The contest was open to anyone who needed IVF treatment in order to conceive and required entrants to tell their story, detailing why they felt they should win the treatment. Almost 100 couples submitted entries, which were reviewed by a panel of clinical and administrative staff at Sher Fertility Institute. The panel selected 10 finalists, whose stories were then posted on the company’s Facebook Page and website, where visitors voted for their choice.

Sher Fertility Institute had originally planned to donate IVF treatment to just one couple, but decided to open the donation up to three couples instead.

“The stories that came in were absolutely heartbreaking,” said Dr. Nicole Browne of Sher Fertility Institute. “Every one of these couples was deserving of the donated treatment, so we couldn’t be happier for Victoria and Walter.”

The couple have been struggling to have a baby for more than 5 years and have undergone numerous unsuccessful treatments, including several rounds of In Vitro Fertilization, which typically costs $10,000-$15,000. They had tapped out all of their financial resources and were unable to proceed with any further treatment. “Two weeks ago we felt all hope was lost of ever meeting the child we have dreamed of for so long,” said Victoria. “Now, thanks to Sher Fertility Institute, along with family, friends and many people we have never even met, that dream is more alive than ever. This is truly a Christmas Miracle!”

Their story, along with those of the other finalists are posted on the Sher Fertility Institute website at http://www.haveababy.com/news-menu/269 .

During the last three decades, Dr. Sher and Sher Fertility Institute have donated hundreds of free fertility treatments to patients and couples from all over the country.

About Sher Fertility Institute:
Sher Fertility Institute is a national network of fertility clinics specializing in cutting-edge technology, personalized treatment and compassionate care. SIRM Founder Dr. Geoffrey Sher established the first private In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) program in the United States. Dr. Sher and his colleagues have been influential in the development of dozens of important breakthroughs in the field of reproductive care.

News Source: Sher Institute for Reproductive Medicine :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®. View all current news at: http://Send2PressNewswire.com .

California IVF Fertility Center recently acquired the Sher Institutes of Reproductive Medicine Sacramento and has assumed care for the patients of that center. Additionally, California IVF Fertility Center has completed a collaborative agreement with the UC Davis Obstetrics and Gynecology department to provide all infertility treatment services formerly offered by the UC Davis Fertility Program. Additional announcements about the future plans for the consolidated program are coming soon.

Dr. Ernest Zeringue, Medical Director of California IVF Fertility Center states, “This is a big undertaking which will significantly alter the delivery of fertility treatment services in the Northern California area. We hope to leverage our reputation of outstanding patient care and new Sacramento location with the scientific resources of UC Davis.”

About California IVF Fertility Center:
California IVF Fertility Center was founded in 2004 by Dr. Ernest Zeringue. Since that time, the clinic has continued to grow by focusing on providing advanced reproductive technology in a family-like atmosphere. California IVF Fertility Center has expanded with clinics in Davis, Sacramento, and Roseville. California IVF is the local fertility clinic of choice for many infertility patients in the Greater Sacramento, Roseville, Fairfield and San Francisco Bay areas. Advanced infertility services such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), donor sperm and donor eggs, embryo freezing or cryopreservation, ICSI, and other treatments for both male and female infertility are offered at its Northern California fertility centers.

The California Conceptions Donated Embryo program (californiaconceptions.com) provides an egg donor and adoption alternative to IVF patients from around the world. The staff includes a team of 5 board certified fertility doctors and experienced embryologists who are skilled at performing pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and screening (PGS). Centrally located between the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Lake Tahoe, San Francisco Bay Area, Silicon Valley, Napa Valley and The Pacific, fertility center patients from across the US and around the world have access to many Northern California travel destinations while undergoing infertility treatment.

For more information about infertility and California IVF, please visit www.californiaivf.com .

News Source: California IVF Fertility Center :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®. View all current news at: http://Send2PressNewswire.com .

IMQ, a San Francisco based non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of patient care, recently completed a thorough on-site inspection of the local Sacramento area fertility clinic. During the review, the quality of infertility treatment options provided by its local fertility doctors was reviewed and its facility including the in vitro fertilization (IVF) laboratory was inspected as part of the fertility center’s commitment to providing a high-level of patient satisfaction to couples struggling to get pregnant and trying to conceive.

California IVF infertility specialist Dr. Ernest Zeringue says, “I am proud of our IMQ accreditation and hope the quality of care for our patient family continues to improve with each successful pregnancy that is the result of infertility treatments performed at our local fertility clinic.”

