| |
Welcome to the FertilityAlabama.com Web Site
We realize the physical, emotional, and financial stresses associated with infertility treatment. Our Alabama fertility specialists have years of experience diagnosing and treating the many conditions that cause infertility.
All of our couples receive highly individualized, personal, care delivered in a compassionate environment. Our entire staff makes sure that our patients never "feel like a number".
As a University affiliated infertility practice, we keep abreast of the latest infertility treatment advances and participate in many ground breaking research developments that are constantly occurring. Patients receive the advantage of our fertility physicians' 65 years of combined clinical experience. Our Alabama fertility clinic was one of the first established in the southeast.
Consulting a reproductive endocrinologist, infertility specialist early in treatment is often less expensive and results in higher success rates. We conduct a thorough fertility workup of both partners to identify all factors that could
contribute to infertility. A thorough evaluation of possible male infertility is critical since it is present in up to half of infertile couples. We discuss all of the major cause of infertility on this Web site including:
- Since almost half of infertile couples will have a male component to their infertility, evaluation of the male is critical. Our fertility specialists always "rule out" male infertility prior to beginning any female treatments. Treatments such as IVF with ICSI enable men with moderate to severe male factor to father genetically related children.
- -Irregular or failed ovulation is a common cause of infertility. Many times these conditions can be corrected with fertility drugs. However, our fertility specialists perform a complete hormonal evaluation prior to administering drugs such as Clomid or FSH.
- - As women age, the "quality" of their eggs declines culminating in the menopause. Older women should consult a fertility specialist immediately as fertility can decline very rapidly in many women 35 and older. Women with reduced ovarian reserve are candidates for our Alabama donor egg program and can expect high success rates.
- Endometriosis can proliferate, attach to, or penetrate, the reproductive organs causing obstruction, inflammation, pain, and infertility. Our fertility specialists can often treat endometriosis during the diagnostic laparoscopy.
- .
PCOS consists of a cluster of symptoms including lack of ovulation and male characteristics such as increased body hair. Approximately 20% of infertile women have PCOS. Our fertility specialists often employ the fertility drug metformin for treatment of PCOS.
- - Sometimes the tubes become obstructed with endometriosis preventing the transit of the eggs. The tubes must be open and free of obstructions for the eggs to travel from the ovaries to the end of the fallopian tubes. Some women also seek to have a tubal sterilization reversed. Dependant upon patient specific factors, tubal infertility is treated with IVF or tubal reproductive surgery.
- The cervical mucus provides a transport media for sperm. It can be too thick or contain antisperm antibodies.
-
Disease of, or damage to, the uterus can prevent implantation of the embryo and growth of the fetus. Surgical treatment is often successful and in severe cases surrogacy may be available.
-
Sometimes a specific cause of infertility cannot be identified. A cause exists but science has not progressed to the point where it can be isolated. Treatments of unexplained infertility may include IUI or IVF.
Many times infertility treatments, such as intrauterine insemination (IUI), fertility drugs, or reproductive surgery are successful and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is necessary in only approximately 10-15% of cases. When assisted reproductive technologies are necessary, we offer one of the highest standards of care in the southeast.
As a teaching institution, our Alabama infertility clinic laboratories features highly trained, experienced, embryologists with access to the latest instrumentation and technologies. Both Dr. Kretzer and Dr. Parker have achieved their Ph.D. degrees. Embryology is a very critical component of the IVF process and micromanipulation procedures such as ICSI.
We can usually schedule an appointment within two to three weeks at our Birmingham Alabama or Montgomery Alabama fertility clinic locations. Please call (205) 801-7623, 801-7701, or 800-282-1847 to make an appointment.
|
|
