C. James Chuong, M.D.
Board Certified Fertility Specialist
"Our Job is to help you get pregnant. We love our job!"

"YOUR DREAM OF BUILDING A FAMILY WILL COME TRUE"

Younger Women With PCOS May Be At Higher Risk For CVD Compared To Their Peers (August 7, 2020)

European Journal of Preventive Cardiology reported researchers found “women younger than 50 years with polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS] seeking for fertility treatment were at higher risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared with younger women without it. There was no evidence of a higher CVD risk for women with PCOS after the age of 50 years.

Myomectomy May Lead To Better Quality Of Life Than Embolization For Patients With Uterine Fibroids (July 31, 2020)

New England Journal of Medicine reported that research suggests that “two ‘uterine-sparing’ treatments for fibroids can improve women’s quality of life – though one might be more effective than the other.” Investigators “randomly assigned women with uterine fibroids to have either a myomectomy or uterine-artery embolization.” The researchers found that “overall...both approaches worked,” but “on average, women who had a myomectomy reported greater gains in quality of life over two years.”

Contract For 100 Million Doses Of Coronavirus Vaccine By December (July24, 2020)

The New York Times (7/22/20) reports the Trump Administration announced an almost $2 billion contract with Pfizer and German biotech company BioNTech for 100 million doses of a coronavirus vaccine by December. It is “to drastically shorten the time it would take to manufacture and distribute a working vaccine”   The Trump Administration has previously signed contracts with AstraZeneca for 300 million doses, and Novavax for at least 100 million doses.

Women Who Undergo Unsuccessful IVF May Experience Increases In Fasting Glucose, Insulin (July 17,2020)

Clinical Endocrinology (7/2020) reported, “Healthy women who underwent unsuccessful in vitro fertilization experienced increases in fasting glucose and insulin at 12 weeks that were not observed among similar women who became pregnant.” Researchers analyzed data from 275 healthy women recruited from three IVF clinics (median age, 32 years; median BMI, 25.4 kg/m²), including 158 women with IVF-conceived pregnancies and 117 for whom IVF therapy failed.

Amid the surge of Coronavirus outbreak, Virtual Care is available at Cooper Institute (July 10, 2020)

CDC estimates “that 30 million Americans have been infected with the coronavirus, meaning roughly 10 times as many infections as the 3.1 million cases that have been confirmed.” The unfortunate surge of COVID-19 cases in the Houston region has attracted the attention of social media. To keep our commitment to provide fertility care, our office remains open following all the CDC guidelines: Maintain Social Distancing, Wear a Face Mask/Covering, and check the Symptoms, etc. In addition, Virtual Care (video visit) and Phone Consultation are available. Please call (713) 771-9771 to make the arrangement. We are committed to helping keep our patients, employees and healthcare providers safe.

Stay At Home This July 4th Weekend! (JULY 3, 2020)

Happy July 4th! We encourage everyone to stay at home this July 4th weekend. Take a break from the news and enjoy safe time with your immediate family. If you would like to go out or gather with friends or other families, please make sure you wear a mask of face coverings, practice social distancing and use thorough hand hygiene. We appreciate everyone's cooperation to be calm, resilient and patient, especially during these prolonged difficult and tiring times. Have a nice and safe long weekend!

New Coronavirus Cases In US Reach Highest Level Since April, 2020 (June 26, 2020)

The Hill (6/24, Johnson, Hellmann) reports the daily number of new cases in the US “is the highest it has been since the height of the pandemic two months ago, as several states including Texas around the country experience spikes in cases.” According to the data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, there were 34,700 new cases of coronavirus reported on Tuesday." Following the guidelines of CDC and Texas Medical Board, our office continues to implement all the necessary measures to ensure the safety and health of our patients and staff.