About California IVF: Davis Fertility Center, Inc.:
California IVF provides advanced fertility services to the greater Northern California area, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), donor sperm and donor eggs, embryo freezing or cryopreservation, ICSI, embryo donation and other advanced treatments for both male and female infertility. It has been an area leader in advanced chromosome and genetic testing of embryos since 2005. The staff includes a team of experienced embryologists who are skilled at performing pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and screening (PGS). For more information, please visit www.californiaivf.com .

About the Institute for Medical Quality:
The Institute for Medical Quality (IMQ) is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of care provided to patients across the continuum of health care. IMQ offers a wide range of educational, accreditation, consultation, and certification programs. For more information, please visit www.imq.org .

- RSS news feed for California IVF:
http://send2pressnewswire.com/author/california-ivf-davis-fertility-center-inc/feed .

News Source: California IVF: Davis Fertility Center, Inc. :: This press release was issued on behalf of the news source by Send2Press® Newswire, a service of Neotrope®.

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Using Gene Security Network’s Parental Support(TM) technology, at-risk couples undergoing in vitro fertilization can now test developing embryos for a larger number of hereditary diseases before implantation and pregnancy. This pre-implantation genetic screening/diagnosis (PGD/PGS) tests for single gene disorders like Sickle Cell and chromosomal abnormalities like Down Syndrome with a single cell from each embryo. This is the first commercial application of these combined screenings.

California IVF Director Dr. Ernest Zeringue says, “In the next 5-10 years, this type of test will become routine at IVF clinics, but at the moment, it is still cutting edge technology. This test offers at risk couples an additional tool for increasing their chance of pregnancy while minimizing the risk of having a baby with a genetic disorder.”

About California IVF: Davis Fertility Center, Inc.:

California IVF provides advanced fertility services to the greater Northern California area, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), donor sperm and donor eggs, embryo freezing or cryopreservation, ICSI, and other advanced treatments for both male and female infertility. It is also a Sacramento area partner clinic for Gene Security Network and has been an area leader in advanced chromosome and genetic testing of embryos since 2005. The staff includes a team of experienced embryologists who are skilled at performing pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and screening (PGS). For more information, please visit www.californiaivf.com.

About Gene Security Network:

GSN’s proprietary Parental Support(TM) technology is the first to leverage data informatics to deliver highly accurate single cell testing for chromosome abnormalities and genetic diseases. The company is based in Redwood City, CA, and supported by multiple grants from the National Institutes of Health and leading venture investors like Claremont Creek Ventures and Sequoia Capital. GSN’s technology is at the forefront of pre-implantation genetic testing and the demand for their services has been increasing rapidly. For more information, please visit PGD Experts or www.genesecurity.net.

For more information on the clinical study, visit: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01023048 .

Plain text copy of press release (and media contact)

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STORY REFERENCES: Fertility Patients Can Now Use One Screening for Multiple Types of Genetic Diseases Before Pregnancy, Gene Security Network, California IVF Davis Fertility Center Inc, Dr. Ernest Zeringue, Parental Support technology, in vitro fertilization, donor sperm and donor eggs, embryo freezing or cryopreservation, ICSI, and other advanced treatments for both male and female infertility, 24 chromosome screening, PGD experts

The donated treatment cycles are part of the Sher Institute “Giving Back” Program. The Giving Back Program includes these initiatives and many more:

* Donation of two IVF cycles at Las Vegas seminars – An IVF cycle costs on average around $10,000.
* Donation of IVF cycles to four attendees at educational seminars in Dallas and New Jersey in March, 2010.
* Offering discounted egg freezing for cancer patients through Fertile Hope’s “Sharing Hope” program.
* Hosting free, infertility seminars at SIRM locations throughout the country.

“Given the economic challenges many families are facing, my colleagues and I are struck by the number of patients who come to see us seeking treatment only to learn that the cost is beyond their reach,” SIRM Founder and Executive Medical Director Geoffrey Sher, M.D. said.

Las Vegans continue to bear the brunt of the national economic downturn. The major industries have yet to rebound and the unemployment rate is the second highest in the nation.

“We live and work here and we see first hand how many patients need treatment but can’t afford it, especially now,” said SIRM Las Vegas Medical Director Jeffrey Fisch, M.D. “We want to offer our resources and expertise to help our community.”

Helping patients gain access to treatment has long been a driving philosophy of the Sher Institute. During the last three decades, Dr. Sher and the Sher Institute have donated hundreds of free treatments to patients and couples from all over the country.

About the Sher Institute for Reproductive Medicine(R) (SIRM(R)):

The Sher Institute for Reproductive Medicine is a national network of fertility clinics specializing in cutting-edge technology, personalized treatment and compassionate care. SIRM Founder Dr. Geoffrey Sher established the first private In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) program in the United States. Dr. Sher and his colleagues have been influential in the development of dozens of important breakthroughs in the field of reproductive care.

