Boston IVF - The Albany Center

We would fully recommend Dr. Elguero to anyone who wants a knowledgeable, experienced, and compassionate fertility specialist. She always clearly explained all lab/test results and what those results meant for potential treatments, was up front about pros and cons to help us in decision making on how to proceed with possible treatment routes, and was compassionate and supportive when we experienced two pregnancy losses along the way. She also looked very carefully at the causes of those losses, explained her takeaways to us, and adjusted treatment appropriately. The end result is our perfect, beautiful daughter. We can't recommend her highly enough.

This isn't really specific to Dr. Elguero, more general advice to anyone going into fertility treatment: 1) Do basic research about IVF--listen to podcasts, read articles, and get to know the terms and general process, as you'll be better equipped to ask good questions and have productive conversations with your doctor. Reproductive medicine is complex, and having some basic knowledge will help you feel more involved in the process. 2) Set realistic expectations. Whether IUI, IVF or other treatments, these are not foolproof and no one is 100% guaranteed success. It may take several rounds of treatment, and there may be additional information uncovered throughout treatment that can inform how you go forward. This is one of the hardest things you'll ever go through, but having realistic expectations will help.

Egg retrieval #1 used a combination of Follistim and Menopur. I went in every other day for bloodwork and ultrasound to monitor follicle growth, and Dr. Elguero adjusted my doses accordingly throughout the cycle to optimize follicle growth. Eventually, we added Ganirelix to prevent early ovulation, and then triggered with HCG. This cycle resulted in 8 eggs retrieved. All 8 eggs fertilized, and 4 of the embryos made it to day 5 with good quality grades, along with a 5th morula, all of which were frozen for later use. Transfer #1 and Outcome: Resulting from the transfer above, we transferred one fresh day 5 embryo and froze the remaining 4. This resulted in a positive pregnancy test. Dr. Elguero did add intramuscular progesterone after the positive beta as my progesterone levels were borderline. Ultimately this pregnancy ended at 8 weeks and was diagnosed as a blighted ovum. We decided not to test the remains for genetic abnormalities as it was a first miscarriage and quite early. Frozen Transfer #1: After recovery from the blighted ovum, we transferred another high grade embryo from the first retrieval cycle. This resulted in another positive pregnancy test, but another miscarriage at 12 weeks. After discussion with Dr. Elguero, we did test the remains from this pregnancy which revealed the fetus had trisomy 18, and thus was unlikely to have ever gone to term. Egg Retrieval #2: This retrieval also used a combination of Follistim and Menopur, but was started at a higher dose based on the results of the previous retrieval with the rationale being that my previous good response might mean that we could get more eggs. Again, we added ganirelix later to prevent early ovulation and triggered with HCG. This retrieval resulted in 7 eggs, 5 of which fertilized and 4 of which made it to day 5. We sent these embryos along with the 1 remaining from the previous cycle off for genetic testing (the morula did not survive thaw, which was knew was a possibility). Genetic testing results: PGT-A testing showed that one embryo from Cycle 1 and one embryo from Cycle 2 were genetically normal, for a total of two genetically normal embryos. Recurrent loss panel: After the second miscarriage, Dr. Elguero ordered a recurrent loss panel out of an abundance of caution. Though we knew the second miscarriage was due to the trisomy and the blighted ovum was also likely due to genetic causes, we wanted to be aggressive in ensuring we covered all bases. The recurrent loss panel showed that I had a slightly elevated clotting factor (anti-beta 2 glycoprotein). Frozen transfer #2: We transferred the PGT-A normal embryo from our second retrieval cycle. This cycle resulted in a third positive pregnancy test. Due to the clotting factor revealed by the recurrent loss panel, Dr. Elguero had me initiate lovenox shots nightly with the positive beta. This transfer resulted in a normal pregnancy and the birth of my daughter.

All services were covered by our insurance expect for genetic testing, for which we paid about $2300 for testing 4-6 embryos.

Dr. Elguero counseled us to transfer just one embryo as they were high quality and we knew after the first transfer that there did not appear to be any major issues with implantation. We had researched the higher risk of multiple pregnancies and fully agreed with Dr. Elguero that we would only transfer one embryo.

