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, MD, and Irene Woo, MD, of the California Center for Reproductive Health dispel some common myths about infertility and help you understand what you need to know.

MYTH 1: Most women have an easy time getting pregnant

FACT: In reality, 12-15% of couples are unable to get pregnant or stay pregnant after a solid year of trying. After two years, 10% of these couples still haven’t conceived. Modern fertility interventions like those we offer at the California Center for Reproductive Health are quite successful in helping these couples go on to have a baby.

Myth 2: Fertility is always a female problem

FACT: A problem with the woman is responsible for just one-third of fertility cases. Issues with the man’s sperm quality or production is responsible in another third. The final third of cases are either due to unexplained problems or a combination of male and female factors.

MYTH 3: Older couples get pregnant pretty easily

FACT: Both male and female fertility are negatively affected by age.

If you’re a woman in your 30s and having trouble getting pregnant, you’re not alone. As you get older, fertility declines. After her 20s, a woman’s fertility decreases significantly and even more so after age 35.

A woman older than 35 should see a fertility specialist after six months of trying to get pregnant. And as you get older than 40, conceiving becomes that much more difficult.

Men also experience decreased fertility as they age, but it happens more gradually. While men do generate sperm regularly, even as they get older, the quality of the sperm declines as they age, which could make conceiving more challenging.

MYTH 4: If you’ve had one baby, it’s easy to get pregnant again

FACT: Many couples, 1 million to be exact, have trouble conceiving even after they’ve had one child. It’s entirely possible to suffer fertility problems after carrying a child to term.

Reasons for this secondary infertility include pelvic scarring, endometriosis, blocked fallopian tubes, irregular ovulation, and poor sperm quality — all factors that contribute to primary fertility.

You may also develop secondary infertility due to complications you experienced during labor and delivery or as a result of getting older. At the California Center for Reproductive Health, we can help in all cases of infertility.

Myth 5: If you relax and stop trying so hard, you’ll get pregnant

FACT: The inability to get pregnant is due to reproductive issues, not your mental health. While reducing stress can make you feel happier and contribute to a more positive outlook, it can’t fix a very real medical problem.

Your friends and family mean well when they tell you to just “relax” and it “will happen,” but it’s not the only solution when it comes to trying to get pregnant. Our team offers medical solutions, like in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer, for your fertility problem.

At the California Center for Reproductive Health, we address your very real fertility problems and do everything possible to help you create the family you desire. If you live in the greater Los Angeles area and you’re struggling with infertility, call one of our offices today or use the online tool to request an appointment.

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 you understand what the procedures are, how they’re performed, and the ways in which you can benefit.

What is PGS/PGD?

PGS/PGD is performed in conjunction with in vitro fertilization. In a standard IVF, embryos created in the laboratory are chosen for implantation into your uterus based on their visual quality.

With PGS/PGD, however, the doctors carry out testing that evaluates each embryo’s chromosomes to identify abnormalities. The preimplantation screening and diagnostics greatly improve the success rates of transfers, so you have a greater likelihood of carrying a pregnancy to term.

How does PGS/PGD work?

Following introduction of sperm to the egg, embryos form. They develop into blastocysts, consisting of 100-200 cells, by day five or six. Your fertility specialist removes 4-6 cells from the blastocyst and sends them to a lab for genetic screening. While we await results, we keep the embryos frozen, ready for implantation at the right time.

PGS checks for chromosomal normality, meaning the sample cells contain 46 chromosomes (23 pairs). Embryos with missing chromosomes or an extra chromosome are less likely to result in a successful, healthy pregnancy. PGD checks the embryos for genetic mutations that cause disorders like hemophilia and cystic fibrosis.

What are the benefits of PGS/PGD?

Chromosomal abnormalities are responsible for 50% (and perhaps more) of miscarriages in the first trimester. PGS/PGD identifies embryos without these abnormalities so we can use them for your IVF, thus increasing the likelihood that you’ll have a healthy pregnancy and baby. The procedure increases the chance of a healthy pregnancy regardless of your age.

Because PGS/PGD helps achieve higher pregnancy rates per transfer, you’re less likely to need as many cycles of IVF, which means less time, stress, and cost.

We can also help you achieve pregnancy with a single-embryo transfer, because we’re confident in the health of that embryo. This reduces the health risks and pregnancy complications that are associated with carrying multiples. These complications include preterm birth, preeclampsia, and abnormal placental function.

If you go through an IVF cycle and PGS/PGD doesn’t identify a viable embryo, you can start your next IVF cycle right away.