More information about the Sher Institute for Reproductive Medicine: www.haveababy.com .

News Source: Sher Institute for Reproductive Medicine :: This press release was issued by Send2Press® and is Copyright © 2010 Neotrope® News Network – all rights reserved.

Consultations with fertility specialists normally range from $250-$500. However, Individuals/couples that call before the end of October to schedule a consultation with an SIRM physician won’t be charged. During the consultation, the physician will spend approximately 45 minutes reviewing the patient’s medical and reproductive history in depth and discussing her reproductive options.

“We have always considered ourselves consumer advocates,” said Dr. Geoffrey Sher, Executive Medical Director for the Sher Institutes. “With something as important and potentially life-changing as infertility treatment, we believe that knowledge is power. The more information a woman can get, the more confident and comfortable she’ll be in making those vital decisions.”

Sher Institutes recently launched a nationwide initiative to increase awareness of fertility issues among women. Heading this campaign is internationally known patient advocate Pamela Madsen, founder and former Executive Director of the American Fertility Association. Ms. Madsen was recently appointed Director of Public Education for the Sher Institutes and hosts an educational website and blog with fertility related content at www.thefertilityadvocate.com.

“This year’s theme, ‘Taking Charge of Your Fertility’ is a perfect fit with our initiative to help educate women about their reproductive life cycle,” said Madsen. “In the majority of cases, women don’t know much about it until they face fertility issues. Our goal is to get them the information before they get into crisis mode. These free consultations are a perfect way for women to be proactive about their fertility.”

The Sher Institutes for Reproductive Medicine have 13 offices across the country from New York to California, but for those who don’t live near an office, SIRM physicians are offering consultations via telephone. Those interested should call the SIRM Patient Resource Center at 866-428-3222.

About The Sher Institutes for Reproductive Medicine

SIRM is one of the largest networks of infertility medical practices in the country. Founded in 1998 by Drs. Geoffrey Sher and Ghanima Maassarani, the Sher Institute family of practices has since grown to include 13 offices across the United States. Dr. Sher founded the first private In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) clinic in the U.S. in 1982. The SIRM philosophy is centered on individualized patient care, backed by ongoing scientific and technological breakthroughs.

SIRM has offices in Los Angeles, Chino Hills, Sacramento and Pleasanton, CA; New York City, Westchester and Long Island, New York; Bedminster and Phillipsburg, New Jersey; Dallas, Texas; St. Louis, Missouri; Peoria, Illinois; and Las Vegas, Nevada. More information can be found on the SIRM(R) website at www.haveababy.com.

All trademarks acknowledged.

News Source: Sher Institutes for Reproductive Medicine :: This press release was issued by Send2Press® and is Copyright © 2008 Neotrope® News Network – all rights reserved.

PEORIA, Ill., Oct. 3 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The Sher Institutes for Reproductive Medicine (SIRM(R)) have announced that Natalie Schultz, M.D. will assume the role of Medical Director of SIRM-Central Illinois, located in Peoria. Dr. Schultz brings to SIRM more than 20 years’ experience in assisted reproductive technologies. She has been involved with top IVF programs in Chicago, Boston and Indianapolis, and has extensive clinical and academic experience with leading institutions including Harvard Medical School and the University of Texas.

Dr. Schultz has been a pioneer in the field of infertility and has introduced new approaches to patient care. She has given numerous lectures and led seminar/support group series on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), educating women on lifestyle modifications that dramatically improve outcome and quality of life.

“I am honored to be a member the SIRM family,” said Dr. Schultz. “I hope to contribute to this center of excellence by adding my expertise and interest, especially in the area PCOS and functional medicine.”

SIRM-Central Illinois is part of the SIRM family of centers – one of the largest networks of infertility practices in the country and a leader in research in the field of infertility. Among the technologies that SIRM physicians have helped pioneer is a method for evaluating the chromosomal integrity of human eggs and embryos known as Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH). It is used to select the most viable embryos for use in the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) process and has demonstrated the potential to significantly improve IVF success rates. This technology is now available in Central Illinois exclusively through the Sher Institute for Reproductive Medicine.

Most recently, SIRM physicians and researchers have refined a method for the successful freezing of human eggs that has demonstrated post-thaw pregnancy rates of more than 6 times the current industry average. This is a significant development in the field of fertility preservation for women facing fertility-threatening cancer treatment or for women who are seeking to postpone childbearing for other reasons and face the challenges of the proverbial “biological clock.”

