Fertility Treatments in Chicago, IL
Fertility Work-Up & Assessment
Sometimes we all need a little additional help. For those patients trying to get or stay pregnant, a comprehensive infertility examination can be the answer. Testing both women and men can help to greatly improve your chances for a successful pregnancy by determining the cause of a couple’s infertility. Infertility can be caused by female factors (approximately 50% of the time), male factors (approximately 40% of the time), or a combination of both (approximately 10% of the time).
Determining when to seek medical help with a reproductive endocrinologist at RMI can be challenging. Fertility testing should be scheduled if: a woman is younger than 35 years old and has been trying to get pregnant for one year with no success; or if a woman is older than 35 and has been trying to get pregnant for six months with no success. If you aren’t quite ready to start a family but would still like a more in-depth look at where you are in your reproductive cycle, RMI can help you with this as well.
Common infertility testing for Women includes:
- Ovarian Reserve Testing
- Transvaginal Ultrasound
- Hysterosalpingogram
Common infertility testing for men includes:
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Fertility Assessment
Wondering about your future fertility? Are your trying to get or stay pregnant now?
Testing both women and men can help to greatly improve your chances for a successful pregnancy by determining the cause of a couple’s infertility. A comprehensive infertility assessment can help provide you with answers to many questions you might have. If you aren’t quite ready to start a family but would still like a more in-depth look at where you are in your reproductive cycle, RMI can help.
The fertility experts at RMI are pleased to offer a comprehensive fertility assessment for $99.00. For women, the tests performed in this assessment can help to evaluate the anatomy of the uterus and ovaries, as well as the ovarian reserve (or the ability to produce healthy eggs). For men, the assessment can help to determine the health of sperm.
If you decide to seek fertility care with RMI and schedule a new patient consultation, the $90 will be offered as a credit on your account.
After the tests have been performed, you will be provided a letter of interpretation. Though these results do not guarantee your ability to conceive, they are able to give you an indication of where you are in your fertility timeline. Having the knowledge of your reproductive health, can help you take control over your fertility options.
For Women: Blood levels of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Estradiol (E2) will be measured and a transvaginal pelvic ultrasound with antral follicle count will be performed.
For Men: Semen analysis will be performed. Prior to preforming a semen analysis, men should abstain from any sexual activity for 2-4 days.
Take control of your fertility, contact of member of RMI to schedule your assessment.
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
RMI is committed to helping patients get pregnant by ensuring their treatment plan will provide the highest probability of success, for some, that means In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). IVF is often used when first-line measures of becoming pregnant have failed or if the reasons surrounding infertility show it would give the best outcome for pregnancy. IVF is a highly effective treatment for infertility, due to the fertilization of the egg occurring outside of the body and closely monitored in a laboratory.
At RMI we work one-on-one with patients to provide a customized treatment plan for you. Your physician and nursing team will take you through the IVF process step-by-step to allow a deep understanding of your specific treatment plan. We work together with patients to ensure that the IVF timeline and medications given can provide the highest chances for a healthy and successful pregnancy.
Speak with a member of the RMI team to learn more about how IVF can potentially help you.
Egg Donation
Even with all the advances surrounding infertility treatment, patients sometimes are unable to get pregnant on their own. Egg or embryo donation gives these patients the ability to conceive using a donor’s egg or embryo. Prior to selecting a donor, you can review donor profiles on agency websites, if you would like to pursue an anonymous option. Patients also can receive donor eggs or embryos from someone that they know. In addition to viewing information regarding your donor, the providers here at RMI will conduct a complete physical examination prior to starting IVF cycles.
Have more questions? Speak with an RMI team member.
Egg Freezing
There are many reasons that women may decide to delay starting a family; lifestyle choices, career, no partner, waiting for the “right-time”, or medical diagnoses such as cancer. Unfortunately, the time-line for reproduction in women is limited. Women’s eggs will decline in quantity and quality every year. Female fertility is always in a state of decline but begins a more rapid progression around the age of 28. RMI can help to extend female fertility for a longer period through egg freezing. Egg freezing is the process of taking eggs from the ovary and freezing them for later use. When ready, the eggs can be thawed and used to help prolong reproductive health.
Many women are unsure if egg freezing is right for them, and there are both pros and cons to the procedure. For those who are not ready to start a family at this time or who have undergone medical treatment which could affect the quality or quantity of remaining eggs, egg freezing allows the opportunity to have a genetic child in the future. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that the eggs frozen will be viable and it is a costly process. Before deciding to freeze your eggs, it is important to consult with a physician at RMI. Based on your consultation, your RMI doctor can help you determine if egg freezing is the right option for you.
Comprehensive Chromosome Testing (CCS)
In order to improve your chances for successful implantation during In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and to reduce your risk or problems during pregnancy, RMI offers preimplantation genetic testing (PGT-A), more commonly known as comprehensive chromosome testing (CCS). Prior to implantation, genetic material is sampled from the embryo and tested to determine chromosomal balance. Embryos with a balanced number of chromosomes are more likely to implant and lead to a healthy pregnancy and delivery. Embryos with an imbalance in chromosomes are more likely to lead to failed IVF cycle or miscarriage.
In addition to providing physicians with valuable medical information, CCS testing can also bring peace-of-mind to hopeful parents. It is important to discuss CCS testing with your RMI physician to determine if testing is right for you.
Speak with a member of the RMI team to determine if CCS testing is right for you.
Single Gene Screening
Inheritable diseases can always cause fear for potential parents, especially if you have a known increased risk of passing on a disease to a child. If you or someone in your family has a known inheritable condition, or if your carrier testing shows that you and your partner are both carriers for the same condition (for example, cystic fibrosis), Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Monogenic (single gene) defects (PGT-M) can be performed. PGT-M testing allows for embryos to be screened for specific diseases. Once testing is complete, only those embryos unaffected by the specific genetic disorder in question, will be implanted in the uterus.
Successful and safe pregnancies for both mom and baby are a priority at RMI. It is important to discuss your full health history with your physician prior to starting any infertility treatment. Based on your personal history and results, your doctor can determine if PGT-M testing is right for you.
Reproductive Surgery
While In Vitro Fertilization is often discussed in infertility, it is important to remember that prior to any treatment, a thorough evaluation must occur. Infertility can be a multifactorial condition, some of which may require medical, surgical, or both treatments in order to achieve and maintain a successful pregnancy.
Reproductive Medicine Institute offers Advanced Reproductive Surgery when needed. These surgical procedures can be helpful when treating infertility. If surgical intervention is needed, your RMI physician will go over in detail what is to be expected during the procedure.
Some of the more frequent surgical procedures performed at RMI are: Hysteroscopy, Laparoscopy, and Egg Retrieval.
For more detailed list of surgical procedures, please contact an RMI team member.
Same-Sex Parenting
RMI is dedicated to helping every patient begin their families regardless of sexual orientation or marital status. If you desire to start a biological family of your own, RMI can help. We can work with you regarding options for surrogacy, egg/embryo donors or sperm donors.
Contact a team member at RMI to further discuss options available to you for beginning a family.
