On May 29th, 2012, Dr. Howard McClamrock and the SGF team at the Baltimore – UMD office are moving to the Baltimore Harbor.

720 Aliceanna Street, Suite 300
Baltimore, MD 21202

(see the location on Google maps)

Dr. McClamrock will be joined by the rest of the UMD group as well as some new faces:

• Sonya, RN
• Priscilla, RN
• Charlene, CA
• Robyn, Sonographer
• Carrie, Patient Services Rep

Meet Robyn, the new sonographer on the Baltimore Harbor team! She celebrated Cinco de Mayo with SGF!

Once the team moves at the end of the month, patients can call 443-825-3340 to schedule monitoring and follow up appointments. Until then, continue to schedule at 410-328-2304.  For more information on fertility treatment at Shady Grove Fertility or to schedule a new patient appointment, please call 877-971-7755 or click here.

Amy is back sharing her experiences in her PCOS Blog, “Treating the Whole Me”.  After years of dealing with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), Amy is tackling it with a new 8-week nutrition program, “First Line Therapy for Fertility” through Pulling Down the Moon. This week Amy met her nutritionist and other members of her group. The group has set their goals and taking the first steps to a healthier life.
> Click here to watch last week’s video.

> Contact Shady Grove Fertility

An exciting event is taking place on Saturday, May 12 at the Hilton in Tysons Corner from 8am-2:30pm.

The A Family of My Own Fertility & Adoption Conference is a great local event for those interested in learning more about fertility and adoption options in the area.

Shady Grove Fertility is happy to team up A Family of My Own to share information about fertility treatment. Three SGF team members will be speaking at the event:

• Jeanne E. O’Brien, MD, of SGF’s Rockville office, will be providing information about donor egg treatment.
• Kathy Houser, Supervisor of our New Patient Center, will be sharing information about the many financial options available for patients.
• Heidi Hayes, Donor Program Director, will be speaking from the patient perspective and is uniquely qualified as she has gone through both the adoption and donor egg process.

If you have been considering fertility treatment or thinking about adoption, this event will help figure out potential next steps to take. Or if you are interesting in learning about the latest medical advances or ways to incorporate a more holistic approach to infertility, the conference is the place for you.

Over 30 family building professionals will be at the conference available to answer all your questions.

Event Info:

A Family of My Own Fertility & Adoption Conference
Saturday, May 12, 2012
8:00am-2:30pm
Hilton McLean Tysons Corner
7920 Jones Branch Drive McLean, VA 22102
Register online!
Walk-ins welcome.

$20 registration fee per person. A portion of the fee will be donated to Resolve: The National Infertility Association. Free parking.

Welcome to Amy’s PCOS Video Blog, “Treating the Whole Me”. Amy will be sharing her challenges with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and her experience of trying a new 8-week nutrition program, “First Line Therapy for Fertility” through Pulling Down the Moon. Check back next week for what happened at her first meeting with the nutritionist.

> Read “What is PCOS?”
> Read “You’ve Been Told You Have PCOS. Now What?“

Shady Grove Fertility was honored to be a sponsor of the Family Equality Council’s “Night at the Pier” – a night to celebrate 30 years of supporting the LGBT community. Last night’s event celebrated the strides the community has made toward full equality.

The Family Equality Council is the leading national advocacy group for over one million LGBT families, raising two million children. They have taken historic steps to recognize the changes that need to take place in order to break through state laws with policy amendments and acts to allow partners to be parents. The organization’s impact has been felt nationwide, including recently expanding their Washington, DC office to advance federal policy agendas.

Dr. Gilbert Mottla was joined by his wife and Barbara Cohen, LCSW-C at Family Equality Council's "Night at the Pier"

Last night’s celebration, held at Pier Sixty in New York City, raised approximately $800,000. Shady Grove Fertility teamed up with the Center for Surrogate Parenting, Inc. to support the event. Gilbert L. Mottla, MD, along with his, wife, Barbara Cohen, LCSW-C, and Michelle Melvin – all hailing from our Annapolis office – attended the event. Even a couple who sought treatment with Dr. Mottla traveled to support the LGBT community.

On a stargazing side note, Clay Aiken and Victor Garber were there too. Sorry no autographs this time… Celebrity or not, nearly 800 people joined together to stand up for those who want to raise a family, just like everyone else. Last night marked 30 years of progress, and the best is yet to come.

Through our donor egg and gestational carrier programs, Shady Grove Fertility offers several family building options for the LGBT community.

 > Read “What’s the Difference Between a Gestational Carrier & a Surrogate?”

Guiliana & Bill Rancic have announced they will be using a gestational carrier.

The term “gestational carrier” has been in the headlines lately, thanks to reality stars Giulana and Bill Rancic. After miscarriage, hurdles and a scare with breast cancer, the couple is using a gestational carrier, a woman who carries another couple’s fertilized embryo to term, to have their baby.

Contrary to what some might think, gestational carriers and surrogates are not the same, as a surrogate is someone who donates her egg and then subsequently carries the child; she is genetically linked to that baby. In the case of a gestational carrier, the woman carrying the pregnancy is in no way biologically related to the child she is carrying; the eggs and sperm are derived from the “intended parents” (or possibly an egg donor, or sperm donor), through the process of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). The egg is fertilized in the lab, and then the embryo (or embryos) is placed into the uterus of the gestational carrier. Finding and using a gestational carrier can be complicated in some states.

