Specimen Transfer
Your one-stop place for IVF and fertility personal hand-carry courier and shipping servicesBabysteps Biomed Couriers was founded by a team of science and logistics personnel who recognized the need and demand for personal, humane and professional service in transferring biological specimens to and from locations around the world. Although Babysteps global operations are based in […]
Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)
Written by: Tikva Shore Scientists estimate that, in the not far off future, many children in Western countries will be born through In-Vitro Fertilization, regardless of their parents’ fertility. This estimation is thanks to today’s technology, with which we can genetically test an embryo, prior to returning it to the woman’s uterus. This procedure is […]
Glossary
Hope keeps us going! Leading the future. Today. Glossary Abortion Abortion is defined as a clinically recognized pregnancy loss before the 20th week of gestation. Spontaneous abortion, or miscarriage, is the loss of the infant naturally or accidentally, without the will of the mother. Most miscarriages are not preventable since chromosomal abnormalities account for approximately […]
Semen Analysis
Semen analysis is one of the first steps taken in the search process of diagnosing the causes of otherwise unexplained male infertility. A Seminogram (also comes in variant names: Spermiogram, Semenogram) -practically translating as transcription of Semen measuring, -is a study conducted to test and evaluate the overall quality of a male’s semen sample, […]
Sperm Retrieval Methods
Obstructive azoospermia (OA) occurs when something blocks the mature sperm’s ability to reach the ejaculate. Instead, they remain “stuck” in the testis. Several surgical techniques have been developed in order to reach and extract these cells, which can then be used for IVF. In cases of non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA), when a male has no sperm […]
Advanced Sperm Searches
Before turning to surgical options, a patient should undergo an advanced sperm search. This search goes beyond a standard semen analysis, providing a meticulous examination of the sample’s entirety in order to find any viable sperm. If found, these sperm, however few, can then be used to fertilize eggs in the IVF procedure. These searches […]
TESE vs Micro-TESE
Introduction Non-Obstructive Azoospermia (NOA) can be resolved by retrieval of testicular sperm to be used for ICSI. This review on the differences between the leading surgical options currently available for NOA is meant to assist those men who were advised by a physician to consider surgery as the means of retrieving sperm samples. Currently, two […]
IUI – Intrauterine insemination
Intrauterine insemination, or IUI, is one of the simplest methods developed in the field of artificial reproductive technologies. As it is uncomplicated and minimally invasive it is often the first recommended step when a couple is faced with infertility. IUI involves the direct introduction of sperm cells into the woman’s uterus, bypassing the cervix, in […]
Instructions for IUI
The first step towards an IUI is providing a semen sample. It is not unlike collecting a sample for a semen analysis, however as the sperm will be used for direct insemination the cleanliness of the sample is important. Any saliva, some lubricants, and vaginal secretions can negatively affect sperm quality. Therefore, the preferred […]
Gradient or Swim up
Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), where a small volume of concentrated, motile sperm cells are injected directly into the woman’s uterus, is often one of the first treatments recommended to patients with unexplained infertility. As preparation for the IUI, the semen sample must be treated in order to create this final volume. The untreated sample contains […]