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Making Medical History: Texas Fertility Center Celebrates First Frozen Egg Donor Birth in Texas

 

 

Austin, Texas – June 4, 2011 – Assisted reproductive technology has allowed millions of people to create and expand their families. For years, Texas Fertility Center (TFC) has used frozen sperm and frozen embryos in combination with intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in-vitro fertilization (IVF) to achieve high success rates. Recent advances in technology have now enabled TFC to add frozen eggs to its medical protocol. TFC is now proud to announce that it has helped an Austin couple welcome a second child through the use of frozen donor eggs.

 

When Ellen and Michael Navarre decide to start a family, they needed help. In 2007, the couple conceived their son Charlie via IVF. The Navarres were thrilled to become parents. “We were so excited that we were able to successfully conceive Charlie,” Ellen explained.

 

Dr. Kaylen Silverberg, Ellen’s physician, said that infertility treatments often give couples a real chance at having a family. “With the options we have available, about 80 to 85 percent of our patients achieve their desired outcome.”

 

A Different Approach

 

Once they were ready for another child, the process didn’t go as smoothly. A frozen embryo cycle failed and, as Ellen was older, the Navarres discussed the possibility of using donor eggs. In their first attempt, Ellen used her sister’s eggs, but that pregnancy resulted in a miscarriage. At that point, Dr. Silverberg mentioned the option of using frozen donor eggs.

 

“That loss was difficult,” Ellen said. “But we knew wanted another child. We wanted Charlie to have a sibling, so when the opportunity came along, we were excited to be able to pursue it.”

 

A relatively new procedure, oocyte cryopreservation, or egg freezing, not only offers infertile couples another choice, but it also gives career women a chance to preserve their fertility for a later time and it helps cancer patients protect their abilities to start families after treatment.

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TFC Frozen Eggs

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“Until recently, egg freezing wasn’t really a choice for women,” Dr. Silverberg explained. “Eggs, the body’s largest cell, are comprised mainly of water and they have historically been very difficult to freeze successfully. Vitrification, or ultra-rapid freezing, has enabled us to help our patients have the families they desire by giving them another treatment option.”

 

For the Navarres, using a frozen egg donor provided the chance they were looking for to welcome another child into their home. The six frozen eggs were fertilized in the laboratory, and two embryos were transferred to Ellen’s uterus, resulting in a healthy pregnancy.

 

Ellen says that once they conceived, the couple really forgot about the donor eggs and daughter Catherine Collins was born in May. “The growing becomes part of you. We didn’t even think about it not being my egg.”

 

“It is such a personal choice, but this process was such a blessing,” says the proud mother of two. “The ultimate goal was a beautiful baby and a sibling for Charlie. We couldn’t love her anymore.”

 

About Texas Fertility Center

Texas Fertility Center (TFC), one of the nation’s leading full-service infertility practices, provides advanced Infertility and Reproductive Endocrinology services to patients throughout Texas, the Southwestern United States, and the Americas. Since 1980, TFC has been recognized nationally for outstanding pregnancy rates, cutting-edge laboratory procedures, and innovative research programs. For more information, please visit www.txfertility.com.

 

 

 

 

Central Austin Office


6500 N. Mopac (Loop 1) Expressway
Building 1, Suite 1200
Austin, Texas 78731
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Phone: 512-451-0149
 Fax: 512-451-0977

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ADC OB/GYN-East Entrance
12221 N. Mopac
Austin, Texas 78758
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San Antonio, TX 78258
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Phone: 210-370-3800

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