Blog Archive

How Does Gender Selection Work? Mar 9th, 2023

Determining the gender of your baby is the topic of baby shower games and old wives tales. Parents don’t have to wait very long to find out their baby’s gender anymore. Prenatal blood testing can reveal your baby’s sex at 11 weeks gestation.  Some parents don’t want to wait that long...

Myths and Facts About Male Infertility Feb 17th, 2023

About 15% of couples have trouble conceiving. Male infertility plays a role in about 50% of these cases. Sometimes it’s the man and the woman who have infertility problems and sometimes it’s just the man.  At California Center for Reproductive Health, our specialists want to help you overcome fertility problems...

Healthy Habits That May Support Fertility Jan 8th, 2023

If you’re eager to add to your family, a few lifestyle changes may support your attempts. Many factors figure into infertility, including some that are out of your control. But, certain healthy habits can help make your chance of conceiving more likely.  When you combine these healthy habits with the...

What Most People Don't Know About Egg Donation Dec 8th, 2022

If you’re among the 11% of women who are struggling with infertility, assisted reproductive technology (ART) may be the best way to help you achieve your family goals.  Egg donation means a fertile woman with healthy eggs donates an oocyte (egg) to a woman struggling with infertility. The recipient has an...

The Emotional Side of Infertility Nov 1st, 2022

When you’re trying to conceive, it seems like everyone around you is having absolutely no problem getting pregnant. But, in reality 12-15% of couples are unable to conceive even after having unprotected sex for one year. After two years of trying, 10% of couples still struggle with adding to their family.  Knowing...

How Many Eggs Does a Woman Typically Have? Oct 1st, 2022

The quantity and quality of your eggs is a big factor in your ability to conceive. A person who has ovaries is born with all the eggs they’ll ever produce. Egg cells do not regenerate. How old a woman is and her health influence how many eggs she has at...

Are We Eligible for PGT-A? Sep 1st, 2022

If you’re undergoing in vitro fertilization, PGT-A is something you should seriously consider. An advanced screening technique, PGT-A, which stands for preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy, evaluates embryos created during in vitro fertilization procedures. At the California Center for Reproductive Health, we recommend the vast majority of couples going through...

What Can I Learn From a Semen Analysis? Aug 1st, 2022

The quality and quantity of a man’s semen and the sperm within it has a major effect on whether or not a couple can conceive. At the California Center for Reproductive Health, one of the first steps in your fertility workup is a semen analysis of the male partner.  Information gleaned from a...

How Can I Become an Egg Donor? Jul 1st, 2022

When you become an egg donor, you can help a couple who has trouble conceiving to complete their family. At the California Center for Reproductive Health, we invite qualified young women to help struggling couples build families while also learning more about their own reproductive health.  In addition to the altruistic aspects...

When Is ERA Testing Recommended? Jun 1st, 2022

If you’ve invested your time, energy, and heart into in vitro fertilization (IVF) in the attempts to grow your family, you want every chance for the procedure to succeed.  IVF can be challenging to experience. It is one of the most successful forms of assisted reproductive technology, but the pregnancy...

I Want My Tubes Tied: What Are My Options? May 1st, 2022

Tubal ligation gives you nearly a 100% guarantee that you won’t get pregnant. It can be an attractive contraceptive option because it doesn’t alter your hormones or require anything on your part. There are no pills to take or devices to insert.  Tubal ligation is permanent and only recommended when...

Why Gestational Surrogacy Might Be Right for You Apr 3rd, 2022

Gestational surrogacy is a great option for people who want to have a baby, but due to uterine abnormalities just cannot do so on their own.  The process involves impregnating a surrogate mother via in vitro fertilization. The parents’ sperm and egg are used, so the baby has their parents’ genes....

Understanding the Different Types of Sperm Extraction Mar 8th, 2022

Sperm extraction is a way to overcome male factor infertility. In cases where there’s no sperm present in the ejaculate (azoospermia), our doctors at California Center for Reproductive Health use a variety of techniques to acquire sperm to use in IVF (in vitro fertilization) or ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection).  Azoospermia...

