Palo Alto Fertility Clinic
Nurturing Your Dreams of Parenthood:
Fertility Care With Heart
We are a San Francisco-San Jose Bay Area advanced reproductive treatments fertility center devoted to your success.
Our expert care and support, combined with leading-edge science, is your path to parenthood.
We have created this website to provide informative and educational resources.
Our goal is to support you on your fertility journey, no matter which fertility center you choose for your treatment.
Treatments at Bay IVF
In Vitro Fertilization
In Vitro Fertilization
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is the most powerful treatment available to help infertile patients achieve pregnancy from their own eggs and sperm. IVF can also be an excellent test of egg and sperm quality.
We use gentle and individualized ovarian stimulation protocols prioritizing egg quality over quantity. This approach minimizes clinic visits and reduces the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation without compromising the chances of a successful outcome.
Most patients will be able to continue their everyday lifestyles during treatment. Our goal is to make your conception experience pleasant, relaxed, and as natural as possible.
Gender Selection
Gender Selection
We were one of the first fertility clinics in the San Francisco Bay Area to offer Gender Selection IVF.
IVF for Gender Selection uses a Pre-implantation Genetic Testing (PGT) procedure to determine the gender of each embryo.
Through this method, prospective parents will know the gender of each embryo with 100% accuracy before transferring them into the uterus.
The Gender Selection IVF procedure requires the creation of embryos and is, therefore, an extension of In Vitro Fertilization.
Reciprocal IVF
Reciprocal IVF
In reciprocal lesbian IVF, one partner assumes the role of the Genetic Mother by providing the eggs retrieved during the IVF cycle, while the other partner serves as the Birth Mother who carries the pregnancy.
The eggs obtained from the Genetic Mother are fertilized with donor sperm within a laboratory setting. Subsequently, the resulting embryos are transferred to the uterus of the partner who will carry the pregnancy.
This method enables both partners to actively participate in the creation and gestation of their child, fostering a deep sense of involvement and connection.
Egg Freezing
Egg Freezing
Egg freezing success rates are highly influenced by a woman’s age when the eggs are frozen. Ideally, eggs should be frozen before age 35 for the best chance of success. However, thanks to advancements in the procedure, egg freezing can still be a viable option for women past 35.
The process involves stimulating the ovaries to produce multiple eggs. These eggs are then retrieved, frozen using a special vitrification technique, and stored in liquid nitrogen.
It’s important to note that the chance of a successful pregnancy using frozen eggs hinges on the quality of the eggs at the time of freezing, not the woman’s age when they are thawed. Once thawed, the eggs can be fertilized with sperm, and the resulting embryos can be transferred to the uterus for implantation and, hopefully, pregnancy.
Pre-Implantation Genetic Testing (PGT)
Pre-Implantation Genetic Testing (PGT)
PGT can be added to IVF, Donor Egg IVF, and Embryo Banking treatments. It aims to increase the probability of a successful outcome by minimizing the likelihood of transferring genetically abnormal embryos.
Embryo genetic testing has been recommended for patients of advanced maternal age (35 or older), those with a history of repeated early pregnancy loss (three or more), and individuals who have experienced multiple failed IVF cycles despite the transfer of high-quality embryos.
Male Infertility
Male Infertility
Approximately 10% to 15% of men are born with some degree of male infertility, and about one-third of the time, a couple’s infertility can be solely attributed to male infertility.
In recent years, the chances of infertile men conceiving their genetic child have significantly improved. In situations where patients previously had to rely on donor sperm, we can now almost always utilize the partner’s sperm to fertilize the eggs with the intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedure.
Embryo Banking
Embryo Banking
Some couples may delay starting their family to the extent that when they finally decide to have children, it can be challenging, if not impossible, to conceive naturally.
Embryo Banking can be a valuable option for postponing parenthood while pursuing educational and professional goals.
Embryo Banking involves stimulating the development of several eggs, the retrieval of eggs from the ovaries, fertilization with the partner’s semen, cryopreservation of the resulting embryos, and their storage at our Clinic for future use.
Egg Donation
Egg Donation
Egg Donation can be a highly successful treatment used by patients who no longer have high-quality eggs.
Children conceived with the help of donor eggs are genetically linked to the male partner and the egg donor, while the female partner is the one who becomes pregnant, nourishes the baby throughout the pregnancy, and experiences childbirth.
You have the option to choose an egg donor from an egg donor agency or purchase frozen donor eggs from an egg bank.
