lowest likelihood of high-order multiple births, such as triplets. As always, any questions and concerns you might have will be carefully and compassionately answered.

12. Pregnancy Test #1

Your first post-IVF pregnancy test following the IVF and embryo/blastocyst transfer will be performed approximately 12 days after the transfer. During this time, you’ll be taking a progesterone supplement to help support the uterine lining. This stage of the IVF procedure is an emotional time and we will be there with you every step of the way.

13. Pregnancy Test #2

When your first pregnancy test is positive, a repeat test is performed within one week to ensure that the pregnancy is progressing. An ultrasound will be scheduled within two to three weeks after a positive pregnancy test. Then, you should be on the exciting path to parenthood!

Questions about IVF? Call SCRC and Come In for a Consultation!

If you are considering in vitro fertilization and want to know if IVF may be right for you, see the fertility specialists at SCRC for a consultation. We have several convenient locations throughout greater Los Angeles. IVF is not something you choose lightly, so trust the experts. Call us at 310-277-7393 with any questions you may have. We’ll help you realize your dream of creating a family!