Reproductive Institute of South Texas

Genetic Testing Helps Reproductive Endocrinologist Dr. Esteban Brown Improve Odds for Conceiving a Healthy Baby

Reproductive Institute of South Texas — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 10:30:09 +0000

McAllen, Texas, Dec. 6, 2011 – Supplemental genetic testing used with in-vitro fertilization (IVF) can offer prospective parents peace of mind and the best chances for conceiving a healthy baby. Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), or preimplantation genetic screening (PGS), accurately identifies chromosomal abnormalities and gene disorders in individual embryos to greatly enhance IVF success rates.

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) Identifies Embryos with Defective Chromosomes to Improve IVF Success Rates

“Many couples experiencing infertility aren’t aware of advances in reproductive technology that can mean the difference between conception and another failed cycle,” says Dr. Esteban Brown with Reproductive Institute of South Texas. “PGD used in conjunction with IVF can help us identify the most viable embryos, while minimizing the financial burden of repeated cycles.”

A fertility doctor can order a simple blood test or cheek swab prior to fertility treatment to analyze maternal and paternal DNA. If tests reveal an inheritable disease, such as cystic fibrosis, Huntington’s disease or sickle cell disease, embryologists at the Reproductive Institute’s IVF lab can employ targeted PGD to search for that chromosome in a single cell retrieved from an embryo. From the resulting chromosomal information, Dr. Brown can then choose the healthiest embryo to transfer into the uterus for conception.

PGD helps identify genetically unaffected embryos, assuring parents that they will not pass on inheritable diseases to their children. For couples that experience recurrent miscarriages or unexplained infertility, Dr. Brown may cast a wider net and recommend PGS as a screening tool to search for potential causes of infertility in the embryos themselves.

“The IVF lab is the first line of defense for anyone concerned with inheritable or chromosomal abnormalities,” says Dr. Brown. “Embryos with unbalanced chromosomes can fail to implant or result in miscarriage, birth defects or other problems, PGD can greatly reduce uncertainty for couples hoping to start or build a family.”

In some instances, PGD may also assist couples with family balancing, or sex selection of their baby. Genetic traits carried on the X or Y chromosome enable embryologists to differentiate between male and female embryos.

About the Doctor:
Esteban Ortega Brown, MD began his career by attending prestigious Stanford University, receiving his Bachelor’s degree in Economics in 1979. He continued his education in medicine from 1979 to 1984 at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas where he earned his MD. Between 1984 and 1988, he completed his internship and residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas with a specialty in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Brown received sub-specialty training in Reproductive Endocrinology at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia from 1988-1991. Doctor Brown’s specialization in fertility issues is complemented by his sensitive approach toward the unique difficulties couples face when confronting their fertility issues.

Parents Anew: Surrogate mother gives couple twins

Reproductive Institute of South Texas — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 22:44:41 +0000

For 16 years, Elaine and Erasmo Puebla raised three children from her previous marriage, adopted two boys and took in several children. But with Elaine having tied her tubes, she and her husband Erasmo, 42, of Sullivan City, could not have children of their own. Even though Erasmo was happy to raise all those kids, they were not his flesh and blood. “It was not the same,” Elaine said.

So she had a tubal reversal surgery in Florida, where the couple used to live. But several expensive attempts at in-vitro fertilization failed, and the couple stopped trying. Elaine got depressed.

After moving to the Valley, though, she decided to give it another try. Where “there is a will, there is a way,” Erasmo said. Elaine went to a fertilization clinic, where Dr. Esteban Ortega Brown gave her hope. But the couple hit another obstacle: Elaine’s age of 45 meant getting pregnant would pose risks to the baby.

Dr Esteban Brown offered another solution.

SURROGATE MOTHERHOOD

Elaine had frozen her husband’s sperm, so they needed only find an egg donor and a surrogate mother. Several members of her family volunteered, and she chose her 20-year-old daughter-in-law. Using the egg of an anonymous donor from Dr. Brown’s clinic in McAllen, the physical elements were lined up. But the couple still had legal obstacles — specific to surrogate motherhood — to resolve.

