2018 - 2019, Unknown Success
Dr. T[ortoriello] is supportive of immune protocols, experimental supplements, and the like in order to come up with creative solutions for personalized treatment. But I needed a second opinion to find success my second time around...was incredibly warm and personal. He always looked into my eyes, remembered my history, checked in with me as a human. He responded within minutes by email and was always thoughtful in his responses. I always felt cared for and like he was in the fight with me to create my family.
The process [at Sher Fertility] was less formal than the NYC hospital RE clinics and a lot of times that felt like a better patient experiences. But I don't think that the lack of formality helps Sher. It seems like doctors (outside of Dr T) come and go and so do nurses. Also I didn't get a sense that the equipment or labs were as new or updated as Cornell, for example.
How was your experience with Drew Tortoriello at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Dr. T is an incredibly warm and caring doctor who always made me feel cared for. He is calming, methodical, and thoughtful about very personalized treatment. I felt like the patient experience at Sher, because of Dr T, was very special .... a unicorn in the fertility world.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Drew Tortoriello at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Dr. T is supportive of immune protocols, experimental supplements, and the like in order to come up with creative solutions for personalized treatment. But I needed a second opinion to find success my second time around. Don't be afraid to compare protocols and ensure you are on the right path.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Drew Tortoriello at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Dr. T was incredibly warm and personal. He always looked into my eyes, remembered my history, checked in with me as a human. He responded within minutes by email and was always thoughtful in his responses. I always felt cared for and like he was in the fight with me to create my family.
Describe the protocols Drew Tortoriello used in your cycles at Sher Fertility Solutions New York and their degree of success.
My first retrieval with Dr. T was successful enough. We retrieved 16 embryos, 13 were mature and 12 fertilized. 3 made it to day 5 frozen and all 3 tested normal. One is my daughter. The second implanted but I miscarried, and it turned out that it was not a normal embryo even though it tested as such. The third didn't result in a pregnancy -- but it turned out that I had severe uterine scarring (Asherman's Syndrome) and that embryo would have never implanted. I was also told by Dr. T to use the IVF meds intramuscularly, and to this day found that an odd recommendation. My second cycle with Dr. T yielded only 3 embryos and none made it to day 5. I got a second opinion and learned about the scarring, did another retrieval with a new doc where my meds were all increased based on my weight. That retrieval yielded 6 day 5 frozen embryos.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
In my first retrieval with Sher I had a clear nurse and her name was Lindsey and she was incredible. She was personal, clear, communicative, etc. In my second transfer, I felt like I didn't have a head person taking care of me and just had to email the whole clinic to get answers. I found Cynthia to be cold and clinical. The billing department (Yisraela) was always WONDERFUL as was Frances (I wish she could have been my nurse!).
Describe your experience with Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
Sher is a special place in the NYC fertility scene. It is SO personal and provides a really special patient experience. It does not feel like a cattle call of monitoring and the staff always recognizes you. It is not difficult to get appointments and I loved that my own doctor did my retrievals, transfers, etc. The process was less formal than the NYC hospital RE clinics and a lot of times that felt like a better patient experiences. But I don't think that the lack of formality helps Sher. It seems like doctors (outside of Dr T) come and go and so do nurses. Also I didn't get a sense that the equipment or labs were as new or updated as Cornell, for example.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Drew Tortoriello at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
I had insurance coverage for everything except a few medications and PGS testing.
Describe Drew Tortoriello's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
based on my history the preference for me was always single!
