Ratings of 1 indicate that a clinic was poorly operated.
Ratings of 10 indicate that a clinic operated very well.
Scheduling
8.9
8.9
Scheduling
Ratings of 1 mean it was difficult to schedule appointments with this clinic.
Ratings of 10 mean it was easy to schedule appointments.
Billing Department
6.8
6.8
Billing Department
Ratings of 1 indicate an unsatisfactory billing department.
Ratings of 10 indicate an excellent billing department.
Nursing Team
8.5
8.5
Nursing Team
Ratings of 1 indicate an unsatisfactory nursing team.
Ratings of 10 indicate an excellent nursing team.
LGBTQ+ Care
8.3
8.3
LGBTQ+ Care
Ratings of 1 indicate an unsatisfactory LGBTQ+ care.
Ratings of 10 indicate an excellent LGBTQ+ care.
Attention to Detail
7.3
7.3
Attention to Detail
Attention to detail is on a 1 - 10 scale, and is scored based on the rate, and severity, of errors committed by the clinic according to the patients.
For example, a severe error might be failing to inform a patient of critical information, while a small error might be failing to call a patient with results.
CDC Success Rates
This is the most recent data from the CDC. The CDC cautions that it should not be used to compare doctors and clinics. This data represents the outcomes of IVF cycles when using a person's own eggs.
For more information please see our FAQs.
Where you see a “?” on the chart, a clinic has done fewer than 20 cycles in this category and age range, so the CDC says showing percentages from this small data set would be misleading and unreliable.
She [Dr. Schnell] made false promises about my transfer dates (by whole months). My benefits reset on January 1. I had met my out of pocket maximum by August. She promised me to be done by the new year. It took me trying to move my embryos to another facility to get her to reach out to me about doing the transfer during the timeline that was about to run out...My surgery was a bad experience. My thyroid treatment went bad. My ivf made me sick and scared for my life with my doctor and her team not bringing me in for enough monitoring. They didn't update my chart with just about anything so that I had to remind them about everything...
They [Shady Grove Fertility] didn't update my chart with just about anything so that I had to remind them about everything...The only strength in this clinic is a nice phlebotomist. My surgery was a bad experience. My thyroid treatment went bad. My ivf made me sick and scared for my life with my doctor and her team not bringing me in for enough monitoring...Messed up 10 prescriptions...I tried switching to a different clinic in November and they never transferred my files...
How was your experience with Vicki Schnell at Shady Grove Fertility?
She gives me misinformation regularly. Then blames others. She refused to believe the thyroid meds she gave me made me sick. Three doctors and a pharmacist disagreed. It took her 3 weeks to be convinced to see me about it. She made false promises about my transfer dates (by whole months). My benefits reset on January 1. I had met my out of pocket maximum by August. She promised me to be done by the new year. It took me trying to move my embryos to another facility to get her to reach out to me about doing the transfer during the timeline that was about to run out. I made my transfer with 5 days to spare only because I requested to leave that clinic for good.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Vicki Schnell at Shady Grove Fertility?
Don't go there. You'll be put at risk.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Vicki Schnell at Shady Grove Fertility?
They didn't remember anything going on with me. I started my period even on progesterone, no one realized I was a week early. They forgot to call a rx in for me and then had no idea how long I'd been on the new dose. They forgot which trigger shot they told me to take.
Describe the protocols Vicki Schnell used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility and their degree of success.
She put me on estrogen priming before my stims. My period started a week early anyway. They said it was OK but not why. Then they started me on a very high dose of gonal f. They refused to bring me in for labs early even though I felt so dizzy I couldn't work. I finally convinced them and they lowered my dose because my estrogen was rising too fast. I was told I'd be triggering with lupron to avoid ohss. Then the nurse called me to tell me to trigger with ovidrel. She was clueless about the lupron and said it wasn't in my chart. Told me to trigger with the lupron and that she'd take my word for it. Then, after a different doctor did my egg retrieval after all of doctor Schnell's staff said I wasn't at risk of ohss, the retrieval doctor put me on cabergoline and told me they, "pushed me very hard." One follicle was larger 1.5x the size of my actual ovary. I got 10 eggs. 7 mature. 4 made it to day 5. 3/4 were pgt normal. 1/4 was low level mosaic.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility. (Assigned nurse: Rosalyn )
Messed up 10 prescriptions. Argued with me that cvs carried a drug. (Like I'd make up leaving CVS after being told, "we don't carry that medicine here.") Medical assistant out stepping her limitations and trying to deny me being monitored when I was ill. Saying, "the doctor isn't in office today so we wouldn't adjust your meds unless it's an emergency anyway." After they lost that battle, I had to have my meds adjusted because it was actually an emergency. They almost never knew what they were doing.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility.
The only strength in this clinic is a nice phlebotomist. My surgery was a bad experience. My thyroid treatment went bad. My ivf made me sick and scared for my life with my doctor and her team not bringing me in for enough monitoring. They didn't update my chart with just about anything so that I had to remind them about everything. I think a person who isn't micromanaging their own care at this clinic is in actual danger.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Vicki Schnell at Shady Grove Fertility.
I'm lucky in that I had fertility benefits. Once my out of pocket was met, everything was covered completely. No idea how much it would have been without it.
Describe Vicki Schnell's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility.
I was ok with single.
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility?
Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Lost paperwork
Failed to call with results
Failed to order appropriate test
Failed to send your chart to another clinic
Failed to inform you of changes in protocol
Lost results
Provided conflicting information
Failed to convey critical information
Failed to consider drug intolerance
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility.
10 prescription errors. Failed to call in 3 times. Called in to random pharmacies twice. Called in but canceled for no reason. Gave the wrong instructions on a suppository. Made sick by reaction to levothyroxine and refused to acknowledge or test for over 3 weeks. Made ill during injections and was refused early monitoring. Was told by doctor to trigger with Lupron. Then was told by nurse to trigger with hcg. Nurse couldn't find lupron in my chart but told me to use it. Was told by doctor my transfer would happen in December. Was told by medical assistant that my transfer was impossible to occur before February. Appointments getting canceled and unable to be rescheduled. Was told I'd be off my suppositories by week 10 of pregnancy. Won't even start weaning until week 11. $500 extra dollars in medicine and the whole reason is because the clinic got their appointments backed up. I have no medical reason to stay on them and they have told me they aren't even checking my blood to ensure I'm safe to come off them. I tried switching to a different clinic in November and they never transferred my files. I also am going to my OB now and have requested my files over 4 weeks ago with no follow up. I've asked for work documents, been charged for them, never refunded but they never got filled out. They severely mistreated my thyroid and my endocrinologist told me that I was, "textbook failing" the medication. I specifically asked Dr. Schnell if we could put me on something other than levothyroxine. She said it wouldn't make a difference. 3 doctors and a pharmacist disagreed. I lost 19 pounds and missed almost a week of work.
I would describe Dr. Csokmay as an angel of a provider as I could not have dreamed or created a better doctor myself...I had 100% faith and trust in him to keep me safe, healthy and cared for during my fertility treatments...Not once was I not considered in my protocols, procedures, or decision making. Dr. Csokmay ensures your comfortability and treatment with the utmost care. I have never felt more respected or cared about than under the care of Dr. Csokmay.
Shady Grove Washington DC- K street location: The receptionist are incredibly kind and there to literally cheer you on throughout your entire time at SGT. The phlebotomists are by far my favorite as they always got my draw right on the first stick and create a comfortable and fun environment with music throughout your time there. The ultrasound techs are always light hearted and make sure you are comfortable and at ease during every visit. The only weaknesses of K-street is the PARKING and BILLING OFFICE.
How was your experience with John Csokmay at Shady Grove Fertility?
To be completely transparent I only attended Shady Grove Fertility to be under Dr. Csokmay's care. I knew he was the doctor I needed to go through such difficult surgeries and procedures. I had 100% faith and trust in him to keep me safe, healthy and cared for during my fertility treatments. I honestly would have followed his care to any clinic as that is gravity of care Dr. Csokmay provides. If I had the opportunity to have Dr. Csokmay be a provider in my overall health care I absolutely would. I could speak praises until I ran out of breath and would still have an infinite number of positive praises for him.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of John Csokmay at Shady Grove Fertility?
Talk to him, know your personality and comfortability as that always comes first especially when it comes to fertility treatments. I would describe Dr. Csokmay as an angel of a provider as I could not have dreamed or created a better doctor myself. I would say run, if your going to Shady Grove, he is your doctor. If your looking through clinics, look up Dr. John Csokmay, there is absolutely no better!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with John Csokmay at Shady Grove Fertility?
I followed Dr. Csokmay out of military care to Shady Grove specifically because he treated me as a human. Not once was I not considered in my protocols, procedures, or decision making. Dr. Csokmay ensures your comfortability and treatment with the utmost care. I have never felt more respected or cared about than under the care of Dr. Csokmay.
Describe the protocols John Csokmay used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility and their degree of success.
For my egg retrieval we used the antagonist protocol, which included Menopur and Gonal- F with a lupron trigger. Our retrieval resulted in 23 eggs retrieved after 11 days of stims and 6 embryos created. My FET was catered to my body's response to birth control, I had 14 days of Estrace prior to transfer and about a week of Progesterone prior to transfer.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility. (Assigned nurse: Jamilla, Sadie, Madison)
I had 3 different nurses as I moved through the process. Jamilla was my nurse throughout testing and gearing up for egg retrieval. Sadie was my IVF nurse and was my point of contact through my FET. Madison was my final nurse after completing my transfer and through my graduation from the clinic.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility.
Shady Grove Washington DC- K street location: The receptionist are incredibly kind and there to literally cheer you on throughout your entire time at SGT. The phlebotomists are by far my favorite as they always got my draw right on the first stick and create a comfortable and fun environment with music throughout your time there. The ultrasound techs are always light hearted and make sure you are comfortable and at ease during every visit.
The only weaknesses of K-street is the PARKING and BILLING OFFICE. Parking is especially difficult and confusing in D.C. no control of the clinic but be prepared.
BILLING however, I received multiple bills of other patients that were not mine and did not really get fixed due to similar emails. In addition my husband a retired navy vet and I qualified for a Bob Woodruff foundation grant for a percentage off of our total clinic cost. I reached out numerous times for the paper required to apply for the grant, spoke with the foundation and due to the billing office not providing the SART certification, we went into large credit card debt to afford IVF. All which could have be alleviated with the assistance of the billing office. Once I paid SGF there was no care to assist or communicare from the billing office at all.
Describe the costs associated with your care under John Csokmay at Shady Grove Fertility.
25,400 for shared risk; 230 initial appt with SIS, 305 for first Ultrasound after FET and awaiting last bill from final graduation ultrasound.
