Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia
Available Resources
Genetic counseling
Acupuncture
Mental health counseling
Nutrition counseling
Administration of shots
Coordinating at-home nursing
is not offered
is not offered
Selling medication
is not offered
is not offered
Providing backup medication
Center City
1515 Market Street
Center City, PA 19102
610.667.1070
Chadds Ford (closed)
6 Dickinson Drive
Chadds Ford, PA 19317
610.558.1200
Lancaster
205 Granite Run Drive
Lancaster, PA 17601
877-916-4244
Mechanicsburg
2005 Technology Pkwy
Mechanicsburg, PA 17050
877-916-4244
Philadelphia
1515 Market St
Philadelphia, PA 19102
610.667.1070
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33 assessments
5
5
Age
25 - 26
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
4 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Tubal Blockage, Other
5
5
At first it was all good. Now it’s like he [Dr. Caleb Kallen] don’t care about any of his patients. When getting and ultrasound done he litterly wouldn’t let any pictures nor did he give me any medical records. I just felt like I was $ in his eyes and that’s all .... Ivf. He says clamping the tubes before transfer. That’s all he told me... He wants to me pay 30,000$ for 6 cycles and that’s with out medication
There [Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia- Center Center is] very clean. The lady at the front desk is amazing and I love her !! She helps a lot and gave me a bunch of ivf financial routs that she known of. They need to keep her .. well for the others They talk nice but with a attitude. They lack on care , communication, organization. They really lack of checking on patients.... The nurse staff are nice but when talking to a nurse she just like him. They don’t care because it’s not them
Age
25 - 26
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
No
Race
Latino, Other
Income
$0 - $49K
Occupation
Nurse or HC Services
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1st of 2 Docs
Treatment
4 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Tubal Blockage, Other
5
5
How was your experience with Caleb Kallen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Caleb treated me as if I was money. Not a person. It upsets me because he don’t work around nor does he help with the situation. He basically makes you feel like your worthless. Thank god he won’t be my doctor anymore
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Caleb Kallen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Make sure he don’t treat you like money. Make sure when your paying cash for everything you accually get the time you payed for and the resolves of the work you have done
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Caleb Kallen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
At first it was all good. Now it’s like he don’t care about any of his patients. When getting and ultrasound done he litterly wouldn’t let any pictures nor did he give me any medical records. I just felt like I was $ in his eyes and that’s all .
Describe the protocols Caleb Kallen used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia and their degree of success.
Ivf. He says clamping the tubes before transfer. That’s all he told me
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
The nurse staff are nice but when talking to a nurse she just like him. They don’t care because it’s not them
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
There very clean. The lady at the front desk is amazing and I love her !! She helps a lot and gave me a bunch of ivf financial routs that she known of. They need to keep her .. well for the others They talk nice but with a attitude. They lack on care , communication, organization. They really lack of checking on patients.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Caleb Kallen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
He wants to me pay 30,000$ for 6 cycles and that’s with out medication. Very crazy . That’s not the price for all the lab work and stuff before .
Describe Caleb Kallen's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
I really have nothing. He treated me so horrible and I can’t wait to go to cny fertility
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
- Failed to call with results
- Failed to send your chart to another clinic
- Failed to inform you of changes in protocol
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
They never called me for the resaults on my egg count. I had to call and they told me to use the portal because no one was able to speak to me about the resaults. The blood work they never called me for as well I had to bug them in messages in the portal in order to get them
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Ask this reviewer a question about their experience with Caleb Kallen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
10
8
Age
34 - 36
Treated
2015 - 2017
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
6 IUI, 3 IVF, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Unexplained
10
8
Dr. Martin has excellent bedside manner. He always remains positive and tried not give unfavorable information in a kind way. He has been open to phone calls and visits, and never makes his patients feel rushed... funny, personable and kind. He works hard to try and lighten the mood and often makes jokes in the office. He is also gentle. Vaginal ultrasounds are not the most comfortable thing and he does a great job and easing that discomfort.
Our total cost for the Shared Risk Program [at Shady Grove Fertility] with the genetic testing for all embryos was $28,000. The cost of visits were included. We probably spent an additional $300-$400 on meds for those three trials of IVF. We spent about $300-$400 on IUI with the cost of visit co-pays and medication over six tries...They can and will drop you from the shared risk program if you do not conceive within two tries. They label it low ovarian reserve or response and do not consider that grief plays a role. They push the phrase, "you get up to six tries and you either get a baby or your money back." They do not spend a lot of time going over reasons you could be dis-enrolled from the program which is misleading. Also, the services are extremely expensive and there is little information offered about financial resources for patients.
Age
34 - 36
Treated
2015 - 2017
Success with this Doc
No
Race
Black or African-American
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
6 IUI, 3 IVF, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Unexplained
10
8
How was your experience with Ryan Martin at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Dr. Martin is very funny, personable and kind. He works hard to try and lighten the mood and often makes jokes in the office. He is also gentle. Vaginal ultrasounds are not the most comfortable thing and he does a great job and easing that discomfort.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Ryan Martin at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Ask your questions. He is more than willing to answer anything you throw at him and if he doesn't know the answer, hell get back to you. Don't be shy. Ask what you need to know and ask about risks.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Ryan Martin at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Dr. Martin has excellent bedside manner. He always remains positive and tried not give unfavorable information in a kind way. He has been open to phone calls and visits, and never makes his patients feel rushed.
Describe the protocols Ryan Martin used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia and their degree of success.
I believe I was on an antagonist protocol. I did the Estrogen patch followed by menopur and follistim for egg stimulation. Ganirelix was introduced to wards the end to prevent ovulation prior to egg retrieval. I was taking 450 ml of follistim per day (350 AM/ 150 pm), two vials & then three vials of menopur (one saline solution with the powder menopur) in the evenings and one syringe of the ganirelix. Not sure of the dosage of menopur or ganirelix but those were the instructions. I had appts every other day or so and sometimes daily. Bloodwork was obtained at every visit. I also had a saline sonogram twice during the course of treatment.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia. (Assigned nurse: Victoria Bennis)
Tori is very kind. She is sometimes unavailable but the other nurses do a good job of covering for each other. She seemed a bit less knowledgeable than our previous nurse, Debbie Dancer, but she was ok.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
Shady Grove Fertility (SGF) is a very well run clinic overall. The staff is friendly and efficient, their facilities are clean and they seem invested in your success at becoming a parent. They only do procedures out of their Chesterbrook office which is not very convenient. There are times the Bala office has been closed unexpectedly which is inconvenient as well. The Chesterbrook office usually does well accommodating that.
The decision board is less personable. They seem to treat patients more like a number in that they do not take into consideration contextual variables. They can and will drop you from the shared risk program if you do not conceive within two tries. They label it low ovarian reserve or response and do not consider that grief plays a role. They push the phrase, "you get up to six tries and you either get a baby or your money back." They do not spend a lot of time going over reasons you could be dis-enrolled from the program which is misleading. Also, the services are extremely expensive and there is little information offered about financial resources for patients.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
Monitoring occurred between the hours of 7-9am daily. It was a well-oiled machine.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Ryan Martin at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
Our total cost for the Shared Risk Program with the genetic testing for all embryos was $28,000. The cost of visits were included. We probably spent an additional $300-$400 on meds for those three trials of IVF. We spent about $300-$400 on IUI with the cost of visit co-pays and medication over six tries.
Describe Ryan Martin's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
My doctor recommended one embryo be transferred but was ok with transferring two at most. That's how we got pregnant with our twins. After losing them, he recommends only transferring one at a time.
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
- Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
It was really one issue but it was a significant one in my opinion. We were approved for the Shared Risk Program and told we would be fine. We conceived our twin daughters on the first try of IVF and lost them at four months gestation. We tried two additional rounds of IVF but I did not make genetically normal embryos. Each time I only had one egg that made it to blastocyst stage for PGS. Both were not eligible for transfer. We were then dropped from the program and told we could continue but pay per try. This is a $14,000 commitment. After many conversations, I was later told that I didn't have "the highest numbers" from the beginning and that despite my loss and grief, they weren't willing to continue with me in the program. This was news to me. If I had known my numbers weren't very high (they actually fluctuated at post review), we would have started IVF sooner. Now we have to be very calculated and hope that paying for another round independently will result in a viable embryo that can be transferred. It's very stressful.
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Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
10
10
Age
26 - 28
Treated
2015 - 2017
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
1 IUI, 1 IVF
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
10
Dr K. [Kulshrestha] was there for me every step of the way. One example: the nurse told me I would probably need a frozen transfer and I completely broke down in tears. Minutes later, Dr. K herself called me (well after 5pm) to talk through it and reassure me we would do everything possible to have a fresh transfer...Dr. Kulshretha treats every patient like her top priority. She tells you what she thinks is best, listens to your concerns, and works with you to make the treatment be as best as it can for you. She never rushes you, and is always aware of your treatment. She'll let you know if another physician will be monitoring you for a particular day.
[Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia] Does not allow children in office - personally I think that's important in a clinic. Small location - you will know all the staff (I love Haley, the girl that takes your blood) You will have to go to Chesterbrook for the procedures and on weekend...(nursing staff] they are very kind and experienced...Egg retrieval, day-5 fresh embryo transfer. Continued endometrin for a long time into the pregnancy...
Age
26 - 28
Treated
2015 - 2017
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
Ashkenazi Jewish
Income
$200K - $499K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
1 IUI, 1 IVF
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
10
How was your experience with Sunita Kulshrestha at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Dr. Kulshretha treats every patient like her top priority. She tells you what she thinks is best, listens to your concerns, and works with you to make the treatment be as best as it can for you. She never rushes you, and is always aware of your treatment. She'll let you know if another physician will be monitoring you for a particular day.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Sunita Kulshrestha at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Allow her to get close with you. Think of her as a good friend. It will help her be on your page for treatment.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Sunita Kulshrestha at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Dr K. was there for me every step of the way. One example: the nurse told me I would probably need a frozen transfer and I completely broke down in tears. Minutes later, Dr. K herself called me (well after 5pm) to talk through it and reassure me we would do everything possible to have a fresh transfer. She still checks in on me and has met the baby a couple times!
