General Fertility Program
| Ovulation Induction | Gynecoradiology |
| Intrauterine Insemination | Ultrasound Services |
| Donor Insemination | PGD and Infertility Laboratory Services |
The General Fertility Program of the RGI's Institute for Human Reproduction involves all clinical services associated with human reproduction that do not pertain to Assisted Reproduction Technology (ART), including ovulation induction, artificial insemination and gynecoradiology. Until a few years ago, this represented a large majority of all human reproduction services provided at RGI. However, in recent years pregnancy rates with Invitro fertilization have greatly improved. As a consequence of our experience selecting high quality embryos, we can now transfer fewer embryos without affecting pregnancy rates. Consequently, IVF gives us much better control over the risk of high order multiple births. And while fertility treatments that do not utilize IVF seem to be decreasing in the field of human reproduction, they will always have a role within a comprehensive infertility treatment program, as in RGI.
Ovulation Induction
Ovulation Induction involves the administration of either oral or injectable fertility medications, to either establish ovulation (where a woman does not ovulate on her own), improve the ovulation process or convert the usually unifollicular, monthly ovulation process into a polyfollicular process, to enhance conception chances. Whatever the indication for ovulation induction treatment, a conversion to a polyfollicular response will usually take place. The woman has a greater chance of getting pregnant, but, consequently, any form of ovulation induction will be characterized by an increased risk of multiple births.
Intrauterine Insemination(IUI)/Artificial Insemination
Artificial insemination, also known as intrauterine insemination, is usually recommended to accompany ovulation induction cycles to increase pregnancy chances. When an IUI is performed, the partner's semen is directly injected into the uterus after its seminal plasma has been washed off. IUIs empirically improve pregnancy rates over regular intercourse, when male infertility is a factor. They also improve pregnancy rates if cervical factor infertility is present (i.e. the cervical mucus inactivates semen motility) and in the presence of mildly abnormal semen, which can constitute a case of general male infertility.
Donor Insemination
Artificial insemination is also performed through donor insemination,
which involves the same process as described for IUI, except that the semen sample
comes from a donor. RGI/IHR works with reputable sperm banks from which such
donor semen samples are procured by the patient for artificial insemination.
Gynecoradiology
Gynecoradiology uses x-ray equipment to diagnose
and treat causes of infertility. Investigators at RGI have been leaders in
the
field of gynecoradiology since its
inception. RGI is currently the only fertility center in the nation with dedicated
x-ray equipment at most locations. Most other fertility centers refer patients
to radiology departments.
The principle advantage of gynecoradiology lies in its superior diagnostic capabilities, which virtually replace the utilization of diagnostic laparoscopy as a diagnostic tool. In doing so, the patient is saved a surgical procedure, general anesthesia and cost. In addition, gynecoradiology allows for immediate intervention in a minimally invasive fashion, again replacing major surgical procedures.
For example, based primarily on research at RGI, proximal tubal occlusions are now routinely treated by transvaginal tubal catheterisation procedures rather than, as used to be the case, major abdominal surgery. Similarly, intrauterine adhesions (Asherman's syndrome), uterine septae and other uterine as well as tubal pathology can be treated in an ambulatory fashion, with the patient observing the procedure on a screen.
Ultrasound Services
 |
Ultrasound Services are an integral part of any infertility treatment. Every RGI center is equipped with state-of-the-art ultrasound equipment and offers all relevant services. |
PGD and Infertility Laboratory Services
PGD and Infertility Laboratory Services are crucial for any infertility center. While many fertility
programs outsource all of their infertility laboratory work, RGI strongly believes that
key
infertility laboratory tests should be
performed inhouse. RGI maintains its own andrology laboratory services, which
are also available to physicians outside of RGI. We also maintain our own endocrinology
laboratory and one of
the leading specialty laboratories in reproductive immunology.
All of RGI's PGD and Infertility Laboratory Services are primarily meant to benefit RGI patients
but are available to
patients of other physicians as well. For more information regarding our PGD and Infertility Laboratory Services, please contact us.