The ART of restoring fertility through IVF
Our Austin infertility clinic improves on in vitro fertilization with laboratory techniques and IVF stimulation protocols that address even the most complex barriers to getting pregnant. Dr. Anthony Propst directs IVF for his patients at Texas Fertility Center, and delivers on the promise of combining experience and technology to create families.
The miracle of IVF, in practice since baby Louise was born in 1978, has evolved even further. The advent of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), egg freezing and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) dramatically improves the chances for getting pregnant. IVF lab services restore hope for couples that have a low sperm count, want to avoid passing along genetic disease, or preserve fertility after a cancer diagnosis.
The criteria for a successful cycle of IVF at our Austin infertility clinic includes three key factors:
• Can the testes produce at least a single sperm?
• Can a woman’s ovaries produce multiple eggs with stimulation?
• Can the uterus support a pregnancy?
Exploring the IVF lab at our Austin infertility clinic
Dr. Propst and the Austin IVF lab provide the very latest in advanced reproductive technologies (ART). Customized IVF treatment takes place in the fully accredited IVF lab affiliated with our Austin infertility clinic.
Embryologists and andrologists perform specialized testing:
• Semen analysis
• Genetic testing (PGS/PGD)
• Fertility preservation (egg freezing, sperm freezing, embryo freezing)
• Male infertility treatments (ICSI and assisted hatching)
Your prescribed fertility treatment that includes in vitro will always rely on IVF lab support, and Dr. Propst’s expertise. Responsive and proactive adjustments to the treatment regimen can mean the difference between success … and a canceled IVF cycle.
Depending on the diagnosis, IVF treatment will progress in this order:
1. Ovulation induction, with oral fertility medications and injectable gonadotropin hormones, stimulates the ovaries to produce multiple oocytes (eggs). Frequent estradiol blood tests and ultrasound examinations provide essential information to adjust medication dosages. We strike a delicate balance between optimal ovulation induction and over stimulation of the ovaries.
2. Egg retrieval involves a quick in-office procedure performed under anesthesia. For women that wish to store their eggs to preserve their future fertility, we will proceed to egg freezing at this stage.
3. Fertilization, introducing retrieved oocytes and sperm in a special culture medium, occurs in the lab at this point. Depending on the results of semen analysis, the IVF lab can enhance the fertilization process with assisted hatching or ICSI. Other specialized services can take place after fertilization as well, including PGD.
4. Embryo transfer, with the option of single embryo transfer to eliminate the risk of multiple births, is timed to allow for embryo growth in the IVF lab. Embryo transfer usually occurs 5 days after fertilization.
5. Luteal phase support with progesterone nourishes the uterine lining.
Your Austin infertility clinic may determine that IVF provides the clearest path to pregnancy. You can feel confident in our capabilities and potential for success. Our IVF lab, experienced reproductive endocrinologist and specialized services (PGS, PGD, ICSI and egg freezing) earn us a reputation as one of Austin and Georgetown’s leading providers of in vitro fertilization.
Contact our Austin infertility clinic to initiate the semen analysis and female infertility workup that can ultimately lead to a successful IVF cycle.