Ratings of 1 indicate that a clinic was poorly operated.
Ratings of 10 indicate that a clinic operated very well.
Scheduling
9.2
9.2
Scheduling
Ratings of 1 mean it was difficult to schedule appointments with this clinic.
Ratings of 10 mean it was easy to schedule appointments.
Billing Department
8.1
8.1
Billing Department
Ratings of 1 indicate an unsatisfactory billing department.
Ratings of 10 indicate an excellent billing department.
Nursing Team
9
9
Nursing Team
Ratings of 1 indicate an unsatisfactory nursing team.
Ratings of 10 indicate an excellent nursing team.
Attention to Detail
8.3
8.3
Attention to Detail
Attention to detail is on a 1 - 10 scale, and is scored based on the rate, and severity, of errors committed by the clinic according to the patients.
For example, a severe error might be failing to inform a patient of critical information, while a small error might be failing to call a patient with results.
CDC Success Rates
This is the most recent data from the CDC. The CDC cautions that it should not be used to compare doctors and clinics. This data represents the outcomes of IVF cycles when using a person's own eggs.
For more information please see our FAQs.
Where you see a “?” on the chart, a clinic has done fewer than 20 cycles in this category and age range, so the CDC says showing percentages from this small data set would be misleading and unreliable.
I do feel as though he’s [Dr. John Crochet] taking his time and putting my health at the top priority. I feel like he is a great communicator and doctor. I’ve only had one IUI so far and I do wish he would’ve done it instead of a nurse...Don’t be afraid to ask questions. He’s always been happy to answer any...they know me as soon as I come in for testing. They know my situation is unique and they know it has to be very precise.
I think they [CORM clinic] are very organized and they try to make you feel comfortable. They will answer any and all questions you have even if they have to check with the doctor and call you back. The only thing I didn’t like was when I did my IUI, I had to go to the Houston location (2 hours from us)...[the nursing staff] They are always aware of my situation, my monitoring and my testing. They recognize me and they make me feel very comfortable.
How was your experience with John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
I do feel as though he’s taking his time and putting my health at the top priority. I feel like he is a great communicator and doctor. I’ve only had one IUI so far and I do wish he would’ve done it instead of a nurse.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. He’s always been happy to answer any.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
I felt like a human, because they know me as soon as I come in for testing. They know my situation is unique and they know it has to be very precise.
Describe the protocols John Crochet used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM) and their degree of success.
My first attempt at IUI, we did 2.5mg of Letrozole for 5 days. Then we did 75iu of Menopur over the course of 4-5 days while they monitored me. My follicles never really grew and I ended up ovulating early so we missed that cycle.
My actual first IUI: We did 5 days of 7.5mg of Letrozole and on my first monitoring visit, I had a follicle at 19.8 Wednesday. I triggered at 9:30pm on Friday and we did the IUI procedure on Sunday at around 9:30-10am. This IUI failed. We are waiting for the clinic to open back up and either continue with another round of IUI or switch to IVF because of my unicornuate uterus.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
They are always aware of my situation, my monitoring and my testing. They recognize me and they make me feel very comfortable.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
I think they are very organized and they try to make you feel comfortable. They will answer any and all questions you have even if they have to check with the doctor and call you back. The only thing I didn’t like was when I did my IUI, I had to go to the Houston location (2 hours from us).
Describe the costs associated with your care under John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
For (I believe 6) monitoring visits: $1,275
The IUI: $400
Dr. Sims is very straightforward and to the point. We knew going in the route we would need to take...We will be using donor eggs so our cycle was a bit different...very upfront about the positive and negative aspects of the process. He does have a very dry sense of humor, which both myself and my husband loved... clinic only does single embryo transfer...Because of my age I was hoping for a possible multiple pregnancy so I would only have to go through this process once.
All of the staff [at CORM] are always so helpful and happy, this makes a big difference when you are going through infertility. They are also on top of things, I never have to wait long...My nurse has been awesome up to this point. She is always available and answers all questions promptly...clinic only does single embryo transfer..
How was your experience with Jerry Sims at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Dr. Sims is very straightforward and to the point. We knew going in the route we would need to take and he was very upfront about the positive and negative aspects of the process. He does have a very dry sense of humor, which both myself and my husband loved. We look forward to continuing our journey to building our family with his help.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Jerry Sims at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
He is definitely not what you would expect, but in a good way.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Jerry Sims at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
He was very down to earth and approached our consultation appointment and every appointment since with a very empathetic yet straightforward attitude, which at this point in our journey is very much appreciated.
Describe the protocols Jerry Sims used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM) and their degree of success.
We will be using donor eggs so our cycle was a bit different. We have been through multiple routine tests, including labs, ultrasounds, etc. At this point we have only had medications for cycle starts due to irregularities. We chose a donor and we currently have 6 frozen embryos just waiting for the world to return to normal.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM). (Assigned nurse: Ashley Martin)
My nurse has been awesome up to this point. She is always available and answers all questions promptly.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
The clinic is very nice. All of the staff are always so helpful and happy, this makes a big difference when you are going through infertility. They are also on top of things, I never have to wait long.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Jerry Sims at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
Egg purchase and transfer cost was $23,200.00. For ultrasounds and labs I’ve spent roughly $500.00.
Describe Jerry Sims's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
Our clinic only does single embryo transfer which I really didn’t want to do. Because of my age I was hoping for a possible multiple pregnancy so I would only have to go through this process once.
Dr. Crochet is very knowledgeable, professional, and transparent. He desired as much success as my husband and I. He was just as saddened by out negative results as we were. Although our outcome was devastating, he was professional throughout the experience.... We used the agonist protocol. We retrieved 10 eggs with our first round that resulted in 5 embryos. We had PGS testing that resulted in one normal embryo. We went directly into an embryo bank cycle with agonist protocol
The nursing staff [CORM] was caring and supportive. They always answered the phone or quickly responded. Even during Hurricane Harvey, when Orange, Texas was isolated from flooding water and the interstate was shutdown, the team was on the phone helping to assist with medication delivery and attempting to help with a plan of action. Many of these nurses lost their own homes and went above and beyond. Dr. Crochet has an amazing and loving team.
How was your experience with John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Dr. Crochet is very knowledgeable, professional, and transparent. He desired as much success as my husband and I. He was just as saddened by out negative results as we were. Although our outcome was devastating, he was professional throughout the experience.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Do you research and ask questions. Dr. Crochet is not a mind reader. Infertility treatment can be scary and questions lead to responses you sometimes do not what to hear. Ask the hard questions. He will answer any and all questions but research and ask the right questions. He will be honest and provide an answer.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Dr. Crochet is very personable. He is encouraging and takes the time to know his patients. He is kind and understanding.
Describe the protocols John Crochet used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM) and their degree of success.
We used the agonist protocol. We retrieved 10 eggs with our first round that resulted in 5 embryos. We had PGS testing that resulted in one normal embryo. We went directly into an embryo bank cycle with agonist protocol, although in hindsight this was a bad choice because we had just lost our home due to Hurricane Harvey, and the additional stress resulted in 3 eggs retrieved with no viable embryos. We transplanted the one normal embryo that resulted in a negative pregnancy.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
The nursing staff was caring and supportive. They always answered the phone or quickly responded. Even during Hurricane Harvey, when Orange, Texas was isolated from flooding water and the interstate was shutdown, the team was on the phone helping to assist with medication delivery and attempting to help with a plan of action. Many of these nurses lost their own homes and went above and beyond. Dr. Crochet has an amazing and loving team.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
The nursing staff is always supportive and helps with assistance. The financial department was confusing and hard to contact , , ,however if you asked Dr. Crochet to assist you, he immediately directed them to address the issue.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
Monitoring appointments were quick and adjusted to fit my busy work schedule.
Describe the costs associated with your care under John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
Costs where listed directly after a free consultation. The financial secretary was hard to make an appointment with. She was very busy. I didn't take it as personal.
Describe John Crochet's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
We had only one viable embryo to transfer so we are unable to give feedback to this question.
Dr. Crochet recommended a HSG to see if there were any blockages since all my bloodwork showed normal...It wasn't a personal conversation. I actually cried during my consultation and he wasn't very comforting... During the hsg, he explained exactly what was going on and made me comfortable. I was able to see the procedure on an xray machine (which was cool). The diagnosis of unexplained infertility was a bit devastating and left me hopeless and I didn't really feel like I had many options.