When meeting with Dr. Elguero, she was easy to talk with about a not so easy to talk about topic. I felt comfortable discussing my test results and going over our plan for fertility treatments. I felt like she always took the time to give me an answer to be sure she studied all my results from tests/procedures before giving me an answer.

Don't be afraid to ask questions! She has a wealth of knowledge and is there to make this process less stressful for you and your partner.

After looking at my test results, and letting me know that I have a left unicorunate uterus and basically can only get pregnant every other month, that put me in the category for high risk once pregnant to deliver early or miscarry. She referred me to a specialist in Albany to discuss this to be sure I understood the risks. Unfortunatly, she recommended IVF in order to become pregnant but my insurance does not cover IVF treatments and we were unable to switch insurance providers at the time. In order to still try and become pregnant she recommended IUI cycles, which were covered by insurance!!! YAY We would meet again after 3 attempts using IUI to reevaluate. After 3 rounds, I was not pregnant, so we added progesterone to the next round, and I got pregnant with IUI # 4! Everything was going great until the end of the summer and I dealt with a the death of my Dad. This was a huge stress on my body and I ended up having a missed miscarriage at 11 weeks- baby was only measuring 9 week 3 days. I ended up meeting with my Dr. Elguero once levels went back to normal to go over the loss and check in to see what I was thinking. We decided to try IUI again and add progesterone in oil once a positive pregnancy and if not pregnant move on to IVF once coverage is available. Unfortunately, after getting all this in order, we are on hold due to the Corona Virus and waiting to see what might be next.

For my past treatments, I have to pay for medications and co-pays for blood work, ultrasound, appointments with my doctor.

For my situation, she will only do a single egg transfer because I can not carry more than one embryo.

Dr. Elguero is very science-based in her treatment approach. She reviews treatment history at every appointment and details how that influences her treatment plans. I felt like I was able to take the time I needed in appointments to have all of my questions answered and to process the information from the doctor. She was also ready to cite studies and current research backing up her recommendations. I appreciate the way she presents the options and allows patients to feel supported to make decisions on treatment. She has always encouraged me to consider all of the pros and cons of both IVF and IUI cycles including effectiveness, cost, and emotional toll, but I have never felt overly pressured to pursue IVF over IUI. Dr. Elguero also seems mindful of the emotional toll fertility treatments can take and has always encouraged emotional readiness. When dealing with setbacks she was always very compassionate and even made follow up phone calls to me when I was experiencing health problems arising from pregnancy, even when I was no longer under her direct care. I have one con about my experience with Dr. Elguero. I have been a patient at the practice since they transitioned from Albany IVF to Boston IVF and have only seen it become more difficult to get an appointment with the actual doctor. They just seem so busy all of the time, so the Dr. doesn't perform any of the IUIs and it is not unusual to go a few IUI cycles without seeing the doctor at all. She also no longer performs D&C procedures after miscarriages. Even for a current patient, they seem to be scheduling appointments with the doctor 3-4 months out.

Even if you aren't sure if you want to pursue treatment with a specialist, call and set up a consultation so that you can get the ball rolling when you are ready.

I tried several unsuccessful IUI cycles with Clomid, one with Ovidrel trigger. After ruling out many possible causes of infertility I then switched to injectable IUI cycles with the goal of increasing egg quality and producing 2-3 good follicles. I used small doses of Follistim (starting at 75 iu), which she increased in some cycles as needed based on ultrasound and hormone monitoring. I also was instructed to use Ganirelix on several days in some cycles based on monitoring. I also used the Ovidrel trigger shot and prometrium for luteal support. Three cycles using this protocol resulted in 2 pregnancies that ended in miscarriage and 1 unsuccesful cycle. After two miscarriages, Dr. Elguero added to the previous protocol small doses of Menopur (50 iu) and an additional Lupron trigger to try and further improve egg quality. This cycle resulted in another pregnancy that also ended in miscarriage.

I was lucky enough to have IUI cycles covered by insurance. They offer base prices of $450 IUI and $4500 IVF, though that doesn't include medication or monitoring.

