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Watch Video of World’s First Reunion of Babies Born from Egg Freezing

eggfreezing — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 05:52:14 +0000

Watch Video Celebration of World's First Reunion of Babies Born from Frozen Eggs hosted by David Diaz, MD and Team

“This baby reunion is unique because it celebrates the pioneering families and their babies conceived from thawed frozen eggs. Nearly 70 joyous families and their frozen egg babies came together on October 15, 2011 to celebrate LIFE at West Coast Fertility Centers,” states David Diaz, MD, FACOG.

View Egg Freezing Reunion Press Release

Preserving Your Fertility with Egg Freezing Before Breast Cancer Treatments

eggfreezing — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 01:37:37 +0000

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. West Coast Fertility Centers encourage all young breast cancer patients who want to have children in the future discuss fertility preservation by egg freezing with their oncologists.

The gonadotoxic effects of chemotherapeutic drugs are known to potentially lead to infertility due to chromosomal effects in the oocyte (eggs). By harvesting and freezing before the start of cancer treatment, the unfertilized oocytes can be stored indefinitely and thawed when clearance is given to attempt pregnancy. This is especially important in young, single females interested in having their own biologic child.

Frozen Egg Bank, Inc. in affiliation with West Coast Fertility Centers offer egg freezing to young patients who have been unfortunately diagnosed with cancer. The advanced LANDA Technology developed at our Center has yielded nearly 70 live baby births from egg freezing. Dr. David Diaz and staff held the World’s First Reunion of Babies Born from Frozen Eggs this past Saturday, October 15, 2011, to celebrate the pioneering families and their babies conceived from thawed frozen eggs.

Facts about Breast Cancer (source: www.nbcam.org)

-Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States, aside from skin cancer. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), an estimated 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed among women in the United States this year. An estimated 40,170 women are expected to die from the disease in 2009 alone. Today, there are about 2.5 million breast cancer survivors living in the United States.

-The first NBCAM program took place in October 1985 as a week-long event to fill the information void in public communication about breast cancer. The founding members of the Board of Sponsors which includes the American Academy of Family Physicians, AstraZeneca Healthcare Foundation and CancerCare, Inc., distributed brochures, spoke to news reporters, and testified before a U.S. Congressional committee about the crucial need for widespread access to mammography.

-Today the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) organization is comprised of several national public service organizations, professional medical associations, and government agencies working in partnership to build breast cancer awareness, share information and provide access to screening services.

-October is designated as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, however, at NBCAM, breast cancer awareness and education is a year-round mission.

West Coast Fertility Centers is Hosting the World’s First Reunion of Nearly 70 Babies Born from Egg Freezing on October 15th, 2011

eggfreezing — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 21:16:26 +0000

The entire staff at West Coast Fertility Centers has been diligently planning the first ever reunion of babies born from frozen eggs. Unlike other regular IVF reunions periodically held by various fertility centers, we are hosting the world’s first reunion of actual babies born from frozen eggs. We're all so happy and excited to see all the beautiful frozen egg babies.

“This baby reunion is unique because it celebrates the pioneering families and their babies conceived from thawed frozen eggs. Although some groups may consider egg freezing “investigational,” nearly 70 joyous families and their frozen egg babies will come together to celebrate LIFE at West Coast Fertility Centers,” states Dr. Diaz.

Guest speakers at this world’s first frozen egg reunion event will include…

Alice Crisci, Founder and CEO of Fertile Action Network

Jack Jacoub, MD, Director of Oncology at OC Memorial Hospital

Barbara, Mother of first frozen egg baby – Cadyn who turned 6 years old on Oct 6.

Brie, Patient who did egg freezing before starting her cancer treatments

Stephanie and Rob, Chose egg freezing rather than embryo freezing

“David Diaz, MD, Medical Director of Frozen Egg Bank Inc. and West Coast Fertility Centers has always been on the scientific forefront of finding real solutions for real human needs because he understands that unanticipated life events can threaten a woman’s reproduction. Cancer at a young age, career demands, single marital status, or a depleted ovarian function can all endanger a woman's fertility potential.

