Houston Fertility Institute

Treatments and Services Available at Houston Fertility Institute

This page contains a list of some of the many infertility treatments available from the experienced staff of Houston Fertility Institute, including egg donation, surrogacy, in vitro fertilization (IVF), and more. Each of our Texas clinics, located in Houston, The Woodlands, Willowbrook, Tomball, Katy, Sugar Land, or Medical Center, offers comprehensive fertility treatment options. Featured below are more detailed descriptions of some of our most common procedures. Please contact Houston Fertility Institute today for further information.

Fertilization Procedures

Other Fertility Treatments

Andrology Services

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

One of the best-known treatments for infertility is in vitro fertilization, or IVF. Our Texas fertility clinics often uses IVF because it is highly effective for both female and male factor infertility. It offers the best chance of pregnancy per cycle, but is also the most expensive form of treatment. As a result, IVF at our clinics in Tomball and Houston are often utilized only after trying more conservative treatments. The in vitro fertilization procedure at Houston Fertility Institute involves hormone injections to stimulate ovaries to mature eggs, which are then retrieved through aspiration. Fertilization of the eggs takes place in our IVF laboratory in Tomball or Houston. The resulting embryos are nourished in an incubator and, at a predetermined stage of development, transferred into the uterus to continue normal fetal development. For experienced in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment in the Houston, Texas, area, you can trust the doctors and staff of Houston Fertility Institute.

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is one of a number of infertility treatments available at Houston Fertility Institute. Intrauterine insemination or IUI is a basic step towards fertility treatments. It is also called artificial insemination. This fertility treatment can be done using your husband or partner's sperm or sperm from a donor. Following intercourse, only a small proportion of the sperm ascend the female genital tract. The goal of IUI is to increase the quantity of sperm into the uterus and thereby facilitate fertilization. For IUI the sperm are first washed and placed into a small volume of sterile medium and are then injected directly into the uterus via a thin soft catheter. The patient is able to resume normal activity immediately following the IUI procedure.

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

Severe male factor infertility, once an impenetrable barrier to parenthood, has virtually ceased to exist. ICSI involves the insertion of a single sperm directly into a mature egg obtained from the ovary of a woman undergoing in vitro fertilization. Often, this results in fertilization and the development of a normal embryo. The babies born after ICSI are just as healthy as babies conceived spontaneously.

Testicular/Epididymal Sperm-Aspiration (TESA)

Some men suffer a blockage or other abnormality that prevents the passage of sperm through ejaculation. A minor surgical procedure can be performed where sperm is retrieved from the epididymis or directly from the testicle itself. This sperm is then injected (ICSI) into the mature eggs obtained through in vitro fertilization (IVF). At our Texas clinics, sperm obtained through aspiration can be successfully cryopreserved for future use. Embryo cryopreservation via advanced cryopreservation techniques permit selected embryos that are not immediately returned to a woman's uterus to be frozen for the couple's later use. When thawed at a later date, these embryos can be transferred to the woman's uterus in a menstrual cycle with little or no pre-medication. The babies born after cryopreservation are just as healthy as babies conceived spontaneously.

Assisted Embryo Hatching

Human eggs are surrounded by a shell. Once the egg is fertilized, the early embryo develops within the confines of that shell. When the embryo reaches the uterus, it needs to break out of the shell and make contact with the endometrium. Assisted embryo hatching is a technique for thinning the shell just before the embryo is placed back in the uterus following in vitro fertilization (IVF). In selected women, helping the embryo to break through its shell may improve the chances of an IVF pregnancy. To learn more, contact Houston Fertility Institute.

Blastocyst Transfer

We already know that with natural conception, embryos arrive in the uterus at day five or six after fertilization. With present-day IVF, however, embryos are routinely transferred back to the uterus on day three after fertilization. Recent breakthroughs have been made in the science of nurturing embryos from select patients to benefit from an additional two to three days of growth prior to embryo transfer. By growing embryos to the blastocyst stage, we are able to transfer fewer embryos without lowering the chance that a patient will become pregnant. This breakthrough will help maintain the high pregnancy rates that patients have come to expect while decreasing the risk of conceiving a high-order multiple pregnancy.

