Best Docs Network Magazine December 2013 | Page 10

Ask the Expert

Lowell Ku, M.D.
>>
Roughly 10 percent of couples in the United States are affected by infertility, and both
men and women can be infertile. Some couples seek the medical assistance of in vitro
fertilization, or IVF, to help them get pregnant. Dr. Ku, from Dallas IVF, answers some
common questions about IVF procedures.
Q: What is infertility?
>> Infertility is a disease and it occurs when a
couple has failure to achieve a successful pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected intercourse.

“Every day I feel honored to
be able to help families grow. I
can’t imagine another career
that would be more heart
warming or rewarding.”
-Dr. Lowell Ku

>>

Did You Know?
The first IVF baby
was born in 1978.

Since then, over 3 million
babies worldwide have been
born with the assistance
of IVF. At Dallas IVF, over
5,000 babies have been born
through their treatments.

Q: When should I see a fertility
specialist?
>> Couples having trouble conceiving should
see a fertility specialist after one year of actively
trying to conceive without success. If the female is 35 years or older, a couple should see a
fertility specialist after six months of trying to
conceive. Couples should also see an infertility
specialist if there is a diagnosed reason for the
infertility. For example, if the fallopian tubes
are blocked, if the female does not ovulate regularly, or there is a low sperm count, then the
couple should seek out the assistance of an infertility specialist earlier.

Q: What is the IVF procedure?
>> IVF stands for in vitro fertilization. IVF is
a complex treatment for infertility that is aimed
at significantly improving a couple’s chances
of conceiving and having a baby. IVF involves
combining eggs and sperm outside the body in
a glass dish in an IVF laboratory. Once the eggs
and sperm are placed together, fertilization
should occur. After fertilization occurs, the
embryos are formed. The embryos are incubated for 3-5 days and the highest quality embryos
are transferred into the uterus.

Q: Is IVf safe?

>> Yes, IVF is a safe and effective treatment
for infertility, and it has very low risks to the
patient. The risks include ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, multiple gestations, ovarian
torsion, ectopic pregnancy, and risks of the egg
harvest procedure. As IVF leads to an increased
chance for twins, the mother may have a more
complicated pregnancy that may increase her
chances of gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, and increased need
for a c-section.
There has been no proof that IVF or the medications used in IVF lead to an increased risk
of ovarian or breast cancers. Babies born from
IVF have the same low rate of birth defects as
babies born from a natural conception. Additionally, studies have not detected any differences in the development or the abilities of
the children born after IVF as compared to
natural conception.
Q: What are the risks during a pregnancy conceived through ivf?
>> Singleton pregnancies conceived from IVF
have the same risks as singleton pregnancies
conceived naturally.

Q: Will I see the same doctor all
the way throug ^H