Massachusetts General Hospital
Available Resources
Genetic counseling
Acupuncture
Mental health counseling
Nutrition counseling
Administration of shots
Coordinating at-home nursing
is not offered
is not offered
Selling medication
is not offered
is not offered
Providing backup medication
Boston
32 Fruit Street
Boston, MA 02114
617-726-8868
Danvers
104 Endicott Street
Danvers, MA 01923
978-882-6767
36 assessments
10
Age
29
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor, PCOS
10
staff [at Massachusetts General Hospital] were always on top of everything. The team of doctors and nurses were always available for questions and always kept you updated right away on plans and treatments...nurse Johanne was able to move my husbands urology and endocrinology appointments up for us because she know how important time was for infertility treatments
+ Read more
Age
29
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
?
Race
Middle Eastern
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1st of 3 Docs
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor, PCOS
10
Describe your experience with Massachusetts General Hospital.
Super friendly and personable staff. Everyone makes you feel super comfortable even when you’re being poked and prodded. Early ultrasound and blood work hours (6:45am is the earliest). Very lean facility. Quick results uploaded to the patient online portal. Always on time with appointments.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mitchell Rein at Massachusetts General Hospital?
I felt like Dr. Rein and his staff were always on top of everything. The team of doctors and nurses were always available for questions and always kept you updated right away on plans and treatments. His nurse Johanne was able to move my husbands urology and endocrinology appointments up for us because she know how important time was for infertility treatments
Describe your experience with your nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital. (Assigned nurse: Johanne Day )
Johanne was always on top of everything! She communicated with me and made sure i understood everything. She was always available to answer any questions i had (even if some where probably ridiculous)
How was your experience with Mitchell Rein at Massachusetts General Hospital?
He immediately made me feel comfortable and was very compassionate. He was honest with me about everything but didn’t make me feel bad about anything. He’s always very good at explaining everything and takes the time to answer any and all questions i May have.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mitchell Rein at Massachusetts General Hospital?
The wait to see him for a consultation is worth it! You will love him!
Describe the protocols Mitchell Rein used in your cycles at Massachusetts General Hospital and their degree of success.
We did one IVF with icsi cycle so far. It included: birth control for 3 weeks, lupron 10u to prevent ovulation and then dropped to 5u after a week. Started menopur 75u and gonalf 150u for stimulation. I stimmed for 8 days total and was watched very carefully to avoid OHSS. I had 6 ultrasounds in 8 days. I triggered with HcG and retrieved 20 eggs. 19 of which were mature. 15 were fertilized and we ended up with 4 embryos
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mitchell Rein at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Not much besides copays
Describe Mitchell Rein's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Dr. Rein only transfers 1 embryo unless you’re over the age of 35.
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10
Age
30 - 31
Treated
2017 - 2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor, PCOS, Uterine Fibroids
10
Johanne is Dr. reins nurse [at Massachusetts General Hospital]. She’s amazing. Very attentive, prompt and organized...I would go in at 6:45 am every few days and I would be out at least by 7:05 which worked great with my work schedule!...My RE will not transfer multiple embryos until I have had two miscarriages per MGH protocol...Him and his nurse were very attentive and responded to my patient portal messages very quickly.
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Age
30 - 31
Treated
2017 - 2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European
Income
$0 - $49K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1st of 2 Docs
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor, PCOS, Uterine Fibroids
10
Describe your experience with Massachusetts General Hospital.
Well, if Johanne isn’t in the office I feel like the office doesn’t run as smoothly. And maybe they don’t communicate as well as they should. They may want to work a little bit better at that. Rather than that, everyone and everything is great!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mitchell Rein at Massachusetts General Hospital?
I felt more than a human. I felt like a member of his family. Him and his nurse were very attentive and responded to my patient portal messages very quickly. They are very prompt. Dr Rein was even nice enough to contact me over the weekend on his person cell phone to check up on me. He comes highly recommended and I would be gladly to refer him to anyone!
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
Johanne is Dr. reins nurse. She’s amazing. Very attentive, prompt and organized
How was your experience with Mitchell Rein at Massachusetts General Hospital?
I have absolutely nothing bad to say about Dr Rein. I have nothing but good experiences at the clinic. He is very attentive and always answers any questions I have and is very patient. He is very compassionate and even goes above and beyond to check on your well being after a failed cycle or miscarriage.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mitchell Rein at Massachusetts General Hospital?
He is the best doctor to see for your fertility issues. He is everything you would need and want in a fertility doctor.
Describe the protocols Mitchell Rein used in your cycles at Massachusetts General Hospital and their degree of success.
First cycle he went with the traditional cycle for my egg retrieval and transfer. I ended up having a failed cycle. My second cycle was the same but resulted in a miscarriage. The only thing that could have been done a little different on my second cycle was to make sure my lining was optimal. But, he made the call and it worked. But ended in early miscarriage. For cycle number three which I’ll be starting in Novemeber of 2018 is to make sure my uterine lining is at its best.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Very quick! I would go in at 6:45 am every few days and I would be out at least by 7:05 which worked great with my work schedule!
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mitchell Rein at Massachusetts General Hospital.
I only had a deductible with my insurance
Describe Mitchell Rein's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Massachusetts General Hospital.
My RE will not transfer multiple embryos until I have had two miscarriages per MGH protocol
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7
Age
38 - 39
Treated
2017 - 2018
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
1 IVF, 1 Egg Freezing
Diagnosis
Male Factor, Uterine Fibroids, Unexplained
7
Many of the procedures/appointments were with other members of the MGH staff and we were not pleased with the level of patient care with the other staff. We often left appointments where we felt uninformed about the next step and procedures we not explained.... We worked with various nurses throughout the process. During the monitoring phase, speaking to multiple nurses was not an issue. However, when we started experiencing issues after miscarriage it was challenging because we had to recap our situation each time we spoke to someone.
+ Read more
Age
38 - 39
Treated
2017 - 2018
Success with this Doc
No
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
1 IVF, 1 Egg Freezing
Diagnosis
Male Factor, Uterine Fibroids, Unexplained
7
Describe your experience with Massachusetts General Hospital.
We were very pleased with our Dr but were not impressed with how the overall clinic was run. We had several issues with scheduling appointments, long wait times between appointments, oftentimes could not communicate directly with our doctor, and clinic staff was not as responsive as we would have liked.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mary Sabatini at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Dr. Sabatini seemed very kind and appeared genuinely invested in our outcome, however, we had limited visits with her. Many of the procedures/appointments were with other members of the MGH staff and we were not pleased with the level of patient care with the other staff. We often left appointments where we felt uninformed about the next step and procedures we not explained. Again, we truly felt Dr. Sabatini was caring but as an MGH fertility patient, you are not always seen by your primary doctor.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
We worked with various nurses throughout the process. During the monitoring phase, speaking to multiple nurses was not an issue. However, when we started experiencing issues after miscarriage it was challenging because we had to recap our situation each time we spoke to someone.
What specific things went wrong at Massachusetts General Hospital?
- Lost appointments
How was your experience with Mary Sabatini at Massachusetts General Hospital?
We found Dr. Sabatini very caring and knowledgable. At our first several visits, she explained in detail our issues and advised of next steps (IVF) and the process. As we progressed further into the cycle, we were seen by various drs on the staff and that is where we ran into issues. We often left these appts feeling confused/uninformed and that no-one was "managing" our care.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mary Sabatini at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Schedule all appointments directly with Dr. Sabatini if at all possible
Describe the protocols Mary Sabatini used in your cycles at Massachusetts General Hospital and their degree of success.
Our treatment was IVF with ICSI and PGS testing. We went straight to this treatment due to advanced age and male factor infertility (morphology).
Treatment resulted in pregnancy but subsequent miscarriage. Reason for miscarriage unknown.
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10
Age
29 - 30
Treated
2016 - 2017
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
3 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
PCOS
10
Because the clinic is through MGH and they have such a high volume of patients, wait times can be brutal, but they do try to move along as fast as they can to get you in for your appointment....The nursing staff was kind. During my first two rounds of treatment that did not result in pregnancy, they acknowledged the disappointment and encouraged moving forward with another month...One day, when the wait was egregiously long, they gave out free parking stickers (a little treat in a place like Boston, ha!) and free coffee gift cards for the hospital cafeterias.
+ Read more
Age
29 - 30
Treated
2016 - 2017
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European, Other
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
3 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
PCOS
10
Describe your experience with Massachusetts General Hospital.
The doctors and nursing staff are AMAZING. Because the clinic is through MGH and they have such a high volume of patients, wait times can be brutal, but they do try to move along as fast as they can to get you in for your appointment. One day, when the wait was egregiously long, they gave out free parking stickers (a little treat in a place like Boston, ha!) and free coffee gift cards for the hospital cafeterias. It doesn't solve the annoyance of having to wait for a long time, but it is something and I know they try hard. I do think they're worth waiting for, though!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Aaron is very warm, hopeful, straightforward about diagnosis/options and clear about expectations. He is completely focused on the patient and is happy to either sit and answer questions/talk through things or get started with the treatment plan.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital.
The nursing staff was kind. During my first two rounds of treatment that did not result in pregnancy, they acknowledged the disappointment and encouraged moving forward with another month, if I was comfortable and ready. Once I became pregnant, they were encouraging and friendly, very knowledgable and eager to support me in the early weeks before I was transferred to the OB/Midwife team.
How was your experience with Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital?
He is an ideal choice for MD. He is kind, warm, patient, willing to sit and talk through options. He is super straightforward and clear with facts and comprehensive in the workup he prescribes to get a full picture of a couple's fertility. We never felt rushed with Aaron, but we were eager to move forward with a treatment plan and he was happy to oblige. He was hopeful and positive and even encouraging when I became pregnant and didn't want to get my hopes up. I would recommend him to anyone--he was really wonderful.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Feel free to be honest with him about your hopes and expectations. Because he is very straightforward and thorough in his explanations he will help to adjust expectations if necessary (I was not optimistic, and he encouraged my optimism) and fully explain the results of a workup to back up his opinions about treatment plans.
Describe the protocols Aaron K. Styer used in your cycles at Massachusetts General Hospital and their degree of success.
