For patients with severe infertility challenges, the work performed in our Ovation IVF labs can feel like life-changing magic. For Rex Leffel, embryologist at our Ovation Cincinnati lab, it is all in a very fulfilling day’s work.

In 2022, one patient discovered the unfortunate reality that he had a very low sperm count. After treatment from his urologist, he began visiting the Ovation andrology lab with hopes of being able to freeze enough sperm for use in IVF.

Over a span of six months last year, he visited the lab a total of seven times to provide semen samples. Each time, the lab team found that there was either no sperm in the sample, or so few that freezing for future use in IVF was not a viable option.

“He was very stressed out, and was certain there had to be something there,” says Brittany Foster, Cincinnati lab manager. “After so many tries, we recommended that he try for a double fresh collection, so at least we wouldn’t have to contend with cryo-related loss.”

When the day of the egg retrieval came and he provided his samples, the lab found that sperm were present, but the concentration was too low to be able to count accurately. Rex treated the case like he would a TESE ICSI, expecting extremely low counts.

“He went in with an extra prep method, and took extra diligence and extra time,” Brittany explains. “He was not only able to find a few sperm, but sorted through those to find the best ones possible.”

Rex was able to perform ICSI on 14 of the couple’s 17 eggs, and 13 of them fertilized. From that batch, one blastocyst was cryopreserved. The genetic testing results for that embryo came back normal, finally giving a deserving couple the hope they had long been waiting for.

Rex’s persistence and skill in this case is just one example of how our lab teams all over the country bring the joy of parenthood through innovative science. Kudos to Rex and the entire team at Ovation Fertility Cincinnati for bringing their best for every patient, every day.

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