How long can frozen eggs be stored? Indefinitely Many women choose egg freezing because they know they want to become mothers someday, but they aren’t certain what the future holds. Life is full of uncertainty, which is why many women ask us, “How long can frozen eggs be stored?” The answer from our Southern California egg freezing center is: as long as you need them to be. The science: how long can frozen eggs be stored After your eggs are retrieved, through a process that is similar to that used for IVF, they will be immediately frozen. The vitrification process...
Two Women, One Dream to Create A Family
In the last several decades, lesbian would-be parents have increasingly sought reproductive assistance to have babies. It is estimated that approximately one-third of lesbian households have children, having achieved motherhood either through non-assisted insemination, fertility treatment, adoption or through prior heterosexual relationships. While two women trying to make a family together equals double the set of reproductive organs, they still may encounter obstacles on their way to getting pregnant and having a baby. If you are part of a same sex female couple, here are some important issues you should consider as you embark on your family building journey. Testing...
IVF Has Come a Long Way, Baby
Happy Birthday, Louise Brown! July 25 marks the 39th anniversary of the premier success of one of the modern era’s greatest medical advances, in vitro fertilization. It’s also the birthday of Louise J. Brown, the world’s first IVF baby. Since her birth, it’s estimated that nearly six million IVF babies worldwide have been born, with at least a million from the United States. IVF is an evolving technology Since 1978, the pace of IVF innovation has been impressive. Some of the most notable changes include: Egg retrieval is performed vaginally instead of by laparoscopy Sperm can be injected directly into...
Love Letter to My Future Surrogate
Dr. Robert Boostanfar patient Kelli Auerbach recently wrote a moving essay entitled “Love Letter to My Future Surrogate” which was published in The New York Times. The article can be seen here on the New York Times website. Thank you, Kelli, for sharing this incredible story with HRC!
The Quest for Eggs and the Risk of OHSS
The Quest for Eggs and the Risk of OHSS During IVF, infertility doctors prescribe injectable medications called gonadotropins to help women produce as many robust looking eggs as possible for their upcoming IVF cycle. This is called controlled ovulation induction. We are on a quest for the optimal number of eggs to combine with sperm to create as many viable embryos as possible. All of these efforts increase our patients’ chances to have a successful IVF cycle now and in the future with frozen cycles. But there can be side effects from taking these medications. One of the most serious...
The Egg Freezing Process
Learn about the egg freezing process Egg freezing allows women to preserve their fertility while their egg supply is at its best, so they can focus on their current priorities now and on family-building later. Fertility preservation is a great choice for young women who want to focus on school or careers, cancer patients who want to protect their ability to have a child, and women who need IVF to become mothers but don’t want to freeze embryos. Demystifying the egg freezing process is an important first step in understanding all of your options. Freezing eggs protects your ability to...
The Quest for Eggs and the Risk of OHSS
During IVF, infertility doctors prescribe injectable medications called gonadotropins to help women produce as many robust looking eggs as possible for their upcoming IVF cycle. This is called controlled ovulation induction. We are on a quest for the optimal number of eggs to combine with sperm to create as many viable embryos as possible. All of these efforts increase our patients’ chances to have a successful IVF cycle now and in the future with frozen cycles. But there can be side effects from taking these medications. One of the most serious is ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). At HRC Fertility, we...
Medical Evaluation of the Surrogate Mother
Surrogacy is a unique and wonderful family building option that often is described as third party reproduction. Individuals turn to surrogacy for a variety of medical and social reasons: infertility; multiple pregnancy losses; being part of a same sex male couple or being a single male. Surrogate mothers, also known as gestational carriers, are caring, compassionate women who love being pregnant and want to give the gift of family to those who yearn to become parents. One of the major concerns intended parents might have as they embark on surrogacy is whether the woman they are matched with is a...
Dr. David Tourgeman Shares Sperm Facts
Sperm and semen are not the same Sperm are too tiny to see with the naked eye, while semen is the white fluid that is ejaculated after a man achieves orgasm. Even though sperm are microscopically small, they show up in abundant numbers. The 10 to 500 million sperm found in a single semen contribution would stretch for six miles if they were lined up end to end. Each ejaculate of semen is about a half-teaspoon of fluid. In addition to sperm, semen contains proteins, fructose and other organic fluids that allow sperm to survive and fertilize the egg. With...
Declare Your Fertility Independence
Barbeques, fireworks, parades and parties are all ways we celebrate our nation’s independence on July 4. This year, however, let’s think of Independence Day in a slightly different way. Let’s focus on how reproductive-age men and women can declare their ‘independence’ from future fertility worries! Here are five suggestions for gaining more control over your path to parenthood. Though there are no assurances with baby making, some current planning could pay off in the long-term. Know your risk factors Are you predisposed to infertility? For example, do fibroids, endometriosis or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) run in your family? If your...