Egg donation at our clinics in The Woodlands, Willowbrook, Tomball, Houston, Katy, Sugar Land, or Medical Center, Texas, is often the solution to infertility problems such as premature ovarian failure, poor quality eggs, diminished quantity, menopause, or genetic abnormalities.

Egg donation for our Houston area patients begins when a donor produces and donates eggs to the recipient. The donor may wish to remain anonymous to the recipient, but the doctors supervising egg donation at our Houston, Texas, area clinics carefully screen potential donors before accepting them to assure success. The eggs are then fertilized via in vitro fertilization (IVF) and the resulting embryos are placed in the uterus of the recipient. After successful egg donation patients can expect fetal development to proceed in typical fashion.

Surrogacy

When the female partner cannot ovulate or cannot carry a fetus, many couples consider surrogacy. Our Texas clinics in The Woodlands, Willowbrook, Tomball, Houston, Katy, Sugar Land, and Medical Center, are prepared to assist in all phases of the process.

A surrogate, or gestational carrier, is a woman who carries and delivers a baby for another couple, the intended parents. In our IVF laboratory near Houston, the egg cell of the intended mother is fertilized by the sperm of the intended father. The resulting embryo is placed into the uterus of the gestational carrier. The baby is the genetic offspring of the intended parents and has no genetic relationship with the carrier.

PGD – PreImplantation Genetic Diagnosis

PGD stands for pre-implantation genetic diagnosis. It is a breakthrough technology in reproductive health that improves the likelihood of having a healthy baby. It is most commonly performed when one or both partners carry a genetic disease. PGD allows the couple to reduce the chance of transmitting the genetic disease to their children. PGD is performed as a part of an In Vitro Fertilization cycle (IVF) where multiple eggs are produced, retrieved from the ovaries and fertilized with the sperm in the embryology laboratory. IVF is necessary to give us access to the embryos. On day 3 of embryo culture, the embryos are typically 6-8 cells in size. One or two cells are removed, in a process called embryo biopsy, and genetic evaluation is performed on all the embryos. Only the healthy embryos are then transferred back into the uterus.

PGD can also be done to help select embryos of a particular gender, usually to avoid sex-specific diseases (see list below under X-linked diseases), but it can also be done for family balancing. PGD is normally recommended for couples where one or both of the parents are a known carriers of a genetic disease (i.e. hemophilia, sickle cell disease, or cystic fibrosis etc…).

PGD and pregnancy:

One concern of many couples is whether or not the procedure will affect their chances of pregnancy, or more importantly, the health of their embryo. Because the procedure is done so early in the developmental process, at a time when any cell from the embryo can potentially be removed and go on to create another embryo on its own, PGD does not cause any harm to the developing embryo. How PGD affects your chances of a successful pregnancy, though, are debatable.

Some people feel that performing PGD and manipulating the embryo in some way is likely to lessen your chances of a pregnancy, as compared to conventional IVF. However, others disagree, believing that pregnancy success rates actually increase through the use of PGD. This is because only those embryos that have been shown to be in good health are transferred back to the mother. The take home message is that the actual biopsy of the embryo does NOT affect the health of your baby, but there may be a small decrease in the overall chance of getting pregnant in that particular IVF cycle.

PGD is not a routine part of IVF. There is an extra cost for doing PGD. The cost varies and will depend on which type of genetic testing is being performed.

The physicians and embryologists at the Houston Fertility Institute are experts in this new area of reproductive health. We have recently published multiple articles on a new embryo biopsy technique which we have innovated at our embryology laboratory. Having PGD done in a highly experienced facility cannot be over emphasized.

The following is a sample list of some of the genetic diseases that can be screened for with IVF/PGD. This is not a comprehensive list by any means. Most known genetic diseases can actually be tested for.

