In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and Embryo Transfer Services in Plano - Dallas IVF

Dallas IVF is a successful, highly active in vitro fertilization (IVF) practice located in Plano. Dallas IVF ’s pregnancy rates (individual practice rates) are consistently among the highest in the country according to data reported to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) (rates for Presbyterian ARTS as a whole.) This high rate of success can be attributed to the individualized care we provide to each couple, our experience, and the expertise of the reproductive laboratory that we use in Plano. In addition, we utilize only the most advanced in vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer methods at Dallas IVF, which contributes to our outstanding pregnancy rates and lowered incidence of high-order multiples.

Data reported to SART, The Society for Assisted Reproduction
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Dallas IVF is located in a professional building attached to the Presbyterian Hospital of Plano. The Presbyterian Hospital ART laboratory is located at Presbyterian Hospital of Plano. This is where all IVF procedures and embryology work is completed, giving us easy access to the hospital’s world-class resources. By having a single caring physician handle your in vitro fertilization treatment from beginning to end and working with one of the finest assisted reproductive technology laboratories in the nation, Dallas IVF will provide you with the best chance for a positive outcome. Read on to learn about the step-by-step in vitro fertilization process and the benefits of day-five blastocyst transfers.

The In Vitro Fertilization Process

There are several steps to completing an in vitro fertilization cycle with Dallas IVF in Plano. Whereas the planning and monitoring phases of the IVF process all take place in at Dallas IVF, the egg retrieval and embryo transfer steps take place next door to Dallas IVF at The Presbyterian Hospital ARTS facility. Dr. Ku and Dr. Barnett's offices at Dallas IVF are located in a professional building attached to the Presbyterian Hospital of Plano.

Step One – Ovarian Stimulation

The female patient administers fertility drugs to stimulate the production of multiple eggs. While taking these medications, the patient’s progress is monitored using transvaginal ultrasounds and by testing serum estradiol levels every few days.

Step Two – Egg Retrieval

Once the eggs are of a mature size, the patient is given an injection of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin). Approximately 36 hours later, in an outpatient surgical setting at Presbyterian Hospital of Plano, she is given anesthesia by a board certified anesthesiologist, and the egg retrieval takes place. Egg retrievals are performed transvaginally, under ultrasound guidance. A thin needle, which is attached to the side of the ultrasound probe, pierces the top of the vagina, and the eggs are retrieved. The patient is typically discharged from the hospital within two hours of egg retrieval.

Step Three – Fertilization

Several hours after the eggs have been retrieved, they are fertilized with the male partner’s sperm. This can be accomplished either through the ‘conventional’ method of placing the sperm in a petri dish to naturally penetrate the eggs, or through intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). With ICSI, individual sperm are injected into the egg to promote fertilization if the couple has male factor infertility issues.

Step Four – Cell Division

Once an egg is fertilized with sperm, it is called an embryo. This embryo must then divide. Unhealthy embryos often stop dividing. The embryos start out as a single cell, then split into two cells, then four, and so forth. By the third day after retrieval, a healthy embryo should have approximately eight cells, and by the fifth day it is termed a blastocyst, which contains over 100 cells. What we have learned over the last few years is that some ‘healthy’ appearing eight-cell embryos on day three are in fact not healthy and stop dividing, never becoming a good blastocyst on day five. It is not unusual to have, for instance, six healthy appearing eight-cell embryos on day three, with only two healthy blastocysts formed by day five.

Step Five – Embryo Transfer

Embryos are then transferred back into the uterine cavity through a thin transfer catheter. The patient is awake for this procedure. Any discomfort felt during the embryo transfer procedure performed at Dallas IVF would be similar to the level of discomfort experienced during a pap smear.

Reducing the Chance of Multiple Births – Blastocyst Transfers

We want women who undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment at Dallas IVF in Plano to conceive in a responsible manner, and then have healthy pregnancies. It is well known that multiple gestational pregnancies (twins, triplets and beyond) are high-risk pregnancies. There are many complications associated with multiple pregnancies, most notably pre-term labor and pre-term delivery. Pregnancies with multiples also have a higher rate of birth defects. Aside from permanent life-long disabilities that can be associated with some premature births, the medical costs of these pregnancies can be high.

