Ask Our Doctors – Archive
Our Medical Directors are outstanding physicians that you will find to be very personable and compassionate, who take care to ensure that you have the most cutting-edge fertility treatments at your disposal. This is your outlet to ask your questions to the doctors.
Hi Dr Sher,
I just had a frozen grade 2 embryo transfer today. My estrogen level yesterday was 176.2 and Progesterone level at 32.7. Does it sound promising to you? This is actually my 3rd attempt but before my Progesterone level a day prior to transfer were low it was only at 8.5 & 9.5. Thank you so much!
Only time can tell!
I wish you good luck!
Geoff Sher
Hi Dr Sher I hope you are well I’m ready for my 3rd round of Ivf with ngs and im doing estrogen primed with antagonist as I have big lead follicle problem my dr has said I can do 300 gonol f or up to 400 it’s up to me my Amh is 10pmol and fsh is 8.9 iu/l and I’m 28 .can you advise how’s much you would do if your patient had this test results
While not seriously diminished, an AMH of 10pmol/L is below normal and should be considered too be prematurely diminished ovarian reserve (DOR). In my opinion, against the backdrop of diminished ovarian reserve (DOR), the protocol used for ovarian stimulation is one of the most important drivers of egg “competence” (quality) and the number, yielded.
Women who (regardless of age) have DOR have a reduced potential for IVF success. Much of this is due to the fact that such women tend to have increased production of LH biological activity which can result in excessive LH-induced ovarian male hormone (predominantly testosterone) production which in turn can have a deleterious effect on egg/embryo “competency”.
While it is presently not possible by any means, to reverse the effect of DOR, certain ovarian stimulation regimes, by promoting excessive LH production (e.g. short agonist/Lupron- “flare” protocols, clomiphene and Letrozole), can in my opinion, make matters worse. Similarly, the amount/dosage of certain fertility drugs that contain LH/hCG (e.g. Menopur) can have a negative effect on the development of the eggs of older women and those who have DOR and should be limited.I try to avoid using such protocols/regimes (especially) in women with DOR, favoring instead the use of the agonist/antagonist conversion protocol (A/ACP), a modified, long pituitary down-regulation regime, augmented by adding supplementary human growth hormone (HGH). I further recommend that such women be offered access to embryo banking of PGS (next generation gene sequencing/NGS)-selected normal blastocysts, the subsequent selective transfer of which by allowing them to capitalize on whatever residual ovarian reserve and egg quality might still exist and thereby “make hay while the sun still shines” could significantly enhance the opportunity to achieve a viable pregnancy
Please visit my new Blog on this very site, https://www.drgeoffreysherivf.com, find the “search bar” and type in the titles of any/all of the articles listed below, one by one. “Click” and you will immediately be taken to those you select. Please also take the time to post any questions or comments with the full expectation that I will (as always) respond promptly.
• Controlled Ovarian Stimulation (COS) for IVF: Selecting the ideal protocol
• IVF: Factors Affecting Egg/Embryo “competency” during Controlled Ovarian Stimulation(COS)
• The Fundamental Requirements For Achieving Optimal IVF Success
• Ovarian Stimulation for IVF using GnRH Antagonists: Comparing the Agonist/Antagonist Conversion Protocol.(A/ACP) With the “Conventional” Antagonist Approach
• Anti Mullerian Hormone (AMH) Measurement to Assess Ovarian Reserve and Design the Optimal Protocol for Controlled Ovarian Stimulation (COS) in IVF.
• The “Biological Clock” and how it should Influence the Selection and Design of Ovarian Stimulation Protocols for IVF.
• A Rational Basis for selecting Controlled Ovarian Stimulation (COS) protocols in women with Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR)
• Diagnosing and Treating Infertility due to Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR)
• Controlled Ovarian Stimulation (COS) in Older women and Women who have Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR): A Rational Basis for Selecting a Stimulation Protocol
• Human Growth Hormone Administration in IVF: Does it Enhances Egg/Embryo Quality and Outcome?
• The BCP: Does Launching a Cycle of Controlled Ovarian Stimulation (COS). Coming off the BCP Compromise Response?
• Blastocyst Embryo Transfers should be the Standard of Care in IVF
• Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) versus “Fresh” ET: How to Make the Decision
• Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET): A Rational Approach to Hormonal Preparation and How new Methodology is Impacting IVF.
• Staggered IVF: An Excellent Option When. Advancing Age and Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR) Reduces IVF Success Rate
• Embryo Banking/Stockpiling: Slows the “Biological Clock” and offers a Selective Alternative to IVF-Egg Donation.
• Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGS) in IVF: It should be Used Selectively and NOT be Routine.
• Preimplantation Genetic Sampling (PGS) Using: Next Generation Gene Sequencing (NGS): Method of Choice.
• PGS in IVF: Are Some Chromosomally Abnormal Embryos Capable of Resulting in Normal Babies and Being Wrongly Discarded?
