In Vitro Fertilization Specialist

Many couples who face infertility can have a healthy, thriving baby using in vitro fertilization (IVF). Jane Miller, MD, at North Hudson IVF, brings extensive knowledge and experience to each step of the IVF process, improving each patient’s chances of a successful procedure. If you need an infertility consultation or you’d like to learn more about IVF, call the office in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, or use the online booking feature to schedule an appointment today.

What is in vitro fertilization?

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a procedure in which a woman’s eggs are removed from her ovaries and then fertilized with sperm in the on-site IVF laboratory. After fertilizing the eggs, the developing embryo may be frozen for future IVF procedures or immediately placed into the woman’s uterus.

Who is a good candidate for in vitro fertilization?

Dr. Miller may recommend IVF to treat women who are infertile due to blocked or damaged fallopian tubes or who have medical conditions that prevent normal ovulation. IVF may also be an option if you have recurrent pregnancy loss or unexplained infertility.

IVF is also a good option when infertility is caused by a low sperm concentration or a problem with sperm motility, progression, or strict morphology (shape). Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) can be used to address these problems.

ICSI is a specialized procedure in which the healthiest sperm are identified, and a single sperm is injected directly into the egg.

You may also consider IVF when other fertility treatments haven’t been successful or when your age makes it imperative to get pregnant sooner rather than later.

What happens during in vitro fertilization?

During the first step of IVF, you take hormonal medication to increase the number of eggs that mature in your ovaries. Dr. Miller uses transvaginal ultrasound and blood tests to determine when the eggs are mature, then removes them by inserting a needle into the ovary and using suction to gently pull the eggs into the needle.

After taking your eggs to the laboratory, they’re exposed to sperm obtained from your partner or a donor. When the sperm are healthy, they’re concentrated and placed in the dish with the eggs, allowing fertilization to occur naturally. If the sperm can’t fertilize the egg on their own, a healthy, single sperm is injected directly into the egg.

The day after insemination, Dr. Miller confirms egg fertilization, then the embryos are incubated for five days. Embryos divide into eight cells by the third day, but the team at North Hudson IVF continues to incubate the embryos for five days until they reach the blastocyst stage.

Transferring the embryos at the blastocyst stage ensures they develop enough to attach to the uterine lining. Dr. Miller uses a thin, plastic tube inserted through your cervix to place one or two embryos into your uterus. If you have unused embryos, freezing them for future IVF procedures is possible.

Although IVF is the best option for many patients, Dr. Miller works closely with each patient, providing personalized care that’s tailored to the underlying cause of their infertility.

If you’d like to consider IVF or you have questions about infertility, call North Hudson IVF or book an appointment online today.

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