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.
Dear Dr. Sher,
Years ago I was a gestational host for a couple that were your patients. It was an amazing journey that led to the birth of twins for this couple. Since that time, I went back to school, became a RN, worked as labor and delivery nurse, and now will be graduating next year as women’s health/nurse midwife. In studying the intricate process of fertilization and implantation, I know that as the blastocyst travels down the fallopian tube it sheds the zona pellucida, enabling the blastocyst to implant in the uterine lining. How does the “hatching” out of the zona pellucida occur in the case of IV? I can’t seem to find the answer to this question on the internet.
Thank you,
Cindy
It sometimes happens in the petri dish prior to transfer. In other cases it happens mechaniocally in the uterine cavity.
Good luck in your professional aspirations/endeavors and in the journey!
Geoff Sher
Dear Dr Sher, please could you explain the role of estrogen supplementation in luteal support after transfer. I know that some clinics provide it and others don’t?
Both estrogen and progesterone are necessary for implantation to take place efficiently. In those cases where there is concern that there might not be enough estrogen produced by the ovaries during the luteal phase, estrogen supplementation is appropriate. This is always the case in embryo recipient cycles (FET’s and egg donor-IVF) and often the case in women who are older and have DOR.
Good luck!
Geoff Sher
Hello Dr. Sher,
Thank you for being so generous with your knowledge.
I am 44 yo, Today I had my third IVF attempt.
First try I had three fertilized embryos which only two were freezing quality. Unfortunately no pregnancy after transferring them. Second IVF resulted in only one retrieved egg that resulted on one poor quality embryo which is frozen. Today was my third attempt. Dr. had me on 2oiu Lupron at onset of period, on 3dop started with 300u Follistim and 150 iu Manopur’s. Lupron was increased to 40 units a day. On day 7 dop I had four 10mm follicles and there 5mm follicles, by day 15 only one 16mm and one 8mm follicles remained. Unfortunately no egg was retrieved today. Dr. says that after aspiration there was no egg to account for.
Could you please give me your thoughts?
Thank you so much.
You were on a Lupron “flare protocol” which in my opinion is disadvantageous in older women and women with diminished ovarian reserve.
In my opinion, “microdose” (“flare”) Lupron protocols, the use of clomiphene or Letrozole, and high dosage Menopur protocols, should best not be used in women with DOR (see below). It surges LH and with it ovarian testosterone as the stimulation begins and this can have a deleterious effect on egg quality/competency…especially in older women and also in women such as yourself who have DOR. You need a modified, robust, long pituitary down-regulation protocol. I would use an agonist/antagonist conversion protocol with human growth hormone (HGH) augmentation and would recommend Staggered IVF with embryo banking of PGS (next generation gene sequencing)-normal blastocysts, to make hay while the sun still shines.
Please visit my new Blog at o to http://goo.gl/4hvjoP , 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
•Ovarian Stimulation for IVF using GnRH Antagonists: Comparing the Agonist/Antagonist Conversion Protocol.(A/ACP) With the“Conventional” Antagonist Aproach
•IVF: Factors Affecting Egg/Embryo “competency” during Controlled Ovarian Stimulation(COS)
•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.
•Diagnosing and Treating Infertility due to Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR)
•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?
•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 Sampling (PGS) Using: Next Generation Gene Sequencing (NGS): Method of Choice.
•IVF Failure and Implantation Dysfunction: The Role of Endometrial Thickness, Uterine Pathology and Immunologic Factors
•Why did my IVF Fail
•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
I invite you to call 702-699-7437 or 800-780-7437 or go online on this site and set up a one hour Skype consultation with me to discuss your case in detail.
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.
Geoff Sher
I invite you to call 702-699-7437 or 800-780-7437 or go online on this site and set up a one hour Skype consultation with me to discuss your case in detail.
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.
Geoff Sher
Dear Dr. Sher,
I have a few questions:
1)What is the purpose behind taking Menopure?
2)Can older women avoid Menopur altogether or is it better to add some into the protocol?