Describe John Csokmay's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility.
Shady Grove requires single embryo transfers unless prior transfers have failed.
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility?
Lost paperwork
Provided conflicting information
Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility.
The only issues I had with SGF arose from the Billing office. There is lack of communication and ball dropping when it comes to the financials. We were to have received a Bob Woodruff grant and could not due to the financial office not providing the clinics SART certification. This gave us a large increase in credit card debt which could have been alleviated with paperwork. In addition, they contacted me when a bill was due but would not respond to inquiries. Lastly, as a tricare patient there is a waiver I am to sign prior to paying or receiving treatment that acknowledges lack of coverage. This form was not provided until after care had been provided and payment submitted and was a cover their butt moment as it stated without my knowledge of said form payment could not be collected.
At my initial consult she [Dr. Selma Amrane] told me that it sounded like I am a candidate for IVF but she wanted to verify that with a series of test just to confirm. I liked that she wanted to test me to confirm what she was thinking...She’s very compassionate and understanding of patients feelings and sensitivity towards needing fertility help...She’s wanting to do single embryo transfer to ensure less complications and for safety since this is my first IVF treatment. I wanted multiple just to be sure that one results in pregnancy but I see her rational
The [Shady Grove Fertility] clinic in itself lacks communication. I have reached out several times about my bill and have not received response. The non medical staff is not friendly and lack compassion in my opinion. If I only had to deal with this set of people I would have felt defeated before I began...My nurse is very knowledgeable and personable. She also takes into account my feelings and reservations and procedures
How was your experience with Selma Amrane at Shady Grove Fertility?
The initial appointments were good but then I feel like communication was lost and there was no explanation in the beginning about needing to secure funding for donor coverage. It was like we crossed that bridge when we got to it. I wish I would have been told to start working on funding from the initial appointment. I have completed all of the steps and now working on funding
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Selma Amrane at Shady Grove Fertility?
Follow up as much as you can
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Selma Amrane at Shady Grove Fertility?
She’s very compassionate and understanding of patients feelings and sensitivity towards needing fertility help
Describe the protocols Selma Amrane used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility and their degree of success.
At my initial consult she told me that it sounded like I am a candidate for IVF but she wanted to verify that with a series of test just to confirm. I liked that she wanted to test me to confirm what she was thinking
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility. (Assigned nurse: Abbie chapman)
My nurse is very knowledgeable and personable. She also takes into account my feelings and reservations and procedures
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility.
The clinic in itself lacks communication. I have reached out several times about my bill and have not received response. The non medical staff is not friendly and lack compassion in my opinion. If I only had to deal with this set of people I would have felt defeated before I began
Describe the costs associated with your care under Selma Amrane at Shady Grove Fertility.
$5,000
Describe Selma Amrane's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility.
She’s wanting to do single embryo transfer to ensure less complications and for safety since this is my first IVF treatment. I wanted multiple just to be sure that one results in pregnancy but I see her rational
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility?
Lost appointments
Failed to call with results
Failed to order appropriate test
Failed to inform you of changes in protocol
Provided conflicting information
Scheduled the wrong procedure
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility.
I was scheduled for one test but was told another test would be given once I got there
While I am sure she [Dr. Rebecca Chason] is a great Dr, she was very clear about the expectations and my doing donor eggs. I have a good egg reserve for my age and wanted to try with my own eggs and not be pushed into donor when I had other options. So I felt that my care was not as aggressive as could have been because they just didn’t think it would work...Demand more, do your research and ask tons of questions. Don’t assume because they are the Dr they know more. You have to advocate for yourself and what you would like done
They [Shady Grove Fertility] have a age cut off, a BMI cut off and the financial team is very bad at getting back to you in a timely fashion. They staff you worked with most were the ones that took your blood, and the ones that did the ultrasounds. They were very kind, compassionate and friendly...the weekend nursing staff were a bit more compassionate than the weekday staff. But overall not a bad experience
How was your experience with Rebecca Chason at Shady Grove Fertility?
While I am sure she is a great Dr, she was very clear about the expectations and my doing donor eggs. I have a good egg reserve for my age and wanted to try with my own eggs and not be pushed into donor when I had other options. So I felt that my care was not as aggressive as could have been because they just didn’t think it would work. After the 3 failed IUI I reached out about a change to my regimen because clearly what I was on was not working. They said no it would stay the same and I was responding well. Well after 2 more failed attempts Dr. chasen now wants to talk about changing the regimen which I felt was a little late. I aged out of IVF at that particular clinic but never got a change to do a successful retrieval so I moved on to a clinic that didn’t have a age cut off of 45 for your own eggs. I didn’t even bother with the last IUI….more money wasted with no measurable change to the regimen
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Rebecca Chason at Shady Grove Fertility?
Demand more, do your research and ask tons of questions. Don’t assume because they are the Dr they know more. You have to advocate for yourself and what you would like done
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Rebecca Chason at Shady Grove Fertility?
I barely spoke to Dr. Chasen more so her nurse. Overall while they were nice I didn’t feel that they cared as much as I would have liked during this emotionally stressful period. They kept pushing me to do donor egg although my egg reserve was good. I do feel that my failed egg retrieval could have also been avoided if certain things would have been noted before hand.
Describe the protocols Rebecca Chason used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility and their degree of success.
For the IVF…I was on BC pills initially, then Lupron, added in 150 menopour and 275 gonal f. They started high because of my age and I reacted better than they thought so they had to lower the gonal f to 150 so I would not go into ohss. I went into retrieval with them seeing at least 16 follicles mature and ready. I woke up saying they were unable to retrieve any because they could not access my ovaries vaginally and abdominally they saw a blood vessel in front of the ovary and decided to not proceed. It was devastating
They then told me that they would not move on with IVF for that reason….no trying to figure out how we can go around that because I clearly responded well. They then moved to IUI which was 100mg clomid for 5 days and on day 3 150 gonal f and day 5 150 gonal f. When I went in each time they saw 2-3 follicles that were mature and ready for insemenation. The sperm was great according to them, but Nothing took.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility. (Assigned nurse: Ann)
They nurse was pleasant enough and was available when I had a question. The staff at the clinic were great. I will say that the weekend nursing staff were a bit more compassionate than the weekday staff. But overall not a bad experience
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility.
They have a age cut off, a BMI cut off and the financial team is very bad at getting back to you in a timely fashion. They staff you worked with most were the ones that took your blood, and the ones that did the ultrasounds. They were very kind, compassionate and friendly
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Shady Grove Fertility.
It was convenient as early as 7am and in and out in 30 mins and still able to get to work in a timely fashion
Describe the costs associated with your care under Rebecca Chason at Shady Grove Fertility.
My insurance is pretty good and covered a good amount. The meds were the most expensive part. Without meds IVF was around 4,000. With meds $13,000. IUI meds were about $350 and out of pocket was 1,000
Describe Rebecca Chason's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility.
N/A
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility?
Failed to call with results
Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility.
It was just twice that I had to call about results and to know if I was triggering that night as the staff failed to call as the usually did. I was able to reach a night nurse who after looking up the information called me back and said that yes I was to trigger which I would have missed if I was not proactive about calling
Dr. Devine is very knowledgeable and gave advice in probabilities/estimates of success which I found to be very helpful when I needed to make a decision about how I wanted to proceed. She proactively consulted with another dr who had more experience with a more novel treatment plan for my adenomyosis. I appreciated her thorough approach to managing my care.
[Shady Grove Fertility - Washington DC] Strength - success rates. Weakness - factory feel, financial billing department is not responsive and gives inaccurate information, you rarely interact with your dr after your treatment plan is finalized. A different dr will do your egg retrievals, and most other procedures you may need along the way.
How was your experience with Kate Devine at Shady Grove Fertility?
Dr. Devine is very knowledgeable and gave advice in probabilities/estimates of success which I found to be very helpful when I needed to make a decision about how I wanted to proceed. She proactively consulted with another dr who had more experience with a more novel treatment plan for my adenomyosis. I appreciated her thorough approach to managing my care.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Kate Devine at Shady Grove Fertility?
Get your emotional support from your partner, friend, or therapist, don't expect to get it from Dr. Devine. She is very knowledgeable but isn't very warm or empathetic.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Kate Devine at Shady Grove Fertility?
Dr. Devine was not particularly warm, but she was compassionate when I experienced miscarriages or set backs.
Describe the protocols Kate Devine used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility and their degree of success.
I don't remember the specifics. I had 2 IVF cycles which yielded a total of 3 PGT tested normal embryos.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility.
Generally I had positive experiences with my nurses but found the nursing team approach to be frustrating and ineffective. Information would get lost between the nurses, I would get asked the same questions by multiple nurses on the team. I wished I had one point of contact instead of multiple.
The staff who draw your blood and perform your ultrasounds were kind and skilled.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility.
Strength - success rates. Weakness - factory feel, financial billing department is not responsive and gives inaccurate information, you rarely interact with your dr after your treatment plan is finalized. A different dr will do your egg retrievals, and most other procedures you may need along the way.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Kate Devine at Shady Grove Fertility.
My insurance covered 80% of my fertility treatment costs.
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility?
Lost paperwork
Failed to call with results
Provided conflicting information
Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility.
Our first visit, we really liked Dr Mottla. He has a warm manner and was reassuring...We had issues as time went on, particularly with communication and with my partner being included in the process...I was disappointed with the lack of explanation when plans would change after an IUI cycle didn't work...we didn't feel like our unique situation or past conversations were being taken into account...
I go to both the Annaoplis and Columbia clinics [Shady Grove Fertility] due to where I work. Staff at both are friendly and helpful...At the Annapolis clinic, they have me meet with the nurse at the end of each labs/US appt which is VERY helpful and helps me feel comfortable with the plan. However, this is not done at the Columbia office, so there have been some miscommunication and confusion...
How was your experience with Gilbert Mottla at Shady Grove Fertility?
