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- What Is Autoimmunity and Immunological Infertility?
- How Is Immune-Related Infertility Treated?
- What Are the Common Causes of Immune-Related Infertility?
- Center For Human Reproduction Reviews
- How Is Immune-Related Infertility Diagnosed?
- Why Choose CHR for Your Fertility Journey?
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What Is Autoimmunity and Immunological Infertility?
Autoimmunity occurs when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own healthy cells and tissues, leading to a variety of health issues, including infertility. In women, an autoimmune disorder can disrupt the reproductive process, making it difficult to conceive or maintain a pregnancy. Conditions like recurrent miscarriages, implantation failures, and low ovarian reserve may all be signs of underlying immunological problems. Immunological infertility refers to fertility challenges caused by an overactive or malfunctioning immune system. A hyperactive immune system might respond aggressively to environmental triggers, such as pollen or certain foods, and in some cases, interfere with pregnancy by targeting reproductive cells or embryos. At the Center for Human Reproduction, Dr. Norbert Gleicher and Dr. David H. Barad specialize in diagnosing and treating immune-related infertility. With over 30 years of experience, our experts have helped countless women with autoimmune conditions or subclinical immunological issues successfully conceive and deliver healthy babies. Through timely intervention and personalized care, many women facing immunological infertility can still achieve their dream of parenthood. Contact our center in New York, NY today to schedule a consultation.
How Is Immune-Related Infertility Treated?
Autoimmune diseases are often chronic, requiring ongoing care and monitoring, even when patients appear to be in good health. While most autoimmune conditions cannot be cured, proper medical management allows many individuals to lead relatively normal lives. For those dealing with immunological infertility, however, proactive treatment is essential, as autoimmune issues can create significant challenges in both achieving and maintaining a pregnancy.
At CHR, Dr. Gleicher and Dr. Barad take a comprehensive approach to managing immune-related infertility. By addressing immune abnormalities and hyperactive immune systems comprehensively, we aim to support our patients in their journey to conceive and carry a pregnancy to term. Our proactive treatment protocols, including intralipids, IVIg, and other medications, are tailored to enhance embryo implantation, promote development in the uterus, and reduce the risk of recurrent miscarriages.
What Are the Common Causes of Immune-Related Infertility?
Autoimmune diseases remain some of the least understood conditions, though research suggests that hormones play a significant role. Some autoimmune conditions may improve or worsen during pregnancy, with hormonal changes potentially influencing these fluctuations. Certain autoimmune diseases, like thyroid disease and rheumatoid arthritis, have been linked to early menopause. Autoimmune diseases also show strong hereditary patterns, often clustering in families as different conditions. For example, a mother might have lupus, while her daughter has scleroderma, and her grandmother has rheumatoid arthritis. Research is ongoing to better understand the genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors that contribute to autoimmune diseases.
Common Examples of Autoimmune Diseases
- Nervous System: Multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, autoimmune neuropathies, Guillain-Barré
- Gastrointestinal Tract: Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, autoimmune hepatitis
- Hematological System: Autoimmune hemolytic anemia, pernicious anemia, autoimmune thrombocytopenia
- Endocrine Glands: Type 1 diabetes, Grave's disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, autoimmune oophoritis/orchitis
- Blood Vessels: Temporal arteritis, vasculitides, Wegener's granulomatosis
- Skin: Psoriasis, vitiligo, dermatitis herpetiformis
- Connective Tissue/Multiple Organs: Rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, Sjogren's syndrome
Center For Human Reproduction Reviews
The doctors and staff are all great. They will go to great lengths and fight for every chance you have!
Great Doctor
Dr. Barad has elegant solutions to medical issues and is a skilled practitioner.
We are writing this letter of gratitude for Dr Norbert Gleicher and the entire staff at Center for Human Reproduction. My wife and I are so very thankful that we listened to Dr Gleicher's advice back on October 1st,2021 during a consultation he advised us to not allow our fertilized eggs to be discarded and killed.Our two eggs were tested and declared to be irregular by another IVF lab. We kept the eggs frozen and after 4 more failed IVF cycles came to Dr Gleicher for another try. We asked Dr Gleicher if it was worth a try to have eggs transferred into my wife and he studied the data and approved of the procedure. On February 7th,2024 we had 2 frozen eggs transferred and waited for the results.Finally later in February after the 13 day wait we were advised of blood test that confirmed that we were pregnant with an xx embryo from the transfer.XX is a girl and a huge feeling warmth and happiness overwhelmed both of us. We had several ultrasounds during the 4-5 weeks following and all were very positive with strong heartbeat and great growth, Today my wife is approaching her 18th week pregnant and all is going great with the development and follow up visits. Our baby is growing by the day and we look forward to our 20 week ultrasound for further development rate. If we had not discussed and listened to Dr Gleicher back in 2021 we would never have been so far with a pregnancy. The entire staff is wonderful and Hui Na was very helpful and communicative through the entire process with my wife. Please accept our sincere thank you and heartfelt praise for the team. Our baby is due around Oct 26th,2024 and we intend to vist to say thanks in person,we will make the trip from our home in Florida. Blessings to all.
My husband & I had an initial consultation with Dr. Barad, and were blown away by the time he spent with us & care he put into our conversation & next steps. For the first time in a long time on our infertility journey, it felt like someone actually heard us & our concerns. He's already suggested some new approaches we can take towards having a healthy pregnancy, that no other doctor ever mentioned, and we've been at this for years! The peace of mind & hope he offered alone were worth it. Would highly recommend.
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How Is Immune-Related Infertility Diagnosed?
Diagnosing an autoimmune disease involves evaluating symptoms, conducting a physical examination, and analyzing laboratory test results. However, identifying specific autoimmune conditions can be challenging, particularly in the early stages when symptoms and lab results may not be clear or specific. At the Center for Human Reproduction, where autoimmunity significantly impacts female fertility, we conduct comprehensive testing for various autoimmune markers to screen for both clinical and subclinical autoimmunity. While autoimmune diseases are typically chronic, their progression can be unpredictable.
Why Choose CHR for Your Fertility Journey?
When it comes to your fertility journey, choosing the right center can make all the difference. The Center for Human Reproduction has over 30 years of experience, offering personalized, cutting-edge treatments to help you achieve your dream of starting a family. Our team of experts specializes in complex fertility cases, including immune-related infertility, ensuring you receive the best care possible. Take the first step toward your future today—contact CHR in New York, NY to learn how we can support you on your fertility journey.