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Through our affiliation
with Huntington Reproductive Center, we provide lab
services at one of the largest and most successful IVF
labs in the country.
Innovative Fertility Center, in conjunction with HRC has
had excellent
pregnancy rates and is proud to continue this association.
The lab is
directed by Barry R. Behr, PhD., HCLD: |
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Barry
R. Behr, PhD., HCLD
Consulting Scientific & Laboratory Director |
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Undergraduate:
San Diego State University, BS, Biology
Graduate: University of
Nevada-Reno, MS, Biology (Reproductive Physiology)
Doctoral: University of
Nevada-Reno, PhD, Biology (Reproductive Physiology) |
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Board
Certification
High Complexity Laboratory Direction (HCLD) with subspecialties
in
Embryology and Andrology |
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Professional
Organizations
American Society for Reproductive Medicine
Northern California Association of Reproductive Biologists
ALPHA (International Association of Embryologists)
ART Academy |
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National/International
Committees
Abstract Review Committee, Reproductive Laboratory
Technology Professional Group, American Society for Reproductive
Medicine
Ad Hoc Reviewer, Journal of Human Reproduction
SART Prize Paper Review Committee |
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| Dr. Behr is also
the Director of the IVF/ART and Andrology Laboratories
at the Stanford University Medical Center, and Assistant
Professor of Gyn/OB, and is a Board Certified Laboratory
Director (HCLD). |
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| He is in the
forefront of clinical and scientific advances in reproduction,
nationally and internationally. Dr. Behr developed a culture
medium for embryo culture to the blastocyst stage, which
has improved pregnancy rates, implantation rates and reduced
the risks of multiple gestation in IVF. Dr. Behr has been
widely recognized for his research in embryo culture technology
and embryo maternal interaction. |
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| Many of us know
someone who would desperately like to have a child of
one gender or the other. Perhaps a couple has one or more
children of one gender already and would like to have
another child --- but would only consider doing so if
the 50/50 odds could be shifted in favor of the other
gender. Or, perhaps a couple already seeking fertility
treatment has one child, and would prefer that the next
child is the other gender if possible. Yet another couple
may want to avoid passing a gender-linked genetic disease
to their child. |
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| If a scientifically
proven method of gender selection existed, most of these
individuals would consider using it. |
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| The Huntington
Reproductive Center, in partnership with the Genetics
and IVF Institute, is currently investigating the only
proven gender selection technology presently available.
This technology is called MicroSort © and is now
available at MicroSort West in southern California. MicroSort
© is now being utilized as part of an FDA clinical
trial for preconception gender selection process. This
research began in the early 1990s. |
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| When a sperm
with a Y chromosome fertilizes an egg, it makes a boy.
When an X chromosome bearing sperm fertilizes, it makes
a girl. Any given sperm sample contains an even (50/50)
amount of X (female) and Y (male) bearing sperm. MicroSort
uses a machine called a flow cytometer to sort sperm such
that the sorted sperm population is enriched in either
X (female) or Y (male) bearing sperm. Once the sperm has
been sorted, it can be used with assisted reproductive
techniques to achieve a pregnancy. Since it is in a clinical
trial, patients must be fully informed of the potential
risks and benefits. |
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| The separation
of male and female sperm is based on the measurable difference
in the quantity of genetic material (DNA) they contain.
The sperm absorbs a dye, which attaches temporarily to
the DNA, or genetic material, inside the individual sperm. |
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| When exposed
to laser light, the dye fluoresces. Since the X chromosome
is larger than the Y, there is more DNA for the dye to
attach to and, consequently, the sperm with the X chromosomes
will fluoresce more brightly than those with Y chromosomes.
The flow cytometer is able to pick up these differences
in brightness and separate the sperm as they move through
the machine one at a time. |
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| Currently, MicroSort
sperm sorting technology improves the chance of a female
pregnancy to 89.5 percent after sorting. For a male, MicroSort
has improved the chance to 73.6 percent. |
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The most common
method uses the sorted sperm with intrauterine insemination
(IUI). The woman is monitored carefully to establish the
time of ovulation. Some of this monitoring can occur with
her local physician and/or the use of ovulation predictor
kits. Insemination is performed very close to the time
of ovulation. On the day of ovulation the husband produces
a sperm sample, the sperm are sorted for the desired gender,
and the insemination with the sorted sperm occurs later
that same day. For patients who need additional assistance
achieving pregnancy, sorted sperm can be used with IVF.
Sperm can be sent frozen, then sorted and returned to
a local IVF center, allowing the couple to have IVF close
to home. Please refer to the MicroSort website www.microsort.com
for a full listing of physicians (collaborators) participating
as part of the clinical trial.
MicroSort has accomplished more than 350 pregnancies.
Based on the data so far, the likelihood of having a normal,
healthy baby is not different from that of the general
population. |
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| Currently couples
must be in one of two categories. A couple with a history
of an X-linked disease, where the woman is a known carrier,
may qualify for free treatment with MicroSort. Examples
of such disorders include hemophilia and Duchenne muscular
dystrophy. Other couples can choose to use MicroSort for
family balancing. Family balancing couples must be married,
the wife must be between ages 18 and 39, and they must
have at least one child and be selecting for the less
represented gender of children in their family. |
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MicroSort is
the only scientifically verifiable method of pre-conception
gender selection. It is showing positive results after
more than 350 pregnancies.
For Sperm Sorting (Gender Selection) for Prevention of
X-Linked Diseases and
for Family Balancing.
The Genetics & IVF Institute (GIVF) reported the first
human births in the world following flow cytometric separation
of X (female) and Y (male) chromosome-bearing sperm cells
(MicroSort). |
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The concept of
family balancing is a measured approach to a non-medically
indicated use of preconception gender selection. Family
balancing provides married couples having at least one
child the opportunity to use MicroSort to increase the
chance of having another child of the less represented
sex in the family.
couples today who are considering options for having a
family, especially those with chromosome-linked concerns,
MicroSort gender selection is of serious interest. As
the science continues to improve, we expect that MicroSort
will become a routine part of family planning.
Caution: This procedure uses an investigational device.
Limited by federal law to investigational use. |
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Lab
Address
23961 Calle de la Magdalena #113Laguna Hills CA 92653
For more information about MicroSort, please call
800.277.6607 or visit our website: MicroSort.com |
