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In Vitro Fertilization
In vitro fertilization was first successfully performed in the United States by the Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine of Eastern Virginia Medical School. Over the past 20 years, the Jones Institute has developed a specialized team of physicians, nurse coordinators, nurses, laboratory specialists, and andrologists who have been instrumental in producing its superior in vitro fertilization success rates, and more than 2,800 babies have been born to parents who were patients at the Jones Institute in Norfolk, Virginia. Additionally, over the past ten years, the number of pregnancies has increased steadily, while the number of embryos transferred has decreased, meaning fewer multiple births.
In vitro fertilization is a process that involves the administration of medications that stimulate the development, growth and maturation of eggs in the ovaries. When the eggs have reached maturity, they are removed from the ovary and placed in special solutions, or media, outside of the woman's body (in vitro). The eggs are then combined with the sperm, and the resulting embryos are nourished in an incubator that is maintained at precise temperatures and uses highly filtered purified air. Chemical levels, such as carbon dioxide, are also precisely controlled.
At the appropriate stage of development, the embryos are replaced into the uterus where they are allowed to continue normal fetal development. It is through these technologies that the Jones Institute has been able to dramatically increase pregnancy rates for women with infertility. IVF bypasses the fallopian tubes, and therefore, patients with damaged or absent tubes can become pregnant. IVF has also been instrumental in helping patients with endometriosis, severe male factor infertility, and many other disorders become pregnant.
As a research and teaching institute, the Jones Institute of Eastern Virginia Medical School has been at the forefront of every advance in IVF therapy. It was among the first clinics in the United States to perform the intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedure, which has become a mainstay of IVF therapy. Recently, the Institute published a study showing dramatic improvement in IVF success rates because of using highly purified air in the embryology laboratory.
Any evaluation(s), diagnosis or treatment will be provided by physicians, staff or independent contractors of The Western Pennsylvania Hospital or Allegheny General Hospital.
Clinicians at The Western Pennsylvania Hospital and Allegheny General Hospital utilize the same IVF methods as the Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine of Eastern Virginia Medical School, and do everything possible to maximize each couple's chance of conceiving. The techniques and procedures used offer patients a high rate of success, while minimizing the chances of twins, triplets and higher-order multiple pregnancies, which carry significant risks. IVF is performed in couples with a variety of diagnoses and those who have failed other therapy, such as intrauterine insemination (IUI). Your physician will discuss all available treatment options with you.
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