NEWS The Laurel Fertility Care Embryology Laboratory
Anyone with questions about the embryology or andrology laboratories at Laurel Fertility Care may speak with Dr. Angle by calling our office at 415-673-9199 or by completing the Meet the Lab Director form here ».
The embryology laboratory at Laurel Fertility Care reflects the current state-of-the-art technology for IVF facilities. Our IVF laboratory is located off a side corridor; reducing traffic to and around the laboratory. The positive pressure room has its own source of air that enters through specialized filters. Once in the room the air is again filtered by two air handlers that remove volatile organic compounds and other potentially harmful substances. Read the rest of this article »
NEWS The Cost of Fertility Treatments
It is estimated that at least one in six couples in the United States struggle with fertility challenges. As the Executive Director for Laurel Fertility Care, located in San Francisco, California, I often am asked why healthcare in the United States is so expensive, and, specifically, why the treatment of infertility seems to be so costly. Many things figure into the cost of infertility treatments. Read the rest of this article »
NEWS The Life of an Egg
The First Day
Human eggs or oocytes grow in the ovary in structures called follicles. During an IVF cycle the growth of follicles generally tells the physician whether or not the eggs are becoming mature. But the doctor cannot see an egg in the follicle because it is too small to be seen using ultrasound. Usually however, mature eggs come from follicles bigger than 14-16 mm in diameter. When eggs are removed from follicles on Day 0 (the day of egg retrieval) it is difficult to tell if they are mature or not because they are surrounded by a mass of cells called the cumulus. If we remove these cells and look very closely at the egg we can tell how mature it is. A mature egg has a small structure called a polar body that lies next to the egg, beneath the outer shell, or membrane, that surrounds the egg. An intermediate stage egg will not have this polar body. An immature egg has a structure inside it called a germinal vesicle. Read the rest of this article »
NEWS Now offering the FemVue Sono HSG
FemVue Sono HSG is a safe, simple and minimally invasive procedure to determine fallopian tube status (open or blocked). First, a slender flexible catheter is passed through the body’s natural openings into the uterus. Then, the ultrasound probe is positioned.
Read the rest of this article »
NEWS The Skinny on Minis
Minimal stimulation IVF is becoming popular as a means of trying to provide a low cost alternative to traditional IVF. Minimal stimulation IVF is also popular among patients looking for a way to avoid using high doses of stimulation medicines for a variety of reasons besides cost containment: a fear of needles and/or drugs, previous failure to develop multiple follicles despite high doses of medicines, worries about multiples or having many embryos and freezing, etc. Minimal stimulation protocols attempt to reduce the financial and physiologic impact on the patient by using medicines that are inexpensive, or by using very low doses of the expensive medicines. Read the rest of this article »
NEWS Investing in your future through more than your 401k
Almost any young woman under the age of 40 living in the United States has grown up with the idea that she can have it all: successful career, fulfilling marriage, and a couple of happy kids. And most believe life will fall into place for them in that order. Consequently they spend their twenties acquiring money and Mr. Right and delaying the start of a family. Read the rest of this article »
NEWS Sperm Testing
Couples who are having difficulty conceiving often find that the male partner can be a contributing factor. When I first started in this field of medicine it was thought that male factor was involved in less than 20% of infertile couples. It has now been documented that 40% of the causes of infertility are due to the male. Taking a thorough and accurate male history is equally as important as the female. Read the rest of this article »
NEWS Mini IVF Laurel Fertility will begin to offer Mini IVF to qualified patients
“Mini-IVF”
“Mini-IVF” is a term that stands for “minimal stimulation for In Vitro Fertilization.” In theory, mini-IVF Read the rest of this article »
NEWS Dr. Angle, Dr. Kao and Dr. Smikle continue to meet and or exceed the community standards
The clinical and laboratory team in concert Read the rest of this article »
NEWS Laurel Fertility Care Embryologists Invited to Present at AAB
Congratulations to Laurel Fertility Care Embryologist, Sean Pae, and Lab Director Dr. Marlane Angle for their invitation to present at the American Association of Bioanalysts annual meeting in Austin, Texas next month. Their presentation will include their abstract The Learning Curve Associated with Mastery of the Rapid I which explains the study training and mastery of vitrification and vitrification media. Cryopreservation of embryos using vitrification, as compared to slow cooling, is fast becoming the method of choice for many human In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) programs. To meet the growing demand, a number of commercial companies have introduced kits for vitrification with a range of cryoprotectant formulations and new vitrification devices. The study tests a new commercial vitrification media and vitrification device called Rapid I for efficacy using survival of the mouse embryo as a model system. The cross comparison of mouse embryo survival rates following vitrification in media from different vendors will provide a guide in selecting the vitrification media and device that best fits for its purpose and uses in the human IVF laboratory.