How Can My Cervical Factor Be Assessed? Feb 2nd, 2022

A woman’s cervical mucus needs to be hospitable to sperm for conception to occur. When her mucus is too thick for sperm to swim through, doesn’t contain the right nutrients, or holds antisperm antibodies, sperm can’t reach the egg for fertilization to occur.  Here at the California Center for Reproductive...

My Partner Can't Get Pregnant: Do I Need a Semen Analysis? Jan 5th, 2022

A semen analysis is a standard step in any infertility workup when the reason for trouble conceiving isn’t clearly evident. It’s even a good idea when the woman has a known fertility issue; a semen analysis sheds light on whether male factor infertility will complicate future assisted reproductive technology like...

How to Prepare for a Tubal Reversal Dec 15th, 2021

You have every right to change your mind after having a tubal ligation for “permanent” sterilization. If you do decide you want to add to your family after tubal ligation, our skilled providers at California Center for Reproductive Health are ready to help. We offer advanced surgical techniques with very...

Five Benefits of Mini IVF Nov 10th, 2021

In vitro fertilization (IVF) can help couples get pregnant when natural conception just doesn’t seem to work. At California Center for Reproductive Health, we stimulate and closely monitor the woman’s ovulatory process during IVF. When the eggs are ready, they’re extracted and put together with sperm in a laboratory.  Once...

What Most People Don't Know About Infertility Oct 13th, 2021

Infertility means a woman can’t get pregnant after a full year of dedicated trying, or six months if the woman is 35 or older. If you’re struggling to stay pregnant, you may also be diagnosed with infertility.  At California Center for Reproductive Health, our specialists have treated thousands of women,...

Myths and Facts About Embryo Freezing Sep 7th, 2021

Embryo freezing is a procedure that’s advanced tremendously since the first successful case in the late 1980s. To freeze embryos, an embryo is created via in vitro fertilization, a process  in which eggs are collected from the woman and fertilized with sperm in a lab.  After letting them develop for...

Benefits of Egg Donation Aug 10th, 2021

If you’re struggling with infertility, and in vitro fertilization is not an option or hasn’t worked, egg donation may be the next best step. At California Center for Reproductive Health, our experienced team of fertility specialists can help you determine if egg donation is right for you and your family. ...

Are You at Risk for Male Infertility? Jul 26th, 2021

Male infertility can get in the way of growing your family. In 35% of couples, both the man and woman have factors that make it hard to conceive. In 8% of couples with infertility, issues with the man’s fertility is the sole reason they can’t get pregnant. If you’ve been...

Endometriosis and Pregnancy: Important Considerations Jun 20th, 2021

Endometriosis is a gynecological condition in which the lining of your uterus, the endometrium, grows outside of your womb. This means you can develop scarring or extra tissue on reproductive organs, making conceiving difficult.  Most women with endometriosis go on to have a completely normal pregnancy and birth. The fertility...

How Often Does IVF Fail? May 4th, 2021

In vitro fertilization (IVF) offers hope to infertile couples who desperately want a baby. The process requires a lot of physical, emotional, and financial commitment, so it’s important to enter into it informed.  How your IVF cycle goes depends on many factors, and the rate of failure in any one...

5 Myths About Infertility Apr 1st, 2021

If you’re having trouble conceiving, you’ve probably received a lot of unsolicited advice about how you can improve your chances of getting pregnant. There’s a lot of misinformation out there regarding fertility, and these myths only contribute to your frustration and disappointment when trying to conceive. Fertility specialists Eliran Mor,...

Benefits of Preimplantation Genetic Screening Mar 1st, 2021

Couples undergoing fertility treatments may be asked whether they would like to have preimplantation genetic screening and diagnosis (PGS/PGD). It’s natural to wonder how PGS/PGD might benefit you and your future family. At the California Center for Reproductive Health, our specialists Eliran Mor, MD, and Irene Woo, MD, can help...

