Blog Feedhttps://www.sdfertility.com/blog Kirby Tue, 26 Mar 2024 14:07:13 -0700 Roe v. Wade Overturn: What Happens Nexthttps://www.sdfertility.com/blog/roe-v-wade-overturn-what-happens-next blog/roe-v-wade-overturn-what-happens-next Fri, 15 Jul 2022 00:00:00 -0700 The recent news about the Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade has prompted many questions about the future of reproductive healthcare in the United States. While 13 states have "trigger laws" that automatically restrict or ban abortion, California is not one of them. Governor Gavin Newsom has publicly stated that California will continue to fight for reproductive rights. The ruling will not affect our operations at San Diego Fertility Center in any way.

That said, the wording or interpretation of some anti-abortion laws could limit assisted reproductive technology, such as IVF, in some states. We may also see restrictions on certain types of birth control. We share our community's concern about how this could affect the quality and availability of fertility care in many parts of the country.

The Supreme Court ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade will not affect our patients undergoing IVF, testing or discarding of their embryos, or receiving D&Cs or other care for ectopic pregnancies or miscarriage. Patients will continue to make their own choices as they build their families. We are fortunate to practice in a state that gives us the freedom to make medical decisions that focus on our patients' health and safety above all else. Even in uncertain times, our commitment to our patients and the families we help build is unwavering.

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Webinar: COVID-19 Updates and Fertilityhttps://www.sdfertility.com/blog/webinar-covid-19-updates-and-fertility blog/webinar-covid-19-updates-and-fertility Mon, 06 Apr 2020 00:00:00 -0700 For our fertility or third-party reproduction patients, we understand that you probably have a lot of questions about how treatments will be handled as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve. As part of our effort to keep your fertility journey moving forward, address your concerns, and answer any questions you may have, San Diego Fertility Center recorded and released a “COVID-19 Updates and Fertility” webinar on March 25th.

Presented by Dr. Said Daneshmand and featuring Dr. Sandy Chuan, Dr. Brooke Friedman, and Dean Hutchison, Esq. (Vice President of Legal Services at Circle Surrogacy) as panelists, the webinar covers various COVID-19 and fertility topics, including:

  • Research studies on the impact of COVID-19 on pregnancy
  • Review of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine’s (ASRM) guidelines and recommendations for in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment at this time
  • Reproductive legal matters
  • Updates on San Diego Fertility Center’s plan

The webinar also features a Q&A segment in which answered were provided for more specific questions. You can watch the webinar below and please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. Please note, you will need to register in order to view the webinar.

Watch the webinar:
register.gotowebinar.com/recording/3284143781433726987

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San Diego Fertility Center Announces Grand Opening of New, Expanded Fertility Clinichttps://www.sdfertility.com/blog/san-diego-fertility-center-announces-grand-opening-of-new-expanded-fertility-clinic blog/san-diego-fertility-center-announces-grand-opening-of-new-expanded-fertility-clinic Tue, 05 Jan 2016 00:00:00 -0800 San Diego Fertility Center (SDFC) is proud to announce the official opening of their brand new, 13,700 square foot facility located next door to the current Del Mar clinic. The new building will house a full range of fertility treatment services, advanced technology, and community/educational programs that will help better serve their growing patient population.

Over the past few years SDFC has experienced tremendous growth, including a marked increase in international fertility patients from Europe and Asia. The new facility was designed to meet the needs of both local patients and the global community, and boasts:

  • A CAP-accredited (College of American Pathologists), state-of-the-art IVF laboratory with a full glass window for viewing
  • Two floors of clinic space, with the first floor specially designed for educational enrichment activities and support services for both small and large groups
  • A state-of-the-art surgical center that is AAAHC-accredited (Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care) and Medicare certified
  • A dramatic increase in space in all exam rooms, consultation rooms, and patient education areas to allow for expanded clinical appointment availability
  • Teaching facilities with conference and classroom space as well as a viewing areas and integrated monitors to enable observation and collaboration
  • An industry-leading air handling and monitoring system that offers pristine air quality in the entire building

The facility also offers a serene location just 25 minutes from San Diego International Airport, and is easily accessible to San Bernardino, Riverside and Orange Counties. This also includes the communities of La Jolla, Carlsbad, Oceanside, Encinitas, Murrieta, Temecula and Inland Empire.

“The new location is an extraordinary facility, designed to meet the needs of every patient, staff member and colleague of San Diego Fertility Center. Our new facility's warm, private and comfortable environment provides an ideal experience for all members of the fertility community,” says Lisa Van Dolah, CEO of San Diego Fertility Center.

SDFC is recognized as one of the top fertility clinics worldwide for fertility treatment, including IVF, IUI, surrogacy, egg donations, egg freezing and LGBT family building. This new facility will help better serve those who are seeking treatment outside of their home city or region, and will also more fully support the influx of overseas patients who are traveling for fertility treatment and third-party reproductive services in the U.S.

Dr. Michael Kettel, F.A.C.O.G., noted that “At SDFC we are privileged to be able to help so many people from around the world who want to become parents. We are all excited about the new facility because it allows us to provide the latest in cutting edge technology, and has the space we need to allow us to support even more patients than before.”

SDFC believes that their continued growth is evidence of the special attention and care provided at their practice. Their doctors have 70+ years of combined experience in fertility diagnosis and treatment. They are currently the leading provider of fertility care in the San Diego area and are excited to add this new facility to their practice.

About San Diego Fertility Center

Located in Southern California, San Diego Fertility Center (SDFC) is an internationally recognized fertility treatment center. SDFC’s infertility specialists are named among the top fertility doctors by a variety of publications, and are leaders in IVF (in vitro fertilization), egg donation, egg freezing, ICSI, male infertility and PGD (preimplantation genetic diagnosis).

SDFC’s passion is to encourage fertility clinic patients to hold on to their dreams by creating miracles every day. They are also committed to offering cutting edge technology in a private and personal environment using intelligence, integrity, and innovation. The center is easily accessible from local communities including La Jolla and Carlsbad or points further like Murrieta and Temecula. SDFC also welcomes out-of-state patients and provides fertility tourism and fertility travel accommodations for patients all over the world.

For more information, visit sdfertility.com. You can also view our press release here.

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East Meets West in the Treatment of Infertilityhttps://www.sdfertility.com/blog/east-meets-west-in-the-treatment-of-infertility blog/east-meets-west-in-the-treatment-of-infertility Fri, 15 Nov 2002 00:00:00 -0800 Oriental Medicine, in use for over 2000 years, is well known for its successful support in treatment of gynecological problems including infertility. Acupuncture is the painless insertion of hair-thin needles into the body at specific points. These points are located
along energetic pathways, called meridians, through which energy or QI (‘Chee’) flows. Imbalances in the flow of QI, which may be experienced with infertility, can be corrected with acupuncture treatment. It may be very effective for stress reduction as patients often report deep relaxation during treatment and more energy afterwards. In order to determine appropriate treatment for a patient, the acupuncturist conducts a thorough exam based on oriental medical principles.

Some local acupuncture clinics utilize an integrative approach to infertility treatment combining modern medicine, such as IVF, with the ancient wisdom of oriental medicine. Ideally, acupuncture treatments begin prior to the start of a fertility cycle and may continue on a regular basis throughout the cycle. Nutritional and lifestyle counseling may also be valuable for couples trying to conceive and some acupuncturists are trained in this area. When choosing an acupuncturist to work with you during fertility treatments, look for a practitioner with experience in women’s health who can meet your needs.

Find an acupuncture clinic near San Diego from our list.

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New Clues to How Endometriosis Affects Fertilityhttps://www.sdfertility.com/blog/new-clues-to-how-endometriosis-affects-fertility blog/new-clues-to-how-endometriosis-affects-fertility Fri, 01 Nov 2002 00:00:00 -0800 A report from a recent study suggests that endometriosis may cause changes in the body that reduce the effectiveness of structures that help the egg meet up with the sperm. Endometriosis, a painful condition, occurs when tissue that lines the uterus, the endometrium, exists in the ovaries, in the fallopian tubes and in the pelvic region. It was found that peritoneal fluid from the woman’s abdomen with endometriosis may contain some substances that influence the movements of the cilia, whose job it is to coax an egg down the fallopian tubes. Both Dr. Kettel and Dr. Hummel treat endometriosis together with IVF treatment and hope that once these substances are identified, antibodies may be used to target the substances to boost a woman’s fertility.

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Steps to Being the Perfect Fertility Patienthttps://www.sdfertility.com/blog/steps-to-being-the-perfect-fertility-patient blog/steps-to-being-the-perfect-fertility-patient Tue, 15 Oct 2002 00:00:00 -0700 There are a few things you should consider to make your fertility treatment successful.

