The Fertility Center of Michigan

Dr. Shavell is very good about clearly communicating all the variables that play into IVF, and remembering the specifics of my situation. She has supported me and my partner with knowledge to help us make the most informed decisions at each step of the way. I appreciate her bedside manner. The only drawback is that she has a very busy schedule and sometimes it can be difficult to get time with her - but when you do get time together she is very attentive and a good listener.

The [Fertility Center of Michigan] clinic has wonderful doctors and nurses who are knowledgeable, professional, and caring. They communicate plans clearly and have helped us navigate every step of this process. Our biggest challenge has been communication on the scheduling and billing side of things - communication should be more clear and efficient from the scheduling and billing departments.

How was your experience with Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Come prepared with your own questions and research - Dr. Shavell will help guide you along the way. Work to get on her schedule early as Dr. Shavell and her entire clinic are very busy.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Dr. Shavell is a very kind doctor and person, with a very good bedside manner. However, she is also incredibly busy and the majority of interactions are with her nurses or staff.

Describe the protocols Valerie Shavell used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.

Karyotype Testing Hysteroscopy Endosee 3 IUI cycles with Femara and Ovidrel Trigger Receptive DX Test (diagnosed Silent Endo) Egg Retrieval with PGT Testing FET #1 - with Orilissa, Lupron, PIO in lead up (dealing with Silent Endo and a specific blood clotting condition)

Describe your experience with the nursing staff at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

The nurses at The Fertility Center are a very kind and caring bunch. Because the clinic is so busy they can occasionally be difficult to reach over the phone. I've also had to stay very engaged in my own care and conversation with the doctors to ensure details are being followed correctly and as expected.

Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.

The clinic has wonderful doctors and nurses who are knowledgeable, professional, and caring. They communicate plans clearly and have helped us navigate every step of this process. Our biggest challenge has been communication on the scheduling and billing side of things - communication should be more clear and efficient from the scheduling and billing departments.

Describe the costs associated with your care under Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

Our situation is unique in that we've chosen to do a fair amount of elective diagnostic testing. Over one year of working with the clinic our total costs for all testing, procedures, medications, cycle management and storage fees have totaled $33K.

What specific things went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Provided conflicting information
Failed to consider drug intolerance

Doctor

Valerie Shavell

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

The Fertility Center of Michigan

Grand Rapids

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

Valerie Shavell The Fertility Center of Michigan

2019 - 2020, Unknown Success

Age 39 - 40

4 IUI

Donor Sperm

Anovulation

PCOS

European

Income $50K - $99K

Professor

Neutral

Success w/ Doc Too early to know

Review of

William Dodds (retired)The Fertility Center of Michigan

Dr. Dodds always addresses me by my first name throughout our conversations and looks me in the eyes whenever he is speaking to me. This makes me feel as though he is engaged in the conversation and not just going through the motions. He consistently explains everything fully and answers my questions until I am satisfied with the responses. He is always sympathetic when I return for treatment, and he genuinely seems to want me to have a successful pregnancy. I really feel as if he has a vested interest in me as a person and a future parent.

I saw ~6 nurses over the course of my 4 IUIs [at The Fertility Center of Michigan]. Most of the nurses were both knowledgeable and had a caring bedside manner. However, there were 1-2 nurses that were unable to answer my questions (and would not admit that they did not know the answer) and had more of an abrupt manner...Each IUI was ~$250...A lot of the individual treatment information is provided either verbally or in hand-written notes rather than prescribed packets or post-visit documentation tied to your patient account (that you can access as a patient). This can make your treatment confusing after you leave the clinic, although nurses are always happy to clarify if you call. The second downside to this clinic is their limited hours. If you need treatment information over the weekend, you must call their emergency line, and they may not respond until Monday (holidays are even worse). In addition, if yo

How was your experience with William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Dr. Dodds is very caring and experienced. He founded the clinic, and I believe he has been a reproductive endocrinologist for approximately 30 years. In addition, he specializes in PCOS, my fertility issue. Therefore, I have a great deal of confidence in his ability to maximize my potential to be a parent. The only negative comment I have about Dr. Dodds is that I think is so knowledgeable that he sometimes forgets that I (as a patient) am not. He is always happy to clarify any confusion, but the first time he explains something, it is not always clear (e.g., certain details are missing or he mentions a term we had not previously discussed).