Our first visit, we really liked Dr Mottla. He has a warm manner and was reassuring. He was pretty realistic about success rates, which I appreciated, though I did have to press him for specific numbers. We had issues as time went on, particularly with communication and with my partner being included in the process. I am a Primary Care Doctor, so I may have been seeking more explanation of treatment plans than other people, but I was disappointed with the lack of explanation when plans would change after an IUI cycle didn't work; for example why we were switching medications. There was also a big misunderstanding where my partner and I thought we were only doing one cycle of IUI and then moving onto IVF, but after our first cycle of IUI didn't work, Dr. Mottla just created a treatment plan for a second cycle of IUI with new medications and his nurse told us as if this was the plan all along, so we didn't feel like our unique situation or past conversations were being taken into account, ie, we felt like a number. It is also fairly difficult to get timely appointments with a provider to discuss our questions and treatment plans; it definitely has not been offered or recommended and we have had to advocate for ourselves to schedule and schedule pretty far in advance, which can be stressful during the very uncertain journey of infertility treatment.Once I voiced my concerns about wanting more explanation for treatment decisions, Dr Mottla and our nurse did try to share more of the clinical thought process with me, which I appreciate greatly. I would like to see the default approach be to ask patients what level of information and explanation they appreciate. The staff at the Annapolis location also provides more explanation than the Columbia office. At the Annapolis office, the nurse meets with me after each labs/US visit to go over the plan and see if I have questions, which I LOVE, but the Columbia office doesn't do that, and I have to go to both offices due to where I work, so there have been miscommunication and misunderstandings esp when I go to the Columbia office. Finally, my partner has felt very removed from the process which has been hard on both of us. For reasons still somewhat unclear to me, Dr. Mottla called me initially to discuss my partner's semen analysis results instead of my partner, and wasn't planning on calling my partner until I asked him to; this felt very inappropriate to us and like an effort wasn't being made to include him. They say that they treat us "like a team", but all that really means is that everything falls on the woman, which leaves me feeling stressed and alone and him feeling excluded and ignored. Citing COVID protocols, my partner was excluded from my IUI ultrasound. We had been excited for him to be more involved and he is scientifically-minded, so I thought it would be cool for him to see the dominant follicle and be more involved in the process, as well as to be there to support me. Unfortunately, we didn't realize he couldn't come in until we were at the appt, so he spent the appt stewing in the car for 45 mins and I felt more alone than ever. I take COVID very seriously, but it is April 2022, he is fully vaccinated including booster, and I know firsthand that most offices and hospitals are lifting their restrictions, so it was all around upsetting and seemed to have little medical reasoning.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Gilbert Mottla at Shady Grove Fertility?
Advocate for yourself early and often. If you want to see him/discuss your treatment plan, schedule an appointment with plenty of advance notice. If you want to know the actual chances of success, ask for specific numbers; fertility care in general tends to default to toxic positivity which was counterproductive and upsetting for my partner and me.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Gilbert Mottla at Shady Grove Fertility?
I am a Primary Care Doctor, so I may have been seeking more explanation of treatment plans than other people, but I was disappointed with the lack of explanation when plans would change after an IUI cycle didn't work; for example why we were switching medications. There was also a big misunderstanding where my partner and I thought we were only doing one cycle of IUI and then moving onto IVF, but after our first cycle of IUI didn't work, Dr. Mottla just created a treatment plan for a second cycle of IUI with new medications and his nurse told us as if this was the plan all along, so we didn't feel like our unique situation or past conversations were being taken into account, ie, we felt like a number. It is also fairly difficult to get timely appointments with a provider to discuss our questions and treatment plans; it definitely has not been offered or recommended and we have had to advocate for ourselves to schedule and schedule pretty far in advance, which can be stressful during the very uncertain journey of infertility treatment.Once I voiced my concerns about wanting more explanation for treatment decisions, Dr Mottla and our nurse did try to share more of the clinical thought process with me, which I appreciate greatly. I would like to see the default approach be to ask patients what level of information and explanation they appreciate. The staff at the Annapolis location also provides more explanation than the Columbia office. At the Annapolis office, the nurse meets with me after each labs/US visit to go over the plan and see if I have questions, which I LOVE, but the Columbia office doesn't do that, and I have to go to both offices due to where I work, so there have been miscommunication and misunderstandings esp when I go to the Columbia office. Finally, my partner has felt very removed from the process which has been hard on both of us. For reasons still somewhat unclear to me, Dr. Mottla called me initially to discuss my partner's semen analysis results instead of my partner, and wasn't planning on calling my partner until I asked him to; this felt very inappropriate to us and like an effort wasn't being made to include him. They say that they treat us "like a team", but all that really means is that everything falls on the woman, which leaves me feeling stressed and alone and him feeling excluded and ignored. Citing COVID protocols, my partner was excluded from my IUI ultrasound. We had been excited for him to be more involved and he is scientifically-minded, so I thought it would be cool for him to see the dominant follicle and be more involved in the process, as well as to be there to support me. Unfortunately, we didn't realize he couldn't come in until we were at the appt, so he spent the appt stewing in the car for 45 mins and I felt more alone than ever. I take COVID very seriously, but it is April 2022, he is fully vaccinated including booster, and I know firsthand that most offices and hospitals are lifting their restrictions, so it was all around upsetting and seemed to have little medical reasoning.
Describe the protocols Gilbert Mottla used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility and their degree of success.
IUI x3, first clomid, then letrazole for last two cycles due to thin uterine lining (6mm) at day 8-9. Also used vaginal estrogen for first two cycles and menopur for last cycle. HCG trigger shot and vaginal progesterone used for all three cycles.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility. (Assigned nurse: Ashley Hall)
Ashley is a little newer to fertility care, so there were some miscommunications initially, but she listened to my feedback and since then, she has been proactive with communicating treatment plans and explanations with me. She is very professional, respectful, and compassionate.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility.
I go to both the Annaoplis and Columbia clinics due to where I work. Staff at both are friendly and helpful. Toxic positivity has sometimes been an issue; for example staff telling me "that's so exciting" at the start of IUI, which was actually a pretty stressful and confusing time for us. At the Annapolis clinic, they have me meet with the nurse at the end of each labs/US appt which is VERY helpful and helps me feel comfortable with the plan. However, this is not done at the Columbia office, so there have been some miscommunication and confusion. I strongly recommend that patients advocate for themselves and ask questions as much as possible.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Gilbert Mottla at Shady Grove Fertility.
No insurance coverage, paid $1440 for each IUI cycle and extra for meds
Describe Gilbert Mottla's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility.
Unknown
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility?
Failed to call with results
Provided conflicting information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility.
We have gotten conflicting information at times for treatment plans and reasoning, eg nurse told us that doctor recommended switching medications but didn't know why; one nurse told us a medication was for one thing and another nurse told us it was for something different. When my husband had his first semen analysis, there was an abnormal result but we didn't realize till he signed up for the portal 2 wks later; no one had called with the results, and when the doctor did call, they called me instead of my husband.
Not only was she [Dr. Timmreck] cold and not interested in listening to my concerns she abruptly ended our conversation and stated she was busy and other patients to see. She mentioned numerous times throughout our conversations that she was busy. It was clear that I was not her priority during my appointment. Not only did she dismiss my concerns but she made feel as though I was just number going through a factory...
The clinic [Shady Grove Fertility] had tons of appointments openings, very easy to schedule testing. The ease of scheduling appointments was very nice. The clinic was easy to fine and had a huge waiting room. However, the long wait time once you arrive to your appointment can be a little frustrating...Very impersonal experience. Recommendations were not unique yo my situation and just though I brought up very specific concerns, she [Dr. Timmreck] brushed over them and said she had zero experience in treating my condition...
How was your experience with Lorna Timmreck at Shady Grove Fertility?
I had a traumatic experience meeting with Dr. Timmreck. She lacks compassion and experience with diverse patients. Not only was she cold and not interested in listening to my concerns she abruptly ended our conversation and stated she was busy and other patients to see. She mentioned numerous times throughout our conversations that she was busy. It was clear that I was not her priority during my appointment. Not only did she dismiss my concerns but she made feel as though I was just number going through a factory. She stated she did not have experience with patients like me and that she is not at expert. I not recommend her.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Lorna Timmreck at Shady Grove Fertility?
Get another doctor, do not work with her.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Lorna Timmreck at Shady Grove Fertility?
Very impersonal experience. Recommendations were not unique yo my situation and just though I brought up very specific concerns, she brushed over them and said she had zero experience in treating my condition
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility.
The clinic had tons of appointments openings, very easy to schedule testing. The ease of scheduling appointments was very nice. The clinic was easy to fine and had a huge waiting room. However, the long wait time once you arrive to your appointment can be a little frustrating
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility?
Dr. Widra is very experienced, but I did not feel that my treatment protocol was particularly individualized and he did not have any interest in trying to uncover what could be causing infertility/miscarriage. As a result, I had several concerns with my treatment protocols that he did not address and our outcomes were different from what he had led us to expect. He also very rarely communicated directly with us and almost all interactions were handled by his nurses. I also felt that because we were likely to have a positive outcome eventually, my case was not prioritized and my treatment timeline was longer than necessary.
I got the sense that the nursing staff [at Shady Grove Fertility] were extremely busy and did not have a lot of time to go over protocols, results, updates, etc. While I felt that they did their best to be responsive, sometimes the information they were conveying was unclear and it was like playing phone tag with the doctor. A few were compassionate but with others it felt like they were trying to get you off the phone as quickly as possible...
How was your experience with Eric Widra at Shady Grove Fertility?
I believe Dr. Widra is very experienced, but I did not feel that my treatment protocol was particularly individualized and he did not have any interest in trying to uncover what could be causing infertility/miscarriage. As a result, I had several concerns with my treatment protocols that he did not address and our outcomes were different from what he had led us to expect. He also very rarely communicated directly with us and almost all interactions were handled by his nurses. I also felt that because we were likely to have a positive outcome eventually, my case was not prioritized and my treatment timeline was longer than necessary.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Eric Widra at Shady Grove Fertility?
Ask as many questions as possible, and if something he says does not feel right, don't be afraid to raise it. I felt that he was not comfortable with having his treatment protocols questioned, but he was willing to explain his reasoning or make changes if you were persistent.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Eric Widra at Shady Grove Fertility?
Dr. Widra is not very personable and does not get to know his patients. Throughout 2 years of seeing him we only had a few visits and he always repeated the same standard talking points. When I had my second miscarriage he called me but was clearly unfamiliar with my case notes and didn't realize it was my second. However, he was fairly responsive and answered our direct questions.
Describe the protocols Eric Widra used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility and their degree of success.
We did two medicated cycles with letrozole and timed intercourse that were unsuccessful. At the time, Dr. Widra thought I could have PCOS and it was unclear whether IUI would make a difference. Later, our diagnosis was "unexplained" and we did an IUI with letrozole that led to a pregnancy and miscarriage due to a chromosomal abnormality. This was my second miscarriage and at that point we asked to go to IVF with genetic testing. Dr. Widra agreed this would likely be the most efficient treatment. For my first cycle I was on fairly low doses of gonal-F and Menopur because he still thought I could have PCOS, but I ended up getting a fairly low number of eggs. We did a freeze-all cycle with PGT-A testing. After the retrieval we were encouraged to do a FET immediately, even though we had been very clear that we wanted to bank embryos for future pregnancies and we did not have enough embryos to achieve that. We ended up doing a second egg retrieval with higher levels of gonal-F and Menopur, which led to more eggs being retrieved but fewer making it to the blastocyst stage. The successful embryos were frozen and underwent PGT-A testing, and then we proceeded with a medicated FET that was successful.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Shady Grove Fertility.