[CORM- Beaumont was] Clean and well organized. Blood work and ultrasound was taken at clinic...Scheduling was easy and got good reminders. Easy to find location. HSG was very easy and quick. I had to go back to discuss the results which I felt was unnecessary since the HSG was normal...[nurses were] Overall helpful and informative. Not too personal, but friendly...When I went to another doctor, it took several calls to get my information to be sent over.
How was your experience with John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
I was very straight forward that I wanted a consultation for what my first doctor suggested. He gave me a satisfactory recommendation, which was to have a hsg to see the outcome before anything else. During the hsg, he explained exactly what was going on and made me comfortable. I was able to see the procedure on an xray machine (which was cool). The diagnosis of unexplained infertility was a bit devastating and left me hopeless and I didn't really feel like I had many options. I didn't understand if everything was fine then why I couldn't get pregnant. Although I might have expected a lot from Dr. Crochet, he didn't really help me understand how infertility treatments could work with me. A friend actually recommended this clinic, but another doctor.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Have all your history written down because he doesn't ask a lot of questions.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
It wasn't a personal conversation. I actually cried during my consultation and he wasn't very comforting. He did help explain why the surgery my first doctor was unnecessary.
Describe the protocols John Crochet used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM) and their degree of success.
Dr. Crochet recommended a HSG to see if there were any blockages since all my bloodwork showed normal. I did no fertility treatments with this clinic.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
Overall helpful and informative. Not too personal, but friendly.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
Clean and well organized. Blood work and ultrasound was taken at clinic. Clinic is just an hour away from my house. Scheduling was easy and got good reminders. Easy to find location. HSG was very easy and quick. I had to go back to discuss the results which I felt was unnecessary since the HSG was normal.
Describe the costs associated with your care under John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
Office visits, ultrasound and HSG was not covered by insurance.
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Failed to send your chart to another clinic
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
When I went to another doctor, it took several calls to get my information to be sent over.
Dr. Crochet is very understanding and kind. He never treats us like a number. He has personally called me hisself a couple of times in this process. He explains things very well to us and genuinely wants great results...We see him every appt that is needed. He is a very genuine doctor and wants great results. We are very happy with him and would recommend him to our own family... could not do the retrieval due to time sensitivity but another great doctor in the clinic does.
The clinic [CORM] is very private with your care. The team gets you back for appt very quickly. Front desk staff is very sweet and helpful. The nurses though are absolutely amazing! They could not be anymore compassionate and understanding. They have gone through some infertility themselves. They always smile and make you feel like family. When we actually become pregnant and graduate I will actually be very sad to leave them but know it will be a great thing.
How was your experience with John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
My experience with Dr. Crochet is absolutely perfect even with not actually having the results we desire. But he is very informative, makes sure we understand everything, and is very compassionate. He has personally called us twice to discuss things. We see him every appt that is needed. He is a very genuine doctor and wants great results. We are very happy with him and would recommend him to our own family
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
This is a very hard experience to go through and would advise to just prepare yourself as you would with any doctor. He will make sure your needs are met in a compassionate way.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Dr. Crochet is very understanding and kind. He never treats us like a number. He has personally called me hisself a couple of times in this process. He explains things very well to us and genuinely wants great results
Describe the protocols John Crochet used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM) and their degree of success.
Dr. Crochet started things off with all necessary lab work and testing needed. Dye tube test, saline ultrasounds, AMH levels. I had already tried clomid with my Gynocologist and due to age we went straight to IUI once we started seeing him. He explained everything and gave us all our options. He was never pushy on anything. We did try injectables with IUI twice with negative results. We decided to go into IVF. We are unexplained infertility and since insurance does not cover any fertility treatments and my age (36 now) we moved straight forward. Did injectables for egg retrieval and we were able to get 13 eggs, 9 fertilized, and 4 made it to day 5. All we froze due to a thin lining. Dr. Crochet could not do the retrieval due to time sensitivity but another great doctor in the clinic does. We have transferred two embryos. First ended with a blighted ovum and had a D&C. Second transfer was negative. We are approaching our final transfer. I have had 3 hysteroscopies. First exploratory but did end up cleaning out a small fibroid, second was for a small fibroid, and last one was a little scar tissue that needed cleaning out prior to transfer. I do have a thin uterine lining and we are currently working on treatment protocol to help before we start treatment to approach our last transfer.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM). (Assigned nurse: Ashley Martin)
FYou are rarely in the waiting room with anyone else. The clinic is very private with your care. The team gets you back for appt very quickly. Front desk staff is very sweet and helpful.
The nurses though are absolutely amazing! They could not be anymore compassionate and understanding. They have gone through some infertility themselves. They always smile and make you feel like family. When we actually become pregnant and graduate I will actually be very sad to leave them but know it will be a great thing. They know me by name and always make me feel loved. Very genuine girls who want what’s best for you. Communication with them is easy. They have a direct line for you to leave a message and they respond to calls promptly. Some our on call for any outside hours too. Absolutely Love the staff!
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
As a new patient you will want to get yourself organized. It’s a long journey and you will definitely need things to be all together. You will see. Just because of fertility management in general. Not because of the clinic. So advice is to get all important numbers and save them for redily use. For instance the nurse line, the finance department, etc. You can always call your nurse and she can direct you. The nurses are very helpful that way and you will have a one on one basis with your nurses.
The clinic also has an app and website log in where you will have all your lab work, notes, ultrasounds, messages, etc redily available.
Describe the costs associated with your care under John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
Some labs and testing can be covered by insurance.
IVF contract was 13,500
Does not include medication
Which ran me about 6,000 total for retrieval and two transfers
Contract price does cover your transfers for up to a year
Describe John Crochet's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
My doctor is for the most part against advising or doing multiple embryo transfer but it all depends on your treatment. He does not say he never will and has done multiple before.
She [Dr. Schnell] really cared about our best interest and our specific situation that has led us to IVF ... we have to use a surrogate. ... Every time I walked into her office she knew me by name and knew my medical history by heart without ever having to refer back to my file ... My doctor advised she will only do single embryo transfer. ... She does tend to talk very fast but don’t be afraid to stop her and ask for an explanation or more detail. ...
The clinic [C.O.R.M.] is so helpfup. My insurance was denying my IVF because I had to use a surrogate and Dr Schnell’s team worked so hard to battle with my insurance and do everything they could to help get my treatment covered. ... They [nurses] were so caring about my safety and making sure I was comfortable ... I had a very tough schedule with work and traveling and she [nurse] managed to work around my schedule and make my IVF process happen within the timeline we wanted.
How was your experience with Vicki Schnell at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
She really cared about our best interest and our specific situation that has led us to IVF. My husband and I decline to do genetic testing on ourselves because it was optional. We decided to do genetic testing on our embryos because that is all we really cared about. We even signed our consent forms stating we are refusing genetic testing on ourselves. Dr. Schnell asked us very politely why we refused our genetic testing. She was concerned because I am of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage and we carry specific genetic diseases. She explained further that the genetic testing on the embryos was not as detailed as the genetic testing we get on ourselves. She made us realize that it was in our and our future baby’s best interest to go the extra mile to make sure everything was okay. She really cared about us and our future baby.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Vicki Schnell at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
She does tend to talk very fast but don’t be afraid to stop her and ask for an explanation or more detail. She will not hesitate to answer any and all questions and will really break everything down for you
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Vicki Schnell at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Every time I walked into her office she knew me by name and knew my medical history by heart without ever having to refer back to my file
Describe the protocols Vicki Schnell used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM) and their degree of success.