Can I Play A Role in Choosing the Sex of My Baby? Feb 1st, 2021

Long gone are the days during which you have to wait until your baby is born to find out the gender. You don’t even have to wait for the 20-week ultrasound anymore. Several advanced fertility techniques allow you to choose the preferred sex of your baby. Eliran More, MD, and...

How Being Severely Underweight or Overweight Affects Fertility Jan 1st, 2021

If you’re thinking about getting pregnant, it’s a good idea to achieve a healthy weight first. Being severely overweight or underweight affects your ability to conceive and can cause complications during your pregnancy. While women of all sizes can get pregnant, achieving a healthy weight increases your chances of conceiving...

Everything You Need to Know About An Embryo Transfer Dec 7th, 2020

You’ve gone through all the steps of ovarian stimulation and egg and sperm retrieval. You know there are viable embryos ready to transfer to your womb to hopefully create a healthy pregnancy. But what happens next? At California Center for Reproductive Health, our team wants you to be educated about...

Can I Reverse My Tubal Ligation? Nov 1st, 2020

You may have been certain you were done with your family when you underwent tubal ligation, but circumstances change. At the California Center for Reproductive Health, we understand, and Dr. Eliran Mor specializes in reversing all types of tubal ligations. While a tubal ligation is technically female sterilization and considered...

Why Your IVF Failed and How We Can Help Oct 1st, 2020

Infertility can be extremely frustrating and debilitating on its own, but when in-vitro fertilization (IVF) fails to result in pregnancy, you may feel devastated. Although IVF is a fantastic option for infertile couples, the reality is that only 26% of IVF cycles actually produce a baby. If you’re older than...

Cancer and Fertility in Both Men and Women Sep 21st, 2020

More than 135,000 people younger than 45 are diagnosed with cancer every year. These men and women may still want to add to their families, but worry how their diagnosis and treatment will affect their fertility. These numbers don’t include the hundreds of thousands who’ve recovered from childhood cancer and...

What to Expect from IVF Aug 13th, 2020

In-vitro fertilization (IVF), is the primary form of assisted reproductive technology, which was responsible for 1.9% of births in 2018. During IVF, your eggs are collected and your partner’s sperm is used to fertilize the eggs in a laboratory. A fertilized egg is transferred into your uterus, and if it...

Understanding the Ericsson Sperm-Washing Protocol Jul 16th, 2020

If you have a strong gender preference when it comes to your next child, consider fertility treatment using the Ericsson sperm-washing protocol. At California Center for Reproductive Health, our doctors Eliran More, MD and Irene Woo, MD, offer this procedure to increase the odds that you’ll have a male or...

Living with PCOS Jun 22nd, 2020

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects 6-12% of women in the United States. It’s diagnosed during your reproductive years and characterized by high androgen levels, ovarian cysts, and irregular menstrual cycles. Because it’s a hormone issue, many women experience uncomfortable symptoms in many bodily systems, including those that affect appearance and...

The Benefits of a Mini IVF Treatment May 22nd, 2020

Conventional in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments help many infertile couples get pregnant and have a healthy baby. IVF, however, can be time-consuming, invasive, and expensive. If several embryos are transferred to your uterus, IVF sometimes results in pregnancy with multiple babies.  Mini IVF, which is minimal stimulation IVF, is ideal for...

Everything You Need to Know About Egg Donation Apr 14th, 2020

Infertility can be maddening, frustrating, and disheartening. But even if assisted fertility treatments such as in-vitro fertilization have failed for your family goals, egg donation may offer a solution. Egg donation involves using an egg from a healthy woman of childbearing age to create an embryo that’s then placed into...

Reasons to Consider Embryo Freezing Mar 1st, 2020

If you want to preserve your ability to become a parent in the future, freezing embryos is a viable option. At the California Center for Reproductive Health, our team of expert providers are available to counsel you about this safe and effective procedure, which can give you a good chance...