I got the sense that the nursing staff were extremely busy and did not have a lot of time to go over protocols, results, updates, etc. While I felt that they did their best to be responsive, sometimes the information they were conveying was unclear and it was like playing phone tag with the doctor. A few were compassionate but with others it felt like they were trying to get you off the phone as quickly as possible.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility.
I chose this clinic because it had the best outcomes in the area by far. The lab seemed very well-run and overall, my treatments were organized. The physicians and the nursing teams were underwhelming and the only reason I stayed with this clinic was because of the outcome metrics.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Eric Widra at Shady Grove Fertility.
My health insurance (Cigna, employer sponsored plan) covered all infertility treatment up to $25K after the deductible was met. Without insurance, the cost of each round of treatment without medications would have been between $15-18K. The clinic also offers shared risk and special rates for multiple rounds of IVF, including a refund if you do not have success.
Describe Eric Widra's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility.
Dr. Widra had a strong preference for eSET, and we agreed. He said that particularly since we were doing an FET with tested embryos that eSET was the best option.
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility?
Canceled a cycle due to clinic error
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility.
We were very clear that we wanted to bank a certain number of embryos for future pregnancies. Our doctor felt that we could easily achieve this number with one egg retrieval, but that was not the case. Unfortunately, even though we told the doctor and the nursing team several times that we wanted to do another retrieval, they still proceeded as though we were going straight to transfer and pressured us into doing an FET right away. We were also started on a treatment protocol they said could be for a retrieval, but when we refused to do an FET we were told we couldn't do a retrieval and ended up having to wait an extra two months because of the inappropriate protocol and then lab closures for holidays. Everyone was extremely defensive about this and refused to apologize for the delays or try to move up the timeline. We were also told frequently that because of our age we had "plenty of time" so the delays were not a big deal. The only offer they made during this time was to let us switch to a different doctor, but said this would further delay our timeline.
I felt the doctor [Dr. Eric Widra] was honest, and straight forward. I wish that there was more focus on ensuring the patient understood the process, and more hand holding...He was straight forward and direct. I felt like i could ask questions that i had and would get an answer. He is personable. I liked that we were able to access him as needed, and could get on his calendar for check ins. He's not overly verbose. I would have liked to be more informed around why he's making the decisions he is making as it pertained to protocol decisions.
[Shady Grove Fertility] Strength: Convenient location; broad network of doctors; decent sart/cdc stats Weakness: Patient needs to stay on top of every item to make sure nothing slips through the cracks - validate prescription, validate doses, ensure financial packages offered match to what the doctor advised (for us we had hiccups with this), validate costs and contract fine print, etc. Going through IVF is akin to having a part time job
How was your experience with Eric Widra at Shady Grove Fertility?
He was straight forward and direct. I felt like i could ask questions that i had and would get an answer. He is personable. I liked that we were able to access him as needed, and could get on his calendar for check ins.
He's not overly verbose. I would have liked to be more informed around why he's making the decisions he is making as it pertained to protocol decisions.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Eric Widra at Shady Grove Fertility?
Ask direct questions. Communicate your overall family planning needs
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Eric Widra at Shady Grove Fertility?
I felt the doctor was honest, and straight forward. I wish that there was more focus on ensuring the patient understood the process, and more hand holding throughout the process by either the Dr, the Nurses or even a separate support staff.
Describe the protocols Eric Widra used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility and their degree of success.
Antagonist with Birth Control Pill priming x2
Antagonist with Estrogen Patch/Cetrotide priming x1
rational is unclear that wasn't discussed with me. We switched to Estrogen Patch to to belief that BCP might have been suppressing me
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility. (Assigned nurse: 3 different nurses)
Generally compassionate, but to the point. Not a lot of hand holding or time taken to really make sure it was understood. In general, questions were answered as asked. But information isn't 'pushed' to the patient. I mostly relied on Reddit to learn about the process, and what i need to ask in order to advocate for myself
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility.
Strength: Convenient location; broad network of doctors; decent sart/cdc stats
Weakness: Patient needs to stay on top of every item to make sure nothing slips through the cracks - validate prescription, validate doses, ensure financial packages offered match to what the doctor advised (for us we had hiccups with this), validate costs and contract fine print, etc.
Going through IVF is akin to having a part time job
Describe the costs associated with your care under Eric Widra at Shady Grove Fertility.
$25.6K USD - 2 cycle freeze all embryo banking w/ PGT-A testing
$29K Shared Risk program, subsequent refund received due to lack of results
Describe Eric Widra's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility.
none
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility?
Provided conflicting information
Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility.
The approach our doctor was advising, is not what the financial team presented. We found out 1 business day before our payment was due, that the package and contract we were about to sign, does not support the treatment plan the doctor recommended.
This resulted in unnecessary stress and last minute decisions around how to proceed. With financial impacts.
Dr. Doyle himself was wonderful and caring. However, once our consult with him was over and we paid the fees, I felt like “just another number” on a list of pt’s where the nurse was concerned...He was a caring and compassionate doctor. We saw him as he is the international doctor that sees pt’s for egg donor consults and he took the time to explain the program to us. And he did follow up when our results for donor egg retrieval were much less than expected.
[Shady Grove Fertility] Egg donor coordinator and financial coordinator were very helpful, caring and treated us kindly. Dr. Doyle was very nice and caring...When our embryos were being transferred from SGF to our home clinic, FedEx lost them for four days and all I wanted were answers and she stopped all communication...Unfortunately, the situation described earlier, ruined our entire experience.
How was your experience with Joseph Doyle at Shady Grove Fertility?
He was a caring and compassionate doctor. We saw him as he is the international doctor that sees pt’s for egg donor consults and he took the time to explain the program to us. And he did follow up when our results for donor egg retrieval were much less than expected.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Joseph Doyle at Shady Grove Fertility?
Ask more questions!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Joseph Doyle at Shady Grove Fertility?
Dr. Doyle himself was wonderful and caring. However, once our consult with him was over and we paid the fees, I felt like “just another number” on a list of pt’s where the nurse was concerned.
Describe the protocols Joseph Doyle used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility and their degree of success.
He only consulted prior to our donors egg retrieval. I was then transferred back to the care of my home clinic.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility. (Assigned nurse: Gail Felperin)
I would send specific questions via email and had to ask them in multiple emails because she wouldn’t answer. Initially she was fine but she did not have a caring compassionate demeanour at all. When our embryos were being transferred from SGF to our home clinic, FedEx lost them for four days and all I wanted were answers and she stopped all communication. Nobody at the clinic would answer my questions. I just wanted reassurance that they would be ok for a those days they were lost and would stay frozen. Nobody would tell me anything. My husband and I spent four days calling airports, FedEx and the crypt shipping company. Everybody had a different story. We’ve been on this journey for 13 years and this week, when our embryos were lost in transit, were the worst and most stressful to endure. We paid close to $60,000 Canadian with SGF for donor eggs and then when something went wrong they washed their hands of us. Very disheartening. Gail was the only one I could communicate with through the portal and she just ignored my emails.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility.
Egg donor coordinator and financial coordinator were very helpful, caring and treated us kindly. Dr. Doyle was very nice and caring. Unfortunately, the situation described earlier, ruined our entire experience.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Joseph Doyle at Shady Grove Fertility.
$60,000 Canadian
Describe Joseph Doyle's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility.
N/A
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility?
Failed to call with results
Provided conflicting information
Failed to convey critical information
Lost or damaged samples
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility.
Dr. Nair was not very thorough or compassionate, and our visits with her felt so harried and lacking in clarity...She hardly went into any detail about our diagnoses, didn't listen to our concerns, and, again, didn't allow for questions given the time constraints...At one point when I asked a question, she replied that we didn't have time for questions today, but that if I had questions to schedule a follow-up visit...
The clinic [Shady Grove Fertility] follows a team nursing model, so I did not have one nurse assigned to me. Some of the nurses were more helpful and/or compassionate than others. I didn't find the team nursing model particularly patient-friendly. On any given day, I'd have 3 or 4 nurses responding to my messages in the online patient portal, even on the same message thread. This often lead to miscommunication, particularly when a nurse hadn't fully read or been aware of past communications...
How was your experience with Anitha Nair at Shady Grove Fertility?
Dr. Nair was not very thorough or compassionate, and our visits with her felt so harried and lacking in clarity. During our post-initial testing visit where she gave us our diagnoses and outlined next steps, it was very rushed. Each time we tried to ask questions she ushered us along, stating "We only have 30 minutes today". Thirty minutes to provide us each with a new medical diagnosis and discuss options and next steps was simply not enough time. She hardly went into any detail about our diagnoses, didn't listen to our concerns, and, again, didn't allow for questions given the time constraints. As a medical provider myself, I couldn't believe that a physician would provide patients a new medical diagnosis without going into much detail about what that meant for them. She didn't even leave us with written handouts or links for us to read and understand better. At one point when I asked a question, she replied that we didn't have time for questions today, but that if I had questions to schedule a follow-up visit. So I went ahead and scheduled a follow-up visit (which seemed absurd that I even needed to do so just to be able to ask questions), and when the consult started she couldn't have come off as being more annoyed that she was having to meet with a patient again simply to answer questions. She came off as very cold during this consult and gave awkwardly short, non-detailed answers to my questions. At one point during the consult, she appeared to be looking down at her phone as I was talking. It felt extremely dismissive and lacking in compassion. Dr. Nair seems like she has taken on WAY too many patients than she can manage. My husband and I decided to switch care under a different physician at the clinic, and we felt so much better taken care of after that.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Anitha Nair at Shady Grove Fertility?
If you're not okay with having extremely limited contact with your healthcare provider, then consider switching to a different fertility doctor.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Anitha Nair at Shady Grove Fertility?
I never met with or heard from Dr. Nair after the initial consult. And the initial consult felt so rushed, so much so that she didn't allow for my husband and I to ask many questions.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Shady Grove Fertility.
The clinic follows a team nursing model, so I did not have one nurse assigned to me. Some of the nurses were more helpful and/or compassionate than others. I didn't find the team nursing model particularly patient-friendly. On any given day, I'd have 3 or 4 nurses responding to my messages in the online patient portal, even on the same message thread. This often lead to miscommunication, particularly when a nurse hadn't fully read or been aware of past communications.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility.