En route to a judge’s approval, the family had to go through psychiatric evaluations and health screenings and pre-empt any custody issues — all the while knowing that the fertilization attempt might fail. The couple finally got the green light from the court, and Brown performed an in-vitro fertilization. It worked. The surrogate was pregnant.

On Jan. 25, she gave birth to twins — a boy and a girl.

Erasmo Puebla Jr. and Gabriela Puebla are 8 months old now. He weighs 26 pounds; she weighs 25. The babies were born under the name of the surrogate mother, and friction arose between her and Elaine as the latter went through the legal process of making them Pueblas. But the ultimate custody agreement was never threatened. “You can get frustrated with your family, like my son woke up in a bad mood, that’s just family,” Elaine said. It would have been difficult to bring a stranger into her house, though, so Elaine is happy that her surrogate was a relative.

At “least I knew my daughter-in-law was not on drugs,” Elaine said.

IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION

The uterus has a window in a natural cycle that accepts embryos, but with an in-vitro fertilization, that window doesn’t come about naturally, Brown said. So a surrogate must take hormone shots for at least a month before switching to suppositories. The daily shots had the surrogate’s rear-end covered in bruises, and she would resist taking them sometimes, Elaine said. In addition to the shots, the surrogate carried the babies for 30 weeks and pumped milk for almost two months — including a month while the babies were in the neonatal intensive care unit — and then at home.

Needless to say, the Pueblas are grateful for their surrogate. They did not disclose whether they paid her, but did say the overall process cost more than $40,000, including legal fees and doctor’s bills. For Erasmo, it’s a new beginning and a burst of youth that comes decades after he first had children. “I waited 20 years for this,” Erasmo said. “It’s something really incredible for me.” And Elaine can’t thank their surrogate enough.

“I am really grateful for (her),” Elaine said. “There is nothing I wouldn’t do for her … look what she’s given me,” she said, pointing to her babies.

–

Martha L. Hernández covers health, business and general assignments for The Monitor and El Nuevo Heraldo. She can be reached at (956) 683-4846

October 11, 2011 10:11 AM by

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NEW SURGICAL ADVANCEMENT FOR MALE INFERTILITY HELPS TEXAS COUPLES

Reproductive Institute of South Texas — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 14:42:08 +0000

McAllen TX – Two methodologies to treat male infertility issues have recently shown greater success rates and have significantly increased hope for couples dealing with male infertility. In particular, two new methodologies appear to significantly improve the chances of conception in cases where the male has had a vasectomy.

These two surgical procedures for male infertility, referred to as TESA or Testicular Sperm Aspiration and MESA or Microscopic Epididymal Sperm Extraction are two methods that are being used as a first line approach for sperm collection with great success in McAllen and surrounding areas of the Valley in Texas.

Dr. Esteban Ortega Brown, medical director and founder of the Reproductive Institute of South Texas explains: “The TESA methodology is effective in instances where the epididymis is enlarged as a result of a vasectomy or other blockage.” The benefits of this approach are that they are relatively painless and do not require an incision in the scrotum or a general anesthetic. The risks of the procedure include bleeding, damage to the epididymis and not being able to obtain sufficient sperm. If these techniques fail, sperm may be found using more advanced methods.

MESA is a technique for collecting sperm that involves using a surgical microscope to open the small tubes within the epididymis to look for sperm. Dr. Brown says “this technique works well in conditions where sperm are being produced in adequate numbers but are blocked from traveling from the testicle to the ejaculate. In a recent analysis of nine cases in our practice, we experienced an 87.5% success percentage in pregnancies in this group of patients.”

Examples of the ‘blockage’ conditions include: a prior vasectomy, prior hernia repair with mesh, blockage of the seminal vesicles, cystic fibrosis, and non motile cilia syndrome. This is the favored approach when harvesting sperm after a vasectomy. “Essentially what it means for men,” explains Dr. Brown “is that they need not fear being infertile as a result of having had a vasectomy or other issues.”

