Rotations

Endocrinology/Fertility | Assisted Reproductive Technologies | Research | Weekly Schedule

Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) Clinical Rotation

For the patients undergoing monitoring of gonadotropin therapy, the fellow on this rotation is responsible for:

1. The monitoring system utilized in the IVF/ET and donor oocyte programs as well as other ovulation induction regimens, i.e. clomiphene citrate/hCG, hMG/hCG, etc.
2. Reviewing all new IVF/GIFT candidates, monitoring their controlled ovarian hyperstimulation regimens, and participating in their oocyte retrievals and embryo transfers
3. Monitoring early pregnancies in ART patients and specifically managing first trimester pregnancy losses and patients with ectopic pregnancies being treated with methotrexate
4. Managing any hospitalized patients (ovarian hyperstimulation, ovarian torsion, etc.).

These duties include performing the daily vaginal ultrasound scans for follicular monitoring, performing washed intrauterine inseminations, and being responsible for all the day-to-day decisions for the monitored patients. After an initial training interval (the first IVF cycle for the new fellow) the fellows perform the vast majority of the oocyte aspirations. The goal of this effort is to train the fellows to be capable of independently managing an ART program.

The micromanipulation program began in July of 1995 under the direction of Dr. Grace Coachman. It is increasingly apparent that the laboratory component of ART is critically important to RE&F fellowship training, requiring more time during the fellowship. The fellows are given ample opportunity to be involved in the Embryology Laboratory and can elect to increase their involvement sufficient to qualify as a high complexity Embryology Laboratory Director.

Duke’s RE&F division belongs to the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technologies (SART) and enters data yearly in the national SART registry. Faculty have experience in performing IVF/ET with both zygote and blastocyst transfer and utilize embryo cryopreservation and frozen embryo transfers. As members of SART, the division is in compliance with the Fertility Clinic Success Rate and Certification Act (FCSRCA-92). Approximately 350 ART cycles are performed yearly.