How To Cut Down Weight Gain? Watching When You Eat Besides What You Eat. Eating Dinner Late May Contribute To Weight Gain, High Blood Sugar (June 19, 2020)

It has been known that overweight and weight gain may compromise fertility. HealthDay (6/11/20, Reinberg) reports that having “a late dinner and then” heading off to bed may cause people to gain weight. That might be because the “metabolism slows, boosting blood sugar and other chemicals that contribute to weight gain and type 2 diabetes.” The study using healthy volunteers, found that the peak blood sugar level after a late dinner was about 18% higher, and the amount of fat burned about 10% lower, compared with eating earlier.” The findings were published online in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

Federal Government To Conduct Final Trials For Three Coronavirus Vaccine Candidates This Summer (June 12, 2020)

The Wall Street Journal (6/10, Loftus, Subscription Publication) reports John Mascola, director of the NIAID’s vaccine research center, said the federal government plans to conduct phase 3 trials for three coronavirus vaccine candidates this summer. The three candidates to be tested are being developed by Moderna; Oxford University and AstraZeneca; and Johnson & Johnson.

Hospitals and accredited birth centers remain the safest places to give birth, even during the pandemic (June 5, 2020)

Recently JAMA reported that based on the results of a universal coronavirus testing program in Connecticut, less than 3% of “pregnant women who were ready to give birth” tested positive for coronavirus, “The findings show that with the right precautions, hospitals can be safe places to give birth even during the COVID-19 pandemic, “Patients concerned that delivering in a hospital or accredited birth center setting will increase their risk of exposure to COVID-19 should be assured.”

Cooper Institute For Advanced Reproductive Medicine Is Proud To Welcome Dr. Botros Rizk To Join Our Practice (May 29, 2020)

Dr. Botros Rizk, a renowned infertility specialist internationally recognized for his expertise in In Vitro Fertilization and endometriosis has joined Cooper Institute for Advanced Reproductive Medicine in Houston. Mentored by Nobel Laureate Professor Robert Edwards, Dr. Rizk was Professor and Head of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of South Alabama prior to joining Cooper Institute.

"We are very pleased that Dr. Rizk will bring with him years of extensive fertility expertise to Houston." said Dr. James Chuong, Medical Director of Cooper Institute. Dr. Rizk is fluent in English and Arabic. To discover how Dr. Rizk and Cooper's highly experienced team can make your dream of building families come true, please call (713) 771-9771.

We Will Continue To Focus On Safety As We Work Together In Your Fertility Journey (May 22, 2020)

We are very pleased to announce that our office operation has been very smooth since the reopening date of May 11, 2020. We have adjusted the schedule to limit the number of patients in the office for diagnostic and fertility treatment. All the providers, staff and patients wear masks or face coverings. All the patients undergo a health screening including temperature measurement at the time of check in. Each patient is allowed to have only one company. We would like to thank all the patients for their cooperation. Although the coronavirus outbreak has added difficulty to the already challenging fertility journey, we will do our very best to provide the most efficient and personal care with your safety as our top concern.

Pregnant Women May Be No More Likely To Become Severely Ill With COVID-19 Than Other Women (May 15, 2020)

Reuters (5/11/20, Kelland) reports that “pregnant women are no more likely to become severely ill with COVID-19 than other women, according to a preliminary study in Britain, but most expectant mothers who do develop serious illness tend to be in the later stages of pregnancy.” According to the research, “fewer than 0.5 percent of all pregnant women were admitted to hospital with the disease, and only around 1-in-10 of those needed intensive care.”

Cooper Institute for Advanced Reproductive Medicine is ready to reopen the office on May 11, 2020 (May 7, 2020)

Following the recommendations of CDC, The American Society for Reproductive Medicine and The Texas Medical Board, we will take a safe and controlled approach to resume our office operation and fertility treatments gradually. As many other business in the community, we are implementing all the necessary measures as the safety and health of our patients and staff is always our top concern.

