What is Oocyte Cryopreservation – Egg Freezing?

oocyte cryopreservation
Image: en.wikipedia.org

Receiving his medical degree from the University of Southern California, John Wilcox, MD, has been practicing medicine for over 25 years. Dr. John Wilcox, double board certified in reproductive endocrinology and infertility, as well as obstetrics and gynecology, specializes in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. Trained in the procedure oocyte cryopreservation (egg freezing), he currently serves as a reproductive endocrinologist at HRC Fertility in Pasadena, California, http://www.hrcpasadena.com.

Oocyte cryopreservation, also known as egg freezing, is much like in vitro fertilization (IVF) where under the care of a clinician, the patient is administered fertility drugs for approximately three weeks to promote multiple egg production in the ovaries. Mature eggs are then harvested from the patient with the use of ultra-sound technology while under light anesthesia. Herein lies the difference with egg freezing; once retrieved, the unfertilized eggs undergo an immediate deep freeze at -196 degrees Celsius for indefinite preservation.

As oocyte cryopreservation can be costly, averaging approximately $10,000. There are also annual cryopreservation charges costing approximately $700 per year which must also be factored in.

Cardioprotective Effects of Hormone Replacement Therapy

 

Fertility doctor John G. Wilcox, MD, is an owner/parter at HRC Fertility, a leading reproductive medicine facility in Southern California. He is board certified in reproductive endocrinology and infertility as well as gynecology and obstetrics. In addition to garneing acclaim in the Los Angeles Times and Pasadena Magazine as one of California’s best doctors, Dr. John G. Wilcox has also done considerable research on various aspects of reproductive and gynecological medicine, including the cardioprotective benefits of estrogen.

In hormone replacement therapy, medications containing estrogen and other female hormones are prescribed to post-menopausal women whose bodies no longer make these hormones naturally. Estrogen is an effective treatment for menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, but there has been some controversy about its possible health risks.

A 2002 study suggested that women receiving estrogen-based hormone replacement therapy had higher rates of heart disease and breast cancer than those on a placebo. However, evidence that is more recent suggests that these risks have been exaggerated and that for women starting treatment near the start of menopause, the benefits of hormone replacement therapy vastly outweigh the risks. Not only do the hormones provide relief for night sweats, hot flashes, and vaginal dryness, they also might lower women’s risk of bone fractures and heart disease.

In general, post-menopausal women are at significantly higher risk of cardiovascular disease than pre-menopausal women are. Some epidemiological findings indicate that female hormone deficiency may actually contribute to development of cardiovascular disease and that ovarian hormones may actually protect cardiovascular health in menopausal or early post-menopausal women. Estrogen does not appear to contribute to the cardiovascular health of late post-menopausal women and may even have detrimental effects. However, it seems that women who start hormone replacement therapy before the age of 60 actually have a lower risk of heart disease and lower overall mortality.

John Wilcox, MD, and the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California

John Wilcox, MD, FACOG, laid the foundation for his success as a leader in reproductive medicine at some of the country’s most prestigious institutions. Following his graduation in 1986 from the University of California, San Diego, where he studied biomedical engineering and managerial economics, John Wilcox, MD, matriculated at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC). He earned his Doctor of Medicine in 1990 and went on to serve his residency in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, where today he still serves as Assistant Clinical Professor.

The oldest medical school in Southern California, the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California was founded as the USC College of Medicine and today exists as a center of medical education, patient care, and research. Located near downtown Los Angeles, the school sits next to one of the nation’s largest teaching hospitals, the Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center. Students and residents from Keck work at the nearby USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and Hospital, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and Doheny Eye Institute, among others, all of which partner with the school.

Keck has won numerous awards and accolades, named number 34 for research on U.S. News and World Report’s list of top 135 U.S. medical schools. In addition, the magazine ranked the school’s partner, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, as the best West Coast children’s facility. Several of the departments at Keck have also been recognized as among the best in the country, including urology, gynecology, neurosurgery and neurology, ophthalmology, and orthopedics. Keck contains several research institutes and facilities, such as the Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, the USC Institute for Genetic Medicine, the Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at USC, and the USC Institute for Global Health. With more $275 million in annual awards, Keck research programs include bioengineering, diabetes, cancer, genetics, neuroscience, preventive medicine, stem cell and regenerative medicine, and obesity.

The renowned faculty at Keck has achieved several pioneering accomplishments. In 1970, they were the first to discover the cancer-causing gene; in 2002, they created the first retinal implant to restore sight to those who suffered from diseases of the retina; and in 2010, the faculty discovered HIV-resistant blood stem cells. More than 500 physicians and specialists serve at the school, and nearly 200 doctors have ranked on lists such as America’s Top Doctors and Best Doctors.

Finding the Right Gynecologist

Finding the right gynecologist can be a daunting task. As is the case with a visit to any medical professional, you want to feel comfortable and at ease discussing your health and well-being with the gynecologist you choose. While it can be hard to know how to select a gynecologist, Dr. John Wilcox offers several tips for finding the right one to fit your specific needs.

1. Decide what you are looking for in a gynecologist. Each woman likely has a different set of criteria, so consider factors such as experience, education, and if you prefer a male or female gynecologist.

2. Check with your insurance company so you can be sure to find a gynecologist that your insurance carrier accepts without any hassle.

3. Do you need a gynecologist that specializes in certain areas, such as endometriosis or menopause? This requirement will surely narrow your search.

4. If you prefer a certain hospital in your area, check which hospitals each gynecologist under consideration is affiliated with.

5. Determine whether you prefer a large or small practice.

6. Create a list of possible gynecologists based on your criteria.

7. Make sure the gynecologist you consider is currently licensed, registered with the state medical board, and in good standing.

8. Find out which gynecologists retain privileges at more than one hospital. Multiple hospital privileges indicate that the doctor’s credentials have been reviewed and accepted numerous times.

9. Visit several gynecologists’ practices before deciding on one. Small nuances of an office atmosphere or personality can make all the difference, so take the time to visit a few practices before making a final decision.

Male Infertility

At HRC Fertility, we work to solve any reproductive issues a couple may face in trying to conceive. We offer comprehensive fertility services, including in vitro fertilization, intrauterine insemination, third-party reproduction, fertility drug regimens, and surrogacy. We focus on both men’s and women’s fertility, as infertility is an issue that affects both sexes.

 

Male infertility has numerous causes, including overexposure to environmental elements such as chemicals and extended periods spent sitting in a hot tub or bath. Another cause is a varicocele, or a varicose vein in the scrotum that inhibits the normal cooling process of the scrotum and reduces sperm count. Low sperm count itself may be a contributing factor, with 10 million or fewer sperm per milliliter of semen indicating subfertility. However, it is extremely rare that the testicles do not produce any sperm at all. Sexually transmitted diseases and hormone imbalance due to testosterone deficiency may also cause male infertility. There are several other proximate causes, including impaired shape and form of sperm, which prevents the sperm from moving quickly and accurately towards the egg.

 

In some cases, the man’s body itself may produce antisperm antibodies that mistake the sperm for foreign invaders and work to eliminate the sperm. These antibodies are particularly common after vasectomy or surgical blockage of a portion of the vas deferens and may complicate a vasectomy reversal.

 

At HRC Fertility, we offer qualified andrologists who are able to evaluate the causes of sperm abnormality and develop methods of effective treatment. HRC Fertility offers male fertility treatments including in vitro fertilization with intracytoplasmic sperm injection; referral for vasectomy reversal; and intrauterine insemination, which may be effective against antisperm antibodies. Visit HRC Fertility on the Internet at havingbabies.com for further details about male infertility diagnosis and treatments.