P  A  M  E  T  -  N  E  V  A  D  A

PHILIPPINE ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL TECHNOLOGISTS - USA, INC , NEVADA CHAPTER

"To serve the community, the profession, and the person."

ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY

NEVADA FERTILITY C.A.R.E.S.

   By Dee Harris, MT/ Embryologist.

                               At Nevada Fertility Center of Advanced Reproductive Endocrinology and Surgery, in vitro fertilization is a                                    coordinated effort which includes stimulation of ovaries by hormonal drugs to try to obtain more than one mature oocyte, the collection of oocytes by laparoscopy or ultrasound guided follicle aspirarion, the addition of spermatozoa, isolated from semen to oocytes, and the observation and handling of oocytes, spermatozoa, and pre-embryos. It is the embryologist's responsibility to  make sure that the right amount of morphologically normal and motile spermatozoa are added to the dish with oocytes. Incorrect number of sperm cells could lead to unfertilized eggs or embryos with 3 or more pronucleus

( abnormal fertilization).These embryos do not develop into babies. 24 hours after fertilization, fertilized embryos are rinsed and moved into dishes with equilibrated cleavage media where they are kept up to 72 hours. At 72 hours the cleaved embryos are then moved to blastocyst media until the day of embryo transfer which is day 5 or day 6 depending on the embryo development. While all of these is  happening, the patient's uterus is being prepared for embryo transfer. The uterus lining is increased for implantation to occur.

                             The laboratory has to mimmick the uterus of the patient to produce healthy embryos. This is where all the hard work takes place. The right pH of the media, the proper temperature of the incubators, the right concentration of protein and glucose source is very essential in obtaining success. It is a very tedious field but at the same time a rewarding one. Ten days after the embryo transfer comes the pregnancy test. A positive result makes everything worthwhile.

                             Infertility is not just a medical problem and you are not alone in your battle. 6.1 million people in the United  States alone are affected by the infertility and many of those people deal with medical, psychological, and financial stress related to the condition.  Infertility is a disease of the reproductive system, in either a male or a female, that inhibits the ability to conceive and deliver a child.

                     Approximatley one in 6 couples are affected by infertility and there are number of factors, both male and female that can cause the condition.  In nearly 30% of cases the cause is attributed to the female, in 30% the cause is attributed to the male, in 30% the cause is attributed to both and in 10% of cases the cause is unknown.

                     Aside from all the medical and surgical techniques that patients have to go through to overcome infertility, it is also very important for each patient to build a support network while undergoing fertility treatment, as it can be both physically and emotionally difficult process.  Many patients build a support group of family, close friends,clergy, other women going through fertility treatment, and professional counselors.  As I have mentioned earlier, you are not alone and help is available

                           Medical statistics indicate that today, more than 15 % of all couples in their child bearing years are unable to concieve naturally. This figure is rising annually as a function of environmental pollution, disease, and the increased incidence of delayed childbearing among women. In Vitro Fertilization was introduced to the worldin the 1970's. Since then the number of medical technologists involved in this field has increased tremendously. Emerging new techniques are being performed by medical technologists to enhance the capacity the laboratory in In Vitro Fertilization, Techniques such as in vitro maturation, PGD, advanced embryo culture technology, crypreservation/verification and nuclear transfer to name a few are applied in the practice to optimize success in assisted reproductive technology. Don't let the big technical word scare you. The IVF lab is just like any other laboiratory. They have to follow the same regulations, encounter the same patient issues, clinical management issues, and ethical ssues. I guess what I'm trying to say is in addition to diagnostic laboratory functions, the IVF lab also acts as a bridge from the ovary to the uterus in order to achieve pregnancy.  a