IVF + Gender Selection

While in vitro fertilization (IVF) is a more advanced form of fertility treatment, it is particularly successful as it can bypass the many possible causes of infertility. It also allows for gender selection and can prevent the transfer of genetically abnormal embryos.

The process begins with the suppression of the monthly hormone cycle and subsequent introduction of the fertility hormone (FSH) to produce multiple eggs. Once the eggs are mature, they are collected from the ovary in a simple, painless procedure with local or light anesthesia, and with only minimal side effects.

From there, the eggs are fertilized in a laboratory with specially washed and treated sperm. The final step in the process is to implant a select number of fertilized eggs, or embryos, into the uterus, which has been prepared by wall-thickening hormones.

While the process is straightforward, each stage in the procedure—from inducing the production of eggs to subsequent retrieval and culturing in the lab—depends on careful monitoring, skill and experience.

Due to his expertise in this area, Dr. Kolb’s pregnancy success rate for IVF is much higher than the national average.

Before any fertility treatment, Dr. Kolb considers individual risk factors for specific heritable diseases, including the medical history, age and ethnicity of potential parents. Based on this profile, tests for Sickle Cell, Cystic Fibrosis and Tay Sachs, along with many others, can be performed.

When both parents are carriers of an abnormal gene responsible for a particular disease, there is a one-in-four chance of producing an affected embryo. For this reason, additional testing may be performed during the embryonic stage.

PGS / PGD

While comprehensive genetic screening is initially performed on intended parents, or carriers, preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) / diagnosis (PGD) detects abnormalities within the developing embryos before they are transferred to the uterus.

Such genetic disorders include single-gene diseases such as Cystic Fibrosis, Type-A hemophilia and Tay-Sachs, among others. More commonly, recent advances help identify embryos that contain abnormal numbers of chromosomes and thus allow for only the healthiest embryos to be transferred. By utilizing this procedure, Dr. Kolb is able to increase pregnancy rates while minimizing the risk for Down’s syndrome and the possibility of a miscarriage.