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

If you have any questions or need clarification, please ask. Dr. Dodds wants to ensure all his patients have a clear understanding of their treatment.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Describe the protocols William Dodds (retired) used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.

I did 4 IUI cycles. 3 were with Femara (5 mg for 5 days) and Estrace (vaginally) because of a thin uterine lining on ultrasound. Estrace was taken before and after IUI. For one of the cycles, I did a stepwise Femara cycle, as the first 5 days did not produce mature follicles. This resulted in the production of mature follicles after the stepwise administration. For the 4th IUI, I took Femara (5 mg for 5 days) and Gonal-F (75 IU) injections prior to IUI. For all IUIs, I did an Ovidrel injection 48 hours prior to the IUI.

Describe your experience with the nursing staff at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

I saw ~6 nurses over the course of my 4 IUIs. Most of the nurses were both knowledgeable and had a caring bedside manner. However, there were 1-2 nurses that were unable to answer my questions (and would not admit that they did not know the answer) and had more of an abrupt manner.

Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.

The clinic has a long history and many patients, so I feel that overall, this facility has the collective experience and knowledge that makes me confident in obtaining a positive treatment outcome. However, there are aspects of this center that are quite unorganized. A lot of the individual treatment information is provided either verbally or in hand-written notes rather than prescribed packets or post-visit documentation tied to your patient account (that you can access as a patient). This can make your treatment confusing after you leave the clinic, although nurses are always happy to clarify if you call. The second downside to this clinic is their limited hours. If you need treatment information over the weekend, you must call their emergency line, and they may not respond until Monday (holidays are even worse). In addition, if you have a full-time job, you should be prepared to miss work, as all treatments are done during the business day (8:30AM-3:30PM only). Finally, the billing department is incredibly disorganized, so you should be prepared to essentially keep meticulous track of your own financial accounting.

Describe the costs associated with your care under William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

Each IUI was ~$250.

Doctor

William Dodds (retired)

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

The Fertility Center of Michigan

Grand Rapids

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

William Dodds (retired)The Fertility Center of Michigan

2018 - 2020, Unknown Success

Age 28 - 30

12 Fertility Medications

Anovulation

Diminished Ovarian Reserve

Endometriosis

PCOS

European

Income $50K - $99K

Strongly Recommends

Success w/ Doc Too early to know

Review of

William Dodds (retired)The Fertility Center of Michigan

Dr. Dodds has a great communication style and bedside manner...He really does listen and thoughtfully answers our questions, and he's really fair about giving his opinion both from a personal and professional perspective...Do your research before going in for a consultation - not because he won't explain it, but because it'll allow you to ask better questions and have a more productive conversation about your fertility plan.

First and foremost - you will be comfortable here [at the Fertility Center of Michigan]. Their waiting area is quiet, beautiful, and comfortable...I'm obese, and never once did Dr. Dodds or his staff make me feel uncomfortable about it, or allude that my weight was the reason for my infertility...All of the nurses, billing staff, and techs are lovely, professional, organized, and thorough.

How was your experience with William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Dr. Dodds has a great communication style and bedside manner. After our first consultation, he adjusted how he spoke to us based on what we needed and expected (i.e. nice but to the point and fully explained). He always makes sure that we understand what the plan is while taking into consideration what we feel most comfortable doing and he has never tried to railroad through what we want to try something else. He really does listen and thoughtfully answers our questions, and he's really fair about giving his opinion both from a personal and professional perspective.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Do your research before going in for a consultation - not because he won't explain it, but because it'll allow you to ask better questions and have a more productive conversation about your fertility plan.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

I was definitely treated like a human and I genuinely haven't met a nicer staff. My only tiny complaint would be that we did have to remind them of some things and push to get certain files updated/added. Because of that, there were a few appointments that felt like they were just going through the motions without really looking at our file first.

Describe the protocols William Dodds (retired) used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.

