At Rush, the same physicians who treat patients are also involved in research to advance the field of reproductive medicine. This means that, in addition to all the traditional procedures, we can offer our patients innovative techniques and technology not widely available. For instance:

Rush was the first center in Chicago to offer tubal embryo transfer, a microlaparoscopic procedure in which embryos are transferred into the fallopian tubes rather than the uterus, enabling them to follow a more natural pathway. Tubal transfers have an extremely high success rate compared to transvaginal embryo transfer in women with open fallopian tubes who have failed other forms of conventional IVF.

Rush physicians developed, and are the only ones using, a special embryo-delivery catheter, called the EZ catheter, which has already increased success rates by approximately 10 percent.

Rush has been on the leading edge of research aimed at preserving fertility in cancer patients, using a technique called cryopreservation (freezing) to bank sections of ovarian and testicular tissue, as well as eggs and semen.

Rush has been a leader in the development of improved culture media systems and laboratory techniques for fertilization and embryonic growth in vitro.