Patient Services
At Houston Fertility Institute, we provide an array of fertility testing and treatment options, including egg donation, in-vitro fertilization (IVF), and surrogacy. Each of our Texas clinics, located in Houston, The Woodlands, Willowbrook, Tomball, Katy, Sugar Land, Medical Center, Clear Lake and Beaumont, offers the highest level of comprehensive care in a warm, nurturing environment.
Once an egg is fertilized, the embryo begins to develop within the confines of a protective shell. When the embryo reaches the uterus, it must emerge from the shell in order to implant within the inner lining of the uterus, also known as the endometrium. Assisted embryo hatching is a state-of-the-art procedure that thins the shell prior to embryo transfer during in-vitro fertilization (IVF). By helping the embryo to break through its shell, assisted embryo hatching can improve the chances of a successful IVF outcome.
Prior to recent breakthroughs with blastocyst transfer, embryos conceived through in-vitro fertilization (IVF) were typically transferred to the woman's uterus on the third day after fertilization. Blastocyst transfer, the transfer of embryos on the fifth day after fertilization, helps us to maintain the high pregnancy rates that patients have come to expect from Houston Fertility Institute while decreasing the risk of multiple gestational pregnancies.
As opposed to conventional in-vitro fertilization, donor egg IVF involves the use of eggs from a donor rather than the patient's own eggs. With donor egg IVF, the cycles of the donor and recipient are synchronized, and the donor receives medications that stimulate the simultaneous development of multiple eggs. The eggs are then collected from the donor and combined with sperm from the recipient's partner. After fertilization, the resulting embryos are transferred to the recipient's uterus for implantation.
Egg donation allows women whose ovaries do not produce enough viable eggs to become pregnant using donor eggs. Women who donate eggs give a precious gift to those who would otherwise be unable to achieve a pregnancy. An egg donor may be a friend or family member, or her identity may be anonymous. Houston Fertility Institute's anonymous egg donor program matches recipient couples with suitable egg donors.
At our Texas clinic, sperm obtained through aspiration can be successfully cryopreserved for future use. Embryo cryopreservation with advanced cryopreservation techniques permits 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 with little or no medication administered before the transfer. The babies born after cryopreservation are just as healthy as babies conceived spontaneously.
Endometriosis is the growth of cells that are similar to the endometrial cells, those that form the lining of the uterus, in a location other than the uterus, such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, vagina, cervix, or bladder. Although the exact cause of endometriosis remains unknown, laparoscopy, a surgical procedure, and hormone therapy with GnRHa have proved effective in the treatment of endometriosis. If you are suffering any of the common symptoms of endometriosis, which include chronic pelvic pain, especially during menstruation and sexual intercourse, contact Houston Fertility Institute to schedule an appointment with one of our physicians.
In order to diagnose the cause of a couple's infertility, the fertility specialists at HFI may employ a number of testing procedures, including semen analysis, hormone evaluation, hysterosalpingogram, transvaginal ultrasound, and diagnostic laparoscopy.
When the female partner cannot ovulate or is unable to carry a fetus, many couples consider gestational surrogacy. Our Texas clinics in Houston, The Woodlands, Willowbrook, Tomball, Katy, Sugar Land, Medical Center, Clear Lake and Beaumont, 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.
The in-vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure at Houston Fertility Institute involves hormone injections to stimulate the 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 growth.
ICSI, or intracytoplasmic sperm injection, involves the insertion of a single sperm directly into a mature egg obtained from the ovary of a woman undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Often, this results in fertilization and the development of a normal embryo. Babies born after ICSI are statistically as likely to be healthy as those conceived spontaneously.
Also known as artificial insemination, intrauterine insemination (IUI) involves the insertion of sperm into the woman's uterus. It may be performed using either the partner's sperm or donor sperm. It is frequently indicated as a treatment for male factor infertility caused by a low sperm count, poor sperm motility, or irregular sperm morphology (shape and size).
Ovulation induction increases the chances of conception among women with irregular ovulatory cycles, including those with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). The use of carefully controlled fertility drugs to stimulate ovulation may be combined with additional infertility treatments such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Learn more about ovulation induction.
A state-of-the-art diagnostic procedure, PGD can be used to screen for a number of congenital conditions in embryos produced as the result of an in-vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle. PGD allows our physicians to transfer only the healthiest embryos to the woman's uterus.
Tubal reversal, vasectomy and vasectomy reversal, and female genital tract reconstruction are some of the surgical infertility treatments performed at Houston Fertility Institute. Our highly skilled reproductive surgeons use the latest minimally invasive surgical techniques such as hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, laser surgery, and microsurgery.
Some men suffer a blockage or other abnormality that prevents the passage of sperm through ejaculation. A minor surgical procedure can be performed during which sperm is retrieved from the epididymis or directly from the testicle itself. This sperm is then injected, using a technique called intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), into the mature eggs obtained through in-vitro fertilization (IVF).
Highly customizable fertility treatments, including in-vitro fertilization (IVF), intrauterine insemination (IUI), and gestational surrogacy, are offered at our Texas clinic with offices in Beaumont, Houston, The Woodlands, Tomball, Katy, Sugar Land, Willowbrook, Medical Center, and Clear Lake. Schedule an appointment at Houston Fertility Institute today to get started on your journey to parenthood.
Hysteroscopy is a procedure frequently utilized in the diagnostic evaluation of infertility. It is also commonly performed prior to more advanced fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization. Hysteroscopy is generally performed under anesthesia or conscious sedation. It involves placing a small camera through the cervix and directly examining the uterine cavity. Abnormalities, such as endometrial polyps, scar tissue, and small fibroids can identified and frequently treated in the same procedure. It is also possible to evaluate the status of the fallopian tubes with hysteroscopy by utilizing a tubal catheterization procedure. Your physician will discuss if this procedure is an option for you.
This site is not a replacement for professional medical opinion, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your medical doctor or other qualified health professional before starting any new treatment or making any changes to existing treatment. Do not disregard medical advice or delay seeking professional medical opinions based on information presented in this website. None of the information in this website should be used in the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of any disease without the supervision of a medical doctor.
W. Houston Office & IVF Lab
2500 Fondren, Suite 350
Houston, Texas 77063
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