Describe the protocols Sunita Kulshrestha used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia and their degree of success.
Im sorry but I dont remember specifics. I took 3 shots a day, 1 in the am and 1 in the pm. Egg retrieval, day-5 fresh embryo transfer. Continued endometrin for a long time into the pregnancy...
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia. (Assigned nurse: Daniella - not with practice anymore)
I recently met the new nursing staff and believe they are very kind and experienced. I have not yet undergone treatment with them so cannot comment.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
Does not allow children in office - personally I think that's important in a clinic.
Small location - you will know all the staff (I love Haley, the girl that takes your blood)
You will have to go to Chesterbrook for the procedures and on weekends
Describe Sunita Kulshrestha's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
Did a SET (she felt very strongly about it). The embryo split into two (identical twins) but I lost one.
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Ask this reviewer a question about their experience with Sunita Kulshrestha at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
10
10
Age
33 - 35
Treated
2014 - 2016
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
6 IUI, 3 IVF, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
10
Dr. K[ulshrestha] was absolutely amazing. She was very kind and genuinely seemed invested in our family creation. She answered our questions, was very personable, gentle and respectful. She genuinely seemed just as disappointed when we didn't get pregnant with IUI and she also appeared to try everything she could with clomid stimulation to assist...Dr. K also did two saline sonograms to ensure my uterine cavity was normal. I had an HSG prior to starting w/ Dr. K and at the time, my tubes were open and the dye passed through without incident.
[Shady Grove Fertility] does not do a great job at conveying when you would be dis-enrolled from their shared risk program. They push the "you get up to six tries and you either get a baby or your money back" jargon but they do not highlight that low response following grief can make them kick you out which adds insult to injury. This is a delicate process only complicated by losses of pregnancies or negative test results. That, was not handled delicately and we absolutely felt like we were just a number or just statistical odds rather than people.
Age
33 - 35
Treated
2014 - 2016
Success with this Doc
No
Race
Black or African-American
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1st of 2 Docs
Treatment
6 IUI, 3 IVF, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
10
How was your experience with Sunita Kulshrestha at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
To be honest, it was great to work with a physician who identifies as a woman. We feel comfortable at Shady Grove however, all the doctors are male while all the nurses are female. It was nice to have a woman who was kind, gentle and knowledgeable. She was truly wonderful and I wish we had the opportunity to work with her when we transitioned to IVF. Dr. K relocated to the Maryland office after our last round of IVF. We saw Dr. Martin after that who is also great (I did a review for him already). After we lost our twin daughters (Dr. Martin did that embryo transfer), both he AND Dr. K called me to express their condolences. That meant a lot and showed that even though I wasn't currently a patient of hers (because she had relocated), she was still keeping an eye on my treatment and invested in our success. I absolutely adore Dr. K.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Sunita Kulshrestha at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
It's ok to be vulnerable. Ask your questions and trust that she will spend the necessary time with you to make sure you feel as comfortable as possible when leaving the office.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Sunita Kulshrestha at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Dr. K was absolutely amazing. She was very kind and genuinely seemed invested in our family creation. She answered our questions, was very personable, gentle and respectful. She genuinely seemed just as disappointed when we didn't get pregnant with IUI and she also appeared to try everything she could with clomid stimulation to assist.
Describe the protocols Sunita Kulshrestha used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia and their degree of success.
We did the IUI portion of our treatment with Dr. K. Initially, I think we just did the monitoring with no additional stimulation. We eventually added the clomid at 50 mg and towards the end, increased it to 100 mg. I believe I also did birth control protocol prior to starting the clomid 100 mg on our last 2 tries. Monitoring was every other day or everyday as we got closer to insemination. Dr. K also did two saline sonograms to ensure my uterine cavity was normal. I had an HSG prior to starting w/ Dr. K and at the time, my tubes were open and the dye passed through without incident.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia. (Assigned nurse: Daniella Pellicioti)
Daniela had her challenges in that she sometimes seemed a bit scattered. Initially, I was not a huge fan because of this. Having said that, Daniela was actually my FAVORITE nurse. She too, left the agency towards the end of our IUI trials but she was present for all of our inseminations. When we had a IUI w/ a different doctor, she was in the room and she really went to bat for me when I had a narrowing of the cervix. The doc (Dr. Munabi) attempted to use dilators which was extremely painful and Daniela really was amazing with me and him. She advocated for me, helped to calm me and genuinely made me feel like she had my back. I really valued her for all she did.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
As mentioned in my other review (of Dr. Martin), Shady Grove Fertility (SGF) is a very well-run, well-organized facility. The staff is kind, personable, friendly and knowledgeable. Though you have a primary physician, all of the doctors tend to make you feel very comfortable and cared for. I don't have any other facility to compare it to however, sharing stories with other people having fertility challenges, I am very grateful for feeling like a human rather than a number more often than not.
The one issue I have with SGF is their shared risk program. It's a great option but they do not do an efficient job at talking to you about what constitutes dis-enrollment from the program. We felt extremely blindsided by this decision from the review board and felt like they did not take into account that we experienced a loss and that grief can effect med response. Instead, we were put in a situation where we have to make very difficult decisions about moving forward because of the financial burden. I will say that through this hard time, my doctors have been kind and understanding. The decision seems to be above their heads and I think it would be helpful for there to be some kind of appeals process.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Sunita Kulshrestha at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
We exclusively did IUI with Dr. K. We paid for our co-pays and for the medication. I estimate we spent between $300-$400 total on those expenses.
Describe Sunita Kulshrestha's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
Dr. K had conversations with us twice about the possibility of multiples. On our last two tries of IUI, I made 8 eggs and 7 eggs (with the clomid for both). She spoke to us about eSET from a safety perspective. We were honestly a bit uncomfortable with this idea and didn't know what we would do if I did get pregnant with more than two babies. I didn't want to risk the entire pregnancy by doing the reduction procedure. When I worked with Dr. K, it was not IVF so the embryo transfer was not the issue. It was whether all the eggs I made actually fertilized.
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
- Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
As mentioned previously, SGF does not do a great job at conveying when you would be dis-enrolled from their shared risk program. They push the "you get up to six tries and you either get a baby or your money back" jargon but they do not highlight that low response following grief can make them kick you out which adds insult to injury. This is a delicate process only complicated by losses of pregnancies or negative test results. That, was not handled delicately and we absolutely felt like we were just a number or just statistical odds rather than people.
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Ask this reviewer a question about their experience with Sunita Kulshrestha at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
10
10
Age
37 - 38
Treated
2017 - 2018
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
1 IUI
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
10
Dr Martin has been very friendly and treated us like we were the only patients that he has. He ensured we understood ever step of the process and continues to keep us positive and moving toward our goal...He is extremely through so if you have questions don't be afraid to ask them...My wife had to use Clomid and a trigger shot for 4 TI cycles and the same for 1 IUI cycle. Each cycle the drugs were working as prescribed and we had no set backs just never got pregnant.
Hallie [nurse at Shady Grove Fertility] was very responsive even when we were frazzled or emotional about things not going our way. She ensured we were comfortable and always responded in a timely manner on all emails and phone calls...Meds ranged between $25-100 and IUI procedure was $1800...The overall clinic is great. They try to schedule appointments in the most convenient fashions so it does not interfere with your day. They have very clean facilities and work with you to the best of their ability.
Age
37 - 38
Treated
2017 - 2018
Success with this Doc
No
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
1 IUI
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
10
How was your experience with Ryan Martin at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Dr Martin was phenomenal from the first time he met us and each and every time there after. He always made sure we knew what our next step in the process is/was and makes us feel comfortable like we have the same goal and not just a number.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Ryan Martin at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
He is extremely through so if you have questions don't be afraid to ask them.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Ryan Martin at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Dr Martin has been very friendly and treated us like we were the only patients that he has. He ensured we understood ever step of the process and continues to keep us positive and moving toward our goal.
Describe the protocols Ryan Martin used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia and their degree of success.
My wife had to use Clomid and a trigger shot for 4 TI cycles and the same for 1 IUI cycle. Each cycle the drugs were working as prescribed and we had no set backs just never got pregnant.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia. (Assigned nurse: Hallie)
Hallie was very responsive even when we were frazzled or emotional about things not going our way. She ensured we were comfortable and always responded in a timely manner on all emails and phone calls.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
The overall clinic is great. They try to schedule appointments in the most convenient fashions so it does not interfere with your day. They have very clean facilities and work with you to the best of their ability.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Ryan Martin at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
Meds ranged between $25-100 and IUI procedure was $1800.
Describe Ryan Martin's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
not applicable
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Ask this reviewer a question about their experience with Ryan Martin at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
10
10
Age
40
Treated
2017
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
2 IUI, IVF
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
10
Dr Martin was the first doctor to take all the time I needed to explain with compassion the treatment protocol, my last doctor experience was terrible, I'm so thankful for meeting the right doctor and group bc now I feel comfortable with fertility treatments...I am just starting the IVF protocol, so all the treatment strategies aren't determined yet. I was recommended IVF bc of my age and the fact that I had treatments in the past that failed.
Tori [nurse at Shady Grove] was patient and followed up with me after I needed time to process the IVF decision. She's great!...So far I have nothing bad to say. Truly! This experience has been hard but 100% supportive. Everyone at the clinic I go to has been wonderful, and has taken the time to educate me and answer all my questions...24K and meds were seperate...Dr Martin was the first doctor to take all the time I needed to explain with compassion the treatment protocol, my last doctor experience was terrible, I'm so thankful for meeting the right doctor and group bc now I feel comfortable with fertility treatments.