Tubal Reversal

Introduction

Tubal ligation is one of the most commonly performed operations in women in the United States. If you have had a tubal ligation in the past and currently desire to have more children, you could be a candidate for a microsurgical tubal reversal (also called microsurgical tubal anastomosis). More than 1% of surgically sterilized women ultimately seek restoration of their fertility.

What is a tubal reversal?

A tubal reversal is a surgical procedure during which the segment of the tube that has been tied is removed and the remaining 2 segments are attached together with the aid of an operating microscope.

Are both tubes "untied" during a tubal reversal?

Yes. More often than not, your doctor is able to reverse the ligation on both your right and left tubes. Occasionally, one side may be heavily scarred from the previous tubal surgery you have had and therefore only the other side is amenable for a tubal reversal. Very rarely are both sides heavily scarred and the operation cannot be performed.

If both sides are heavily scarred, does it mean I cannot get pregnant?

No. You can always undergo in vitro fertilization and therefore "bypass" the tied tubes.

How successful is a tubal reversal?

Depending on which method your tubes were tied, the success of microsurgical tubal reversal is anywhere from 50%to 70%. Your chances are higher if the remaining total length of the tube after it has been surgically put back together is more than 4 centimeters (a little less than 2 inches). Most patients who get pregnant after microsurgical tubal reversal do so in the first 6 months following the surgery, although some patients may take longer to conceive. If only one tube is successfully untied, your odds of getting pregnant are not decreased, but the time to get pregnant may be longer.

How is the surgery performed?

The surgery is performed in one of 2 methods. The classical method involves a small "bikini line incision", about 5 centimeters in length (or 2 inches). You may need to stay overnight in the hospital and will most likely be discharged the next day. The other method is done laparoscopically, and it involves 4 very small incisions (half a centimeter each). You are typically discharged home the same day of your surgery. Ask your doctor which method suites you best.

Is the tubal reversal surgery good for one pregnancy only?

No. Once your tubes are successfully untied, you are able to get pregnant as many times as you need to. However, it is important to remember that if you desire to have only one child, you will need to use some form of contraception after you deliver.

If I do not wish to undergo surgery, do I have any other options to get pregnant other than undergoing a tubal reversal surgery?

Yes. In vitro fertilization (IVF) is the other option you have to get pregnant. The physicians at Houston Fertility Institute will counsel you on which procedure is better for you, tubal reversal surgery or IVF.

Vasectomy and Vasectomy Reversal

Q: If the male partner has had a vasectomy in the past, what are your options of getting pregnant?
A: Two options exist, the first is vasectomy reversal surgery, and the second is testicular sperm extraction followed by in vitro fertilization. There are pros and cons to both procedures. The doctors at the Houston Fertility Institute can advise you on which procedure is best for you. In most instances, IVF will have higher chances of pregnancy in a significantly shorter period of time.

Q: What is vasectomy reversal surgery?
A: Vasectomy reversal is a micro-surgical procedure (done using an operating microscope) that requires up to 4 hours of operating time, wherein the tubes (vas deferens) are reconnected, allowing sperm to pass through once again.

Q: What is the success rate of vasectomy reversal?
A: In general, the success rate of vasectomy reversal is around 40-50%. However, it can take up to two years after the reversal surgery before a pregnancy occurs. The average time lapse between the reversal surgery and pregnancy is one year.

Q: How long after a vasectomy reversal will sperm start appearing in the ejaculate?
A: It takes several months (3-15 months) for sperm to start appearing in the ejaculate.

Q: If sperm is identified in the ejaculate following a vasectomy reversal, does this usually guarantee a pregnancy?
A: No. Just because sperm is identified, this does not guarantee a pregnancy. Sperm is needed in large numbers in order for the male partner to be fertile. A normal sperm count of at least 20 million/ml is requires for fertility. Often times the sperm count following a vasectomy reversal is less than 20million/ml. In addition, about 50% of males who have had a vasectomy develop anti-sperm antibodies, and research shows anti-sperm antibodies can inhibit the function and movement of sperm, leading to continued infertility despite the presence of sperm in the ejaculate.

