In Vitro Fertilization

As cliche as it sounds, our calling in life is to help you welcome a baby into the world. We'll use every bit of our training, modern science, advanced technology, lab skills and most importantly, human-kindness skills, to fully support you and your partner through every step of the IVF process.

IVF is the most successful assisted reproductive technology available. With this treatment, your eggs are fertilized with sperm in our laboratory, creating embryos. A single embryo is then placed in your uterus, hopefully resulting in pregnancy.

We'll help you analyze whether this is the best course of action and will take it at your pace, answering all the questions you have so that you can focus on your next chapter—being a parent!

When is IVF used?

IVF can help patients with many different fertility diagnoses and family-building goals, including:

• When conservative treatment is unsuccessful

• If you have blocked or damaged fallopian tubes

• If you have an ovulation disorder, premature ovarian failure or uterine fibroids

• If you've had your fallopian tubes removed

• If your male partner has decreased sperm count or sperm motility

• If you have a genetic disorder you prefer to not pass to your children

• If you have unexplained infertility

• If you are looking to get pregnant using donor eggs, sperm, or embryos

• LGBTQ+ family building

How IVF Works

IVF involves a series of carefully coordinated steps designed to support every stage of conception—from egg development to embryo transfer.

Ovary Stimulation

The first step of the IVF process is stimulating your ovaries to produce multiple mature eggs, using fertility medication. We'll create a personalized protocol based on your age, past history and results of both hormonal and ultrasound evaluations. Periodic lab work and ultrasounds are done to monitor egg growth over the next 10 days. Then, a medication will be given to prepare your eggs for retrieval.

Egg Retrieval

During this 15 minute procedure, Dr. Wells will retrieve several eggs from your ovaries via the insertion of a needle through your vaginal wall. You’ll be under sedation and won’t feel a thing.

Insemination

Then your male partner gets to contribute by providing a semen sample, which is 'washed', separating the sperm from the seminal fluid and thus increasing the number of mobile sperm and improving the likelihood for fertilization. Only the all-stars are picked to mingle with your top quality eggs.

If your man is feeling a little gun shy, a semen sample can be produced ahead of time and cryopreserved until needed. In some male factor infertility cases, a testicular biopsy can also be performed as a method to extract sperm for IVF.

If there's a lower probability of fertilization, Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) may be used, where a single sperm is injected directly into each of the eggs. The eggs are closely monitored to confirm that fertilization and cell division are taking place, resulting in embryos.

Embryo Culture

The impending embryos will hang out together between 3 to 5 days-- specifically, embryos are incubated in a perfect culture medium in a tightly controlled laboratory environment, where cells will grow to the blastocyst stage.

At this point, you'll have the option to have your embryos screened using PGT-A or PGT-M to detect genetic abnormalities or to select the gender.

Embryo Transfer

Then we'll simply transfer a single, healthy embryo into your uterus. This procedure mimics that of a routine pap smear and has little pain or discomfort. For best results, the use of ultrasound technology is used to guide the catheter to the best location within the uterine cavity.

If the procedure is successful, implantation (AKA pregnancy) is typically able to be detected around 9 to 11 days following the transfer.

Immediately after transfer, any remaining embryos will be frozen in our state-of-the-art laboratory just steps from the procedure room by our embryologists, who are the best in the field. Your embryos will be frozen using Vitrification, a flash-freezing technique that increases embryo survival rates to nearly 100%.

Assisted Hatching

We offer Assisted Hatching, if necessary, where we help the cells of the embryo escape from their shell and implant on the uterine wall with ease.

This procedure is performed in order to help an embryo hatch out of its outer protective layering (zona pellucida) and implant into the uterus. In certain situations, the outer shell surrounding the embryo is thickened and/or hardened, therefore not allowing it to “hatch,” or break out, and compromising an embryo’s ability to implant into the uterine wall.

We help nature along a bit by making a small incision into the outer shell just prior to the transfer of the embryo into the uterus. This may increase the likelihood that the embryo will implant into the uterine wall, resulting in a successful pregnancy.

Personalized Care, Every Step of the Way

At Audubon Fertility, every IVF cycle is customized to your unique circumstances and goals. Our on-site surgical center, embryology lab, and monitoring services create a seamless and supportive experience—all under one roof.

Our team’s success rates consistently exceed national averages, reflecting both the advanced science and the individualized care behind every outcome. Here, you’re more than a patient—you’re part of a community that celebrates every milestone, from first consultation to first heartbeat.