Since 2000, Frozen Egg Bank’s (FEB) medical and scientific team have been refining the art of freezing and thawing a woman’s unfertilized egg for fertilization and implantation at a later date. Long before the “flash freeze” method was in vogue, FEB in association with West Coast Fertility Center, presented their 91% frozen egg survival rate data at the ASRM Meeting in 2008. The team developed an IRB approved study for their digital programmed freezing method that has resulted in the births of nearly 70 healthy babies out of about 400 born in the U.S. from frozen eggs. Cadyn, t color:windowtext">he Center’s oldest frozen egg baby and the first in California, will celebrate her sixth birthday on October 6, 2011.”

READ ENTIRE PRESS RELEASE

Fertility Preservation Seminar on October 4, 2011 at West Coast Fertility Center

eggfreezing — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 21:09:05 +0000

Please join us for an educational seminar on Fertility Preservation Using Egg Freezing.

-Presentation and Q&A with David Diaz, MD (Expert on egg freezing and thawing with 64 healthy babies born from frozen eggs)

-Tour our Accredited Laboratories where egg freezing is performed

When: Tuesday, October 4, 2011 from 6-7PM

Where: West Coast Fertility office at 11160 Warner Ave., Suite 411, Fountain Valley, CA 92708

Please mark your calendar and RSVP for this seminar at 714-513-1399.

We look forward to seeing you at the seminar!

Please forward this blog to all the career-minded women professionals that you know. It’s wise to be forward thinking about their fertility as they’re climbing the career ladder.

____________________

"Being a 34 year old female, I have thought about egg freezing for 2 years. I did not want my biological clock to dictate when I should get married and have children. After reading about Dr. Diaz and all the great work he has done, I decided to proceed.

The staff at West Coast Fertility Center has been fantastic!! It is a sigh of relief knowing my little eggs are now safe in a freezer until it’s time I decide to have children. I cannot say “thank you” enough to West Coast Fertility Center for their professionalism and care to their patients." –Yvonne L.

____________________

Who May Benefit from Egg Freezing?

1) Young women newly diagnosed with cancer, wishing to avoid damage to their eggs

2) Young women under age 38 years old wishing to delay fertility into the future

3) Couples undergoing In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) who desire to freeze eggs instead of embryos for ethical reasons

4) Women whose best option for pregnancy is with young, frozen donor eggs

Meet the Egg Freezing Team

Freezing Your Own Eggs

Science of Egg Freezing

Why Oncologists Should Inform Their Cancer Patients about Egg and Sperm Freezing Before Cancer Treatments

eggfreezing — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 04:52:00 +0000

1) Up to 90% of young cancer patients are at risk for infertility after chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

2) Less than 25% of Oncologists inform all eligible patients about their risks and options with fertility.

3) The average patient has 2-6 weeks to preserve fertility before starting treatment.

4) Fears and misconceptions exist about fertility treatments and the safety of pregnancy after cancer.

5) “As part of informed consent prior to therapy, Oncologists should address the possibility of infertility with patients as early in treatment planning as possible,” according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology Recommendations on Fertility Preservation in Cancer Patients.

Potential Impact After Cancer for Women

-Depletion in number of eggs = early menopause

-Germ Cell failure = premature ovarian failure

-Reduced production of ovarian hormones = early menopause

-Uterine/tube fibrosis = interference with fertilization and implantation

-Uterine vascular insufficiency = inability to maintain pregnancy

Solution for Fertility Preservation for Women Before Undergoing Cancer Treatments

Patients can now preserve fertility by freezing their unfertilized eggs at West Coast Fertility Center's Fertility Preservation Program. The diagnosis of cancer can be devastating at any age, but is especially difficult for young women who must begin chemotherapy or radiation potentially damaging to their reproductive organs. This moving video depicts an interview with a brave young patient who courageously opted to freeze her eggs before undergoing cancer treatment for lymphoma.

Potential Impact After Cancer for Men

-Reduced testosterone (Leydig cell dysfunction-Leydig cells product testosterone in the presence of luteinizing hormone LH)

-Germ cell failure (Decreased, damaged and absent sperm production)

-Damage to duct system to transport sperm (Ejaculatory dysfunction)

-Damage to pelvic nerves (Sexual and ejaculatory dysfunction)

Solution for Fertility Preservation for Men Before Undergoing Cancer Treatments

Sperm Freezing (cryopreserving semen samples) is the answer. The process is quick and easy.