The time alotted for consultations is unreasonably short. Thirty minutes is not enough time to discuss diagnoses, next steps, concerns, and ask questions. Strengths: nurses respond to messages in the online portal fairly quickly, and return calls during off-hours quickly.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Anitha Nair at Shady Grove Fertility.
Tests, procedures, and medications covered by my insurance with co-pay required
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility?
Dr. Barnard is probably the most kind, compassionate doctor I've ever had. She's extremely warm and always took time to listen to my concerns and answer any questions. Never made me feel like she was trying to just rush me through. I always felt like she was truly on my side and genuinely excited and happy for me when our cycle ended with a positive result. She called after every cycle to discuss results and next steps, which is very different from my previous RE...
They [Shady Grove Fertility] use a team nursing model at the clinic, so I wasn't assigned one specific nurse. I didn't find this worked well for clear communications or building a rapport with my nurses...It did have a bit of a 'factory' feel. Things were often disorganized, especially with billing, but also on the clinical side. The nurses typically responded quickly through the online patient portal and returned phone calls on the after hours line quickly...
How was your experience with Emily Barnard at Shady Grove Fertility?
Dr. Barnard not only knows her stuff, but she has phenomenal bedside manner. I truly felt like she cared about me as a patient. She's such a warm-hearted person and never made me feel like just a number. Such a gem of a doctor! Can't recommend her enough!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Emily Barnard at Shady Grove Fertility?
You're in great hands with Dr. Barnard.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Emily Barnard at Shady Grove Fertility?
Dr. Barnard is probably the most kind, compassionate doctor I've ever had. She's extremely warm and always took time to listen to my concerns and answer any questions. Never made me feel like she was trying to just rush me through. I always felt like she was truly on my side and genuinely excited and happy for me when our cycle ended with a positive result. She called after every cycle to discuss results and next steps, which is very different from my previous RE.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Shady Grove Fertility.
They use a team nursing model at the clinic, so I wasn't assigned one specific nurse. I didn't find this worked well for clear communications or building a rapport with my nurses.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility.
It did have a bit of a 'factory' feel. Things were often disorganized, especially with billing, but also on the clinical side. The nurses typically responded quickly through the online patient portal and returned phone calls on the after hours line quickly.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Emily Barnard at Shady Grove Fertility.
Covered under insurance with co-pay
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility?
Dr Moon was great for the initial consult and we came to her from a recommendation. We never saw her again. She was thorough and explained things fine, but she felt more like a salesperson given that she never performed any medical operations...She allowed multiple embryo transfer but advised us against it...The egg retrieval was performed by a different doctor. We mostly dealt with inept clinical and administrative staff that would not read our charts prior to speaking with us.
We had our initial consult with Dr Moon [at Shady Grove Fertility], but we never saw her again. The egg retrieval was performed by a different doctor. We mostly dealt with inept clinical and administrative staff that would not read our charts prior to speaking with us...The doctors don't really matter in the end, you only deal with the clinical and administrative staff...The nurse and care coordinator do not respond to messages, would not answer questions in any way that would provide a real answer, and also do not read your chart prior to speaking with you. They asked our egg donor right before she was going under for the egg retrieval how many eggs she was keeping FOR HERSELF. She advised that she was DONATING them, but they asked her multiple times if she was keeping any for herself. We used a known egg donor, and we had to explain the situation thousands of times to everyone we spoke to. They also treated the partner (me) who was not donating sperm as not involved in the process at all, despite the fact that I coordinated all of the care.
How was your experience with Kimberly Moon at Shady Grove Fertility?
Dr Moon was great for the initial consult and we came to her from a recommendation. We never saw her again. She was thorough and explained things fine, but she felt more like a salesperson given that she never performed any medical operations.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Kimberly Moon at Shady Grove Fertility?
Don't bother with Shady Grove - they are terrible. The doctors don't really matter in the end, you only deal with the clinical and administrative staff.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Kimberly Moon at Shady Grove Fertility?
We had our initial consult with Dr Moon, but we never saw her again. The egg retrieval was performed by a different doctor. We mostly dealt with inept clinical and administrative staff that would not read our charts prior to speaking with us.
Describe the protocols Kimberly Moon used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility and their degree of success.
N/A
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility. (Assigned nurse: Doris Thomas)
The nurse and care coordinator do not respond to messages, would not answer questions in any way that would provide a real answer, and also do not read your chart prior to speaking with you. They asked our egg donor right before she was going under for the egg retrieval how many eggs she was keeping FOR HERSELF. She advised that she was DONATING them, but they asked her multiple times if she was keeping any for herself. We used a known egg donor, and we had to explain the situation thousands of times to everyone we spoke to. They also treated the partner (me) who was not donating sperm as not involved in the process at all, despite the fact that I coordinated all of the care.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility.
The clinic is terrible. It is a premium service where they treat you like garbage. They are disorganized. We got passed around to multiple coordinators and they forgot to tell us. The process is stressful and expensive and Shady Grove makes you feel like a dollar sign without providing any sort of premium service at all. The facilities are nice and we had a good medical outcome, but the process to get there was miserable.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Kimberly Moon at Shady Grove Fertility.
$19k for egg retrieval
$8k for drugs
$1,500 for required social work
$1,000 for genetic counseling
$3,000 for miscellaneous fees
Describe Kimberly Moon's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility.
She allowed multiple embryo transfer but advised us against it.
How competent was Shady Grove Fertility at LGBTQ+ care?
They were OK with LGBTQ. We used a known egg donor who was related to me and used my (male) partner's sperm. I was often not included in things because I had no medical interaction, but I coordinated all of the care. They never bother to read your chart, so you have to explain every time you speak with someone what the situation is, which can be uncomfortable. They never were discriminatory, but they were far from thoughtful.
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility?
Lost appointments
Failed to call with results
Provided conflicting information
Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility.
They never return your call, they do not read your chart, they switched our clinical coordinator without telling us, they failed to keep us updated on the results of the biopsy, and they asked our egg donor if she wanted to keep eggs for herself. They also would not show our egg donor how to do the shots, would not even help her with the first round. They also made us order a full batch of drugs and then only used 1/4 of them, so we had to pay $8k and only used $2k worth of drugs.
[Dr. Anitha Nair] was nice, but we only interacted with her twice during seven months of treatment, once at the consult, and once in a video appointment after our first few rounds of treatment failed. She was very optimistic, which when everything failed made us feel like the optimism was unrealistic...In six of the cycles we did IUIs, all failed.
The nurses and staff [at Shady Grove Fertility] were very nice, communication through the portal was responsive...we only spoke to the doctor once after the initial consultation. It was a lonely, impersonal, and disappointing process for the most part, and there didn’t seem to be much available in the way of support groups or other support resources
How was your experience with Anitha Nair at Shady Grove Fertility?
She was nice, but we only interacted with her twice during seven months of treatment, once at the consult, and once in a video appointment after our first few rounds of treatment failed. She was very optimistic, which when everything failed made us feel like the optimism was unrealistic.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Anitha Nair at Shady Grove Fertility?
Insist on a frank and realistic explanation of your chances of success.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Anitha Nair at Shady Grove Fertility?
Over about seven months of treatment we only spoke to the doctor once after the initial consultation. After the first few cycles failed, we had to wait a couple weeks but eventually had a video appointment with the doctor, and she was nice. We decided to do a few more cycles of treatment, which all failed as well. It was a lonely, impersonal, and disappointing process for the most part, and there didn’t seem to be much available in the way of support groups or other support resources. The nurse sent an encouraging message before a procedures once during six cycles of treatment, otherwise we just showed up for appointments, and staff were nice and efficient but it was impersonal. After our last treatment failed, that was it, there were no condolences and no follow-up, except of course for billing.
Describe the protocols Anitha Nair used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility and their degree of success.
We did seven Clomid cycles, adding Gonal F after the first few failed, but it did not help the number of follicles. In six of the cycles we did IUIs, all failed.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Shady Grove Fertility.
They nursing staff were nice and efficient. Once I got incorrect instructions over the phone, but had the written protocol and was able to conform the correct instructions. Once the nurse for my case helped make sure I was able to get medication when it was added to my protocol on short notice, which I appreciated even though it was out of pocket.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility.
The nurses and staff were very nice, communication through the portal was responsive. Our non-IVF treatment was not successful, and when our first few cycles failed there seemed to be an expectation that we would continue to IVF, even though it wasn’t a good option for us. Over about seven months of treatment we only spoke to the doctor once after the initial consultation. It was a lonely, impersonal, and disappointing process for the most part, and there didn’t seem to be much available in the way of support groups or other support resources.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Anitha Nair at Shady Grove Fertility.
My insurance covered half of most costs. It added up to thousands of dollars out of pocket. Our treatment failed, but we’re still getting bills for $100 here and $130 there, and those will continue for months as they work through it with our insurance. The bills are depressing reminders of the failed treatment.
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility?
Provided conflicting information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility.
Once I was given incorrect information about when to take my medication. I was given a written protocol with the correct information and was able to confirm the correct information through the message system.
[Dr. Anitha Nair] always seemed too busy and in a rush to answer our questions...often describe my result in vague terms, and we had to push her to get actual numbers - for example what my fsh/amh levels were. When she advised that we were going to be withdrawn from the shared risk program she joked, “now you guys can take the money and go buy a boat!” She meant it to be a joke, but it was quite hurtful in the moment and revealed that she didn’t seem to be really in touch with the pain that we were going through.
Shady grove is a big clinic, you rarely see a Dr. Or your nurse in person who is informed about the details of your case...can choose to terminate you from their shared risk program at any time...We were not informed of the pros and cons or fresh vs. frozen transfers...We had issues with communication and did not feel supported when we had to make serious decisions...did not feel like we got an individualized treatment plan tailored to my case.
How was your experience with Anitha Nair at Shady Grove Fertility?
We had issues with communication and did not feel supported when we had to make serious decisions. It would be difficult to get a complete overview of the facts of my case from Dr. Nair. She always seemed too busy and in a rush to answer our questions. She would often describe my result in vague terms, and we had to push her to get actual numbers - for example what my fsh/amh levels were. When she advised that we were going to be withdrawn from the shared risk program she joked, “now you guys can take the money and go buy a boat!” She meant it to be a joke, but it was quite hurtful in the moment and revealed that she didn’t seem to be really in touch with the pain that we were going through.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Anitha Nair at Shady Grove Fertility?
Try to work with a different Dr.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Anitha Nair at Shady Grove Fertility?
The Dr. Was always rushed in her manner when speaking with us. She did not give us time to ask questions. We had to be very demanding and pushy if we wanted to g e.g. straight facts, which was unsettling. It felt as if we were trying different combinations of drugs without purpose, did not feel like we got an individualized treatment plan tailored to my case.
