Faith, tell us about your background and how you came to PREG? I have been in hospital and practice administration for 40 years which is so hard to fathom. I’m very passionate about healthcare and taking care of people whether it’s my family, patients, or my staff at PREG. It’s very rewarding to know that we can help make such…
Lisa Marii Cookingham, M.D. Reproductive Endocrinologist Columbia PREG Facility What is unexplained infertility? Of all couples experiencing infertility, about 30% will be diagnosed with ‘unexplained infertility’ after a complete evaluation has demonstrated no significant abnormalities. What that means is that they have no obvious problems after reviewing their medical history, performing their physical exam, and undergoing laboratory testing and imaging,…
Stephanie Biggerstaff, RN, IVF Coordinator- PREG Spartanburg shares her experience as a nurse and IVF Coordinator at PREG. Stephanie, what is your role at PREG? My main role as a nurse at PREG is to make sure our patients get all the information they need for treatment so they have a smooth and pleasant experience as they go through their…
Dr. Travis McCoy, MD Reproductive Endocrinologist Director of Male Fertility Advanced Gynecologic Surgery Dr. McCoy, explain testosterone in men? The testicles make two things, testosterone, and sperm. And the production of these is regulated by the brain signals that go to the testicles and then the testosterone signals go back to the brain. So it regulates much like cruise control…
Tori Bishop MS, FNP-BC, Nurse Practitioner and Director of Nursing, discusses PREG’s team approach to fertility care. As a patient, why do I talk to so many departments and people at PREG? It can be a little overwhelming at first because so many people are involved in the patient’s care, and the physicians plan for them. But it doesn’t take…
The Doctor Is In! Dr. Karenne Fru, MD, PhD Reproductive Endocrinologist Answers questions about women and couples of color in regard to infertility Dr. Fru what is Fertility for Colored Girls (FFCG) Fertility For Colored Girls is a national support group that was established by Rev. Dr. Stacey Edwards Dunn to provide a way for women of color to meet…
Dr. Edward Tarnawa, Medical Director of PREG’s Columbia and Lowcountry Centers, discusses reproductive options for single men and those in same-sex relationships. Dr. Tarnawa, please share some of your thoughts. This is a really important focus at PREG, and we’re passionate about it. These patients represent an underserved population when it comes to fertility services, and one of our goals…
Dr. John E. Nichols, Jr., MD Reproductive Endocrinologist and Infertility Specialist PREG Founder Medical & Laboratory Director discusses low-cost, high-volume IVF clinic v.s. PREG Dr. Nichols, Why Low-Cost IVF isn’t always the best option? IVF is the most effective, efficient treatment to achieve a pregnancy in any fertility center, but there are some costs that go along with the highly…
Q & A with Dr. John Frederick Payne, MD Reproductive Endocrinologist & PREG Partner Discusses BMI and IVF Why is BMI so important in terms of getting pregnant via IVF? The prevalence of obesity is a worldwide epidemic. In the U.S. almost ⅔ of women and ¾’s of men are overweight or obese. And nearly 50% of women of reproductive…
Dr. Travis McCoy, MD Reproductive Endocrinologist Advanced Gynecologic Surgery What Is PCOS? PCOS or polycystic ovary syndrome is the most common female disorder, and it affects 15-27% of women. It is classified as a disorder as not regularly ovulating and overproducing the male hormones. The primary issue is the brain signal from the pituitary to the ovaries creates inconsistent ovulation.…