To observe social distancing measure, we will limit the number of patients in the office for diagnostic testing and in the procedure room for IVF and IUI treatment. All the patients are required to wear masks or face coverings. Each patient is allowed to have only one companion. All the patients are to undergo a health screening at the time of check in. In case the patient develop symptoms suggesting COVID-19, and the test turns out to be positive, the treatment cycle will be discontinued.

It has been a challenging and difficult time for all of us with the COVID-19 outbreak. At Cooper, we understand this has increased your frustration in the fertility journey. Dr. Chuong and our most caring team will continue the commitment to make your dream of building families come true in a safe environment .

Dr. Chuong has joined several COVID-19 in Reproductive Medicine Webinars recently (April 24, 2020)

When is it safe to start up fertility treatment again? Following the recommendations from CDC and American Society for Reproductive Medicine, almost all the fertility clinics across the nation have put all the fertility treatments including IVF and IUI, etc. on hold. The participants in recent webinars discussed how to safely manage future fertility treatment, such as minimize in-person interaction during evaluation and monitoring, provide PPE during egg retrieval and embryo transfer procedures, take measures to prevent contamination in the laboratory, etc. The goal is to create a COVID-19 Free Clinic and to provide a safe environment when we start treating our patients again.

Blood plasma therapy for COVID-19 patients in Houston (April 10, 2020)

The experimental therapy transfusing the blood plasma of people who have recovered from COVID-19 into patients fighting the disease is coming to Houston. The Methodist Hospital has obtained the permission from the Food and Drug Administration to transfuse the potentially therapeutic plasma into patients. The results are yet to be seen.

Pregnant Women May Be Susceptible To Complications Due To COVID-19 (April 3, 2020)

HealthDay (4/3) reported: ” Women who are pregnant have physiologic changes in their chests that may make them more susceptible to viral respiratory infections." Furthermore, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the U.K.’s National Health Service are concerned that women might be more prone to miscarriage, preterm birth and fetal growth restriction if they have COVID-19. More follow up will be needed to confirm the above speculation.

Changes In Our Practice Amid Coronavirus Outbreak (March 27, 2020)

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is one of the most profound crises of our lifetime, and is affecting the entire globe including the United States community. Please understand that we are closely monitoring all developments and follow the recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Center of Disease Control (CDC), Texas and Houston health agencies as well as the national fertility society, American Society of Reproductive Medicine. We understand that our patients may have questions about how this affects their treatments and fertility journey and would like to inform you the following changes in our office practice:

Effective March 26, 2020 we will be offering phone consultation appointments for both new and follow up patients. Please call (281)387-5514 to schedule an appointment. We have also been rescheduling all fertility treatment cycles including egg retrieval, embryo transfer, IUI and fertility surgeries. We understand this measure will cause inconvenience and stress to you, however, we are committed to reschedule your treatment as early as possible. After all, the safety and health of all our patients is our top priority. With that in mind, Dr. Chuong and his most caring team will continue their commitment to make your dream of building families come true.

Update about Coronavirus COVID-19 (March 27, 2020)

FDA approves first rapid coronavirus test

Reuters (3/21, Singh) reported the FDA “approved the first rapid coronavirus diagnostic test, with a detection time of about 45 minutes, as the” U.S. “struggles to meet the demand for coronavirus testing.” The test was developed by Cepheid, a molecular diagnostics company based in California, who announced “it had received an emergency use authorization from the FDA for the test, which will be used primarily in hospitals and emergency rooms.”

Coronavirus May Spread Slower In Warmer Climates

The New York Times (3/22, Sheikh, Londoño) reports scientists at MIT say that coronavirus may spread slower in warmer climates. In an early analysis, the scientists concluded “that most coronavirus transmissions had occurred in regions with low temperatures, between 37.4 and 62.6 degrees Fahrenheit.” The article adds that “while countries with equatorial climates and those in the Southern Hemisphere, currently in the middle of summer, have reported coronavirus cases, regions with average temperatures above 64.4 degrees Fahrenheit account for fewer than 6 percent of global cases so far.”

