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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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Dr. Geoffrey Sher

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Immunology & Implantation Apr 4, 2023

Intralipids with Hashimotos

Hello, I am wondering whether I should have intralipids with my next IVF cycle (donor egg). I have Hashimotos and have heard that the soy in intralipids can aggravate Hashimotos. In my last cycle my TSH rose from 1.6 to… — Gemma B.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

__ Between 2% and 5% of women of the childbearing age have reduced thyroid hormone activity (hypothyroidism). Women with hypothyroidism often manifest with reproductive failure i.e. infertility, unexplained (often repeated) IVF failure, or recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). The condition is 5-10 times more common in women than in…
Early Pregnancy & hCG Apr 4, 2023

Scared to Try Again

Hi Dr. Sher, Thank you for taking my question. I am 28 years old who conceived naturally and unfortunately experienced a miscarriage three weeks ago. I was 14 weeks and this was my first pregnancy. Everything I have read online… — Kay M.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

WE should talk! The commonest causes of mid-trimester miscarriage are: 1. Cervical incompetency 2. Uterine congenital anomaly (e.g. a septum 3. Uterine anatomical pathology (e.g. fibroids; adenomyosis; post surgical scarring; endo-uterine synecheae 4. Placental failure due to vascular or immunologicic causes 5. Developmental fetal abnormalities (genetic and multifactorial)…
Uterine & Endometrial Health Apr 4, 2023

Should I try again?

Hi Dr. Sher - I'm 34 yrs old, and developed uterine scaring after an incomplete miscarriage 4 years ago. Scaring was cleared and I have done 1 IVF and 4 rounds of IUI, but they all ultimately failed due to… — Jennifer I.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

It was as far back as 1989, when I first published a study that examined the correlation between the thickness of a woman’s uterine lining (the endometrium), and the subsequent successful implantation of embryos in IVF patients. This study revealed that when the uterine lining measured
Ovarian Stimulation & OHSS Apr 4, 2023

Ohss

Hello Dr.Sher, I am interested to know what your thoughts are on my situation. I am starting my first egg retrieval in the upcoming months and I’m 40 years old, with lean pcos (5’7 and 130 lbs) and with an… — Yael G.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal system disorder among women affecting between 5% and 10% of women of reproductive age worldwide. Women with PCOS may have enlarged ovaries that contain multiple small collections of fluid (subcapsular microcysts) that are arranged like a “string of pearls” immediately…
Embryos & Genetic Testing Apr 4, 2023

PGT-A

Hi Dr Sher Thank you for your answer to my previous question. I wanted to ask your opinion on PGT-A testing. A new study has cast doubts on the effectiveness of this testing: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/20/health/pgta-ivf-pregnancy-test.html And some doctors seems against it,… — Lisa-Marie E.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

Human embryo development occurs through a process that encompasses reprogramming, sequential cleavage divisions and mitotic chromosome segregation and embryonic genome activation. Chromosomal abnormalities may arise during germ cell and/or preimplantation embryo development and represents a major cause of early pregnancy loss. About a decade ago, I and my…
Egg Health & Ovarian Reserve Apr 3, 2023

Immature egg

Hello! Thanks for this chance! I am 22 years old, I made ivf (gonal f, cetrotide, menopur, trigger) I have received 11 eggs. 6-GV, 2-M1, 3-M2. None embryos because only 1 egg was fertilized but could not divided. Second ivf… — Mary J.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

_ One of the commonest questions asked by patients undergoing IVF relates to the likelihood of their eggs fertilizing and the likely “quality of their embryos. This is also one of the most difficult questions to answer. On the one hand many factors that profoundly influence egg quality;…
Hormones & Ovulation Apr 3, 2023

Infertility

Hi doctor, I am 30 years old, I have been diagnosed as PCOS , I received 12 cycle ovulation induction by clomid and letroze ,I did not conceived, last time I did ICSI , they told me that the eggs… — Sary A.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal system disorder among women affecting between 5% and 10% of women of reproductive age worldwide. Women with PCOS may have enlarged ovaries that contain small collections of fluid — called follicles — located in each ovary as seen during an…
Ovarian Stimulation & OHSS Apr 3, 2023