Age
40
Treated
2017
Success with this Doc
?
Race
—
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Nurse or HC Services
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
2 IUI, IVF
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
10
How was your experience with Ryan Martin at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Dr Martin was the first doctor to take all the time I needed to explain with compassion the treatment protocol, my last doctor experience was terrible, I'm so thankful for meeting the right doctor and group bc now I feel comfortable with fertility treatments.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Ryan Martin at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Just listen to what he has to say ans how he explains it.
Describe the protocols Ryan Martin used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia and their degree of success.
I am just starting the IVF protocol, so all the treatment strategies aren't determined yet. I was recommended IVF bc of my age and the fact that I had treatments in the past that failed.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia. (Assigned nurse: Victoria Bennis)
Tori was patient and followed up with me after I needed time to process the IVF decision. She's great!
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
So far I have nothing bad to say. Truly! This experience has been hard but 100% supportive. Everyone at the clinic I go to has been wonderful, and has taken the time to educate me and answer all my questions.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Ryan Martin at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
24K and meds were seperate
Describe Ryan Martin's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
Dr Martin highly recommends PSG testing and for that reason will only transfer one at a time. I am pleased with this.
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10
9
Age
29 - 30
Treated
2015 - 2016
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor
10
9
Dr. Munabi was compassionate but he was also realistic that this only gave us a chance to have a baby,not a guarantee. It was hard to understand him at times with his accent but otherwise we really liked him....He was friendly and personable, down to earth and honest....Just to listen to him, ask him to repeat or explain what you're unsure of....Staff [Shady Grove] was friendly and didn't treat you like a number. They remembered you by name and were so patient. They were reliable with returning communication and followed through on their word.
Staff [Shady Grove Fertility] was friendly and didn't treat you like a number. They remembered you by name and were so patient. They were reliable with returning communication and followed through on their word....It was an efficient well oiled machine. I was in, out and done within 15 minutes. Very prompt....Melanie was reliable, compassionate, honest and supportive....Dr. Munabi was compassionate but he was also realistic that this only gave us a chance to have a baby,not a guarantee.
Age
29 - 30
Treated
2015 - 2016
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
Nurse or HC Services
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor
10
9
How was your experience with Abraham Munabi (retired) at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Dr. Munabi was compassionate but he was also realistic that this only gave us a chance to have a baby,not a guarantee. It was hard to understand him at times with his accent but otherwise we really liked him.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Abraham Munabi (retired) at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Just to listen to him, ask him to repeat or explain what you're unsure of.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Abraham Munabi (retired) at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
He was friendly and personable, down to earth and honest.
Describe the protocols Abraham Munabi (retired) used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia and their degree of success.
I don't remember
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia. (Assigned nurse: Melanie)
Melanie was reliable, compassionate, honest and supportive.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
Staff was friendly and didn't treat you like a number. They remembered you by name and were so patient. They were reliable with returning communication and followed through on their word.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
It was an efficient well oiled machine. I was in, out and done within 15 minutes. Very prompt.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Abraham Munabi (retired) at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
36,000
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Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
10
10
Age
35
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
IVF
Diagnosis
Tubal Blockage
10
10
[Dr. Caleb Kallen] took time to explain the entire IVF process in detail to both me and my husband. He also personally called to reassure and give confidence when the first transfer did not go our way...It was absolutely wonderful to have Dr Kallen as my doctor. He is very sincere and my experience with him was that he took time to explain every detail of the IVF treatment and also give confidence throughout my journey...Dr Kallen recommended single embryo transfer and also provided more details on why it is more favourable...It is best to ask questions through the entire process if you think something is unclear or not explained.
Shady Grove Fertility is very organized and the entire team has been entirely supportive, and in touch through my entire journey. My only recommendation would be that sometimes it's hard to reach the front desk and voice messages left are not responded to promptly...[Dr. Caleb Kallen] took time to explain the entire IVF process in detail to both me and my husband. He also personally called to reassure and give confidence when the first transfer did not go our way...It was absolutely wonderful to have Dr Kallen as my doctor. He is very sincere and my experience with him was that he took time to explain every detail of the IVF treatment and also give confidence throughout my journey...Dr Kallen recommended single embryo transfer and also provided more details on why it is more favourable...It is best to ask questions through the entire process if you think something is unclear or not explained.
Age
35
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
South Asian
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Engineer
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
IVF
Diagnosis
Tubal Blockage
10
10
How was your experience with Caleb Kallen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
It was absolutely wonderful to have Dr Kallen as my doctor. He is very sincere and my experience with him was that he took time to explain every detail of the IVF treatment and also give confidence throughout my journey
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Caleb Kallen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
It is best to ask questions through the entire process if you think something is unclear or not explained.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Caleb Kallen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Dr Kallen took time to explain the entire IVF process in detail to both me and my husband. He also personally called to reassure and give confidence when the first transfer did not go our way.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
Shady Grove Fertility is very organized and the entire team has been entirely supportive, and in touch through my entire journey. My only recommendation would be that sometimes it's hard to reach the front desk and voice messages left are not responded to promptly.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Caleb Kallen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
Mostly covered by insurance.
Describe Caleb Kallen's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
Dr Kallen recommended single embryo transfer and also provided more details on why it is more favourable.
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Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
7
9
Age
29
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
1 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Unexplained
7
9
Dr. Kallen helped us get pregnant on the first cycle of fertility treatment with non-invasive treatment. I was thrilled to have such fast results. I think Dr. Kallen really cares about his patients, and clearly knows the research and medicine behind fertility care. Sometimes, I felt that I had trouble communicating with him during appointments...We used Chlomid, hormones, trigger shot, with timid intercourse...answered my questions effectively and were able to schedule appointments quickly...explained our options for fertility treatment and respected our choice to try the least invasive option first.
She [nurse at Shady Grove] always greeted me in the lobby with such compassion and care. She is very efficient in returning calls. Bonnie made the process feel so much easier. She always took as much time as needed to answer all of my questions...This clinic is very efficient in scheduling appointments fast. The wait time is very short, and they do well with monitoring you closely even on the weekends. They schedule urgent appointments very fast. They are also extremely reliable in returning calls to patient. They will spend as long as needed on the phone with you to answer your questions. The office is also very nice.
Age
29
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
South Asian
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
1 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Unexplained
7
9
How was your experience with Caleb Kallen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Dr. Kallen helped us get pregnant on the first cycle of fertility treatment with non-invasive treatment. I was thrilled to have such fast results. I think Dr. Kallen really cares about his patients, and clearly knows the research and medicine behind fertility care. Sometimes, I felt that I had trouble communicating with him during appointments.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Caleb Kallen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Go into it with an open mind and remember that he is there to solely help you get pregnant.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Caleb Kallen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Dr. Kallen and his staff answered my questions effectively and were able to schedule appointments quickly. Dr. Kallen helped us get pregnant during our first cycle with non-invasive treatment.
Describe the protocols Caleb Kallen used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia and their degree of success.
We used Chlomid, hormones, trigger shot, with timid intercourse. We got pregnant on the first cycle of treatment.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia. (Assigned nurse: Bonnie Cancel)
Bonnie Cancel was amazing! She always greeted me in the lobby with such compassion and care. She is very efficient in returning calls. Bonnie made the process feel so much easier. She always took as much time as needed to answer all of my questions. Bonnie is amazing! I was lucky to have her as much my care coordinator.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
This clinic is very efficient in scheduling appointments fast. The wait time is very short, and they do well with monitoring you closely even on the weekends. They schedule urgent appointments very fast. They are also extremely reliable in returning calls to patient. They will spend as long as needed on the phone with you to answer your questions. The office is also very nice.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Caleb Kallen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
Costs were reasonable. Our insurance helped pay for a significant portion of the treatment. We were left with reasonable costs. I would say total we spent less than $1000 including all of the testing, doctors appointments, ultrasounds.
Describe Caleb Kallen's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
Dr. Kallen explained our options for fertility treatment and respected our choice to try the least invasive option first.
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Ask a Question
Ask this reviewer a question about their experience with Caleb Kallen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
8
10
Age
31
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
1 IUI, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
—
8
10
I Would Have Appreciated More Information [from Dr. Caleb Kallen] As To Why I Was Put On Vaginal Progesterone...I Was Told And Planned With Dr. Kallen For A Natural Cycle. I Should Have Been Thoroughly Included On Why That Changed And How Long It Would Last To Find Out If I Was Comfortable With It And Was Aware Of The Risks And Side Effects....In My Experience, He Is Very Straightforward, A Little Cold Or Serious, But When He's Being Sweet Or Warm You Have To Know How To Read It. I Met With Him Maybe 2-3 Times In Person; For The Consultation, For The OAR, & Finally For The Ultrasound To Check How Many Sacs After A BFP, And Once Over The Phone To Discuss Test Results.
[Shady Grove Fertility Center City] Strengths Consist Of Cleanliness, Availability, Location, Nurse Bonnie's Bubbly Personality, And It's Appearance To Be LGBTQ "Friendly"...I Think That Most Of The Team, Except For Nurse Bonnie Treated Me As If I Was A Number. There Was No Warmth, Genuine Care, Or Compassion Other Than Nurse Bonnie. As For Doctor Kallen, I Rarely Saw Him But The Few Times That We Did Meet Or Our Phone Appointment, I Felt That He Treated Me Like A Human.
