What is PCOS Awareness Month? Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects 10% of women, but half of the women with the syndrome don’t know they have it. This is a problem because PCOS is associated with an increased risk of health problems, including infertility. Our Virginia fertility center recognizes PCOS Awareness Month to help those affected…
The uterus supports pregnancy A healthy uterus is essential for the work we do at our Virginia fertility center. The uterus is the muscular organ that provides shelter and nourishment for a growing baby. During ovulation, the lining of the uterus (endometrium) begins to thicken to support a pregnancy. When a fertilized egg enters the…
Who needs egg donors? We do! Our Virginia egg donor program is looking for qualified egg donors. If you are thinking about becoming an egg donor, you should know that our process benefits many people who would otherwise be unable to experience pregnancy and parenthood. Who needs egg donors? Hopeful parents Single people and couples…
Deciding when to move from IUI to IVF Some patients at our Virginia fertility center eventually face the question of when to move from IUI to IVF. This decision requires an understanding of how these two processes work, and the specific concerns that they address. Comparing IUI to IVF During intrauterine insemination (IUI), Fady Sharara…
Achieving a pregnancy later in life When Terrie was 53, she decided she wanted to have a baby, but she knew that she would need some help achieving her dream. She scheduled appointments with three fertility centers, starting with a visit to Fady Sharara MD at our Virginia fertility center. “He was my first appointment,”…
Fady Sharara MD makes breakthroughs in IVF Dr. Sharara has dedicated his professional life to helping individuals and couples overcome infertility. Our Northern Virginia IVF provider’s research within the past year has laid the foundations for breakthroughs in IVF. Non-invasive embryo selection before transfer Our Northern Virginia IVF provider and other researchers examined the pregnancy…
Vitrification leads to greater success Women who are interested in egg freezing often ask our Virginia fertility specialist if frozen eggs can be successfully fertilized when it is time to build a family. Egg freezing updates show that the answer is yes. Recent research demonstrates that a cryopreservation technique called vitrification can result in IVF…
Understanding who needs PGS Wondering who needs PGS? PGS stands for preimplantation genetic screening. It is a test that we offer at our Northern Virginia fertility center. PGS gives our fertility specialist a genetic snapshot of an embryo before it is transferred to a woman’s uterus and allows us to select the embryo that is…
It’s important to know what to look for in a surrogate In gestational surrogacy at VCRM, a woman, known as a gestational carrier or surrogate, carries another family’s baby. Gestational surrogacy allows hopeful parents who are physically unable to carry a child to use their own eggs and sperm to have a baby. Surrogacy can…
Gathering resources: a checklist for couples pursing surrogacy Couples who are ready to have a baby may be considering gestational surrogacy as a way to build their family. At our Northern Virginia fertility center, we encourage couples pursuing surrogacy to make a checklist to help them gather their thoughts, feelings and resources to make the…