Describe the protocols Anitha Nair used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility and their degree of success.
We were told a fresh transfer was the best way to go, and at the time we didn’t have the knowledge to question this. We tried clomid and I “over responded” once leading to a cancelled IUI cycle. We next tried IVF and when I asked why we didn’t try clocks in conjunction with this, it was brushed off. I now understand this is done by other clinics, so I’m not sure why it was disregarded. For two cycles of IVF, I was on Lupron, Gonal, and Menopur.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility. (Assigned nurse: Jenn)
The nursing staff was more helpful in answering questions (through the patient portal) than Dr. Nair. However, because Shady grove is a big clinic, you rarely see a Dr. Or your nurse in person who is informed about the details of your case. This is somewhat frustrating because you cannot ask them about your results and what they mean in terms of the bigger picture of your treatment cycle.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility.
The “shared risk” program is not advertised accurately on their website. They have reviews stating that you don’t have to worry about “paying a penny” for 6 cycles of IVF. In reality, you are responsible for all medication costs and Shady grove can choose to terminate you from their shared risk program at any time. I know several couples who this has happened to, and it is not clear how these cases are counted in their overall advertised numbers of “success.” I fear that they are not included, this leading to artificially elevated numbers.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Anitha Nair at Shady Grove Fertility.
IUIs: approximately $10,000
IVF cycles: approximately $40,00
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility?
Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Lost appointments
Failed to call with results
Provided conflicting information
Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility.
We were not informed of the pros and cons or fresh vs. frozen transfers.
As unexplained infertility patients [of Dr. Swelstad], it was really a bummer that we didn't find any answers or did any extra tests to have a more accurate diagnosis. Although I really appreciated that we went into the IUI cycle in full immersion, trying everything from the beginning. I wish there was more interaction with him, also if it was just via email...There weren't extra tests done, just standard...when they realized I had too many mature follicles. The dr who saw the result (no Swelstad), called me and explain that there was a high risk of multiple pregnancy, so it was protocol to stop the cycle. If we decided to go ahead and have timed intercourse (IUI was out of the pics at this point), we should have consider the possibility of selective reduction in the future. We agree that that wasn't a problem and went ahead. We are now in the 2 weeks wait
I forgot my insurance card, but I had the app with all the important numbers. The clinic [Shady Grove Fertility] is not really digitalized, so couldn't just insert my patient numb, they had to make a paper copy of my card. In 2019 seemed weird. Financial person didn't contact us, but waited for us to contact him. I would have like to have somebody to talk to us right away...Nursing staff was nice and always understanding, also when I was crying really hard, due to my hormone imbalance.
How was your experience with Brad Swelstad at Shady Grove Fertility?
As unexplained infertility patients, it was really a bummer that we didn't find any answers or did any extra tests to have a more accurate diagnosis. Although I really appreciated that we went into the IUI cycle in full immersion, trying everything from the beginning. I wish there was more interaction with him, also if it was just via email
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Brad Swelstad at Shady Grove Fertility?
expect no special treatment
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Brad Swelstad at Shady Grove Fertility?
There weren't extra tests done, just standard.
Describe the protocols Brad Swelstad used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility and their degree of success.
we did day 3 to 7 of letrozole since I already tried clomid with my OBG with no success. It follow with Gonal f on day 7 and 9 and then we went in for blood work at day 11, when they realized I had too many mature follicles. The dr who saw the result (no Swelstad), called me and explain that there was a high risk of multiple pregnancy, so it was protocol to stop the cycle. If we decided to go ahead and have timed intercourse (IUI was out of the pics at this point), we should have consider the possibility of selective reduction in the future. We agree that that wasn't a problem and went ahead. We are now in the 2 weeks wait
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Shady Grove Fertility.
Nursing staff was nice and always understanding, also when I was crying really hard, due to my hormone imbalance.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility.
Staff at the front desk wasn't extremely friendly. It didn't bother me too much, but it did bother my husband. I forgot my insurance card, but I had the app with all the important numbers. The clinic is not really digitalized, so couldn't just insert my patient numb, they had to make a paper copy of my card. In 2019 seemed weird. Financial person didn't contact us, but waited for us to contact him. I would have like to have somebody to talk to us right away. But it's all ok
Describe the costs associated with your care under Brad Swelstad at Shady Grove Fertility.
we didn't pay for the first appointment, only for the meds (around $300 +/-), second ultrasound and blood work ($150 +/-)
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility?
Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility.
once they told us that the drugs were being ordered, I called my pharmacy, but they couldn't verify the doctor name. So it took an extra day before I could pick up the meds
Dr. Levens is soft spoken, but has a great bedside manner. He is not aggressive, so if you are looking for someone who will take a more proactive/aggressive approach, then he is not the doctor for you. He does explain things in great detail if you have any questions...Since his methods are very much cookie cutter and slow/methodical... He is good for someone young and just starting out in the process. If you are older, I would suggest seeing a different doctor.
Strength: At Shady Grove, everything is in one place, so you don't have to go to multiple locations for treatment. Appointments are relatively easy to get, and you can get your bloodwork and ultrasounds done early in the morning before work. Weakness: Shady Grove is just a body shop, and you are just a number there...The coordinator was great when you had her attention. However, getting in touch with her was not easy.
How was your experience with Eric Levens at Shady Grove Fertility?
Dr. Levens is soft spoken, but has a great bedside manner. He is not aggressive, so if you are looking for someone who will take a more proactive/aggressive approach, then he is not the doctor for you. He does explain things in great detail if you have any questions.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Eric Levens at Shady Grove Fertility?
Since his methods are very much cookie cutter and slow/methodical... He is good for someone young and just starting out in the process. If you are older, I would suggest seeing a different doctor.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Eric Levens at Shady Grove Fertility?
Cookie cutter treatment. It was incredibly difficult to talk to a person when you had questions.
Describe the protocols Eric Levens used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility and their degree of success.
His approach is the typical cookie cutter approach from Shady Grove. Remember, you are just a number here.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility.
The coordinator was great when you had her attention. However, getting in touch with her was not easy.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility.
Strength: At Shady Grove, everything is in one place, so you don't have to go to multiple locations for treatment. Appointments are relatively easy to get, and you can get your bloodwork and ultrasounds done early in the morning before work. Weakness: Shady Grove is just a body shop, and you are just a number there.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Eric Levens at Shady Grove Fertility.
IUI: $1,800; IUI with injectables: $2,400; IVF: $10,500; FET: $4,600
Describe Eric Levens's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility.
He is focused on getting one healthy baby at a time.
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility?
Failed to call with results
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility.
The only bad experience I had at Shady Grove was being able to get in touch with nursing staff. Results took a while to get; questions took time to answer; and if I wanted to make changes to my protocol, it was difficult to convince the doctor to proceed in a more aggressive or catered fashion.
I didn't feel like my concerns were being addressed...I didn't have a good experience with him [Dr. McKeeby]. I felt I was just another candidate for failure due to my advanced age. I was not a good responder for the high hormone doses and I asked for a low hormone protocol that worked once but didn't result in a pregnancy, he ignored my request and kept doing the high hormone dose that didn't even result in 1 viable embryo. Very frustrating since this treatment costs a lot of money....
Overall the other staff [Shady Grove Fertility] is very helpful and nice. Cuddos for the girls that draw blood. I like the convenience of the clinic and that they are open 7 days a week ( sometimes going to different locations for the retrieval) The experience didn't feel personal...There is a patient portal that results were supposed to be uploaded there, but my results were not uploaded until I requested and not all of the results....
How was your experience with Jeffrey McKeeby at Shady Grove Fertility?
I didn't have a good experience with him. I felt I was just another candidate for failure due to my advanced age. I was not a good responder for the high hormone doses and I asked for a low hormone protocol that worked once but didn't result in a pregnancy, he ignored my request and kept doing the high hormone dose that didn't even result in 1 viable embryo. Very frustrating since this treatment costs a lot of money.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Jeffrey McKeeby at Shady Grove Fertility?
Go with your gut, if you don't like the protocol from start say something and if nothing is done to address it, change Drs.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Jeffrey McKeeby at Shady Grove Fertility?
I didn't feel like my concerns were being addressed. He kept trying a protocol that clearly did not work for me.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Shady Grove Fertility.
Most of them are really nice. There was an instance that I had a chemical pregnancy and I didn't know about it, but complained about pain on the left side and they said it was normal. Only when I insisted that the pain wouldn't go away they checked with ultra sound and found out it was a chemical pregnancy and I need to be sent to the hospital right away.That was another very bad experience for me.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility.
Overall the other staff is very helpful and nice. Cuddos for the girls that draw blood. I like the convenience of the clinic and that they are open 7 days a week ( sometimes going to different locations for the retrieval) The experience didn't feel personal. I wish I had found another clinic somewhat closed to take a chance.
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility?
Failed to call with results
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility.
There is a patient portal that results were supposed to be uploaded there, but my results were not uploaded until I requested and not all of the results.
[Dr. Lorna Timmreck] didn't seem to care about us as patients and was always very rushed. Her responses were passive at every meeting, which was only two or three times during my 3 attempts at Timed Intercourse...Dr. Timmerick was very passive and seemed more like she was going through a routine and reading off cue cards than actually listening, providing answers, and caring about me as a person.
My nurse [at Shady Grove Fertility] was a mess; she was my main contact at Shady Grove and never had any clue who I was, my history, or what treatment I was doing...they were to schedule weekend testing for me at Rockville but Rockville had no information on me having been scheduled when I arrived...The clinic staff in Columbia never had any clue who I was, my history, or what treatment I was doing. They actually sent me lab results from another patient with a similar name and were moving forward with treatment based on those results until I noticed it and had it corrected. I had a few experiences for testing at Rockville and Towson locations and they seemed better but would be too far a distance for me to go there regularly.
How was your experience with Lorna Timmreck at Shady Grove Fertility?
Dr. Timmerick didn't seem to care about us as patients and was always very rushed. Her responses were passive at every meeting, which was only two or three times during my 3 attempts at Timed Intercourse.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Lorna Timmreck at Shady Grove Fertility?
Dr. Timmerick was very passive and seemed more like she was going through a routine and reading off cue cards than actually listening, providing answers, and caring about me as a person.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility. (Assigned nurse: Kim)
My nurse was a mess; she was my main contact at Shady Grove and never had any clue who I was, my history, or what treatment I was doing.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility.
The clinic staff in Columbia never had any clue who I was, my history, or what treatment I was doing. They actually sent me lab results from another patient with a similar name and were moving forward with treatment based on those results until I noticed it and had it corrected. I had a few experiences for testing at Rockville and Towson locations and they seemed better but would be too far a distance for me to go there regularly.
