The inability for a couple to have a baby can be a source of great frustration and sadness. Approximately 20 percent of couples attempting to conceive are experiencing infertility problems. The UTMB Infertility Program has been helping couples like these start families for 25 years, and provides the latest Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART), designed to give each couple the highest probability of achieving pregnancy. All appointments are with board-certified or board-eligible reproductive endocrinologists who have had two or more years of special training in treating infertility and gynecological endocrine problems.

A couple should see a specialist when:

• the woman has had pelvic infection and attempts to conceive have failed for six months.
• irregular cycles are present, indicating that ovulation is not occurring every month, and there has been a failure to conceive in six months.
• attempts to conceive have failed for one year.

Our established, state-of-the-art University Fertility Clinic at Bay Colony Town Center provides all modern ART procedures including IVF (in vitro fertilization), ICSI (intra cytoplasmic sperm injection), ovulation induction with ultrasound monitoring, intrauterine inseminations and advanced male infertility tests. Other services available include evaluation and treatment of excessive facial hair growth, tubal reanastamosis for women with previous tubal ligation, evaluation of delayed puberty, and reconstruction of developmental anomalies of the reproductive tract.

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
In vitro fertilization is a process by which, in the laboratory, eggs and sperm obtained from the infertile couple are combined in a culture dish in an incubator. When fertilization takes place under these controlled conditions, one or more eggs are transferred into the woman's uterus, where it is hoped that the egg will implant itself, grow, and result in a normal pregnancy.

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In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) 
The in vitro fertilization program is a team effort involving reproductive endocrinologists, nurses, embryologists, andrologists, and anesthesiologists. Care is provided not by a single physician, but by a team of physicians and nurses.

Cryopreservation and Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET)
In the majority of IVF or GIFT cycles, stimulation of the ovaries by fertility drugs results in development of several follicles and retrieval of multiple eggs. Usually, only three to four eggs are transferred immediately in that cycle. The rest of the fertilized eggs are frozen and stored in a special freezer. With the current programmable freezing method, 60 to 80 percent of embryos are viable after thawing. One of the advantages of Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) is that the transfer will occur in a natural ovulatory cycle. When stimulating drugs are not used, endometrial receptivity is improved and implantation is more likely.

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)
ICSI is a procedure in which a single sperm is injected directly into the egg. ICSI is the treatment of choice for couples with severe male factor infertility. It is usually indicated when the sperm concentration is less than 1 million progressively motile spermatozoa per ejaculate. ICSI is also used when in vitro fertilization has failed. In men with congenital vas obstruction or previous vasectomy, immature sperm aspirated from the epididymis could be used for ICSI. With immature sperm, the fertilization rate is higher with ICSI than the conventional in vitro fertilization procedures.

• Tubal Reconstructive Surgery 
• Microsurgical Reanastomosis 
• Artificial Insemination from Donor 
• Intrauterine Insemination 
• Ultrasound Ovulation Monitoring 
• Microsurgical Epididymal Sperm Aspiration (MESA)