Who are the best candidates for PGS/PGD?

While PGS/PGD is an extra step in your IVF process, it’s well worth it as the procedure can reduce the risk of miscarriage and failed transfers.

While women of all ages going through IVF can benefit, PGS/PGD is especially helpful to women 35 and older. The risk of chromosomal abnormalities in embryos increases notably as you age.

If you have a history of recurrent miscarriage, PGS/PGD is also highly recommended. Our doctors discuss your health history and pregnancy history when helping you determine if PGS/PGD is right for you.

To learn more about preimplantation genetic screening and diagnosis as well as other valuable fertility services, contact us at the California Center for Reproductive Health. Call today or use the online tool to set up a consultation.

PGT

If you want to not just increase your odds of having a baby of a specific gender, but guarantee a specific sex, then preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGT), is the preferred procedure. This process may be combined with Ericksson sperm washing and allows for a definitive choice when it comes to an embryo’s gender.

PGT is performed along with in vitro fertilization. The doctors take an egg and sperm from the respective partners and unite them in a lab. The resulting embryos undergo a biopsy and specific chromosomal test, which checks for gender and other chromosomal abnormalities (such as cystic fibrosis and Down syndrome).

The healthiest, most viable one or two embryos of the gender of your preference are then delivered into the woman’s uterus in a minimally invasive, in-office procedure. These embryos can then attach to the uterine wall and result in a positive pregnancy. PGT is nearly perfect in its ability to give you a child with the sex you desire.

At California Center for Reproductive Health, we’re leaders in assisted reproductive technology (ART) and gender selection. Couples in the greater Los Angeles area and beyond can find out more about how they can play a role in determining the sex of their future baby. Call us or use the online tool to set up a consultation at one of our offices in Encino, Valencia, Alhambra, or West Hollywood, California.

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 and of having a healthy pregnancy and thriving baby.

At California Center for Reproductive Health, our fertility specialists, Drs. Eliran Mor and Irene Woo, often recommend you take steps to reach a healthy weight if you’re struggling with infertility. Here’s why.

Being underweight can affect your cycle

When you have a body mass index (BMI) of 18.5 or less, it’s an indication that you’re underweight. A BMI of 17.5 or less may be a sign of an eating disorder, which should definitely be addressed prior to conception.

When your body senses that you’re too thin, it may stop making the female hormone estrogen. Your periods become irregular or disappear altogether, a sign that you’re not ovulating (releasing an egg every month). Your body senses that you may not be healthy enough to support a developing baby in the womb.

If you don’t ovulate, there’s no egg to be fertilized and pregnancy can’t occur.

Being overweight also affects ovulation

Being overweight or obese may also interfere with ovulation. Fat cells produce estrogen, the same hormone produced by your ovaries. When you have too much natural estrogen, your body reacts in the same way as it does when you take larger doses of the hormone in birth control, like the pill or Depo-Provera® injections. Too much estrogen suppresses ovulation.

Overproduction of natural estrogen from fat cells can also fool your body into thinking you’re already pregnant. As a result, you don’t ovulate and you have irregular or absent periods.

Extra weight can also interfere with fertility treatments, including in vitro fertilization. If you want to maximize your chances of getting pregnant with assisted reproductive technology (ART), we may recommend you work toward a healthy weight first.

What if I have polycystic ovary syndrome?

About 10% of women have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This hormonal and metabolic condition can cause you to gain weight or have trouble losing excess weight. PCOS can affect your fertility by suppressing ovulation.

If you have PCOS, we can work with you to help you achieve a healthier weight and provide treatments that can help you get pregnant. You may benefit from fertility medications and in vitro fertilization.

Can weight affect male fertility?

Men who are obese may experience changes in their testosterone levels that affect their ability to produce viable sperm. Low sperm counts and sperm with low motility occur more often in men who are overweight or obese than in men who are at healthy weights.

What should I do?

Before assuming it’s your weight that’s causing your infertility, make an appointment at our office to have all relevant fertility factors considered. Your age, genetic history, and gynecological health, as well as your partner’s health, all play a role in your ability to get pregnant.

We can help support you in losing or gaining weight in a healthy way if we feel that can help your fertility journey. Achieving a healthy weight with a nutritious diet, exercise, and stress reduction is always a good way to promote better health, too.

Our fertility specialists at California Center for Reproductive Health understand how frustrating and devastating infertility can be. We do everything possible to support your efforts to overcome infertility and experience a healthy pregnancy. Call today for an appointment or use the online tool to schedule.