Coronavirus COVID-19 Readiness - A Message From Us (March 13, 2020)

Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital and its professional buildings including ours continue to closely monitor the rapidly evolving communication on the COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease. The health and safety of our patients are of the utmost importance, and we are committed to providing a clean and healthy environment.
Precautions in our office building have been implemented, which include:

Increased cleaning frequency of all common and high traffic areas including lobby, security desk, and building entrance doors.
Sanitization of commonly touched surfaces such as door handles, restroom fixtures, water fountains, elevator call buttons, handrails, entry doors, and hardware.
Increased concentration of cleaning disinfectant used at the property.
Hand sanitizer supplied in the common areas, including the lobbies and restrooms.

We will continue to monitor and follow all guidelines from local, state and federal agencies, and continue to provide updates on any pertinent developments as they occur.

Pregnant Women Do Not Appear To Be Particularly Vulnerable To Infection By Coronavirus Based On Current Evidence (March 6,2020)

The New York Times (3/3/2020, Mandavilli) reports, “Pregnant women are often particularly susceptible to respiratory infections and, once infected, can become seriously ill, with long-lasting consequences for both mother and baby,” However, the article says, “it appears that pregnant women are no more likely than anyone else to have severe symptoms from the coronavirus.” In addition, “so far at least, infants born to women with an infection seemed free of the virus and appeared healthy at birth.

The Advantage of Preimplantation Genetic Testing [PGT] (February 28, 2020):

The high incidence of chromosome abnormality in human embryos is a major cause of IVF failure and miscarriage. Morphologic assessment under microscope used to be the primary method of selecting embryos for transfer, but the chromosome status of embryos can't be accurately ascertained. PGT was proposed as a method to select IVF embryos with the highest potential of ongoing implantation. For women aged 35 - 40 years with two or more embryos that could be biopsied, Preimplantation Genetic Testing to select embryos with normal chromosome for frozen transfer significantly increases ongoing pregnancy rate. Fertil Steril 2019; 112: 1071-1078.

Coronavirus Outbreak (February 12, 2020)

Since December 2019, an outbreak of infections with Cononavirus has develpoed in Wuhan, China, and has spread world wide, typically by travelers returning from China. We would like to share the CDC guidance and update on Coronavirus screening flowchart:

https://emergency.cdc.gov/han/han00427.asp

It is equally, if not more important to reduce the stress once you become pregnant (January 24, 2020)

Stress Reduction
Stress is associated with infertility with negative impacts to eggs and sperms. In addition, researchers found that “larger portions of women pregnant with fetuses with congenital heart disease (CHD) tested positive for stress, anxiety, and depression and this was tied to impairments in fetal brain development.” (JAMA Pediatrics. Published online 01/13/2020)

We would like to share with you some cutting-edge medical information (January 17, 2020)

Vitamin D Deficiency
Recent medical research (J Clin Endocrinol Metab Feb 2019) revealed Vitamin D deficiency is associated with lower ovulation rate and a lower chance of live birth rate in patients with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCO). We have been checking serum Vitamin D level for all of our patients and will continue to do so. James Chuong, MD

Diet has rapid effects on sperm quality
"Diet can influence sperm quality after just a few weeks according to a study from Sweden's Linkoping University. The study reinforces the link between nutrition and male reproduction and could have important implications fro those undergoing fertility treatment".

We sincerely wish you a Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous Year of 2020 (December 2019)

For those who became pregnant in 2019, all of us at Cooper are extremely proud of you, and are so thrilled that you have stepped into another milestone in your life and trust that you and your partner will make the most caring and terrific parents. For those who did not become pregnant or undergo the treatment, please understand that the fertility journey can be long and challenging. We are going to work together hand in hand, so that your dream of building families will come true in the very near future.

