Men Having Babies 2018 Exclusive Giveaway
HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to James & Benjie Hyde as well as David Benjamin & Tibor Soltesz, the winners of our First Ever Exclusive Men Having Babies 2018 Giveaway! Our winners will receive 1 FREE IVF cycle, including Preimplantation Genetic Testing. Thanks to everyone who entered. As always, stay tuned for more exciting news from aParent IVF’s Intended Father Center!
aParent IVF Laboratory has been helping patients with gestational surrogacy since the very beginning. Under the guidance of Laboratory Director Colleen Wagner Coughlin and renowned Reproductive Endocrinologist Dr. Brian Kaplan, both recent Path2Parenthood award recipients, aParent IVF has been recognized as a Center of Excellence for its many international and same-sex patients. The team at aParent IVF created the Intended Father Center to offer services tailored to men pursuing parenthood, bringing together the most advanced technology, techniques, and specialized pricing packages. aParent’s specially trained staff are experts in the use of Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) which helps increase the chances of pregnancy by reducing the number of embryo transfers. Combining PGT with donor egg and gestational surrogacy, aParent’s Intended Father Center is your BEST and FASTEST path to fatherhood.
Brian Kaplan, MD
Reproductive Endocrinologist
Dr. Kaplan’s expertise and passion is in IVF, Preimplantation Genetic Testing, Egg Donation, and Gestational Surrogacy in the global marketplace. Dr. Kaplan has one of the largest and most successful practices worldwide, comprising a large international patient base. Originally from South Africa, Dr. Kaplan has called Chicago home for more than 25 years, having completed both his residency and fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology here, and is a partner at Fertility Centers of Illinois. Dr. Kaplan was chosen as the Path2Parenthood (formerly The American Fertility Association) Illuminations Chicago honoree for his groundbreaking impact in the field of fertility and reproductive health. In collaboration with aParent IVF, Dr. Kaplan has built a longstanding reputation as one of the world’s leading Reproductive Endocrinologists.
Colleen Wagner Coughlin
Laboratory Director
Colleen is the Laboratory Director for aParent IVF. Through her experience as an embryologist and her relationships in this field for almost 30 years, she has curated a program that combines the best of all options. Colleen and Dr. Kaplan’s collaboration is uniquely unmatched not only for its laboratory and medical expertise, but also for their shared philosophy, commitment and passion in this unique journey. A strong patient advocate, Colleen has been recognized in the IVF community for involving the patient in the laboratory experience. In 2015, she was presented with the Path2Parenthood Advocacy Award. She is widely published in peer-reviewed publications and has presented worldwide, sharing her expertise in IVF and Preimplantation Genetic Testing.
aParent IVF has assembled a team of experts to handle the specific needs of our intended fathers. Each company is specialized in its field and strong collaboration between us is the key to making your experience as easy and successful as possible.
Our focus is on the laboratory itself. We strive to use the latest laboratory equipment and techniques available. Our team of embryologists has been working together for more than 30 years, specializing in the most advanced care to develop your embryos with the highest success possible.
Dr. Brian Kaplan is our primary physician and is a partner at Fertility Centers of Illinois. All medical consultations, clinical care and nursing staff throughout your treatment are provided by FCI, who have been helping intended parents since 1976.
We work closely with the most reputable agencies that can provide you with high quality options for egg donors and surrogates. If you are not already working with an agency for an egg donor or surrogate, we would be happy to give you a recommendation.
When it comes to preserving and storing your embryos, eggs, and sperm, Cryovault takes care to provide the latest technology, techniques and security to assure safe and healthy preservation. The same experts who helped to create your embryos will care for them until you are ready to use them.
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a process by which an egg is fertilized by sperm outside the body. The process involves monitoring and stimulating the ovaries, removing the eggs and fertilizing them with sperm in the laboratory. The fertilized eggs are cultured and developed into embryos and then implanted in the uterus, with the intention of establishing a successful pregnancy.
Ovarian Stimulation
In the stimulation phase of the IVF cycle, injectable medications are used to stimulate your egg donor’s ovaries to produce eggs.
Egg and Sperm Assessment
An embryologist assesses which eggs are mature. Sperm is isolated and assessed for the healthiest specimens. Embryos are created using one or both partners’ sperm and donor eggs.
Fertilization with ICSI
With ICSI (Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection), each mature egg is injected with a single sperm and placed in a specialized incubator to allow fertilization.
Embryo Development
The fertilized eggs continue to develop. They typically reach the blastocyst stage on day 5, 6 or 7. At this stage, the embryo is assessed and graded for quality.
Preimplantation Genetic Testing
Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) is optional and can be used to avoid transferring embryos that appear healthy but may have chromosomal abnormalities such as Down Syndrome.
Embryo Transfer
The healthiest embryo(s) are selected and prepared for transfer. The embryo(s) are carefully placed into your gestational carrier’s uterus, allowing the implantation process to begin.
PGT + Donor Egg + GC =
Your BEST and FASTEST path to parenthood
Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) is a genetic assessment combined with the IVF process to test for aneuploidy (incorrect number of chromosomes). Embryos that are free of chromosome abnormalities can be selected for transfer to your gestational carrier.
Chromosome Screening
The most common error in embryos is called aneuploidy. This means there are too many or too few chromosomes. Screening embryos with PGT prior to transfer helps to achieve higher implantation rates, fewer pregnancy losses and lowers the risk of having to consider pregnancy termination.
Gender Indentification
PGT can also be used to determine the gender of your embryos. Every family is different, and only you can decide when your family is complete. With PGT, you can choose the gender of the embryos that will be transferred to your gestational carrier and balance your family in the way that’s right for you.
Our program data using PGT + Donor Egg + Gestational Carrier with 265 Embryo Transfers. A successful cycle consists of a delivered or ongoing pregnancy.
Advantages of using PGT
• Implant chromosomally normal embryos
• Optimize chances for a healthy baby
• Lower miscarriage rates
• Higher implantation and pregnancy rates
• Identify gender for family balancing
• Preferred by gestational carriers
• Legal and agency contractual advantages
Question: I have already selected my egg donor, but not my GC. Can I create embryos or do I need to wait?
Answer: Pregnancy rates at our lab are the same for fresh and frozen embryos, so we recommend you begin the IVF process with your donor. Your cryopreserved embryos will be ready whenever you’ve selected your GC and are prepared to proceed. Having embryos ready may also help you during the GC matching process.
Question: Is Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) the same at all programs?
Answer: No, PGT is a very specialized procedure that requires a great deal of experience and proficiency. You should choose a program that has a wide range of experience performing PGT procedures.
Question: Can PGT harm my embryos?
Answer: As long as the laboratory has sufficient experience, PGT is a safe and valuable tool for IVF patients. Our lab has offered PGT since it was introduced, and a large number of patients choose to work with us because of our expertise in genetic testing.
Question: Why wouldn’t I do PGT?
Answer: There is an additional cost for PGT, but the benefits, including lower miscarriage and termination rates, may save money in the long run.
Question: Does it matter where I have my embryo transfer? Can I create my embryos and then move them to a program that is closer to my GC?
Answer: We highly recommend having your GC travel to us to avoid the risks involved with transporting embryos. The laboratory’s embryo thaw procedure and physician’s transfer technique are crucial to a successful pregnancy.