About the Doctor:
Esteban Ortega Brown, MD began his career by attending prestigious Stanford University, receiving his Bachelor’s degree in Economics in 1979. He continued his education in medicine from 1979 to 1984 at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas where he earned his MD. Between 1984 and 1988, he completed his internship and residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas with a specialty in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Brown received sub-specialty training in Reproductive Endocrinology at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia from 1988-1991. Dr. Brown’s specialization in male fertility issues is complemented by his sensitive approach toward the unique difficulties men face when confronting their fertility issues.

Reproductive Institute of South Texas Laboratory Achieves CAP Certification McAllen, Texas

Reproductive Institute of South Texas — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 14:19:52 +0000

The Accreditation Committee of the College of American Pathologists (CAP) recently awarded accreditation to the Reproductive Institute of South Texas’ fertility laboratory. The highly skilled, meticulous team and state-of-the-art facility contribute to nationally renowned IVF success rates reported each year by Dr. Esteban O. Brown, fertility specialist and laboratory director.

“We’re honored but not surprised to earn this national recognition,” says Dr. Brown. “For more than 19 years now, the entire laboratory staff, led by embryologists Yinzhong Bing, Ph.D, and Li Mei Che, has committed itself every day to excellence, in patient care delivered, services provided and results reported.”

Reproductive Institute of South Texas is one of more than 7,000 CAP-accredited laboratories worldwide. The federal government recognizes the CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program, begun in the early 1960s, as being equal to or more stringent than the government’s own inspection program.

During the CAP accreditation process, inspectors examine the laboratory’s records and quality control of procedures for the preceding two years. CAP Inspectors also examine laboratory staff qualifications, as well as the laboratory’s equipment, facilities, safety program and record, in addition to the overall management of the laboratory.

“This stringent inspection program is designed to specifically ensure the highest standard of care for all laboratory patients,” says Ronald B. Lepoff, MD, who chairs the CAP accreditation committee. “As a result of Reproductive Institute of South Texas’ commitment to quality and patient safety, the medical team has achieved the ‘gold standard’ of laboratory accreditation.”

Conveniently located within the Reproductive Institute of South Texas fertility center, the laboratory serves patients and hopeful parents-to-be with the latest advanced reproductive technologies and procedures, including in-vitro fertilization (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), assisted hatching, parental genetic testing and pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD).

About the Doctor:

Esteban Ortega Brown, MD began his career by attending prestigious Stanford University, receiving his Bachelor’s degree in Economics in 1979. He continued his education in medicine from 1979 to 1984 at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas where he earned his MD. Between 1984 and 1988, he completed his internship and residency at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas with a specialty in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Brown received sub-specialty training in Reproductive Endocrinology at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia from 1988-1991. Dr. Brown’s specialization in male fertility issues is complemented by his sensitive approach toward the unique difficulties men face when confronting their fertility issues.

Dr Esteban Brown of the Reproductive Institute of South Texas, Valley Fertility, uses in vitro fertilization, IVF to help same sex couples achieve pregnancy.

Reproductive Institute of South Texas — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 21:02:52 +0000

She was pregnant.

Josie Izaguirre cried tears of joy at the news and called her partner.

“We’re going to be mommies,” she told her excitedly.

That statement is true, biologically and emotionally, for both women, thanks to in vitro fertilization, or IVF, in which a woman’s egg and a man’s sperm are joined in a laboratory dish. Izaguirre is carrying a fertilized egg from her partner, Oralia Elizondo, giving both women an intimate connection to the baby before he or she is even born.

Read the Rest of the Article at the Brownsville Herald Website

New Valley Fertility Center Website has Launched!

Reproductive Institute of South Texas — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 22:56:53 +0000

New Valley Fertility Center Website has Launched!

The Reproductive Institute of South Texas. When you decide to have a baby, you think about picking out names and decorating a nursery. Most people don’t anticipate problems with conception. An estimated six million couples in this country face female and male infertility issues. Dr. Esteban Brown established our Valley Fertility clinic to provide answers and solutions for couples struggling to have a baby. We are here to help you make your parenting dreams come true.