We are currently going through IVF with egg freezing because we have to use a surrogate. Our IVF plan is to start me on birth control for about 2 weeks and then start self administered hormone injections. I will do hormone injections for about 2 weeks. Once my eggs are mature they will be removed for fertilization and freezing
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM). (Assigned nurse: Stefanie Plaunty)
She is amazing! She always responds with any questions that day if not within the hour. I had a very tough schedule with work and traveling and she managed to work around my schedule and make my IVF process happen within the timeline we wanted.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
The clinic is so helpfup. My insurance was denying my IVF because I had to use a surrogate and Dr Schnell’s team worked so hard to battle with my insurance and do everything they could to help get my treatment covered. The office was very clear on treatment costs which was nice because we knew upfront exactly what was expected and there were no surprises on payments. Also there was one visit I had where I was getting a lot of blood drawn because I was getting multiple tests done. They were so caring about my safety and making sure I was comfortable and if I ever felt dizzy they had extra staff on standby to offer cold towels and juice. Something that seemed so small really made me feel comfortable and confident in my choice of a fertility clinic
Describe the costs associated with your care under Vicki Schnell at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
Unfortunately by insurance denied by IVF treatment so all costs were out of pocket
Describe Vicki Schnell's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
My doctor advised she will only do single embryo transfer. This is because there is always a small chance of having twins or triplets or more and for the safety of her patient and future child she does not want to put any of us at an unnecessary risk. Complicates can always arise during pregnancy and increasing the odds of having multiple children at once can increase those risks
Dr. Shnell is very good. She talks to me about all the different variables that could take place. She ordered lots of labs and did an ultra sound my first visit. She looked at my ovaries and told me they look good. She wanted to make sure everything was ok...She doesn’t leave things out just because you might not want to hear it. She’s very honest...She cares.
Everyone in the [CORM] office is great. They were very on top of my deductible and co pays with my insurance to make sure I would never over pay. They sat down and went over all the costs in detail. They are a very through team... have not found any weakness...I went into the clinic and they fit me in and were so amazing and compassionate and caring.
How was your experience with Vicki Schnell at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Dr. Shnell is very good. She talks to me about all the different variables that could take place. She ordered lots of labs and did an ultra sound my first visit. She looked at my ovaries and told me they look good. She wanted to make sure everything was ok.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Vicki Schnell at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Just be ready to hear it all. She doesn’t leave things out just because you might not want to hear it. She’s very honest.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Vicki Schnell at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
She spent tons of time with me, went over every lab result, explained everything going on. Since the covid-19 she even had a phone conference with my husband and I about our results. She cares.
Describe the protocols Vicki Schnell used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM) and their degree of success.
I have not started IVF yet. I just suffered a miscarriage and Dr. Shnell was the one who preformed the D&C for me and ran genetic testing on our son.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
Everyone in the office is great. They were very on top of my deductible and co pays with my insurance to make sure I would never over pay. They sat down and went over all the costs in detail. They are a very through team!
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
I have not found any weakness. When I found an OB to take over once I hit 12 weeks, she did an ultrasound and found my son didn’t have a heartbeat. I went into the clinic and they fit me in and were so amazing and compassionate and caring. They made sure I could be fit i. The next morning and Dr. Shnell went over everything and how to make a decision on what to do next.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Vicki Schnell at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
Very reasonable. Most of it went through my insurance.
He [Dr. Crochet] was very sympathetic towards my issues...He listens and explains any questions you have. He is very sympathetic to your feelings, but he does get directly to the point. I love that about him because I like that he doesn’t “beat around the bush.”...From my understanding, he only suggests one [embryo transfer], and I love the fact that he care so much for the safety of the mother and child.
I wouldn’t change anything. From my perspective, this staff [CORM] displays complete love for their jobs and is so nice! They definitely make you feel at home and welcomed....From the front desk, to the nurses, to the doctors. This clinic is so well put together and friendly! I love it!...the journey to discover why my husband and I were having difficulties was (not easy to hear) but the tests/procedures were easy because of the staff
How was your experience with John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
He listens and explains any questions you have. He is very sympathetic to your feelings, but he does get directly to the point. I love that about him because I like that he doesn’t “beat around the bush.”
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Tell him everything and ask any questions you have. He is patient and wants to answer any questions you have.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
He was very sympathetic towards my issues.
Describe the protocols John Crochet used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM) and their degree of success.
I haven’t started my IVF journey yet, but the journey to discover why my husband and I were having difficulties was (not easy to hear) but the tests/procedures were easy because of the staff. After blood work and semen analysis came back great, we went one to an HSG test. This is where we discovered tubal blockage.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
From the front desk, to the nurses, to the doctors. This clinic is so well put together and friendly! I love it!
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
I wouldn’t change anything. From my perspective, this staff displays complete love for their jobs and is so nice! They definitely make you feel at home and welcomed. Thank you so much CRM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Describe the costs associated with your care under John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
We have an HSA account, so we had the money saved up to pay for these procedures. For all the blood work, tests, procedures, we probably spent a total of $1500-$2000. (This is a total guess because I’m not 100% sure).
Describe John Crochet's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
From my understanding, he only suggests one, and I love the fact that he care so much for the safety of the mother and child.
She [Dr. Vicki Schnell] was very timely. I was able to speak to her within 10 to 15 mins. She was also very thorough. It was a lot of information to process and she made a point to stop here and there to make sure I didn't have any questions...We have done a few test. Blood, cultures, the ultrasound and the hsg test which found I had scarring and low AMH for my age. Our next plan of action is insemination or in vitro.
They [staff at CORM] offered their numbers in case I just needed someone to talk to which meant alot...All of her nurses were very kind but I remember one in particular. She was very compassionate. My husband had just started a new job and couldn't take off to make the appt so I went alone. I wasn't expecting bad news. She was very patient with me as I cried while trying to take in all the information.
How was your experience with Vicki Schnell at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
She was very timely. I was able to speak to her within 10 to 15 mins. She was also very thorough. It was a lot of information to process and she made a point to stop here and there to make sure I didn't have any questions.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Vicki Schnell at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
None really. I feel like she takes care of her patients and I'd just let them know that.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Vicki Schnell at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Her and her staff were very kind. They offered their numbers in case I just needed someone to talk to which meant alot.
Describe the protocols Vicki Schnell used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM) and their degree of success.
We have done a few test. Blood, cultures, the ultrasound and the hsg test which found I had scarring and low AMH for my age. Our next plan of action is insemination or in vitro.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
All of her nurses were very kind but I remember one in particular. She was very compassionate. My husband had just started a new job and couldn't take off to make the appt so I went alone. I wasn't expecting bad news. She was very patient with me as I cried while trying to take in all the information.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
I can't really say any bad about this place. Everyone was really nice and seemed to enjoy their work. Billing was explained thoroughly. I signed in on their computer and was seen within 5 to 10 minutes of arriving.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Vicki Schnell at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
Our first appointment was almost covered completely by our insurance. Only had to pay out of pocket 90. Then my husband unexpectedly lost his job so the next visit was 600
Describe Vicki Schnell's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
We haven't talked about it. I suppose we would talk about it once my husband and I have saved the money needed for the procedure.
John Crochet was awesome. He found out why I was having troubles getting pregnant. He explained what was going on and my treatment options. He prepared me for surgery, checked up on me after the surgery was over, and kept in contact with me. I couldn’t seek the IVF treatment with his facility at the time because it was a little pricy, but I won’t go anywhere else because he truly made me feel at home and like apart my there facility family. So I will continue to save up so that Doctor Crochet can help me have a baby. I don’t trust no other doctor but him.
All my answers and concerns were tented to. Everyone in the clinic [C.O.R.M.] knew who I was and called me by name. When I was afraid to go into surgery they made me feel more relaxed. ... The clinic was very clean and smelled great. They got you in/out in a timely manner. They was very nice and treated you like family. I haven’t seen a weakness in this office at the time that I was going. They were really on point.
How was your experience with John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
John Crochet was awesome. He found out why I was having troubles getting pregnant. He explained what was going on and my treatment options. He prepared me for surgery, checked up on me after the surgery was over, and kept in contact with me. I couldn’t seek the IVF treatment with his facility at the time because it was a little pricy, but I won’t go anywhere else because he truly made me feel at home and like apart my there facility family. So I will continue to save up so that Doctor Crochet can help me have a baby. I don’t trust no other doctor but him.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
I will tell them that Doctor Crochet is very experience in what he does and he’s trustworthy. I highly recommend him to anyone.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
All my answers and concerns were tented to. Everyone in the clinic knew who I was and called me by name. When I was afraid to go into surgery they made me feel more relaxed.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
The nursing welcomed me in as soon as I stepped foot in the door. They called me by my name. They offer me snacks and drinks. They explained all payments they I paid. I loved all of them.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
The clinic was very clean and smelled great. They got you in/out in a timely manner. They was very nice and treated you like family. I haven’t seen a weakness in this office at the time that I was going. They were really on point.
