If you have been trying unsuccessfully to have a baby, our fertility specialists can help. At the Fertility & Reproductive Medicine Center, we provide a full range of diagnostic services and treatments for men and women experiencing infertility.
Fertility Treatments and Services: Why Choose Us?
When you come to our center for fertility treatment, you will find:
- Personalized solutions: We understand there is no one-size-fits-all solution to infertility. Our goal is to find the right treatments to match your goals.
- History of success: We’ve been treating infertility since the mid-1970s, and year after year, our patients achieve pregnancy at rates that are consistently higher than the national average.
- Expert team: All of our doctors are board certified in obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive endocrinology and infertility.
- High standards: Our clinic is a member of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART), a designation that ensures we meet the highest standards for quality, safety and patient care.
Fertility Treatments We Offer
The first step for those dealing with infertility is diagnostic testing to help us determine why you may be having trouble getting pregnant. Armed with those answers, the specialists at our Center will discuss treatment options with you and/or your partner to help you decide what’s best for you.
We offer a full spectrum of procedures to treat infertility – from simple, noninvasive medical therapies to the latest surgical treatments. Your fertility treatment options include:
Medical therapies
Ovulation-inducing medications – used alone or in conjunction with intrauterine insemination (IUI) – may be your first line of fertility treatment. Read more about non-IVF (in vitro fertilization) fertility therapies.
Surgery to boost fertility
We perform surgical procedures on both men and women to improve their fertility. Learn more about fertility surgery for women, with options including:
- Hysteroscopy: We use a hysteroscope (a thin, lighted tube inserted through the vagina) to diagnose and treat uterine polyps, fibroids, scar tissue and other uterine anomalies.
- Laparoscopic surgery: This minimally invasive technique allows us to diagnose and treat endometriosis, ovarian cysts or damaged fallopian tubes.
Options for fertility surgery for men include:
- Vasectomy reversal
- Opening of the sperm ducts to remove obstructions that may block movement of sperm
- Extraction of sperm from the ducts or testicles in cases where ejaculation isn’t possible
In vitro fertilization (IVF)
For this procedure, our doctors surgically retrieve eggs from your ovaries and mix them with your partner’s or donor sperm. The eggs then fertilize, divide and become embryos.
After 3 to 5 days, the doctor transfers the best embryo(s) directly into your uterus. If there are excess embryos, they may be frozen for later use. Read more information about in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Genetic testing with IVF
Preimplantation genetic testing on embryos helps pinpoint potential problems. For instance, preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) can identify embryos that may have a single gene disorder (like cystic fibrosis). Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) for aneuploidy (abnormal number of chromosomes) helps identify embryos that may have chromosomal abnormalities (such as Down syndrome). Learn more about preimplantation genetic testing.
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
In this technique, we inject a single sperm directly into an egg to increase the chances of fertilization in cases of poor sperm quality or unexplained infertility. Read more about intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
Additional Services at the Fertility & Reproductive Medicine Center
Our health care professionals offer additional services to people who want to have children:
- Gestational carrier: A gestational carrier is a woman who carries a pregnancy for the genetic or intended parents. Get more information on our gestational carrier program.
- LGBTQ+ family building: Our doctors can help lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer individuals and couples build their families with the aid of IUI, IVF or with a gestational carrier. Transgender patients can choose to undergo fertility preservation before starting hormonal therapy or having gender reassignment surgery. Learn more about LGBTQ+ family building.
- Donor eggs: Women who are unable to become pregnant using their own eggs may try IVF using donor eggs.
- Telemedicine: If you are undergoing procedures like IVF, you may need close and frequent monitoring. We offer the option to consult with a Washington University fertility specialist via video conferencing at participating clinics outside the St. Louis area. Read more about telemedicine.
Options for Fertility Preservation
Our center offers services to people who would like to delay pregnancy for medical or other reasons. We can freeze your eggs or embryos using a cryopreservation technique called vitrification. We can also freeze sperm for later use in achieving pregnancy. Get more information about fertility preservation.
Contact Us
To make an appointment with a Washington University fertility and reproductive medicine specialist at the Women and Infants Center, call 888.202.6871.