Ep. 4 | Embryo Transfer and IVF: What You Need to Know

Fertility Health Podcast

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a solution that can assist couples having difficulty to conceive take the first steps on the path towards parenthood. However, how patients choose to undergo IVF should not be a “one size fits all” approach. Embryos from different women will react differently under specific conditions, and reproductive endocrinologists, as well as patients, need to keep an open mind regarding all potential treatment avenues.

In this episode, Bradley S. Hurst, M.D., a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist and president of the Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, joins host Mark Trolice, M.D., to share his insights on embryo transfer, fresh vs. frozen embryos, genetic testing, and all things in vitro fertilization.

Tune in to discover:

• The history of embryo transfer and how far the field has come in the last 30 years
• The differences between day 2-3 (cleavage stage) embryos vs. day 5 (blastocyst stage)
• When a frozen embryo transfer would be recommended over fresh embryo transfer
• How genetic testing can influence the success of an embryo transfer
• Why comparing a clinic’s success rates for frozen vs. fresh embryo transfer can be misleading

About Bradley S. Hurst, M.D.

Dr. Bradley Hurst is an obstetrician-gynecologist in Charlotte, North Carolina and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area. He is the director of assisted reproduction and director of the reproductive endocrinology division at the Carolina Healthcare System University Medical Center and Carolinas Medical Center.

Dr. Hurst received his medical degree from University of Texas Medical School and has been in practice for more than 20 years. He was a fellow of reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutes, and a resident of obstetrics and gynecology at Duke University Medical Center. Dr. Hurst has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers and chapters in professional publications.

About Mark Trolice, M.D.

Mark Trolice, M.D., FACOG, FACS, FACE is Director of Fertility CARE: The IVF Center in Winter Park, Florida and Associate Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology (OB/GYN) at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine in Orlando responsible for the medical education of OB/GYN residents and medical students as well as Medical Endocrinology fellows. He is past President of the Florida Society of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility (REI) and past Division Director of REI at Winnie Palmer Hospital, part of Orlando Health.

He is double Board-certified in REI and OB/GYN, maintains annual recertification, and has been awarded the American Medical Association’s “Physicians’ Recognition Award” annually. He holds the unique distinction of being a Fellow in all three American Colleges of OB/GYN, of Surgeons, and of Endocrinology. His colleagues select him as Top Doctor in America® annually, one among the top 5% of doctors in the U.S. In 2018, he was awarded the “Social Responsibility Award” by the National Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Association. For ten years his foundation, Fertile Dreams, organized seminars to increase fertility awareness and granted national scholarships for those unable to afford in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment.

Dr. Trolice serves on committees for the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology as well as the editorial advisory board of Ob.Gyn.News. He has conducted scientific studies with resultant numerous publications and been appointed a reviewer in many leading medical journals and textbooks. He has lectured at numerous physician and patient seminars around the country. In addition, he is interviewed regularly on