“It is very exciting to be part of a team that is known for outstanding patient care and is at the cutting edge of technology,” added Dr. Schultz. “The staff here is very dedicated, caring, talented and totally invested in patient care, and it is a pleasure to be working alongside these individuals. I look forward to helping the couples here in Central Illinois make their dreams come true.”

About SIRM

The Sher Institutes for Reproductive Medicine are a network of fertility centers that operate under a common management team and established set of cutting-edge medical protocols. The Sher Institutes for Reproductive Medicine were established in 1998 by Geoffrey Sher, who also founded the country’s first private In Vitro Fertilization program in 1982. All SIRM centers are focused on providing individualized patient care in a caring and compassionate environment. In addition to the Peoria centers, SIRM has offices in St. Louis, Missouri; New York City, Westchester and Long Island, New York; Bedminster and Phillipsburg, New Jersey; Dallas, Texas; Los Angeles, Chino Hills, Sacramento, and Pleasanton California; and Las Vegas, Nevada.

More information about SIRM can be found on the company website at www.haveababy.com.

All trademarks acknowledged.

Send2Press(R) is the originating wire service for this story, Copr. 2008.

NEWS SOURCE: Sher Institute for Reproductive Medicine

News Source: Sher Institute for Reproductive Medicine :: This press release was issued by Send2Press® and is Copyright © 2008 Neotrope® News Network – all rights reserved.

Dr. Douglas Rabin, founder and director of an established infertility practice in Fair Lawn, will head the new SIRM office. Dr. Rabin is a Board Certified Reproductive Endocrinologist with more than 25 years’ experience in Reproductive Medicine and an outstanding reputation for patient care and success. His specialties include In Vitro Fertilization, general infertility and irregular menstruation, as well as issues related to Orthodox Jewish patients and their religious needs.

“I’m extremely excited to lead the Sher Institutes’ office here and bring SIRM’s outstanding tradition of compassionate care and cutting-edge technology to the area,” said Dr. Rabin. “I’m confident that the people here will find SIRM a great resource.”

The SIRM office in Fair Lawn will offer patients exclusive access in the area to exciting new technology that has demonstrated substantially improved pregnancy rates for In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). A recent study published in the medical journal Fertility and Sterility reported on a new embryo selection technique being tested by SIRM physicians. Its application on 35 women who underwent IVF resulted in healthy babies in 74% of cases (more than double the national average).

The technique, known as Comparative Genomic Hybridization involves analysis of all 23 chromosome pairs in the embryo (rather than just 12 chromosome pairs as currently available technology does) to identify numerical abnormalities (known as aneuploidy). By screening embryos in this manner, practitioners are able to select those embryos that are genetically “competent,” meaning that because they have the proper number of chromosomes, they are far more likely to initiate a healthy pregnancy. Embryos selected by this process also have a significantly reduced risk of miscarriage and of chromosomal birth defects such as Down’s syndrome.

“Previous methods for selecting the best quality embryos for transfer to the uterus relied mainly on visual assessment of individual embryos by microscope,” said Dr. Geoffrey Sher, Executive Medical Director of the Sher Institutes for Reproductive Medicine and co-author of the study. “Those types of evaluations are severely limited in their ability to provide any strong indication of subsequent normal embryonic and fetal development.”

“The advantage of this new methodology is twofold,” added Dr. Rabin. “First, it dramatically increases the chances of success with IVF. Second, by allowing us to select the best embryos to transfer, we can reduce the total number of embryos transferred and thereby reduce the incidence of triplet pregnancies or greater.”

About SIRM
The Sher Institutes for Reproductive Medicine (SIRM) are a network of independently-owned IVF centers and satellite offices that operate under a shared set of practice standards and centralized management systems. SIRM founder, Dr. Geoffrey Sher, established the country’s first private IVF practice in 1982. SIRM physicians have been influential in the development of numerous breakthroughs in the field of reproductive care over the past 23 years.

SIRM offices are located in Long Island, Manhattan, and Westchester, New York; Bedminster, Phillipsburg and Monmouth County, New Jersey; St. Louis, Missouri; Los Angeles, Orange County, Chino Hills, Sacramento and Pleasanton, California; Dallas, Texas; Las Vegas, Nevada, and Peoria, Illinois.

Further information about the Sher Institutes for Reproductive Medicine can be found on the SIRM website at www.haveababy.com.

News Source: Sher Institute for Reproductive Medicine – New Jersey :: This press release was issued by Send2Press® and is Copyright © 2007 Neotrope® News Network – all rights reserved.