Meredith K. Martin-Johnston, D.O., Meike L. Uhler, M.D., H. Edward Grotjan, Ph.D., Aaron S. Lifchez, M.D., Jane M. Nani, M.D., and Angeline N. Beltsos, M.D.

Summary:  The likelihood of a successful outcome declined with each additional treatment Cycle.  The most notable decrease in clinical pregnancy rates occurred after the third cycle.  Patients who fail to conceive after three cycles of IVF should be counseled to consider other options such as third-party reproduction, particularly when age is a consideration.

Journal of Reproductive Medicine 2009; 54: 67-72.

Megan L. Sneed, M.D., Meike L. Uhler, M.D., H. Edward Grotjan, Ph.D., John J. Rapisarda, M.D., Kevin J. Lederer, M.D., and Angeline N. Beltsos, M.D.

Summary: In younger patients undergoing IVF, BMI has a significant negative impact; however, as patients reach their mid thirties, the effects of age appear to be stronger than those of BMI. It seems appropriate to recommend pretreatment weight loss to patients under age 36, whereas in patients over age 36, a more aggressive approach to Infertility treatment may be warranted.

Human Reproduction 2008; 23: 1835-1839.

Adding human menopausal Gonadotropin to antagonist protocols-is there a benefit?

Meredith K. Martin-Johnston, D.O., Angeline N. Beltsos, M.D., H. Edward Grotjan, Ph.D., and Meike L. Uhler, M.D.

Summary: Regardless of age, adding HMG to recombinant FSH was not beneficial in patients using a GnRH antagonist protocol in a large group practice using a single IVF laboratory.

Reproductive Biomedicine Online 2007;15: 161-168.

Long-term economic benefits attributed to IVF-conceived children:a lifetime tax calculation.

Mark Connolly, MHE, Michael Pollard, Ph.D., Stijn Hoorens, MSc., Brian Kaplan, M.D., Selwyn Oskowitz, M.D., and Sherman J. Silber, M.D.

Summary:This aim of this research was to compare the public cost of providing fertility treatment vs. the future lifetime tax revenue derived from the ART conceived child. An accounting model was applied to determine if this future revenue potential would justify public subsidy of fertility treatment costs. It was determined that the future taxes paid by an ART conceived child outweigh the cost of providing treatment by 700%, thus justifying elimination of the legislative barriers that currently exist to providing fertility treatment.

American Journal of Managed Care 2008; 14: 598-604.

Comparison of Vitrification and conventional Cryopreservation of day 5 and day 6 blastocysts during clinical application.

Juergen Liebermann, Ph.D. and Michael J. Tucker, Ph.D.

Summary: Vitrification technique yields the same Implantation and pregnancy rate as slow-frozen blastocyst transfers. Slow growing embryos can be cryopreserved on day 6 because they yield a satisfactory survival, implantation, and pregnancy rate.

Fertility and Sterility 2006: 86: 20-26.

Meike L. Uhler, M.D., Angeline N. Beltsos, M.D., H. Edward Grotjan, Ph.D., Kevin J. Lederer, M.D., and Aaron S. Lifchez, M.D.

Summary: Pregnancy (46 versus 45.2%) and clinical pregnancy rates (38.1 versus 36.8%) were similar for recombinant and urinary hCG. Recombinant hCG was as effective as urinary hCG for final follicular maturation in IVF cycles.

Reproductive Biomedicine Online 2006;13: 315-320.

Juergen Liebermann, Ph.D. and Michael J. Tucker, Ph.D.

Summary: The benefits and potential problems associated with vitrification as a method of choice for Embryo cryopresevation in clinical embryology are discussed. Based on the available data, it is clear that vitrification procedures have become increasingly successful and may be a better method than slow cooling for embryo freezing.

Alpha Scientists in Reproductive Medicine; 2005; 32: 4-9.