In vitro fertilization (IVF) is currently the most effective treatment available for infertility of nearly all causes. It is a very precise and controlled process, which involves stimulating the growth of multiple eggs, removal of the eggs from the ovaries (egg retrieval), fertilization in the embryology laboratory, and subsequent placement of the best-quality embryos into the uterus (embryo transfer). Despite continuing improvements in the technology, unfortunately there are times when IVF is not successful on the first or second try. While the devastation that often accompanies a negative pregnancy test after IVF is completely natural, it is important to understand...

In the mid-1980s, a group of scientists first discovered that there was a natural decrease in fertility as a woman aged. By studying different populations from as early as the 1600s (when contraception was not an option), these scientists were able to show that fertility rates declined gradually as the age of the female partner increased between 20 and 35—and then fell briskly after about the age of 37. By age 45, nearly all women were no longer fertile. In the setting of fertility treatment, this same pattern of age-related decline is seen. Even with the use of aggressive fertility...

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) are two commonly used methods of fertility treatment, which increase a couple’s chance of becoming pregnant. IUI is a procedure during which processed and concentrated motile sperm are inserted directly into a woman’s uterus. This procedure is timed according to a woman’s ovulation, and may be performed one to two times in the days immediately following the detection of ovulation. After ovulation a woman’s egg is picked up by the fallopian tube and waits there for the sperm. Since the IUI procedure deposits higher concentrations of good quality sperm close to where...

Well, it has finally happened. The infamous octomom fertility specialist, Dr. Michael Kamrava, has been formally charged with negligence by the California Medical Board. The case has been handled as a type of sideshow by the media, and indeed, there are many aspects of it—single mom, 14 kids from IVF, all conceived with donor sperm, etc.—that seem stranger than fiction. However, responsible fertility specialists have taken this case very seriously. An octuplet pregnancy is a significant complication of fertility care. Since we are aware of this possible severe scenario, we take very strong measures to try to avoid situations in...

1. PCOS is a Common ConditionPCOS is one of the most common causes of irregular menstrual periods. It’s a chronic condition that occurs in about 5 to 10 percent of women. It causes irregular menstrual periods and high levels of male hormones in women. These elevated levels can cause excessive hair growth in areas such as the face and back, and can cause male-pattern balding or thinning of hair. These hormones can also cause severe acne. Although PCOS is not completely reversible, there are several treatments that can improve these symptoms so that most women with PCOS are able to...