Dr. James Chuong attended the 15th Assisted Reproductive Technology World Congress in New York City, New York (October 2019)

The aims of this meeting are to present and discuss clinical and up-to-date scientific developments in Assisted Reproductive Technology; To share protocols and knowledge; To find areas for future multidisciplinary scientific research and clinical collaboration; To spread education on Assisted Reproductive Technology. This will be achieved by bringing together world’s leading experts, young scientists and physicians. Dr. Chuong will share the cutting edge information with each couple as deemed relevant to individual's situation..

Cooper Institute has updated its Website (June 2019)

To discover how Dr. James Chuong, named Top Doctor in Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility by Houstonia, and his highly experienced team can make your dream of building families come true, please visit our new website at: www.cooperinstitutearm.com. To make an appointment, please call (713) 771-9771.

Dr. James Chuong was a volunteer at the Tzu-Chi Foundation Health Fair (April 2019)

Tzui-Chi Foundation is an international charity organization. Although members come from all religious backgrounds, they share a common goal - to serve humanity with Great Love. The Foundation has hold health fairs periodically at various location across the US and the world for general public especially the needed families. The one held at its Houston headquarter on April 28, 2019 was a great success. Dr. James Chuong joined other volunteer physicians of various specialities to provide health services and health education.

Cooper Institute has expanded its services for LGBTG Family Building (February 2019)

Provide professional and supportive services including medical, psychological, ethical and legal aspects.
1. Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) or In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) using donor sperms in conjunction with ovulation induction.
2. IVF using one partner's eggs and donor sperms to create embryos, which will be transferred into the other partner's uterus.
3. Assist the gay couple to find the donor eggs and the surrogate to build their families.
4. Freeze eggs/sperms to preserve future fertility for the transgender couple.

Dr. James Chuong attended the AnnuMeeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine in Denver, Colorado (October 2018)

The theme of this year's meeting was "Focus on the Next Generation". It focuses on the outcomes of various treatments, highlights and promotes the next generation of professionals in reproductive medicine, and introduces new technologies and up-and-coming research. The presentation ranges from the latest molecular and genetic technologies to advocacy for the patients with a focus on access to care. There were extensive discussions on cutting-edge research in reproductive medicine as related to fertility diagnosis and treatment, including the area of therapeutic editing of the human embryo, politics and ethics in assisted reproductive technology,and new methods of pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT). Dr. James Chuong will share the information with each couple as deemed relevant to individual's situation.

Cooper Institute appeared in the Village News/Southwest News (September, 2018)

Cooper Institute offers cutting-edge infertility treatment, including in-vitro fertilization (IVF), and provides the highest level of quality control of the IVF laboratory. Dr. Chuong cares for his patients from his heart. He is detailed oriented in his approach and creates an individualized plan for patients. He and his empathetic professional staff provide world-class services with top-notch success. At Cooper, couples have achieved pregnancy in even the most difficult cases who were advised to use donor eggs previously. The Institute has also been praised for its experiences in taking care of patients with advanced age and its extremely efficient approach. Trained at prestigious Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and previously on the faculty at Baylor college of Medicine, Dr. Chuong has been in fertility practice for more than 30 years.

Dr. James Chuong attended Medical Mission Trip to Peru (August, 2018)

Dr. Chuong joined an organization " VI Misión Médica Internacional – Amazonas 2018" for a Medical Mission trip to Amazonas Region, one of the poorest area in Peru in August 2018. The aim of the organization is to improve the healthcare of the under-served people in the region by providing them with direct basic medical, surgical, and dental care as well as providing training to local providers. Along with more than 200 volunteers including 25 physicians and dentists, the organization took care of 1,500 villagers in the area who otherwise do not have access to basic healthcare services.

Dr. James Chuong attended the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine in San Antonio, Texas (October 2017)

The theme of this year's meeting was "Advancing Reproductive Medicine to Build Healthy Families". It emcompasses all aspects of reproductive medicine and technology, with a special focus on health. The presentation ranges from the latest molecular and genetic technologies to advocacy for the patients with a focus on access to care. There were extensive discussions on cutting-edge research in reproductive medicine as related to fertility diagnosis and treatment, especially in the area of embryo biopsy and novel methods of pre-implantation genetic screening (PGS). Dr. James Chuong will share the information with each couple as deemed relevant to individual's situation.

OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH YOU (AUGUST 2017)

Hurricane Harvey has stalled over the Texas Gulf Coast, and has down poured more than 4 feet of rain in some areas over the past few days. We at Cooper wanted you to know we're thinking of you during this extraordinarily difficult time. We can only imagine what a challenging experience this must be for you, and hope that you and your loved ones are safe. Thinking of you and wishing you the best.

Addition of a State-of-the-Art Ultrasound Equipment (May 2017)

The Sonix Touch Q+ Ultrasound System, the Analogic Ultrasound from BK Ultrasound Inc. of Massachusetts provides the clearest images and the fastest measurement of follicles, uterus, fetus, etc. It allows us to continue providing the most accurate and efficient fertility care for our patients.

Dr. James Chuong, Named Top Doctor in Reproductive Endocrinology by Rate MDs (March 2017)

https://www.ratemds.com/doctor-ratings

To read more, please visit:
https://www.ratemds.com/doctor-ratings/39279/Dr-C.+James-Chuong-Houston-TX.htm

Cooper Institute Named #1 IVF Clinic in Houston for Women under 35 using Fresh Embryos (January 2017)

http://houston.fertilitysuccessrates.com/report/Houston/women-under-35/data.html

Dr. James Chuong attended the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine in Salt Lake City, Utah (October 2016)

The theme of this year's meeting was "Scaling New Heights in Reproductive Medicine". It encompassed all aspects of reproductive medicine, technology, and health. The program was a comprehensive and stimulating balance between an exploration of the latest molecular and genetic techniques and how reproduction affects public health on a global scale. There were extensive discussions on new biopsy/genetic testing of embryos and freezing of unfertilized eggs, donor egg bank, etc. Dr. James Chuong will share the information with each couple as deemed relevant to individual's situation.

Dr. James Chuong was a volunteer at the Tzu-Chi Foundation Health Fair (May 2016)

Tzui-Chi Foundation is an international charity organization. Although members come from all religious backgrounds, they share a common goal - to serve humanity with Great Love. The Foundation has hold health fairs periodically at various location across the US and the world for general public especially the needed families. The one held at its Houston headquarter on May 22, 2016 was a great success. Dr. James Chuong joined other volunteer physicians of various specialties to provide health services and health education.

State of the Art Laser Equipment for Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) (January 2016)

We have recently purchased a Laser equipment in the embryology laboratory which allows us to perform Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) procedure. It is a technique that provides us with information about an embryo before it is transferred to the uterus (preimplantation). It is different from amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling which are used to determine fetal abnormalities nine weeks or more after implantation (post-implantation). PGD technology allows us to identify single gene defects (cystic fibrosis, Huntington’s disease etc), chromosomal translocations (Robertsonian, Reciprocal) as well as numerical chromosome abnormalities (Down syndrome, Turner syndrome) in the early embryo.

Dr. James Chuong attended the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine in Baltimore (October 2015)

The theme of this year's meeting was "Steering Reproductive Medicine to the Forefront of Global Public Health" addressed all aspects of reproductive medicine throughout the life cycle of women and men, focusing on how reproduction affects health and health affects reproduction. The presentations covered a wide array of topics ranging from environmental basis for infertility, genetic causes of infertility to biopsy/genetic testing of embryos and freezing of unfertilized eggs. Dr. James Chuong will share the information with each patient as deemed relevant to each couple's situation.

Dr. James Chuong, Named Top Doctor in Reproductive Endocrinology/Infertility by Houstonia (September 2015)

Dr. James Chuong was a volunteer at the Tzu-Chi Foundation Health Fair (June 2015)

Tzui-Chi Foundation is an international charity organization. Although members come from all religious backgrounds, they share a common goal - to serve humanity with Great Love. The Foundation has hold health fairs periodically at various location across the US and the world for general public especially the needed families. The one held at its Houston headquarter on May 30, 2015 was a great success. Dr. James Chuong joined other volunteer physicians of various specialities to provide health services and health education.

Dr. James Chuong was interviewed by Light and Salt Association to discuss the application of new reproductive technology (Cryopreservation of Unfertilized Eggs) in Cancer patients (April 2015)

Light and Salt Association, an affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure of breast cancer, is a cancer prevention and research institute in Texas. During a TV interview, Dr. Chuong addressed the issue of fertility preservation and reproduction in cancer patients facing chemotherapy/radiation therapy which often result in reduced fertility. Due to recent technological advances, oocyte cryopreservation has now become a vialble option prior to cancer treatment. In addition, the new technology can be applied to single women approaching advanced age and those who have moral or ethical objections to embryo freezing.

Dr. James Chuong, Named Top Doctor in Reproductive Endocrinology/Infertility by Houstonia (September 2013 &2014)

A new study suggests women trying to get pregnant have one less reason for worry. It was conducted by the world renowned Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota where Dr. James Chuong received his reproductive endocrinology and infertility training in the mid-80s. The research was published in the Journal Fertility and Sterility, and suggests that fertility treatments are not linked to an increased risk of ovarian cancer for women, though previous studies conducted in the 1990s suggested otherwise. Comparing the medical history of 1,028 women with ovarian cancer and 872 women who did not have cancer, researchers found 24 percent of women who did not have cancer had undergone fertility treatments, while 17 percent of cancer patients had used them. Combined with other risk factors, including age and use of birth control pills, the rate of ovarian cancer was the same between both groups.

Infertility is a disease affecting approximately 7.3 million couples in the U.S. alone; around 12% of all the reproductive-age population. It affects men and women. One in twenty women will need help getting pregnant and should seek for physician's advices, particularly if the problem lasts more than 12 months. Sometimes as simple as lifestyle and diet changes will improve a person's prospects for conceiving. More difficult cases may turn to fertility drugs and assisted reproductive technology (ART). As Dr. Chuong of the Cooper Institute puts the new ART techniques "to help older and younger couples alike that may have a deficiency that inhibits the ability to conceive one's own is a very satisfying contribution." His many satisfied patients could not agree more (November 2012).

MOST HOLISTIC IVF
Mini-IVF: Use only the maximum number of quality eggs. The approach minimize the health risks & cost of fertility drugs.

Cooper Institute appeared in the Village News/Southwest News in July, 2012:
"YOUR DREAM OF BUILDING A FAMILY WILL COME TRUE"
Cooper Institute for Advanced Reproductive Medicine in Houston offers the cutting edge of infertility treatment, including IVF, intracytoplasmic injection of sperm (ICSI), testicular aspiration of sperms (TESE), and has achieved among the highest pregnancy rates. As its sister facility in New Jersey (www.ccivf.com) led by Dr. Jerome H. Check, a world renowned infertility specialist, Cooper is specialized in patients with advanced age and high FSH. Strictly following the guidelines of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, Cooper’s most comprehensive IVF laboratory offers all the state-of-the-art technologies with the finest equipment available (August 1, 2012).

Dr. James Chuong Appeared in Living Magazine, Sugar Land, TX as Super Doc

Cooper Institute offers cutting-edge infertility treatment, including in-vitro fertilization (IVF), intrauterine insemination (IUI), donor egg/sperm or surrogacy, and provides the highest level of quality control in embryology laboratories. Dr. James Chuong, a board-certified fertility specialist, is the Institute’s Medical Director.

Dr. Chuong cares for his patients from his heart. He is detailed oriented in his approach and creates an individualized plan for patients. He and his empathetic professional staff provide world-class services with top-notch success. At Cooper, couples have achieved pregnancy in even the most difficult cases who were advised to use donor eggs/sperms previously. The Institute has also been praised for its experiences in taking care of patients with advanced age and its extremely efficient and reasonable cost approach.