Watch Video: The Human Egg Freezing Project

Freezing your own eggs

Meet the Egg Freezing Experts

How Cancer Affects Fertility

eggfreezing — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 01:02:20 +0000

“Approximately 140,000 Americans under the age of 45 are diagnosed with cancer. Cancer survival rates are higher than they have ever been and patients under the age of 45 now have a 77% survival rate. Simultaneously, there are more fertility preservation options than ever before. So, while cancer treatments can be permanently sterilizing, the reproductive community is providing great hope for parenthood after cancer.

For MEN

Cancer itself may be correlated with low sperm counts, as has been demonstrated in men with Hodgkin lymphoma and testicular cancer. The primary threat for male patients, however, is compromised sperm production, quality, motility and DNA damage caused by exposure to chemotherapy and/or radiation.

Because reproductive damage is generally caused by cancer treatment, patient with almost any type of cancer may be at risk. Factors determining the likelihood of reproductive damage include: drug type and dosage, radiation location and dosage, patient’s pubertal status at time of treatment and patient’s pre-treatment fertility. Surgery to reproductive organs such as the testes affect fertility and pelvic surgery can cause nerve damage that may interfere with ejaculation.

For WOMEN

While cancer itself does not appear to affect fertility in women, cancer treatments pose a variety of reproductive risks including immediate infertility, premature menopause and compromised ability to carry a pregnancy due to uterine or cervical damage. Factors determining the likelihood of reproductive damage include: drug type and dosage, radiation location and dosage, patient’s age and pubertal status at the time of treatment and pre-treatment fertility.

Chemotherapy and radiation can damage or destroy oocytes (eggs) and follicles, which can cause either immediate menopause or premature menopause years after treatment. Surgery to remove reproductive organs such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus and/or cervix will impair the ability to become pregnant and/or carry a baby. Radiation can damage the uterus and increase the risk of miscarriage or low birth-weight.” (Excerpt taken from Fertile Hope on Cancer & Fertility)

EGG FREEZING SOLUTION OFFERED @ West Coast Fertility

Using our patent-pending LANDA Technology, we have thawed hundreds of frozen eggs making it possible for women to achieve their dream of having a baby of their own. Egg Freezing at West Coast Fertility Center have resulted in the Birth of 62 Healthy Babies with many on-going pregnancies from frozen eggs as of July 2011.

The Experience of the IVF Center performing the egg freezing is critical to success. While egg freezing is a delicate and highly specialized assisted reproductive technology (ART), the handling and thawing of frozen eggs is even more critical. Since the human egg is the largest cell in the body and is composed mostly of water, the formation of ice crystals during the freezing process can disrupt the egg’s internal microscopic contents and its outer membrane.

Microscopic studies of the eggs before freezing and after thawing have been performed by Dr. David Diaz and his team of scientists. This led to the development of the LANDA freezing technique which perfects the method of egg freezing and thawing without damaging the egg. Currently, we are offering 30% off egg freezing. Please call our office for more information at 714-513-1399.

Science of Egg Freezing

Step-by-Step Process of Egg Freezing

Watch Video: Human Egg Freezing Project

Watch Video: Safety of Egg Freezing

Watch Video: Candidates for Egg Freezing

“Helping Women Touched by Cancer Become Mothers”

eggfreezing — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 07:14:03 +0000

West Coast Fertility Centers has partnered up with Fertile Action because we both share the same goal to educate and assist women newly diagnosed with cancer understand and take action to preserve their fertility through egg freezing before undergoing cancer treatments that can cause infertility.

Many wonderful plans are in the works and we’ll soon be announcing the benefits of our association with Fertile Action. Below is an excerpt written by Alice Crisci, the founder of www.FertileAction.org.

“I know all too well how overwhelming a cancer diagnosis feels. It happened to me when I was 31-years-old. I wanted to be a mom more than anything else in the world and was devastated to learn my life-saving cancer treatment could make me infertile.

