Blastocysts /Coping with Infertility /Donations /Donor Eggs /Embryo Donation /Embryo Grading /General IVF information /Hydrosalpinges /Hyperstimulation /Infertility Research /Miscarriage /Pregnancy loss /Pregnancy Tests /Progesterone /Sample IVF calendars /Statistics

General IVF Information

• IVF Hints
  Rachel Browne provides tips for those going through IVF.
• Fact Sheet: In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
  Some interesting IVF facts provided by ASRM.

Sample IVF Calendars

• A sample calendar for an IVF cycle
  The Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago shares a sample ivf cycle calendar.

IVF Statistics

• 2002 IVF statistics for U.S. clinics  
  The CDC provides statistics for most U.S. IVF clinics for 2002 in a report entitled: Assisted Reproductive Technology Success Rates. A printed copy of this report can be obtained by calling 770-488-5372.
  Previous CDC Reports: 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995
• Reading Between the Lines: IVF Statistics
  Boca Fertility discusses how some fertility statistics can be misleading.
• Rhonda Levy, Infertility Consultant
  Rhonda helps couples choose IVF clinics and egg donation programs and also makes referrals (phone consultations available). There is a fee for this service.

Embryo Donation

• National Embryo Donation Center   
  A nonprofit center assisting both embryo donors and recipients with the medical, legal and social requirements of embryo donation

Embryo Grading

• A Patient's Guide to Embryo Grading
  The Atlanta Center for Reproductive Medicine describes how they grade their embryos. Please keep in mind that different clinics use different scales.
• IVF Timetable and Grading
  T. Timothy Smith, PhD discusses embryo developement and grading from egg retrieval until transfer on the Shared Journey web site.

Blastocysts

• Culture and transfer of human blastocysts increases implantation rates
  A review and discussion of the Blastocyst (Dec 98) article published by Gardner et al in Human Reproduction.
• Blastocyst Transfer for IVF
  An article by the Shady Grove Fertility Centers which discusses the benefits of blastocyst transfers.
• Day Three versus Day Five Transfers
  A summary of an article (by INCIID) that was presented at the ASRM conference in 1999 by C. Rakowsky et al. which discusses when to choose day 3 vs. day 5 transfers.

Hyperstimulation (OHSS)

• Ovarian Hyperstimulation
  Dr. Mark Perloe explains what ovarian hyperstimulation is.
• "Prolonged Coasting" Eliminates the Risk of Severe Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome
  Dr. Zouves explains a method called "coasting" as a way to prevent OHSS.

Progesterone

• Progesterone: not a hormonal safety net
  Dr. Sable explains what Progesterone does during an IVF cycle and some common misconceptions.

Pregnancy Tests

• Home Pregnancy Test HCG Levels & FAQ
  Rebecca Smith Waddell answers frequently asked questions on home pregnancy tests and also provides you with information on how much hCG the most popular name brands measure.
• IVFer's HCG Levels in Early Pregnancy Page
  A former IVF patient provides a chart of hCG levels in early pregnancy and an hCG calculator for those doing more than one beta test.
• INCIID's Pregnancy hCG Beta Chart
  A chart that shows the range of beta hCG numbers for each week of early pregnancy
• Early Pregnancy: Including HCG levels and ultrasound findings
  The Advanced Fertility Center discusses early beta hCG levels with two beta hCG charts (one for singletons and one for twins).

Hydrosalpinges

• The trouble with hydros
  Dr Sable shares his advice for IVF patients with hydros.
• Hydrosalpinx and IVF outcome
  The abstract of an article published in Human Reproduction (Nov 99) by A. Strandell et al. on the prospective, randomized multicentre trial that was conducted in Scandinavia to determine whether salpingectomy was beneficial for patients with hydrosalpinx.

Donor Eggs

• Donor Eggs
  The Beach Center For Infertility, Endocrinology and IVF discusses when to use donor eggs; donor recruitment, screening and preparation for egg retrieval; and recipient preparation.
• When to Cancel a Donor Egg IVF Cycle
  Resolve of Northern California discusses a plan of how you can monitor your donor's cycle and in what cases you should consider cancellation.

