Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART)

In Vitro Fertilization/Embryo Transfer (IVF- ET)

This procedure was first used in humans in 1977 at Bourne Hall in Cambridge England. To date, tens of thousands of babies have been delivered worldwide as a result of this treatment. The procedures to achieve IVF pregnancy have become increasingly simpler, safer, and markedly more successful. To achieve pregnancy as a result of IVF, several steps are included:

1. Stimulation of the ovary to produce several eggs
2. Retrieval of the eggs from the ovary
3. Fertilization of the eggs and cultivation of the embryos in the laboratory
4. Placement of the embryos into the uterus for implantation 3 to 6 days later (At this later stage, blastocysts are transferred) 

Transfer of Cryo-preserved Embryos

A procedure where embryos frozen during a previous treatment cycle are thawed and transferred into the uterus for implantation.

Donor Egg Program

Eggs removed from the ovaries of a fertile donor for use in an infertile patient. 

Please see further information about our Donor Egg Program.

Donor Embryo Program

Transfer of an embryo developed from one couple for use by an infertile recipient. 

Clean Room

A standard of quality control not matched or equal to in the Pacific Northwest.

Setting the standard is something we do naturally; we established our Clean Room in 2000.

From the time the eggs are retrieved until the embryos are safely replaced take place in a Certified Class 100 clean room. This is an environment classified for aseptic production according to ISO Standards. The room is equipped with not only HEPA filters to remove particles from the air as well as charcoal and potassium permanganate (KP4) filters to literally scrub the air of damaging Volatile Organic compounds (VOC’s ) and formaldehyde.

Following the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) method 500, we tested for some 60 VOC’s, as well as airflow into and out of the laboratory space, dust loading and dust characterization in the space have all been tested. The laboratory is built as well as sealed in such a fashion so that outside contaminates cannot enter the lab. The room itself is in a positive pressure in relation to the outside environment, so that outside contaminates cannot enter the lab. The air exchange value of 1025 CFM is close to 40 air exchanges per hour, as compared to others with only 6-12 per hour. It is this combination of high air X-change per unit time, positive pressure, low O2 incubators, and heated stainless steel benches in a specifically designed anti-contamination working suite which creates an environment where maximum sterility and quality is assured.

Why is this important? Previous studies have shown that decreases in pregnancy rates coincide with emission of VOC’s. VOC’s hinder cell division in mouse embryos. Finally, studies have shown increased fertility rates and improved embryo cell stage development in a clean room environment. After all, our patients deserve the best chances that science can give them.

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

Micromanipulation also called ICSI.

This procedure was first successfully used in the early 1990s, and was developed for couples with severe male factor infertility or couples who have had failure to fertilize in a previous in vitro attempt. ICSI overcomes many of the barriers to fertilization and allows couples with little hope of achieving pregnancy to develop fertilized embryos. Several steps are included:

1. Stimulation of the ovaries to produce several eggs
2. Retrieval of the eggs from the ovary
3. Injection of a single sperm directly into the egg
4. Placement of the embryo into the uterus for implantation
    

     

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