Since its inception, Texas Fertility Center has devoted significant time and resources to fertility research because we know that even a small tweak to treatment protocols can lead to the birth of your baby. Our fertility specialists and scientists strive each and every day to perfect the miraculous breakthroughs that led to the very first in-vitro fertilization (IVF) birth in 1978. Together, we pledge that advanced reproductive technology, or ART, will never stop advancing.
At the October American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) conference, Texas Fertility Center was selected to present the results from two of its research studies related to ovarian reserve testing and a new progesterone delivery method.
Drs. Thomas C. Vaughn, Kaylen M. Silverberg, Lisa J. Hansard and Natalie Z. Burger contributed to the studies, and Dr. Silverberg explains the significance of the conclusions in video interviews here
Replacing Progesterone Shots with Gels and Rings
The hormone progesterone is critically important to the establishment and maintenance of an early pregnancy. Patients now have more choices for the way prescribed progesterone is delivered. A joint study with Texas Fertility Center and Teva Pharmaceuticals examined progesterone use after IVF.
What we found is that the unpopular intramuscular injection into the hip can be safely and effectively replaced with vaginal gel, and, coming soon, a vaginal ring. No surprise: An overwhelming 84 percent of women responded that the vaginal ring is “less messy “ than the previous method they used. Progesterone gels and rings, respondents said, are more convenient and less stressful.
Dr. Silverberg reiterates that new methods for progesterone delivery are painless, far less messy and they work just as well – if not better – than the shots!
Adding the AMH fertility test to a fertility workup
Who is going to do well with IVF … and who’s not? Like most fertility specialists,Texas Fertility Center doctors assess ovarian reserve with a Day 3 FSH, estrogen, and AMH (anti Mullerian hormone) level. As the newest of these tests, AMH has only recently been evaluated as a predictor of successful outcome with fertility therapy. Our physicians presented new data showing that – in our hands – FSH and AMH are much more predictive of outcome than estrogen. In addition to hormone testing, we also look at a variety of other things – such as a patient’s age, the size of her ovaries, and the number of follicles developing early in a cycle – to help us determine the best stimulation regimen, and the best treatment to lead to a healthy pregnancy.
Ask us about AMH testing and other exciting news in reproductive medicine!