“Fortunately, Maryland is one of the states which recognizes there are medical reasons why a gestational carrier may be the only way a couple can have a baby and allow gestational surrogacy. Consequently, many couples come to Shady Grove Fertility for care,” says Gilbert L. Mottla, MD, a Reproductive Endocrinologist in Shady Grove Fertility’s Annapolis office.

According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, 859 surrogacy and gestational carrier cycles were performed in the United States in 2010. Notably, there has been a 28% increase in gestational carrier cycles since 2007. Shady Grove Fertility has extensive experience with the gestational carrier process, excellent success rates, and offers unique financial programs including the Shared Risk 100% Refund Guarantee. If a couple does not bring home a baby through the gestational carrier, 100% of their money is refunded.

Though Shady Grove Fertility treats couples for a variety of fertility issues, there are many medical reasons that preclude a couple from conceiving and carrying a baby to term themselves.

“Any female who has had her uterus surgically removed from cervical or uterine cancer, fibroids, severe endometriosis, or a hysterectomy or where her uterus is simply not functional may be a candidate for a gestational carrier.” said Michele Purcell, RN Shady Grove Fertility’s Donor & Gestational Carrier Program Manager. Women who suffer from heart or other health problems that may make pregnancy dangerous for the mother and baby may need gestational carriers as well.

Since 2007, the number of gestational carriers used have increased by 28%.

The good news is that as long as the ovaries are intact and functional, there is a strong possibility that the eggs may be retrieved and fertilized with the male partner’s sperm, or donor sperm, to create embryos that can then be placed into the uterus of the gestational carrier. “With In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and a gestational carrier, a woman can still be a genetic mother while not putting herself or her baby at any dangerous health risk,” said Purcell.

“Shady Grove Fertility relies on experienced and reputable reproductive attorneys and agencies to recruit our gestational carriers,” said Purcell. “Though some couples come to us with a gestational carrier in mind, like a sister who is willing to carrier their embryo, about 75% of couples in this situation rely others to help find them a gestational carrier.”

In the case of same sex couples, intended fathers can use a gestational carrier along with a donor’s egg to complete their family. “In some recent cases here at Shady Grove Fertility, the sister of one partner donated the egg and the other partner’s sperm, linking the child genetically to both partners,” said Dr. Mottla. “The bottom line is that there are now many ways for couples to build a family.”

For more information on Shady Grove Fertility’s Gestational Carrier Program, or to schedule an appointment with one of the center’s physicians, please contact a New Patient Liaison by calling 877-971-7755.

Shady Grove Fertility’s mission, from its inception over twenty years ago, has been focused on providing exceptional patient care. We are committed to consistently deliver the best possible service from each area of our Practice.

Service is a key value and cornerstone of our Practice

Many of our patients have used the expression, ‘world-class service,’ and we work hard to live up to that compliment. We strive continually to provide an environment where your time in our Practice is friendly and welcoming, and our staff provides clear communication and education about your diagnosis and treatment.

Patient care doesn’t just come in the form of actual medical treatment, but in every communication a patient has with any member of the SGF team. From your initial call to your graduation ultrasound, we listen, empathize, and share information with you. We strive to hire employees who are passionate about their job and empathetic to your needs. This extends to all our Shady Grove Fertility colleagues from those you see – the Front Desk team, your Monitoring team, nurses & doctors – to those who are the behind the scenes – the I.T. Department who works hard to keep our electronic medical programs up and running, our HR Team who hires only the most-qualified employees, the Financial Department who ensures your receive the maximum benefits from your insurance company, Marketing who shares important information with potential and current patients, and our Lab staff who test blood, wash sperm and monitor embryos – all working to make sure your experience is as smooth as possible.

Measuring Patient Care

So strong is our zeal to provide such outstanding service, we recently partnered with Press-Ganey, a leader in healthcare informatics, to measure our patients’ experience through their comprehensive surveys.

The first quarter of 2012 showed that 95% of our new patients have a good or very good experience and the same percentage would recommend the practice to a friend or family member.

It is our fervent hope that you recognize our service as stellar, in each aspect of your treatment and time with us.

To submit feedback at anytime, click here.

Shady Grove Fertility patient, Sindu, shares her experience with fertility treatment and regaining control through the process.

To schedule your new patient appointment, click here.

Read 6 tips to help you survive fertility treatment.

Shady Grove Fertility offers a range of complimentary infertility support groups design to support patients through their fertility journey and help cope with any challenges they may face along the way. The Wall Street Journal recently shared a survey conducted in the Washington area showed that 93% of support group participants felt their quality of life had been enhanced and that more than 85% felt attending meetings has helped them meet challenges in maintaining their treatment and medication regimens. That said – shouldn’t everyone sign up for a group today?

SGF is also proud to announce a new set up support groups out of our Annapolis area. The idea came from our Facebook community – and we listened! Barbara Cohen, LCSW-C will be leading 3 groups in May & June, included topics: General Infertility, IVF Support, and Donor Egg Recipient Support. Please call Barbara at 410-224-7011 to join one of the Annapolis groups.

May 2012

June 2012

July 2012

August 2012

Closing up National Infertility Awareness Week with another set of our fabulous Words of Wisdom from our Shady Grove Fertility Graduates!