Los Angeles Reproductive Center, one of our esteemed partner clinics, is responsible for making our latest grant cycle, Fall For Babies possible! We are grateful for their support and their desire to give back to the future parent community. To show our appreciation we want to highlight their clinic and share what makes them one of the nation’s top fertility clinics. Keep reading to learn more.
About Los Angeles Reproductive Center
Los Angeles Reproductive Center is a state-of-the-art fertility center offering the latest fertility testing and treatment options. Led by fertility specialists, Dr. Nurit Winkler and Dr. Marc Kalan, they currently serve patients in Encino, Westwood, Thousand Oaks, and Bakersfield, CA. They offer a wide range of fertility services including:
- Fertility Testing & Treatment
- IVF
- Egg Donation
- Surrogacy
- Fertility Preservation
- LGBTQ+ Families
Their world-class success rates combined with a commitment to individualized and personal care make them a top choice for couples struggling to conceive. The entire LARC team upholds the principles of communication, compassion, warmth, openness, and service to meet the needs of the infertility community, locally and internationally.
LARC’s Comprehensive Approach To Infertility Diagnosis
Before a personalized treatment plan can be created, LARC’s doctors conduct a thorough diagnosis process to ensure successful treatments.
The Screening Process
First Dr. Kalan or Dr. Winkler perform a comprehensive evaluation, including a physical exam and a complete health history. They also analyze menstrual cycles, uterine tubes, and ovaries. If these tests come back normal, then further tests are done to see if there are any physical abnormalities present. Semen is also analyzed, if applicable, to check for the number, movement, shape of the sperm, and to rule out male factor infertility.
My wife and I HIGHLY recommend the Los Angeles Reproductive Center, and we feel so lucky to have found them to help us build our family.
Amanda A. Via Yelp
General Physical
Before fertility tests are completed, LARC physicians perform a general physical to get a clear picture of a patient’s lifestyle, health history, current medical conditions, and risk factors. There is also a discussion with female patients about any irregularities in their menstrual cycles.
From there, physicians may move to egg testing.
Egg Testing
Egg testing helps doctors determine egg quantity and quality. To further evaluate eggs, LARC physicians may also run blood tests and an antral follicle count.
- Blood tests: Measure the levels of fertility hormones, such as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (E2), anti mulerian hormone (AMH), and inhibin
- Antral follicle count: Via ultrasound, doctors count the number of follicles in each ovary
Uterus and Fallopian Tube Testing
For pregnancy to occur, the fallopian tubes must be open and the uterus must be free of any abnormalities. To evaluate the uterus and fallopian tubes, physicians at LARC use a variety of tests.
- Hysterosalpingogram (HSG): An x-ray procedure that uses dye to highlight the path through the fallopian tubes and along the lining of the uterus
- Hydrosonogram: Sterile water is injected into the uterus and a sonogram is performed to see the lining of the uterus to check for abnormalities
- Hysteroscopy: A surgical procedure where a small camera is inserted into the uterus to evaluate the endometrial lining.
After 18 years of fertility treatments we decided to give Dr. Kalan a try. Started our journey 12/2018 and by May 2019 we were FINALLY pregnant. I can’t thank the wonderful staff and Dr. Kalan for our beautiful miracle.
Joe D. Via Google
Los Angeles Reproductive Center & Unexplained Infertility
Even with the most comprehensive fertility testing, approximately 15% to 30% of couples will be diagnosed with unexplained infertility. Unexplained infertility refers to patients with normal test results from uterus, fallopian tube, sperm, and overall health screenings. Although this diagnosis is frustrating, Dr. Kalan and Dr. Winkler stress that it IS still possible to become pregnant.
Patients with unexplained infertility have many medical options including intrauterine insemination (IUI). During the IUI process, a doctor monitors a patient for signs of ovulation. Some patients are also given an injection of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) or other medications to make them produce more eggs. During the IUI procedure, a physician inserts a speculum into the vagina, attaches a vial of the sperm, and feeds it through a catheter to the uterus. The entire procedure from start to finish usually takes about 15-20 minutes. Patients should wait two weeks and then take an at-home pregnancy test.
If IUI is unsuccessful, individuals with unexplained infertility can also consider in vitro fertilization or IVF treatment as it’s more commonly called. IVF is a method of assisted reproduction in which a woman’s eggs are fertilized by a man’s sperm outside of the body in a medical laboratory. After an embryo or embryos form, a physician places it in the uterus, and (hopefully) pregnancy occurs.
If you are struggling to conceive, Los Angeles Reproductive Center can help. Contact them here to schedule an appointment!
At The Gift of Parenthood organization, we look forward to a future of more affordable and successful fertility treatment options for those struggling. In the meantime, we aim to help couples and individuals struggling with infertility achieve their dreams of becoming parents through fertility assistance grants ranging from $1,000 to $16,000, available four times a year. We are honored to partner with LARC to make parenthood possible for those struggling.