Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
2016 - 2017, Unsuccessful
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We think our first doctor Dr. Whelan performed an unnecessary surgery which caused uterine fibroids...we didn't receive enough personal attention, and felt like he didn't really care if we succeeded. Many times the prognosis was pessimistic, and we weren't given many options. They were quick to recommend surrogacy.
Weakness: Dr Whelan advised a surgical procedure prior to our first frozen embryo transfer. We regret listening to him...We do not trust this clinic, and would caution against. Strengths: They have multiple doctors on staff, however, you do not get to meet or consult with them...The nurses have good bedside manner, and generally respond quickly to emailed questions through their portal.
How was your experience with Joseph Whelan at Reproductive Specialists of the Carolinas?
We think our first doctor Dr. Whelan performed an unnecessary surgery which caused uterine fibroids, which became the reason we could not get pregnant.
The final doctor, Dr. Richard Wang is knowledgeable and was the founder of Reach clinic. But we didn't receive enough personal attention, and felt like he didn't really care if we succeeded. Many times the prognosis was pessimistic, and we weren't given many options. They were quick to recommend surrogacy. Overall, we were disappointed not just in the outcome, but in the way we were treated as just another number. We would have appreciated more second opinions and communications.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Joseph Whelan at Reproductive Specialists of the Carolinas?
Always get a second, and third, and maybe fourth opinion.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Joseph Whelan at Reproductive Specialists of the Carolinas?
We received information and instructions, but we had to consistently request and remind to get all answers. We would have liked more consultations because we often felt on our own. We did not achieve any success, and often felt like no one really cared or tried hard enough.
Describe the protocols Joseph Whelan used in your cycles at Reproductive Specialists of the Carolinas and their degree of success.
Dr Whelan suggested a hysteroscopy to remove a polyp, which became uterine adhesions called Ashermans. We regret listening to him because we think this ultimately caused us not to become pregnant. We wish we had proceeded with at least a few FETs before considering surgery. We do not trust this clinic, and blame them for this.
We has 2 stimulated egg retrievals, which were then placed in cryo-preservations. We had 4 frozen embryo transfers and 1 fresh embryo transfer. We tried Embryoglue, which is Hyaluronic Acid injected during the transfers to help with embryo implantation.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Reproductive Specialists of the Carolinas.
The nurses have good bedside manner, and generally respond quickly to emailed questions through their portal. But we did not have a primary nurse, and the information had to be asked for, rather than provided up front. Overall, the nursing staff was generally good.
Describe your experience with Reproductive Specialists of the Carolinas.
Weakness: Dr Whelan advised a surgical procedure prior to our first frozen embryo transfer. We regret listening to him. This caused uterine adhesions and Asherman's syndrome, which kept us from achieving pregnancy during all subsequent transfers. We should have tried a few transfers before surgery. We do not trust this clinic, and would caution against.
Strengths: They have multiple doctors on staff, however, you do not get to meet or consult with them
Describe the costs associated with your care under Joseph Whelan at Reproductive Specialists of the Carolinas.
Cost was around $35k total, but two surgeries were extra $2k due to lack of availability in the in-house surgical room. Medications were always extra.
Describe Joseph Whelan's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Reproductive Specialists of the Carolinas.
We always did single embryo transfer, with the best quality embryo available each time.
What specific things went wrong at Reproductive Specialists of the Carolinas?
- Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
- Failed to call with results
- Failed to send your chart to another clinic
- Failed to inform you of changes in protocol
- Provided conflicting information
- Failed to consider drug intolerance
- Scheduled the wrong procedure
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Reproductive Specialists of the Carolinas.
We had to be very pro-active with this clinic. Asking tons of questions and requesting instructions. Many times, we had wrong procedures scheduled or medications which would have been an allergy problem.