Dr Elguero was wonderful. She treated me with individualized care based on my needs and made sure I understood everything, each step of the way. She made me feel like I had some control in such an uncontrollable situation.

If you have any questions, ask. She wants to make sure you understand and make choices based on understanding and all of the information provided.

I was placed on Follistim (300 IU-450 IU) and Menopur (75 IU-150 IU) for about 2 weeks (introducing Ganerellix part way through). I was then triggered using HCG. I was put on a higher dose of meds after (higher number listed above) as my body was not responding to the hormones. Increasing as the Dr requested resulted in the retrieval of 7 eggs, 6 fertilized, 1 embryo and a singleton delivery.

I had copays for my monitoring month appointments, prescriptions and ultrasounds after pregnancy was established.

The Dr chose a single embryo transfer as I was in good health and young. I think she made the correct choice, besides I only had one embryo to transfer. She did however go over the 2 options and did explain the pros and cons of both.

Dr Elguero seems almost nervous or awkward when she talks to you, which made me feel less confident in her knowledge/abilities when I first met her. After more appointments with her, I was less worried about it. It's just her personality. She's pretty upfront with her explanations of things, and has no issue explaining things in simpler terms to ensure you understand. One thing that *really* bothered my husband was that as soon as she was reminded we were paying out of pocket instead of with insurance, she adjusted the protocol and plans for possible future protocols. It seemed like she would have experimented more loosely if we weren't so concerned about the cost, which makes us wonder if the successful cycle would have been several cycles later instead.

Make sure you are prepared with all of your questions ahead of time and make sure she takes the time to answer them.

For our IUI cycle, we used meds typically used for IVF to see how my body woild respond. We were under the impression the IUI would not be successful because of my endometriosis and blocked tubes. Menopur and Follistim were used, along with Ganirelix. For the first IVF cycle, we used Menopur, Follistim, and Ganirelix again. We used a higher dose of Follistim and lower dose of Menopur. It was a very unsuccessful cycle. There were 12 follicles, but only 2 eggs were retrieved. Most follicles were such low quality or not fully matured, and they broke apart when she tried to retrieve eggs. Only one egg was good quality, it was transferred on day 3, and ended in a chemical pregnancy. The second IVF cycle, Dr Elguero decided to "flipflop" the meds. We used a higher dose of Menopur and a lower dose of Follistim. The meds were increased at a slower rate so that follicles would have a better opportunity to mature and develop. 10 eggs were retrieved, 8 fertilized. 6 developed into embryos, 1 was transferred and the other 5 are currently frozen. I'm 18 weeks pregnant from that cycle and things seem to be going smoothly.

For IUI, meds and procedure were covered by insurance and we only had to pay our $10 copay. For IVF, nothing was covered by insurance. Meds cost $3000, procedure cost $6500, and freezing embryos that weren't transferred cost $1000

I was not given an option regarding the number of embryos transferred. Dr Elguero said she would only transfer one embryo because I was young and carrying multiples was high risk.

Doctor Elguero was great. She was always wonderful at explaining our previous failed cycles, what could have gone wrong, and what she would recommend we do to fix it for the next cycle. She always answered any questions we had. We felt more like family at this office with Doctor Elguero than just a number.

Ask questions! When in doubt or when you are wondering about ANYTHING during this crazy rollercoaster, ask as many questions as you can! Stay on top of things and always be prepared for anything.

For our first three IUI treatments we were on Clomid. Clomid thinned out my lining and we were unsuccessful with those IUIs (one was a chemical pregnancy). We moved onto Antagonist protocols for our IVF Cycles. Our First IVF cycle, we stimmed with Follistim, Menopur, Ganirelix and triggered with Ovidrel. We had 8 eggs result in that IVF cycle however our eggs were delayed in fertilization (we did not do ICSI the first round) so we had no embryos to transfer this round. Our 2nd IVF cycle we stimmed with the same protocol as the first. This resulted in 9 eggs retrieved. Of those 9 we ended with 2 very fragmented / poor quality embryos by day 3 and did a fresh transfer of the two embryos. Resulted in a negative pregnancy test. Our 3rd cycle we actually started as a Gonadatropin IUI (stimmed with Follistim only and then Ganirelix) and converted to IVF. We triggered with Ovidrel and we retrieved 14 eggs that time. We transferred 2 embryos on day 5 (two morulas so not full blasts). This resulted in a chemical pregnancy. Our 4th cycle of IVF we also did Follistim only plus Ganirelix. We triggered with Lupron and Ovidrel and retrieved 18 eggs. Of those we ended with 1 day 5 4AA embryo blast and 1 other embryo that was a little behind on day 5 but we gave it a shot and transferred both embryos on day 5 fresh. This resulted in a negative pregnancy test. We also tried one more (our 4th) IUI with Follistim and Ganirelix, triggered with Ovidrel, and this resulted in a negative test as well.