Age
31
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
Latino, Black or African-American
Income
$0 - $49K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
1 IUI, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
—
8
10
How was your experience with Caleb Kallen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Initially When I Read The Reviews Online For All Of The Fertility Doctors At Shady Grove Fertility I Remember Whispering "Please Don't Let Me Get Dr. Kallen, He Sounds So Mean And Cold". I Scheduled My Consultation And Sure Enough I Was Assigned To Dr. Kallen. I Was So Worried But I Went In With An Optimistic Approach And Believed That Maybe All Of Those Negative Reviewers Had Him Wrong. In My Experience, He Is Very Straightforward, A Little Cold Or Serious, But When He's Being Sweet Or Warm You Have To Know How To Read It. I Met With Him Maybe 2-3 Times In Person; For The Consultation, For The OAR, & Finally For The Ultrasound To Check How Many Sacs After A BFP, And Once Over The Phone To Discuss Test Results. He Did Not Perform My IUI Which I Was Shocked To Find Out When 2 Women Walked Into The Room But I Understand He Can't Be Everywhere At Once. He Explained Everything As It Appeared And Let Me Know Whenever There Was A Small Moment Of Concern. Although He Seems Like He Could Use A Big Hug Or A Few Laughs, Dr. Kallen Was Exactly What Was Best For My Journey In The End.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Caleb Kallen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Please Be Open-Minded With Dr. Kallen's Personality. He Shows His Warmth And Passion In Other Forms. Don't Expect For Him To Make You Laugh Or Smile But To Assist In Making Your Dreams Of A Family A Reality.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Caleb Kallen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
I Think That Most Of The Team, Except For Nurse Bonnie Treated Me As If I Was A Number. There Was No Warmth, Genuine Care, Or Compassion Other Than Nurse Bonnie. As For Doctor Kallen, I Rarely Saw Him But The Few Times That We Did Meet Or Our Phone Appointment, I Felt That He Treated Me Like A Human.
Describe the protocols Caleb Kallen used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia and their degree of success.
My Treatment Strategy Was A Natural IUI Cycle Using Donor Sperm From A Sperm Bank. I Had Recently Went Into Preterm Labor With Twins And Was No Longer Involved With The Father. I Did Various Forms Of Bloodwork, Dr. Kallen Checked Out My Egg Count, I Ordered 2 Vials From California Cryobank, I Checked Ovulation Using One Digital Ovulation Kit And Strips To Compare, Once I Got My LH Surge I Was Scheduled For My IUI The Next Morning, Started Vaginal Progesterone The Following Morning For Whatever Reason I Was Not Given An Explanation, Got My BFP 2 Weeks Later, SGF Checked That My HCG Levels Were Rising, And Then Brought Me In To Count The Sacs.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
I Only Have Positive Things To Say About Nurse Bonnie C. She Just Has This Warmth And Genuine Care For The Work That She Does, What It Means To Her Patients, And She's Overall A Very Happy And Uplifting Nurse. I Was Assigned To A Nurse Lindsay After Bonnie And We NEVER Met In Person, She Wasn't Knowledgeable About So Much I Felt Like I Was Her Nurse, And Was Relieved When She Said She Would No Longer Be Employed There But Her Patients Were Being Transferred To Another Nurse. Unfortunately, I Didn't Feel That The Next Nurse Was Reachable & Probably Spoke To Her Twice And Contacted By Others On Her Behalf Maybe 3-4 Times. I Would've Preferred Nurse Bonnie Throughout The Entire Process, She's A Spectacular Balance To Dr. Kallen's Dry Personality.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
I Have Already Recommended My Best Friend And She Brought Up How She Was Treated Like A Number Or Dollar Sign From The Beginning After They Found Out Her Financial Status Which Is Complete Opposite Of My Own. The Clinic Shows Its Weakness In Delivering The Same Services To Those Of Various Financial Status. The Receptionist Needs To Seek Other Employment. She (Camille, I Believe Is Her Name) Gets Frustrated And Overwhelmed Easily And By Late Afternoon Her Fake Smile And Approach Is Rude And Snappy. The Clinic's Strengths Consist Of Cleanliness, Availability, Location, Nurse Bonnie's Bubbly Personality, And It's Appearance To Be LGBTQ "Friendly".
Describe the costs associated with your care under Caleb Kallen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
The Costs Was All Out Of Pocket For Me. It Was A Lot Cheaper Than I Expected. My Insurance Was Not Accepted. Discounts Not Really Explained Came In Handy. I Filled Out Paperwork With A Financial Counselor Of Sorts And NEVER HEARD FROM HER. She Is A Terrible! Doesn't Answer Phone Calls, Emails, Or Voicemails. The Sperm Donor Vials Were The Most Expensive From California Cryobank.
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
- Lost paperwork
- Failed to order appropriate test
- Provided conflicting information
- Failed to consider drug intolerance
- Canceled a cycle due to clinic error
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
I Would Have Appreciated More Information As To Why I Was Put On Vaginal Progesterone The Morning After The IUI And Notified Before Beginning Of How Long I Was Supposed To Be Taking This Potentially Dangerous Medication. I Was Told And Planned With Dr. Kallen For A Natural Cycle. I Should Have Been Thoroughly Included On Why That Changed And How Long It Would Last To Find Out If I Was Comfortable With It And Was Aware Of The Risks And Side Effects.
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Ask a Question
Ask this reviewer a question about their experience with Caleb Kallen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
10
10
Age
37
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Tubal Blockage
10
10
After going through all my options [with Dr. Schumacher] IVF seemed the best option for my husband and myself. We did the injectables for the egg retrieval, and then after the genetic testing and trial that I was in did the transfer of 1 embryo...reached out personally via phone call or email throughout the lengthy IVF process with updates and words of encouragement which was very surprising and unexpected...She made an intimidating topic of infertility very relatable and made
Since I was in a trial I could only have single embryo transfer [at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia]...Everyone in the Chesterbrook location is great. You really start to feel like part of a family. (Esp since you will be there every other day some weeks). No matter if I saw someone for the first time or the 10th time I felt very comfortable with everyone I interacted with...Everyone always had a smile and recognized me by name only after a few visits. I was able to get ahold of anyone I needed to and all emails were responded to in a very timely manner.
Age
37
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
Other, Prefer not to answer
Income
—
Occupation
Sales Representative
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Tubal Blockage
10
10
How was your experience with Brianna Schumacher at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
I cannot say enough good things about Dr. Schumacher. She made an intimidating topic of infertility very relatable and made sure she took the time to get to know you, explain everything and helped guide you all the way through your process. She pleasantly surprised me how involved she was throughout the whole process. Not only was she on hands, after every procedure or core updates she sent me a personal email or phone call to update me on the status along with words of encouragement. She definitely made you feel that you could get through anything even though at times it may be difficult. If I could stay with her to a live birth I would have loved to. I STRONGLY recommend Dr. Schumacher!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Brianna Schumacher at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
If you are hesitant or nervous it is worth it. She will make you feel comfortable and explain everything in a way you will understand. She will find the best solution for YOU and your situation.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Brianna Schumacher at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Dr. Schumacher reached out personally via phone call or email throughout the lengthy IVF process with updates and words of encouragement which was very surprising and unexpected.
Describe the protocols Brianna Schumacher used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia and their degree of success.
Due to my age (above 35) and previously having a misscarriage with no lives births in my history, she went over all my options with percentages of outcomes of a live birth. After going through all my options IVF seemed the best option for my husband and myself. We did the injectables for the egg retrieval, and then after the genetic testing and trial that I was in did the transfer of 1 embryo. Blood work and ultrasounds were completed frequently and meds adjusted as needed to get the best possible outcome. I can safely say that I am 10 weeks pregnant and excited to start this next chapter in my life.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia. (Assigned nurse: Annika)
Everyone in Shady Grove Chesterbrook was amazing, from the nurses, coordinators, doctors, staff that took blood and front staff. Everyone always had a smile and recognized me by name only after a few visits. I was able to get ahold of anyone I needed to and all emails were responded to in a very timely manner.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
Everyone in the Chesterbrook location is great. You really start to feel like part of a family. (Esp since you will be there every other day some weeks). No matter if I saw someone for the first time or the 10th time I felt very comfortable with everyone I interacted with.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
Monitoring appointments were done in a specific window during the week. I was fortunate that I was able to make it work with my schedule and it not conflict too much with my work schedule.
Describe Brianna Schumacher's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
Since I was in a trial I could only have single embryo transfer. Since this was my first IVF cycle, Dr Schumacher also wanted to make sure that we had 1 perfect embryo transferred rather than taking out chances with multiple for our first IVF transfer.
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Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
10
10
Age
28 - 29
Treated
2019 - 2020
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
4 IUI
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
10
Dr. Ochalski is a caring professional. She listen to our concerns about continuing IUIs and also our worries about IVF to help us come to a conclusion that was best for us. She did not pressure us into anything and was there for support through our choices. ...Dr. Ochalski made us feel like humans, first by getting to know us. She knows our names, our story and why we came to her. She has excellent bedside manor but tells us what we need to hear. She also took it upon herself to be in contact with me during the COVID-19 pandemic. We had a plan to begin our first IVF cycle when our clinic was a.) worried about being shut down and then b.) shutting down new treatments.(I had just finished a week of BC pills and was scheduled to start injections as the pandemic exploded.) She did not ask a nurse to call or give advice and support, she called herself, daily, as things were changing daily at that point.
Shady Grove Fertility has a strong sense of community. It is very clean and organized. They have a portal to receive emails and where everything is easy to get access. They are easy to get a hold of when you call and they maintain a high sense of professionalism. ... Kayla is great at maintaining communication and explanations when needed!
Age
28 - 29
Treated
2019 - 2020
Success with this Doc
?
