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.
Hello Dr. Sher,
Last year I was told that as my fallopian tubes are damages I can not get pregnant naturally. Therefore, I started an IVF cycle in August 2015. I only had 3 follicles which 2 only became embryos. The first time I had one embryo transferred which was not successful. A month later, I had another transfer with the only frozen embryo left and I got pregnant. But, on third 5th I lost it. I decided to have a break and try one more time but in my home country. Therefore, I started seeing the doctors and go for the IVF cycle in March this year. I couldn’t complete the cycle as I didn’t produce any eggs. According to my doctor as my AMH was too low, below 1, my reserved eggs are are very low and I should go for donor eggs. This was a big shock for me and for my husband. It took us a while to digest this. In the end, we decided to go for it, 2 days a go I had 4 frozen embryos transferred, as my uterus was not ready they had to freeze the embryos, 3 of them were in early A+ quality and the 4th one was B quality. It took a while until my doctor could find the way to insert the embryos as there were some complications with my cervix. Nevertheless, the transfer was done successfully. But, since that day I see a bit of blood or brownish spotting and also lower abdominal pain. I am very concerned that how it will go this time. I also would like to mention that I am taking these medication after the transfer every day: 4 times estradiol, 1/2 prednisolone 5m, 2 times progesterone 50, 2 times heparin ampule 5000, asa 80 mg, 1 time cyclogest 400 mg, 1 time thyroxine 125 mg ( 6 times per week), 1 time folic acid, vitamine E every other day, fish oil omega 3 every other day,
I’ll appreciate if you could answer my questions:
If this pain and a bit of blood loss is normal?
What is the success rate of pregnancy with donor eggs?
What is the success rate of pregnancy with frozen eggs?
I also need to mention that I had 3 natural pregnancy but I lost them between weeks 4-8. During that time I had very high number of hypothyroid hashimoto. The day before my transfer I had ivig injection.
Thank you for your time and looking forward to your reply.
Doctor I forgot to mention my age. I am 37 years old.
The pregnancy rate with donor eggs is about 50% and the baby rate about 40% (allowing for pregnancy losses). In my opinion succes is significantly higher with fresh eggs (rather than banked frozen eggs being used). In your case there could be issues relating to recurrent pregnancy loss as well…see below).
I strongly recommend that you visit http://www.DrGeoffreySherIVF.com. Then go to my Blog and access the “search bar”. 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 Aproach
•Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (RPL): Why do I keep losing my Pregnancies
•The Role of Immunologic Implantation Dysfunction (IID) & Infertility (IID):PART 1-Background
•Immunologic Implantation Dysfunction (IID) & Infertility (IID):PART 2- Making a Diagnosis
•Immunologic Dysfunction (IID) & Infertility (IID):PART 3-Treatment
•Thyroid autoantibodies and Immunologic Implantation Dysfunction (IID)
•Immunologic Implantation Dysfunction: Importance of Meticulous Evaluation and Strategic Management:(Case Report
•Intralipid and IVIG therapy: Understanding the Basis for its use in the Treatment of Immunologic Implantation Dysfunction (IID)
•Intralipid (IL) Administration in IVF: It’s Composition; How it Works; Administration; Side-effects; Reactions and Precautions
•Natural Killer Cell Activation (NKa) and Immunologic Implantation Dysfunction in IVF: The Controversy!
•Endometrial Thickness, Uterine Pathology and Immunologic Factors
•Vaginally Administered Viagra is Often a Highly Effective Treatment to Help Thicken a Thin Uterine Lining
•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
•IVF Egg Donation: A Comprehensive Overview
Please call or email Julie Dahan, my patient concierge. She will guide you on how to set up an in-person or Skype consultation with me. You can reach Julie at on her cell phone or via email at any time:
Julie Dahan
•Email: Julied@sherivf.com
•Phone: 702-533-2691
?800-780-7437
Geoff Sher
I also suggest that you access the 4th edition of my book ,”In Vitro Fertilization, the ART of Making Babies”. It is available as a down-load through http://www.Amazon.com or from most bookstores and public libraries.
Hi Dr. Sher,
I posted a question a couple of days ago and have a follow up question – I hope you don’t mind.
I recently did an IVF and am now 4 weeks and 5 days pregnant; although it’s not looking good. On Wed, my beta was 59 and today it came back as 74. I had started spotting on Monday at 4 weeks exactly and my progesterone was checked and found to be low so my dosage was doubled. My questions are:
1. Is there any possibility this could be viable or is this game over?
2. I read that slow rising betas can be sign of ectopic, which scares me. How do you know if this is the case??
3. Should I continue with progesterone over the weekend and so a repeat beta on Monday or stop everything and see if it miscarries?
4. If it is ectopic and I stopped the progesterone, would that get rid of it – ie force it to miscarry?
Thank you. I’m feeling worried about this situation. As I noted, my fertility clinic doesn’t test the betas until 5 weeks of pregnancy (which would be Monday) so I had to get these betas done through my family doctor and her office doesn’t open until Monday. I only know the results because I could view them directly online but the beta only came in this evening so I’m not even sure she’s seen it yet.
E
1. Is there any possibility this could be viable or is this game over?
A: I am not very optimistic but I hope I am wrong
2. I read that slow rising betas can be sign of ectopic, which scares me. How do you know if this is the case??
A: Unfortunately this is not possible. Only time will tell
3. Should I continue with progesterone over the weekend and so a repeat beta on Monday or stop everything and see if it miscarries?
A: I would continue through the weekend.
Good luck and G-d bless!
Geoff Sher
4. If it is ectopic and I stopped the progesterone, would that get rid of it – ie force it to miscarry?
Are there any differences in statistical likelihood of IVF success when low sperm motility is the cause of infertility (using ISCI, with now-frozen blastocysts) vs when there is female factor infertility? I have never found these statistics separated. Also, if it is relevant, there was no underlying medical cause found for the low motility.
Probably so…although with ICSI it is not likely to be as much as pre-ICSI. Female factor probably does a little better.
Geoff Sher
Hi Dr Sher- I had a 5 day FET on July 13th. My first beta was 7-25 and was 1244 progesterone 15 second beta on 7-27 beta 3062 and progesterone 21.2 and today 7-29 hcg was 10,382 but progesterone is 16.3. Should I be worried about my progesterone levels? Thoughts? Thank you for your time- Kris
In my opinion, no! But discuss with your RE.
Geoff Sher
How long after failed FET will my periods get back to normal? I had FET in May. First period came at the end of the month as expected. Next period in June came on cycle day 32. I am now on cycle day 32 and still no period. We have MFI so pregnancy not an option. My cycles are normally 26-28 days. I am concerned that the meds may have permanently impacted my cycles.
It is hard tom say. It all depends on your hormone balance. At times this can be completely thrown off by HRT for the FET. If it does not start in a few weeks, see your RE for an evaluation.
Geoff Sher.