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 every step of in vitro fertilization, especially this essential step of embryo transfer. Here’s what you need to know.

What is embryo transfer?

Embryo transfer is the final stage of the IVF process. Your fertilized egg has been left to grow in a lab for several days and is now ready to be placed in the uterus to implant and result in the birth of a healthy child.

How is an embryo transfer performed?

The transfer process is relatively simple and doesn’t require anesthesia, but some women do receive mild sedation. During the procedure, the viable embryo is loaded into a catheter (thin tube), which we pass through your vagina and cervix and then place in the uterus. The sensation feels very much like a Pap smear.

What are the types of embryo transfer?

Embryo transfer is not a one-size-fits-all procedure. Prior to starting the invitro process, you agreed to one of the following:

Fresh transfer

This is when a fresh embryo that’s never been frozen is deposited into your uterus.

Frozen transfer

A frozen transfer occurs when a frozen embryo from a prior IVF round or donor egg is thawed and transferred to your uterus.

Cleavage stage transfer

This transfer occurs when the cells in the embryo are dividing, but the embryo is not yet growing in size. This stage usually occurs around day three, but may occur a day or two sooner or later. The cleavage stage transfer may be recommended to get an embryo to the optimal environment as quickly as possible in the developmental process to increase its chance of survival.

Blastocyst stage transfer

A blastocyst is an embryo that has developed into a sphere of 60-120 cells. This usually happens around day five, but may occur a few days later. By waiting until day five for transfer, we can better select embryos that have a higher probability for continued development and a successful pregnancy.

A blastocyst can be genetically tested prior to transfer, which can help reduce the risk of miscarriage, avoid certain genetic disorders, and even select the sex of the child.

How many embryos will be transferred?

The number of embryos transferred depends on your wishes, your age, and the number of potentially viable embryos. Transferring just one embryo reduces the risk of being pregnant with multiples, but still results in a high rate of pregnancy.

A transfer of multiple embryos involves placing more than one fertilized egg into your uterus. This type of transfer is highly regulated because of the risk of potential pregnancy complications.

What should I expect after an embryo transfer?

You may have some cramping, bloating, and vaginal discharge following the embryo transfer. Confirmation of pregnancy isn’t possible until two weeks later. You’ll come to our office so we can check to see if the embryo implanted successfully.

IVF is an exciting, but nerve-wracking, process. Embryo transfer is the final stage of the journey and incredibly important in achieving a successful pregnancy. We’re with you every step of the way and ready to answer your questions. We understand how stressful the process can feel and want to help you as you grow your family.

Call the California Center for Reproductive Health if you’re wanting to add to your family, but need a little assistance. We have offices in several areas to serve you: Encino, Alhambra, West Hollywood, and Valencia.

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 40, this percentage is even lower.

Don’t let these statistics discourage you. A failed IVF attempt does not end your attempt to create your family. Our team at the California Center for Reproductive Health offers the most up-to-date infertility interventions and evaluations. We have advanced infertility treatments that can still help if IVF failed. Here’s how.

How IVF works

IVF involves fertilizing a woman’s egg with her partner’s sperm in a laboratory. The embryos develop in the lab and when determined viable, they’re implanted into a woman’s uterus, with the hope that they attach and grow into a healthy baby.

Why IVF fails

An IVF cycle may fail due to any number of reasons. Here are explanations of some of the more common reasons.

Embryo quality

An IVF cycle most often fails due to the quality of the embryo implanted. Although we do a thorough evaluation of the embryo’s health before implantation, it may have defects that prevent it from growing.

Age of the eggs

The age of the eggs used to create the embryo in the lab matters, too. As a woman ages, the quality and quantity of viable eggs decreases.

Ovarian function

Prior to egg harvesting, a woman undergoes hormone treatments that stimulate her ovaries to produce multiple eggs. If you’re older than 37 or have high levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, you may have trouble producing enough eggs, and IVF may fail.

Chromosomal abnormalities

A common reason why pregnancies fail early on is due to chromosomal abnormalities. Even women who’ve conceived naturally can suffer chromosomal abnormalities that result in miscarriage.

Sometimes these can be detected in the lab, and embryos with such abnormalities are not used during the IVF process. But, if such an embryo is used, it may not implant correctly in the uterus of could result in miscarriage. Sometimes, an IVF round fails even before the attempt to transfer the embryo to a woman’s uterus occurs because all of the embryos that were created have chromosomal abnormalities.