Infertility Research

• Medscape
  Registration is required to use this web site, but it is free and well worth it if you need to do research. Use the Medline search if you want to find journal articles.
• Human Reproduction
  An on-line database of medical abstracts found in the journal Human Reproduction from 1986-1999. Use the search feature to find papers on your topic of interest. Abstracts are available for most papers and full text for a smaller number. The newer articles require you to be a paid subsciber to access the full text, but most of the time the abstract is still accessible.

Coping with infertility

• Coping during emotional trouble spots: crisis points to look out for
  Dr. Sable reflects on what he has found to be some common emotional trouble spots during infertility treatment.
• Counseling and Support: When and Where to Find It
  To read this article Adobe Acrobat must be installed on your computer. A fact sheet produced by the ASRM. Especially useful are the warning signs for seeking help.
• Empty Arms   
  A moving piece of pictures and words set to music that describes the experience of infertility. A link to give family and friends who may be having a hard time understanding your struggle with infertility.
• A guide to give to family and friends
  Infertility Counseling Associates has designed a guide that you can print off, fill in your name and give to your family and friends. It explains why you feel the way you do about your infertility and the best ways family and friends can help.
• Infertility: Helping Others Understand
  A guide by the Ferre Institute to give to family and friends so that they may better understand what you are going through.
• Managing Family and Friends
  An article by Resolve which will help you plan your responses to those annoying comments and questions that we must deal with while going through infertility.
• The Emotional Effects of Infertility on the Couple Relationship
  The Atlanta Reproductive Health Center talks about how the male and female partner react differently during infertility and some ways to help communicate better.
• Dealing with loss due to Infertility
  Judi Corbett shares her insights into the 5 stages of grief as they apply to infertility.
• Coping Strategies
  The Atlanta Reproductive Health Center discusses how everyone copes with infertility in their own way and how to educate those around you.
• Making the Best of the Holidays: A Coach's Perspective
  Linda D. Tillman talks about the "be prepared" approach to coping with the holidays.
• Coping with the Holidays
  Resolve suggests some ways to make your holidays a little easier.
• Deborah's Guide to Coping With the Holidays
  Deborah Tennant shares her tips for coping during the holidays
• Infertility Counseling Associates
  Provides counseling about the emotional and logistical aspects of all phases of infertility diagnosis and treatment (phone consultations available). There is a fee for this service.
• Behavioral Management Infertility Program  
  a mind-body program designed to reduce depression, anxiety, anger, confusion and fatigue related to infertility (phone consultations available). There is a fee for this service.

Pregnancy Loss / Miscarriage

• Born Angels: Pregnancy Loss Support
  A place for those who have lost a baby at any stage of their pregnancy (ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, or stillbirth) to share tributes and post messages.
• Ectopic Pregnancy: a comprehensive and compassionate information source
  Includes information on ectopic pregnancies and its emotional aspects and also provides a place to memorialize your loss.
• Recurrent Miscarriage (Pregnancy Loss)
  Dr. Daiter provides an overview of the different types of miscarriage.
• Hygeia

Coculture

• In vitro fertilization with coculture
  The Advanced Fertility Center discusses the advantage of coculture for poor prognosis IVF patients.

Selection of IVF Programs

• Selecting an IVF/GIFT Program
  
• Rhonda Levy Infertility Consultant
  

IVF Protocols

• Medication Regimens
  

FSH

• Wikipedia: Follicle-stimulating_hormone
  

IVF Calendar

• The SanFrancisco Center for Reproductive Medicine
  
• A sample calendar for an IVF cycle
  

Hormone Levels

• Hormone Levels
  

Embryo Implantation

• Embryo Implantation
  

Embryo pictures

• Embryo Images
  The Atlanta Center for Reproductive Medicine shows pictures of embryo development from oocyte to a hatched blastocyst

Assisted Hatching

• Assisted Hatching
  An excerpt from the book Conceptions and Misconceptions (by Wiscot and Meldrum) on the benefits of assisted hatching.

General Infertility Sites

• Fertility Plus
• Fertility Plus is a web site which is loaded with information for infertility patients. IVFers will find the IVF Hints, Home Pregnancy Test HCG Levels & FAQ, and the Hormone Levels pages of special interest.

Surrogacy

• Surrogacy in Canada Online
  

TTTS

• Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS) Foundation