Describe the costs associated with your care under John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
12,000
Describe John Crochet's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
My doctor let me know that I only needed one embryo transfer at a time to keep from having multiple kids that might not all be healthy and that can jeopardize my health.
He [Dr. Crochet] was warming and very compassionate from the start. He helped me with 1 surgery & told me what to expect & was our next steps will be. It doesn’t make you feel like just a number. I have enjoyed having him as my doctor. He helped me understand my fertility & what we need to do next...Hes very caring & explained what was needed to help me conceive, but our insurance doesn’t cover it & we can’t afford it right now
Strengths [CORM] is their bedside manner. Weakness is not calling back as soon as you need it. They will call you hours later, but they explain what you need to do when they do call you back. They’re very welcoming & make sure you understand every procedure & test....They’re very caring & will answer any questions you have.... I know they quoted me for 1800 for our iui. Which we’re saving up for. 1200 for just timed intercourse with meds.
How was your experience with John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
He was warming and very compassionate from the start. He helped me with 1 surgery & told me what to expect & was our next steps will be. It doesn’t make you feel like just a number. I have enjoyed having him as my doctor. He helped me understand my fertility & what we need to do next, but our insurance doesn’t cover fertility & I can’t afford the treatments right now. I’m almost 36 & want more than anything to just become a mom.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Go in there with an open mind. You will feel like your more than a patient to him. He’s very caring & compassionate. You u won’t regret having him to over see your journey.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Hes very caring & explained what was needed to help me conceive, but our insurance doesn’t cover it & we can’t afford it right now
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM). (Assigned nurse: Stephanie )
They’re very caring & will answer any questions you have.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
Strengths is their bedside manner. Weakness is not calling back as soon as you need it. They will call you hours later, but they explain what you need to do when they do call you back. They’re very welcoming & make sure you understand every procedure & test.
Describe the costs associated with your care under John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
I know they quoted me for 1800 for our iui. Which we’re saving up for. 1200 for just timed intercourse with meds.
Dr. Crochet tells us all the facts but also makes it light and tries to be funny about something if able to. It was nice to finally know our issue. He helped us understand that there’s nothing we could have done on our own to increase our chances. ... So far all we’ve been able to try is have my husband on Clomid and a cocktail of supplements. He also has done blood testing and several ultrasounds on me.
I haven’t had any problems with the staff [at CORM-Beaumont]. We’ve only been 4/5 times so I also don’t have much to go off of. I do really like the lady that draws my blood though, she’s sweet and does a great job.... I love that they have everything they need right there in Beaumont. They have great stats and it makes me hopeful. I’ve read tons of reviews and no one has anything bad to say. Like I said before, I always recommend asking questions.
How was your experience with John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Dr. Crochet tells us all the facts but also makes it light and tries to be funny about something if able to. It was nice to finally know our issue. He helped us understand that there’s nothing we could have done on our own to increase our chances. We are still getting treatment, but I’m happy with how things have gone so far. I’m hoping he will give us out take home baby.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Ask a lot of questions, he will answer all of them.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
He was very nice and informative. He is making a plan that fits our life.
Describe the protocols John Crochet used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM) and their degree of success.
So far all we’ve been able to try is have my husband on Clomid and a cocktail of supplements. He also has done blood testing and several ultrasounds on me.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
I haven’t had any problems with the staff. We’ve only been 4/5 times so I also don’t have much to go off of. I do really like the lady that draws my blood though, she’s sweet and does a great job.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
I love that they have everything they need right there in Beaumont. They have great stats and it makes me hopeful. I’ve read tons of reviews and no one has anything bad to say. Like I said before, I always recommend asking questions.
Describe the costs associated with your care under John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
We paid everything with cash as out insurance doesn’t cover anything. It is expensive but anything medical is.
Describe John Crochet's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
[Dr. Jerry Sims is] Friendly and approachable. We had very good numbers, but they only panned out after IUI #3 which resulted in a "chemical" pregnancy...I am M 49 y/o, she is F 26 y/o. No physical issues, nor count or motility issues. Unfortunately, no luck yet either....I felt like we continued doing essentially the same things with the same results....Femara....Letrozole....Ovidrel......injections and IUI 3 times.....One cycle without IUI...unsuccessful....
The clinic [CORM Beaumont] was very accommodating.....They seemed very responsive.....One nurse seemed a little indifferent at times, but that's the worst thing I can say...Femara....Letrozole....Ovidrel......injections and IUI 3 times.....One cycle without IUI...unsuccessful....400 out of pocket for IUI
How was your experience with Jerry Sims at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Friendly and approachable. We had very good numbers, but they only panned out after IUI #3 which resulted in a "chemical" pregnancy...I am M 49 y/o, she is F 26 y/o. No physical issues, nor count or motility issues. Unfortunately, no luck yet either....I felt like we continued doing essentially the same things with the same results....
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Jerry Sims at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
He is a very nice physician. I'm sure he does well for many of his patients
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Jerry Sims at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Very nice gentleman.....No complaints about his demeanor....
Describe the protocols Jerry Sims used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM) and their degree of success.
Femara....Letrozole....Ovidrel......injections and IUI 3 times.....One cycle without IUI...unsuccessful....
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
The clinic was very accommodating.....They seemed very responsive.....One nurse seemed a little indifferent at times, but that's the worst thing I can say...
Describe the costs associated with your care under Jerry Sims at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
400 out of pocket for IUI ...Meds covered
Describe Jerry Sims's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
Schnell was very personable, knowledgeable, and explained things in terms I could understand. Being such a sensitive time for us, she made my husband and I feel at ease and feel that we could ask questions...3 cycles of Clomid, a D&C, 1 cycle of IUI - unsuccessful, next cycle of IUI overstimluated so I went to an IVF flip mid cycle. This resulted in a triplet pregnancy....
The staff at the Center of Reproductive Medicine were very organized. There was a minimal wait time. The staff, nurses, and doctors were compassionate, approachable and knowledgeable. I never felt like I couldn't ask a question....[nurses were] Very caring and compassionate...IUI process was around $4500, and an additional $5000 for the IVF flip mid-cycle...
How was your experience with Vicki Schnell at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Schnell was very personable, knowledgeable, and explained things in terms I could understand. Being such a sensitive time for us, she made my husband and I feel at ease and feel that we could ask questions.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Vicki Schnell at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Be honest with your cycle information, things you have tried, etc. All of the data is needed so that she can course the best treatment plan for you.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Vicki Schnell at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
The staff and nurses were very personable and I felt like they really wanted me to be successful.
Describe the protocols Vicki Schnell used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM) and their degree of success.
I don't remember everything - 3 cycles of Clomid, a D&C, 1 cycle of IUI - unsuccessful, next cycle of IUI overstimluated so I went to an IVF flip mid cycle. This resulted in a triplet pregnancy.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
Very caring and compassionate.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
The staff at the Center of Reproductive Medicine were very organized. There was a minimal wait time. The staff, nurses, and doctors were compassionate, approachable and knowledgeable. I never felt like I couldn't ask a question.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Vicki Schnell at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
IUI process was around $4500, and an additional $5000 for the IVF flip mid-cycle
[Dr. John Crochet] was very patient in answering every question we had and would go over everything. He made sure we understood everything and was comfortable moving on to the next step. He listened to me and my husband when we had concerns about what was going on and why it was happening and talk to us till we felt better...Just to ask questions if you have them. Don’t go unknown
[The clinic staff at CORM] always remember you and treat you like a person. They fix what ever issues you have. Their front staff had always worked well together and gotten everything done. The nurses that go in the room with you always let you know what they are about to do before they do it...The people taking blood don’t really know what’s going on. The nurses are amazing at calling you back and talking to you
How was your experience with John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
He was very patient in answering every question we had and would go over everything. He made sure we understood everything and was comfortable moving on to the next step. He listened to me and my husband when we had concerns about what was going on and why it was happening and talk to us till we felt better.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Just to ask questions if you have them. Don’t go unknown
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
They always remembered my name and always made sure I knew what was going on
Describe the protocols John Crochet used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM) and their degree of success.
On the third day I had a ultrasound then I started femara on day 3 don’t remember what day I had my next shot but then another ultrasound to see how the eggs were growing. Then a trigger shot the two days later I had my iui
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
The lady’s at the front are amazing. The people taking blood don’t really know what’s going on. The nurses are amazing at calling you back and talking to you.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
They always remember you and treat you like a person. They fix what ever issues you have. Their front staff had always worked well together and gotten everything done. The nurses that go in the room with you always let you know what they are about to do before they do it.