3)In older women over 40, is it better to do 75 or 150 Menopure with Follistim after Estrogen priming.
4) Is it better to start Follistim at a lower dose and gradually increase or to maintain 450 of it from day 2 onwards?
Thank you so much
1)What is the purpose behind taking Menopur?
A: Most stimulation protocols used (whether agonist, antagonist or a combination of both) for IVF block LH completely and small amounts of LH-activity is needed to cause the ovaries to produce testosterone which is the building block for follicle estrogen production, follicle growth and egg development. . Too much LH-induced testosterone is potentially harmful, but a small amount of LH-induced testosterone is needed. Follistim and Gonal F have no LH. Menopur contains hCG/LH activity and thus in my opinion a small amount must be added to the protocol for stimulation.
2)Can older women avoid Menopur altogether or is it better to add some into the protocol?
A: Some LH-like activity is needed. Menopur and Luveris provide this.
3)In older women over 40, is it better to do 75 or 150 Menopure with Follistim after Estrogen priming.
A: I never administer >75U Menopur/day in IVF stimulations
4) Is it better to start Follistim at a lower dose and gradually increase
A: In my opinion it is better to start with a higher dosage and then reduce after a few days of administration.
Please visit my new Blog on this very site, http://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
•Ovarian Stimulation for IVF using GnRH Antagonists: Comparing the Agonist/Antagonist Conversion Protocol.(A/ACP) With the“Conventional” Antagonist Aproach
•IVF: Factors Affecting Egg/Embryo “competency” during Controlled Ovarian Stimulation(COS)
•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.
•Diagnosing and Treating Infertility due to Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR)
•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?
I invite you to call 702-699-7437 or 800-780-7437 or go online on this site and set up a one hour Skype consultation with me to discuss your case in detail.
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.
Geoff Sher
Hi Dr. Sher,
I completed my IVF/CCS cycle last October and had 3 normal embryos.
The first FET ended in a miscarriage at 5weeks. I started to bleed since 4dp5dt. It was a full flow, I had to change my pad every time I went to the washroom. The bleeding never stopped throughout my pregnancy/miscarriage. I raised this to my nurse but they said it’s not uncommon since I’m on endometrin suppositories.
I just did my 2nd FET on Feb 23 and the bleeding started around the same time, 4 days after transfer. The amount of bleeding was a lot, blood test was negative so embryo failed to implant.
I had an ultrasound during my follow up meeting and my lining was thin which meant I already had my period. My doctor said I am bleeding way too early after the FETs (4-5 days after transfer).
My doctor hasn’t seen others who bleed a lot so early after the FET and was scratching his head. The only suggestion he can offer at this time was to do an ERA & to switch to progesterone shots. Is there any other tests/diagnostics you recommend me to do?
Since this is a 2nd failure from a normal CCS embryo, my husband and I are quite devastated. We only have one more normal blast left. Any advice is appreciated.
Thank you
Whenever a patient fails to achieve a viable pregnancy following embryo transfer (ET), the first question asked is why! Was it simply due to, bad luck?, How likely is the failure to recur in future attempts and what can be done differently, to avoid it happening next time?.
It is an indisputable fact that any IVF procedure is at least as likely to fail as it is to succeed. Thus when it comes to outcome, luck is an undeniable factor. Notwithstanding, it is incumbent upon the treating physician to carefully consider and address the causes of IVF failure before proceeding to another attempt:
1.Age: The chance of a woman under 35Y of age having a baby per embryo transfer is about 35-40%. From there it declines progressively to under 5% by the time she reaches her mid-forties. This is largely due to declining chromosomal integrity of the eggs with advancing age…”a wear and tear effect” on eggs that are in the ovaries from birth.
2.Embryo Quality/”competency (capable of propagating a viable pregnancy)”. As stated, the woman’s age plays a big role in determining egg/embryo quality/”competency”. This having been said, aside from age the protocol used for controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) is the next most important factor. It is especially important when it comes to older women, and women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) where it becomes essential to be aggressive, and to customize and individualize the ovarian stimulation protocol.