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Teacher
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
4 IUI
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
10
How was your experience with Melanie Ochalski at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Dr. Ochalski is a caring professional. She listen to our concerns about continuing IUIs and also our worries about IVF to help us come to a conclusion that was best for us. She did not pressure us into anything and was there for support through our choices.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Melanie Ochalski at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
If you’re thinking about it, go see her! ASAP! She’s worth it!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Melanie Ochalski at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Dr. Ochalski made us feel like humans, first by getting to know us. She knows our names, our story and why we came to her. She has excellent bedside manor but tells us what we need to hear. She also took it upon herself to be in contact with me during the COVID-19 pandemic. We had a plan to begin our first IVF cycle when our clinic was a.) worried about being shut down and then b.) shutting down new treatments.(I had just finished a week of BC pills and was scheduled to start injections as the pandemic exploded.) She did not ask a nurse to call or give advice and support, she called herself, daily, as things were changing daily at that point.
Describe the protocols Melanie Ochalski used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia and their degree of success.
She helped us determine if continuing IUIs would be benifical or if IVF would be a good next step. We are diagnosed with unexplained infertility and we had a poor experience with a previous doctor who was pushing us in a direction we did not understand and we were not getting support or answers. She was able to provide those explanations and made us feel comfortable with our choose to continue with IVF after she helped us discover a potential male factor.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia. (Assigned nurse: Kayla)
Kayla is great at maintaining communication and explanations when needed!
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
Shady Grove Fertility has a strong sense of community. It is very clean and organized. They have a portal to receive emails and where everything is easy to get access. They are easy to get a hold of when you call and they maintain a high sense of professionalism.
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Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
6
6
Age
35
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
3 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Unexplained
6
6
Dr. Nguyen made sure to answer all the questions that I had and helped give me a realistic picture of the next steps we need to take. I felt that she was straightforward while being somewhat sensitive to my feelings. ... I did feel that she pushed IVF over IUI or timed cycles without having all the diagnostic information. ... she was flexible with working with my limited insurance and allowed me to move some testing back until I felt comfortable.
I also like that you have a dedicated nurse and financial counselor that you can always reach out to for help. The negatives are that the it's [Shady Grove Fertility] so big that its run like a machine so you get less personalized treatment. I also think there are issues with how effective the front desk/records/phlebotomy staff are. Took two weeks for my records to get into my file even though I called to confirm that they made it there twice!
Age
35
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
?
Race
European
Income
—
Occupation
Professor
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
3 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Unexplained
6
6
How was your experience with Kara Khanh-Ha Nguyen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
I have not had any additional experience with Dr. Nguyen yet except for diagnostic testing but she was flexible with working with my limited insurance and allowed me to move some testing back until I felt comfortable. I did feel that she pushed IVF over IUI or timed cycles without having all the diagnostic information.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Kara Khanh-Ha Nguyen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Make sure to do your own research and have an idea of what type of treatment plan works for you. Shady grove is a huge machine like clinic so they have pre-prescribed plans the doctors follow. Don't be afraid to ask for what you need.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Kara Khanh-Ha Nguyen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
The office is pleasant and everyone is welcoming. Dr. Nguyen made sure to answer all the questions that I had and helped give me a realistic picture of the next steps we need to take. I felt that she was straightforward while being somewhat sensitive to my feelings.
Describe the protocols Kara Khanh-Ha Nguyen used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia and their degree of success.
So far I've only had diagnostic testing with Dr. Nguyen but she seems very efficient.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia. (Assigned nurse: Amy Cicero)
Amy was always a call or email away and would get back to me right away within the same day. They are slow to update/find test results and records but I think that falls more on the receptionists than Amy.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
Strengths are that there are lots of locations and doctors and they have lots of success getting people pregnant. I also like that you have a dedicated nurse and financial counselor that you can always reach out to for help. The negatives are that the it's so big that its run like a machine so you get less personalized treatment. I also think there are issues with how effective the front desk/records/phlebotomy staff are. Took two weeks for my records to get into my file even though I called to confirm that they made it there twice!
Describe the costs associated with your care under Kara Khanh-Ha Nguyen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
The planned cycle for IUI was quoted at $2400 out of pocket without insurance which we will be completing next month. We paid $300 for a genetic screen, $400 for husband's initial bloodwork (but without insurance) and $800 for an HSG (with insurance and performed at shady grove)
Describe Kara Khanh-Ha Nguyen's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
No applicable to my treatment.
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
- Lost paperwork
- Lost appointments
- Provided conflicting information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
Lost paperwork and records. Took a lot of time to be updated with results, especially if they came from an outside lab.
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Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
4
5
Age
34
Treated
2016
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
1 IUI
Diagnosis
PCOS, Tubal Blockage
4
5
Sometimes I felt I was just another couple and didn't feel like he [Dr. Munabi] was super personal to our case....It's very hard to understand him. My husband and I just wanted cut and dry what we need to do. During our 1st appointment after all the tests he said we should be able to do timed intercourse with pills. But the 3rd visit he said we should just go straight to IVF. I was very confused and we were told we could also do IUI.
Weakness not reading the medical charts well enough to catch things that they should know right away but the patient had to catch it...Strengths the nursing staff [at Shady Grove] rocks and makes you feel very comfortable...They didn't catch that my follicle was growing in the right ovary which my right tube is blocked and would automatically cancel that IUI that cycle and kept me going with the injections until i mentioned something.
Age
34
Treated
2016
Success with this Doc
?
Race
Other
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
Sales Representative
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
1 IUI
Diagnosis
PCOS, Tubal Blockage
4
5
How was your experience with Abraham Munabi (retired) at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
It's very hard to understand him. My husband and I just wanted cut and dry what we need to do. During our 1st appointment after all the tests he said we should be able to do timed intercourse with pills. But the 3rd visit he said we should just go straight to IVF. I was very confused and we were told we could also do IUI. He messed up my 1st cycle when he knew my right tube was blocked but that was the only side with a follicle and was still instructing me to stimulate until I said something about it. I'm just a little discouraged by it and when our 1st IUI failed I couldn't bear to try again. Plus I hated having to travel an hour to another facility to get the procedure done.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Abraham Munabi (retired) at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Make sure to get a second opinion. He isn't clear with your diagnosis and what your next step for treatment is. He is very hard to understand with his thick accent.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Abraham Munabi (retired) at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Sometimes I felt I was just another couple and didn't feel like he was super personal to our case.
Describe the protocols Abraham Munabi (retired) used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia and their degree of success.
My 1st treatment was stimulating with ovudril & follistim to prepare me for IUI. Several appointments for a vaginal ultrasound to see if we had good follicles and they were growing. My 1st treatment occurred on the right ovary which my tube is blocked. I had to mention to the dr & nurse about this bc of it voiding the IUI & they didn't catch it. The 2nd treatment went well but my IUI didn't work.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia. (Assigned nurse: Morgan sheets)
These ladies were excellent. Made it easier to understand what was going on since we could barely understand Dr. Munabi
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
Weakness not reading the medical charts well enough to catch things that they should know right away but the patient had to catch it. Not being able to understand Dr. Munabi. Strengths the nursing staff rocks and makes you feel very comfortable.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Abraham Munabi (retired) at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
IUI is $1600. I also had to get the follistim & ovudril from my pharmacy which costs around $70 total. I also received a bill for $135 after I stopped going and put things on hold and I'm not sure why. I thought my insurance covered all my appointments. I also had to pay $300 each for mine and my husbands genetic testing.
Describe Abraham Munabi (retired)'s approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
We didn't have to cover that during treatment. But he did mention if we had more than one embryo we could choose to eliminate the multiples.
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
- Provided conflicting information
- Canceled a cycle due to clinic error
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
They didn't catch that my follicle was growing in the right ovary which my right tube is blocked and would automatically cancel that IUI that cycle and kept me going with the injections until i mentioned something.
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Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
10
10
Age
32 - 33
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
5 IUI
Diagnosis
PCOS, Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
10
10
[Kara Khanh-Ha Dan Nguyen] takes the time to talk to you. I addressed my concerns of feeling depressed and not wanting to get out of bed because of the loss and not knowing why we cannot conceive. She was crying in the room with me and just listening. Not making promises....She is soft-spoken and very knowledgeable. She takes time to be with you and comfort you. She had another appointment she was late for, but she knew I was frustrated and upset. She could not check my ovaries, but made sure I got the time the following day I could come in.
The clinic [Shady Grove of PA] is clean and I'm always greeted with a smile. The team is not afraid to ask for help if they need to draw blood. The team was willing to help out when needed. When I first came I was intimidated by the size of the clinic. I was use to a smaller place. I was thinking that there is no way they will be able to help me, and I thought my husband and myself would be another number....When she [nurse] said she was going to send something, as soon as she got off the phone it was to my email. Also, Danielle in finance sent things over when I was told she would. The team has great communication.
Age
32 - 33
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
?
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Teacher
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1st of 2 Docs
Treatment
5 IUI
Diagnosis
PCOS, Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
10
10
How was your experience with Kara Khanh-Ha Nguyen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
She is soft-spoken and very knowledgeable. She takes time to be with you and comfort you. She had another appointment she was late for, but she knew I was frustrated and upset. She could not check my ovaries, but made sure I got the time the following day I could come in. She did not charge me for the visit.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Kara Khanh-Ha Nguyen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Do not be afraid to ask questions, she will be honest and comforting.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Kara Khanh-Ha Nguyen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
She takes the time to talk to you. I addressed my concerns of feeling depressed and not wanting to get out of bed because of the loss and not knowing why we cannot conceive. She was crying in the room with me and just listening. Not making promises. I would talk poorly about my pervious doctor, and she was professional to allow me to vent, but not judge the other doctor. She explained everything to me, and gave me a plan of every option my husband and I could do next.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia. (Assigned nurse: Amy )
When she said she was going to send something, as soon as she got off the phone it was to my email. Also, Danielle in finance sent things over when I was told she would. The team has great communication.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
The clinic is clean and I'm always greeted with a smile. The team is not afraid to ask for help if they need to draw blood. The team was willing to help out when needed. When I first came I was intimidated by the size of the clinic. I was use to a smaller place. I was thinking that there is no way they will be able to help me, and I thought my husband and myself would be another number.
