IVF

What is IVF: In vitro fertilization, a fertilization technique where sperm are placed into a container with the eggs and a culture medium that supports embryo growth and development. The goal of IVF is for the sperm and egg to meet and begin the fertilization process.

Why would you use IVF:

  • when IUI has failed
  • if you have certain health conditions that make IUI unlikely to succeed
  • if you have infertility conditions like blocked fallopian tubes, endometriosis, PCOS, or unexplained infertility
  • if you want to be more aggressive in your treatment

ICSI

What is ICSI: Intracytoplasmic sperm injection. A laboratory fertilization technique where a single sperm is directly injected into the interior of an egg using an extremely thin glass needle. Just like IVF, the goal of ICSI is for the sperm and the egg to meet and start the fertilization process.

Why would you use ICSI: ICSI may provide an effective treatment for male factor infertility caused by: sperm morphology or motility issues; low sperm count; medical conditions; or side effects from certain medicines. ICSI can even be used in men with no sperm in their ejaculate if sperm can be surgically collected from elsewhere in the male reproductive system. It provides an alternative treatment if inseminations or IVF have failed. You definitely want to use ICSI if you are using frozen sperm or frozen eggs or when you are planning on having PGD or PGS performed on any embryos.

Please note: WRL has it’s own ART embryology laboratory located on-site, it is the only full-service embryology laboratory located in Eastern Carolina that provides ICSI, embryo biopsy, embryo cryopreservation and storage, and egg cryopreservation and storage.

EMBRYO CRYOPRESERVATION

What is embryo cryopreservation: Embryos can be frozen and stored for your future use. WRL uses vitrification, a freezing method that rapidly freezes the embryo in liquid nitrogen.

Why you would use embryo cryopreservation:

  • If you have surplus embryos from a treatment cycle
  • if you need to delay an embryo transfer for medical reasons
  • to lower cost by not going through a whole cycle of treatment
  • to do a single embryo transfer and save any remaining embryos
    to preserve fertility potential before you undergo certain medical procedures or treatment
  • when you are going to have PGS or PGD performed on the embryos
  • when you want to bank embryos for future use