It took less than two weeks for me to prepare my ovaries for egg retrieval and it was the best two weeks of my entire cancer journey. I felt like the medical procedures relating to cancer were being done to me, but preserving my fertility was the one, positive thing I was choosing for me.

I loved every step of my fertility preservation journey (except for the the American Express bill). My totsicles (frozen embryos) are truly what got me through treatment. Every time I wanted to give up, I thought about the children waiting to be born to me, their Mama.

I launched Fertile Action to ensure other women could preserve their fertility prior to cancer treatment. Three years later, I launched Fertile Action Network (FAN) to eliminate cost as the barrier to male and female cancer survivors becoming parents through IVF, adoption, surrogacy or egg, embryo and sperm donation. We won’t stop until all cancer survivors who want to become parents actualize their dream.”

With vision and gratitude,

Alice Crisci

Tax Credit Bill to Preserve Fertility for Cancer Patients – Your Support is Needed

eggfreezing — Fri, 20 May 2011 00:52:02 +0000

A bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate that would provide eligible taxpayers a tax credit for the out-of-pocket expenses related to IVF and treatments to preserve fertility for cancer patients.

A warm thank you goes to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (NY) who introduced the bill which is appropriately named the Family Act of 2011, S965. This was made possible by a successful advocacy day in Washington DC on May 5^thput forth by RESOLVE.

Now that the bill is introduced, your help is needed by contacting your 2 U.S. Senators to get co-sponsors in the US Senate. It takes 3 minutes through RESOLVE’s Action Alert System. PLEASE review the online letter by clicking the link above and personalize it with your story.

Ask your friends and family to send letters too! Forward this link so they can take action today. http://www.resolve.org/taxcredit

How does a bill become law?

Read the key provisions of the bill

Meet the Egg Freezing Team

Step by step Process of Egg Freezing

The Legend of Easter Eggs

eggfreezing — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 20:41:15 +0000

We wish you and your family a very Happy Easter from David Diaz, MD and the entire Egg Freezing Team.

(Easter Greeting from a 1907 Postcard)

Long before Christianity, the Pagan tribes of Europe worshipped a beautiful goddess of spring named Eostre. The Pagans were country dwellers who believed that everything had a spirit so there were gods and goddesses for all aspects of nature and life.

The ancient Pagan legend said that the goddess Eostre rescued a wounded bird in a snowy forest and to help the bird survive the winter, she transformed the bird into a rabbit. Because the rabbit is still a bird at heart, the rabbit built a straw nest and laid beautiful decorated eggs which got presented to the goddess Eostre in the spring as a gift of gratitude.

Feasts were held in Eostre’s honor and her symbol was the rabbit. Spring represents new life and the rabbit with its eggs symbolize fertility.

Some historians believe that Easter is a variation of Eostre’s name and they see the connection between Easter and the rising of the sun in the east.

Have you Heard of Egg Freezing and Who Can Benefit from Egg Freezing?

1) Young women newly diagnosed with cancer, wishing to avoid damage to their eggs

2) Young women under age 38 years old wishing to delay fertility into the future

3) Couples undergoing In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) who want to freeze eggs instead of embryos

4) Women whose best option for pregnancy is with young, frozen donor eggs

Click here for more detailed information on Egg Freezing Special

Watch Our NEW Video Release “The Human Egg Freezing Project”

eggfreezing — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 01:29:36 +0000

\"The Human Egg Freezing Project\"

With 10 years of experience in the science of Egg Freezing, West Coast Fertility Centers has determined who are the best candidates for Egg Freezing.

Are You a Candidate for Egg Freezing?
1) Women under age 38.
2) Women with favorable ovarian reserve as determined on the 3rd day of the menstrual cycle.
3) No medical condition that might prevent the woman from receiving fertility medications or undergoing an egg harvesting procedure.
These ovarian reserve tests can be conveniently scheduled at West Coast Ferility Centers or at an alternate location.

Who May Benefit from Egg Freezing?
1) Young women newly diagnosed with cancer, wishing to avoid damage to their eggs
2) Young women under age 38 years old wishing to delay fertility into the future
3) Couples undergoing In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) who want to freeze eggs instead of embryos
4) Women whose best option for pregnancy is with young, frozen donor eggs