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility?
Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Lost paperwork
Lost appointments
Failed to call with results
Failed to order appropriate test
Failed to inform you of changes in protocol
Lost results
Provided conflicting information
Failed to convey critical information
Scheduled the wrong procedure
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility.
Again, they tried to schedule treatments for me based on lab results they uploaded for me, which I noticed were for another patient and were just erroneously uploaded to my chart. There were two instances where my medications weren't called in; they claimed it was the pharmacy's error but I work with the same pharmacy with a different clinic now and have no issues so am inclined to believe it was their problem. There was also an instance where they were to schedule weekend testing for me at Rockville but Rockville had no information on me having been scheduled when I arrived.
Dr. Bromer is kind, gentle and positive. He doesn't provide false hope but is genuine and truly works hard to help get the best outcome for each family. ... We have been thankful for his straight forward and thorough professional oppinions. He tends to encourage couple's to slow down for optimal outcome rather than rushing to treatments that haven't been fully thought through.
There's was 1-2 times when SA results were concluded and we waited over a week to hear from a nurse. ... They provide verbal and written instructions with the option to call at any time. They also provide video resources for additional support. The only challenge for us was have to drive out of town so frequently due to limited services provided at the Hagerstown SG [Shady Grove] office ... Jamie Dean- very thorough and quick to respond to patient portal emails and phone calls.
How was your experience with Jason Bromer at Shady Grove Fertility?
Dr. Bromer quickly and easily established a rapport with my husband and I! He has a happy and genuine personality that keeps the mood positive during a very emotional time. We have been thankful for his straight forward and thorough professional oppinions. He tends to encourage couple's to slow down for optimal outcome rather than rushing to treatments that haven't been fully thought through. We love Dr. Bromer!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Jason Bromer at Shady Grove Fertility?
Take his word and trust him because he truly wants to see you and your spouse become parents it just may take time to come up with the best plan for you and your family!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Jason Bromer at Shady Grove Fertility?
Dr. Bromer is kind, gentle and positive. He doesn't provide false hope but is genuine and truly works hard to help get the best outcome for each family.
Describe the protocols Jason Bromer used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility and their degree of success.
We were referred to Dr. Shin (urologist) to further asses male factor complications. We worked thoroughly with Dr. Shin for almost 8 months . Dr. Bromer continued to keep up on our file and check in. We are about to begin IVF after egg retrieval and a male microdissection due to azoospermia, with donor sperm as a backup to insure IVF is completed. Dr. Bromer and Dr. Shin have worked phenomenally together and with us!
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility. (Assigned nurse: Jennifer initially; Jamie Dean for IVF)
Jamie Dean- very thorough and quick to respond to patient portal emails and phone calls. She was available to answer my many questions and super helpful in a crunched timeline.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility.
The process of fertility treatments can be super overwhelming. There's so much information provided but SG wants you to leave understanding it all. They provide verbal and written instructions with the option to call at any time. They also provide video resources for additional support. The only challenge for us was have to drive out of town so frequently due to limited services provided at the Hagerstown SG office which made things complicated with work and time off. I'd love to see more opportunities available in the Hagerstown office.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Jason Bromer at Shady Grove Fertility.
$1900 for shared risk program, $8,500 microdissection, $1200 varicocele repair, $120 clomid, $3,000 genetic testing for me and my spouse, $1000 for donor sperm, this doesn't include thousands for copays for consultations, follow-ups and blood work.
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility?
Failed to call with results
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility.
There's was 1-2 times when SA results were concluded and we waited over a week to hear from a nurse. Once I was able to reach them they were very apologetic and passionate.
I couldn't get a straight answer from her [Dr. Barbara Osborn] about nutrition/supplements to before/during egg freezing. Overall I sometimes felt like I was talking to a customer service or sales rep instead of a doctor - she just was unable to be personable...bedside manner isn't great, but it's not the worst I've ever seen...Doctor expected ~13 eggs per cycle, of which ~9 would be mature. First cycle was way less successful than expected, so they used the same protocol but increased the dosage significantly.
There were some issues with communication [at Shady Grove Fertility], and one very serious error where Rachel had a trainee nurse call me, and she gave me the wrong instructions for medication changes that night. Luckily I had to contact Rachel for something else that day and I was able to catch the error, but if I hadn't, I likely would have lost that entire cycle...$12,500 for an egg freezing cycle: 20 mature eggs or 4 cycles, whichever came first. For 3 cycle, I paid the pharmacy ~$15K. SGF also tried to bill me for blood tests and a consultation with the doctor in between cycles. I was nickel and dimed.
How was your experience with Barbara Osborn at Shady Grove Fertility?
Dr. Osborne's bedside manner isn't great, but it's not the worst I've ever seen. Fertility clinics seem to be extremely nervous about getting a patient's hopes up, which means they are so neutral that they veer into actually withholding information, and being obtuse. I found Dr. Osborne to be this way. For example, I couldn't get a straight answer from her about nutrition/supplements to before/during egg freezing. Overall I sometimes felt like I was talking to a customer service or sales rep instead of a doctor - she just was unable to be personable.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Barbara Osborn at Shady Grove Fertility?
Come prepared with all your questions, and don't be afraid to press further if you don't get a full answer to a question, or one that you understand.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Barbara Osborn at Shady Grove Fertility?
Shady Grove as a whole is too large and the way they are set up means less personalized care. Communication should have been better, and errors on the part of the nursing staff would have been less likely with a smaller practice. The financial department has no idea what they are doing and I spend several thousand more than I needed to due to their lack of attention and individual care. SGF is a for-profit business and it shows.
Describe the protocols Barbara Osborn used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility and their degree of success.
Age: 38, AFC: 18, AMH: 1.58. Doctor expected ~13 eggs per cycle, of which ~9 would be mature. First cycle was way less successful than expected, so they used the same protocol but increased the dosage significantly. Then 3rd cycle they used a different protocol.
First 2 cycles: birth control, then antagonist protocol (Gonal-F, Menopur, Cetrotide, Leuprolide trigger). 3rd cycle, no birth control, estrogen priming instead, then same antagonist protocol, except HCG instead of Leuprolide trigger.
1st cycle: 5 eggs retrieved, 3 mature
2nd cycle: 12 eggs retrieved, 8 mature
3rd cycle: 14 eggs retrieved, 9 mature
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility. (Assigned nurse: Rachel Lab)
Overall my nurses were good. I was however disappointed when my primary nurse was promoted to another location and I was abruptly switched to a new nurse with no transition period or explanation beyond, "you're transitioning to a new nurse today." There were some issues with communication, and one very serious error where Rachel had a trainee nurse call me, and she gave me the wrong instructions for medication changes that night. Luckily I had to contact Rachel for something else that day and I was able to catch the error, but if I hadn't, I likely would have lost that entire cycle. I was shocked at how dismissive and non-apologetic Rachel was about the error.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility.
The clinic is waaaaaay too big, and people are treated like a number. Read your contract VERY carefully and make sure you understand exactly what is and is not covered. If they ask you to do an additional test or appointment, make sure you check to see if it is included, otherwise you will be stuck with an extra bill. The financial department is also a complete mess. They couldn't have cared less about my questions and they were unresponsive, and sullen on the phone. They didn't do a good job of figuring out my insurance coverage, and I had to make a number of additional calls to my insurer to make sure everything was correct. They also advised me to not bother to check the prices of medications with other pharmacies, since they had a deal with a specific pharmacy. After I had already bought the drugs, I talked to other SGF women who had found drugs from lots of different pharmacies for cheaper. My nurse also did a terrible job of helping me to order the exact right amount of medications for my last cycle, which means I have unusable drugs in my fridge now. They let you donate them back to the clinic, but you can't return them, which is ridiculous. I felt really manipulated and take advantage of by the end of my care at SGF. The care I received from monitoring nurses and retrieval staff was excellent, however.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Barbara Osborn at Shady Grove Fertility.
$12,500 for an egg freezing cycle: 20 mature eggs or 4 cycles, whichever came first. For 3 cycle, I paid the pharmacy ~$15K. SGF also tried to bill me for blood tests and a consultation with the doctor in between cycles. I was nickel and dimed.
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility?
Before my IUI, My primary doctor found that my thyroid was WAY off (hypothyroid) and Dr Khan , knowing this, still followed through with the IUI that I paid for out of pocket. *I* then had to ask him after I learned that it failed, if my thyroid could have caused the IUI to fail, he said I was correct my thyroid wasn’t optimal for fertility and to go and seek an Endocrinologist...he was quick to wave off newer studies I’ve found. I let him because he’s the doctor, not me. My test came back with high FSH and possible clotting disorder. Otherwise “unexplained infertility”. I asked if I should take baby aspirin, “it’s not part of our protocol” I pushed back “will it hurt if I take baby aspirin.
Everyone [at Shady Grove Fertility] responds to emails very quickly. Everyone is very kind and welcoming. I never had any issue with communication or treatment from nurses. Phone calls aren’t the best, they prefer email...My IUI was not covered my insurance, $1,800 for IUI...This clinic is run very smoothly and timely. The clinic is very clean and accommodating for my family. (I have a 3 year old son who had to be snuck in a few times). The staff is friendly. They have weekend hours at different locations that isn’t too far away from where we live. I just don’t appreciate how I was treated as a number by the doctor.
How was your experience with Naveed Khan at Shady Grove Fertility?
I am all around disappointed. Honestly, from the start I was a little put off by feeling like a number. It’s the closest clinic to my house, so, I stayed when I shouldn’t have. Dr, Khan did take the time to hear me out most of the time when we had a meeting. But, he was quick to wave off newer studies I’ve found. I let him because he’s the doctor, not me. My test came back with high FSH and possible clotting disorder. Otherwise “unexplained infertility”. I asked if I should take baby aspirin, “it’s not part of our protocol” I pushed back “will it hurt if I take baby aspirin. Since it could help prevent another miscarriage?” “no it won’t hurt anything”. Alrighty fighting for clarity and treatment as an individual and it was only the beginning. One medicated timed intercourse failed. Then I set up for an IUI, our insurance doesn’t cover it, in Northern VA fertility treatment is very pricey. I then went to my primary doctor who ran regular tests and found my thyroid was off (hypothyroid). A few days before IUI I told my clinic about my thyroid levels they “‘made note of it”. Went ahead with the IUI. It failed. I then discovered that my levels were way off for fertility and could be a reason for infertility and early miscarriage. When I brought this up to doctor Khan he said “yes. Your thyroid is not optimal for fertility. If you’d like, go and see an Endocrinologist”. That was the last contact I had with this clinic. I won’t be returning. They took my money and instead of holding off on the IUI that was perhaps destined for failure from the start and waited for my thyroid levels to regulate, they did the IUI. And I had to figure out for myself that my thyroid being off needed to be taken seriously. So frustrating and disheartening. You must be your own advocate. Ask questions. Do your own research!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Naveed Khan at Shady Grove Fertility?
