Fertility Services/Reproductive Endocrinology

Center for Assisted Reproductive Technologies

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For couples who are having trouble conceiving a child, medical procedures known as assisted reproductive technologies (ART) are helping them realize their dreams of becoming new parents. With the use of ART procedures, many couples can significantly improve their likelihood of achieving pregnancy.

Using state-of-the-art treatment for infertility, the University of Maryland Center for Assisted Reproductive Technologies gives couples the best possible chance for having a baby. The Center is a member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technologies, and the embryology/andrology laboratory is accredited by the College of American Pathologists.

Each couple gets to know the team of professionals who will support them during the process. Prior to treatment, couples meet with the infertility nurse coordinator, who explains the procedures and provides specific education for the necessary treatment processes. In addition, the coordinator assists with diagnostic studies, blood work and testing. The staff is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for emergencies or for any problems that may arise.

When you successfully conceive, Center physicians work with your obstetrician/gynecologist to ensure seamless quality of care. ART procedures offered at the center include:

In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Program: IVF is offered to women who cannot conceive due to unexplained reasons, tubal disease, endometriosis, male infertility, diminished ovarian reserve, ovulatory disfunction or other appropriate indications. IVF involves collecting eggs and sperm from a couple and allowing fertilization to occur in the laboratory, or in vitro. Several days later embryos are selected for placement into the woman's uterus.
Donor Egg and Sperm Programs: The Center also offers artificial insemination with donor sperm and sponsors a Donor Egg Program with a stringent screening process for donors. Oocyte donation involves using the eggs of a donor, fertilizing them with the sperm of the patient's male partner and transferring the embryos to the uterus of the patient.
Micromanipulation Procedures: Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a procedure that uses microscopic instruments to inject a single sperm into the egg to enhance the chances of fertilization. This procedure may provide men who produce very low amounts of sperm or poor quality sperm a chance to establish a pregnancy. Assisted hatching is a form of embryo micromanipulation that involves creating an opening in the outer covering of the embryo. The procedure may help a normal, growing embryo emerge from the covering and implant in the uterus, hopefully leading to pregnancy.
Other Therapies: The Center also treats patients who do not require In-Vitro fertilization or ICSI with various other procedures, such as ovulation indcution with intrauterine insemination to help improve the chances of pregnancy.

This page was last updated on: November 11, 2008.

For more information or to make an appointment, please call 410-328-6640 or toll-free at 866-608-4228.