We used to believe that the uterine environment is more beneficial to embryo development than is the incubator/petri dish and that accordingly, the earlier on in development that embryos are transferred to the uterus, the better. To achieve this goal, we used to select embryos for transfer based upon their day two or microscopic appearance (“grade”). But we have since learned that the further an embryo has advanced in its development, the more likely it is to be “competent” and that embryos failing to reach the expanded blastocyst stage within 5-6 days of being fertilized are almost invariably “incompetent” and are unworthy of being transferred. Moreover, the introduction into clinical practice about a decade ago, (by Levent Keskintepe PhD and myself) of Preimplantation Genetic Sampling (PGS), which assesses for the presence of all the embryos chromosomes (complete chromosomal karyotyping), provides another tool by which to select the most “competent” embryos for transfer. This methodology has selective benefit when it comes to older women, women with DOR, cases of unexplained repeated IVF failure and women who experience recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL).
3.The number of the embryos transferred: Most patients believe that the more embryos transferred the greater the chance of success. To some extent this might be true, but if the problem lies with the use of a suboptimal COS protocol, transferring more embryos at a time won’t improve the chance of success. Nor will the transfer of a greater number of embryos solve an underlying embryo implantation dysfunction (anatomical molecular or immunologic).Moreover, the transfer of multiple embryos, should they implant, can and all too often does result in triplets or greater (high order multiples) which increases the incidence of maternal pregnancy-induced complications and of premature delivery with its serious risks to the newborn. It is for this reason that I rarely recommend the transfer of more than 2 embryos at a time and am moving in the direction of advising single embryo transfers …especially when it comes to transferring embryos derived through the fertilization of eggs from young women.
4.Implantation Dysfunction (ID): Implantation dysfunction is a very common (often overlooked) cause of “unexplained” IVF failure. This is especially the case in young ovulating women who have normal ovarian reserve and have fertile partners. Failure to identify, typify, and address such issues is, in my opinion, an unfortunate and relatively common cause of repeated IVF failure in such women. Common sense dictates that if ultrasound guided embryo transfer is performed competently and yet repeated IVF attempts fail to propagate a viable pregnancy, implantation dysfunction must be seriously considered. Yet ID is probably the most overlooked factor. The most common causes of implantation dysfunction are:
a.A“ thin uterine lining”
b.A uterus with surface lesions in the cavity (polyps, fibroids, scar tissue)
c.Immunologic implantation dysfunction (IID)
d.Endocrine/molecular endometrial receptivity issues
Certain causes of infertility are repetitive and thus cannot readily be reversed. Examples include advanced age of the woman; severe male infertility; immunologic infertility associated with alloimmune implantation dysfunction (especially if it is a “complete DQ alpha genetic match between partners plus uterine natural killer cell activation (NKa).
My answer to patients who ask me when is the time to stop undergoing IVF is ….Aside from the weight of the financial burden, the time to stop is when in spite of thorough and comprehensive evaluation, there is no remediable and treatable explanation for repeated failure.
Please visit my new Blog on this very site, http://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
•Ovarian Stimulation for IVF using GnRH Antagonists: Comparing the Agonist/Antagonist Conversion Protocol.(A/ACP) With the“Conventional” Antagonist Aproach
•IVF: Factors Affecting Egg/Embryo “competency” during Controlled Ovarian Stimulation(COS)
•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.
•The BCP: Does Launching a Cycle of Controlled Ovarian Stimulation (COS). Coming off the BCP Compromise Response?
•Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET): A Rational Approach to Hormonal Preparation and How new Methodology is Impacting IVF.
•Traveling for IVF from Out of State/Country–
•A personalized, stepwise approach to IVF
I invite you to call 702-699-7437 or 800-780-7437 or go online on this site and set up a one hour Skype consultation with me to discuss your case in detail.
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.
Geoff Sher