- Male InfertilityTesting for male infertility generally focuses on analyzing sperm production. We also test and evaluate anatomical concerns as if there is a blockage limiting sperm production or dysfunctions with ejaculation. We’ve seen 40% of our male infertility cases come from sperm abnormalities. This leads to our typical test to focus on the quantity, quality, and motility of the man’s sperm.
- Infectious DiseasesAll cryopreservation patients are required to have blood work performed to screen for infectious diseases, since sperm is stored in the same large tanks that house eggs and embryos. Following labs, a patient must schedule a specific time to deliver a sperm specimen for a basic analysis to check count, motility, and speed before the sample is frozen. Fertility Center offers cryogenic sperm banking for an annual fee.
- GynecologyI first went to an OB-GYN who gave me a prescription of Clomid and sent me on my way while saying, “You’re young. I don’t know why you aren’t getting pregnant.” He also sent me for an HSG, which wasn’t even administered by the doctor. The radiologist did it completely wrong, and I was in excruciating pain and bled for three days. I found out later that he had put so much dye in me, they couldn’t even see my right fallopian tube. It seemed that because I was in my 20s, no one was taking me seriously or caring for me properly.
- Female InfertilityWe offer comprehensive testing to determine the causes of male and female infertility, and we specialize in intrauterine insemination ( IUI ) and in vitro fertilization ( IVF ). Treatment programs at our fertility clinic are complemented by the latest technology, including a state-of-art embryology lab. Add in our reputation for personalized care, and you have an assisted reproduction program that’s unmatched.
- ObstetricsHis four-year residency began in 1990 in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology within the Chattanooga Unit of the University of Tennessee College of Medicine. A two-year fellowship followed in the Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Division at the University of Louisville School of Medicine’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
- EndometriosisIn vitro fertilization, commonly referred to as IVF, is one of the most common and effective treatments for infertility. IVF is recommended for patients who cannot conceive due to severe male-factor issues, endometriosis, blocked fallopian tubes, women with ovulation disorders, or unexplained infertility.
- PregnancyNearly all infants who have been born following in vitro fertilization appear normal at birth. At the same time, congenital abnormalities, birth defects, genetic abnormalities, mental retardation and other possible deviations from normal may occur in children born following IVF just as they may occur in children resulting from natural fertilization. At present, there does not appear to be any increased risk of birth defects related to IVF, although multiple births may be complicated by prematurity. A pregnancy following IVF usually has a successful outcome but, like any other pregnancy, may end in miscarriage or stillbirth. There is no evidence that IVF increases the frequency of these losses. Even a tubal pregnancy is possible following IVF but less likely than in natural conception.
- Mental HealthMen’s testes produce nearly all male testosterone. As a man gets older, testosterone levels fall while estrogen levels tend to rise, affecting bone density, stamina, muscle strength, mental health, and sex drive. Because of this, one of the most effective methods of treatment for male hormone imbalances is testosterone replacement therapy. Following an evaluation of initial blood work, your doctor will determine if you are a candidate for testosterone therapy and prescribe a treatment plan to adjust your hormone levels. Testosterone may be taken by injection, with a patch, in a gel, or with pellets. Levels will be monitored through regular lab work and dosages will be adjusted as necessary.
- EndocrinologyPracticing together for more than a decade, our fertility doctors, Drs. Bird and Donesky, have built a strong foundation of open communication and understanding. Both are certified members of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, as well as the board’s subspecialty division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.
- Thyroid
- UltrasoundThe in-office, ultrasound-guided HSG is used to evaluate the condition of a woman’s fallopian tubes. A non-allergenic mixture of saline and air is introduced into the fallopian tubes and is observed under ultrasound. The test shows if the uterine cavity is normal and if the fallopian tubes are open. Fibroids, scar tissue or polyps in the uterus can also be identified.
- RadiologyAn HSG is used to determine if a woman’s fallopian tubes are blocked. Typically, the HSG procedure involves injecting dye into the uterus by means of a tiny catheter inserted through the cervix. The dye is observed as it fills the uterus and fallopian tubes. If the tubes are clear, the dye will spill out. The HSG procedure is performed at a radiology surgery center near Fertility Center and is optional for patients who will use in vitro fertilization, which bypasses the fallopian tubes.
- ChemotherapyMale patients undergoing cancer treatment may face compromised sperm production, quality, or motility as a result of exposure to chemotherapy and radiation.
- VasectomyFor men who have had a vasectomy or whose semen analysis results reveal no living sperm, a testicular sperm extraction procedure may be recommended. These extraction procedures are performed under anesthesia and include percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA) and testicular epididymal sperm aspiration (TESA). With the assistance of a urologist, our doctors can often collect viable sperm directly from the testes to be used in IVF cycles. Quantities retrieved during these procedures are often insufficient for intrauterine insemination.
- LaparoscopyA woman may need to have a hysterosalpingogram or a laparoscopy performed to determine the feasibility of success before a reversal can even be attempted. Reversal success rates are dependent upon several factors, including...