Gestational Surrogacy
Gestational Surrogacy
There are numerous reasons why individuals and couples turn to gestational surrogacy. The most common are:
– Same-sex male couples
– Men who are single parents
– Women with previous hysterectomy
– Medical conditions making being pregnant too risky
The intended parents’ or donor eggs are fertilized with sperm through In Vitro Fertilization. The resulting embryo(s) are then transferred to the surrogate, typically only one at a time.
The Gestational surrogate carries the pregnancy and delivers the child.
Frozen Embryo Transfer
Frozen Embryo Transfer
Fertility treatments may involve embryo freezing and the storage of embryos in liquid nitrogen. Subsequently, the stored embryos can be thawed and transferred into the uterus.
The embryo cryopreservation, storage, and the Frozen Embryo Transfer procedure are done on-site at Bay IVF.
Frozen Embryo Transfer is very safe. Hundreds of thousands of babies have been born worldwide from cryopreserved embryos.
Sperm Aspiration IVF
Sperm Aspiration IVF
Some men either do not produce sperm at all or produce them in insufficient numbers and low quality.
Many of these men can have their sperm directly aspirated from their testicles or the epididymis (tightly coiled tubules attached to the top of the testes that store sperm before ejaculation).
The two most common indications for sperm aspiration are a previous vasectomy and the congenital absence of the epididymis.
Fertility Tests
Fertility Tests
Your reproductive history and the results of your testing will determine the most likely and cost-effective treatment for achieving pregnancy.
We plan your fertility testing based on three categories of infertility factors: (1) Male factor infertility, (2) Ovulation and egg quality disorders, and (3) Uterine and Fallopian tubes factors.
Whenever possible, we utilize fertility test results performed before you become a patient at Bay IVF to minimize your costs.
We provide highly successful advanced reproductive care that is comforting and relaxing, where you feel like visiting a friend instead of a medical facility.
Meet Your Doctor
- Dr. Polansky received his medical diploma from Charles University in Prague, the Czech Republic, in 1978.
- After completing his OB/GYN residency at Jewish Hospital in Saint Louis, MO, he graduated from the Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) fellowship at Stanford University in 1985.
- In the same year, he co-founded the Stanford IVF Clinic.
- Dr. Polansky obtained board certification in Obstetrics and Gynecology in 1986 and became REI subspecialty board certified in 1988.
- In 1987, he left Stanford University and established Nova IVF.
- In 2011, he founded Bay IVF, where he provides advanced fertility treatments with a holistic approach, utilizing state-of-the-art techniques.
- Dr. Polansky personally performs ultrasound examinations, egg retrievals, embryo transfers, and ovarian and endometrial stimulations for his patients.
- He is deeply committed to his patients and is always ready to lend a helping hand.
Frank Polansky, M.D.
Initial Appointment Questions
When you call to schedule your consultation, one of our Front Office Coordinators will ask you a short series of questions regarding your reproductive history.
Your Initial Visit at Bay IVF
Attending a new patient appointment at a fertility clinic can be stressful. Our primary objective is to ensure that your initial visit is friendly and relaxing. We encourage you to ask questions at every step of the process to make you feel comfortable and informed.
1 — When You Arrive
You will be welcomed by one of the clinic receptionists. One of our nurses will measure your height and weight and take your blood pressure
2 — Meet Your Doctor
Dr. Polansky will ask you a series of clarifying questions and then provide you with a summary of the factors contributing to your infertility
4 — Exam Room
One of the nurses will escort you to an examination room. Your examination will begin with listening to your lungs and heart
3 — Ask Your Questions
You will then have a discussion with him about the most suitable reproductive treatment(s) for you. During this time, you will have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have
5 — Ultrasound of the Ovaries
The next step is a pelvic ultrasound to examine the uterus and ovaries. This ultrasound will help determine the number of antral follicles present within the ovaries
6 — Financial Part
Following that, you will have a discussion with one of the financial advisors regarding the financial aspects of your treatment, including potential treatment financing options
8 — Support 24/7
If you have any questions after leaving the clinic, please feel free to reach out to us via phone call, text, or email. Open and discreet communication is an integral part of the care we provide at Bay IVF
7 — What About Time?
Your entire visit is expected to last approximately one hour
Schedule Your Initial Consultation With Dr. Polansky
Online (free) or In-Person
Call or Text Us: 650-322-0500
You can also complete the form below to request your initial consultationWe look forward to meeting you at Bay IVF and, when your treatment is successful, celebrating your new pregnancy!