My AMH is low and I have a diminished egg reserve, so my body doesn't ovulate on its own without medication. The first thing he did was get a full blood workup and sperm sample so we had all of the information available. Once it became clear what the problem was, Dr. Dodds put us on oral medication first (Clomid/Femara) at a slightly higher dose than I had previously taken from my OBGYN. We tried that for 3 cycles and increased the dosage. For the next few cycles, they had me come in for mid-cycle ultrasounds to see if my body was responding to those medications and to see where we could adjust our treatment plan to work better for me. Given my history of PCOS, they also started doing bloodwork to keep an eye on my estrogen levels in case they saw a cyst and 2 cycles were cancelled for that reason, thankfully. When it became clear that the oral medication wasn't working by itself, Dr. Dodds scheduled an HSG (after discussing it with us obviously) to make sure that my tubes were open and despite how uncomfortable the procedure itself was, it was the most mentally-pain-free experience because he and his staff told me exactly what to be ready for and how to handle it. With clear HSG results, Dodds moved us forward into 2 hybrid cycles, with both oral meds and injections. I was still only producing 1-2 good eggs per cycle so he prescribed 2 injection-only cycles on a higher dose, which were also unsuccessful. He limited those treatments because he didn't want to continue pulling 1 egg at a time from a reserve that won't last forever and I appreciate that he was very upfront with his concerns about that. He was also honest about IUI and explained that he didn't think it would serve its purpose with our situation and straight up told us it would probably be a waste of our time and money to go for that route, despite it being next up on the strategy chain. We had already come to conclusion that IVF is probably going to be the best option for us and he agreed, but knowing that our insurance wasn't covering any of our fertility treatment costs, he gave us a plethora of information on grants, saving, and full cost breakdown step by step. We are now in the saving-for-IVF part of the plan and will move forward once we are ready/clinics are open!

Describe your experience with the nursing staff at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

The best. There was one ultrasound technician whose methods weren't as comfortable for me, but as soon as I said something to the office manager, they put a note in my chart about it and were super understanding. All of the nurses, billing staff, and techs are lovely, professional, organized, and thorough.

Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.

First and foremost - you will be comfortable here. Their waiting area is quiet, beautiful, and comfortable. Their consultation rooms and exam rooms are all comfortable, clean, and definitely a step above your average doctor's office. I should also note that I'm obese, and never once did Dr. Dodds or his staff make me feel uncomfortable about it, or allude that my weight was the reason for my infertility. They will make you feel totally at-home and they will be patient and respectful of your nervousness, no matter how many "silly" questions you ask them.

Describe the costs associated with your care under William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

In 2019, we spent a total of $6,000 on treatments and co-pays. My oral medications were very affordable, I want to say probably less than $30 per cycle. Consultations are about $350, standard ultrasounds are around $275, a mid-cycle ultrasound + bloodwork was $315, and out-of-pocket injections were $600 per cycle through Freedom Fertility since our insurance wouldn't cover those. All other bloodwork and procedure co-pays were dependent on insurance coverage.

What specific things went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Lost paperwork

Describe the specific things that went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

Our consent form for the injection cycles was initially lost, but they were really flexible about how I could get a new one sent to them (email, fax, next appointment, etc).

Doctor

William Dodds (retired)

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

The Fertility Center of Michigan

Grand Rapids

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

William Dodds (retired)The Fertility Center of Michigan

2018 - 2020, Successful

Age 35 - 37

1 IVF

Diminished Ovarian Reserve

Male Factor

European

Income $100K - $199K

Operations

2nd of 2 Docs

3 IVF With Other Docs

Strongly Recommends

Successful

Review of

James Young (retired)The Fertility Center of Michigan

Dr. Young treated me like a human being and not like a broken patient. He took time to ensure that I understood ad agreed with each of my treatment plan...I kept developing uterine polyps from the estrogen prime while we attempted to prepare for FET. After multiple removals I consulted with Dr. Young. We stopped estrogen and did a Femara protocol to shut down my estrogen. This worked and I was able to do a FET weeks later.

[issues with Fertility Center of Michigan] I would have to call for results, remind of tests the doctor wanted me to have, RXs were called in when I was allergic...We did a multi cycle IVF for around $12,000 add in what insurance didn't cover and it's closer to $20,000...I met nearly all nurses having been with the clinic for 2 years. Most are amazing...[Billing Dept.] sometime claiming I owed when it was part of a package

How was your experience with James Young (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Dr. Young treated me like a human being and not like a broken patient. He took time to ensure that I understood ad agreed with each of my treatment plan. When I felt frustrated he sensed it and took extra time to reassure and educate me. When a doctor is passionate and authentic about their chosen field it's obvious. And Dr. Young is one of those doctors.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of James Young (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Don't be afraid to come with questions because he will spend the time to explain and review with you.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with James Young (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Human. He took so much time to ensure I understood and agreed with the treatment plan.

