History of Fertility Care at Penn
Penn doctors established the first coordinated
infertility program in the Delaware Valley nearly
four decades ago. It was recognized that obstetrics
and gynecology, which traditionally includes
the treatment of female infertility, also involves
several subspecialties.
From these subspecialties,
a pioneering effort evolved establishing a
single division focusing on the medical and scientific
aspects of reproductive medicine with an emphasis
placed on infertility and reproductive endocrinology.
This allowed Penn faculty to evaluate fertility
patients in the context of their overall needs,
while focusing on the specific causes of their
infertility.
As the infertility field developed, the reasons
for ovulation failure were identified and treatments
developed for the induction of ovulation in
patients previously regarded as having hopeless
infertility. Once the fallopian tube became
the subject of intensive research, and received
support by grants from the National Institutes
of Health (NIH), a better understanding of the
basic function of the fallopian tube resulted.
Microsurgical
and laparoscopic techniques were developed
for the treatment of tubal abnormalities. A fundamental
understanding of how the egg is released from
the ovary and transported into the fallopian
tube for fertilization led to some of the
earliest observations on human fertilization
and to the first In
Vitro Fertilization Program in Pennsylvania.
Constant improvement and refinement of infertility
management has resulted in the remarkable success
which the program continues to strive for and
enjoys today. We measure our success in terms
of the satisfaction patients receive from our
care and in our ability to manage and treat the
most challenging of cases. Penn continues to receive
recognition in the form of significant support
for women’s health from many agencies and
foundations.
Penn Fertility Care is one of only eight centers
funded by the NIH for clinical infertility research,
and we have been designated as a Reproductive
Medicine Unit. Penn’s Center for Research
on Reproduction and Women’s Health is the
only center in the United States receiving NIH
funds for laboratory research related specifically
to infertility. This interaction with research
science allows the earliest translation of new
knowledge to our clinic and practices.
Penn Fertility Care has a long history of supplying
the best infertility care possible. We strive
to offer compassionate and informed patient care,
to excel in reproductive research and to succeed
in building happy and healthy families for years
to come.
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