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Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
10
10
Age
30 - 31
Treated
2019 - 2020
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
4 IUI
Diagnosis
Male Factor, Unexplained
10
10
Dr. Ochalski is compassionate, and knowledgable. she explained things as they really are but with a tone and understanding that these options are not to be taken lightly. She helped us as we were to start our treatments as the Coronavirus started to spread in our area. She called us multiple times to help us through the difficult time.... We saw her once for a consultation, she remembered us when we came back in. Not just our names or our chart, but us. What we do, where we work. She felt like a longtime friend.
[Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia] is in an office complex, very clean and friendly. It is comfortable and has wonderful equipment. They have a communication portal that keeps everything organized. This is a branch location, but I never felt slighted.... Kayla is a great communicator, communicating through email, and through calls. She makes sure you know exactly what to expect and what you need to do next. She is friendly and compassionate.
Age
30 - 31
Treated
2019 - 2020
Success with this Doc
?
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
4 IUI
Diagnosis
Male Factor, Unexplained
10
10
How was your experience with Melanie Ochalski at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Dr. Ochalski is compassionate, and knowledgable. she explained things as they really are but with a tone and understanding that these options are not to be taken lightly. She helped us as we were to start our treatments as the Coronavirus started to spread in our area. She called us multiple times to help us through the difficult time.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Melanie Ochalski at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
We saw her once for a consultation, she remembered us when we came back in. Not just our names or our chart, but us. What we do, where we work. She felt like a longtime friend.
Describe the protocols Melanie Ochalski used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia and their degree of success.
She used facts to explain to us where we are and where we could go with our treatments. She explained different studies and showed us our own personal outcome predictions.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia. (Assigned nurse: Kayla)
Kayla is a great communicator, communicating through email, and through calls. She makes sure you know exactly what to expect and what you need to do next. She is friendly and compassionate.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
It is in an office complex, very clean and friendly. It is comfortable and has wonderful equipment. They have a communication portal that keeps everything organized. This is a branch location, but I never felt slighted.
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Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
9
8
Age
29
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
6 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Anovulation, Unexplained
9
8
Dr. Nguyen is caring and gentle. She called me personally when we found out I was pregnant and was sad with me when we lost our precious baby.... First cycle was just clomid at 100mg. No pregnancy but I did ovulate. We continued that 3 times with no success. 5th cycle was monitored and included a trigger shot of ovidrel along with the clomid 100mg. This ended with chemical pregnancy. 6th cycle same protocol and got pregnant but miscarried at 8 weeks
Wait times are rough [at Shady Grove Fertility of Pennsylvania]. Several times I had appointments and had to wait well over 25 minutes to get in. Care is great and staff is great. Facilities are nice and clean and welcoming. Overall really like them. Pricing is high... Tracey was great! She called me regularly with updates and answered my messages within a day. Sometime I got worried or worked up and cried but she never let it get me down and kept us going.
Age
29
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
No
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Business Executive
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
6 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Anovulation, Unexplained
9
8
How was your experience with Kara Khanh-Ha Nguyen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
I was happy with my treatment, though my outcome of miscarriage was obviously heartbreaking. We are ready to try again and wouldn’t dream of going to any other doctor or clinic. She has a great manner and plan for us
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Kara Khanh-Ha Nguyen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Trust the plan and trust her. It’s scary but it can work
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Kara Khanh-Ha Nguyen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Dr. Nguyen is caring and gentle. She called me personally when we found out I was pregnant and was sad with me when we lost our precious baby.
Describe the protocols Kara Khanh-Ha Nguyen used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia and their degree of success.
First cycle was just clomid at 100mg. No pregnancy but I did ovulate. We continued that 3 times with no success. 5th cycle was monitored and included a trigger shot of ovidrel along with the clomid 100mg. This ended with chemical pregnancy. 6th cycle same protocol and got pregnant but miscarried at 8 weeks
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia. (Assigned nurse: Tracey Mcclelland)
Tracey was great! She called me regularly with updates and answered my messages within a day. Sometime I got worried or worked up and cried but she never let it get me down and kept us going.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
Wait times are rough. Several times I had appointments and had to wait well over 25 minutes to get in. Care is great and staff is great. Facilities are nice and clean and welcoming. Overall really like them. Pricing is high
Describe the costs associated with your care under Kara Khanh-Ha Nguyen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
Not sure if the total cost
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
- Failed to order appropriate test
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
Just appointments scheduled at the wrong location
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Ask this reviewer a question about their experience with Kara Khanh-Ha Nguyen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
8
8
Age
36
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
4 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve
8
8
She [Dr. Kara Nguyen] took time to explain what was going on with me in terms that I was able to understand. She also is very supportive of my choices with treatment. She gives me hope that a successful pregnancy can happen for me...Very personable and easily reached when I had questions...Dr. Nguyen is very suppprtive and helps calms any fears you might have about treatment...We did a cycle of clomid due To the less monitoring required while I am working.
Very easy to get an appointment. They [Shady Grove of PA] open at 7 am which is amazing for teachers. I have been early for appointments and left before my actual appointment time. Easy to contact and get help when needed...All [nursing staff] wonderful. Willing to answer questions and help if my nurse was out of the office...Dr. Nguyen is very suppprtive and helps calms any fears you might have about treatment.
Age
36
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
No
Race
European
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
Teacher
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
4 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve
8
8
How was your experience with Kara Khanh-Ha Nguyen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
She took time to explain what was going on with me in terms that I was able to understand. She also is very supportive of my choices with treatment. She gives me hope that a successful pregnancy can happen for me.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Kara Khanh-Ha Nguyen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Be open and honest with your feelings. Dr. Nguyen is very suppprtive and helps calms any fears you might have about treatment.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Kara Khanh-Ha Nguyen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Very personable and easily reached when I had questions
Describe the protocols Kara Khanh-Ha Nguyen used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia and their degree of success.
We did a cycle of clomid due To the less monitoring required while I am working. If this does not work we are moving to IVF when I am off of work for the summer and would be able to do all the appointments. Dr. Nguyen was very supportive of our idea and plan.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia. (Assigned nurse: Morgan)
All wonderful. Willing to answer questions and help if my nurse was out of the office.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
Very easy to get an appointment. They open at 7 am which is amazing for teachers. I have been early for appointments and left before my actual appointment time. Easy to contact and get help when needed.
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Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
0
0
Age
38
Treated
2020
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
2 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
—
0
0
Not good [experience with Dr. Ochalski] from the male perspective...I was on a medication that reduced sperm count short term and told her...she made me take the sperm test right away knowing this. She then called me up and told me I had a sperm count of 1. Went again to take my sperm test over independently and had over 110 Million sperm in the sample. How could a "fertility expert" make such a reckless mistake!!! Not good for the male!!! Do the sperm test independently.
Most items are not covered by insurance but their [Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia's] billing team claims that they are. Check with your insurance directly before you get a huge bill...Not good [experience with Dr. Ochalski] from the male perspective...I was on a medication that reduced sperm count short term and told her...she made me take the sperm test right away knowing this. She then called me up and told me I had a sperm count of 1. Went again to take my sperm test over independently and had over 110 Million sperm in the sample. How could a "fertility expert" make such a reckless mistake!!! Not good for the male!!! Do the sperm test independently.
Age
38
Treated
2020
Success with this Doc
No
Race
European
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
Accountant
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
2 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
—
0
0
How was your experience with Melanie Ochalski at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Not good from the male perspective. Was on a medication that lowered my sperm count temporarily. Made sure that she was aware of this. Told me to take the sperm count anyways. She called me up and recklessly told me I had 1 living sperm in the sample and that I needed to see the "excellent" urologist in Towson, MD. I went to see a urologist independent in Lancaster after I was off the medication and ended up with a sperm count of 110 Million. She gave me a lame excuse, but the mental trauma was still there from her misdiagnosis. How could a so-called "fertility expert" make such a bad diagnosis?
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Melanie Ochalski at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Do as much as you can independently of SGF.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Melanie Ochalski at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Not good from the male perspective...I was on a medication that reduced sperm count short term and told her...she made me take the sperm test right away knowing this. She then called me up and told me I had a sperm count of 1. Went again to take my sperm test over independently and had over 110 Million sperm in the sample. How could a "fertility expert" make such a reckless mistake!!! Not good for the male!!! Do the sperm test independently.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia. (Assigned nurse: Nurse Amy)
Did everything that the Doctor told her to do even though I told her that I was on the medication as well. Did not go back to Ochalski to confirm.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
Do as much as you can independently. They try to lead you in with misinformation and trap you. Most items are not covered by insurance but their billing team claims that they are. Check with your insurance directly before you get a huge bill.
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
- Provided conflicting information
- Failed to convey critical information
- Failed to consider drug intolerance
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Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
10
10
Age
37 - 38
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
4 IUI
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
10
I actually only had one cycle with Dr. Nguyen. She upped the dosage of clomid and put me immediately on progesterone after my iui. I became pregnant with that iui... I loved that Dr. Nguyen said it cannot hurt to take the progesterone - we won’t waste that week following your Iui. It could have been the missing link to those three failed iuis with the previous practice!...took a more aggressive approach and I actually did get pregnant with my first iui cycle!! Unfortunately, I lost my precious little one at 12 weeks. I am about to start up treatment again and had a second consultation with Dr. Nguyen. She was very supportive. I’m hopeful, but it looks like maybe IVF makes the most sense for us... unfortunately we cannot afford it... so we will probably try Iui again! I have been very pleased with everyone at Shady Grove.
I have no complaints at all [about Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia]. The clinic is nice and clean. There are lots of locations. The portal was very helpful to keep track of appointments and to email your team with questions. It has all been a very pleasant experience...I have been very pleased with everyone at Shady Grove...She [nurse] was on the ball with everything and took the time to talk to me and answer my questions always. She would always call me back if she missed my call. She just really made things easier. Sadly, Morgan is going to a new practice so I will have a new nurse when I begin treatment again.
Age
37 - 38
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
Other
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1st of 2 Docs
Treatment
4 IUI
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
10
How was your experience with Kara Khanh-Ha Nguyen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Dr. Nguyen explained everything in a way to help me understand a little better and she took plenty of time to answer my questions. Also, after I lost my pregnancy, Dr. Nguyen called me to check on me which I appreciated so much. She let me know they were here for me when I was ready to start up again. I was having a tough time with my schedule (when I decided to go for my second consultation) and Dr. Nguyen actually agreed to have my second consultation over the phone. I just really think the world of her ... actully all of the doctors that I’ve met at Shady Grove were great!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Kara Khanh-Ha Nguyen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Dr. Nguyen has been so incredibly sweet and helpful during this stressful time. I went to a different practice originally and was pretty unhappy. I took a little break and decided to go for a consultation at Shady Grove. Dr. Nguyen took a more aggressive approach and I actually did get pregnant with my first iui cycle!! Unfortunately, I lost my precious little one at 12 weeks. I am about to start up treatment again and had a second consultation with Dr. Nguyen. She was very supportive. I’m hopeful, but it looks like maybe IVF makes the most sense for us... unfortunately we cannot afford it... so we will probably try Iui again! I have been very pleased with everyone at Shady Grove.
Describe the protocols Kara Khanh-Ha Nguyen used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia and their degree of success.
I actually only had one cycle with Dr. Nguyen. She upped the dosage of clomid and put me immediately on progesterone after my iui. I became pregnant with that iui.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia. (Assigned nurse: Morgan)
Morgan was so awesome!!!! She was on the ball with everything and took the time to talk to me and answer my questions always. She would always call me back if she missed my call. She just really made things easier. Sadly, Morgan is going to a new practice so I will have a new nurse when I begin treatment again.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
I have no complaints at all. The clinic is nice and clean. There are lots of locations. The portal was very helpful to keep track of appointments and to email your team with questions. It has all been a very pleasant experience.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Kara Khanh-Ha Nguyen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
I was lucky in that my insurance covered the iui. I just
To fulfill my co pays until I reached my out of pocket max. Ivf, however, is not covered and I am waiting to hear from someone from finance to go over prices. One positive thing is the ivf, I believe, is guaranteed and if you do not conceive, I believe you are reimbursed. I need to fully confirm that but that is what I heard on the radio advertisement for sgf.
Describe Kara Khanh-Ha Nguyen's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
I just loved that Dr. Nguyen didn’t waste any time and she took all precautions for me. The previous practice I went to tested my blood the week following iui to decide whether or not I would need progesterone ... my levels were good after my first iui so they never put me on progesterone and never tested me again. I loved that Dr. Nguyen said it cannot hurt to take the progesterone - we won’t waste that week following your Iui. It could have been the missing link to those three failed iuis with the previous practice!
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Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
10
9
Age
30
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
1 IUI, 1 IVF
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Male Factor
10
9
Dr. Kara Nguyen is super nice and has such a sweet personality. She took time to make sure we understood our diagnosis and upcoming procedure. She was very compassionate and caring throughout the whole process.... When we went for our initial consultation she took a lot of time to explain my low amh results...My doctor strongly encouraged only transferring 1 embryo. We didn't even really have the option of transferring multiple.
One thing I didn't like was that all the financial counselors are located in their [Shady Grove] Rockville, MD office. It would have been nice to talk to someone in person which used to be the case. Also, the financial counselors seemed overwhelmed and were often slow in getting back to you....The nursing staff was great! Tracey always had a protocol and schedule for me which was very helpful and easy to follow. She would also call each day of my monitoring appointments and explain results and what to do next.
Age
30
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
1 IUI, 1 IVF
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Male Factor
10
9
How was your experience with Kara Khanh-Ha Nguyen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Dr. Kara Nguyen is a very caring and compassionate Dr. When we went for our initial consultation she took a lot of time to explain my low amh results. I told her I wanted to be pregnant before the end of summer (consultation was in April) and she said we can do that. I still felt skeptical and scared to get my hopes up after almost 4 years of infertility but she delivered on that (got my positive pregnancy test in August). Also when my fresh transfer got cancelled and changed to a freeze all because of my progesterone level before my retrieval, I cried and she called me to make sure I understood why and make sure I was okay. Also, when she called to tell me I was pregnant, I could tell she was genuinely happy and excited for me.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Kara Khanh-Ha Nguyen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Don't be afraid to go and do a consultation. I know a IVF sounds really scary but Dr. Kara Nguyen will explain everything and have a plan for you. Don't be afraid to ask questions!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Kara Khanh-Ha Nguyen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Dr. Kara Nguyen is super nice and has such a sweet personality. She took time to make sure we understood our diagnosis and upcoming procedure. She was very compassionate and caring throughout the whole process.
Describe the protocols Kara Khanh-Ha Nguyen used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia and their degree of success.
We first tried 1 IUI because my insurance covered it. We were skeptical it would work due to my husband's low count and wondered if it was worth trying but also nervous about going straight to IVF. Dr. Kara Nguyen said it wouldn't hurt to try one IUI and the ultrasounds and bloodwork from that would be helpful in planning the IVF so it wouldn't be a complete waste if it didn't work. IUI cycle we did 100 mg Clomid on cycle days 3-7 and were supposed to do the trigger shot of Ovidrel on day 10 but that got pushed back until day 13 because of follicle size. Received negative pregnancy test after IUI. Started IVF on next cycle. Birth control pills for 15 days, Lupron (2.8cc) and birth control pills for 3 days, Lupron for 9 days, Follistim 300iU and Menopur 75iU for 14 days then Trigger shot and Egg Retrieval. My Follistim and Menopur ended up getting adjusted and my egg retrieval was pushed back because my follicles were growing slower and they wanted to have as many mature as possible. Also my progesterone got too high during the end of my stims so my cycle was switched to a freeze all and then an FET for the best chance of implantation.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia. (Assigned nurse: Tracey)
The nursing staff was great! Tracey always had a protocol and schedule for me which was very helpful and easy to follow. She would also call each day of my monitoring appointments and explain results and what to do next.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
The new facility Shady Grove moved into in Mechanicsburg, PA is really nice. One thing I didn't like was that all the financial counselors are located in their Rockville, MD office. It would have been nice to talk to someone in person which used to be the case. Also, the financial counselors seemed overwhelmed and were often slow in getting back to you. One thing that I liked was their Shared Help program which gives a discount on ivf treatment based on income. Also, they have a shared risk program where you can do up to 6 ivf cycles including FET's and cryopreservation for 1 price and if you don't take home a baby from the hospital you get your money back.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Kara Khanh-Ha Nguyen at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
IUI was covered by my insurance but cost about $180. IVF shared risk (up to 6 cycles including cryopreservation and FET's) after income discount was $16,500. IVF medications were about $4,600.
Describe Kara Khanh-Ha Nguyen's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
My doctor strongly encouraged only transferring 1 embryo. We didn't even really have the option of transferring multiple. I think it depends on your diagnosis, but the explanation I was given was that transferring multiple didn't really increase the chance of implantation but it did increase the risk of multiples which would be a high risk pregnancy.
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Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
7
7
Age
34 - 39
Treated
2013 - 2018
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
6 IUI, 1 IVF, 1 Embryo Freezing
Diagnosis
Unexplained
7
7
When I first met [Dr. Melissa] Espositto I felt like I was at the right place & she made me feel like family. I will be forever thankful for all she did to help us achieve one of our dreams of having a child. She was compassionate & caring from the beginning & throughout all my bad experiences. I just wish from the start some things would of been mentioned about doing like pgs testing & ERA biopsy not at the end when I had practically used all my embryos. It was nice when she would call me before a transfer & wish me good luck but towards the end it was always communicating w the nurse.
Sometimes this clinic [Shady Grove-Harrisburg] is extremely busy so don't expect to be in & out in 30min. Always ask questions to make sure you are all on same page. Front desk could be more knowledgeable. There was a few times I was there & asked hey wasn't I supposed to have this done today. Then they were like hold on let me check & would come back in to say yeah you are right.
Age
34 - 39
Treated
2013 - 2018
Success with this Doc
No
Race
Other
Income
$0 - $49K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
4th of 4 Docs
Treatment
6 IUI, 1 IVF, 1 Embryo Freezing
Diagnosis
Unexplained
7
7
How was your experience with Melissa Esposito at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
When I first met Espositto I felt like I was at the right place & she made me feel like family. I will be forever thankful for all she did to help us achieve one of our dreams of having a child. She was compassionate & caring from the beginning & throughout all my bad experiences. I just wish from the start some things would of been mentioned about doing like pgs testing & ERA biopsy not at the end when I had practically used all my embryos. It was nice when she would call me before a transfer & wish me good luck but towards the end it was always communicating w the nurse. I am currently trying yet for another baby but unfortunately have to start over from a retrieval & switched drs due to I feel abandoned by her now. I know she is a great dr but for some reason she refuses to call me or maybe the nurse isn't asking her to. She has been a blessing to me but I have a new dr now that I hope will give it their all to help me achieve my dreams of having a second baby!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Melissa Esposito at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Don't be hesitant to ask questions or second guess anything! She is a great dr but its your future♡
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Melissa Esposito at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
I would say I got treated more like a human until after my first & only live birth. Then I felt more like a number after that cuz it was the same protocols time after time & results were similar unfortunately.
Describe the protocols Melissa Esposito used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia and their degree of success.