TIPS 4 Tips to Protect Your Dreams of Motherhood and Mother Earth this Earth Day
This Earth Day, help Mother Earth while improving your chances of motherhood. “Women trying to conceive often forget the importance of taking care of themselves,” commented Dr. Lee Kao. “We often see patients who are so focused on caring for everything else that they actually decrease their success by not focusing on themselves first.”
On behalf of Laurel Fertility Care, below are four tips to help you on your journey to motherhood while making the Earth a better place to grow your family.
- Increase your veggies; decrease your red meat. Researchers reported, “shifting entirely from an average American diet to a vegetable-based diet would reduce the same emissions as 8,000 miles driven per year.” Harvard doctors suggest in The Fertility Diet to replace one meal of red meat with veggies per week to increase your fertility success. Read the rest of this article »
NEWS Dr. Kao Presents Reproductive Needs of HIV-Positive Individuals
Thursday, March 10, 2011 – San Francisco, Calif. – Dr. Lee Kao, Fertility Specialist at Laurel Fertility Care, presented Addressing the Reproductive Needs of HIV-Positive Individuals at Marin General Hospital. The presentation included highlights on the newest treatments available to individuals who are HIV-positive. Dr. Lee Kao discussed his own successes helping families with one or both parents carrying the HIV virus. Laurel Fertility Care has successfully treated HIV discordant couples using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) resulting in approximately 50% live births per cycle. Read the rest of this article »
NEWS Laurel Fertility Care Grows Parenthood Dreams Through Vitrification
Thursday, February 23, 2011 – San Francisco, Calif. –Embryologists at Laurel Fertility Care are using vitrification, the latest method for freezing unfertilized eggs, to preserve fertility options for patients. “This cutting edge practice is still fairly new and not many programs are doing it,” commented Laurel Fertility Care Lab Director Marlane Angle, PhD. “However, survival rates using vitrification are much higher for eggs and embryos when compared to previous freezing methods like slow cooling.” Read the rest of this article »
TIPS FAQs Overheard by a Fertility Nurse
As patients start their ovulation medications to stimulate their ovaries and egg production, many can’t help but worry about things like weight gain, hormonal shifts, and injection side effects. Below are frequently asked questions that Laurel Fertility Care Nurse May Pepito (RN) hears from patients. From one patient to the next, we hope these answers help bring comfort and ease into future patients care:
Q: Will the hormone medications make me crazy?
A: The medications’ effects change from person to person. Some women experience side effects similar to premenstrual side effects, some do not. However, the medications will not make you go crazy. Side effects of the medications often include hot flashes, blurred vision, nausea, bloating, and headache.
Read the rest of this article »
TIPS Fertility Ovulation Medications
For many future parents seeking treatment, fertility expenses can be difficult to finance; sometimes forcing people to rethink their fertility path. However, by shopping around it is possible to cut costs without cutting out the option of using fertility care. With the help of Apothecary, Ascend, Ferring, Schering-Plough Serono, Schering-Plough, MDR, Sandoz, Shrafts, the nursing staff at Laurel Fertility Care is able to provide information that may help you to consider and compare the costs of these medications. Below is a list of medications often prescribed for fertility patients. Please contact each provider for more information regarding the medications. Read the rest of this article »
TIPS New Fertility Strategies for 2011
As the New Year rolls in, our helpful care team at Laurel Fertility Care compiled a list of new fertility tips and advancements for 2011. “We often see more patients come into our office once the New Year starts,” commented a Laurel Fertility Care team member, “it’s a time for fresh starts and new beginnings.” To help these new patients, below are some tips to help all hopeful parents grow their dreams of parenthood:
- Keep it light. According to an Israeli researcher, 36.4 percent of IVF patients who saw a clown became pregnant versus 20.2 percent of other IVF patients who did not. Though the study is small, the research supports the notion of laughter reducing stress, another trigger for infertility. So let lose, whether it’s going to the circus or popping in a romantic comedy to get in the mood. Read the rest of this article »
TIPS Coping With Infertility During the Holidays
In the midst of the holiday season, some hopeful parents find this season to be particularly difficult. The focus on family and children can be hard for parents who are trying to build their own family. Below are a few tips that Laurel Fertility Care doctors and staff share with their patients during the holiday season:
- Volunteer. Stay active through the season through volunteering at the local food kitchen or wrapping gifts for others in need. Apply focus on other areas in life to help make your days go by quickly and add extra elements of joy to your day.
