Fertility conference to address causes, treatment options
Issue date: 11/10/08 Section: News
The basic causes of infertility and the various treatment options available will be addressed during a free evening seminar hosted by ETSU Fertility Services, an affiliation of ETSU Physicians and Associates-OB/GYN and East Tennessee State University's James H. Quillen College of Medicine.
The seminar will be held on Thursday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m. in the ETSU Physicians and Associates-OB/GYN lobby area at 325 N. State of Franklin Road.
"Approximately 80 percent of fertility problems can be treated through relatively simple measures, and only a small number of couples require advanced treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF)," said Dr. Norman Assad, ETSU associate professor of OB/GYN. "Many are concerned about the costs, but, by using a global access fee, we can make fertility treatment very affordable."
The various aspects and costs of these treatment options will be discussed.
Information will also be available about the new Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis service that distinguishes between embryos that are normal and those that have abnormal genes which could lead to cystic fibrosis and other conditions.
In addition, the seminar will have a private question-answer session for patients who pre-register.
Assad moved to the Tri-Cities in 2002 from New Mexico, where he maintained a successful assisted reproduction practice. His IVF success rates have been at or above the national average.
He is joined by Missy Assad, who is the IVF nurse for the fertility program. She brings more than 25 years of experience in women's health nursing, including more than a decade working with assisted reproductive care.
Joining Assad's reproductive care team is Jennifer Graves-Herring, an assisted reproductive technologist whose special expertise is in vitrification, or freezing, of embryos as well as procedures that are used to help overcome male factors of infertility.
The seminar will be held on Thursday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m. in the ETSU Physicians and Associates-OB/GYN lobby area at 325 N. State of Franklin Road.
"Approximately 80 percent of fertility problems can be treated through relatively simple measures, and only a small number of couples require advanced treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF)," said Dr. Norman Assad, ETSU associate professor of OB/GYN. "Many are concerned about the costs, but, by using a global access fee, we can make fertility treatment very affordable."
The various aspects and costs of these treatment options will be discussed.
Information will also be available about the new Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis service that distinguishes between embryos that are normal and those that have abnormal genes which could lead to cystic fibrosis and other conditions.
In addition, the seminar will have a private question-answer session for patients who pre-register.
Assad moved to the Tri-Cities in 2002 from New Mexico, where he maintained a successful assisted reproduction practice. His IVF success rates have been at or above the national average.
He is joined by Missy Assad, who is the IVF nurse for the fertility program. She brings more than 25 years of experience in women's health nursing, including more than a decade working with assisted reproductive care.
Joining Assad's reproductive care team is Jennifer Graves-Herring, an assisted reproductive technologist whose special expertise is in vitrification, or freezing, of embryos as well as procedures that are used to help overcome male factors of infertility.
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