How was your experience with Mark Amols at New Direction Fertility Centers?
As explained in my prior write up, Dr. Amols has definite strengths showing in the kindness, compassion, empathy, and communication quadrants. The only quadrant of characteristic I could say he may struggle with is jumping straight to IVF as the only option. I noticed he brought it up multiple times throughout our conversations with him, appearing to base his recommendations on my husbands very low sperm count. We were hoping to hear a few more details on options for increasing sperm count prior to moving straight into IVF. I know that Dr. Amols main focus is of course, helping couples conceive and produce live births, I trust he is passionate and determined in his quest to facilitate this, and I think he could have throttled that conversation back just a tad for us as we were are little overwhelmed by the thought of IVF for those reasons most people are... "how many embryos could I produce and will I be able to carry all my babies?, will this even work?, what is the true cost?, can we afford this realistically?, will we feel severe financial pain mingled with the joy of bringing a child into the world (nobody wants that)?"
Other than that somewhat quick conclusion he gave us initially, all other accounts of first and subsequent meetings with Dr. Amols, having him discuss female and male infertility factors, what does the process look like and other items, have been excellent. I sure hope this helps!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mark Amols at New Direction Fertility Centers?
Let him speak and ask you questions and you may find he answers yours along the way and do not withhold any personal questions or curiosities as he is an excellent communicator and will breakdown the information for you. Make sure you are on time and do not miss your appointments if at all possible as Dr. Amols is a popular and in demand doctor here and it may take time for a reschedule.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mark Amols at New Direction Fertility Centers?
Dr. Amols took well over an hour to meet with my husband and i as we have been unable to conceive for 9.75 years. Dr. Amols showed tenderness and compassion towards us along with an incredible amount of empathy since he and his wife struggled to conceive for 10 years. He shared his own personal testimony with us regarding infertility. He tediously drew out on paper and reviewed with us both my test results and my husbands. Dr. Amols explained how a semen- analysis worked and how numbers are calculated, he took the time to explain how they determined my egg quality based on the blood I gave, I cannot praise him enough for the work he has done with us up to this point. We are cash paying, there is no insurance coverage with our businesses for fertility and both Dr. Amols and his office staff have been sensitive to our yearning for children and the heavy burden of cost associated with infertility treatments. He said he would do this for free if he could figure out a way too! I nearly jumped off my seat and wrapped my arms around him!
Describe the protocols Mark Amols used in your cycles at New Direction Fertility Centers and their degree of success.
Well...Dr. Amols took my blood work from my gynecological office that was done for the pre-fertility treatment first appointment and said my eggs were literally perfect. He looked over the semen-analysis my husband had and said all the sperm looked great except that there are far too few of them!
He ordered me to come in for a sonohysterography and had his NP take care of that, it revealed a polyp that he will be removing from my uterus in one week (May 2nd) and then I should be good to go for discussions on when to begin IVF treatment. We also had one more semen analysis done just to be sure the one he originally looked over wasnt what Dr. Amols called 'a bad day' and alas, the second SA resulted in low sperm count. Dr. Amols has suggested that this is a difficult obstacle to overcome through any other treatments and outside of IVF there are not may sound and empirically proven efforts, which was his rationale for suggesting IVF in the first place. He was sensitive to our financial situation and said we should not fuss over doing HSG tests if we are going to proceed with IVF as a response to the low sperm counts. He did a trans vaginal ultrasound and said other than the polyp, my uterus and ovaries are in excellent condition, showing us my follicles and all.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
They have all been very tender and sweet to us. I cried in the waiting room because after this many years...it's just sad. They will bring me tissue and water. They are very quick to communicate answers to any questions I have had about procedures and billing and time frames.
Describe your experience with New Direction Fertility Centers.
The clinic is a bit hard to locate as it is on the top story of an office facility in Gilbert, AZ. Other than that the inside is gorgeous and clean as new hospital! All details accounted for in the waiting rooms, including feminine products for after your procedure check ups in case you are on your cycle, comfortable seating, water, coffee, tea, soothing colors and music. The windows are very pleasant looking out at the mountain ranges. Lighting and decor are all coordinated well and are lovely.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mark Amols at New Direction Fertility Centers.
$200 for the initial visit (keep in mind we are cash paying). $99 for the semen analysis. $400 for the sonohsterography. $1800 for the polypectomy.
Describe Mark Amols's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at New Direction Fertility Centers.
He has been open about this and said he promotes multiple embryo transfer if his patients are comfortable with it and check out as able to carry twins. His reasons were clear, if a couple has been waiting years to conceive and can have two live births at once, how much more delightful is that result. Of course he said, there are more details that are discussed in terms of ensuring the uterus can handle two babies as well as the woman's overall health assumed to be well enough for that.