Collaborative PGD Study by Drs. Werlin and Munné Et. Al to Be Presented At ASRM

Local Fertility Specialist’s Contributed Research may Curb Spontaneous Miscarriage in Women 38+

IRVINE, Calif. (October 08, 2007) — At the upcoming American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) Annual Conference, internationally-recognized fertility researcher Dr. Santiago Munné will present groundbreaking discoveries from a collaborative study with local fertility specialist Dr. Lawrence Werlin on the impact of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) on live birth rates for women of advanced maternal age. The conference, held in Washington, D.C., assembles leaders in the field of reproductive medicine from throughout North America and abroad.

The study includes data which suggests that PGD can significantly increase the chance of pregnancy to term in multiple In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) programs, while also reducing the risk of miscarriage in women ages 38 to 42. Results also indicate that PGD is more effective in some IVF centers compared to others, which suggests that patient selection, follicular stimulation, culture system and biopsy may play important roles.

“This study gives new hope to women of advanced maternal age who want to begin a family,” explained Werlin, a collaborative researcher in the study who was recently recognized as one of Orange County’s Physicians of Excellence. “PGD reduces the chance for spontaneous miscarriage and increases take-home baby rates.”

PGD is a therapeutic, genetic testing tool that allows for the analysis and transfer of healthy embryos back into the uterus. The procedure has gained recognition for its ability to analyze the cells of a developing embryo via biopsy for genetic and chromosomal abnormalities.

The study included results from fertility clinics across the United States including Reprogenetics and the Institute for Reproductive Medicine and Science at Saint Barnabas, both in N.J.; Zouves Fertility Center, Coastal Fertility Medical Center, and The Center for Reproductive Medicine, located in Calif.; and Highland Park IVF Laboratory in Ill. Munné will present the study to attendees at the ASRM Conference on Wednesday, Oct. 17.

About Dr. Werlin
Dr. Lawrence B. Werlin, “The Werl,” is a nationally-noted specialist in reproductive endocrinology and infertility, and the founder and medical director of the largest and most-established fertility center in Orange County, Calif., Coastal Fertility Medical Center. He is also the co-founder of GENESIS Network for Reproductive Health, a team of nationally-recognized fertility specialists and industry leaders. Werlin is a noted international authority on the uses and study of PGD and former director of the Hoag Memorial Hospital Fertility Services. He has been an expert source for national and international media including The Wall Street Journal, The Associated Press, Boston Globe, The New Yorker, ABC, CBS, NBC, and KCAL. Werlin is currently the principal investigator for a number of studies that are paving the way for advances in reproductive medicine. For additional information, visit https://coastalfertility.com and http://www.WerlsFertilityWorld.com.

About Dr. Munné
Dr. Santiago Munné, an award-winning and internationally recognized leader in reproductive medicine research, is the director of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis at Reprogenetics, LLC. He is a member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the American Society of Human Genetics and Alpha, an international organization for scientists in reproductive medicine. For more information, visit http://www.Reprogenetics.com.

About The American Society of Reproductive Medicine
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine, founded in 1944, is an organization of more than 8,000 physicians, researchers, nurses, technicians, and other professionals dedicated to advancing knowledge and expertise in reproductive biology. Affiliated societies include the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, the Society for Male Reproduction and Urology, the Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, and the Society of Reproductive Surgeons. To learn more about the Annual ASRM Conference, please visithttp://www.ASRM.org.