Describe John Crochet's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
I wish the doctor would do it himself
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Failed to call with results
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
He [Dr. John Crochet] took his time and explained everything to us and what the process would consist of. He broke everything down and was very honest...I love his bedside side manner. He is very patient and understanding...explained all of our options and laid out all of the risks...I would tell a patient to go in comfortable because he will answer all of your questions.
The nursing staff at Center of Reproductive Medicine are so compassionate...patient and thorough...answer all of your questions and explain everything until you the patient is comfortable with the procedure or visit...my favorite clinic by far...very welcoming and clean...The cost was very affordable compared to other facilities... [Dr. John Crochet] explained the whole process to us and answered all of the questions we had.
How was your experience with John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
I love his bedside side manner. He is very patient and understanding. He is an awesome doctor. He explained the whole process to us and answered all of the questions we had. He talked to us a couple and explained all of our options and laid out all of the risks. He was very kind but and honest at the same time and I appreciate that from a doctor.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
I would tell a patient to go in comfortable because he will answer all of your questions.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
He took his time and explained everything to us and what the process would consist of. He broke everything down and was very honest.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
The nursing staff at Center of Reproductive Medicine are so compassionate. They are so patient and thorough. They answer all of your questions and explain everything until you the patient is comfortable with the procedure or visit.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
This is my favorite clinic by far. The staff are very professional and kind. The office is very welcoming and clean. They make you feel comfortable by answering all your questions and trying to help in anyway they can.
Describe the costs associated with your care under John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
The cost was very affordable compared to other facilities.
[Dr. Vicki Schnell] She cares about her patients. Even if she is not the one performing the procedures, she still knows what is going on and guides you on the right course of treatment...We started off with a HSG test. I had some polyps so we did surgery. Then, we did an IUI that was unsuccessful, and we are to follow up with another IUI cycle eventually.
The [CORM] clinic usually runs pretty smoothly and quickly. The front desk is helpful and everyone is typically friendly. Sometimes there was a delay in getting into do bloodwork, but that is not always. The nursing staff will take care of most of your needs here as the doctors usually travel in from another city...
How was your experience with Vicki Schnell at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
I would recommend Dr. Schnell to anyone. She cares about her patients. Even if she is not the one performing the procedures, she still knows what is going on and guides you on the right course of treatment. I'm still under Dr. Schnell's care and I have full confidence moving forward.
Describe the protocols Vicki Schnell used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM) and their degree of success.
We started off with a HSG test. I had some polyps so we did surgery. Then, we did an IUI that was unsuccessful, and we are to follow up with another IUI cycle eventually.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
The clinic usually runs pretty smoothly and quickly. The front desk is helpful and everyone is typically friendly. Sometimes there was a delay in getting into do bloodwork, but that is not always. The nursing staff will take care of most of your needs here as the doctors usually travel in from another city (except Dr. Sims).
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Provided conflicting information
Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
I had some blood work that came back with the wrong results. We had to redo the blood work to prove that it was incorrect without any acceptance or apology from the staff. That was frustrating.
Dr. Schnell is a very caring concerned doctor she is very to the point but makes you feel like a friend. She explains things where you can understand takes time to listen to questions and answer any kind of questions you may have...She is extremely trusting...she is considerate she lets you know everything that you need to know explains things where you can understand them if you have questions she will go over everything with you she is compassionate
Both the Beaumont and the Webster office [of CORM] are remarkable. Each and every person there is very compassionate and loving. I didn't deal with the Webster office except for the actual egg retrieval and transfer I was able to do everything else at the Beaumont office so I'm not as familiar with the Webster nurses. The Beaumont office is a place that I would recommend to anyone the nurses as well as the doctors are so loving caring compassionate they make you feel like family and when you walk in the door they know you by name and they greet you with big smiles and hugs.
How was your experience with Vicki Schnell at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Dr. Schnell is a amazing Doctor. She is extremely trusting, she is more like a friend she is considerate she lets you know everything that you need to know explains things where you can understand them if you have questions she will go over everything with you she is compassionate
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Vicki Schnell at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Don't be afraid to ask her questions and stop her if you have questions.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Vicki Schnell at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Dr. Schnell is a very caring concerned doctor she is very to the point but makes you feel like a friend. She explains things where you can understand takes time to listen to questions and answer any kind of questions you may have
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM). (Assigned nurse: jeannie zimmerman talbot)
All of the nurses were absolutely wonderful. Very compassionate loving caring took time to explain things go over questions with you
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
Both the Beaumont and the Webster office are remarkable. Each and every person there is very compassionate and loving. I didn't deal with the Webster office except for the actual egg retrieval and transfer I was able to do everything else at the Beaumont office so I'm not as familiar with the Webster nurses. The Beaumont office is a place that I would recommend to anyone the nurses as well as the doctors are so loving caring compassionate they make you feel like family and when you walk in the door they know you by name and they greet you with big smiles and hugs. When we lost our first child at 20 weeks and went back every one of them were so caring and loving definitely a place that I would recommend and I would love to be able to expand our family using their office again
Describe the costs associated with your care under Vicki Schnell at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
My 1st IVF round was around $15,000 total with medicine
Office staff and Dr Schnell are awesome. When I got the negative pregnancy test the nurse was very kind and sincere . Lab, nurses, front desk and the ultrasound tech are very professional. They try to help us in any way possible.... I had a biopsy done, labs or not enough of tissue was not taken. I am having another biopsy done free of charge. I also had 6 eggs from a donor egg and only 2 grew. I was good and my other egg isn't the best(per Dr Schnell) so she put my case up for review and I was able to get two more eggs free of charge. But still have to put with sperm to see if they will grow. She is so understanding, sincere and One appointment I saw her get emotional when we was talking in the office.
I had a biopsy done [at CORM-Beaumont], labs or not enough of tissue was not taken. I am having another biopsy done free of charge. I also had 6 eggs from a donor egg and only 2 grew. I was good and my other egg isn't the best(per Dr Schnell) so she put my case up for review and I was able to get two more eggs free of charge. But still have to put with sperm to see if they will grow. She is so understanding, sincere and One appointment I saw her get emotional when we was talking in the office.
How was your experience with Vicki Schnell at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
I had a biopsy done, labs or not enough of tissue was not taken. I am having another biopsy done free of charge. I also had 6 eggs from a donor egg and only 2 grew. I was good and my other egg isn't the best(per Dr Schnell) so she put my case up for review and I was able to get two more eggs free of charge. But still have to put with sperm to see if they will grow. She is so understanding, sincere and One appointment I saw her get emotional when we was talking in the office.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Vicki Schnell at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Dr Schnell is a down to earth doctor. She will try her best to help. She explains everything is a good way and is up for any questions. She is by far one of the best doctors I have been to.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Vicki Schnell at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Office staff and Dr Schnell are awesome. When I got the negative pregnancy test the nurse was very kind and sincere . Lab, nurses, front desk and the ultrasound tech are very professional. They try to help us in any way possible.
Dr. O'Hern took the time to understand and explain how my endometriosis would impact my IVF protocol and potential results. I felt like she understood my condition well and was very knowledgeable about it, and I got a treatment process that was tailored to me. She always takes the time to explain things thoroughly, screen-sharing reports on virtual visits and answering every single question I have...My only complaint is that I didn't see her very often. My egg retrieval and transfer were both performed by other doctors in the practice. But I understand this is common practice, and I did get the results I wanted, so I'm putting that into perspective.
The [Shady Grove Fertility Houston] clinic generally runs pretty efficiently. I almost never waited more than 5 minutes to be seen at my appointments, and the phone calls afterward to discuss results were always prompt. They use Quest for lab work, and there seems to be a lot of turnover of phlebotomists. They are very hit or miss...The clinic staff have also been very friendly and empathetic, and the nurses called me promptly with results, knowing I was anxiously waiting. I always got a call back within the hour if I left a voicemail.
How was your experience with Candice O'Hern Perfetto at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Dr. O'Hern is so knowledgeable and took the time to educate me. She never judged me or got annoyed by my many questions. She always addressed both me and my partner, never making him feel left out of the process. She was the first doctor I've worked with who seemed genuinely interested in finding answers and helping me get closure on the underlying reasons I wasn't getting pregnant on my own. That in itself is a HUGE gift, given the uncertainty we face in times of infertility. I will always be grateful for having the answers I needed.