We were covered for one round of IVF with our insurance but we hit that lifetime max after our 1st IVF. The cost of IVF was around $13,000 after that and we also had to pay out of pocket for our medication, about $4k.

We wish we tried to do one single embryo (especially our 4AA Blast that we finally got on our 3rd round) rather than add in the other embryos that were always a little behind.

As expected she is very busy so I only dealt with her the couple of video appointments, but I did see her before and after my egg retrieval. Every time she is very nice, always reassuring and makes me feel really good about the decision I’ve made

Definitely do some of your own reset of IVF, and know at least the basics. Then come up with some questions to use your time wisely since you don’t get a lot of it

I used Menopur and Gonal-F. Triggered with Lupron before egg retrieval because of risk of OHSS. I responded really well to it all. 16 eggs retrieved, and 6 embryos were frozen.

My insurance covered everything so I just had copays

This doctor heard me out and explained the ivf process in detail. She created a wish list of things to come and next steps to take. She listened and treated me with compassion. She did not interrupt me. She expressed empathy at my health situation and made me feel understood and supported.

Ask all the questions you can. She is excellent at telling you exactly what the plans are and how she can help.

First she suggested i get vaccines done ahead of time before my first in office appointment so that it saves time and doesnt delay an ivf cycle. She also explained to me my options for ivf, iui, and looking at my tubal issues since i have a history of ectopic pregnancies. She let me know each step what to expect next and gave me names of who to contact with questions.

Costs have not been discussed yet. But she is putting me in touch with a coordinator.

Dr. Elguero has a strenght in communciating the specific needs for our treatment. Not only was she very clear in our needs but she illustrated her explenation with data points, images, and models. She didn't shy away from explaining the scientific developments in the area of RE. It felt like she was leveling with us and was never talking down to us or "mansplaining" (I've had some really bad experiences with other RE's who talked to me and my husband like we were babies or unintelligent) She was fantastic. She knew our case so well and she made us feel so good about our treament. Absolutely love Dr. Elguero and trust her totally.

She will answer any and all questions, there are no stupid questions.

For our case, single embryo transfer is the best option.

She asked alot of questions, required medical tests and followed up with phone calls. She took the time to listen and offer options. We are not well off so she worked with our insurance to do what was covered.

You are in good hands. Ask as many questions as you need to.

We stuck to Clomid as it had less chance of multiple babies. IUI was performed twice and now looking into invitro as we knew the odds of husbands sperm not being effective were very very low. If we cannot get assistance with the cost then we will go with donor sperm. We had spent 10k on adoption that failed when court turned over children to the father. Husband is jail guard and Im an author and pet groomer. We make enough to pay the mortgage and bills but not alot more than that. Cost is what is keeping us from invitro but that would be the more ideal route. Huband wants to be the father.

20$ copays. 200 IUI costs, 200 lab test.

Dr. Elguero is smart, patient, and thoughtful. I am always impressed with her knowledge of my history and the way that she adjusts protocols based on my specific needs. Dr. Elguero is honest and does not create unrealistic expectations. She always listens to my concerns and ideas. It is clear that she values patient autonomy.

Come to appointments prepared with questions.

I’ve done several IVF cycles with Dr. Elguero. Each cycle she adjusts the protocol based on the response in previous cycles. Medication dosages are adjusted throughout each cycle depending on the body’s response. Medications used include menopur, gonal-f, cetrotide, and a variety of trigger shots.