One retrieval 10 eggs 9 mature & all 9 fertilized w Icsi to great quality blasts. Transferred 1 fresh ended in chemical. 2nd FET w 1 was neg. 3rd FET w 2 was pos & ended in live birth♡. 4th FET w 2 was pos but ended in MC at 9wks. 5th FET w 2 was pos but ended in MC at 7.5 wks. 6th FET w 1 was chemical but embryo stuck in catheter & had to reprep it for transfer again. My 3rd -6th i did endo scratch w prednisolone & lovenox w other transfer meds.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia. (Assigned nurse: Alyssa)
She was always good at responding to emails & phone calls. There was a few times there was miscommunications & I'm glad I asked questions.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
Sometimes this clinic is extremely busy so don't expect to be in & out in 30min. Always ask questions to make sure you are all on same page. Front desk could be more knowledgeable. There was a few times I was there & asked hey wasn't I supposed to have this done today. Then they were like hold on let me check & would come back in to say yeah you are right.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
You could go in at certain hrs in morn & mostly when it worked best for you. Sometimes you could go in & it was extremely busy & waited a long time. Then there was days you were in & out.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Melissa Esposito at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
Many many $1000s. Too much unfortunately. All out of pocket
Describe Melissa Esposito's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
She said one for 1st two transfers but after that it was 2.
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
- Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
- Failed to call with results
- Provided conflicting information
- Failed to convey critical information
- Lost or damaged samples
- Scheduled the wrong procedure
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
I had to repeat a test that required taking more injections so they could repeat it due to first time they collected the wrong amount of tissue. Plus put my plans yet another month behind.
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Ask this reviewer a question about their experience with Melissa Esposito at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
10
10
Age
41 - 42
Treated
2017 - 2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
2 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Poor Egg Quality
10
10
She [Dr. Esposito] is warm and kind. She makes direct eye contact and doesn't interrupt when you're talking. She is very willing to give more or less detail based on your feedback. She never seems like she's in a hurry...a very professional doctor who maintains the high standard of the clinic without feeling cold or clinical. She is very conversational with patients but is able to answer questions directly and provide more or less information based on your level of inquiry.
Shady Grove is all about education. They have unlimited opportunities to better your understanding of yourself, your fertility journey, their treatments and services, as well as the case histories of other patients in similar fertility stages, treatments and outcomes...The nursing staff is professional, polite, conversational and willing to go the extra step to ensure quality patient care...IUI is 1,800 per cycle--Medication costs were per insurance provider.
Age
41 - 42
Treated
2017 - 2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
—
Income
$0 - $49K
Occupation
Teacher
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
2 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Poor Egg Quality
10
10
How was your experience with Melissa Esposito at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Dr. Esposito is a very professional doctor who maintains the high standard of the clinic without feeling cold or clinical. She is very conversational with patients but is able to answer questions directly and provide more or less information based on your level of inquiry. I appreciate the balance between her warm manner and high level of professionalism. Our conversations have always been candid and thorough. She is gentle when performing evaluations and never seems like she is in a hurry.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Melissa Esposito at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Don't make any assumptions based on fear or lack of experience--the best way to make the next step is to get more information. The more you know the better prepared you are to move forward with clarity and confidence.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Melissa Esposito at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
She is warm and kind. She makes direct eye contact and doesn't interrupt when you're talking. She is very willing to give more or less detail based on your feedback. She never seems like she's in a hurry.
Describe the protocols Melissa Esposito used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia and their degree of success.
The trajectory that we have mapped out with Dr. Esposito is to start my first round of fertility medications this month, starting with medication and ovulation charting the first round and then move to medication with timed intercourse and then medication, egg harvesting an then IUI as necessary.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
The nursing staff is professional, polite, conversational and willing to go the extra step to ensure quality patient care.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
Shady Grove is all about education. They have unlimited opportunities to better your understanding of yourself, your fertility journey, their treatments and services, as well as the case histories of other patients in similar fertility stages, treatments and outcomes.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Melissa Esposito at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
IUI is 1,800 per cycle--Medication costs were per insurance provider.
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Ask this reviewer a question about their experience with Melissa Esposito at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
10
10
Age
32
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Uterine Fibroids, Other
10
10
Dr. Esposito cared deeply about our desire to be parents. She was patient through the process of explaining everything to us even if she had to repeat herself. She was very empathetic and was supportive of the way we wanted to go about treatment.... She made sure to answer our questions fully and she covered all risks involved. We appreciated how she spoke to us in a down-to-earth manner and she treated us with importance and sensitivity. She was reassuring and when our first cycle failed she felt deeply unsatisfied and outlined exactly how the protocol would change and how she was going to make this happen for us.
They [Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia] are organized, communicative, flexible and make sure your experience is to your satisfaction. I expressed concerns about the financial counselor we were assigned and we received a phone call the very next day from our new financial counselor.... We exhausted insurance benefits for 2nd cycle so we opted to go with Shared Risk so we had a fair shot at making and bringing our baby home. Shared Risk is out of pocket and runs $19,500 plus $3,500 for genetic testing.
Age
32
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
No
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Engineer
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1st of 3 Docs
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Uterine Fibroids, Other
10
10
How was your experience with Melissa Esposito at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Dr. Esposito was explicit in her explanation of treatment. She made sure to answer our questions fully and she covered all risks involved. We appreciated how she spoke to us in a down-to-earth manner and she treated us with importance and sensitivity. She was reassuring and when our first cycle failed she felt deeply unsatisfied and outlined exactly how the protocol would change and how she was going to make this happen for us. "I just want to make your dream of becoming parents come true", those were her exact words.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Melissa Esposito at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Have faith. Trust the process. Ask questions- there is no such thing as "too many questions". Make sure you feel like all of your concerns are addressed and you are being heard. If you are a patient of Dr. Esposito, you will have no trouble with that. Be upfront and transparent.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Melissa Esposito at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Dr. Esposito cared deeply about our desire to be parents. She was patient through the process of explaining everything to us even if she had to repeat herself. She was very empathetic and was supportive of the way we wanted to go about treatment.
Describe the protocols Melissa Esposito used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia and their degree of success.
I was on a menopur/gonal protocol with femera to keep my endometriosis at bay and introduced cetrotide towards the end of stims to prevent ovulation. Triggered with HCG.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia. (Assigned nurse: Amy Cicero)
Amy was out of this world, amazing. Couldn't have asked for a better nurse. So patient and so incredibly kind hearted. Such an amazing communicator.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
They are organized, communicative, flexible and make sure your experience is to your satisfaction. I expressed concerns about the financial counselor we were assigned and we received a phone call the very next day from our new financial counselor.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Melissa Esposito at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
Meds were between $5K-$6K, genetic testing was $5K. The rest was covered by my insurance. We exhausted insurance benefits for 2nd cycle so we opted to go with Shared Risk so we had a fair shot at making and bringing our baby home. Shared Risk is out of pocket and runs $19,500 plus $3,500 for genetic testing.
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
- Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
While our nurse Amy was off, the nurse that was covering for her omitted the development of 2 of our embryos. Everything got cleared up the following day.
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Ask this reviewer a question about their experience with Melissa Esposito at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
10
10
Age
29 - 30
Treated
2015 - 2016
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
6 IUI, 1 IVF
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
10
I loved her [Dr. Melissa Esposito]. I loved that she was blunt about things and her opinions... always having research to back it up too!...I did 6 IUIs, and she was up front that she only wanted to do 3 max, less if we were comfortable. She doesn't like IUIs as much due to such low success rates. I totally agree with her!! Unfortunately my insurance forced us to do 6 before moving onto IVF. We did 3 cycles on clomid, 3 cycles on injectable meds then moved onto Antagonist Protocol for IVF with ICSI.
IVF,ICSI cost about $10000 and $4000 in meds...I loved everything about this clinic [Shady Grove at Camp Hill]. I do want to warn you that they have many branches and if you're branch doesn't have a Dr on the day your cycle falls for transfer or IUI, you may have to go elsewhere. I didn't mind this as it gave me tons if options for appt times. And all the doctors I've encountered have been great through Shady Grove
Age
29 - 30
Treated
2015 - 2016
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
Other
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Entrepreneur
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
6 IUI, 1 IVF
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
10
How was your experience with Melissa Esposito at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
I loved her. I loved that she was blunt about things and her opinions... always having research to back it up too!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Melissa Esposito at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
She doesn't always have a filter, but I loved that. She's eccentric and very knowledgeable.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Melissa Esposito at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia?
Dr Esposito always took time to talk to me after our appointments, she wouldn't just rush out. She always remembered everything about us and would even stop and talk to us in the hallway. When I was in the room still for different procedures, she would run out to waiting room and let my husband know I was good. She was optimistic but honest about percentages and didn't sugar coat things. Also took time to explain anything we needed in great detail.
Describe the protocols Melissa Esposito used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia and their degree of success.
I did 6 IUIs, and she was up front that she only wanted to do 3 max, less if we were comfortable. She doesn't like IUIs as much due to such low success rates. I totally agree with her!! Unfortunately my insurance forced us to do 6 before moving onto IVF. We did 3 cycles on clomid, 3 cycles on injectable meds then moved onto Antagonist Protocol for IVF with ICSI.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia. (Assigned nurse: Alyssa)
The nurses are always very sweet! They talk and get to know you... they were very kind to me as I faint often when I have blood taken. Eventually got it under control, but they were soooo patient
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
I loved everything about this clinic. I do want to warn you that they have many branches and if you're branch doesn't have a Dr on the day your cycle falls for transfer or IUI, you may have to go elsewhere. I didn't mind this as it gave me tons if options for appt times. And all the doctors I've encountered have been great through Shady Grove
Describe the costs associated with your care under Melissa Esposito at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
IVF,ICSI cost about $10000 and $4000 in meds. Luckily we have insurance contracted rate which knocked it to $7000 and then insurance paid $4700 of that. So for us it was around $6400. IUI Was about $500-$700 contracted rate I think
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Ask this reviewer a question about their experience with Melissa Esposito at Shady Grove Fertility of Philadelphia.
Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.