How Is Male Infertility Determined? Feb 3rd, 2020

Male infertility isn’t unusual. In one-third of cases, a man has complications that are making it difficult for a couple to get pregnant. In general, a couple’s infertility is diagnosed when pregnancy hasn’t been achieved after at least one year of trying. At the California Center for Reproductive Health, we...

I Have Premature Ovarian Failure — Can I Still Get Pregnant? Jan 9th, 2020

Premature ovarian failure is relatively rare. Only 1 in 1,000 women under the age of 30 and 30 in 1,000 under the age of 40 reach the end of their ovarian reserves — the number of viable eggs remaining in your ovaries. If you have premature ovarian failure, you probably...

What Does Preimplantation Genetic Screening Test For? Dec 3rd, 2019

Some couples have an easy time conceiving, while others do not. Often, infertility is the cause. It is a fairly common cause and is diagnosed after a couple fails to conceive after one year of having sex without using any contraception. The good news is that with advances in technology,...

5 Tips for Couples Coping with Infertility During the Holidays Nov 12th, 2019

If you’re struggling with infertility, you’re not alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 10% of women between the ages of 15 and 44 struggle to conceive or carry a pregnancy to full term. For many couples, the pressure and stress around trying to start...

How Does IVF Compare to Mini IVF? Oct 18th, 2019

Are you struggling to get pregnant and considering medical intervention? Traditional in vitro fertilization (IVF) and mini IVF are two possibilities that may be able to help. Here at our California Center for Reproductive Health offices located in West Hollywood, Santa Monica, Encino, Valencia, and Alhambra, Drs. Eliran Mor and...

Embryo Transfer: All Your Questions Answered Sep 1st, 2019

In vitro fertilization (IVF) can be a long, challenging journey lined with unexpected twists, turns, bumps, and pitfalls. But finally, after going through a lengthy screening process and exhaustive preparation to retrieve and fertilize your eggs, you’ve reached the moment you’ve been waiting for — your embryo transfer.  As the...

5 Tips for Managing Stress During IVF Aug 7th, 2019

Infertility is a common medical condition, affecting 1 in 8 couples. Millions of those couples turn to in vitro fertilization (IVF) for help in becoming parents. IVF is a process in which a woman’s egg is fertilized in a laboratory and transferred to her uterus. IVF is the most effective...

What Is Unexplained Infertility and What Are the Treatment Options? Jul 22nd, 2019

Infertility is a condition in which a couple can’t conceive after 12 months of regular, unprotected sex. Infertility has many possible causes, including medical conditions in the woman, man, or both partners. However, the cause of infertility is sometimes said to be unexplained, which means testing uncovers no medical problems...

How Accurate is Gender Selection? Jun 13th, 2019

A baby’s gender is established by the pair of sex chromosomes it receives — one from each parent. All eggs carry a single X chromosome, while sperm carries a gender-determining X or Y chromosome. When an egg is fertilized by an X-carrying sperm, the resulting embryo (XX) is female; if...

What Is the Best Age to Freeze Your Eggs? May 20th, 2019

You’ve just launched your career, you haven’t found the right partner, or you’re embarking on a treatment protocol that may jeopardize your fertility. Whatever the catalyst is behind your decision to freeze and preserve your eggs for future use, there are some timing issues that can boost your chances of...

Reproductive Options for Lesbian Couples and Single Women Apr 4th, 2019

If the only hurdle that stands between you and the family of your dreams is biology, the hurdle is relatively easy to overcome, especially with the right team by your side. Here at the California Center for Reproductive Health, our reproductive experts help people of all orientations achieve their family-building...

Reproductive Options for Gay Couples and Single Men Mar 26th, 2019

In the past, same-sex male couples and single men who didn’t have children through prior heterosexual relationships had just two basic paths to parenthood: Conventional adoption or the creation of a non-traditional co-parenting arrangement with a lesbian couple or a single woman.   Today, the ongoing advancement and increasing availability...

