THE HCR EXPERIENCE

What is Infertility?

When to seek help?

There are various definitions for subfertility or infertility involving how long a couple has been trying to conceive for their particular age. The simplest and most effective treatment you can employ on your own, is knowing when to try - by using some method of ovulation prediction. The most effective of these are the urinary LH kits.

If you have not had success with your desired family building within 6 months of well-timed exposure using an ovulation predictor, if you are anovulatory (the kit doesn’t reliably reveal a color change) or if you are already 35 years old, proper evaluation by a Reproductive Endocrinologist is indicated. Additionally, any couple with a known medical problem likely to impair reproductive processes (such as diabetes or thyroid disease, or a history of an undescended testicle) should be seen initially by a Reproductive Endocrinologist.

Your initial evaluation should clarify three key factors as a couple:

1) how well do you ovulate/how good are your eggs;
2) how well do you produce sperm/how good are your sperm; and
3) is your anatomy providing the best opportunity for fertilization, early cell divisions and embryo implantation.

By systematically evaluating these factors, any problem areas are identified. Because certain of the diagnostic tests are also therapeutic, such as “flushing” the Fallopian tubes to determine if they are open, many couples become pregnant during their initial evaluation. Obviously, beyond initial screening tests, discovery of specific problems leads to focused care. At that point, physician acumen and dedication to detail impacts upon your care. Anything you need for your reproductive success is available at the Center, from simple, logical evaluation to ultra-sophisticated testicular sperm retrieval combined with in vitro fertilization and intra- cytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF-ICSI), and Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD).

Can The Hinsdale Center for Reproduction Help You?

Since the Center opened in 1991, more than 2000 successful births have occurred. The Hinsdale Center for Reproduction is a private practice located on the campus of Hinsdale Hospital. Drs. Michael Hickey and Jay Levin met while they were performing their research fellowships in Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility at the University of Southern California. They worked together in California during the years of 1988 to 1990 studying cell biology, and developing ways to stimulate and maintain embryos in culture.

It was their common goal to provide university quality medicine in a personal, warm environment. The Hinsdale Center for Reproduction opened its doors in July 1991. The very first IVF cycle was a success, and Miles Courchane was born in the spring of 1992.

HCR offers an environment of special sensitivity to couples seeking treatment for infertility. Providing the most sophisticated medical and surgical therapies, the Center offers comprehensive, state-of-the-art fertility care, including an on-site gamete laboratory and a staff with advanced training in reproductive endocrinology, infertility, andrology and embryology so that every patient will have the greatest opportunity for success.