Describe the protocols James Young (retired) used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.

I kept developing uterine polyps from the estrogen prime while we attempted to prepare for FET. After multiple removals I consulted with Dr. Young. We stopped estrogen and did a Femara protocol to shut down my estrogen. This worked and I was able to do a FET weeks later.

Describe your experience with the nursing staff at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

I met nearly all nurses having been with the clinic for 2 years. Most are amazing. All are kind. Some more organized than others.

Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.

The administrative staff has some weaknesses. The billing Dept wasn't always friendly. I paid tens of thousands and it seemed they thought no was trying to skip out on paying a few hundred. Or sometime claiming I owed when it was part of a package. Their tone would become forceful. The nurses genuinely cares for me and some even reached out during the quarentine to check up on me. The office is clean and typically runs very efficently. The sonographers are also very important people at the clinic and were all amazingly kind.

Describe the costs associated with your care under James Young (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

We did a multi cycle IVF for around $12,000 add in what insurance didn't cover and it's closer to $20,000

Describe James Young (retired)'s approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

The quality of my embryos were suspect so we we froze all, each cycle, on day 2. We did not take them to day 5 prior to transfer and instead chose to transfer 2 good quality embroys.

What specific things went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Failed to call with results
Failed to order appropriate test
Provided conflicting information
Failed to convey critical information
Failed to consider drug intolerance

Describe the specific things that went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

Depending on the nurse I had during the that time, some being better than others, I would have to call for results, remind of tests the doctor wanted me to have, RXs were called in when I was allergic but overall, in the 2 years, these were few instances.

Doctor

James Young (retired)

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

The Fertility Center of Michigan

Grand Rapids

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

James Young (retired)The Fertility Center of Michigan

2018 - 2019, Unknown Success

Age 36 - 37

4 IUI

Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Unexplained

Income $100K - $199K

Sales Representative

Fertility Medications With Other Docs

Neutral

Success w/ Doc Too early to know

Review of

Valerie Shavell The Fertility Center of Michigan

Dr. Shavell is so empathetic she almost comes off as meek in the consult room, which might be good for some people, but I prefer a doctor to be blunt and tell me like it is. She did perform surgery when I had an ectopic pregnancy and she's much more to the point in the operating room so I was happy with that and she did a great job...The third IUI was positive, but resulted in an ectopic pregnancy found at the 6 week ultrasound. Dr. Shavell recommended methotrexate to terminate the pregnancy. That was followed by two weeks of Beta HCG blood tests every few days and my numbers weren't going down. She recommended a second dose of methotrexate over surgery and that was also ineffective. Two weeks later I fi

you're always seeing someone different [at The Fertility Center of Michigan] so there's bound to be conflicting information...We paid around $35K in 2019 for 1 IUI, 1 egg retrieval + fresh transfer, 2 FET's, meds, labs, etc., etc... think they do a good job for the most part. The reception staff is very sweet. The medical assistants, ultrasound techs, etc. are really compassionate and willing to do whatever they can to help you out. The one thing I would change if I could, is being able to see my primary doctor/nurse for every appointment/procedure. They are so busy that you basically just see whoever is available. Which makes sense since fertility is such a time sensitive thing and comes down to the day you're ovulating so they can't always be available for you, but another doctor/nurse always is.

How was your experience with Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

I would suggest going into an appointment prepared with lots of questions to ask. I've done a lot of my own research and make lists of things I want to ask her about.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Dr. Shavell is empathetic and really spends the time to help my husband and I by explaining everything and letting us ask a ton of questions.

Describe the protocols Valerie Shavell used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.

