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    • I’m pleased to announce that in addition to my blog, we have created a forum for the other Sher Institute physicians, embryologists and clinical staff to post their articles and insights. You can find it at:

      http://haveababy.com/fertility-and-infertility-blogs/

      Dr. Tortoriello has written the inaugural post on Minimal Stimulation IVF. Please feel free to visit and post your comments and suggestions on what topics you would like to see addressed.

      - Geoff Sher

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      9 Responses to “Sher Institute Blog”

      1. Catherine says:

        You seem to have a very helpful site, I am hoping you can help me. On 1/25/13,I had a 5 day blastocyst transfer of 2 thawed donor egg embryos. On 2/6/13 I had my first + pregnancy test with levels of 288. Second test on 2/8/13 was at 799. Wonderful news!
        Unfortunately, I learned my physician left the single physician practice 3 days after my procedure and will not be returning. I am now 45, pregnant and abandoned by my physician with whom I have spent 3 years and countless $$$ to get to this point. His office staff have been kind but a bit bewildered. They have told me to see my gynecologist who cannot see me until 2/25/13.
        On my first trial, I miscarried and would not have known without further blood tests. I am a negative blood type, and required a Rogan shot after the miscarriage.
        I am hoping you can tell me what is the procedure for follow up testing so that I can be sure to get the proper care. I truly appreciate your help as I have nowhere to turn at this time.

        • Geoffrey Sher says:

          Hi Catherine,

          I can understand your frustration, but the worst is behind you. You obviously need follow-up care by an RE, so I suggest you find another in your area. Basically, since you no doubt are on estrogen/ progesterone therapy (by injection, oral administration and/or vaginal) this would need to be continued until the 9th or tenth week. If you are receiving steroids, this probably needs to be tailed off around the same time you stop the estrogen/progesterone. If you are receiving immunotherapy with intralipid, IVIG and or aspirin/lovenox, you need to get advice from me or someone who understands the way to tailor this treatment.

          I am sorry that you feel abandoned. That is very, very unfortunate.

          Good luck!

          Geoff Sher

          • Catherine says:

            Thsnk you for your caring response.
            I am taking Progesterone 200 mg 1 orally and 1 vaginally 3x/day. Also, I am on Estrogen patches 2 every other day and Estrace tablet vaginally every other night.
            I am not on any of the other treatments you mentioned. Sorry for my ignorance but I do not know what RE stands for. I have a gynecologist appt on 1/25/13. I hope that is soon enough.

      2. Catherine says:

        sorry,my appt is 2/25/13.

      3. Shannon says:

        Good Evening Dr. Sher:

        Looking for some advice. I’ve done two rounds of IVF (FSH 13 age 38 when this started) One round resulted in a chemical, one in a blighted ovum. Went on to donor eggs-fresh cycle nothing, 2FET from donor BFP no heartbeat at 6 weeks, and 3 FET from donor nothing.

        Trying to evaluate and see where we go from here. Doctor in Louisville says no reason why this shouldn’t work. Interested in another round of DE but don’t know if I can take the stress. Do I see a different doctor or go on to adoption? Will a DE program accept me for 100% refund when I’ve already failed 3X? Do my chances for success go down when I’ve already failed?

        Thanks for your words of wisdom.

        • Geoffrey Sher says:

          It sounds as if there could be an implantation issue (anatomical or immunologic). I may be able to help you.Please go to the home page of this blog, http://www.IVFauthority.com. When you get there look for a “search bar” in the upper right hand column. Then type in the following subjects into the bar, click and this will take you to all the relevant articles I posted there.

          1. “Immunologic Implantation Dysfunction” (posted on May, 10th and on May 16th respectively.

          2. “Embryo Implantation………” (Part-1 and Part- 2—-Posted August 2012)

          3. “Traveling for IVF from Out of State/Country– The Process at SIRM-Las Vegas” (posted on March, 21st 2012)

          4.“A personalized, stepwise approach to IVF at SIRM”; Parts 1 & 2 (posted March, 2012)

          5. “IVF success: Factors that influence outcome”

          6. “Egg Donation”

          Consider calling 800-780-7437 or 702-699-7437 to arrange a Skype consultation (free of charge to those who reside in the United States or Canada) with me so we can discuss your case in detail

          Geoff Sher

      4. heather says:

        Hi Dr Sher,

        I transferred CGH tested 5 day blast on April 16th. My first beta at 10dp5dt was 33, it rose to 147 at 13dp and 351 at 15dp. At my 6 week ultrasound I had an empty sac measuring 5 week 1 day and was told to come back in a week. So this past Friday we went back for an ultrasound and I still had an empty sac measuring 5 weeks 5 days and was diagnosed with Blighted Ovum. How does this happen with a CGH normal embryo? Thank you for your insight.

        • Geoffrey Sher says:

          While chromosomal integrity is the most important determinant of embryo survival…it is not the only issue. Epigenetic and metabolic factors also play a role and so do implantation factors.

          Geoff Sher

      Leave a Reply

       

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      I often refer to the conception process in terms of a “seed/soil” relationship.  Just as a plant can’t grow and thrive without first assuring that both seed and soil are good, neither can a pregnancy be successful without both the seed (e... more
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      This is the 15th in a series of responses to common questions about failed IVF There is little doubt that stress and emotional lability plays a role in the normal physiological/hormonal regulation of the menstrual cycle.After all, Eskimos often stopp... more
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      It is an unfortunate reality that many IVF programs attach little importance to factors that affect embryo implantation in general, and immunologic implantation dysfunction (IID) in specific (see below). Perhaps the lack of attention given to evaluat... more
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      Couples have for centuries sought to influence the gender of their offspring. More than seven centuries ago the ancient Chinese developed a birth calendar said to be able to predict gender on the basis of when conception occurred. Later, the ancient ... more
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      ALLOIMMUNE VS. AUTOIMMUNE DYSFUNCTION Alloimmune Implantation Dysfunction Every human being has two DQ-alpha genes. One is contributed by the father and the other by the mother. In a small percentage of patients undergoing IVF, paternal-maternal DQ-a... more
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      This is the 15th in a series of responses to common questions about failed IVF There is little doubt that stress and emotional lability plays a role in the normal physiological/hormonal regulation of the menstrual cycle.After all, Eskimos often stopp... more
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