Now in its 20th year, the in vitro fertilization program at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics ranks as a national leader in reducing the rate of multiple births while still achieving high pregnancy rates.

“Our delivery rate is above 52 percent for women under age 37,” says medical director Brad Voorhis, MD. “We consistently have one of the best pregnancy rates in the nation.”

In fact, since its beginning in 1987, the Center for Advanced Reproductive Care has assisted more than 3,100 infertile couples, resulting in the births of 3,036 babies.

Recently the program has adopted a single embryo transfer policy for selected couples with a high chance of pregnancy. This policy has resulted in the reduction in the rate of multiple births.

“This means fewer infants are born prematurely, which often takes a financial and emotional toll on the parents,” Van Voorhis says. “By assessing the fitness of the embryos, in vitro specialists can select the best embryos for transfer and cryopreserve (freeze) the others for later use if needed.”

The program’s successes have not gone unnoticed.

The United Resource Network, a business of UnitedHealth Group, recently named the program part of its Centers of Excellence network. The designation recognizes the program’s consistent success rates and its commitment to safe, responsible treatment.

“Center of Excellence status recognizes our commitment to helping couples achieve ‘one healthy baby at a time’,” says infertility specialist Craig Syrop, MD.

The IVF program involves the collaborative efforts of specialists in obstetrics/gynecology, urology, reproductive testing, and in vitro fertilization.

For more information, call UI Health Access toll-free and ask for UI Reproductive Medicine, call the IVF clinic at 319-356-8483, or visit www.uihealthcare.com/repromed.

For more information

UI Hospitals and Clinics reports IVF statistics to the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology. For details, visit UI Center for Advanced Reproductive Care: CARC.