I've done 4 IUI's under Dr. Shavell's primary care. At the Fertility Center you basically see whichever doctor or nurse is available during your procedures though so a lot of these protocols were assigned by other providers. Each IUI cycle started with Clomid cycle days 3-5, midcycle ultrasound ~day 10-12, IUI ~day 13-15. The first two were negative. The third IUI was positive, but resulted in an ectopic pregnancy found at the 6 week ultrasound. Dr. Shavell recommended methotrexate to terminate the pregnancy. That was followed by two weeks of Beta HCG blood tests every few days and my numbers weren't going down. She recommended a second dose of methotrexate over surgery and that was also ineffective. Two weeks later I finally had surgery to remove the ectopic pregnancy and my fallopian tube. After methotrexate you have to wait 3 months to conceive so we did a 4th and final IUI that was negative. At that point we jumped into IVF and prepping for egg retrieval. I can't remember the protocol, but it involved Menopur and Ganirelix, etc. The ER was very successful with 18 eggs retrieved, 17 mature and fertilized, 14 made it to day 3. We did a 3 day fresh transfer with 2 embryos and froze the remaining 12. The result was negative. We waited a month or so and then began to prep for frozen embryo transfer. It was a long lupron protocol. We transferred 2 embryos, which resulted in miscarriage at ~5.5 weeks. We waited another month and began the same long lupron protocol again. We decided to thaw all frozen 10 embryos to grow them out to blastocyst with the goal of weeding out some that may be weaker. They all survived thaw and made it to blast. We transferred 2 and refroze the remaining 8. This cycle ended in a chemical pregnancy. We were getting ready to do some additional testing (hysteroscopy to check for fibroids, etc. and chromosome mapping) before moving forward with the next cycle, but everything is now on hold due to Covid-19. We will also do an ERA cycle prior to the next FET.

Describe your experience with the nursing staff at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

They are wonderful and compassionate in their communication.

Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.

I think they do a good job for the most part. The reception staff is very sweet. The medical assistants, ultrasound techs, etc. are really compassionate and willing to do whatever they can to help you out. The one thing I would change if I could, is being able to see my primary doctor/nurse for every appointment/procedure. They are so busy that you basically just see whoever is available. Which makes sense since fertility is such a time sensitive thing and comes down to the day you're ovulating so they can't always be available for you, but another doctor/nurse always is.

Describe the costs associated with your care under Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

I would estimate that each IUI costs around $1500 including drugs, ultrasounds, and procedure. They don't bill insurance for the male portion, but they've billed my insurance for everything else and majority of it has been covered by Blue Care Network. We've paid 100% out of pocket for IVF as our insurance does not cover. We paid around $35K in 2019 for 1 IUI, 1 egg retrieval + fresh transfer, 2 FET's, meds, labs, etc., etc.

Describe Valerie Shavell's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

Dr. Shavell has had no problem transferring two embryos each time, but has made sure to ask that we are ok with the higher chance of having multiples.

What specific things went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Provided conflicting information
Failed to consider drug intolerance

Describe the specific things that went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

Like I stated before in the weaknesses, you're always seeing someone different so there's bound to be conflicting information. I always take the information given and then if I feel like I need a second opinion I'll call and speak with a different nurse/doctor over the phone to get their opinion/confirm what I was told/was recommended to me. I had one IUI cycle cancelled due to intolerance of drugs prescribed. I took the Clomid as instructed and the doctor also put me on Estradiol to help give my lining a boost. Apparently Estradiol can basically cancel out the clomid in some women so my follicles stopped progressing that cycle. After four rounds of clomid, I've now been told that clomid can actually cause a thin lining, which was my issue, so they switched to Femera for the last two cycles and that really helped thicken my lining.

Doctor

Valerie Shavell

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

The Fertility Center of Michigan

Grand Rapids

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

Valerie Shavell The Fertility Center of Michigan

2018 - 2019, Unsuccessful

Age 31 - 32

2 IUI

Unexplained

European

Nurse or HC Services

Neutral

Unsuccessful

Review of

Valerie Shavell The Fertility Center of Michigan

I've only ever seen Dr. Shavell twice in two years, during consults. She's very sweet, but she has nurses perform IUI procedures (and not very well), a different doctor performed my HSG and any time I place a call or send a message to her directly it's always a nurse that responds...We were diagnosed with unexplained infertility though and given a packet of pre-determined steps with none ever working for us. Our care is really left in the hands of nurses, we never hear from the doctor or see her during/after procedures and ultrasounds unless we want to pay out of pocket for another consult.

All [the nurses at The Fertility Center of Michigan] are kind. Very disappointed they are the ones that perform the IUI though. Had two different nurses and neither really inspired confidence, they knew what to do just didn't seem to have much skill in it. Neither IUI worked and it was $1,400 down the drain...Terrible business hours for anyone that works a regular job and is expected to drive back and forth multiple times a month in the middle of the day for ultrasounds. The staff there also seems to forget everything is being paid out of pocket by most of us and every time we come we're charged hundreds of dollars, and are disapproving when trying to minimize appointments. The front registration staff are phenomenal.

