Houston IVF Announces Fertility Breakthrough with First Live Births in Texas from Frozen Egg
Houston IVF recently announced the first live births of children conceived using oocyte cryopreservation, also known as egg freezing, in the state of Texas. The births pave the way to successful pregnancies for women who face cancer treatment or women who want to delay childbearing due to their career or lifestyle situations.
Houston, TX, June 24, 2010 --(PR.com)-- Houston IVF recently announced the first live births of children conceived using oocyte cryopreservation, also known as egg freezing, in the state of Texas. The twin boy and girl were born May 28th, according to Dr. Timothy Hickman, Medical Director at Houston IVF.
”The immediate breakthrough, the one we are most excited about, is for women diagnosed with cancer,” notes Dr. Hickman. “The ability to freeze their eggs will give patients preparing for cancer treatment the opportunity to conceive a child anytime following their cancer treatment. Previously, the eggs had to be fertilized with partner or donor sperm prior to freezing.” The births also pave the way to successful pregnancies for women who want to delay childbearing due to their career or lifestyle situations.
The children’s parents, Christopher & Ivonne Pena, took part in one of Houston IVF’s clinical studies last summer and are glad to know that their experience will help advance fertility treatment for women. “We’re thrilled to know that the same treatment that helped us conceive our babies will give hope to women who are fighting cancer but still wish to have children,” noted Mrs. Pena.
While researchers have been very successful at freezing sperm and embryos for preservation of fertility, egg freezing has presented a much more difficult challenge, as previous attempted procedures damaged or destroyed the eggs upon thawing. The national success rate for live births from frozen eggs has only been about 2%, and a 2009 study showed only 936 babies had been born from frozen eggs worldwide to date.
In collaboration with doctors and embryologists at sister clinic Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine, the staff at Houston IVF performed an initial clinical trial, freezing eggs for patients using a new laboratory method. The trial included studying the effects of freezing and thawing the eggs using this procedure, as well as determining their survival and fertilization rates. The trial resulted in a 100% survival rate for the thawed eggs and an 85% fertilization rate. Doctors at Houston IVF are also evaluating additional applications for the procedure.
About Houston IVF Founded in 2001 by Dr. Timothy Hickman & Dr. William Schoolcraft, Houston IVF is one of the nation’s leading fertility research centers, providing a broad range of fertility treatments from basic infertility care to the most advanced In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) technology. Led by Dr. Hickman and Dr. Laurie McKenzie, Houston IVF achieves live birth rates significantly higher than the national average across all age groups. Houston IVF has locations at Memorial City and in the Texas Medical Center. For more information visit the website www.houstonivf.net or call 713-465-1211.
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”The immediate breakthrough, the one we are most excited about, is for women diagnosed with cancer,” notes Dr. Hickman. “The ability to freeze their eggs will give patients preparing for cancer treatment the opportunity to conceive a child anytime following their cancer treatment. Previously, the eggs had to be fertilized with partner or donor sperm prior to freezing.” The births also pave the way to successful pregnancies for women who want to delay childbearing due to their career or lifestyle situations.
The children’s parents, Christopher & Ivonne Pena, took part in one of Houston IVF’s clinical studies last summer and are glad to know that their experience will help advance fertility treatment for women. “We’re thrilled to know that the same treatment that helped us conceive our babies will give hope to women who are fighting cancer but still wish to have children,” noted Mrs. Pena.
While researchers have been very successful at freezing sperm and embryos for preservation of fertility, egg freezing has presented a much more difficult challenge, as previous attempted procedures damaged or destroyed the eggs upon thawing. The national success rate for live births from frozen eggs has only been about 2%, and a 2009 study showed only 936 babies had been born from frozen eggs worldwide to date.
In collaboration with doctors and embryologists at sister clinic Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine, the staff at Houston IVF performed an initial clinical trial, freezing eggs for patients using a new laboratory method. The trial included studying the effects of freezing and thawing the eggs using this procedure, as well as determining their survival and fertilization rates. The trial resulted in a 100% survival rate for the thawed eggs and an 85% fertilization rate. Doctors at Houston IVF are also evaluating additional applications for the procedure.
About Houston IVF Founded in 2001 by Dr. Timothy Hickman & Dr. William Schoolcraft, Houston IVF is one of the nation’s leading fertility research centers, providing a broad range of fertility treatments from basic infertility care to the most advanced In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) technology. Led by Dr. Hickman and Dr. Laurie McKenzie, Houston IVF achieves live birth rates significantly higher than the national average across all age groups. Houston IVF has locations at Memorial City and in the Texas Medical Center. For more information visit the website www.houstonivf.net or call 713-465-1211.
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Contact
Houston IVF
Carl McGowan
713-465-1211 x2624
www.houstonivf.net
Carl McGowan
713-465-1211 x2624
www.houstonivf.net
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