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Our Medical Directors are outstanding physicians that you will find to be very personable and compassionate, who take care to ensure that you have the most cutting-edge fertility treatments at your disposal. This is your outlet to ask your questions to the doctors.

Dear Patients,

I created this forum to welcome any questions you have on the topic of infertility, IVF, conception, testing, evaluation, or any related topics. I do my best to answer all questions in less than 24 hours. I know your question is important and, in many cases, I will answer within just a few hours. Thank you for taking the time to trust me with your concern.

– Geoffrey Sher, MD

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Egg Health & Ovarian Reserve Apr 27, 2025

Lack of maturation of eggs in stimulation cycle

Dear Dr. Sher, I just watched your video on egg maturation and learned more than I have in over a year of reading and asking questions on this. My question also relates to egg maturation but specifically on why eggs… — Laura C.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

When confronted with such an exaggerated response, doctors often trigger egg maturation by cutting the cycle short through triggering early. While this protects against OHSS, the eggs are oft yet not ready for maturation. This leads mto "poor egg yield and quality . Second, in such cases doctors…
Egg Health & Ovarian Reserve Apr 27, 2025

Empty folicals

Hi, I'm on my first round of ivf due to same sex relationship. Im from the UK. I have just had my first egg retrieval and I'm bitterly disappointed with the amount of egg they collected. I'm 37, amh 14.1,… — Katie M.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

Empty Follicle Syndrome" is a misleading term because follicles always contain eggs. However, some eggs may have difficulties detaching and being retrieved. This is more likely to happen when multiple attempts are needed to retrieve an egg from a follicle, indicating the egg may have chromosomal abnormalities. The…
Ovarian Stimulation & OHSS Apr 10, 2025

FxPOI

Any advise would be appreciated for my 2 daughters recently diagnosed with fxpoi. 30 year old tried 2 cycles, the first down regulated before starting stims, range of doses were tried and a follicle slowly grew but was empty at… — Simone H.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

I would need to consult directly with your daughters re ovarian stimulation. If you are interested, please reach outv to my assistant, Patti Converse (702-533-2691 ). Below is an article I wrote on Fragile-X FYI. Fragile X syndrome: Which IVF Candidates Should be Tested and How Should Results…
Hormones & Ovulation Feb 28, 2025

suppressedLH

To start the IVF cycle,myclinic putme birth control.lowered LH almost undetectable. is this oversuppression?do you expect LH go up with start of menopur? we are doing a5 day washout period after stopping the birth control. — Carmela R.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

When I prescribe the BCP it is for at least 10 days. Thereupon I overlap with Lupron to promote antral follicle growth through exposure to early Lupron-induced FSH. If you do not overlap with such a GnRH-agonist, the woman's ovaries will often be suppressed. Feel free to reach…
Embryos & Genetic Testing Feb 11, 2025

Article; IVF: FACTORS AFFECTING EGG/EMBRYO “COMPETENCY” DURING CONTROLLED OVARIAN STIMULATION (COS)

Quick question- sperm and egg cells, don' t they contain 23 chromosomes only as they are germ cells (Haploid cells) , and not 2x 23 as mentioned in this article? — Theivanya U.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

Both sperm and eggs start off with 46 chromosomes. Then during meiosis (reproductive maturational division, the divide their chromosomes in half to 23 (the haploid number). The fusion of the sperm and the egg thereupon reconstitutes the chromosomes in the embryo to 46(the diploid number). Geoff Sher Herewith…
Egg Health & Ovarian Reserve Jan 23, 2025

Fertility at 41

Hello Dr Sher, I am a physician G3P2 who has gone through 6 cycles of IVF for my 3rd child. (My elder two are 11 and 9 who were naturally conceived and delivered NSVD). I have done luteal phase stimulation… — Heena P.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

Thank you for reaching out to me. We should talk. I recommend that you contact my assistant, Patti Converse at concierge@sherivf.com and set up an online consultation with me to discuss. In the meanwhile, please see below. Geoff Sher ADDRESSING ADVANCING AGE AND DIMINISHING OVARIAN RESERVE (DOR) IN…
Immunology & Implantation Jan 16, 2025

Repeated Implantation Failures and MC

Good morning Dr. Sher, My name is Xuandao ("Dao") Nguyen, I'm 42 yo and currently in round 4 of IVF at my local clinic here in Atlanta (ACRM). I want to give you a brief summary of my case and… — Xuandao N.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

In my opinion, you have a likely implantation dysfunction . It could be anatomical or immunologic. I suggest you contact my assistant, Patti at concierge@sherIVF.com to set up an online consultation with me. Implantation dysfunction is often overlooked as a significant reason for IVF failure. This is especially…
Ovarian Stimulation & OHSS Jan 11, 2025

Egg Retrieval Process

How many eggs can be retrieved during the egg retrieval/ egg freezing process? How many tend to remain viable (% wise)? How long can the eggs be frozen for and does the egg viability decline after a certain time frame? — Xxxxxx

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

This all varies depending on age, ovarian reserve and the cause of an underlying infertility issue. Below find information on egg Banking:. Feel free to call my assistant, Patti and set up an online consultation with me. EGG BANKING: “The bottom line is that because of the traumatic…
Egg Health & Ovarian Reserve Jan 11, 2025

Dor Diagnosis

I’ve been diagnosed with Dor. First antagonist cycle only ended up with 4 follicles on trigger day after 10days of stimming. However, e2 never got above 380 and seemed to have dipped on trigger day to 373. Clinic still proceeded… — Avie H.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

There is a great deal to discuss! I suggest that you contact my assistant, Patti (concierge@sherIVF.com ) and set up a time to discuss online. ADDRESSING ADVANCING AGE AND DIMINISHING OVARIAN RESERVE (DOR) IN IVF Understanding the impact of age and ovarian reserve on the success of in…
Ovarian Stimulation & OHSS Jan 11, 2025

Unsure about priming protocol estrace//ganarelix

Hello Dr Sher, I am a scientist and as I often do i studied all mechanisms of action of IVF drugs. I have done natural start cycles but recently had leading follicles. AMH of 1.33 40 years old 6-9 afc… — Cecilia P.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

There is so much to talk about. i think I can provide information that will be of help. I suggest you contact my assistant, Patti (702-533-2691) and set up an online consultation with me to discuss.. In the meanwhile,...see below. EGG/ EMBRYO QUALITY IN IVF & HOW SELECTION…
Ovarian Stimulation & OHSS Nov 21, 2024

Agonist/Antagonist/Leuprolide

Hi Dr. Sher, I loved your podcast with Dr. Aimee! I’m doing a3rd retrieval and had some thoughts/Q’s. I’m 36 years old, AMH 1.6. 1st retrieval 5 eggs - 3 mature - 3 fertilized - 2 euploid embryos. 2nd retrieval… — Grace D.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

WE really should talk. I think I can both enlighten and help you. I am concerned by the low yield of eggs and think that the protocol used for ovarian stimulation should be evaluated and probably modified. I suggest that you call my assistant, Patti Converse (702-533-2691) and…
Ovarian Stimulation & OHSS Nov 14, 2024

Retrieval

I’m almost ready to trigger for egg retrieval, but I only have four mature follicles. There are ten follicles total, but they didn’t mature at the same rate and my doctor won’t wait for those to mature because they only… — Ellen C.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

Respectfully, I do not think this strategy is appropriate. Timing is everything in IVF. WE should talk. I suggest you call my assistant, Patti (702-533-2691). and set up an online consultation with me. Geoff Sher PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH OTHERS AND HELP SPREAD THE WORD!! Herewith are online…
Egg Health & Ovarian Reserve Oct 30, 2024

Changes to a 4th cycle

I’m at a bit of a loss. Having ICSI for secondary infertility (1st child conceived naturally age 29) and just midway through my 3rd cycle. I have paid up for a 4th cycle already so I’m keen to get some… — Amy E.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

WE would need to discuss this complex matter. I suggest you call my assistant, Patti Converse (702-533-2691 and set up an online consultation with me. Geoff Sher PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH OTHERS AND HELP SPREAD THE WORD!! Herewith are online links to 2 E-books recently co-authored with my…
Egg Health & Ovarian Reserve Oct 28, 2024

Advice for last IVF round

Dear Dr. Sher: Thank you for hosting this forum. I am just shy of 41 with social infertility and have had two failed IVF cycles. The first used an antagonist protocol at 300 IU gonadotropin and resulted in one whole… — Claire C.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

Please read what follows and thereupon, might I suggest that we talk . Please call my assistant. Patti at 702-533-2691 and set up an online consultation with me to discuss. The journey of in vitro fertilization can be a rollercoaster of emotions for many patients. Often times they…
Embryos & Genetic Testing Oct 16, 2024

FET canceled due to a yeast infection (vaginal candidiasis)

My fresh embryo transfer was canceled two days before the procedure due to a yeast infection (vaginal candidiasis), and I’m wondering why this infection may have occurred. I haven’t had sexual intercourse or done anything specific that I believe could… — Hannah A.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

In my opinion there is no reason to cancel FET because of a yeast infection. Geoff Sher

Ask Our Doctors

Supporting Your Journey

Our Medical Directors are outstanding physicians that you will find to be very personable and compassionate, who take care to ensure that you have the most cutting-edge fertility treatments at your disposal. This is your outlet to ask your questions to the doctors.

225 answers

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