Fall 2015 InternshipAli Smith

GHS, Reproductive Endocrinology Infertility

Fertility Center of the CarolinasFertility Center of the Carolinas is a practice for women who are experiencing fertility problems or problems having successful pregnancies. The physicians and other members of the Reproductive Endocrinology Infertility (REI) team work together not only to identify the cause of infertility but also to find a solution. The practice offers:• Nationally recognized fertility specialists• In-vitro fertilization (IVF) and artificial insemination• Full range of medical, surgical and fertility services• Clean room laboratory for handling gametes and embryos• Dedicated and specially equipped IVF procedure room at

Greenville Memorial Hospital• Mind/Body Program

Mission Statement:

“We believe each patient is unique, with a unique treatment opportunity that doesn't always include IVF.

We take time to listen, diagnose, formulate and implement a plan to give each person the ultimate gift

– a baby. We look forward to helping you start, or grow, your family. ”

Research Intern

• August 2015- December 2015• I have served as a research intern at Fertility

Center of the Carolinas working with Dr. Lessey (Reproductive Endocrinologist) and Ryan Miller (embryologist).

ART LabI observed and assisted

Ryan Miller in the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Lab. I learned a lot about micromanipulation of sperm and egg under the microscope to create embryos, cryoproservation of sperm/eggs/embryos, and procedures to retrieve eggs or transfer embryos.

Micromanipulation

Micromanipulation techniques are used under the microscope to inject a single sperm into an egg to create embryos

This is a picture taken while Ryan was training me how to inject a hamster sperm into a hamster egg. I was able to successfully inject the sperm into the egg.

ART Lab

Using the microscope to practice micromanipulation techniques. This is where eggs are cleaned after they are retrieved from the ovaries and where embryos are kept prior to transfer to the uterus.

Andrology

This is the Andrology lab where sperm are processed and analyzed after collection. Motility, concentration, and morphology are determined from each collection before they can be taken to the ART lab to be cryogenically preserved, used in (In Vitro Fertilization) IVF, or used in IUI (Intrauterine Insemination).

Research

The majority of my internship was spent doing research and analyzing data.

Research

I had to first learn how the ART charts were filed, how to read the charts, and how to read all of the forms. A big part of my preliminary research was pulling information from patient’s charts and sorting the data.

Research

Pulling information from patients’ charts to put into Excel and Google Spreadsheets.

Dr. Lessey (my preceptor) and Me

Endometrial Scratching Project

After collecting information from patients’ charts and entering them into excel, I compared several variables to determine if there was a statistically significant difference among pregnancy results. The objective of this project was to compare IVF and FET success rates in women who had endometrial scratching and women who had not had endometrial scratching.

Endometrial Scratching is when a physician intentionally damages the lining of the uterus.

It has been proposed that endometrial scratching improves pregnancy rates by creating a better environment for the embryo to implant.

My research project compared pregnancy rates in fresh and frozen cycles between women who had and did not have endometrial scratching performed in the month prior to their IVF procedure.

Scratched

Not Scratched

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Pregnant

Not Pregnant

Pregnancy Rates

Conclusion

My data showed that endometrial scratching does not have a statistically significant effect on successful pregnancy rates in women who had and had not been scratched.

Presentation

Presentation

Before we gave our presentations to the REI team.

Presentation

I presented my research project to the physicians, embryologists, and the andrologists.

Presentation

Presenting my research project