Q: What determines the success of a vasectomy reversal?
A: Success rates of both the return of sperm to the semen and subsequent pregnancy are highest when the reversal is performed relatively shortly after the vasectomy. The highest pregnancy rates are obtained when the original vasectomy surgery has been performed less than 3 years ago. Pregnancy rates drop significantly after 3 years from the original vasectomy surgery.

Q: What are some considerations prior to considering vasectomy reversal?
A: Prior to considering having a vasectomy reversal, the female partner needs to be evaluated by a Reproductive Endocrinologist to rule out any infertility on her side. This is probably one of the most overlooked aspects in males undergoing a vasectomy reversal surgery. Even if the vasectomy reversal is successful, if the female partner has infertility problems, pregnancy will unlikely happen spontaneously. In such case, In vitro Fertilization rather than vasectomy reversal should be performed. In addition, fertility drops significantly if the age of the female partner is greater than 35 years; therefore, it is recommended in such cases NOT to undergo a vasectomy reversal, but to proceed with IVF, as time is of the essence in women who are over 35 years old.

Q: What about In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)?
A: IVF involves obtaining sperm from the testicle using sperm aspiration or biopsy, injecting the sperm into the eggs of the female partner, followed by implanting the resultant embryos back into the uterus. The pregnancy rate is higher than what is obtained by a vasectomy reversal, and pregnancies occur in a significantly shorter period of time. A typical IVF cycle takes about 4-6 weeks from start to finish.

Q: What are some of the advantages of IVF over vasectomy reversal surgery?
A: 1. IVF has a higher success rate in a significantly shorter duration of time.
2. Often times a pregnancy can be achieved with IVF way before sperm can even be demonstrated in the ejaculate following a vasectomy reversal.
3. There is no need for contraception following a successful IVF, while following a successful vasectomy reversal, some form of birth control is required.
4. IVF can overcome almost all causes of female infertility, while a vasectomy reversal does not address any concurrent female fertility.

Q: What are some of the disadvantages of IVF compared to a vasectomy reversal?
A: 1. IVF does require more monitoring during the treatment cycle.
2. IVF does increase the occurrence of multiples (mostly twins), while this is not an issue with vasectomy reversal surgery.

Q: Financial considerations:
A: Both vasectomy reversal and IVF have comparable costs.

Get in touch with Houston Fertility Institute today for further information about our fertility treatments, including egg donation, surrogacy, in vitro fertilization (IVF), and other infertility solutions. Contact our clinic in Houston, Texas, or The Woodlands, Willowbrook, Tomball, Katy, Sugar Land, or Medical Center today to schedule a consultation.

Give us a Call today at 281-357-1881

To learn more about our infertility treatments, including surrogacy and IVF, contact one of our Texas clinics, located in Houston, The Woodlands, Willowbrook, Tomball, Katy, Sugar Land, or Medical Center.






In a healthy, fertile couple, the probability of fertilization in a given cycle may be as high as 70 percent. However, by the time of the first expected menstrual period after ovulation, approximately 60-70 percent of the early embryos have already failed to develop. It is believed that many of these lost embryos were abnormal and incapable of survival.

Tomball Medical Complex
13414 Medical Complex Dr.
Suite #7
Tomball, Texas 77375
Office: 281-357-1881
Fax: 281-357-1865
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The Woodlands
9200 Pinecroft, Suite #480
The Woodlands, Texas 77380
Office: 281-681-0480
Fax: 281-681-9170

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Houston Office
2500 Fondren, Ste. 350
Houston, Texas 77063
Office: 713-490-2527
Fax: 713-334-5547

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Sugar Land Office
4911 Sand Hill Dr.
Sugar Land, Texas 77479
Office: 713-490-2527
Fax: 713-334-5547

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Katy Office
23920 Katy Freeway, Suite 340
Katy, TX 77494
Office: 281-693-2434
Fax: 281-693-2455

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Medical Center
6400 Fannin, Suite 2000
Houston, TX 77030
Office: 713-796-1434
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Willowbrook Office
13215 Dotson, Suite 100
Houston, TX 77070
Office: 832-237-1434
Fax: 832-237-1436

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