Ivf medicine

I just began estrogen priming I took my estrogen patch I mistakenly took the leuproliide instead of the fyramodel when I realized it was the wrong injection I took the fyramadel will this effect the process — Tamamiea J.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

I do not believe that one transgression will impact your cycle. Good Luck! Geoff Sher 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…
Embryos & Genetic Testing Apr 3, 2023

Ivf

PGS tested Ivf failed — Amna S.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

Embryo karyotype (as assessed by PGS/PGT) is a very important determinant of "competency" (the ability to propagate a viable pregnancy) but it is by no means the only factor! Whenever a patient fails to achieve a viable pregnancy following embryo transfer (ET), the first question asked is why!…
Egg Health & Ovarian Reserve Apr 2, 2023

AMH and AFC

Good Morning. I am 31 and have a hormonal IUD. I had fertility testing done and my AMH came back as 0.18 however my AFC was 16. Estrogen 88 and FSH 2.35. I don’t know where I was in my… — Ashley H.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

Your AFC, your age and your basal FSH all suggest to me that the AMH value might not br accurate. I would definitely repeat it!~ Good luck! Geoff Sher ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: I am attaching online links to two E-books which I recently co-authored with my partner at SFS-NY…
Early Pregnancy & hCG Mar 31, 2023

Early pregnancy test

I made a hcg test 5 days before my period and it was positive ( my last period was 1 of march and it is irregular but my last periods last in average 31 days and ovulation is happened at… — Salma O.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

Regrettably! , this does not sound like a viable pregnancy! I hope I am wrong! Geoff Sher Measuring and interpreting Blood hCG to Assess Pregnancy Viability Following ART Treatments. Geoffrey Sher MD I know of no medical announcement associated with the degree of emotional anticipation and anguish as…
Early Pregnancy & hCG Mar 31, 2023

Gestation

If my HCG levels are 67777mlu/58mL how many weeks would I be? — Katrina R.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

Measuring and interpreting Blood hCG to Assess Pregnancy Viability Following ART Treatments. Geoffrey Sher MD I know of no medical announcement associated with the degree of emotional anticipation and anguish as that associated with a pending diagnosis/confirmation of pregnancy following infertility treatment. In fact, hardly a day goes…
Egg Health & Ovarian Reserve Mar 31, 2023

Success at 43

Hello! I have recently turned 43 and wondering whether to keep trying IVF. Have done 5 cycles in the past 12 months. AMH is 30 and AFC ~35. But, only get around 7-12 eggs at a time and poor fertilisation… — Kristy D.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

It is primarily the egg (rather than the sperm) that determines the chromosomal integrity (karyotype) of the embryo, the most important determinant of egg/embryo competency”. A “competent” egg is therefore one that has a normal karyotype and has the best potential to propagate a “competent” embryo. In turn,…
Embryos & Genetic Testing Mar 30, 2023

Monosomy

I have an embryo that has a monosomy but I would like to transfer it. I have had two clinics refuse to transfer. Specifically I have a 45 XX (-14) I figured it’s incompatible with life if results are accurate… — Charity H.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

Human embryo development occurs through a process that encompasses reprogramming, sequential cleavage divisions and mitotic chromosome segregation and embryonic genome activation. Chromosomal abnormalities may arise during germ cell and/or preimplantation embryo development and represents a major cause of early pregnancy loss. About a decade ago, I and my…
Egg Health & Ovarian Reserve Mar 29, 2023

Genuine Empty Follicle Syndrome

Hello Dr Sher, thank you for your very thorough response. I forgot to mention with my AMH being 15 which is satisfactory for my age do you think I will ever be able to have a child naturally ? Thank… — Laura K.

Dr. Geoffrey Sher answered

Possibly...but I would need much more information to provide an authoritative opinion. 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.

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