ART Outcomes: Morbidity and Mortality Feb 21st, 2019

When most couples think about starting a family, they generally don’t anticipate needing medical assistance to become pregnant. But infertility is a relatively common problem that affects an estimated one in six couples. Luckily, assisted reproductive technology (ART) offers a variety of solutions designed to help couples overcome many of...

Thyroid Function, Infertility, and Miscarriages Jan 29th, 2019

After many long months of actively trying to conceive without success, you and your partner are probably wondering why getting pregnant hasn’t as easy as you thought it would be. And if you’re anything like the average couple, you may have even begun tackling your problem by evaluating your timing,...

Endocrine Disruptors / BPA: What You Need to Know Dec 18th, 2018

You may have heard the recent news that fertility rates throughout the United States — in both urban and rural areas and across all races — have plummeted to historic lows following three decades of long and steady decline. While the dwindling national fertility rate is generally blamed on the...

Healthy Diet: A Fertility Diet? Nov 26th, 2018

If you’ve been trying to get pregnant for many months without success, it’s only natural to speculate about whether you or your partner has an underlying medical condition that impacts your fertility.   While many couples eventually do learn that their fertility issue is a result of a physical problem,...

Everything You Need to Know About Freezing Your Eggs Oct 29th, 2018

When you’re born, your ovaries contain right around three million eggs. Because some of those eggs reach a certain point of maturity, stop developing, and die off every day, you’re only left with about 300,000 eggs by the time you hit puberty. Although a 90% reduction in egg supply may...

Oncofertility Oct 16th, 2018

California Center for Reproductive Health is a proud partner with LIVESTRONG Foundation and Oncofertility Consortium. Our mission is to increase awareness and optimize accessibility to fertility preservation options for female patients diagnosed with cancer. Cancer treatment can cause infertility and pretty much all modes of cancer treatment including chemotherapy, radiation,...

What is Mini IVF and Am I a Good Candidate? Sep 13th, 2018

As the most conventional and successful form of assisted reproductive technology (ART), in vitro fertilization (IVF) has helped many couples overcome a wide range of common fertility problems, including low sperm counts and irregular ovulation.Conventional IVF uses the maximum dose of fertility medications to encourage your ovaries to release as...

ICSI: An Effective Choice When Male Fertility Issues are a Factor Aug 13th, 2018

There’s a common misconception that infertility is, by and large, a female problem. While it’s true that a wide variety of factors can influence a woman’s ability to conceive, male-factor infertility is a major factor in up to 40% of infertility cases.When a sperm defect is either the main cause...

Infertility Treatment Options for Women Over 40 Jul 13th, 2018

Infertility Treatment Options for Women Over 40If you weren’t really ready to start a family way back when you were in your 20s, you’re not alone. Pursuing a higher education, advancing your career, traveling the world, building a home, and finding the right person to share your life with takes...

IVF: All of Your Questions Answered Jun 19th, 2018

If you and your partner have struggled to conceive naturally, you know how disheartening and emotionally exhausting infertility can be. Making the decision to undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF) can give you the optimism and boost of confidence you need to continue trying for a baby — provided you understand...

How Egg Donation Helps Couples With Infertility May 24th, 2018

About 15% of couples in the United States experience infertility when trying to start or grow their family. The good news is that with all the assisted reproductive technology options available, the chances are good that you’ll be able to go on to have a healthy baby. Some of those...

Secure Storage of Frozen Eggs and Embryos at CCRH and In Vitrotech Labs May 1st, 2018

Secure Storage of Frozen Eggs and Embryos at CCRH and In Vitrotech LabsWe at CCRH and In Vitrotech Labs were saddened to hear of the devastating incident involving a cryotank malfunctioning at two fertility centers earlier this month. We want to reassure our patients that this is an exceedingly rare event...

The Benefits of Egg Freezing Apr 18th, 2018

Egg freezing has been used to preserve female fertility since the late 1990s. It was first offered to young women diagnosed with cancer, so they could protect their ability to have a biological child if the disease or its treatment left them sterile.Today egg freezing is available for any woman...