Lifestyle choices

Smoking is a definite poor lifestyle choice when you’re undergoing IVF. Smokers usually need more IVF cycles to successfully conceive and are more likely to experience a miscarriage. Being underweight or overweight also affects your IVF treatment outcome.

Implantation issues

Sometimes the uterus isn’t receptive to implantation. While this is sometimes due to issues with the embryo, it can also have to do with the status of your uterine lining. If the IVF hormones used prior to implantation are out of balance, your uterus may not be sticky enough or at the right point in its cycle to accept an embryo.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is an overgrowth of uterine lining. The tissue often grows outside of the womb and affects your reproductive organs. Some women have symptoms associated with endometriosis, such as irregular bleeding or cramping, but other women aren’t aware they have it until a complication with IVF occurs.

How we can help

For older women who are concerned about their egg quality, using donor eggs greatly increases the chance of success with IVF. We’re happy to discuss this option with you at a consultation.

If your ovaries are at risk of not producing enough eggs, our team can work with you to evaluate your ovarian reserve and discuss any changes that will need to be made to your fertility medications for future IVF rounds.

We may recommend lifestyle changes to improve your chances of success. For instance, if you smoke, you should quit at least three months before your next IVF cycle. Also, it’s helpful to achieve a healthy weight to optimize your chances of successful IVF.

The doctors may also recommend an evaluation of your uterine lining if it seems you’re having trouble with implantation. They may be able to adjust your IVF hormone treatments to optimize progesterone timing and improve your uterine receptivity.

Dr. Mor and Dr. Woo may suggest a ReceptivaDx test that detects inflammation of the uterine lining. Inflammation is most commonly associated with endometriosis, one of the leading causes of infertility and failed implantation.

We can do a biopsy of suspicious tissue if endometriosis is suspected in order to confirm a diagnosis. Endometriosis may be removed with minimally invasive surgery and a course of antibiotics to reduce inflammation and improve chances of implantation in a future IVF cycle.

Disappointment can’t even begin to explain how you feel after a failed IVF cycle. But you don’t have to give up on your dreams of a family. Take advantage of the expertise and compassion of our infertility experts at California Center for Reproductive Health.

Call one of our offices in Encino, Santa Monica, Valencia, Alhambra, and West Hollywood, California, to set up a consultation and evaluation. Alternatively, you can schedule an appointment online.

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 who also desire to go on to have a healthy, biological baby.

The doctors at California Center for Reproductive Health are in a unique position to discuss fertility preservation and your reproductive options, whether you’re a current cancer patient or a survivor.

Dr. Eliran Mor and Dr. Irene Woo understand the effects specific cancer treatments have on male and female fertility and can help with fertility preservation methods or hormonal and reproductive management after cancer treatment.

Cancer and male fertility

A man’s ability to father a child through normal sexual activity can be affected by cancer and cancer treatments. Reproductive problems may occur when hormone levels are altered due to cancerous cells or treatment, or when reproductive organs were removed due to cancer invasion.

Intensive radiation or chemotherapy can kill stem cells intrinsic to sperm production. Many men regain their ability to produce sperm after remission from cancer, but some do not. Hormone therapies that are used to treat prostate or other cancers can also have a negative impact on the hormones that help develop sperm.

Male fertility preservation methods

If you’re a man facing a cancer diagnosis, we can review your options for preserving your sperm for the future. Males who’ve passed puberty can provide a semen sample that’s then frozen in liquid nitrogen. This sperm remains viable for several decades.

You don’t have to be able to ejaculate to provide a sperm sample either. Our team can review options with you, such as surgical sperm extraction or electroejaculation.

Cancer and female infertility

Cancer and its treatment can greatly affect a woman’s fertility, sometimes pushing her into early menopause. We offer fertility assessments both before and after treatment.

The effects on your fertility that you experience due to cancer may include a depletion in the number of eggs stored in your ovaries (your ovarian reserve.) You’re also at risk of premature ovarian failure, reduced production of ovarian hormones, and potential scarring in the uterus or fallopian tubes, any of which can interfere with fertilization and implantation.

Female fertility preservation methods

Our caring doctors can help you understand your ovarian reserve and the impact your treatment may have on it. Plus, we can honestly look at your ability to carry a pregnancy and review all of your options.

In addition to your specific cancer diagnosis, other issues to consider are your age, what type of chemotherapy you had, your fertility and menstrual history, and the doses of radiation and chemotherapy you received.

