Autumn 2013 | pridelife.CO.UK | 103
The Fertility Center of Las Vegas has been dedicated to making parenthood possible for more than two decades. The doctors and staff are committed to helping all types of families welcome children through a combination of clinical excellence and exceptional care.
Patients of The Fertility Center of Las Vegas work with Practice Founder, Dr Bruce Shapiro, a graduate of Yale and the University of Amsterdam. He has received advanced certification and is Sub-specialty Board Certified in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. Dr Shapiro is on the cutting edge of reproductive technology. He utilizes the world’s most advanced techniques and procedures, some of which were developed through the clinic’s own research; research that has been deemed by esteemed reproductive biomedical colleagues, as the most compelling and important in the IVF industry in the past 10 years.
Dr Shapiro is devoted to advancing reproductive science to make the process not only more successful but safer for each patient. The Fertility Center of Las Vegas is an international leader in safety standards and live birth success rates. He works tirelessly on his research for one important real reason – he wants to make it easier for you to conceive, carry and give birth to a healthy baby, using the procedure that is right for you. The Fertility Center of Las Vegas can work with your family to determine the best procedure for you. There are many options available for LGBT families and the staff will work closely with you to find the treatment cycle that best fits your individual needs. Services at The Fertility Center of Las Vegas include intrauterine insemination (IUI), In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), gestational carriers (surrogacy), egg donor IVF, a Donor Egg Bank, Embryo Donation and other procedures that will help your family conceive.
The Fertility Center of Las Vegas welcomes international patients and offers complimentary concierge services to patients who have travelled to Las Vegas to ensure that their experience is as easy and comfortable as possible. The staff is sensitive to the private nature of the services they provide and they understand the importance of making parenthood possible for you and your family.
What services can The Fertility Center of Las Vegas offer LGBT people wanting to start a family?
Services at The Fertility Center of Las Vegas include intrauterine insemination (IUI), In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), gestational carriers (surrogacy), egg donor IVF, a Donor Egg Bank, Embryo Donation and other procedures that will help your family conceive.
What options are there for lesbian couples in particular who might want to start a family?
Options for lesbian couples are the same as for all couples with an emphasis on IUI and donor sperm with even higher success rates through IVF. Addressing gynecological issues is also imperative for lesbian couples, especially if they are of advanced material age (35 or older).
In terms of surrogacy, why do you think that more and more same-sex couples are opting for surrogacy, rather than adoption?
They want the opportunity to have their own biological children. We are thrilled that we are able to give them that.
How long does it take to find a suitable surrogate?
Once a gestational carrier is chosen, it takes 1-2 weeks for funding, then 1-2 weeks for travel arrangements. From there it takes about 2 weeks for The Fertility Center to medically clear them. While this entire process can take up to 2 or 3 months, the actual on-site patient treatment process is much shorter. A typical visit lasts a week to 10 days.
How do you go about choosing your surrogates?
Intended parents can choose someone they know and with whom they are comfortable to undergo the screening process, or The Fertility Center of Las Vegas will work with you to select a surrogate using an agency.
How do you go about choosing egg donors?
In some cases, the egg donor is a family member of the patient, but more often the donor is anonymous. All egg donors are screened for infectious diseases to reduce the risk that their eggs could transmit a disease to the patient. The Fertility Center of Las Vegas maintains a ready set of anonymous donors so that there is usually no waiting for a patient that needs a donor.
Is there a typical LGBT person/ couple who comes to The Fertility Center of Las Vegas for your services?
We see individuals and couples who want to create their families. There is no typical patient, just the common desire to become a parent and to have a loving home.
You are based in Las Vegas. Would intended parents need to travel to the US A for an initial consultation?
No. We offer complimentary Skype consultations with our physicians for international patients. If you are interested in speaking to one of our physicians, visit our website to schedule your appointment.
Why should someone choose The Fertility Center of Las Vegas?
At The Fertility Center of Las Vegas, we have always worked diligently to make parenthood possible. We are proud to be considered one of the top fertility clinics in the United States and to be recognised internationally for our scientific advancements of fertility treatments making them safer and more effective. We invite anyone considering fertility treatments in the United States to visit the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technologies (SART) to review clinic success rates. SART does nor rank or rate clinics! However, you can review clinic success rates and determine just how successful their programs are. We have always worked diligently to make parenthood possible The Fertility Center offers an international concierge to assist you with everything you need to arrange travel to Las Vegas. We understand that being out of your own routine and environment can create some stress so our goal is to provide you with assistance and guidance throughout your treatment process. Our International Concierge Services include: Appointments outside of normal open hours/days; Transportation; Hotel Accommodations; Local Attractions; Banking Services; Bureau de Change; Flight Information; Changes to Itineraries; Entertainment; Dining Reservations; Spa Reservations, and Religious Services.
If there is anything we can do to make your visit more comfortable, please do not hesitate to contact The Fertility Center of Las Vegas at 1-702-254-1777.
On a personal level, what has given you the greatest satisfaction working at The Fertility Center of Las Vegas?
The greatest satisfaction is holding my patients’ hands from the beginning, standing by them through the entire process and then being able to witness the creation of families. Every patient story touches my heart. And the story doesn’t end after treatment. We are committed to open communication throughout the journey to family. Our patients become an extension of our own families. They remain in our hearts and in our minds, and through patient reunions in the US and abroad, we are able to maintain strong relationships with our families.