Understanding Egg Quality and Testing Mar 20th, 2018

At California Center for Reproductive Health, we’re committed to helping you overcome the challenges of infertility. Much of our success depends on the health of your available eggs. Our testing protocols help us understand your egg quantity and quality, so that we can provide you with the best treatment options.Many...

Everything You Need to Know About Clomid Feb 28th, 2018

Prescribed for more than 40 years, Clomid -- generic name clomiphene -- is one of the most popular fertility drugs on the market. It helps women who fail to ovulate due to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or other reasons. It can also stimulate the development of extra follicles in the...

Tips for Managing Stress of IVF Treatment Nov 30th, 2017

Many couples turn to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment after years of trying to conceive naturally. As the most common form of assisted reproductive technology, IVF also is the go-to conception method for many single women or same-sex couples who want to start a family.  Although IVF has a relatively high...

How to Cope with the Stress of Infertility Treatment Nov 27th, 2017

While infertility is a physical condition, there are mental and emotional health issues that are often linked to it. Sources of stress include the need for injections, the financial toll, negative pregnancy readings, and the social stresses of holidays and baby showers.Because of all these various factors, handling the stress...

Top Causes of Male Infertility Nov 20th, 2017

Male infertility is a challenge that many couples must address. The reason that infertility exists cannot be pinpointed in approximately half (50%) of cases, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). About 10-15% of men who are infertile do not ejaculate any sperm. The absence of any sperm can...

What Causes Male Infertility? Oct 31st, 2017

When you want to have a baby, then learn you’re infertile, it doesn’t help to know you’re not alone -- but the fact is, you’re not. Infertility affects one in six couples. In about half of all cases, the man’s infertility contributes to the couple’s inability to get pregnant. Male...

4 Tips to Choose Your Egg Donation Specialist Sep 29th, 2017

Ian is the bolder and more reckless of the two 12-month old twins. Toby is the quieter, more connected one. The healthy baby boys are the sons of an anonymous woman who wrote about her experience with donor-egg in vitro fertilization (IVF) in Fit Pregnancy and Baby.The new mother noted...

Egg Freezing vs. Embryo Freezing: Which is Right for You? Sep 21st, 2017

In vitro fertilization, or IVF, is on the rise. How popular is this healthcare decision? MarketsandMarkets projects it will expand to more than three-quarters of a billion dollars, $756.7 million, by 2021. Even in 2016, the industry was already measuring nearly a half-billion at $468.3 million. Assuming that the forecast...

What is PGS/PGD and Who Should Get It Done? Jul 11th, 2017

It’s a pretty safe bet that in every aspect of life, the thing people desire the most is certainty. Sure, there are exceptions to this rule, but more often than not people want to know that they’re making a safe decision or that there will be a positive outcome to...

The Benefits of Frozen Embryos Over Fresh Embryos for IVF May 26th, 2017

If you and your partner have been having trouble conceiving, you’ve no doubt done some research into what opportunities are available to you. For many couples, in vitro fertilization provides the solution needed to start their families. As you may know, in vitro fertilization is the most popular assistive fertility...

Planning for the Future: The Facts on Egg Freezing and Donation Apr 24th, 2017

When it comes to planning for one’s reproductive future, women have two major options that differ quite a bit from one another: egg freezing and egg donation. Two different paths depending on what it is you’re looking to accomplish, but important to know about. The process for each is similar,...

Learn More About IVF and if It’s Right for You Mar 24th, 2017

Being unable to naturally and easily conceive a child so you can start the family you’ve always wanted is a painful and often complicated experience. There is a lot of trying, a lot of dead ends, and a feeling that your situation is unfair. And that’s just for heterosexual couples....

Planning for Your New Family: What LGBTQ Couples Need to Know Mar 3rd, 2017

Life moves fast, especially here in California. The past decade has brought an incredible amount of progress. We’re lucky to live in times where LGBTQ couples have access to the services they need to plan for the future and have happy, healthy families. While a fertility center has always been...