Single embryo transfer (eSET), or elective single embryo transfer, means transferring one embryo in an IVF cycle even when more than one is available. The remaining embryos are frozen for later use. The word elective is the key: one embryo is chosen deliberately, not because only one exists. The alternative, transferring two or more embryos
The hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis is the hormonal chain of command that controls reproduction. The hypothalamus releases gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in regular pulses. The pituitary responds with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). The ovaries or testes, in turn, mature eggs or produce sperm, along with sex hormones. The body’s stress response runs through a
The endometrium is the inner lining of the uterus. It is the tissue an embryo implants into, and the tissue from which the early placenta develops. In the first half of each cycle, it thickens under the influence of estrogen, and in the second half it matures under progesterone. A thin endometrium means a lining
Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a complication of fertility treatment in which the ovaries respond too strongly to stimulation medication. The ovaries enlarge, and fluid leaks out of the blood vessels into the abdomen and, in severe cases, around the lungs. Most cases are mild and settle on their own. A small number become serious
Prolactin is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland, a small structure at the base of the brain. Its main role is to stimulate milk production after childbirth, and levels rise naturally during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Hyperprolactinemia means a prolactin level above the normal range outside those situations. It is one of the more common
Hyperprolactinemia & Fertility: How Elevated Prolactin Levels Disrupt Ovulation Read More »
A woman is born with her complete supply of eggs, and no new eggs are made at any point in her life. This supply declines steadily from before birth onward, and the rate of decline speeds up in the mid to late thirties. At the same time, the proportion of eggs carrying chromosomal abnormalities rises
Azoospermia is defined as the complete absence of spermatozoa in the ejaculate following high-speed centrifugation of a semen sample. Occurring in roughly 10% to 15% of male infertility cases and affecting nearly 1% of the general male population, it represents one of the most severe forms of reproductive failure. The term male factor infertility is
When a couple undergoes a complete fertility evaluation and every result falls within standard reference ranges, the condition is classified as unexplained infertility. Accounting for approximately 15% to 30% of infertile couples, this diagnosis can feel frustrating because it represents an absence of identifiable pathology rather than a clear structural or hormonal dysfunction. The term
Unexplained Infertility: What Happens When All Standard Diagnostic Tests Are Normal? Read More »
The lining of the uterus accepts an embryo only during a short period in each cycle, usually lasting a few days. This period is called the window of implantation. An embryo transferred outside this window is unlikely to implant, no matter how good its quality is. In a frozen embryo transfer cycle, clinicians calculate this
Endometrial Receptivity Analysis (ERA): Pinpointing Your Personal Implantation Window Read More »
Mitochondria are small organelles inside every cell that convert nutrients into energy. The egg contains hundreds of thousands of mitochondria, more than any other cell in the body, because fertilization and early embryo development require a very large amount of energy. The link between mitochondrial health and egg quality is an active area of research,