We can support you in egg freezing or embryo freezing so you can get pregnant after your cancer treatment, even if such cancer treatment puts you into premature ovarian failure. Special arrangements are made to expedite your treatment, regardless of where you are in your menstrual cycle.

The entire fertility preservation is done within about two weeks and can finish before you undergo your first cancer treatment.

A cancer diagnosis is scary. Let us help you at least ease some fears and preserve your ability to enjoy a family once you’ve progressed through treatment. Cancer can affect fertility in both men and women, but with our expert, state-of-the-art fertility preservation methods, you have a great chance at parenting a biological child.

Contact one of our locations in Encino, Santa Monica, Valencia, Alhambra, or West Hollywood, California, right away or use the online tool to schedule a consultation. We’ll work with you and your oncologist to provide you the best chances at preserving your fertility so you have one less thing to worry about as you heal.

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 implants, you become pregnant.

At the California Center for Reproductive Health, we customize your IVF treatment to give you the best outcome. Here’s what to expect if you’ve made the choice to go through this procedure to conceive.

A possible first step: ovulation suppression

Ovarian suppression isn’t the first step for all women, but if we decide this is needed, you’ll be given birth control pills or a medication called leuprolide. This gives us better control over the timing of your cycle.

Stimulating ovulation

Ovarian stimulation is usually achieved with hormone injections. The shots most likely include follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and/or luteinizing hormone (LH). We determine the right combination for your body.

During this ovarian stimulation, we monitor you closely with blood tests and ultrasounds to evaluate the number of egg follicles that are developing and how your uterine lining is thickening.

Triggering maturation

The doctors administer a “trigger shot” when your follicles are just about ready. This shot consists of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) or leuprolide to encourage the eggs to mature and stimulate ovulation.

Egg harvesting

About 36 hours after your trigger shot, we’re ready to retrieve your eggs. You’re placed under light sedation or given pain medication. We use an ultrasound-guided needle inserted transvaginally to reach your ovaries and remove the egg from each of your follicles. Usually, 10-15 eggs are harvested in any one cycle, but sometimes it’s just a few or more than 15.

Sperm samples

During egg harvesting, or close to that time on the same day, your partner produces a sperm sample. If you’ve opted for donor sperm or previously frozen sperm, it’s being prepared.

Fertilizing the egg

Eggs are fertilized in one of two ways: intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) or standard insemination. With ICSI, the doctors inject a single sperm into an egg. With standard insemination, your eggs are placed in a petri dish with more than 50,000 sperm in hopes one pair meets. The type of fertilization technique depends on your particular situation and the doctor’s recommendations.

Monitoring the embryo

The eggs that have potentially been fertilized are monitored for fertilization. If an embryo or embryos form, they’re monitored for healthy growth and development. The doctors look for an embryo of 6-8 cells by three days after fertilization and a healthy blastocyst by day five.

If you’ve planned on preimplantation genetic testing, this is done before implantation. A few cells are removed and tested.

Preparing for transfer

One to two days after your eggs are fertilized in the lab, you start a progesterone supplement to optimize your uterine lining for implantation. This may be administered by injection, suppositories, or vaginal gel. You may continue this progesterone supplement at least through confirmation of pregnancy.

Transferring the embryo

Within 3-5 days after your egg harvesting and fertilization, the embryo(s) are transferred to your uterus. The doctor uses ultrasound to guide a catheter through your vagina and cervix into the uterus. The hope is that an embryo implants and produces a viable pregnancy. You’re awake for this process and can often watch it on a nearby monitor.

Immediately following the transfer and for the next five days or so, we recommend you take it easy and avoid sexual intercourse so you don’t cause contractions that could deter implantation.

Testing for pregnancy

We know you’re eager to find out the results of your IVF procedure, but resist the urge to use a home pregnancy test in the first few weeks after the embryo transfer. You’re likely to get a false positive due to hormones used during the process or a false negative because it’s too early to detect pregnancy.

We will do a blood test about two weeks after the embryo transfer to determine if the IVF procedure was successful.

Dealing with infertility is extremely difficult and sensitive, but our team at the California Center for Reproductive Health is ready to help you. Whether it’s helping a woman overcome infertility due to endometriosis, reversing a tubal ligation, or addressing ovulatory failure, the doctors and staff provide expertise and compassion.

Traditional IVF is just one of many fertility treatments possible. Call one of the offices in Encino, Santa Monica, Valencia, Alhambra, and West Hollywood, California, to set up a consultation and evaluation. Alternatively, you can schedule an appointment online.