How was your experience with Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Dr. Shavell is very nice and soft spoken, easy to talk to. We were diagnosed with unexplained infertility though and given a packet of pre-determined steps with none ever working for us. Our care is really left in the hands of nurses, we never hear from the doctor or see her during/after procedures and ultrasounds unless we want to pay out of pocket for another consult.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

You're just one of many. She is kind and knowledgeable but don't plan for her to actually be involved in your care unless you're doing IVF.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Describe the protocols Valerie Shavell used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.

HSG that came back normal, 3 rounds of clomid, 4 rounds of Femara in attempt to see if any of these things would produce more follicles to increase chances of pregnancy. I was already ovulating on my own and ended up with multiple follicles twice. Also went on estrogen and progesterone to thicken lining when Femara thinned it. No success from any treatments.

Describe your experience with the nursing staff at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

All are kind. Very disappointed they are the ones that perform the IUI though. Had two different nurses and neither really inspired confidence, they knew what to do just didn't seem to have much skill in it. Neither IUI worked and it was $1,400 down the drain.

Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.

Terrible business hours for anyone that works a regular job and is expected to drive back and forth multiple times a month in the middle of the day for ultrasounds. The staff there also seems to forget everything is being paid out of pocket by most of us and every time we come we're charged hundreds of dollars, and are disapproving when trying to minimize appointments. The front registration staff are phenomenal.

Describe the costs associated with your care under Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

Expensive, my insurance doesn't cover most of it. Ultrasounds are frequent and usually cost $175-250 depending on limited or complete (although even when charging for complete ultrasound the cervix isn't evaluated and a VERY fast sweep of the uterus is performed that's not very diagnostic). IUIs were around 700 each time, the HSG was probably closer to 1000 but I can't remember the exact numbers for sure. Consults are over 100, and then another 50 every time I talk to a nurse in the clinic after ultrasounds.

Describe Valerie Shavell's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

Not to that point yet

Doctor

Valerie Shavell

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

The Fertility Center of Michigan

Grand Rapids

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

Valerie Shavell The Fertility Center of Michigan

2022, Unknown Success

Age 34

3 Fertility Medications

Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Unexplained

European

Income $200K - $499K

3rd of 3 Docs

12 Fertility Medications With Other Docs

Doesn't Recommend

Success w/ Doc Too early to know

Review of

Mili Thakur The Fertility Center of Michigan

She [Dr. Mili Thakur] is seeing so many patients that it is hard to get an appointment with her. However when we have met with her she has been aggressive with our treatments, which I like...She doesn’t want to do the same treatment for too long and wants to keep moving forward so we are moving onto IUI and then IVF soon. She doesn’t usually remember my information so we spend a portion of our meetings going over that again.

Convenient location and nice office. However overall we have not had great treatment here [at The Fertility Center of Michigan - Grand Rapids] and feel like a number. Feel like we are not supported and that they just want to get you in and out...lack of consistency among nurses as one will tell you one thing and another will say something different the next day. Doctors are ok but you never really get to interact with them.

How was your experience with Mili Thakur at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

She is seeing so many patients that it is hard to get an appointment with her. However when we have met with her she has been aggressive with our treatments, which I like since we were seeing her counterpart for a year and had 3 miscarriages. She doesn’t want to do the same treatment for too long and wants to keep moving forward so we are moving onto IUI and then IVF soon. She doesn’t usually remember my information so we spend a portion of our meetings going over that again.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mili Thakur at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Sometimes she jumps all over the place with treatment options so take a notebook and take notes.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mili Thakur at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Details are never remembered and we spend a large portion of our consultations reminding her of our history. Consultations feel rushed.

Describe the protocols Mili Thakur used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.

First round timed intercourse with femara and gonal f 37.5 for 5 days then trigger. Second round timed intercourse and found cysts from previous treatment. Followed follicle count and one follicle was made without drugs. Trigger shot and negative result. Currently in third round timed intercourse. Femara and gonal f (3 days 37.5 and one day 75.5). 4 mature follicles so triggered early to hopefully avoid multiples. Waiting for test results.