One way to reduce the risk of twins and avoid the risk of high order multiples (triplets and more) is to limit the number of embryos transferred back into the uterus at the time of the patient’s embryo transfer at Presbyterian ARTS near Dallas in Plano. In the United States, there are no laws limiting the number of embryos that can be transferred, but only recommendations, which unfortunately many IVF programs do not adhere to. Many IVF programs still transfer high numbers of embryos in order to compensate for poor pregnancy rates. By limiting the number of embryos transferred back into a woman’s uterus, Dr. Barnett and Dr. Ku are able to maintain excellent pregnancy rates while reducing the risk of multiples, especially high order multiples.

Day-Five Blastocyst Transfers

To reduce the risk of multiples, Dallas IVF limits the number of embryos transferred during their in vitro fertilization cycles by commonly performing day-five blastocyst transfers. During an IVF cycle, a woman is stimulated to produce multiple eggs. The eggs are retrieved and then fertilized with the partner’s sperm. At Presbyterian Hospital of Plano, where Dr. Barnett and Dr. Ku perform IVF, around 80 percent of the eggs retrieved become fertilized, forming embryos.

Once fertilized, the embryo must divide. Unhealthy embryos may stop dividing, divide very slowly, or fragment. By the third day after retrieval, a healthy embryo usually has around eight cells. Not every egg will fertilize, and not every embryo will continue to divide. By the fifth or sixth day after retrieval, if the embryo is healthy, it will become a blastocyst, which contains about 100 cells. By waiting until day five, we are able to put back the ‘best’ embryos with highest chance of implantation per embryo.

To better understand the benefits of a day-five blastocyst transfer, compare these two patients:

Mrs. Smith

12 eggs are retrieved.
10 eggs fertilize, forming 10 embryos.
Day three: There are six healthy appearing eight-cell embryos, three of which are transferred while the other three are frozen.
Results: Mrs. Smith conceives with a singleton, twins or triplets or does not conceive because the ‘best’ embryos may have been frozen.

Mrs. Jones

12 eggs are retrieved.
10 embryos form.
Day three: There are six healthy appearing eight-cell embryos, none of which are yet transferred. Their further growth is monitored in the laboratory.
Day five: Three good blastocysts are present; the other embryos have stopped dividing or are of poor quality. Two embryos (possibly one) are transferred and the remaining embryos are frozen.
Results: Mrs. Jones conceives with a singleton or twins, or does not get pregnant.

Traditionally, there are higher implantation rates per embryo with day-five blastocysts than with day-three embryos. If you place back embryos with a higher success for implanting, fewer embryos need to be transferred. This point has been supported by research done through our laboratory and in other programs as well.

To perform day-five embryo transfers and still maintain excellent pregnancy rates, the IVF laboratory services have to be extremely good. Some programs have attempted to do day-five transfers, but because of media issues, equipment, or technical skill, have stopped doing so and have gone back to performing day-three transfers. If an embryo is not going to divide and become a blastocyst, it should be because of embryo quality, not because the lab is unable to grow the embryos.This is not to say that every IVF laboratory that does day five transfers has good pregnancy rates, nor does it mean that a program, which limits the numbers of embryos transferred on day three, can’t have excellent rates. Clinicians and labs differ dramatically. Contact us today for more information about embryo transfer at Dallas IVF in Plano.

Contact Us for In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Using Advanced Embryo Transfer Methods

Contact Dallas IVF today for infertility treatment to help you conceive. Dr. Barnett and Dr. Ku perform in vitro fertilization using advanced embryo transfer techniques at Dallas IVF in Plano and have achieved outstanding pregnancy rates.

Brian D. Barnett, MD
Lowell T. Ku, MD
Presbyterian Hospital of Plano
MOB 3, Suite 334
6124 West Parker Road
Plano, Texas 75093

Phone: (972) 981-8700
Fax: (972) 981-8708
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Contact Dallas IVF for more information about in vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer methods.