- Watch your alcohol intake. It’s easy to drink more during the holiday season, but moderation is key. Drinking can often lead to heightened emotions and depressed states. Instead of accepting the extra drink at the holiday party, switch for a refreshing spritzer.
- Exercise more. An invigorating walk not only releases happy endorphins, it also gives you a chance to clear your mind. Use this time to deal with the possible frustrations you may have encountered that day. Read the rest of this article »
TIPS Four Signs of Secondary Infertility
As a parent with one or more children, it’s hard to imagine not being able to conceive again. However, secondary infertility is a heartache many parents experience. “Often parents have a difficult time knowing whether the challenge for growing their family is just a fluke or a problem,” states Dr. Collin B. Smikle of Laurel Fertility Care, “many say if it happened before, it will happen again and sometimes parents wait too long to find out if there is a problem and their chances of conceiving become even less likely.”
Similar to infertility, there are a few key signs that may signal a higher chance of secondary infertility. These signals include:
- Unsuccessful conceiving after trying over six to twelve months: If you have been trying to get pregnant longer than the amount of time it took with previous pregnancies, it’s time to talk to your doctor or a reproductive specialist. Your OB/GYN may be able to give some insight into what’s happening. However, it’s best to visit a Reproductive Endocrinologist if you have any concerns, especially if the female is over 35.
- Irregular cycles or changes in ovulation: If you aren’t getting your period regularly, you need to find out the cause. If your ovaries are functioning normally, there are ways to regulate it. Medications like Clomid and Femara are often used to correct irregular ovulation and induce ovulation.
- Female partner is over 35: The quality and quantity of eggs quickly gradually decline over time. After age 35 and especially after age 40, there is a much larger decrease in both. However, it’s best to visit a Reproductive Endocrinologist if you have any concerns, especially if you’re a woman over 35.
- Partners have experienced several miscarriages: If you’re experiencing recurrent pregnancy loss, there a few possible reasons for this. Visiting a reproductive health specialist to determine the cause of the miscarriages may shed light onto what treatment option it best for you. Some of the causes for secondary infertility can include:
- Untreated infections from previous births
- Male infertility
- Hidden scars
- Hormonal shifts
- Timing
- Stress
- Age
- Overweight/underweight
- Illnesses, like diabetes, thyroid problems, cancer or hypertension
For more information on secondary infertility, visit http://www.laurelfertility.com.
TIPS 7 Effective Ways to Reduce Stress
For many hopeful parents, the enjoyable process of growing a family can be stressful, especially when reproduction barriers block your parenthood dreams.
Luckily, hope and resources are available to parents seeking fertility options.
Laurel Fertility Care patients who have participated in stress management programs have had higher pregnancy rates. Whether you’re thinking, trying, waiting, wanting, or pursuing to embark on a fertility journey, below are seven ways to reduce stress. Keep in mind how closely interconnected these steps are. By completing one step, it’s much easier to finish another.
1. Join a support group. There are several online and offline support groups specifically for fertility, from ChoiceMoms.org, Dailystrength.org, to a mind body program at your fertility clinic. Many patients that visit Laurel Fertility Care find this on-site care incredibly supportive and helpful.
2. Explore (and remember) your options. There are many paths to embark on for starting a family. The field of reproductive endocrinology is part science and part art. Whether you decide to try IUI, IVF, or just fertility medications, keep in mind that there are other options available. If no alternate options are being discussed with you, reconsider your current reproductive specialist.
Read the rest of this article »
TIPS Questions to Ask Before Visiting a Fertility Specialist
Secondary infertility is a growing issue among women. According to experts, in 2005 an estimated three million people suffered from secondary infertility. Whether you’ve had one child or three children, mothers who are unable to grow their families after conceiving in the past are heartbroken. However, with the success of fertility treatments, more options are available today than ever before. Below is a list of common questions patients have asked at their visit to Laurel Fertility Care. We hope these will help you through your fertility journey before seeing a fertility specialist.
- What are my ultimate parenting dreams and goals? Understand what you want for your family. How many more children do you want? It’s not uncommon for hopeful parents to visit a fertility specialist only to realize that their expectations may be slightly different than thought. According to Dr. Collin Smikle of Laurel Fertility Care, “It’s important to check in with yourself and partner to ensure you’re on the same page. Asking questions as simple as ‘how many more children do we want to have?’ and ‘how and whose schedule will need to change to accommodate for our growing family?’ will help you save time and money with your fertility specialist. Read the rest of this article »