I have PCOS, but I ovulate regularly. When my husband and I wanted to try to conceive, knowing I had the PCOS diagnosis, I proactively went to Aaron Styer for a workup as soon as I had my IUD removed. Aaron offered to let my husband and I try to conceive naturally for a while, but mentioned that we might derive some benefit from the use of Clomid (to help guarantee well matured eggs and time ovulation) and a trigger shot to help with timing. We were eager to conceive, so we wanted to start with that. He said that we would try that protocol for 6 months. Before the third cycle of Clomid and the trigger shot, I mentioned that my luteal phases seemed short (~10 days), so he suggested trying progesterone vaginal inserts which I would use every night after ovulation was confirmed 2-3 days after the trigger shot. On our third cycle of Clomid + trigger shot and the first cycle in which I used progesterone, we conceived our daughter. That pregnancy resulted in a live birth.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital.
A few $15 co-pays for MD visits and some small prescription medication co-pays. My treatment and all medication was covered by my insurance.
Describe Aaron K. Styer's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Massachusetts General Hospital.
We never got to IVF, but Aaron Styer had a strong preference for transferring a single embryo for several transfers in women under 35--which he discussed with me, should we have gone the IVF route. He was more open to multiple embryo transfer after subsequent IVF failure or in women over 35.
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8
Age
37 - 39
Treated
2015 - 2017
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Endometriosis, Unexplained
8
MGH is a busy clinic and you won't always get to see Dr. Styer for ultrasounds or routine visits, or even perhaps your transfer. If it's important to you that you stick with one doctor, a smaller clinic might be the way to go.... MGH was professional, organized, clean, new. It was also busy, the phlebotomists were occasionally surly as was the front desk staff (some were great though), and it's in downtown Boston, which presents its own challenges.
+ Read more
Age
37 - 39
Treated
2015 - 2017
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Teacher
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Endometriosis, Unexplained
8
Describe your experience with Massachusetts General Hospital.
MGH was professional, organized, clean, new. It was also busy, the phlebotomists were occasionally surly as was the front desk staff (some were great though), and it's in downtown Boston, which presents its own challenges.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Dr. Styer was great at in-person meetings. His demeanor was warm and inviting and he asked multiple times if I had any questions about any of the results he discussed with me and my husband.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital. (Assigned nurse: Cheryl)
Cheryl was great during in-person meetings and setting up cycle calendars. She was not easy to get hold of any other time, as she didn't email. It was usually an on-call nurse that would get back to me when I called with questions, unless it was something directly related to my treatment plan.
What specific things went wrong at Massachusetts General Hospital?
- Failed to send your chart to another clinic
How was your experience with Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Dr. Styer always seemed genuinely pleased to see me/us. Even if I was just there for blood work or an ultrasound and he saw me in the waiting room he'd come by to say hello. He was thorough and his explanations and thoughts on treatment seemed to be thoughtful and based on research.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital?
MGH is a busy clinic and you won't always get to see Dr. Styer for ultrasounds or routine visits, or even perhaps your transfer. If it's important to you that you stick with one doctor, a smaller clinic might be the way to go.
Describe the protocols Aaron K. Styer used in your cycles at Massachusetts General Hospital and their degree of success.
We used an antagonist protocol. After a failed fresh transfer and an FET that ended at 8 weeks in a miscarriage, we asked Dr. Styer about PGS testing for the remaining two frozen embryos. He agreed, and the next PGS-tested FET embryo was a success.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital.
My insurance luckily covered everything except the deductible and the co-pay for the pharmacy costs.
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7
Age
42 - 43
Treated
2016 - 2017
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
4 IUI, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
—
7
In general, the nursing staff at the MGH Fertility Center have been pleasant. They have done all my IUIs, and I have interacted with them the most throughout my course of treatment. I have had a few negative experiences with Pam, Dr. Souter's primary nurse. She seems a bit scatter-brained, and once left me a voicemail about someone else's test results! She also never remembers my situation or course of treatment, so I always have to explain it to her each time we talk...Strengths: Top success rates in Boston, part of one of the country's best hospitals. Weaknesses: It doesn't always feel very personal.
+ Read more
Age
42 - 43
Treated
2016 - 2017
Success with this Doc
?
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
4 IUI, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
—
7
Describe your experience with Massachusetts General Hospital.
Strengths: Top success rates in Boston, part of one of the country's best hospitals.
Weaknesses: It doesn't always feel very personal.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Irene Souter at Massachusetts General Hospital?
The MGH Fertility Center is part of a large hospital and sees many patients, so they have many systems and routines for patients. For IUIs, I never saw my doctor (the nurses did the IUIs), but they were all warm and pleasant. For ultrasounds, I would see the fertility doctor on call (there are several). So far, I don't have anything negative to say about any of the doctors that i have seen. When you call the fertility center about something, they take your number and you have to wait for a call back from a nurse.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital. (Assigned nurse: Pam)
In general, the nursing staff at the MGH Fertility Center have been pleasant. They have done all my IUIs, and I have interacted with them the most throughout my course of treatment. I have had a few negative experiences with Pam, Dr. Souter's primary nurse. She seems a bit scatter-brained, and once left me a voicemail about someone else's test results! She also never remembers my situation or course of treatment, so I always have to explain it to her each time we talk. Perhaps that's part of being seen at a larger hospital-based clinic.
How was your experience with Irene Souter at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Dr. Souter is direct, no-nonsense and matter-of-fact, which I liked. She's pleasant enough, but not super warm and fuzzy if that's what you're looking for. I saw her a couple times before starting my IUIs, but will not see her again until I have done six unsuccessful IUIs (at which time I am eligible for IVF).
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Irene Souter at Massachusetts General Hospital?
If you want a straight shooter, you'll probably like Dr. Souter.
Describe the protocols Irene Souter used in your cycles at Massachusetts General Hospital and their degree of success.
So far, I have done four unsuccessful IUIs. Given my situation, I have to do six IUIs unsuccessfully before my insurance will cover IVF -- so that is the treatment plan I am currently on. I am doing natural cycle IUIs (no medication) with ultrasound monitoring and a trigger shot.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Irene Souter at Massachusetts General Hospital.
IUIs are $880 each. My medications and ultrasounds were covered by my insurance, as were my office visits.
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2
Age
34
Treated
2016
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
3 IUI
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve
2
I think MGH is very poor for treating diminished ovarian reserve...often running late...
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Age
34
Treated
2016
Success with this Doc
No
Race
European
Income
$200K - $499K
Occupation
Consultant
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1st of 2 Docs
Treatment
3 IUI
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve
2
Describe your experience with Massachusetts General Hospital.
often running late
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with John Petrozza at Massachusetts General Hospital?
I think MGH is very poor for treating diminished ovarian reserve. I had a very strange situation happen, which is that I responded well to clomid and low doses of Gonal F (eg 75 and 112), like getting 3 eggs, but at high doses (eg 450)--which is what they insisted i needed for IVF--my body shut down and I had 0 follicles grow. My IVF cycle was cancelled. I suggested perhaps I just can't tolerate high levels of gonadotropins but Dr P insisted this is "impossible" and said my next cycle should be flare not antagonist with again 450 Gonal F. I got no sense that he wanted to figure out what went wrong. i was clearly a number. and btw, he has a very bad bedside manner. Delivers things like "IVF just might not work for you" with absolutely no sympathy ... bear in mind my AMH is over 2, I naturally conceived a child 2 years ago, etc. Again, no desire to problem solve. they want you in and out. If you are an easy/textbook case, that's fine. But if you are a puzzling case, I see no indication you're going to get attention at MGH.
How was your experience with John Petrozza at Massachusetts General Hospital?
As stated earlier, he has a very blunt bedside manner. Generally, I want a competent not nice doctor. I'm not sure he is either, at least if you have DOR. Zero sympathy, zero optimism (even when docs at other clinics were like "I don't even know that you have DOR") .... also, after that first appointment, he disappears
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of John Petrozza at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Go with him if you have a straightforward case and not DOR.... do not expect him to have a "hmmm how interesting let's see why this odd response happened" approach
Describe the protocols John Petrozza used in your cycles at Massachusetts General Hospital and their degree of success.
antagonist protocol IVF with no suppression
Describe the costs associated with your care under John Petrozza at Massachusetts General Hospital.
insurance co=pays only
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Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
4
Age
33 - 34
Treated
2015 - 2016
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor
4
If I called [MGH - Boston] I had to leave a message for her and she would call me back. It was frustrating because the entire process was never really explained to us, we dealt with insurance issues which never got resolved and everything frustrated me. I'm a fairly smart human being and they made me feel stupid for asking questions. When I said I wanted a class on injections they told me to keep watching the videos until I got it.
+ Read more
Age
33 - 34
Treated
2015 - 2016
Success with this Doc
No
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Lawyer
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor
4
Describe your experience with Massachusetts General Hospital.
They get you in, the process is set up but you're a number and it's a business to them.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with John Petrozza at Massachusetts General Hospital?
I barely saw my Dr during the process, which I guess is not unusual when there are several Dr's in a practice and they rotate days. The one issue I had with him is that he sat on my genetic testing results for 2 weeks before giving them to me. It was the longest two weeks of my life. And then zero empathy when he relayed that no embryos were viable and all had genetic issues.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital. (Assigned nurse: Carol H. )
My main point of contact was Carol. If I called I had to leave a message for her and she would call me back. It was frustrating because the entire process was never really explained to us, we dealt with insurance issues which never got resolved and everything frustrated me. I'm a fairly smart human being and they made me feel stupid for asking questions. When I said I wanted a class on injections they told me to keep watching the videos until I got it.
What specific things went wrong at Massachusetts General Hospital?
- Failed to call with results
- Provided conflicting information
- Failed to convey critical information
How was your experience with John Petrozza at Massachusetts General Hospital?
As the head of the clinic I thought he was fabulous and he was also great to us in the beginning of our process. He explained our issues in detail, explained the risks, and really understood our goals. But as soon as the process started he fell off the radar. I never saw him for any of my check in ultrasounds, he didn't do my retrieval, and then sat on genetic test results for two weeks. I felt like we got sold a personable bill of goods and then was just another number in the pile.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of John Petrozza at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Be aware that you won't see him during the process and that you'll be dealing with his assistant and other Dr's throughout.
Describe the protocols John Petrozza used in your cycles at Massachusetts General Hospital and their degree of success.
ivf with ICSI. I'm sorry I don't remember the details
Describe the costs associated with your care under John Petrozza at Massachusetts General Hospital.
10000+ with genetic testing
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9
Age
34 - 35
Treated
2015 - 2016
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Unexplained
9
One thing that we really like about MGH is that they convene a panel discussion before every protocol is released to the patient. I believe the panel has eight REs on it and we like that more eyes are able to offer opinions on what might be best for us. The downside of this is that the REs take weeks where they do retrievals/transfers, so I didn't have my RE do either of mine... Communication is a strength, as we never wondered what might/might not be happening that day.
+ Read more
Age
34 - 35
Treated
2015 - 2016
Success with this Doc
No
Race
European, Middle Eastern
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Teacher
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Unexplained
9
Describe your experience with Massachusetts General Hospital.
We go to MGH in the Danvers office after doing some initial testing at BostonIVF. One thing that we really like about MGH is that they convene a panel discussion before every protocol is released to the patient. I believe the panel has eight REs on it and we like that more eyes are able to offer opinions on what might be best for us. The downside of this is that the REs take weeks where they do retrievals/transfers, so I didn't have my RE do either of mine. The good thing with this is that the doctor who did my actual transfer is the same doctor who did my mock transfer; and the doctor who did my retrieval is the same one who did my last ultrasound beforehand, so I was already familiar with them before the procedures. MGH does all of their bloodwork and ultrasound monitoring in the early mornings before work, which was helpful; and they deliver the results via the portal once they've been released as well as through a phonecall by the nurse the same afternoon. Communication is a strength, as we never wondered what might/might not be happening that day. While we were able to do all of our monitoring at a satellite location, both the retrieval and transfer were done at the hospital in Boston. The staff there, as well, were pleasant.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mitchell Rein at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Dr. Rein took the time to answer all of my questions; when I'd meet with his nurse, he'd brief her on what was discussed as well, so we were all on the same page. He also didn't try to make light of our situation; infertility is frustrating, anger-inducing, emotional, and a number of other feelings; our first RE used try to make jokes, which always made me feel like my feelings weren't legitimate. Dr. Rein has always acknowledged the hardships of infertility. He has also provided me with statistics, examples, and conversation around anything that's come up. Additionally, after our failed IVF cycle, his nurse sent our information to his social worker, who called to check-in and check-up with us to see how we were handling things.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital. (Assigned nurse: Joanne & Anita)
My husband and I both liked the nurses with whom we worked. They were really great about delivering information to us each afternoon after bloodwork/US and were willing and able to answer all of our questions stemming from those calls and any others we placed. We never felt like we were inconveniencing them or that our questions were being brushed off. When our cycle failed, one of the nurses made sure the social worker reached out to check-in/up on us, which we thought showed a commitment to full-circle care. Both nurses aren't particularly chatty or 'warm' but they were honest and straightforward with answers. We like them a lot and trust them completely.
How was your experience with Mitchell Rein at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Dr. Rein met with me after my husband and I decided to change to a new clinic. We talked about the history, concerns, and he answered any and all questions I had. My husband and I had a follow-up appointment with him after all of the preliminary testing; he gave us statistics, his professional opinion/recommendation, and then the decision was ours to make. We left knowing what to expect both in terms of the procedures and with the risks associated/potential outcomes. We didn't meet with him during the IVF cycle (another doctor did both my retrieval and transfer, which is common at our clinic); but they scheduled an appointment me with us just after the negative beta came in. There, he discussed with me what happened and the next plan to help us bring a baby into our family.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mitchell Rein at Massachusetts General Hospital?
His personality can seem dry and stand-offish; he does not strike me as a 'hand-holder', so if that's what you need then he will not be a good fit. Personally, we really like him because he delivers information in a very straightforward manner, but it's not for everyone.
Describe the protocols Mitchell Rein used in your cycles at Massachusetts General Hospital and their degree of success.
I started with 3 weeks of birth control; then Lupron injections for 20 days/Gonal F & Menopur for 11. Then I had my trigger and retrieval. He told us originally that most embryos do not make it to day 5 and to expect a 3-day transfer, but ours did make it to day 5. He was clear that due to my age and the unexplianed infertility diagnosis, that he would not put more than one embryo back, so one was transfered. Beta testing was 13 days later. Everything mostly went as planned, except that they had to increase the dosage for the GonalF/Menopur (doubled both, we think) because I wasn't responding quickly.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mitchell Rein at Massachusetts General Hospital.
The IVF fresh cycle (without meds) was about $10k; the frozen transfer was $3000+. Meds for my first cycle were $3600 (insurance covered about $1600); meds for the frozen transfer are TBD.
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9
Age
31 - 32
Treated
2015 - 2016
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
1 IUI
Diagnosis
Anovulation, PCOS
9
I honestly felt very comfortable with the clinic. Initial wait times were long, but I called back and lucked into a cancellation within 2 weeks. Dr Lippincott and Judy Adams were both very available and I felt very much that I was in good hands. Only limitation--and thankfully I did not have to deal with this much--the MGH lab is incredibly slow, and I have sat for more than an hour's wait to get blood drawn. Thankfully they very rarely asked bloodwork except right at the beginning of my workup and at the end, when confirming pregnancy.
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Age
31 - 32
Treated
2015 - 2016
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European
Income
—
Occupation
Doctor
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
1 IUI
Diagnosis
Anovulation, PCOS
9
Describe your experience with Massachusetts General Hospital.
I honestly felt very comfortable with the clinic. Initial wait times were long, but I called back and lucked into a cancellation within 2 weeks. Dr Lippincott and Judy Adams were both very available and I felt very much that I was in good hands.
Only limitation--and thankfully I did not have to deal with this much--the MGH lab is incredibly slow, and I have sat for more than an hour's wait to get blood drawn. Thankfully they very rarely asked bloodwork except right at the beginning of my workup and at the end, when confirming pregnancy.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Margaret Lippincott at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Dr Lippincott was always thorough and detail-oriented, but warm. I always felt like she wanted me to understand all of the possibilities and pros/cons of our decisions, but it really felt like I was a partner in the decision making. She was very accessible (although of course I tried not to abuse this!) and answered any questions fully. I never felt rushed by her.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital. (Assigned nurse: Judy Adams (actually the ultrasonographer, who was usually my point person if not Dr Lippincott))
I did not actually work with any nursing staff. My primary point person was Judy Adams, the ultrasonographer, who was great--warm and very responsive, and also very good.
How was your experience with Margaret Lippincott at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Dr Lippencott was always thorough and detail-oriented, but warm. I always felt like she wanted me to understand all of the possibilities and pros/cons of our decisions, but it really felt like I was a partner in the decision making. She was very accessible (although of course I tried not to abuse this!) and answered any questions fully. I never felt rushed by her. I worked more directly with the ultrasound technologist, but Dr Lippencott would always be available for consultation regarding the plan.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Margaret Lippincott at Massachusetts General Hospital?
She is conservative--I consider this a good thing in her approach, but it may be something that some people are concerned about. Personally, I felt very comfortable with her--she was not cavalier about risks to either my health or that of my potential children. I'm in the medical field, and have seen severe side effects of fertility treatment, as well as bad outcomes in premature multiples--because of all of this, I felt much more comfortable with someone who tends towards the conservative end. It's also possible that I did not see the full range of what she would be willing to do, as my fertility issues were (thankfully!) resolved with treatments that were on the simpler end.
Describe the protocols Margaret Lippincott used in your cycles at Massachusetts General Hospital and their degree of success.
I had previously done 3 cycles of unmonitored Clomid (1 cycle on 50mg and 2 on 100mg), and only ovulated on the last cycle (2 follicles). Dr Lippincott diagnosed me with PCOS based on my US and confirmed that I probably had not ovulated in the prior year (I had been using urine ovulation tests without ever getting a positive line, until the last cycle of Clomid).
With Dr Lippincott, she had me come in for ultrasounds on day 3 (confirm ovulation and how many follicles ovulated) and day 12-13 (confirm if a dominant follicle present). Based on the size of the dominant follicle, I would either come back in on day 16-17 (if it was not large enough to be able to confirm what day it would be mature), or they would estimate the date of follicle maturity from the day 12-13 scan. I would then administer HCG and do timed intercourse. I did this for two cycles. On my 3rd cycle with Dr Lippincott, we decided to add on an IUI; again, I did US on day 3 and day 12-13; because my follicle was still too small, we repeated an US on day 16, did HCG injection on day 16, then did an IUI on day 18. Thankfully this was enough for us!
Describe the costs associated with your care under Margaret Lippincott at Massachusetts General Hospital.
We were lucky- covered by insurance. We have a high-deductible plan; after the discount from the insurance, we paid ~$200 per US (so $400 per cycle) plus $500 for the IUI. (With the high-deductible plan, until we meet our out of pocket, we expect to pay $150-$200 per doctor's appointment--so don't take this as the amount you would pay if you had a more conventional plan.) Clomid is pretty cheap.
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7
Age
38
Treated
2015
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
1 IUI
Diagnosis
Uterine Fibroids, Unexplained
7
Do your homework ahead of time so that you can ask questions and really retain the answers. In retrospect I wish I had made my partner come along to most of the appointments with me, so that there were two of us listening to what she told us and not just me...
+ Read more
Age
38
Treated
2015
Success with this Doc
?
Race
European, Ashkenazi Jewish
Income
$200K - $499K
Occupation
Writer
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
1 IUI
Diagnosis
Uterine Fibroids, Unexplained
7
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mary Sabatini at Massachusetts General Hospital?
I really liked Dr. Sabatini. She could be brusque, as she was seeing a lot of people, so at times I felt like our conversations were hurried, and I would be out the door and into the nurse's office before I knew what had hit me. I went to her largely for a diagnosis after 2 1/2 years of not getting pregnant on my own. I have out of state insurance, however, so for actual treatment I will have to see someone else. But I thought Dr. Sabatini was brilliant, friendly, nonjudgmental, was easily reachable by email, and had great ideas for how to proceed. I'm sorry not to be working with her the whole way through.
How was your experience with Mary Sabatini at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Truthfully, I kind of wish Dr. Sabatini would be my friend. She's smart, funny, and was respectful about my feelings of ambivalence, worry, hesitation about invasive procedures, and other wimpishness on my part. I saw her at every visit. I underwent a few different diagnostic procedures, including imaging in which Dr. Sabatini pronounced my ovaries and uterus "beautiful," which I thought was hilarious. She diagnosed me in the end with unexplained in fertility and a not serious fibroid, and her suggestion was that we stimulate me and rather than try IUI that we have timed intercourse at home, very respectful of my desire to be as minimally interfered with as possible. If I lived full time in Massachusetts, and MGH Danvers were in-network for my insurance, I absolutely would have continued seeing her.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mary Sabatini at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Do your homework ahead of time so that you can ask questions and really retain the answers. In retrospect I wish I had made my partner come along to most of the appointments with me, so that there were two of us listening to what she told us and not just me.
Describe the protocols Mary Sabatini used in your cycles at Massachusetts General Hospital and their degree of success.
I wound up just seeing her for diagnosis, and she diagnosed me as unexplained. I wasn't ready for IVF, and so she suggested we first stimulate my ovulation and time intercourse, seeing how that went before moving on to something more advanced. At every stage she was respectful of my wanting a conservative, noninvasive approach, and honest with me about the odds of success. I did not do stimulation with her in the end, instead opting to try to conceive naturally for a little while longer (I was unsuccessful).
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mary Sabatini at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Overall I spent about $3K out of pocket for all the testing and diagnostic work. I forget how much insurance paid, but it wasn't much, as the clinic was out of network.
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10
Age
35 - 36
Treated
2014 - 2015
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
2 IUI, 2 IVF, 2 Egg Freezing
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
MGH IVF was an all inclusive practice with everything from your appts, lab work, and surgery procedures happening right at Yawkey which made it extremely convenient....Dr Styers team is a pod you consistently seen by at your appts. Cheryl is the primary nurse and Amazing. She felt like my mom was with me at my appts. Extremely warm and attentive.
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Age
35 - 36
Treated
2014 - 2015
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European, Ashkenazi Jewish
Income
$200K - $499K
Occupation
Marketer or PR
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
2 IUI, 2 IVF, 2 Egg Freezing
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
Describe your experience with Massachusetts General Hospital.
MGH IVF was an all inclusive practice with everything from your appts, lab work, and surgery procedures happening right at Yawkey which made it extremely convenient.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Dr Styer always took the time to explain or options, how and why treatments went the way they did and provided a recommendation on what he would do next if he was in our situation. We had seen a female dr in the practice initially and struggled with her overly coddling personality. We were recommended to Dr Styer for his bedside manner and direct personality and were exceptionally pleased.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital. (Assigned nurse: Cheryl )
Dr Styers team is a pod you consistently seen by at your appts. Cheryl is the primary nurse and Amazing. She felt like my mom was with me at my appts. Extremely warm and attentive.
How was your experience with Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital?
As per my previous comment, Dr Styer provided an exceptional experience for my husband and myself. He always took the time to explain the procedures, options and provide a recommendation. He was compassionate to the situation but not overly coddling. I 100% would recommend him to anyone needing fertility treatments.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Take notes in your initial appt. he provides many options and details on what can be done. It is quite overwhelming in nature and in hindsight I should have taken notes vs remembering from memory.
Describe the protocols Aaron K. Styer used in your cycles at Massachusetts General Hospital and their degree of success.
I had two potential ectopic pregnancies before seeking fertility treatment. Dr styer started with a round of clomid, then two iuis with different drug doses and ultimately moved to Ivf.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital.
I was very fortunate to have insurance cover my entire procedure with the exception of my deductible.
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10
Age
35 - 36
Treated
2014 - 2015
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
4 IUI, 2 IVF, Egg Freezing
Diagnosis
Other, Unexplained
10
My care team was wonderful, even the receptionist remembered my name. They were always current on my case, got excited when news was good, and called to check on me when news was bad. I received hugs and tender touches when I needed them. My personal circumstances aside, almost every interaction I had with team members was extremely positive.
+ Read more
Age
35 - 36
Treated
2014 - 2015
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European
Income
$200K - $499K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1st of 2 Docs
Treatment
4 IUI, 2 IVF, Egg Freezing
Diagnosis
Other, Unexplained
10
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Irene Souter at Massachusetts General Hospital?
My care team was wonderful, even the receptionist remembered my name. They were always current on my case, got excited when news was good, and called to check on me when news was bad. I received hugs and tender touches when I needed them. My personal circumstances aside, almost every interaction I had with team members was extremely positive.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
Their compassion and genuine interest in your success!
How was your experience with Irene Souter at Massachusetts General Hospital?
I will say, my first interaction with Dr. Souter was not ideal. She talked too fast, used lots of jargon, and because I had come to her from another clinic (for IUIs) I think she thought I knew more than I did about IVFs, which can be very different. Occasionally her accent was hard to understand. I am in healthcare and was a little lost. My husband was totally overwhelmed! My second meeting with her one-on-one went much more smoothly and she even turned her computer monitor to show me actual numbers and details, something I very much appreciated. Dr. Souter leans more towards pragmatic and blunt and could improve her bedside manner, but I have not doubted her decisions, protocols or care.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Irene Souter at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Do your homework. Learn about IVF terminology and the process. Bring a notebook to take notes and go prepared with questions since your time with her is limited. Also, do not be afraid to ask for further clarification if you don't understand something. She is very straightforward. If you are overly sensitive (not that I am not...because who isn't?) then maybe think about another doctor, though I don't know who would be best, maybe Dr. Sabatini. Call to ask the clinic.
Describe the protocols Irene Souter used in your cycles at Massachusetts General Hospital and their degree of success.
Cycle #1: OCP/Low Dose Lupron. 21 days of Apri birth control. Lupron injection 10 units x 10 days. Lupron injection 5 units x 10 days. Gonal-f 150 IU and Menopur 150 IU injections x 10 days. HCG injection. Ampicillin, Cefoxitin, Methylprednisolone, baby aspirin (81mg), 50 mg IM injection Progesterone. Valium for transfer. Vivelle dots 2 patches every other day. Personally, I did not respond well to this protocol. I only had 5 eggs, 4 were mature, and only 1 fertilized normally. This was transferred and the cycle was not successful.
Cycle #2: OCP/Antagonist. 21 days of Apri birth control. Gonal-f 300 IU and Menopur 150 IU injections x 11 days. Ganirelix Acetate pre-filled syringe 250 mcg x 6 days. HCG injection. Ampicillin, Cefoxitin, Methylprednisolone, baby aspirin (81mg), 50 mg IM injection Progesterone. Valium for transfer. Vivelle dots 2 patches every other day. I had a drastically improved response on this protocol . 18 eggs retrieved (even from my quiet ovary), 9 went on to ICSI, 7 fertilized normally, 4 made it to day 5. 1 was transferred and 3 were frozen. I became pregnant, but unfortunately it was ectopic and I had to have surgery to remove my tube. There is a slight increased risk of ectopics with IVF.
Cycle #3: Cryopreserved Blastocyst Transfer. 21 days of Apri birth control. Lupron injection 10 units x 28 days. Vivelle dots varying patches every other day x 24+ days. Endometrin tabs 100mg. Ampicillin, Methylprednisolone, baby aspirin (81mg), 50 mg IM injection Progesterone. Valium for transfer. "Textbook cycle and transfer" with 1 frozen embryo, results TBD.
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10
Age
30
Treated
2014
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor
10
Our overall experience at the MGH Fertility Center was exceptional. The doctors are professional, caring, and highly skilled. The support team (nurses, embryologists, fellows, MAs, etc...) are excellent as well. The hardest part for us to trust them on was the IVF doctor rotation. At MGH, your primary doctor develops your treatment plan, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they will perform/monitor your IVF cycle. The doctors at the center rotate as the “IVF doctor” (each week I believe). W
+ Read more
Age
30
Treated
2014
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European, Black or African-American
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1st of 2 Docs
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor
10
Describe your experience with Massachusetts General Hospital.
Our overall experience at the MGH Fertility Center was exceptional. The doctors are professional, caring, and highly skilled. The support team (nurses, embryologists, fellows, MAs, etc...) are excellent as well. The hardest part for us to trust them on was the IVF doctor rotation. At MGH, your primary doctor develops your treatment plan, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they will perform/monitor your IVF cycle. The doctors at the center rotate as the “IVF doctor” (each week I believe). We were a little uncomfortable with this at first, however it worked out perfectly fine. We needed multiple IVF cycles before we had our baby, so we ended up meeting quite a few of the doctors in the center. Each of them demonstrated the highest level of commitment, care, and professionalism in their interactions with us.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Cigdem (Cori) Tanrikut at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Dr. Tanrikut brought the right level of frankness balanced with compassion. She never rushed an appointment and always made certain we had a full understanding of what we had discussed.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
The nursing staff at MGH is exceptional. Caring and highly skilled.
How was your experience with Cigdem (Cori) Tanrikut at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Dr. Tanrikut is highly trained, great at communicating, and personable. When we left our appointments we understood the next steps, both the risks and possible outcomes. There were never any surprises. Further, when we thought of questions between appointments, she was always quick to respond to an e-mail through patient gateway.
My diagnosis was unobstructed azoospermia (zero sperm count). My only chance at having children was to undergo MicroTESE surgery performed by Dr. Tanrikut. My anxiety was high on the day of my surgery, but I distinctly remember Dr. Tanrikut in the operating room before they administered the anesthesia; her demeanor, professionalism, and compassion toward me gave me the reassurance that I was in the best hands possible. When I woke up, Dr. Tanrikut was there to tell me the good news that she had found enough sperm for 4 cycles of IVF/ICSI. Though the fog of the anesthesia was still heavy, I distinctly remember tears of joy; a moment I will never forget. Dr. Tanrikut then left me and delivered the news personally to my wife as well. While the success of the surgery was ultimately a matter of whether or not my body was producing sperm or not, Dr. Tanrikut’s expertise in diagnosing the problem, having the technical skills to perform the surgery, and ultimately finding the best possible outcome cannot be understated. Beyond her technical skills, her demeanor and compassionate approach to our care was just as important. She demonstrated a true understanding of the emotional struggles we faced, both for myself and more importantly my wife. A phone call after the surgery, and a personal response to the thank you note we sent after the birth of our child are just two more examples of the long term commitment Dr. Tanrikut showed us.
I cannot think of any weaknesses displayed by Dr. Tanrikut during our time under her care. She is truly an exceptional doctor.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Cigdem (Cori) Tanrikut at Massachusetts General Hospital?
I'd say to trust her.
Describe the protocols Cigdem (Cori) Tanrikut used in your cycles at Massachusetts General Hospital and their degree of success.
MicroTESE surgery. This was the recommendation after four sperm analyses showed zero sperm.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Cigdem (Cori) Tanrikut at Massachusetts General Hospital.
I do not recall the exact costs. But I remember that they were in line with other providers.
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6
Age
28 - 30
Treated
2012 - 2014
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
3 IUI, 3 IVF
Diagnosis
PCOS
6
MGH has a ton of experience with IVf... Dr. Souter works with a team of physicians who coordinate each patients care... The nurses are really on top of things. They are very knowledgeable and able to answer just about any question you throw at them... The monitoring here was pretty efficient but there were times where you felt like cattle.
+ Read more
Age
28 - 30
Treated
2012 - 2014
Success with this Doc
No
Race
European
Income
$200K - $499K
Occupation
Nurse or HC Services
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 4 Docs
Treatment
3 IUI, 3 IVF
Diagnosis
PCOS
6
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Irene Souter at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Appointments with Dr. Souter sometimes seemed rushed and it was clear she didn't review my chart before my appointments. She was also late for several appointments. I distinctly remember one time we had an appointment with her and she was almost 45 minutes late even though we were the first appointment after lunch. The nurse told us she had car trouble and would be late. When we finally got into her office there was a piece of cake on a paper plate....aka she went to a party or lunch and failed to return on time. This was an appointment where we were supposed to discuss a failed IVF. It made me feel like our loss was unimportant and didn't matter. Another issue I had with Dr. Souter is that she didn't seem to listen to my opinion. We had 3 failed IVFs with her all using the same protocol. I suggested using a different protocol several times and she indicated that my current protocol was the one they always use for patients with PCOS. I later tried the other protocol with a different physician and my egg quality was amazing. One saving grace here is that the nurses were wonderful. While it's almost impossible to get a hold of them without having to leave a message, they are very compassionate and always on the ball.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital. (Assigned nurse: Pam)
The nurses are really on top of things. They are very knowledgble and able to answer just about any question you throw at them.
How was your experience with Irene Souter at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Strengths: MGH has a ton of experience with IVf and some of the best stats in the state. Dr. Souter works with a team of physicians who coordinate each patients care.
Weaknesses: Dr. Souter sees a ton of patients so it can sometimes feel like you're just a number. She also seems to rely on standard MGH protocols so much so that she is unwilling to consider each individual patient's situation.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Irene Souter at Massachusetts General Hospital?
I think Dr. Souter is generally a good physician. I would just caution prospective patients to get a second opinion if you have several failed IVFs because she seems resitant to protocol change.
Describe the protocols Irene Souter used in your cycles at Massachusetts General Hospital and their degree of success.
I did the long lupron protocol for both IVFs with Dr. Souter. I have PCOS and I kept inching towards overresponding with each IVF. I never had good egg quality and none of my embryos made it to blast.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Massachusetts General Hospital.
The monitoring here was pretty efficient but there were times where you felt like cattle. Unfortunately I think this just illustrates the ebb and flow of a large IVF clinic.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Irene Souter at Massachusetts General Hospital.
I was very luck and my IVFs were covered 100% by insurance.
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10
Age
26 - 27
Treated
2012 - 2013
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor
10
FET [at Massachusetts General Hospital] was around $4,000-5,000...Every person that I worked with at MGH was a pleasure, be they support staff, nurse, or doctor. It is truly their desire to see your big pregnant belly in the future! The weakness of this clinic and I assume most clinics, is the time it takes from your first appointment to your first positive pregnancy test takes almost a year. The waiting is hard and their schedule for procedures is very full so it can take a while to get your cycle going for IVF.
+ Read more
Age
26 - 27
Treated
2012 - 2013
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
Nurse or HC Services
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor
10
Describe your experience with Massachusetts General Hospital.
Every person that I worked with at MGH was a pleasure, be they support staff, nurse, or doctor. It is truly their desire to see your big pregnant belly in the future! The weakness of this clinic and I assume most clinics, is the time it takes from your first appointment to your first positive pregnancy test takes almost a year. The waiting is hard and their schedule for procedures is very full so it can take a while to get your cycle going for IVF.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Dr. Styer was sympathetic to our particular story and knew how urgently we wanted to be parents. He also personally called us after one of our miscarriages.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital. (Assigned nurse: Cheryl Igo)
I was very close with my nurse and she always knew what was going on with my particular cycle. Whenever I called or emailed she got back to me quickly. She also worked with us out of state over the phone and she was a good communicator.
How was your experience with Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Dr. Styer was great at explaining our choices and supporting us in whatever direction we wanted to go. He was compassionate and professional. He never forced us into anything we were not comfortable with. He respected my decision to transfer 2 embryos. I chose to have him remain my RE after we moved across country and he was great at communicating even over the phone when I could not be there for an appointment. He also watched me very carefully during early pregnancy and made sure I felt taken care of, I had lots of ultrasounds for reassurance.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital?
I would tell them to trust that Dr. Styer is doing everything in his power to have you bring home a baby, in an ethical way.
Describe the protocols Aaron K. Styer used in your cycles at Massachusetts General Hospital and their degree of success.
We had male factor infertility and Dr. Styer recommended IVF with ICSI.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital.
In Massachusetts ART is covered by insurance, so we had few out of pocket costs, only around $2,000. When we were covered and when we no longer lived in MA the cost for a FET was around $4,000-5,000.
Describe Aaron K. Styer's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Massachusetts General Hospital.
He recommended that we transfer a single embryo but I wanted to transfer two on two separate transfers and he allowed us to do that.
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8
Age
31 - 32
Treated
2009 - 2010
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
2 IUI
Diagnosis
Unexplained
8
He [Dr. Petrozza] came across as very detached. While matter-of-fact can be ok, he communicated in a way that made me feel less than human - like he had a protocol he followed and who I was, how I felt, etc was pretty irrelevant. Ultimately, I got what I wanted: I became pregnant after two rounds of IUI... However, he did very little to make what is already a horrible experience any more bearable.
+ Read more
Age
31 - 32
Treated
2009 - 2010
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European
Income
$500K
Occupation
Nurse or HC Services
Order & Number of Docs Seen
3rd of 3 Docs
Treatment
2 IUI
Diagnosis
Unexplained
8
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with John Petrozza at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Dr Petrozza's bedside manner was generally horrible. He came across as very detached. While matter-of-fact can be ok, he communicated in a way that made me feel less than human - like he had a protocol he followed and who I was, how I felt, etc was pretty irrelevant.
How was your experience with John Petrozza at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Ultimately, I got what I wanted: I became pregnant after two rounds of IUI. For that reason I wouldn't discourage friends from going to Dr Petrozza and I will always feel grateful for his help. However, he did very little to make what is already a horrible experience any more bearable. He came across as fairly cold and detached, which I wasn't completely bothered by. He actually would reintroduce himself at every appointment as if we had never met, which was almost funny. My real difficulty with him happened when I opted not to do a vaccine that he was pushing me to get (something that would have delayed my treatment months, I did after careful consideration and consulting a highly respected infectious disease MD) I was horrified by the way he treated me. He was belittling and not in the least compassionate. Luckily, he didn't remember who I was at my next appointment. I had a friend who had a very similar experience with him. She did say when she went back to see him to have a second child, his bedside manner had improved dramatically, almost to the point where she wondered if he had gotten negative feedback and was making a serious effort to be more personable.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of John Petrozza at Massachusetts General Hospital?
As much as you can, try to go into your interactions with him with your own sense of detachment. As emotional as the process is, try to look at him as a vehicle to get where you're trying to go. Ultimately, he's a surgeon who can perform a procedure that you may need.
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3
Age
33
Treated
2017
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
3 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor
3
I would not recommend [MGH - Boston] due to the outcome of my results and the non compassionate non existent care/ follow up concern received/ not received...Nurses were friendly for the most part. I did receive extra medication from the nurse while at an appointment due to the concern of possibly running out prior to my trigger shot ...Monitoring appointments were quick. Scheduled time was provided but I would often be seen early...
+ Read more
Age
33
Treated
2017
Success with this Doc
No
Race
Other
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Nurse or HC Services
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 3 Docs
Treatment
3 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor
3
Describe your experience with Massachusetts General Hospital.
I would not recommend due to the outcome of my results and the non compassionate non existent care/ follow up concern received/ not received.
I did not feel like my individual case and situation was carefully reviewed or planned out.
Nurses were friendly for the most part. I did receive extra medication from the nurse while at an appointment due to the concern of possibly running out prior to my trigger shot .
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mary Sabatini at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Poor cycle planning.
No follow up or concern for my well being or what steps to take post miscarriage
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
Kind and compassionate
How was your experience with Mary Sabatini at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Dr sabatini took over my care when my initial doctor left. I met with her once via a video chat, never in person and never saw or spoke with her again after that conversation. During my cycle I had to bring up details of the cycle which should have been known and scheduled into our plan which in the end caused complications. The cycle ended in a miscarriage, I never received a follow up call or an appointment. There was no concern from her about my well being, no concern if medically I was ok or to discuss future steps to help make our family
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mary Sabatini at Massachusetts General Hospital?
I would not recommend her
Describe the protocols Mary Sabatini used in your cycles at Massachusetts General Hospital and their degree of success.
I do not remember which medications were used this cycle. There were no complications with the medications
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Monitoring appointments were quick. Scheduled time was provided but I would often be seen early
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mary Sabatini at Massachusetts General Hospital.
More expensive than previous clinics used. My husband and I are both currently on a payment plan and still owe $4,000
Describe Mary Sabatini's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Despite previous failed results we were allowed to transfer only 2 embryos and The remaining embryos were not able to be frozen
– Read less
4
Age
34 - 37
Treated
2014 - 2017
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
4 IUI, 1 IVF
Diagnosis
Unexplained
4
It seems that they [MGH] are very busy and at sometimes disorganized. They are always running a little late and I often do not get phone calls back...When I'm traveling, I have a hard time getting in touch with the nurses to get in touch with medication implications. Also during an IUI, I had a very upsetting appointment where I was waiting so long I was nervous that the thawed sperm was impacted...
+ Read more
Age
34 - 37
Treated
2014 - 2017
Success with this Doc
No
Race
Other
Income
$200K - $499K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
4 IUI, 1 IVF
Diagnosis
Unexplained
4
Describe your experience with Massachusetts General Hospital.
It seems that they are very busy and at sometimes disorganized. They are always running a little late and I often do not get phone calls back.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital?
I have had problems getting the medication straight and people to call me back in a timely fashion. Also I have had to come back for blood draw that I could have the day before when I was there. Dr. Styer is often too busy given his schedule that I only speak with him at the end of IUI/IVF.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital. (Assigned nurse: Cheryl)
When I can get in touch with the nurses on the phone (which is difficult to do) they are very caring. They are very friendly and helpful when I'm in the office.
What specific things went wrong at Massachusetts General Hospital?
- Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
How was your experience with Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital?
When I see Dr Styer he has a lot of patience, compassion, and answers all questions fully. I wish we had done some of the tests he recently ordered sooner in the process but really that is my only complaint.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital?
He is difficult to schedule time with so be sure you do it far in advance.
Describe the protocols Aaron K. Styer used in your cycles at Massachusetts General Hospital and their degree of success.
Initially Dr Styer wanted me to try IVF but we were looking for the least invasive option. It seemed like it was more our decision than his recommendation that took precedence at that time. Since getting to IVF, he recommended ICSI and he was very familiar with our past as to what he felt was best emotionally for us. Due to insurance/our past history, we tried one embryo (Day 5 transfer) which did not work.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Expensive especially when paying out of pocket.
Describe Aaron K. Styer's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Massachusetts General Hospital.
I have not had a multiple embryo transfer yet but hope to next cycle.
– Read less
10
Age
41
Treated
2017
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
2 Egg Freezing
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve
10
He [Dr. Aaron Styer] made special arrangements to do both of my retrievals and made me feel like I was his only patient and paid special attention to me. He checked in several times and made me feel very well cared for . I must say that as a physician, I am very critical by nature. And I felt that every aspect of his care was thoughtful and compassionate...Excellent communication on all fronts by nurses [at MGH] . Great team!
+ Read more
Age
41
Treated
2017
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
—
Income
$500K
Occupation
Doctor
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
2 Egg Freezing
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve
10
Describe your experience with Massachusetts General Hospital.
Very smooth operation. No glitches at all. Very polite front staff!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Dr. Styer was great about really explaining all details with me about eggs freezing. I am a physician and single woman. He was so patient with explaining the technical aspects of eggs freezing and helping me to understand what would be the best protocols based upon my ovarian reserve.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
Excellent communication on all fronts by nurses. Great team!
How was your experience with Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital?
He made special arrangements to do both of my retrievals and made me feel like I was his only patient and paid special attention to me. He checked in several times and made me feel very well cared for . I must say that as a physician, I am very critical by nature. And I felt that every aspect of his care was thoughtful and compassionate.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital?
He is a great doctor and really takes his time to listen to what you have to say.
Describe the protocols Aaron K. Styer used in your cycles at Massachusetts General Hospital and their degree of success.
Since I had diminished ovarian reserve, Dr. Styer utilized a estrogen patch protocol with a total of 450 units of Gonal F and Menopur and then an antagonist. Second cycle was same does of meds but a microdose Flare. Very similar high response which a pleasant surpise given my ovarian reserve
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Massachusetts General Hospital.
It was very quick and efficient. No issues at all
Describe the costs associated with your care under Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital.
I paid about 12000 for 2 cycles and about 3000 dollars for the meds
Describe Aaron K. Styer's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Not applicable. I was doing egg freezing. Although, when I looked up his publications. I saw that Dr. Styer had published several interesting articles for eSET and he is known for this nationally.
– Read less
10
Age
35 - 37
Treated
2013 - 2015
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
3 IVF
Diagnosis
Other
10
I met with most of the doctors on the team at MGH Fertility clinic, and have to say each of them made me feel the same way-- very comfortable and as though I was in good hands and that my situation was very important to them. [The nursing staff was] very kind and caring and very much on top of things!
+ Read more
Age
35 - 37
Treated
2013 - 2015
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European
Income
$200K - $499K
Occupation
Teacher
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
3 IVF
Diagnosis
Other
10
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Irene Souter at Massachusetts General Hospital?
In the three times I went through IVF with Dr. Souter, I always felt like both she and her team knew me as a person- I met with most of the doctors on the team at MGH Fertility clinic, and have to say each of them made me feel the same way-- very comfortable and as though I was in good hands and that my situation was very important to them.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Very kind and caring and very much on top of things!
How was your experience with Irene Souter at Massachusetts General Hospital?
On our first meeting, Dr. Souter explained the entire process very throughly and on each subsequent visit, I felt as though I knew what to expect next. I had even run into Dr. Souter out in public in my hometown (A suburb of Boston) and she couldn't have been more pleasant- she knew me by my first name, introduced me to her daughter, interacted with my daughter (and remembered her name) whom was conceived through IVF with Dr. Souter. I couldn't be happier with her as my doctor. After my failed IVF attempt (the second of three attempts), Dr. Souter called me personally to see how I was doing and to make a plan for moving forward with another cycle.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Irene Souter at Massachusetts General Hospital?
I think if I were to give one piece of advice to a prospective patient, it would be that having a child is a miracle and no matter how good your doctor is, it might not work. You have to have patience with the process.
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10
Age
35 - 38
Treated
2015 - 2018
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
3 IUI, 1 IVF, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve
10
[MGH - Boston] Strengths: they are very organized which helps with as much planning is possible during this process. US & bW happen in the morning followed by IUIs and then iVf and appts are a bit later. They are open 7 days /wk even during bad weather Weakness: there are many patients coming and going, it is a busy practice...All but one nurse showed compassion during the process. They are generally very responsive (you need to call and leave a message) and call back within a few hours. They were knowledgeable and very helpful. I worked with the nurses more than the dr during the process.
+ Read more
Age
35 - 38
Treated
2015 - 2018
Success with this Doc
?
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Marketer or PR
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
3 IUI, 1 IVF, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve
10
Describe your experience with Massachusetts General Hospital.
Strengths: they are very organized which helps with as much planning is possible during this process. US & bW happen in the morning followed by IUIs and then iVf and appts are a bit later. They are open 7 days /wk even during bad weather
Weakness: there are many patients coming and going, it is a busy practice.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Irene Souter at Massachusetts General Hospital?
I first visited Dr. Souter in 2015, when I returned in 2016 (nearly 2 year’s later) she remembered me. She is very direct which may come off as harsh but when it matters she is supportive and kind including giving me a hug and holding my hand when learning of a miscarriage.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
All but one nurse showed compassion during the process. They are generally very responsive (you need to call and leave a message) and call back within a few hours. They were knowledgeable and very helpful. I worked with the nurses more than the dr during the process.
How was your experience with Irene Souter at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Dr. Souter is very direct which I like. She takes the medical care of her patients seriously and is hesitant to start with the most invasive course of action immediately. She also is receptive/concerned with the financial costs.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Irene Souter at Massachusetts General Hospital?
While she may seem tough, she is there for you when it really matters.
Describe the protocols Irene Souter used in your cycles at Massachusetts General Hospital and their degree of success.
1 unmediated IUi
2 medicated IUI
1 IVF cycle (flare)
Low ovarian reserve
Describe the costs associated with your care under Irene Souter at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Co-pays
Describe Irene Souter's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Massachusetts General Hospital.
They have a chart that outlines how many embryos will be transferred during each cycle.
– Read less
9
Age
44
Treated
2017
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
1 Egg Freezing, 1 Embryo Freezing, IVF, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
Uterine Fibroids
9
You get more personalized care because it's small [MGH - Boston]. The doctors are extremely knowledgeable. They don't do more extreme procedures....[nurses] They responded quickly to calls but did not provide a video to teach you how to inject meds. I had to watch YouTube videos to learn...When I complained about error was rudely told I should not come here if I was not prepared to pay all out of pocket.
+ Read more
Age
44
Treated
2017
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
Latino
Income
$0 - $49K
Occupation
Nurse or HC Services
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
1 Egg Freezing, 1 Embryo Freezing, IVF, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
Uterine Fibroids
9
Describe your experience with Massachusetts General Hospital.
You get more personalized care because it's small. The doctors are extremely knowledgeable. They don't do more extreme procedures like other places but I think that's a good thing because the priority is to keep you healthy.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Irene Souter at Massachusetts General Hospital?
The clinic is small, the nurses call you back quickly, Dr answered all my questions and took ample time, she was friendly.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
They responded quickly to calls but did not provide a video to teach you how to inject meds. I had to watch YouTube videos to learn.
What specific things went wrong at Massachusetts General Hospital?
- Provided conflicting information
How was your experience with Irene Souter at Massachusetts General Hospital?
She is extremely knowledgeable and friendly and takes her time with you answering all questions. However she ups your anxiety about when I got a positive for a possible genetic issue that was not big deal when I went to genetic counseling. She was also pretty pessimistic about my 15% of getting pregnant. Statistics include both when with issues and women who are just older. Many women in my family got pregnant naturally in their 40's. I just didn't have a partner. I was not surprised when I got pregnant on the first ivf try.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Irene Souter at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Go to her because she is good but know that she can make you a bit anxious and is overly cautious to not get your hopes up.
Describe the protocols Irene Souter used in your cycles at Massachusetts General Hospital and their degree of success.
Standard ivf - patches, suppositories, and PIO injections.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Irene Souter at Massachusetts General Hospital.
$10000
Describe Irene Souter's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Massachusetts General Hospital.
She said to transfer two embryos to give me a chance.
– Read less
10
Age
37
Treated
2017
Success with this Doc
18 Eggs Frozen
Treatment
1 Egg Freezing
Diagnosis
—
10
[The nurses at Massachusetts General Hospital] They were all so god about walking me through every step of the process and really helped me when I felt really overwhelmed...Very well run clinic and answered all of my questions. Very easy for patients to communicate with the clinic. The staff were also incredible. They were very friendly when we came in for our visits. There were no weaknesses.
+ Read more
Age
37
Treated
2017
Success with this Doc
18 Eggs Frozen
Race
European
Income
$200K - $499K
Occupation
Entrepreneur
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
1 Egg Freezing
Diagnosis
—
10
Describe your experience with Massachusetts General Hospital.
Very well run clinic and answered all of my questions. Very easy for patients to communicate with the clinic. The staff were also incredible. They were very friendly when we came in for our visits. There were no weaknesses.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital?
I am a business professional and I am single and have watched all of my girlfriends get pregnant. I was quite anxious about what Dr. Styer was going to tell me about my eggs. From the first minute of the consult with him, he was so good to reassure me that I did was not obliged to do anything. He really laid out all of the options for fertility preservation and really helped me understand what the real pros and cons of egg freezing were. He was very patient with me!
Describe your experience with your nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital.
They were all so god about walking me through every step of the process and really helped me when I felt really overwhelmed.
How was your experience with Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital?
He was just so down to earth and did everything he could to answer my questions...no matter how anxious or emotional I got. He really made me feel like I was his only patient. It was the best experience I have had with any of my doctors!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital?
I would suggest that any patient be as ope and honest with him. He is very responsive.
Describe the protocols Aaron K. Styer used in your cycles at Massachusetts General Hospital and their degree of success.
Birth control pills, Cetrotide, Gonal F and Menopur
Describe Aaron K. Styer's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Not appicable. I froze eggs
– Read less
10
Age
44
Treated
2017
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
1 IVF, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve
10
I am also a physician, but fertility is not my specialty. Dr. Styer [at MGH[ explained my diagnosis and treatment plan in both simple and complex terms. He was very down to earth and caring and was very sensitive about telling me I had a reduced number of eggs. He was very confident in my success given my age and he was right. He recommended going right to IVF although I am single. I am now 10 wks pregnant with twins!!! Very happy an
+ Read more
Age
44
Treated
2017
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Doctor
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
1 IVF, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve
10
Describe your experience with Massachusetts General Hospital.
It was one stop shopping with blood draws, ultrasounds and egg retrieval in one space
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital?
I am also a physician, but fertility is not my specialty. Dr. Styer explained my diagnosis and treatment plan in both simple and complex terms. He was very down to earth and caring and was very sensitive about telling me I had a reduced number of eggs. He was very confident in my success given my age and he was right. He recommended going right to IVF although I am single. I am now 10 wks pregnant with twins!!! Very happy and satisfied with Dr, Styer's professional approach, expertise and sensitive approach to walking me through this difficult process.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
Very organized and sensitive to my questions and concerns
How was your experience with Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Dr Styer and his nurse Cheryl were superb and always attentive to my questions and needs. I am completely satisfied!!! They were really good good about about holding my hand throughout the entire process and kept me positive even when I learned that I had a lower number of eggs.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital?
No advice needed. The experience was great. He and his team gave me the best care!
Describe the protocols Aaron K. Styer used in your cycles at Massachusetts General Hospital and their degree of success.
I dont remember all of the shots. But I used Gonal G and Menopur and did Lupron with Flare protocol
– Read less
10
Age
41 - 42
Treated
2013 - 2014
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
3 IUI, 3 IVF, 3 Embryo Freezing
Diagnosis
Poor Egg Quality
10
Excellent care. Specifically located in a private area of the hospital not close to OB-GYN. The office [MGH - Boston] is very busy so it sometimes got backed up but never anything too bad. I always felt that I was getting the best treatment in the country....[Nurse] Cheryl was terrific - always upbeat...We had to pay out of pocket for the frozen transfer. I believe it was $10,000...Dr. Toth was thorough and realistic.
+ Read more
Age
41 - 42
Treated
2013 - 2014
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European
Income
—
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
3 IUI, 3 IVF, 3 Embryo Freezing
Diagnosis
Poor Egg Quality
10
Describe your experience with Massachusetts General Hospital.
Excellent care. Specifically located in a private area of the hospital not close to OB-GYN. The office is very busy so it sometimes got backed up but never anything too bad. I always felt that I was getting the best treatment in the country.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Thomas Toth at Massachusetts General Hospital?
He took the time to talk to us. He delivered what was bad news in a very kind way and made suggestions while being clear it was our decision on how to proceed.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital. (Assigned nurse: Cheryl)
Cheryl was terrific - always upbeat.
How was your experience with Thomas Toth at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Dr. Toth was thorough and realistic. He had to deliver the news to us that my hormone levels did not meet insurance minimums for coverage of IVF. He made the recommendation to use the frozen embryo we had and suggested that our next option after that would be egg donor. While this was difficult news to hear, he was kind, took time with us and answered all of our questions.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Thomas Toth at Massachusetts General Hospital?
He will be upfront about your reality of getting pregnant but will communicate it in a nice manner.
Describe the protocols Thomas Toth used in your cycles at Massachusetts General Hospital and their degree of success.
We did a frozen embryo transfer. It resulted in a healthy 9 lb boy!
Describe the costs associated with your care under Thomas Toth at Massachusetts General Hospital.
We had to pay out of pocket for the frozen transfer. I believe it was $10,000
Describe Thomas Toth's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Not applicable. I only had one embryo.
– Read less
9
Age
32 - 34
Treated
2012 - 2014
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
1 IVF, 1 Egg Freezing
Diagnosis
Male Factor, Other
9
They [the staff at MGH Fertility] were always warm, funny, and friendly. I really never had a bad experience with a nurse that I can remember. The office seems to run really efficiently. I rarely had a long wait. The front desk staff was a little blase but the interaction with them is minimal (and they were never unfriendly).
+ Read more
Age
32 - 34
Treated
2012 - 2014
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European
Income
$200K - $499K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
1 IVF, 1 Egg Freezing
Diagnosis
Male Factor, Other
9
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Jan Shifren at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Dr. Shifted is extremely warm and empathetic. I never felt rushed or like I couldn't talk with her. She personally called to check in with me several times outside of regular visits. All of the other doctors and nurses I saw were always positive, warm, and friendly. Even though they had tons of other patients lined up I felt like I got personal attention.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
They were always warm, funny, and friendly. I really never had a bad experience with a nurse that I can remember. The office seems to run really efficiently. I rarely had a long wait. The front desk staff was a little blase but the interaction with them is minimal (and they were never unfriendly).
How was your experience with Jan Shifren at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Dr. Shifren was great; very warm and friendly but honest. She was encouraging about our chances but realistic that it might be a rough road (which it was). Any time we hit a setback or made progress she personally called me with comfort or congrats. The only downside is that I didn't often see her in my regular (sometimes daily) clinic visits, but I wasn't bothered because I found all the doctors to be great and she was deifnitely reachable if needed.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Jan Shifren at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Be patient....I think that's probably universal in the fertility process though.
– Read less
4
Age
38 - 39
Treated
2013 - 2014
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
2 IVF
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Poor Egg Quality, Tubal Blockage
4
There were monitoring hours [at MGH Fertility] but you made an appointment. It was very well run and efficient. The best part was, you were almost always monitored by a doctor who would tell you what was happening while you were there. You would still get a call later from a nurse with instructions, but at the monitoring appointment, you would know how things were progressing. No anxious waiting involved.
+ Read more
Age
38 - 39
Treated
2013 - 2014
Success with this Doc
?
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1st of 2 Docs
Treatment
2 IVF
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Poor Egg Quality, Tubal Blockage
4
Describe your experience with Massachusetts General Hospital.
Well run and efficient.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Jan Shifren at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Dr. Shiffren and team were very warm but it was clear decisions were based on published statistics that make the clinic "successful."
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
Awesome!
How was your experience with Jan Shifren at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Doctor Shiffren is very compassionate and caring, but there is a point in which her demeanor is almost too sensitive that felt like I was a baby myself. I got to see her a lot though, which is comforting.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Jan Shifren at Massachusetts General Hospital?
If you prefer a very gentle and coddling personality, she's definitely for you. If you're more straightforward and "down to business," I recommend another doctor.
Describe the protocols Jan Shifren used in your cycles at Massachusetts General Hospital and their degree of success.
Dr. Shiffren and team agreed to giving me one try at IVF with my own eggs due to DOR/poor egg quality. Needed a salpingectomy, then started an aggressive Lupron Flare protocol.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Massachusetts General Hospital.
There were monitoring hours but you made an appointment. It was very well run and efficient. The best part was, you were almost always monitored by a doctor who would tell you what was happening while you were there. You would still get a call later from a nurse with instructions, but at the monitoring appointment, you would know how things were progressing. No anxious waiting involved.
– Read less
7
Age
44
Treated
2014
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
2 IVF, Donor Eggs
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Male Factor, Poor Egg Quality, Unexplained
7
His [Dr. Petrozza 's] staff made us feel more human, we rarely saw him. Julie was the donor coordinator and she took care of everything for us; we couldn't have been more happy with her. the staff nurses who assisted during the transfer were also wonderful.
+ Read more
Age
44
Treated
2014
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Business Executive
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
2 IVF, Donor Eggs
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Male Factor, Poor Egg Quality, Unexplained
7
Describe your experience with Massachusetts General Hospital.
teaching hospital based clinic
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with John Petrozza at Massachusetts General Hospital?
his staff made us feel more human, we rarely saw him
Describe your experience with your nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital. (Assigned nurse: Julie Gold)
Julie was the donor coordinator and she took care of everything for us; we couldn't have been more happy with her. the staff nurses who assisted during the transfer were also wonderful
What specific things went wrong at Massachusetts General Hospital?
- Failed to call with results
- Lost or damaged samples
How was your experience with John Petrozza at Massachusetts General Hospital?
He was upfront and honest with us about the need to use a donor egg and ICSI, after two failed IVF's with colleagues in his clinic, he would have moved forward with our own embryo's if we wanted by he painted a realist picture of what our success rate would be 0.5%
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of John Petrozza at Massachusetts General Hospital?
ask a lot of question and understand WHY you're not able to conceive. Knowing why your not getting pregnant will help you be able to make decisions about topics you haven't considered yet, like donor egg
Describe the protocols John Petrozza used in your cycles at Massachusetts General Hospital and their degree of success.
we used a donor egg, so I felt less in control of the process. he had a clear roadmap of donor egg cycles to get me to feel comfortable with what this cycle would be like compared to my other two unsuccessful cycles.
Describe the costs associated with your care under John Petrozza at Massachusetts General Hospital.
the first two cycles were covered by insurance, the donor egg cycle cost of $25000.00 out of pocket
– Read less
10
Age
32 - 36
Treated
2010 - 2014
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
1 IUI, IVF, 1 Egg Freezing
Diagnosis
Anovulation, PCOS
10
[My nurse at MGH] was very caring and thorough with the instructions given to me for all the medications etc. They remembered details of my husband as well although he did not visit the clinic as much as I did.
+ Read more
Age
32 - 36
Treated
2010 - 2014
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
East Asian
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Accountant
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
1 IUI, IVF, 1 Egg Freezing
Diagnosis
Anovulation, PCOS
10
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Jan Shifren at Massachusetts General Hospital?
I talked to her nurse, Judy all the time. She was very caring and thorough with the instructions given to me for all the medications etc. They remembered details of my husband as well although he did not visit the clinic as much as I did.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital. (Assigned nurse: Judy Shankman)
Compassionate, organized, and trustworthy
How was your experience with Jan Shifren at Massachusetts General Hospital?
dr Shifren was professional and very thorough in explaining everything. i would say she's one of the best in her field. she was thorough but very efficient at the same time. she had great bedside manner as well. when I miscarried she called to say how sorry she was, and when I got pregnant (twice) she called to congratulate me and say how happy she is for me. I loved the nurse that supports her as well. I still frequently send her and dr Shifren photos of my daughters who she helped me bring to this world!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Jan Shifren at Massachusetts General Hospital?
I would say to trust her. she knows what she's doing. she's not overly aggressive with the treatments like some doctors who gets you pregnant but will multiples which is high risk. she helped me get pregnant twice and I ended up with two singletons. Two healthy girls.
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10
Age
39
Treated
2017
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
IVF
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
The clinic [Massachusetts General Hospital] was very efficient and Dr. Styer's team really worked to get me to treatment as quickly as possible... Cheryl [a nurse] was always so comforting and really answered all of my questions.... Birth control pills, Gonal F, Menopur, Cetrotide and then a Lupron trigger. We transfrerred 2 blastocysts due to my age.
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Age
39
Treated
2017
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
—
Income
$200K - $499K
Occupation
Entrepreneur
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
IVF
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
Describe your experience with Massachusetts General Hospital.
The clinic was very efficient and Dr. Styer's team really worked to get me to treatment as quickly as possible
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Dr. Styer really tried to see me for all of my ultrasounds and procedures and really personalized everything for me. I even saw him out in public and he remembered everything about me. Very impressive!
Describe your experience with your nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital. (Assigned nurse: Cheryl)
Cheryl was always so comforting and really answered all of my questions.
How was your experience with Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital?
He simply made the whole process very manageable for me and really encouraged me to ask questions and be a real participant in my care. He really felt as though I was empowered to succeed and to take control of my infertility.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital?
He really listens to what you have to say. I feel like some doctors provide lip service. He took my concerns and questions seriously.
Describe the protocols Aaron K. Styer used in your cycles at Massachusetts General Hospital and their degree of success.
Birth control pills, Gonal F, Menopur, Cetrotide and then a Lupron trigger. We transfrerred 2 blastocysts due to my age.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital.
all covered inusrance
Describe Aaron K. Styer's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Yes, he reviewed it in depth. But did not advise since I am almost 40 and were not not doing PGS
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10
Age
27
Treated
2017
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
IVF
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
The clinic [MGH - Danvers] downtown was well run and everyone was very kind...It was the most enjoyable experience I have had as a patient. I though being a fertility patient was going top be scary and hard. Dr. Styer and his nurse Cheryl really helped me find my way and take control of the process...They [nurses] always knew my name and who I was an got me through the process with flying colors.!...We then did PGS to test my embryos...
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Age
27
Treated
2017
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Doctor
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
IVF
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
Describe your experience with Massachusetts General Hospital.
The clinic downtown was well run and everyone was very kind
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Dr.Styer really reviewed every piece of my history and made sure he had every part of my medical history. He really knew me as a patient. He went on to ask me about my professional life and genuinely cared about who I am as a person.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital. (Assigned nurse: Cheryl and Toni)
They always knew my name and who I was an got me through the process with flying colors.!
How was your experience with Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital?
It was the most enjoyable experience I have had as a patient. I though being a fertility patient was going top be scary and hard. Dr. Styer and his nurse Cheryl really helped me find my way and take control of the process
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital?
He is great at answering questions and making you feel empowered to take control of your fertility.
Describe the protocols Aaron K. Styer used in your cycles at Massachusetts General Hospital and their degree of success.
We used birth control pills for 2 weeks, then Gonal G, Menopur, antagonist, and upron trigger. We then did PGS to test my embryos. We could then transfer the single best normal embryos and it worked!
Describe the costs associated with your care under Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital.
It was covered by insurance
Describe Aaron K. Styer's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Massachusetts General Hospital.
He really emphasized the need to transfer one embryo to reduce my risk for twins. He really educated me on elective single embryo transfer
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0
Age
41
Treated
2016
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
3 IVF, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve
0
I would go to MGH is you are young and have unexplained fertility. If you are over 37 I would go to Boston IVF or the Sher fertility clinic in NYC. MGH seems less motivated to treat older women creatively compared to other clinics...Cheryl was wonderful and compassionate. I loved her. The other nurse was more gruff and not helpful in terms of explaining injections or any part of the process. I can't remember her name but I was less than happy when I would see her at visits
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Age
41
Treated
2016
Success with this Doc
No
Race
European
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1st of 2 Docs
Treatment
3 IVF, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve
0
Describe your experience with Massachusetts General Hospital.
I would go to MGH is you are young and have unexplained fertility. If you are over 37 I would go to Boston IVF or the Sher fertility clinic in NYC. MGH seems less motivated to treat older women creatively compared to other clinics
Describe your experience with your nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital. (Assigned nurse: cheryl)
Cheryl was wonderful and compassionate. I loved her. The other nurse was more gruff and not helpful in terms of explaining injections or any part of the process. I can't remember her name but I was less than happy when I would see her at visits
What specific things went wrong at Massachusetts General Hospital?
- Provided conflicting information
- Failed to convey critical information
How was your experience with Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Dr Styer was compassionate and a nice doctor. He didn't try any alternative protocols like they did at Boston IVF where I retrieved 8 times the number of eggs. I liked Dr Styer personally but he didn't spend the time to try other protocols
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital?
To try to investigate other options before suggesting donor eggs automatically
Describe the costs associated with your care under Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital.
About $15,000.00 out of pocket
Describe Aaron K. Styer's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Massachusetts General Hospital.
I wish they had explained options to me such as embryo freezing a year before my treatment when I first visited for information that would have been a decision I would have made earlier or even that financing was available given I was paying out of pocket and it took me a year to save the 12K
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Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
10
Age
37
Treated
2017
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
3 IUI, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
Great systems in place [at MGH - Danvers]. They really accommodate your needs...His [Dr. Styer's] nurse Cherly was great!...Dr Styer has an excellent bedside manner. He was very knowledgeable and progressive, takes the time to listen to issues and go through your care. Too bad all my doctors aren't at his level. He gave us top notch care!...Dr. Styer really listened to the emotional side of things. He held my hand and walked me through the process and offered a lot of great support and encouragement.
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Age
37
Treated
2017
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Business Executive
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
3 IUI, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
Describe your experience with Massachusetts General Hospital.
Great systems in place. They really accommodate your needs
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Dr. Styer really listened to the emotional side of things. He held my hand and walked me through the process and offered a lot of great support and encouragement.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital.
His nurse Cherly was great!
How was your experience with Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital?
Dr Styer has an excellent bedside manner. He was very knowledgeable and progressive, takes the time to listen to issues and go through your care. Too bad all my doctors aren't at his level. He gave us top notch care!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital?
He really listens to what you have to say. You can ask him any question..no matter how big or small
Describe the protocols Aaron K. Styer used in your cycles at Massachusetts General Hospital and their degree of success.
Clomid and gonal F with IUI
Describe the costs associated with your care under Aaron K. Styer at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Covered by insurance
Describe Aaron K. Styer's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Massachusetts General Hospital.
He really treated us to reduce our risk for twins
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10
Age
35 - 40
Treated
2007 - 2012
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
13 IUI, 1 IVF, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
Very personable. Felt like everyone [at MGH] knew me, my struggles, and my hopes. Felt like they were my team and that I mattered. Well organized and efficient. Location wasn't ideal to where I lived and worked at the time. Parking was kind of a pain....She [Dr. Shifren] was very kind, knowledgeable, and honest. I was feeling very fragile and disheartened and she found a way to give hope but not false hope. She was non judgemental. She made you feel like she remembers every patient who walks through her door....
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Age
35 - 40
Treated
2007 - 2012
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
Ashkenazi Jewish
Income
—
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
13 IUI, 1 IVF, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
Describe your experience with Massachusetts General Hospital.
Very personable. Felt like everyone knew me, my struggles, and my hopes. Felt like they were my team and that I mattered. Well organized and efficient. Location wasn't ideal to where I lived and worked at the time. Parking was kind of a pain.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Jan Shifren at Massachusetts General Hospital?
She was very personable, did not rush me, was very empathetic.
How was your experience with Jan Shifren at Massachusetts General Hospital?
She was very kind, knowledgeable, and honest. I was feeling very fragile and disheartened and she found a way to give hope but not false hope. She was non judgemental. She made you feel like she remembers every patient who walks through her door.
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4
Age
37 - 39
Treated
2013 - 2015
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
2 IUI
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Endometriosis, Uterine Fibroids, Unexplained
4
The first IUI was great, a lot of information, timely detailed instructions. This second IUI (was suppose to be IVF) was confusing, received mismatching information from nurses, and generally was made to feel that they didn't really care about the outcome.
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Age
37 - 39
Treated
2013 - 2015
Success with this Doc
No
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Business Executive
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
2 IUI
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Endometriosis, Uterine Fibroids, Unexplained
4
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mary Sabatini at Massachusetts General Hospital?
The first IUI was great, a lot of information, timely detailed instructions. This second IUI (was suppose to be IVF) was confusing, received mismatching information from nurses, and generally was made to feel that they didn't really care about the outcome.
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