Dr. Montville is a good doctor, but he's not for everyone...he does give you direct 1:1 attention in comparison to other clinics where you see staff instead of the doctor...However, the more I was there and the more I took charge of and advocated for myself with my own treatment, the more I felt dismissed...If you are older, like to do your own research and advocate for yourself, or find some protocols like PGT-A testing controversial and concerning, consider looking elsewhere.
The nurses [at Tennessee Fertility Institute] were a bit overworked and, several times, the protocols discussed in the exam room were not those conveyed to me in the follow up email message. If you are there be sure to pay attention and even right down your protocol so if you are told differently you can double check...$1050-1100 per IUI. Oral medications and progesterone were nominal through GoodRx ($5-10 per cycle), and they were able to provide a 50% off rate for the Ovidrel trigger and Gonal-F pens when injectables were used...
How was your experience with Christopher Montville at Tennessee Fertility Institute?
Overall, Dr. Montville is a good clinician. His strength is his approachable manner and he does give you direct 1:1 attention in comparison to other clinics where you see staff instead of the doctor. This is a plus. I became increasingly concerned, though, and ultimately opted to go elsewhere for two reasons. First, the more I self-advocated for and made suggestions to my own treatment (e.g. finding the same thing over and over wasn't working and small changes could be made in the IUI protocol), I was increasingly dismissed. I was also summarily and sharply corrected in a sharper tone than I would have liked when I used the wrong term accidentally a few times, which felt out of character with the above. The longer I went, I also felt with the IUI protocols they were pushing me along to just get to IVF, rather than working with my body and hormones (a situation discovered and fixed easily by my new RE). I also discovered he has very entrenched views on PGT-A testing and their clinic does not report out mosaics, which a slate of studies in recent months have called into question by showing normal live births from mosaic embryos. Lastly, they tend to recommend egg banking, even for older women, which a lot of research advocates against since older women's eggs are often way more fragile (like mine) and do not survive thawing for fertilization. To have proceeded as he was counseling me for IVF, I now know, would have not worked for my body and I would have wasted untold thousands of dollars. I'm glad I listened to my gut and went elsewhere. Dr. Montville is a good doctor, but he's not for everyone.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Christopher Montville at Tennessee Fertility Institute?
If you are younger or have few issues, I believe Dr. Montville will be a fine clinician for you, especially if you are looking for individual attention. If you are older, like to do your own research and advocate for yourself, or find some protocols like PGT-A testing controversial and concerning, consider looking elsewhere.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Christopher Montville at Tennessee Fertility Institute?
Dr. Montville has a good bedside manner and is engaging and kind in the office. Overall, I liked him for the first few IUI rounds. However, the more I was there and the more I took charge of and advocated for myself with my own treatment, the more I felt dismissed. Because I was spending a lot of time reviewing recent peer-reviewed literature (I am a researcher myself and familiar with scientific protocols), it was frustrating to be dismissed so easily when I was coming with valid questions and concerns.
Describe the protocols Christopher Montville used in your cycles at Tennessee Fertility Institute and their degree of success.
Five IUIs. First using Clomid and no trigger, with the rationale of starting slow and easy due no identifiable fertility issues (I ovulate on my own regularly). Clomid caused a cyst, so we switched to Letrozole thereafter. IUIs 2-5 with Letrozole, the fourth and fifth with low dose Gonal-F added. Only one follicle garnered each time, meaning starting as late as we did in my cycle each time meant the dominant follicle had already self-selected. One definite and two likely chemical pregnancies ending around cycle start. Assumed diagnosis was poor egg quality and chromosomal abnormalities.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Tennessee Fertility Institute. (Assigned nurse: Kelly)
Overall, the nursing staff was great. They were kind, responsive, and helpful. I cannot say anything but positive things here.
Describe your experience with Tennessee Fertility Institute.
The practice is rapidly growing, which I observed cause more and more hiccups over time. This did not impact me negatively for the most part, and in the office, they were willing to help (for the most part) with insurance submissions for the few things that could be billed through insurance. The managing company (Prelude), however, is a complete mess with regard to billing. I incurred visits that were billable to insurance in October and November that were not submitted until the following March. I cannot tell you the number of hours on email and phone spent to get this rectified and actually had to submit claims on my own well before Prelude ever got around to responding. Their in-house billing policies, too, are not great. For instance, I was never notified of an exorbitant fee simply to have my genetic materials transferred to another clinic--such fees should have been made clear at the outset.
Otherwise, all the on-site staff I met with were kind and friendly and seemed fairly well organized.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Christopher Montville at Tennessee Fertility Institute.
$1050-1100 per IUI. Oral medications and progesterone were nominal through GoodRx ($5-10 per cycle), and they were able to provide a 50% off rate for the Ovidrel trigger and Gonal-F pens when injectables were used, which was appreciated.
Describe Christopher Montville's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Tennessee Fertility Institute.
Single embryo preferred; multiples can be transferred depending on protocol/situation and ASRM recommendations.
What specific things went wrong at Tennessee Fertility Institute?
- Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
- Provided conflicting information
- Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Tennessee Fertility Institute.
The nurses were a bit overworked and, several times, the protocols discussed in the exam room were not those conveyed to me in the follow up email message. If you are there be sure to pay attention and even right down your protocol so if you are told differently you can double check.
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Doctor
Christopher Montville
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Clinic
Tennessee Fertility Institute
Franklin