Family Focus
A team of compassionate experts can help couples who are trying to conceive find joy
Two Texas “ Super Doctors *” at Scott & White Healthcare are skilled leaders in the field of reproductive medicine . With expertise in assisted reproductive technology and a new in vitro fertilization ( IVF ) suite in Temple , TX , for couples who choose this path of treatment , the team is able to provide real hope .
nfertility is defined as a year of
I trying to conceive without success . The frustration and disappointment of infertility affect up to 10 percent of all couples . The National Infertility Association estimates that the causes are evenly split between female and male factors , although many people assume infertility is usually a woman ’ s issue . “ When people ask ‘ why us ?’ we tell them that a number of issues can affect healthy sperm-egg interaction ,” says Thomas Wincek , MD , PhD , chief of the Section of Reproductive Endocrinology at Scott & White Healthcare .
José Pliego , MD , director of the IVF Program at Scott & White Healthcare , says , “ We get between 100 and 150 calls per day . Infertility takes away choices , so we try to help bring control back to patients , who are going through a very difficult time .” After a comprehensive evaluation , couples are given options and recommendations for a course of treatment , enabling them to decide what will work best for them . Dr . Pliego says that the least invasive and least expensive methods are encouraged , always with a time frame in mind so that patients know what next steps are available and when they can take place .
The science of ART When patients do seek care , many find that Assisted Reproductive Technology ( ART ) can help them fulfill their dream of having a child . The goal of ART is to increase and optimize the interaction between sperm and egg to promote fertilization . Two of the most common procedures are artificial insemination and IVF . With artificial insemination , sperm are inserted directly into the female reproductive tract to increase the odds of egg-sperm interaction . IVF combines the couple ’ s egg and sperm outside the body to create a growing embryo that is placed back in the womb , a process called implantation . All services at Scott & White follow strict national guidelines set by the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology to ensure the highest quality of care .
“ Our new IVF suite is convenient for patients who undergo procedures , some of which are available seven days a week ,” says Dr . Pliego . The state-of-the-art suite offers integrated care , from evaluation and
16 THE CATALYST Fall 09 | sw . org