  1. Communicate open, honest, direct and calm with the caregivers at your fertility clinic. Communication should flow naturally and without reservation or intimidation.
  2. Ask questions about the treatment regime, the pros and cons, risks and benefits. Follow instructions carefully, and be an active participant in the decision-making process.
  3. Find ways to reduce the stress caused by infertility with hobbies, vacations, social interaction, exercise, massage, spirituality, acupuncture, or other relaxation techniques. Stress management improves your overall quality of life and enhances your fertility treatment and ultimately success.
  4. Approach infertility as a couple’s issue. The more involved a couple is together in the medical process, the better able they are to support each other and make decisions.
  5. Try to have realistic expectations of the fertility center, caregivers, treatment, and what lies outside of human control. Avoid issues that lead to disappointment and frustration by focusing on the “big picture”.
  6. Be an integral part of the infertility team, with equal responsibility for facilitating healthy communication and cooperative teamwork. Acknowledge problems and solve them as they arise.
  7. Seek education on both the medical and emotional aspects of fertility problems. The Internet has helped to gain information and support for various treatments. Become as educated and attentive to your care as possible and look to members of SDFC as partners in your quest for success.
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Recent Study Shows How Far Fertility Patients Go to Have a Childhttps://www.sdfertility.com/blog/recent-study-shows-how-far-fertility-patients-go-to-have-a-child blog/recent-study-shows-how-far-fertility-patients-go-to-have-a-child Tue, 01 Oct 2002 00:00:00 -0700 Being part of Advanced Reproductive Care (ARC), the national network of leading infertility specialists, Drs. Hummel and Kettel participated in the most recent study revealing a conservative approach of patients towards reproductive technologies.

For example, only 9% of infertility patients surveyed would consider cloning as a way to have a biological child. While 26% were undecided about what to do with unused cryopreserved (frozen) embryos that were left over following infertility treatment.

Only 34% would consider a gestational carrier to carry their baby, while 22% were undecided if they would use this option. “The study shows that men and women undergoing fertility treatment educate themselves thoroughly before making any decisions”, comments Dr. William Hummel. The majority of respondents – Over 90% of respondents believe that insurance should cover infertility diagnosis and treatment.

Forty-six percent of all respondents believe that infertility treatment should be made available to same-sex couples, 32% disagreed, and 22% were undecided. Fifty-six percent of infertility patients answering this survey would consider adoption if infertility treatment were unsuccessful, 19% would not and 25% were undecided.

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Research Discovers Key to Fertilizationhttps://www.sdfertility.com/blog/research-discovers-key-to-fertilization blog/research-discovers-key-to-fertilization Sun, 15 Sep 2002 00:00:00 -0700 British scientists isolated a sperm factor gene that produces a protein that triggers fertilization and development of the egg into an embryo. Researchers can now explain how sperm create a surge in calcium levels in the egg that occur during fertilization and activates its dividing process. The discovered molecule produces a protein called PLC-zeta which causes the increasing calcium level in the egg.

Drs. Hummel and Kettel agree with the researchers who see immense potential benefits of this discovery such as treatment for male infertility and diseases i.e. diabetes and parkinson’s, and the development of male contraceptives.

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Acupuncture and Fertility Treatmenthttps://www.sdfertility.com/blog/acupuncture-and-fertility-treatment blog/acupuncture-and-fertility-treatment Thu, 15 Aug 2002 00:00:00 -0700 Drs. Hummel and Kettel support their patients’ plan to undergo acupuncture therapy in conjunction with fertility treatment. Traditionally employed in China for the last 23 centuries to treat most illnesses , the value of acupuncture for infertility has been shown in recent scientific studies. Results in one study performing acupuncture before and after embryo transfers concluded that acupuncture seems to be a useful tool for improving pregnancy rates after ART. Another study showed that acupuncture may be a conjunctive, nontraumatic treatment for males with very poor sperm density.

Local acupuncturists recommend infertility patients start acupuncture before their infertility treatment and to inform their fertility specialist about the details of their conjunctive therapy.

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Increasing Demand for PGD at SDFChttps://www.sdfertility.com/blog/increasing-demand-for-pgd-at-sdfc blog/increasing-demand-for-pgd-at-sdfc Mon, 15 Jul 2002 00:00:00 -0700 PGD, or Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis, introduced to the fertility world recently, gets requested more and more at SDFC. Drs. Hummel and Kettel recommend this genetic analysis to couples who carry a high risk for genetic disease or who have had previous children with genetic abnormalities. Since there is also an age related increase in chromosomal abnormalities, the doctors may recommend it to women over 37 years of age.

Only one cell is necessary to perform PGD. However, PGD at the Center must be done with an IVF cycle for which it is desirable to have at least 5 embryos or more. The biopsy for PGD is performed in our embryology lab. The single cell genetic testing is extremely difficult and requires a specialized “clean room” to avoid contamination. We are affiliated with genetic laboratories in Chicago and New Jersey, the most experienced fertility laboratories in the US, who take care of our PGD cases.

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