Destination: Parenthood!

S. Chayra

Las Vegas has earned a reputation as a tourist destination but you might be surprised to know that it is a medical destination too. It is estimated that thousands of Las Vegas visitors come to southern Nevada for medical care including fertility treatments.

The Fertility Center of Las Vegas has seen patients from around the world largely because of their pregnancy success rates. “Success rates are one way to measure a center’s standing,” says Dr. Bruce Shapiro, founder and medical director of the city’s oldest and largest assisted reproductive center. “It’s not the only method but one that assists patients in evaluating a center’s capabilities.” To date the Center is responsible for over 3,600 births and about 1/8 of those are from patients outside of southern Nevada including Dawn Rogers, an Alaska native whose daughter Kodi was born through the Fertility Center’s good works. “Communication was the most important to us when we were choosing a doc.  I like a doc that doesn't tell me what I want to hear but rather tells it how it is and Dr. Shapiro did just that. We went and met with him and knew right away that he was the one that we wanted to go with.  We didn't even meet with the other doc.,” says Rogers.

Fertility treatments are a big undertaking on many levels. “We treat every patient with consideration for their physical, emotional, financial, and spiritual well-being,” says Dr. Daneshmand, partner in The Fertility Center of Las Vegas. To that end, the center has long provided lifestyle plans including of diet and exercise regimens, smoking cessation resources and encouraging them to mentally prepare for the journey they’re undertaking to become a parent. They also help people from out of town with airline and hotel reservations. “We deal in a very intimate discipline of medicine and the patient’s well-being is always of paramount consideration,” adds Dr. Daneshmand, who, like Dr. Shapiro, has earned a loyal following of patients due to his compassionate and calming bedside manner.  The doctors’ philosophy, however, is mirrored in the entire staff’s behavior. Couple this with lavender scented sheets, a state-of-the-art accredited facility, and a patient to staff ratio of  1:2 and you have the makings of an exceptional practice.

There are many myths when it comes to fertility. It’s not unusual that at the doctors’ regular seminars they get asked lots of questions on fertility including some long-standing wives tales. “We tell our patients to think of the wives tale in reverse; in other words, if you did it, would it stop conception?” says Dr. Daneshmand. Because both Drs. Shapiro and Daneshmand are avid researchers having had their works presented to peers and published in such esteemed publications as Fertility and Sterility and American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology also offer their advice free once per month at the seminars as a community service. “There is a lot of misinformation out there and the only way for an individual to be informed is to have the opportunity to actually chat with an expert,” notes Dr. Shapiro. Currently the doctors’ textbook for the lay public, Conceptions, will be out in bookstores in spring, 2007 and it addresses the common questions couples ask.

Another common question is the benefit of holistic approaches to wellness and acupuncture. “Whatever the patient feels is of value in helping them relax or deal with the inherent stresses of treatment are usually of benefit,” notes Dr. Shapiro, “but when they take the place of medically sound approaches, they can be counterproductive.” As Dr. Daneshmand adds, “We educate our patients and help them make fully informed decisions. We are, after all, their partner in health.”

Whether you’re considering conceiving now or later, a clear mind will be enhanced by a healthy body. “Women who are under- or overweight statistically have more difficultly conceiving,” says Dr. Daneshmand “and there are some very common ovulatory issues caused by a little known condition called polycystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS that can impede fertility and cause weight gain among other things. “One of the reasons European and Canadian tourists come to Fertility Center is for the donor egg program or specialized genetic testing known as Preimplantation Genetic Screening (PGS), and couples worldwide seek Drs. Shapiro and Daneshmand’s expertise for their embryo and egg freezing programs; the latter being particularly helpful for young women trying to preserve their fertility in the face of a cancer diagnosis.

Most recently, couples have been booking Conception Moons, a modified type of vacation whose main purpose is to provide a conducive environment for conceiving a baby. Funnily enough, Las Vegas was ranked in the top 5 destinations for couples for this purpose. Both doctors agree that a good vacation can be of value in the well-being of a couple but for those dealing with infertility, not likely to be particularly effective in helping them get pregnant.

Between their duties seeing patients, conducting research, and teaching medical students and residents through their faculty appointments for the University of Nevada School of Medicine, both Drs. Shapiro and Daneshmand remain strikingly modest. They host an annual patient reunion where they can visit with their many happy families while supporting worthwhile community organizations. In the past decade, the center and its patients have donated over $40,000 to organizations such as Child Haven, SAFE KIDS, and St. Jude’s Ranch for Children.

For all the bright lights in the city, Dawn Rogers summarizes what the city means to her. “My only advice it to say that if you are not succeeding in fertility treatments in your hometown, DO look into in vitro because it is sooooooooo worth every shot, ultrasound and procedure.  The whole process is a bit overwhelming, in the beginning, but just listen to your doctor and you will get through it just fine.  It is amazing just how scheduled something like this can be.” Plus, she adds she hit the motherhood jackpot in Las Vegas of all places.