Do your own research. Be your own advocate. Ask all of the questions. Be persistent. Also, don’t be afraid to go somewhere for a second opinion.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Naveed Khan at Shady Grove Fertility?
Being diagnosed unexplained and then forced to follow their “protocol” for Medicated timed intercourse. First, they found my tests showed clotting disorder and told me taking baby aspirin wasn’t part of their protocol. Before my IUI, My primary doctor found that my thyroid was WAY off (hypothyroid) and Dr Khan , knowing this, still followed through with the IUI that I paid for out of pocket. *I* then had to ask him after I learned that it failed, if my thyroid could have caused the IUI to fail, he said I was correct my thyroid wasn’t optimal for fertility and to go and seek an Endocrinologist. That was the last contact I had with this clinic. Very disappointing and frustrating. I felt they just took my money without any thought as to what could actually be going on with ME, the patient.
Describe the protocols Naveed Khan used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility and their degree of success.
From my understanding for timed intercourse and IUI - its all the same. I did not do any IVF rounds or egg retrieval’s. For T.I and IUI - take clomid or letrozole starting day 3 of your cycle. Then around day 12 you go into the office for blood work and ultrasound to count follicles to see if you’re ready to take the trigger shot (ovadril). Trigger shot and two days later go in for the IUI. Then follow up with progesterone suppositories until negative blood test. Continue them if positive.
My lining was thin during my T.I. and I had to take estrogen suppositories until negative pregnancy test.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility. (Assigned nurse: Tracey)
Everyone responds to emails very quickly. Everyone is very kind and welcoming. I never had any issue with communication or treatment from nurses. Phone calls aren’t the best, they prefer email.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility.
This clinic is run very smoothly and timely. The clinic is very clean and accommodating for my family. (I have a 3 year old son who had to be snuck in a few times). The staff is friendly. They have weekend hours at different locations that isn’t too far away from where we live. I just don’t appreciate how I was treated as a number by the doctor.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Naveed Khan at Shady Grove Fertility.
My insurance covered the medication for timed intercourse. That price was under 70$ for the clomid, ovadril, and progesterone.
My IUI was not covered my insurance, $1,800 for IUI then $175 for medications.
Describe Naveed Khan's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility.
[Dr. Nancy Durso is] given zero autonomy. If you don’t fit into their data mold, they don’t know what to do with you...She is the only doctor at the Fredericksburg location and the level of care shows that. Her nurses make up for it, but you won’t feel like a priority with her...Know what you want from a treatment cycle and be prepared to push for what you want. Ultimately she only decides the course of treatment and you’ll rarely if ever see her after that...Lowest dosage of all medications and we quickly had to shift to a higher dose over a weekend which led to a poor retrieval count.
Lowest dosage of all medications and we quickly had to shift to a higher dose over a weekend which led to a poor retrieval count [at Shady Grove Fertility]...Andrea [nurse] was fantastic and 100% the only reason we kept seeing Dr. Durso for so long. She is quick to respond, organized, and knows exactly what to say during stressful cycles...From what I understand, there is no option. They only allow eset [single transfer]...is a revolving door powered by data. You are a number. Because I am data driven this seemed fine at first, but when anything throws off their calculations they have no power to pivot or try anything that hasn’t had years of research behind it.
How was your experience with Nancy Durso at Shady Grove Fertility?
She is ready for retirement, you can tell she is tired and ready for a break. She is the only doctor at the Fredericksburg location and the level of care shows that. Her nurses make up for it, but you won’t feel like a priority with her.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nancy Durso at Shady Grove Fertility?
Do your homework. Know what you want from a treatment cycle and be prepared to push for what you want. Ultimately she only decides the course of treatment and you’ll rarely if ever see her after that.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nancy Durso at Shady Grove Fertility?
Shady grove doctors are given zero autonomy. If you don’t fit into their data mold, they don’t know what to do with you.
Describe the protocols Nancy Durso used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility and their degree of success.
Lowest dosage of all medications and we quickly had to shift to a higher dose over a weekend which led to a poor retrieval count.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility. (Assigned nurse: Andrea)
Andrea was fantastic and 100% the only reason we kept seeing Dr. Durso for so long. She is quick to respond, organized, and knows exactly what to say during stressful cycles.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility.
Shady Grove is a revolving door powered by data. You are a number. Because I am data driven this seemed fine at first, but when anything throws off their calculations they have no power to pivot or try anything that hasn’t had years of research behind it.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Shady Grove Fertility.
Efficient. Check in, get a blood draw within minutes. There was usually a good 15min wait for the ultrasound but all in all you were there for maybe 30 minutes.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nancy Durso at Shady Grove Fertility.
100% covered by insurance
Describe Nancy Durso's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility.
From what I understand, there is no option. They only allow eset
I could not have treatment [with Dr. Stephanie Beall] because I did not fall under their BMI limit...I was given hope, was told to go through testing only to find out DURING a transvaginal ultrasound that they would not perform an HSG because they ‘wouldn’t be able to see through the fat’. And that I would not even be able to discuss results of any of the testing unless I had the hsg...She was very dismissive during initial consultation and only discussed what we had questions about. Did not offer to explain or talk about options we did not bring up. Did mention that it would be best for me to lose weight. Did not tell me it would prevent treatment.
[Shady Grove Fertility has] Decent hours, clean office, good ultrasound techs. Won’t treat women over their arbitrary BMI limit. (Upper limit only, no lower limit) Fairly easy to get in contact with for scheduling appts...I did not find out until much later that it is a company policy that they do not treat overweight women (based solely on BMI). Not upfront with information...Care coordinator Alisha was caring and compassionate and made me feel welcome and cared for.
How was your experience with Stephanie Beall at Shady Grove Fertility?
She was fairly rude, dismissive, and seemingly uncaring. I did not find out until much later that it is a company policy that they do not treat overweight women (based solely on BMI). Not upfront with information.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Stephanie Beall at Shady Grove Fertility?
Know that you are treated as a walking BMI, not a person.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Stephanie Beall at Shady Grove Fertility?
She was very dismissive during initial consultation and only discussed what we had questions about. Did not offer to explain or talk about options we did not bring up. Did mention that it would be best for me to lose weight. Did not tell me it would prevent treatment.
Describe the protocols Stephanie Beall used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility and their degree of success.
I could not have treatment because I did not fall under their BMI limit.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility. (Assigned nurse: Alisha)
Care coordinator Alisha was caring and compassionate and made me feel welcome and cared for.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility.
Decent hours, clean office, good ultrasound techs. Won’t treat women over their arbitrary BMI limit. (Upper limit only, no lower limit) Fairly easy to get in contact with for scheduling appts. Fairly continent location near 695.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Stephanie Beall at Shady Grove Fertility.
Pending
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility?
Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility.
I was given hope, was told to go through testing only to find out DURING a transvaginal ultrasound that they would not perform an HSG because they ‘wouldn’t be able to see through the fat’. And that I would not even be able to discuss results of any of the testing unless I had the hsg.
Soon as she [Dr. Sandy Li] realized my husband had siblings with sickle cell she and her nurse sent repeatedly asked me to reconsider undergoing genetic testing. I declined initially due to the timing of the test. I am not a carrier and am not opposed to genetic testing. Even with a signed decline form, they asked 3-4 times for me to reconsider. Dr. Li herself called and asked me to reconsider taking the testing and that later on, I might not want to keep embryos that have the trait for sickle cell anemia. These delays brought us from October to December. Then they told me they won't start a cycle in December due to the lab undergoing quality assurance. I never heard from her or the nurse again. I reached out and requested a different team in February.
Advocate for yourself [at Shady Grove Fertility]...They had me repeat initial workup tests and then stalled my treatment when I declined genetic testing...Initial workup was 2000 for the testing and repeated tests. Mostly covered by insurance. They quoted me 10000 for IVF...A strength is that they have multiple locations in the DMV area. There are many doctors. Ideally, if one doctor is not a good fit you may switch to another doctor. Weaknesses are that they push hard for eSET, they treat you like a number, be prepared to ask them to explain their protocol.
How was your experience with Sandy Li at Shady Grove Fertility?
Strengths are that she makes herself available to her patients. Weaknesses is that she doesn't review charts appropriately and has patients repeat the same tests multiple times. She also allows her personal bias to cross ethical boundaries. She essentially delayed my treatment because I refused to approve genetic testing. I am African-American they screen for sickle cell anemia at birth. She heard my husband say he has a history of it on his side of the family and took it upon herself to tell me she wouldn't select an embryo with sickle cell trait or sickle cell anemia for transfer. This is beyond medical advice and crossed into telling a client what they should and shouldn't do with their own embryos. At this point imaginary embryos that have not possibility of developing sickle cell anemia. I essentially was discarded to the side because I didn't sign a consent form for genetic testing.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Sandy Li at Shady Grove Fertility?
Advocate for yourself.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Sandy Li at Shady Grove Fertility?
Dr. Li treated my like a sub-human. She had me repeat initial work-up testing 2 to 3 times and never approved of a treatment cycle. Soon as she realized my husband had siblings with sickle cell she and her nurse sent repeatedly asked me to reconsider undergoing genetic testing. I declined initially due to the timing of the test. I am not a carrier and am not opposed to genetic testing. Even with a signed decline form, they asked 3-4 times for me to reconsider. Dr. Li herself called and asked me to reconsider taking the testing and that later on, I might not want to keep embryos that have the trait for sickle cell anemia. These delays brought us from October to December. Then they told me they won't start a cycle in December due to the lab undergoing quality assurance. I never heard from her or the nurse again. I reached out and requested a different team in February.
Describe the protocols Sandy Li used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility and their degree of success.
Didn't make it this far. Dr. Li and her nurse gave me the runaround and then disappeared before the lab closed for quality assurance.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility. (Assigned nurse: Jenny Wang)
Same as Dr. Li. They had me repeat initial workup tests and then stalled my treatment when I declined genetic testing.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility.
A strength is that they have multiple locations in the DMV area. There are many doctors. Ideally, if one doctor is not a good fit you may switch to another doctor. Weaknesses are that they push hard for eSET, they treat you like a number, be prepared to ask them to explain their protocol.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Sandy Li at Shady Grove Fertility.
Initial workup was 2000 for the testing and repeated tests. Mostly covered by insurance. They quoted me 10000 for IVF.
Describe Sandy Li's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility.
N/A
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility?