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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.

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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89 answers

Hormones & Ovulation

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Hormones & Ovulation Oct 26, 2023

Repeated Miscarriage

Hi Dr. Sher, Thanks so much for taking the time to read and answer our questions, and for the valuable resources on your site. I have PCOS and have had 4 losses, no live births yet. Each miscarriage at a… — Irma M.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

When it comes to reproduction, humans face challenges compared to other mammals. A significant number of fertilized eggs in humans do not result in live births, with up to 75% failing to develop, and around 30% of pregnancies ending within the first 10 weeks (first trimester). Recurrent pregnancy…
Hormones & Ovulation Oct 9, 2023

Do Intralipids in IVF cause weight gain

I am 37, have low egg count and poor egg quality in the last 3 egg retreivals. There is mild adenomyosis and possible endometrioma on my scans. I don’t have any known autoimmune conditions. My fertility specialist feels I might… — Michaela T.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

It should not cause weight gain. Geoff Sher Herewith are online links to 2 E-books recently co-authored with my partner at SFS-NY (Drew Tortoriello MD)....... for your reading pleasure: From In Vitro Fertilization to Family: A Journey with Sher Fertility Solutions (SFS) ; http://sherfertilitysolutions.com/sher-fertility-solutions-ebook.pdf Recurrent Pregnancy Loss and…
Embryos & Genetic Testing Sep 25, 2023

IVF protocol

My name is Polona, I'm 50 and I've done four IVF cycles, all in North Cyprus, two of them when I was 48 and two of them at 50, for the last one I changed clinics. I’m planning to do… — Polona B.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

Dear Polona, I cannot in good faith support a decision to do IVF with own eggs at 50y of age. The chance of success is virtually zero, regardless of ovarian reserve. You should exclusively be focused on egg donation. Understanding the impact of age and ovarian reserve on…
Hormones & Ovulation Sep 23, 2023

BMI for egg retrieval

Hi there, I am wondering what your opinion is on why so many reproductive endocrinologists tell women with high BMIs that they cannot do IVF (or sometimes even IUI?) I have a BMI of about 55 but have had a… — Cailey S.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

I am not tat concerned about the ER. I am more concerned about technical problems in performing ET and the effect of a high BMI on pregnancy! Geoff Sher Herewith are online links to 2 E-books recently co-authored with my partner at SFS-NY (Drew Tortoriello MD)....... for your…
Embryos & Genetic Testing Aug 30, 2023

TSH prior to FET

Hello, I was wondering what the recommended parameters are for TSH/T4 level prior to FET. I have no issues with thyroid and my most recent TSH level was 3.6 and T4 1.3, just wondering if these are good numbers for… — Julie M.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

Your TSH is modestly elevated. In my opinion this is an indication to evaluate for antithyroid antibodies, which if present, could suggest an underlying autoimmune, immunologic implantation dysfunction linked to activation of uterine natural killer cells (NKa). This should be addressed in advance of undergoing FET in my…
Hormones & Ovulation Aug 11, 2023

Ivf

Hello my name is James my wife and I been trying to conceive for the last year . The clinic we went said my wife would have to lose 60lbs before treatment. What is the Bmi requirements at your clinic… — James C.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

Obviously women that are much overweight will have more difficulty in pregnancy. However we have no absolute BMI cut=-off requirements presently! Geoff Sher Herewith are online links to 2 E-books recently co-authored with my partner at SFS-NY (Drew Tortoriello MD)....... for your reading pleasure: From In Vitro Fertilization…
Embryos & Genetic Testing Aug 7, 2023

Cyst at baseline

Hello Dr, At my baseline scan there was a cyst measured 11mm, i.e. borderline acceptable. Nurses took my blood to check oestradiol level in case Doctor wanted to check it - but the Doctor reported back and said blood test… — Cassidy O.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

Especially since you are doing an FET and there has been no impact on your cycle thus far, I would tend to agree with your RE that the 10mm follicle/cyst is probably irrelevant! Good Luck! Geoff Sher ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: I am attaching online links to two E-books which…
Egg Health & Ovarian Reserve Aug 5, 2023

HGH if PCOS suspected?

Hello I read your blog and love the content. I am 36yrs old woman (AMH 29 pmol/L, AFC 14-20), obesity (BMI from 31-34 in the last year, used to be much more). My DHEA, testosterone, PRL were normal/low-normal/mid-range... FSH 7… — Petra V.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

HGH will not do harm. I personally do not advocate routine use of DHEA. The journey of in vitro fertilization can be a rollercoaster of emotions for many patients. Often times they have to face the harsh reality that the number and quality of eggs retrieved has fallen…
Egg Health & Ovarian Reserve Aug 1, 2023

Fertility and egg rupturing

My amh is 20 and now I am into iui treatment. My follicle size is 23mm in right ovary and left ovary pcos . My egg is not rupturing after taking injection also.. — Tej K.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

I would need much more information to respond informatively! Sorry! GS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: I am attaching online links to two E-books which I recently co-authored with my partner at SFS-NY (Drew Tortoriello MD)....... for your reading pleasure: 1.From In Vitro Fertilization to Family: A Journey with Sher Fertility…
Hormones & Ovulation Jul 19, 2023

BMI cutoffs for IVF and IUI treatments

Hi Dr. Sher, I'm a patient navigator working with a plus size patient (BMI ~50) who is looking for a fertility specialist without a hard BMI cutoff. I came across your name in The Cut piece about BMI limits in… — Jamie G.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

Yes indeed I do! Herewith are online links to 2 E-books recently co-authored with my partner at SFS-NY (Drew Tortoriello MD)....... for your reading pleasure: From In Vitro Fertilization to Family: A Journey with Sher Fertility Solutions (SFS) ; http://sherfertilitysolutions.com/sher-fertility-solutions-ebook.pdf Recurrent Pregnancy Loss and Unexplained IVF Failure: The…
Hormones & Ovulation Jul 6, 2023

Positive ANA and thyroid

I am currently undergoing IVF for PCOS, an ovulation. My first cycle I collected 26 eggs, 24 of which were mature and all fertilised and ended up with 12 day 5 blastocysts only 1 of low quality. First FET resulted… — Rebecca M.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

Implantation dysfunction is often overlooked as a significant reason for IVF failure. This is especially true when IVF failure is unexplained, or when there are recurring pregnancy losses or underlying issues with the uterus, such as endo-uterine surface lesions, thin uterine lining (endometrium), or immunological factors. IVF success…
Hormones & Ovulation Jul 6, 2023

High E2 day 2

Hi Dr Sher, I got covid during my ivf cycle last month, so had to cancel D9 after taking corifollitropan alfa D3. I got my period early on D19 (usually have 28 day cycle) and my D2 E2 is 138… — Jess L.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

Yes! It is very often due to a folliclular cyst! It should absorb in time. Alternatively it can be aspirated under local, trans-vaginally and the level will drop....Good luck! ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: I am attaching online links to two E-books which I recently co-authored with my partner at SFS-NY…
Egg Health & Ovarian Reserve Jul 2, 2023

Human Growth Hormone Administration in IVF

Hi, very interesting article. I was using this hormone in my IVF treatment but I did not get results. It was administered one month before the egg retrieval and only for 30 days. Could this be the cause of it… — Alejandra G.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

No! You (in my opinion) do not need to take the HGH for long. My patients start a week before ovarian stimulation commences. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: I am attaching online links to two E-books which I recently co-authored with my partner at SFS-NY (Drew Tortoriello MD)....... for your reading…
Hormones & Ovulation Jun 29, 2023

Multiple miscarriages

Dear Dr. Sher, I would like to ask you, if there is any possibility to "prevent" a miscarriage, or help my body to deliver a baby overall. Or any of your ideas just to help somehow. I'm 29 and in… — Ludmila K.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

When it comes to reproduction, humans face challenges compared to other mammals. A significant number of fertilized eggs in humans do not result in live births, with up to 75% failing to develop, and around 30% of pregnancies ending within the first 10 weeks (first trimester). Recurrent pregnancy…
Hormones & Ovulation Jun 28, 2023

Estrogen Priming in IVF

Hi Dr. I'm 39 with amh of 0.3 and going through my 3rd ivf cycle. Because of lab availability for PGS they are looking at delaying my priming and injections, starting my priming on CD19 (my cycle is 24 days)… — Yasmin G.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

There are different philosophies regarding ovarian stimulation protocols. Of one thing I personally have no doubt about and that is that the protocol used needs to be tailored to the individual. I wish I could advise you directly but to do so I would need much more information.…

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.

89 answers

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