• PGS and Assessment of Egg/Embryo “competency”: How Method, Timing and Methodology Could Affect Reliability
• Treating Out-of-State and Out-of-Country Patients at Sher-IVF in Las Vegas:
• Traveling for IVF from Out of State/Country–
• A personalized, stepwise approach to IVF
• How Many Embryos should be transferred: A Critical Decision in IVF.
• The Role of Nutritional Supplements in Preparing for IVF
• Premature Luteinization (“the premature LH surge): Why it happens and how it can be prevented.
• IVF Egg Donation: A Comprehensive Overview
If you are interested in seeking my advice or services, I urge you to contact my concierge, Julie Dahan ASAP to set up a Skype or an in-person consultation with me. You can also contact Julie by phone or via email at 702-533-2691/ Julied@sherivf.com You can also apply online at http://www.SherIVF.com .
*FYI
The 4th edition of my newest book ,”In Vitro Fertilization, the ART of Making Babies” is available as a down-load through http://www.Amazon.com or from most bookstores and public libraries.
Geoffrey Sher MD
I’m only 24 years old but I have suffered with trying to conceive for the past year and a half. I have endured more than my body can tolerate. I have been diagnosed with unexplained infertility. I have gone through with 2 unsuccessful IUIs and 1 failed IVF. I have developed a follicular cyst after the ivf which is ragingly painful. Before the ivf, I have gone through with a laparoscopy/hysteroscopy to remove a small uterine septum which was thought to be the cause of my inability to conceive. I’m losing hope and I don’t have answers. I have no idea what to do next because I have had my fair share of stimulants and great responses with zero outcome.
Hello Dr Sher,
I have had 2 ectopic pregnancies and lost both tubes. I will be having ivf soon, although I don’t have any tubes is there still a chance I could have another ectopic?
Thank you
Very improbable but not impossible…it could moccur in the part of the tube that taverses then muscle of the uterus but this is quite rare.
Geoff Sher
hi doctor sher, i m 9 weeks 4 days pregnant with a pgs tested embryo and i have mthfr 1298 homo, pai 4g/5g , my doctor also put me on lovenox 40 mg and baby aspirin alongside with progesteron shots daily. yesterday i had a scan and baby measured right on track with a bpm of 180. i had a bit of mild brown to beige spotting on and off but doctor says it is harmless. i have two questions, doctor wants me to stop aspirin and continue with lovenox but i m just hesitant as i dont understand what might be the benefit to stop? i know many people continue till end of pregnancies but would like to know what is perspective on this? my second question is when exactly placenta takes over hormone production and progesteron is bo longer needed? thank u so much dr sher!
A. Placental-ovarian conversion occurs arround 60-70 days into the pregnancy.
B. Thrombophilia (Hereditary Clotting Defect) is defined as the genetic predisposition to developing intravascular thrombosis. It is due to hypercoagulability of blood leading to impairment of initial vascularization that takes place during implantation.
Thrombophilia affects as many as one in five people in the United States and is responsible for pregnancy loss (most particularly after the 1st trimester) and “unexplained” infertility, as well as being a factor in some cases of “unexplained” IVF failure. Whether (and/or the extent to which) thrombophilia causes 1st trimester recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is the subject of debate and is controversial. In fact, first-trimester RPL is far more likely to be due to immunologic implantation dysfunction (IID) and/or irregularities in the contour of the uterine cavity or insufficient thickness of its lining (a thin endometrium). Thrombophilia has also been associated with late pregnancy-induced complications such as preeclampsia, premature separation of the placenta (abruptio placenta), placental insufficiency with intrauterine growth retardation, and in “unexplained” intrauterine death.
This having been said, it is a fact that most women with a thrombophilia go on to experience healthy pregnancies.
Diagnosis of Throbophilia
Thrombophilia is diagnosed when one or more of the following is detected:
•Mutational defect involving methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), which occurs in at least 20% of affected cases. Homozygosity for a common C677T mutation in the MTHFR gene that is associated with hyperhomocysteinemia is the most common form of hereditary thrombophilia leading to a 3-fold increase in risk of complications.
•Mutation of factor V Leiden (FVL),
•A mutation of prothrombin G20210A,
•Deficiency of antithrombin III
•Deficiency of protein C
•Deficiency of protein S
Risk Factors
•Pregnant women with predisposing factors such as:
•A personal or family history of thromboembolism (deep vein thrombosis), pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung), cerebrovascular accidents (i.e. strokes)
•A personal history of pregnancy complications such as unexplained intrauterine death, preeclampsia, abruptio placenta, intrauterine growth retardation, placental insufficiency, should be tested for the condition.
Treatment
Treatment should be initiated as soon as possible after pregnancy is diagnosed biochemically (blood or urine hCG test) and be continued throughout gestation.
Severe thrombophilias (e.g. homozygous MTHFR mutations, protein C deficiency, prothrombin G20210A mutation) as well as cases of mild thrombophilias associated with one or more of the pregnancy complications mentioned above, are best treated with low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH).
For other (milder) thrombophilias and no history of prior pregnancy complications: Low-dose aspirin with the B vitamins folic acid, B6 and B12.
Geoff Sher