I trusted her with my protocols because she immediately and continually adjusted my medication doses when needed. I could tell she was really paying attention, and I wasn't just put on the same protocol as every other patient.
My only complaint is that I didn't see her very often. My egg retrieval and transfer were both performed by other doctors in the practice. But I understand this is common practice, and I did get the results I wanted, so I'm putting that into perspective.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Candice O'Hern Perfetto at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Appointments will go quickly, so be ready with a list of questions, and keep a notebook or IVF planner to jot down notes as she's talking. She talks fast!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Candice O'Hern Perfetto at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Dr. O'Hern took the time to understand and explain how my endometriosis would impact my IVF protocol and potential results. I felt like she understood my condition well and was very knowledgeable about it, and I got a treatment process that was tailored to me. She always takes the time to explain things thoroughly, screen-sharing reports on virtual visits and answering every single question I have. The clinic staff have also been very friendly and empathetic, and the nurses called me promptly with results, knowing I was anxiously waiting. I always got a call back within the hour if I left a voicemail.
Describe the protocols Candice O'Hern Perfetto used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM) and their degree of success.
Egg retrieval cycle: Birth control for 2-3 weeks, then waited for period start. Day 1 of stims, started at 300IU Gonal-F and 10 IU micro-dose ovidrel (HCG) daily. This is considered a mild-moderate antagonist protocol, I was told. Went in for monitoring on day 5, day 7 and day 9 of stims. After each monitoring visit, she lowered my dose of Gonal-F (down to 225, then 175) because my estrogen was going off the charts. Started cetrotide kits at day 7 to prevent ovulation. Pregnyl 10K unit trigger injection on day 10, then egg retrieval. Throughout my monitoring visits, I had between 20-21 follicles on the ultrasound. At me egg retrieval, they retrieved 11 eggs, 9 were mature, 7 fertilized and 3 became embryos (2 on day 6, and one on day 7). All were frozen & PGT-tested, and 2 of the 3 (the day 6 embryos) came back normal. Our grades were 5BB and 5CB, which Dr. O'Hern said was due to my endometriosis causing issues with egg quality. She expected to see higher quality and quantity from someone my age.
Waited a cycle and got on birth control pills for a few weeks while waiting for the PGT results to come back, and Dr. O'Hern performed a hysteroscopy at this time to remove some uterine polyps and a very small/slight septom.
Embryo transfer: She went over the embryology lab report with us and we selected the best-looking, PGT-normal embryo to transfer from the freezer (grade 5BB). Dr. O'Hern recommended a natural FET cycle, which is what I wanted too, so I was relieved to hear that. Weeks of estrogen and extra hormones could have flared up my endometriosis, so I was grateful to her for being conservative and allowing me to go natural. Started vaginal progesterone and a low dose of oral estrace about 5 days before transfer. Had 4 monitoring visits during the cycle: a baseline appt on cycle day 4, then 2 follow-ups on cycle days 11 and 13. On day 13 my follicle wasn't as big as they like it to be, so I went in one more time on day 15 and I had an 18mm follicle. Took my trigger shot that evening (5K IU Novarel), and my transfer was scheduled for one week later. Dr. Vicki Schnell performed my transfer and told us it went really well. Felt implantation cramping and bleeding on day 4-5 afterward and got my first faint positive urine test at day 7. Lines kept getting darker each day and my first beta was 1317 on day 14, then second was 4381 on day 16. Just had my first ultrasound this morning & everything's looking great!
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM). (Assigned nurse: Rachel and Brittany)
I talked with several nurses over the course of my treatment, but they were all great. We did have some hiccups in the beginning where my stimm medication doses were inconsistent on my treatment calendar (one day it said 225, then the next day it said 300, then somewhere else it said 350.) I had to call and get that sorted out. During my treatment, they were also in the process of switching software/portal systems, which meant information showed up inconsistently and I had to check both places for a while, and sometimes call to confirm accuracy of things. But the nurses were wonderful and always did the best they could. Sometimes hiccups happen when there's tech changes involved.
Also my nurse who cared for me during my procedures, Pam, is so compassionate and sweet. She knew IVs make me queasy and always accommodated me & never made me feel judged.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
The clinic generally runs pretty efficiently. I almost never waited more than 5 minutes to be seen at my appointments, and the phone calls afterward to discuss results were always prompt. They use Quest for lab work, and there seems to be a lot of turnover of phlebotomists. They are very hit or miss. Sometimes you get a confident, practiced and quick person taking blood, and sometimes you get a nervous person who uses giant needles and bruises your arm. When you're being stuck every other day, this can make a big impact on your experience. I also had an ultrasound tech walk in and try to start my scan without even introducing herself. And during a couple of my monitoring visits, there was a pregnant staff member talking pretty openly about her pregnancy and impending delivery with the front desk staff, loud enough for the whole waiting room to hear. It didn't bother me that much but I imagine if I were having a particularly bad day, it could have been triggering. Another thing to note is no matter which location you choose, all procedures (egg retrieval, transfers, etc.) will be in Clear Lake, as well as any monitoring appointments that happen on a weekend.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Candice O'Hern Perfetto at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
$25,500 flat fee for a Shared Risk program that included all treatment, monitoring, procedures, etc. for up to 6 cycles until we have a live baby or decide to quit. If we decided to quit at any time or weren't successful, we'd get a full refund.
$1650 flat fee for PGT testing on any/all embryos we created.
$2957 for retrieval meds.
$730 for transfer meds.
Total: $30,837
Describe Candice O'Hern Perfetto's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
Our embryos were PGT-A tested, so she let us weigh in on which one to try first, and we followed her advice.
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Provided conflicting information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
I explained above, but they were going through a change in portal software, so some of my treatment instructions and test results were difficult to find, and I had to keep checking 2 portals and calling if information was missing.
Dr. Crochet made me comfortable in a very emotional time...When he had to cancel my first cycle (wasn’t responding to meds) he told me right away and of course I was devastated. He looked me in the eye and said “I know this isn’t ideal, but we want the best chance of having a baby possible.” And I immediately felt at ease. I trust him whole heartedly. He celebrates our triumphs and he mourns the lows with us.
When [nurse at CORM] called me with my negative beta results she was so amazingly sweet when I was bawling on the other end. I wish she could be my nurse at every doctor I see!...I’ve had a few problems with the billing department. They have made mistakes that if I didn’t catch, they would have even more money from me...Just keep an eye on what is being charged and keep receipts... paid around $30,000 for the contract and $10,000 for medicines.
How was your experience with John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Dr. Crochet made me comfortable in a very emotional time. He always told me exactly what could happen, good and bad. When he had to cancel my first cycle (wasn’t responding to meds) he told me right away and of course I was devastated. He looked me in the eye and said “I know this isn’t ideal, but we want the best chance of having a baby possible.” And I immediately felt at ease. I trust him whole heartedly. He celebrates our triumphs and he mourns the lows with us.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Be open with him! He doesn’t judge.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Dr. Crochet always knew who I was and remembered me and my husband. We felt like we were seeing a friend when we would see him.
Describe the protocols John Crochet used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM) and their degree of success.
1st IVF cycle - canceled due to poor egg response
*Dr. Crochet changed to Minimum stimulation IVF (this contract included 2 retrievals)
2nd IVF cycle - (min stim) retrieved 3 eggs, after PGS testing we had 5AA boy.
3rd IVF cycle - (min stim) retrieved 8 eggs, after PGS testing we had 5BB boy and 5BB girl.
Embryo Transfer - transferred 5AA boy.
14 days past transfer - Negative pregnancy test.
Signed documents to transfer 5BB boy after a laparoscopy and ERA. Then because of Covid 19 I was laid off and my husband (oil and gas) just got laid off too. Now we are just in limbo.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM). (Assigned nurse: Melissa )
Melissa was so amazing. I could not have made it through this process without her. I called so many times with questions and concerns. She always called me back the same day with answers. When she called me with my negative beta results she was so amazingly sweet when I was bawling on the other end. I wish she could be my nurse at every doctor I see! Ha!