The biggest factor was that she was honest she told us when she would and wouldn’t take embryos based on their grades and we didn’t feel that we were dollar signs. I would say the only weakness is not doing our actual egg retrieval. But she choose to be aggressive with medications which worked bc I never had so many eggs ready

Be prepared for honest answers.

She put me on birth control then had me monitored via ultrasounds then we started the menopur then we did estrace pills orally and vaginally along with IM progesterone oil

This was the first time we didn’t have to self pay, our insurance covered everything so we never even asked just signed the paper work, it was amazing

She recommended two and we agreed

Dr. Elguero always made sure I understood all of the procedures and medications. She took the time to check on me emotionally and offer anything she could to assist. She was always available to talk any time you needed.

To ask questions.

We first started with IUI using clomid. We tried this for six rounds. The third round we had a chemical pregnancy. The rest were unsuccessful. We then moved on to IUI with injections. Dr. Elguero suggested we move to IVF; however, knowing that we did not have insurance, she worked with us to try the most effective way possible to get pregnant at the lowest cost.

The costs seem to be on par with other facilities in the area. I do not have infertility coverage through my medical provider so have to pay out of pocket.

She is amazing. Very personable. Very blunt. The only adjective was us trying to have a baby. She didn’t just want to jump into the IVF treatment if it wouldn’t take. She started from the beginning and treated me and what was wrong with me with what was wrong with me after battling ovarian cancer and wasn’t concerned with making money on jumping right into the IVF treatment. She treated my blockage first didn’t push anything on us. Listened to everything we had to say.

She has the best ententions and gives the the best chances to reach your end goal.

She wanted to remove the blocked Fallopian tube and make sure that it was clear to have a baby. That nothing could hurt our chances.

Reasonable.

She made sure to cover every base and not miss a single thing.

My treatment needed to be tweaked following a chemical pregnancy and then non response. Dr. Elguero was thorough and gentle in her discussion regarding our path forward. It was a negotiation rather than a forced plan.

Be prepared for a thorough history each time.

My body has a lack luster response to letrozole, so a booster was needed and we discussed moving on to a highly monitored, low dose injectable cycle if I still did not respond. Dr. Elguero was very concerned about over response to injectables.

My insurance covered all but copays for visits and ultrasounds. I paid for medications out of pocket.

She is great and sat down with us to go over our history and was very calm And compassionate. She explained our treatment plan in laments terms and made us feel positive and excited. We are very grateful for her.

Stay calm And let the professionals help!

I wasn’t ovulating at specific times so she helped us ensure I would ovulate and have timed intercourse.

Don’t remember insurance covers most

No

She was very helpful and the first doctor I saw that cared to look into why I was losing so many pregnancies. I did not get pregnant again yet but that was by choice and now I know that there is a way to make this possible next time

Be open minded

Many blood tests to find out what was wrong as well as scans.

It was moderate

Dr. Elguero was very very thorough with explaining everything that was going on, she explained all the test results, and what to expect next. She really took the time to go threw past health test, run labs and rule everything out to get to the diagnosis that she did.

Always keep and open mind. And even if you think your ready to hear the worst, be easy with yourself as you process the information your presented

Due to insurance reasons we had to do three rounds of Clomid and proves that they failed before we can move on with our next treatment. Started the first round with 50mg of clomid, that failed. Second round was 150mg of clomid, that also failed. 3rd round was also with clomid and that also failed. This was not a surprise as i suffer from amenorrhea. We are waiting approval to move on with our first IUI

A lot of my cost was out of pocket, i have a 3rd party reimbursement but you have to have your account at 0 to start a new cycle i pay for most everything out of pocket. You cant wait for the billing cycle in order to start you fertility treatment, your account has to be at zero. That was very upset as i had just paid the statement when they called and stated i had to pay my account to zero before moving forward

She was very informative and very helpful to me. She went through our history and testing and showed us how things were going to go so we had no questions. Would live to go back. She talked to me and then would talk to my husband, about each of our issues.

