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WITH THE RECENT SUSPENSION OF THE "MICROSORT" SPERM SEPARATION PROGRAM, WE HAVE SEEN A FURTHER INCREASE IN DEMAND FOR OUR IVF-PGD SERVICES. WE HAVE FURTHER EXPANDED OUR STAFF TO
ACCOMODATE THE INCREASE IN REQUESTS FOR SERVICES AND WANT TO ASSURE THOSE THAT WERE CONSIDERING MICROSORT AS A "SECOND BEST"
SEX SELECTION ALTERNATIVE THAT WE REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR YOU AND THAT THE HIGH LEVEL OF ONE ON ONE PATIENT CARE SERVICES THAT WE ARE
KNOWN FOR REMAINS OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY. THOSE THAT WERE CONSIDERING MICROSORT CAN REST ASSURED THAT IVF-PGD OFFERS EVEN HIGHER SUCCESS RATES (99.99%) FOR
ACHIEVING THE DESIRED GENDER WITH FEES THAT ARE LOWER THAN THOSE ASSOCIATED WITH MICROSORT. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL US FOR INFORMATION
ON OUR ABILITY TO ACCOMODATE FORMER MICROSORT PATIENTS!
DUE TO THE VERY LARGE NUMBERS OF COUPLES VISITING US FROM OUT OF STATE AND ABROAD, WE HAVE MADE SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS WITH A FULL SERVICE TRAVEL SERVICE THAT IS ABLE TO OFFER HIGHLY DISCOUNTED FULL TRAVEL PLANS FOR YOUR VISIT TO LOS ANGELES. SERVICES INCLUDE AIRLINE, HOTEL, TRANSPORTATION, ENTERTAINMENT, DINING AND CHILD CARE SERVICES. THIS CENTER WORKS CLOSELY WITH OUR CENTER TO COORDINATE ALL ASPECTS OF YOUR JOURNEY. MANY, MANY OF THOSE VISITING US HAVE EXPRESSED A VERY HIGH LEVEL OF SATISFACTION WITH THEIR VERY PROFESSIONAL SERVICES. YOU MAY REACH OUR FULL SERVICE TRAVEL AFFILIATE BY CLICKING HERE OR EMAIL THEM FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. WE NOW OFFER LOW INTEREST 100% FINANCING FOR GENDER SELECTION PROCEDURES. CLICK THE CAPITAL ONE LOGO FOR INFORMATION OR TO APPLY
Capital One Healthcare Finance is a flexible monthly payment option specifically designed for both infertility and gender selection treatment:
The selection of gender has been a quest of couples for as far back as recorded history allows. Early drawings from prehistoric times suggest that sex selection efforts were being investigated by our earliest ancestors. Later history shows intense interest in sex selection by early Asian (Chinese), Egytptian and Greek cultures. This is followed by documented scientific efforts begining in the 1600's to sway the chances of achieving a pregnancy by a variety of methods. Research and work carried out in the 1980's and 90's have finally provided methods offering the chance of obtaining a desired pregnancy gender outcome that ranges from excellent to virtually GUARANTEED.
It has been known for many years that the gender of a pregnancy is determined by the sex chromosome carried by the sperm. Sperm bearing an "X" chromosome, when united with the "X" from the female (females only produce "X") will result in an "XX" pregnancy that produces a female. If a sperm bearing a "Y" chromosome (men have both "X" and "Y" bearing sperm) unites with the "X" chromosome from the female, an "XY" pregnancy will result that gives rise to a male offspring. Armed with this knowledge, science initially worked to allow for an accurate method of safely separating sperm to allow the majority of those sperm capable of producing the desired gender ("X" sperm or "Y" sperm) to be exposed to the female egg (oocyte). While a variety of methods of purifying the sperm separation process have been reported and studied, in reality, very few of these methods have withstood scientific scrutiny that "checks" the validity of claims made by those employing the procedure. Because no sperm separation method thus far developed has produced the high level of sperm separation "X" (for female) and "Y" (for male) needed to provide gender outcome success levels greater than 90%, further work to perfect the sex selection process is being studied. "PGD" (preimplantation genetic diagnosis) has taken sex selection to the next and most successful level ever (greater than 99.9%). Results from our PGD process far exceed reported results from any and all other processes. The PGD process allows nature to take a more natural course in the fertilization process. Sperm that have been filtered by our standard sperm preparation process are allowed to fertilize the eggs obtained from the female "in vitro" (in our highly specialized fertility laboratory). The embryos resulting from this specialized fertilization process are then screened by our genetics team to determine both their gender and that selected chromosome pairs have resulted in an expected normal genetic pairing outcome (this process is called "aneuploidy" screening). This gender determination process at the very early development level as made famous by our Center, has resulted in the ability to provide sex selection results for the chosen gender far in excess of 99.9%. The aneuploidy (abnormal chromosome count) screening process also employed at the time of PGD gender determination also allows for the detection of limited genetic count abnormalities as a routine or for the optional screening of the embryos for a wide variety of additional genetic abnormalitites. Upon request, we can screen for genetic abnormalities such as Down's syndrome (one "extra" chromosome 21), Turner's syndrome (the absence of one of the two "X" chromosomes normally found in a female), and Kleinfelter's syndrome (a male with one "Y" chromosome and 2 "X" chromosomes instead of the normally found single "X" chromosome). New DNA microarray technology also provides us the option of screening embryos for a full (46 chromosome) genetic count. We are also able to provide those patients known to carry specific personal or family genetic diseases the ability to screen the embryos for many specific disorders. All couples meeting our standard, liberal entrance criteria will qualify for the PGD process. Aneuploidy screening as described above detects abnormal chromosome numbers and the diseases associated with those conditions. "Single gene disorders" include a wide variety of hereditary diseases found on a specific chromosome that can also be screened for with PGD. Among the diseases detectable with PGD screened for by our Center:
Our PGD results have been checked and double checked employing the services of a Board Certified geneticist with PGD accuracy better than 99.9%. Because "nothing is perfect" we advise that, with a 99.9% quote of success for desired gender outcome, and 92-99% chance of genetic disease detection, no offer of a 100% guarantee is made or implied. Unlike many programs offering sex selection only to very limited couples with known genetic disorders in the family we make sex selection available to all patients that have come to us from from nearly every nation on the planet (we have assisted patients from 147 different nations) seeking to balance their families or assure themselves that a pregnancy will result in ONLY the gender outcome they desire. REMEMBER: Nearly all couples qualify for sex selection using the PGD method, which provides near 100% (99.99%) success regardless of sperm counts or gender percentages! Imagine the following scenarios, which are taken from our clinical files: Couple 1: Mr. & Mrs. Adams (names are fictitious) present to our offices with a request for gender selection. The couple reports having successfully conceived and delivered three healthy females. The last birth was three years ago. Mr. Adams has a strong family history of girls being born, with his only brother having produced two girls, and three cousins also having had a total of seven female and one male offspring. Mr. Adams underwent genetic analysis of the "sex ratio" (percentage of "X" and "Y" sperm) of his total sperm production. His ejaculate was found to contain only 28% of the viable sperm seen carrying a "Y" (male producing) chromosome. His total sperm count was 42 million per ml. So, of the 42 million sperm, only 28% had the correct sex chromosome needed to produce a male. After separating his sperm for the desired gender, we would be left with a sperm count of only 12 million. This would not be enough to allow for a reasonable chance of the couple conceiving with simple sperm selection and insemination. Advised of the situation concerning their sperm sex ratio, the couple wisely elected to proceed with the IVF-PGD option. They were rewarded with a twin pregnancy that resulted in the birth of two healthy, male infants. While we exist to provide high quality medical services, we very strictly adhere to guidelines that have a history of providing excellent outcome results. While we cannot "guarantee" a desired outcome to anyone, we can now come as close to a guarantee as science allows. With the IVF-PGD option, success rates approach 100%. Couples in our program can feel comfortable that once treatment begins, they do have a nearly 100% excellent chance of achieving the desired outcome when pregnancy occurs. Consider the next scenario: Couple 2: This British couple presented to us with a history of having produced three boys over the past seven years. With very few female offspring in either of their families, they were interested in sex selection aimed at the production of a female. They undertook an initial telephone consultation with Doctor Steinberg that indicated their suitability for our program so long as some initial blood tests the Doctor requested were in order. The blood testing was ordered from a hospital laboratory near their home in London. One week later, the initial blood screening results showed them to be excellent candidiates for the sex selection procedure. Total sperm count on the male was 88 million per ml. Sex ratio demonstrated only 38% of his sperm to be "X" (female) producing. The couple were directed to one of the several fertility centers in London that we work with who assisted us in the preparation of the patients for the procedure. They began their procedure under the co-direction of our program working with the medical team in London. Two weeks later, they arrived in Los Angeles. Their travel and lodging arrangements had been coordinated with our travel desk who had a car meet them at the airport in Los Angeles. They were transported to the hotel they had chosen and the next morning undertook the egg harvest at our facility. After our modified sperm preparation separation, we obtained 34 million sex selected sperm per ml. from the husband. The PGD analysis of the embryos produced after insemination of the eggs demonstrated 3 healthy female embryos and 7 healthy male embryos, along with 2 abnormal embryos. Two normal female embryos were transerred to the uterus. The couple returned home after two "extra" days of tourism in Los Angeles and two weeks later a pregnancy test was positive. A single healthy female birth resulted. Couple 3: Lisa and David were referred to us by a local fertility program near their home in Toronto, Canada. They presented to their local program with a request to assist them in their desire to become pregnant with a boy. Lisa underwent a tubal ligation 3 years earlier after the birth of their third daughter. Lisa and David explained that they felt that they had "reached their limit" after having 3 children and undertook the tubal ligation. They indicated that with their oldest daughters now growing older and able to help with the youngest one, their thoughts had changed and they now felt that they could care for an additional child. While totally content with their daughters, David indicated that he was very interested in seeing if the couple could use "new science" to help them achieve the birth of a son. Lisa was very supportive and indicated that she too was ready for another child. She indicated that gender was not a concern for her but that she was ready to support David's