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
I’ve had a few problems with the billing department. They have made mistakes that if I didn’t catch, they would have even more money from me. I understand mistakes happen. But I signed contracts with exact numbers on them. Just keep an eye on what is being charged and keep receipts.
Describe the costs associated with your care under John Crochet at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
I have paid around $30,000 for the contract and $10,000 for medicines.
Describe John Crochet's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
once I started stimulation, I never heard from the doctor [Dr. Vicki Schnell] and never got information about the results of ultrasounds and blood testing--info about sizes were posted on the portal, but I had no understanding of the numbers and they were never explained...she didn't seem to be paying a whole lot of attention to my case, there was never any such information shared with me, or any discussions about what I'd like to do...She was very personable, but rushed through explanations. Being extra friendly and enthusiastic turned to disappearance once I had my baseline.
You might deal with completely different people each time [at CORM]. It doesn't seem they communicate well amongst themselves, and they definitely don't communicate with you. The doctor is hardly present in the most stressful parts (i.e., the whole cycle)...My baseline was done by a trainee without me knowing, then a trainer entering halfway through, not introducing themself, and both talking about technique while taking a really long time as if I wasn't even there, or they weren't using my vagina and ovaries. There was no result communicated, verbally or electronically. Later, once I started stimulation, I never heard from the doctor and never got information about the results of ultrasounds and blood testing--info about sizes were posted on the portal, but I had no understanding of the numbers and they were never explained.
How was your experience with Vicki Schnell at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
She was very personable, but rushed through explanations. Being extra friendly and enthusiastic turned to disappearance once I had my baseline. When I raised concerns with her she had quick irrelevant excuses, like "well that nurse is having a hard time at home, she's going to school and has all these kids," or saying that "well most women are already informed about how to read portal results because they do a lot of research and have support there, but i guess with egg freezing it's not the same." When I mentioned the awful experienced of having a trainee do my baseline ultrasound with no notification and taking forever, she blamed the techs being young and immature, and said she was glad to know this, but when I went in for the next ultrasound the same trainee walked in! I never saw her after initial consultations, and even while she claimed there is always a nurse around to talk to after ultrasounds, there was never anyone. I have no idea why she chose the protocols she did, why she made the one adjustment she made, and what went into any decision, such as timing the trigger shot. She only had me go in twice for monitoring. During the consultation she raved about my AMH and how many follicles I had for my age, and that I wouldn't have to worry about more than one cycle of freezing--so why would it not occur to her to say something when only 6 eggs were responding? I really don't even know if she actually paid any attention, and when I saw her after the retrieval, she was totally oblivious and had to look up my results.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Vicki Schnell at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Don't go. If you feel anything is a warning signal about her professionalism or preparation, believe your gut. She's nice and personable, but that means nothing in terms of actual outcomes. The moment she brushes off a comment or concern, or rushes through an explanation, you should believe what you heard and leave.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Vicki Schnell at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
At first I felt like a human, but that stopped once I was into the cycle and about to start stimulation. My baseline was done by a trainee without me knowing, then a trainer entering halfway through, not introducing themself, and both talking about technique while taking a really long time as if I wasn't even there, or they weren't using my vagina and ovaries. There was no result communicated, verbally or electronically. Later, once I started stimulation, I never heard from the doctor and never got information about the results of ultrasounds and blood testing--info about sizes were posted on the portal, but I had no understanding of the numbers and they were never explained. There was no nurse or doctor available during my ultrasounds, and only a follow up call from the nurse with instructions, but no info on what was happening with my eggs or what it meant. I asked multiple times by leaving a message with nurse triage (the only way to reach them) about the results, and only once on pressing the issue did the nurse give me a set of numbers (size) that explained nothing. I only went in for monitoring twice. When I called with questions about meds or anything, I'd sometimes get an impatient nurse who said things like "you should know how to mix medications by now"…even though I had been told I'd receive another training before the trigger shot. Another doctor performed the retrieval (expected) and literally stopped in the door for 3 seconds, said hi and asked no questions and offered no info, and I never saw him again. They booked me a follow up with the doc who did the procedure but who wasn't my doctor. When I told them he wasn't my doctor, they booked a followup with my doctor a full 3 weeks later. Because I was experiencing a lot of dizziness a week later, they had me come in early and I told the doctor all my concerns, but then I was referred to a customer care person and never again had any interaction with any doctors. They kept making me repeat all the things that were problematic (agreeing that all of it was problematic), collecting information for "quality control" but in the end did nothing to actually benefit me. Oh, and of course the lack of info about my ultrasound results were suspicious because I expected a much higher number of eggs, so when they saw that wasn't panning out, you'd think they'd tell me something. But since I never saw my Doctor once I'd started stimulation, and she didn't seem to be paying a whole lot of attention to my case, there was never any such information shared with me, or any discussions about what I'd like to do.
Describe the protocols Vicki Schnell used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM) and their degree of success.
There were no rationales offered to me, and no info once I started stimulation. After first ultrasound (I started with 300 units Gonal F), I was to increase gonal f to 450 units daily. Didn't do another ultrasound until the 4th day after that, when I was told to trigger the next day. Met no actual nurses or doctors that whole time. There was no rationale given.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
There was one who was incredibly thorough and kind but I never met her and only communicated with her by Skype and email for information. The ones I dealt with once the cycle started were random and non-communicative, and one was even callous when answering my request for instructions.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
You might deal with completely different people each time. It doesn't seem they communicate well amongst themselves, and they definitely don't communicate with you. The doctor is hardly present in the most stressful parts (i.e., the whole cycle). They would claim that "they always" do this or that, but don't. For example, I was given a quick review of how to do the trigger shot with the rest of my medicine training, but told they always go over that before I'd have to do it--never went over it, and I was shamed for calling nurse triage for information. I felt like I was bothering them.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Vicki Schnell at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
$7500 for the egg freezing procedure. $40 for first appt (copay). Some copays on initial testing. Medication was purchased elsewhere.
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Lost appointments
Failed to call with results
Failed to order appropriate test
Provided conflicting information
Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
I already explained in my other answers. 1) none of my ultrasounds were explained, i wasn't informed that results during stims were disappointing, and i was given barely any information, choices, or autonomy during the process 2) some nurses were rude, shaming or made mistakes (I was was given conflicting instructions on meds to take) 3) techs were unprofessional and did not respect my rights to know who they were and what they were doing, treating my body like an training grounds. 4) doctor brushed off any errors, never really seemed to be paying attention to my case, and getting 5 frozen eggs out of 18 follicles, with no anticipated reasons for expecting such results, seems quite relevant to that lack of professionalism. 5) they admitted that all the things i found concerning were problems, when i told them, but they then used my time to take notes on their own process, but offered me nothing in return.
Dr. Kathiresan took her time with me at every visit and didn't make me feel rushed. She listened to my concerns, patiently answered my questions, and tailored treatment to my concerns/needs...She was direct and up-front with me about treatment plans, success rates that I could expect, side effects of medications, and risks of treatment. She was able to provide sound clinical reasoning for all of her medical decision-making. She struck me as professional with excellent clinical skills. I would refer anyone I know to her without hesitation.
staff [at CORM] was highly professional and welcoming. No complaints here...A medicated cycle with monitoring without IUI was $1275. IUI was an extra $400. Sperm freezing was offered to us at $800... The offices have a home-y feel and a child-free waiting room...There is a nursing triage line for non-urgent questions during normal business hours and an option to page the physician on weekends for emergencies.
How was your experience with Anupama Kathiresan at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Dr. Kathiresan impressed me greatly with her bedside manner, expertise and communication. I felt I could ask her anything, and no question was too trivial for her. She was direct and up-front with me about treatment plans, success rates that I could expect, side effects of medications, and risks of treatment. She was able to provide sound clinical reasoning for all of her medical decision-making. She struck me as professional with excellent clinical skills. I would refer anyone I know to her without hesitation.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Anupama Kathiresan at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Dr. Kathiresan is unlikely to give you an unrealistically rosy outlook on your chance of success with different forms of treatment. Not that I found her to be too negative, but I think she might have slightly undersold our chances of treatment success. I prefer my expectations to be set too low rather than too high, but don't expect excessive optimism. She is a fantastic physician with an excellent bedside manner though, and you'll be pleased with your choice.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Anupama Kathiresan at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Dr. Kathiresan took her time with me at every visit and didn't make me feel rushed. She listened to my concerns, patiently answered my questions, and tailored treatment to my concerns/needs.