She is such amazing doctor and we would love to go back to her

When I went they had me do a few different tests. They had us do blood work. And then they sent me to do a test where they seen if my NY fallopian tubes they injected a blue dye. To see if went through which it did. When they did the test they had me under a xray machine with my feet up. She talked to me the whole time as she was in there. I had countless ultrasounds which they made me feel comfortable they talked to me and before u know it they were done.

I found they took my insurance. What ever wasnt covered. They sent me a bill for me and my husband. Which was good we could see what we needed to pay.

The doctor was very thorough and helpful. They are science based and dont sugar coat things or treat you as a number. The procedures were quick and we knew what to expect when going. They took good care of us while we were there

To not be nervous and trust them.

Relatively affordable with insurance help

Loved that they gave advice on how many to implant. But are also cautious to not do multiples

She is very kind and knowledgeable. We left our first consult w her understanding more than we did with our previous clinic that we were at for 2 years. She answers and explains all questions, and tells it like it is.

Listen to her and go for it. Even after a miscarriage, i am ready to get back in there and start my treatment asap.

Well, not overly cheap. And you had to pay first before cycle began.

Dr. Elguero is soft spoken but definitely does not sugar coat the situation. She wants the patient to be knowledgeable of the process and to feel comfortable with decisions being made. I appreciate her honesty.

Ask a lot of questions! Feel 100% about your understanding of your situation.

Everything was broken down very specifically. Consult roughly $450 IVF cost around $7500 ICSI Sperm retrievel $600 Medications (different for each person ) mine was $5600

Very compassionate and caring. I developed ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome after my fresh egg transfer that required me to be hospitalized due to a pocket of fluid around my liver causing me to get very sick at. Dr Elguero called the hospital in the middle of the night to check on me and then came to visit me the next day.

She is excellent. She will treat you AND your infertility. Feel free to ask all the questions you want!

The overall strategy was to stimulate proper egg/follicle development with injectable hormones followed by IUI. After the first failed cycle my hormone doses were based on my ultrasounds and bloodwork. Tailoring my treatment based on my labs/ultrasounds. The 3rd attempted IUI was converted to IVF with an egg harvest and a successful fresh embryo transfer which resulted in our long awaited precious baby.

Very efficient office. I never waited more then 5 min past my scheduled time. The phlebotomist and the ultrasound tec were very nice.

My insurance covered the IUI procedures up to 6x. It did not cover the drugs or needed ultrasounds or the harvest, transfer, and freezing of an egg. I felt the price was fair, but frustrated at the lack of insurance coverage and the lack of support from New York state.

She is honest, but also positive. She is also very thorough. She makes herself very available to her patients and looks at the issues from several different angles. She made my husband and I feel hope again.

Be patient and trust the process!

We r doing lo-tech IUI treatments with 150 clomid cycles. The rationale is the I have DOR and it’s silly to try and do ivf because he quantity of eggs isn’t there. She wants to keep the eggs inside the body and continue in this fashion.

Somewhere between 400-700 each visit. Typically 5-7 visits before iui

From the very beginning I trusted Dr. Elguero and felt that she really loved what she does. She showed so much compassion and had an incredible bedside manner that made me feel comfortable. I knew my journey wouldn’t be easy but Dr. Elguero reassured me we would get to the bottom of my infertility. Once she suspected endometriosis she scheduled a laparoscopy ASAP. She was very thorough in explaining everything to me in a way that I understood and always took her time with me. I never felt rushed out. It took 4 IUIs for me to get pregnant. Each time an IUI failed Dr. Elguero continued to give me hope and essentially fight for me to get pregnant. When I found out I was pregnant Dr. Elguero popped in on my appointment to congratulate me and hugged me. It was a very kind gesture. I have and still would recommend Dr. Elguero to anyone going through infertility.

Be very patient and trust the process.

For my first three IUIs I was on clomid and one injection (to induce ovulation). Once Dr. Elguero realized this was not working she asked if I would be comfortable with injectable meds and explained the difference and risks. I was totally on board and on my fourth try using injectables I was able to get pregnant. Dr. Elguero gave my body time to react and once she realized it wasn’t working she moved on to the next option without jumping to IVF. She literally saved us thousands.

My insurance covered most of the costs. I just paid copays.