decision to inquire about our gender selection program. They were told by their local fertility physician that gender selection was illegal in Canada. He did advise them that he had seen and assisted in the care of several Canadian patients that were being treated for sex selection at our Center in Los Angeles. He suggested to Lisa and David that they come see us. The couple had an initial telephone based consultation with us. This was followed by the performance of blood tests and a semen analysis that was carried out by a laboratory near their home. We performed a sex ratio on David's sperm that provides us with very valuable information about David's capacity to produce male embryos. After we learned that the couple seemed to be suitable candidates for the procedure, they underwent their initial start-up examinations at the local center. We are able to interface with physicians near the homes of patients in nearly all cases. Because Lisa was going to be 39 years old at the time of her delivery, the couple opted to also check their embryos genetically to make sure that a pregnancy with Down's syndrome did not result. Lisa and David achieved a successful male pregnancy that resulted in a healthy baby boy born at Toronto General Hospital. Their referring physician has sent us several additional patients and two of David's friends have now been seen with a request for gender selection. Sex Selection FAQsSex selection is a very difficult procedure to obtain in the United States and world wide. Our Center has the world's largest experience with PGD sex selection, and we are reporting a 100% gender outcome success rate with all patients seen at our facility. Our unmatched, extensive experience with gender selection and our review of world literature allows us to offer the following information and answers to questions: How can I assure that I am choosing the BEST center to carry out my procedure? This is perhaps THE most important question that can be asked. Of the few centers that offer this highly advanced procedure, there are only a very few that provide PGD SUB-SPECIALIST Ph.D. EMBRYOLOGISTS to carry out the critical biopsy on your newly developed embryos. We have recently heard from several patients shopping sex selection programs that very few programs were able to guarantee that a Ph.D. SUB-SPECIALIST EMBRYOLOGIST (a DOCTOR-SCIENTIST DEDICATED TO EMBRYO BIOPSY FOR SEX SELECTION) would be available to perform this highly complex procedure. They were advised that IVF technicians were "adequate" for the procedure. We disagree. We suggest that you request IN WRITING an assurance that a Ph.D. SPECIALIST in embryo biopsy will carry out your procedure. Request the NAME of the DOCTOR and request that ONLY this Doctor perform the procedure. As in our Center, other Centers dedicated to the highest quality in sex selection science will have no problem providing you the name of the Doctor performing this important laboratory service. Accept NO excuses or alternative explanations for why such a specialist will not be performing your biopsy. Ask if there is a full time, on-site Ph.D. embryologist at the facility. While the recent cost-saving trend has been to allow the highly qualified laboratory directors to be "traveling consultants" (that is, they work at outside programs or Universities and staff the local facility with lesser qualified technicians, only visiting the Center intermittently), at The Fertility Institutes, we feel this to be a less than optimal arrangement that has the potential to compromise your chances for success. We maintain a FULL TIME-IN HOUSE Ph.D. director. If you read that the "Laboratory Director" at a facility is a "consultant" or other synonym, and is NOT at the Center FULL TIME, you are well advised to reconsider this program, even if the costs, on the surface, appear to be lower. The fact is, highly skilled specialists, as with most things in life, are a more costly initial option. In the end, however, if your desired result is not obtained, the small savings obtained by using inferior methods is no savings at all. We employ one of the world's LEADING PGD-BIOPSY Ph.D. specialists with MANY publications made in leading medical journals about the science of PGD and the genetic studies used to determine gender. We are proud to provide you all of the details of this remarkable scientist's achievements with our Center upon request. When considering gender selection centers, we feel it important to also take note of the quality of the information provided you. A quality program involved in gender selection should take extra effort to provide detailed and specific information rapidly, and in an orderly and well organized fashion. Gender selection patients are a group with needs and requirements distinct from general infertility patients that have differing goals and concerns that must be appropriately attended to. Our center dedicates a separate treatment unit to the care of gender selection patients. You will find the quality of the information provided you to be of the highest caliber and to be unique to gender selection. We offered detailed descriptions of our program, DVD video descriptions of our unique services as well as personal counseling with our highly skilled nurses concerning the specific details involved in the preparation for your procedure. We provide a dedicated team devoted to assuring you a smooth, orderly and well managed treatment course, even when you may live nations or continents away! Additional efforts on our part, such as assuring that emails are responded to within 24 hours, providing a dedicated travel desk that is keenly aware of the needs of those traveling to us from afar and a multi-lingual staff (seven languages including Chinese, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Danish and Swedish) along with the ability to refer those at a