In this article in the September 2010 issue of Fertility & Sterility, the procedures they cite as common in consistently high performing IVF programs do apply to our practice. Common clinical practices identified among these programs included testing all patients for ovarian reserve, endometrial defects, and hydrosalpinges; use of a mixed LH and FSH stimulation protocol with step-down dosing; and use of ultrasound guidance for ET. Common laboratory practices included selective use of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), group culture of embryos in microdrops, and use of blastocyst ET in selected cases. Common laboratory features included good air quality using filtration and heated stages for oocyte and embryo work.
At RPMG we follow most of those practices. One exception which many of the other high-performing centers probably also follow is the switch to culturing embryos in 5% oxygen rather than air. That switch made a dramatic improvement in embryo quality for us.
Frankly, it's not surprising that the leading centers use many of the same best practices, many of which they learn at Dr. Meldrum's annual Santa Barbara meeting which will be in its 23rd year next July,