About the Fertility
Institute

Outstanding fertility medicine and success encompasses both advanced science and a compassionate, personal touch. At the Fertility Institute (FINO), we are proud to be your fertility partner. We value the trust placed in us by couples, women, men, and LGBTQ+ individuals who need help having children, and we are constantly working to advance our fertility services in order to provide an exemplary patient experience.

Dr. Richard Dickey Founder of The Fertility Institute of New Orleans Retires, and Dr. Warren Huber III Takes His Place as Medical Director

Prioritizing Patient Education, Empathy, and Expertise

The Fertility Institute was the first fertility clinic in Louisiana. Since our founding in 1976, FINO has worked to provide cutting-edge patient care. We believe patient education, empathy, and expertise is the best strategy for your fertility success.

By continually educating our patients about infertility and their individual treatment options, we empower them to become knowledgeable partners in their own care and family planning. Our fertility specialists engage beyond conventional doctor-patient interactions to forge trusting relationships. Rather than proving our expertise, we take the time to listen to your needs and come up with a plan together.

FINO was the first to achieve many fertility medicine advancements in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. We draw on our experience to continue leading and innovating. Our experienced physicians are dedicated to teaching the latest in fertility medicine to the next generation of OB-GYN/fertility specialists at Louisiana State University (LSU) and Tulane medical schools.

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FINO Firsts

When Dr. Richard Dickey founded our practice as the first fertility clinic in Louisiana, he left his position at LSU’s School of Medicine OB-GYN department. His vision was to provide a specialized, accessible place in the community for people to receive infertility diagnosis and treatment outside the realm of academic medicine while administering care informed by that same expertise.

Our fertility clinic was founded on the vision to provide specialized, expert fertility care that is accessible to our community, and we are still committed to that mission today. Along the way, the Fertility Institute has achieved many notable “fertility firsts” in Louisiana and the Gulf South.

  • First sperm bank established in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, 1982
  • First in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure performed in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, 1983
  • First IVF baby in Louisiana, 1984
  • First intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) birth in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, 1995
  • First successful IVF pregnancy in a woman beyond age 44 in the United States
  • First frozen embryo program in the New Orleans and the Gulf Coast
  • First birth from donor egg in the New Orleans and the Gulf Coast

FINO’s Impact

Several other treatment “firsts” by FINO helped advance fertility and IVF medicine, paving the way for further improvements in treatment and success:

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1985

First gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT, in which eggs are removed from the follicle and placed in the fallopian tube with sperm for fertilization) procedure in the Gulf South.

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1987

First successful IVF pregnancy in a patient with a unicornuate uterus (in which only half of a woman’s uterus has developed).

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1989

First zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT, in which a fertilized egg is placed in the fallopian tube and then develops into a viable embryo in the uterus) birth in the Gulf South.

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1993

First partial zona dissection (PZD, in which an egg is partially cut to allow for fertilization) birth in the Gulf South.

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1994

First subzonal insertion (SUZI, in which a sperm is injected into a portion of the egg—a precursor to ICSI) birth in the Gulf South.

FINO has always been quick to incorporate new techniques into our offerings, particularly advances that promise to improve outcomes. We quickly embraced and mastered advancements, such as cryopreservation techniques (vitrification), preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), and oocyte cryopreservation (egg freezing).

Why Choose the Fertility Institute?


Competitive costs, treatment discounts, financing, and other pricing bundles.

Compassionate reproductive services for LGBTQ+ individuals and couples.

Comprehensive services for women and men, including the only clinic on the North Shore to offer in-house semen analysis.

Our practice doesn’t turn down difficult cases. In fact, we welcome the tougher cases, even patients who weren’t successful or were turned down at other clinics.

Three locations for convenient access: New Orleans (Metairie), Mandeville, and Baton Rouge.

Telemedicine available before and after regular office hours and during the lunch hour.

Saturday telemedicine and in-person appointments available at our Metairie and Baton Rouge locations.

Our Fertility Clinic Experts

Dr. Richard Dickey Founder of The Fertility Institute of New Orleans Retires, and Dr. Warren Huber III Takes His Place as Medical Director

Our Doctors

Our doctors have a patient-first philosophy, emphasizing hope and focusing on the next step. They believe in second, third, and fourth chances—it’s all part of our journey to uncover success on the path to parenthood.

Many of our doctors are long-time university medical school professors who remain updated on the latest scientific research and breakthroughs. They institute the best, evidence-based clinical practices, from advancements in IVF to recognizing and tending to the emotional needs of our patients.

The Fertility Institute has more doctors board certified in OB-GYN and reproductive endocrinology & infertility (REI) than any other practice in Louisiana.

Our Fertility Specialists

Our fertility specialists consist of nurses, embryologists, administrators, clinical assistants, financial coordinators, and lab professionals. Several members of this tight-knit team have been with the practice for 20 to 30 years.

Many of our nurses are certified by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Our IVF lab professionals are at the heart of FINO’s dedication to helping patients overcome infertility. 50% of our embryologists have earned board certification through the American Board of Bioanalysis, which requires recertification every two years. This is a testament to our commitment to continued education among our lab specialists, which allows us to provide the latest advancements in techniques and procedures to our patients as we help them grow their families.

The entire team works with patients to make whole-body decisions based on individual needs.

Dr. Richard Dickey Founder of The Fertility Institute of New Orleans Retires, and Dr. Warren Huber III Takes His Place as Medical Director