distance to a local center near home for any initial arrangements all demonstrate our committment to your goal of a healthy pregnancy of the gender you preselect. We suggest that you look for these landmarks from any program you may be considering. In the end, we are sure you will find our quality unmatched by any others. Has sex selection produced a reasonable number of successes? YES! While success rates vary between programs, most programs employing standard sperm separation procedures report success rates in the 60-68 percent range. Success with IVF-PGD approaches 100% worldwide. Our program reports an 65-70% chance of achieving the desired gender outcome with sperm separation and a 99-100% assurance with IVF-PGD. Are fertility drugs used in sex selection procedures? Yes and No. Sex selection being carried out on normally fertile couples who have already produced one or more offspring and are using the sperm separation procedure do not normally require fertility drugs. Our sperm separation/sex selection procedures are offered, however, to couples needing and undertaking fertility treatment as well. In these cases, the drugs normally used for these fertility procedures are combined with the sex selection procedure. In the case of IVF-PGD, and MicroSort with IVF, fertility drugs are used consistent with our normal IVF procedures. How many babies have been born as a result of sex selection? Thousands of healthy babies have been born following sex selection procedures. In the case of the MicroSort method, Microsort is a clinical trial to prove safety and efficacy. This procedure uses an investigational device, which is limited by federal law to investigational use. MicroSort has over 400 babies born with the MicroSort technology. The PGD method has been used to evaluate the genetic health of embryos for several years and the technology, while being developed carefully, has been proven effective. Is there an increased risk of a birth defect after the sex selection procedure? No. Many studies have been carried out on artificial insemination procedures. These studies, looking at fresh, frozen, washed and isolated sperm show no increase in the occurence of birth defects when compared to natural conception. In the case of IVF-PGD, while relatively new, there has thus far been noted no increased risk to the offspring. It should be remembered that PGD is nearly 100% effective (99.9%) and is being studied closely to see how costs for the procedure can be reduced. For this reason, we now recommend PGD as the primary treatment option to couples requiring gender selection for where more than 1 child has been born of the gender opposite the gender now being sought by the couple. MicroSort is a clinical trial methodology. How is the sex selection procedure carried out? In method 1 (IVF-PGD), see our Web page related to "standard IVF". Following retrieval of the eggs with IVF, the eggs are inseminated in the laboratory with sperm that has been gender selected as in the "type 1 or 2" methods above. These sperm are then used to fertilize the healthy eggs by the embryologist. After a few days growing in the incubator, the resulting embryos are gently biopsied to allow us to obtain a cell that may be used to determine the sex (gender) of each embryo. Once this information is available (usually within 24 hours), we can select only those embryos of the desired gender for implantation. Options are offered for the disposition of the remaining embryos that include the ability to cryopreserve the embryos or offer the embryos for embryo adoption to other couples in need of embryos. In method 2, using an ovulation predictor kit, patients with regular menstrual cycles are instructed to call our office when their test kit indicates ovulation is about to occur. A semen sample is produced at the MicroSort laboratory and the sperm are separated in preparation for an artificial insemination. After a successful separation has been performed, a gentle artificial insemination procedure is carried out by placing the sex selected sperm into the body of the uterus, next to the fallopian tubes. This procedure is generally painless, and lasts just a few short moments. In some instances, a second insemination may be carried out the following day. For patients electing to utilize MicroSort with IVF, the eggs produced will be inseminated in the IVF laboratory employing the "ICSI" method of fertilization. In method 3, the semen specimen is produced at our office, separated and prepared, and insemination is carried out similar to the procedure in method 2. Two weeks later, arrangements for a pregnancy test can be made. Sex selection is offered to couples from abroad. Due to the intricacies of the procedures, we only offer the IVF-PGD option to those that live distant to our laboratories. In spite of the higher cost for IVF-PGD, when travel expenses are calculated into the equation, IVF-PGD is a much more cost- effective option. Couples from afar are invited to call our offices for information on our assistance packages for those traveling to us for treatment. Can frozen sperm be used for sex selection? Yes. Frozen sperm are subject to the same evaluation studies as fresh sperm to determine suitability for use. If found to qualify, these sperm may be used for gender selection with the IVF-PGD treatment process. Can sex selection be performed with "regular" In Vitro Fertilization? Yes. We routinely offer sex selection options and aneuploidy (abnormal chromosome count) screening to couples undergoing In Vitro Fertilization for infertility reasons. If you would like us to contact you concerning additional information required or about entering our sex selection program, please fill out the form below. Our web team will be in touch with you shortly! Thank you for your interest in our program.
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