Trained at prestigious Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and previously on the faculty at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Dr. Chuong has been conducting reproductive endocrinology and infertility clinical and research activities for more than 28 years. He has received several national grants and merit awards, and has published and presented extensively throughout the country (May 31, 2011).

Cooper Institute Appeared in Houston Life styles & Homes (April 2011), Houston, TX

Third party reproduction refers to the use of eggs, sperm, or embryos that have been donated by a third person (donor) to enable an infertile individual or couple (intended recipient) to become parents. Donors may be known or anonymous to the intended recipient. Third party reproduction also includes traditional surrogacy and gestational carrier arrangements.

The options available through third party reproduction provide many couples the opportunity to make their dream of parenthood a reality. The comprehensive nature of the screening and counseling of intended parents and their donors or surrogates ensures that the process meets the needs of all involved.

Third party reproduction is a complex process. As it is more widely used, there continues to be a broader understanding of the ethical, moral and legal issues involved. The ultimate goal of physicians, mental health professionals, and attorneys specializing in reproductive law is to enable this process to move forward as smoothly as possible and bring joy and satisfaction to all parties involved in ensuring the conception and delivery of a healthy child (April 25, 2011).

We are proud to announce that Cooper Institute has been awarded CAP accreditation and becomes part of an exclusive group of around 6,000 laboratories worldwide that have met the highest standard of excellence.

The CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program is an internationally recognized program. Designed to go well beyond regulatory compliance, the program helps laboratories achieve the highest standards of excellence to positively impact patient care.

The program is based on rigorous accreditation standards that are translated into detailed and focused checklist requirements. The checklists are to assess the overall management and operation of the laboratory. It also covers a complete array of disciplines and testing procedures. Because of its comprehensive nature, CAP accreditation can help achieve a consistently high level of service throughout an institution or healthcare system (March 25, 2011).

Related Links:

Houston is well-versed in multiple-birth babies, having been the site of the first octupletes in the US. Recently a Houstonian, Ms. Real-Mayorga gave birth to five babies one day shy of 30 weeks. The weight of the babies ranged from 2 ½ to nearly 4 pounds. Fortunately all the babies survived although still faced challenges. They do not have the complications low birth weight babies often experience, however, they will have to stay in the neonatal intensive care unit for at least 6 to 8 weeks. Ms. Real-Mayorga did take fertility drugs to improve her ovulation, but dud not do intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Dr. C. James Chuong, Medical Director of Cooper Institute was interviewed by Southern Chinese Daily News for comments:

He emphasized the importance of monitoring the ovarian responses via folliculogram and female hormonal testing during the process of ovulation induction. Folliculogram tells us the number and the size of each follicles via pelvic ultrasound examinations and female hormonal levels in the serum tell us the biological activities and maturity of the eggs. If the fallopian tubes are patent, and the partner has satisfactory results of semen analysis, it is important to keep in mind that the chance of having multiple pregnancies is high even the couple just tries on their own without undergoing IUI or IVF. The couple must be given the option of having the cycle cancelled and be given lower dosages of fertility drugs during the subsequent cycles to avoid multiple pregnancies (August 28, 2010).

Cooper Institute appeared in the Village News/Southwest News on September 7, 2010:

YOUR DREAM OF BUILDING A FAMILY WILL COME TRUE

Cooper Institute for Advanced Reproductive Medicine in Houston offers the cutting edge of infertility treatment, including IVF, intracytoplasmic injection of sperm (ICSI), testicular aspiration of sperms (TESE), and has achieved among the highest pregnancy rates. As its sister facility in New Jersey (www.ccivf.com) led by Dr. Jerome H. Check, a world renowned infertility specialist, Cooper is specialized in patients with advanced age and high FSH. Strictly following the guidelines of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, Cooper’s most comprehensive IVF laboratory offers all the state-of-the-art technologies with the finest equipment available.
For details, please click here.