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