Describe the protocols Anupama Kathiresan used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM) and their degree of success.
I got pregnant after 1 cycle of Femara 5 mg daily on CD3-7, then Ovidrel to trigger and timed intercourse. Pregnancy is currently ongoing and healthy, now at 10 weeks. Femara was used to induce ovulation for my PCOS, Ovidrel was my trigger shot and no MFI so timed intercourse was sufficient.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM). (Assigned nurse: Ashley Jackson)
Ashley was the primary nurse I interacted with at CORM. She was excellent at providing prompt information, calling in my prescriptions, and responding to my questions. They have a nurse triage line for questions and I found that Ashley always responded to my non-urgent questions within a few hours. She was courteous, professional, and knowledgeable but willing to ask the doctor if I asked her something she didn't know. Similarly the rest of the staff was highly professional and welcoming. No complaints here.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
The clinic has multiple locations and flexible hours, which was really convenient for monitoring appointments! My spouse did his lab testing at a Saturday appt (available upon request), which was perfect for his busy weekday schedule. The offices have a home-y feel and a child-free waiting room, which I appreciated. There is a nursing triage line for non-urgent questions during normal business hours and an option to page the physician on weekends for emergencies.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Anupama Kathiresan at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
Infertility diagnosis was covered under my insurance, but treatment was not. A medicated cycle with monitoring without IUI was $1275. IUI was an extra $400. Sperm freezing was offered to us at $800.
I had to remind Dr. Perfetto many times about non-medical specifics (wanting to do an unmedicated FET, phobia of needles) of our situation before she remembered them. Once she was reminded though she did her best to accommodate my needs...For each retrieval she controlled my medications to keep the number of eggs retrieved around 20 (22 and 16) and I never had OHSS because she used a lupron trigger
I had minimal communication with the nurse who called each day to give me instructions on protocol adjustments, but the ultrasound tech and phlebotomist at the Medical Center location are awesome...CORM has great success rates and I’ve been pleased with my results so far, but there’s no way to communicate with them besides by phone and you can only leave a voicemail. Inevitably they would call me back while I was in a meeting and we would play phone tag back and forth several times
How was your experience with Candice O'Hern Perfetto at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Medically, she is very skilled. I had a high AMH and AFC so was at risk of developing lots of poor quality eggs and OHSS. For each retrieval she controlled my medications to keep the number of eggs retrieved around 20 (22 and 16) and I never had OHSS because she used a lupron trigger. My eggs must have been good quality because we had blast conversion rates of 60% and 80% for our two ER cycles.
When you meet with her she does seem rushed but will give you the time you need if you have questions to ask.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Candice O'Hern Perfetto at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Ask plenty of questions.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Candice O'Hern Perfetto at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
I had to remind Dr. Perfetto many times about non-medical specifics (wanting to do an unmedicated FET, phobia of needles) of our situation before she remembered them. Once she was reminded though she did her best to accommodate my needs.
Describe the protocols Candice O'Hern Perfetto used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM) and their degree of success.
I have a high AMH and AFC, but no official PCOS. Dr. Perfetto kept my stim doses low and triggered me with lupron because of this and I responded almost too well to gonal. For this same reason both of my ER cycles were freeze-all.
ER Cycle 1 we started with 2 weeks of birth control pills and then 185 IU of Gonal-F and micro dose ovidrel. I had monitoring appointments starting at day 5 of stims and started daily cetrotide once I had a follicle over 12/13 mm. She also continually lowered my gonal dose as I was over-responding to gonal. After 11 days of stims I was triggered with lupron that night and had the ER about 36 hours later. They retrieved 23 eggs, 22 were mature, 21 fertilized (MFI and ICSI) and 12 made it to Day 5. 5 embryos from this cycle were euploid.
For ER Cycle 2 we did the same protocol but started with 150 IU of gonal which was reduced through the cycle as I was over-responding again. From this ER we got 18 eggs, 16 mature, 15 fertilized with ICSI, and we had 12 blasts. 4 of these were euploid, but we elected not to test the one Day 7 embryo.
For my first FET cycle we went with a modified unmedicated cycle. Midway through the cycle my lining wasn’t developing as hoped and I was first given vaginal estrogen. This made my estrogen levels skyrocket and I was then given cetrotide which ground my estrogen levels to almost 0. Then I did 2 days of 50 IU of gonal and finally had a 16 mm follicle with 7.5 mm lining and was triggered. We transferred a 5BB embryo that ended in a CP.
The most recent FET cycle went much smoother. We did a modified unmedicated cycle again but this time I had a 17 mm follicle and 8 mm lining at CD 12 and was triggered with no additional medications. My estrogen level stayed between 300 and 500 for this cycle, which was the goal. I’m 6 days post transfer now so the result is still pending.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
I had minimal communication with the nurse who called each day to give me instructions on protocol adjustments, but the ultrasound tech and phlebotomist at the Medical Center location are awesome! They’re personable and my veins didn’t blow out once even with frequent blood draws for an extended period of time.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
CORM has great success rates and I’ve been pleased with my results so far, but there’s no way to communicate with them besides by phone and you can only leave a voicemail. Inevitably they would call me back while I was in a meeting and we would play phone tag back and forth several times. It would be nice if there was a way to email questions or reach an admin for appointment scheduling.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Candice O'Hern Perfetto at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
The first ER cycle contract was $17,500 plus PGT. This included everything to do with the ER cycle and the first FET. My second ER cycle (covered the same items but no FET) was $7,900. Subsequent FETs are $3,000
Describe Candice O'Hern Perfetto's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
eSET was the only option presented to me, but I’m in my early 30s, have PGT tested embryos, and don’t have a history of pregnancy loss.
Thoughtful, considerate, warm. [Dr. Kathiresan] is accessible without making you feel like a burden. She really keeps in contact and makes herself available. She is knowledgeable, and I felt confident in her care. Best doctor to have during this vulnerable journey...She spent a lot of time walking us through each step and didn’t make us feel like a burden for asking questions
Strength [of CORM] - compassionate care. Run well and wait times not long. Staff stay in good contact and seem accessible. Dr. Kathiresan is always nearby and present. Weakness: even with flowsheets, for an anxious stressed person, even simple instructions may be hard to follow. I injected my trigger shot at the wrong time (PM not AM). Probably easy to miss parking garage. I’d say 90% probably miss it and have to U turn. Go a little earlier just in case.
How was your experience with Anupama Kathiresan at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Thoughtful, considerate, warm. She is accessible without making you feel like a burden. She really keeps in contact and makes herself available.
She is knowledgeable, and I felt confident in her care. Best doctor to have during this vulnerable journey.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Anupama Kathiresan at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Ask questions. She will answer until you feel comfortable. She is very warm and on social media — but don’t take advantage of that by trying to access her after hours through social media- It wouldn’t be fair to her time.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Anupama Kathiresan at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
She is extremely warm and knowledgeable. She spent a lot of time walking us through each step and didn’t make us feel like a burden for asking questions. My husband and I are both physicians, neither of us are RE. I needed a lot of reassurance and she understood and was so considerate in our treatment plan and care.
Describe the protocols Anupama Kathiresan used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM) and their degree of success.
We had unexplained infertility, and we wanted to try lesser invasive options first. IUI was explained thoroughly and in multiple visits reiterated. We are given a very useful schedule to follow and make it easy to know what pills to take on what day, when to do our trigger shot, when to have sex, etc.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
They call us and explain on the phone the steps. Then they email us through portal a schedule to make it easy to know what to do. We have a flow sheet to follow
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
Strength - compassionate care. Run well and wait times not long. Staff stay in good contact and seem accessible. Dr. Kathiresan is always nearby and present.
Weakness: even with flowsheets, for an anxious stressed person, even simple instructions may be hard to
follow. I injected my trigger shot at the wrong time (PM not AM).
Probably easy to miss parking garage. I’d say 90% probably miss it and have to U turn. Go a little earlier just in case.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Anupama Kathiresan at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
I believe each round of IUI was $1600. I can’t recall completely (new mom brain). I think IVF if we were to proceed with this totaled $14,000
Describe Anupama Kathiresan's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
n/a to us
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM)?
Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility Houston (formerly CORM).
Just once a medicine wasn’t sent but a simple phone call helped fix this.