Describe your experience with the nursing staff at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

Horrible. They provide different directions depending on who you talk to. Not compassionate at all after 3 miscarriages. Never write down your information so info is missing in my chart. Never write down instructions so you need to remember or write it down yourself. Can never get a hold of a nurse over the phone.

Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.

Convenient location and nice office. However overall we have not had great treatment here and feel like a number. Feel like we are not supported and that they just want to get you in and out. I also feel like my chemical pregnancies don’t count as pregnancies in their eyes. There is a lack of consistency among nurses as one will tell you one thing and another will say something different the next day. Doctors are ok but you never really get to interact with them.

Describe the costs associated with your care under Mili Thakur at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

$110 per ultrasound (usually 2-4 per cycle) plus costs of meds ($150-$400).

What specific things went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Lost paperwork
Failed to call with results
Failed to inform you of changes in protocol
Provided conflicting information
Failed to consider drug intolerance

Describe the specific things that went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

I’ve had nurses forget to call in prescriptions, ignore my concern on upping meds after I shared that I had cysts previous cycle, and given conflicting advice.

Doctor

Mili Thakur

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

The Fertility Center of Michigan

Grand Rapids

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

Mili Thakur The Fertility Center of Michigan

2020 - 2022, Unknown Success

Age 35 - 37

1 IUI

Endometriosis

Male Factor

PCOS

Unexplained

European

Income $50K - $99K

2nd of 2 Docs

1 Fertility Medications With Other Docs

Strongly Recommends

Neutral

Success w/ Doc Too early to know

Review of

Valerie Shavell The Fertility Center of Michigan

Dr Shavell seems knowledgeable and willing to help do what she can to make our treatment successful. She has been proactive with getting testing done early and listened to our concerns. We're in the beginning of our first IVF cycle with her but she was also brought in to perform my IUI when there was a complication. She made me feel at ease.

I've had mostly good experiences with the [The Fertility Center of Michigan] doctors and other staff but communication can be a bit lacking. It's not always easy to get an answer and things have not always been as organized and clearly laid out as I would have liked...The nurses I dealt with have been generally kind and helpful.

How was your experience with Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

It's okay to express your concerns and ask questions. She listened and made me feel comfortable.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Dr Shavell took time to meet with us after taking over from our previous doctor who had retired. She was warm and kind and listened to our concerns. She even recommended an additional test that no other doctor had mentioned before for symptoms that most other doctors had dismissed as normal.

Describe the protocols Valerie Shavell used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.

We're not quite to this stage yet as Dr Shavell just took over from another doctor who recently retired. But she has been proactive with getting me to start testing right away even though we're not meant to begin treatment for several months. She also recommended Receptiva testing to help determine if I may have endometriosis. I appreciated that she listened to my concerns and is addressing them before potentially experiencing a failed cycle.

Describe your experience with the nursing staff at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

The nurses I dealt with have been generally kind and helpful.

Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.

I've had mostly good experiences with the doctors and other staff but communication can be a bit lacking. It's not always easy to get an answer and things have not always been as organized and clearly laid out as I would have liked.

Describe the costs associated with your care under Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

We paid an additional fee for our IUI because she needed to do an ultrasound during the procedure. We are in the early stages of IVF so I can't say for sure how that will go but tests, prep procedures, and treatments are usually due at time of service. They require to be paid in full for your IVF procedures before they will proceed.

Describe Valerie Shavell's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

We were told of the risks of multiple embryo transfers but not pushed either way. We will more than likely transfer two but we have not gotten to that point yet.

What specific things went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Lost paperwork

Describe the specific things that went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

The biggest issue administratively has been they somehow forgot to bill us for cryopreserved semen samples for several months. It was not until I asked that we then got a bill in the mail for two quarters plus some they didn't have us pay at time of collection. We also were not happy with being charged for a virtual consult related to COVID when it was all information we already knew.

Doctor

Valerie Shavell

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

The Fertility Center of Michigan

Grand Rapids

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

Valerie Shavell The Fertility Center of Michigan

2021 - 2022, Unknown Success

Age 30 - 31

1 IUI

Male Factor

PCOS

Income $50K - $99K

Nurse or HC Services

1st of 2 Docs

10 Fertility Medications With Other Docs

Strongly Recommends

Neutral

Success w/ Doc Too early to know

Review of

Emma Giuliani The Fertility Center of Michigan

Dr. Giuliani was very personable and took a thorough history from me. We have met 3 times via virtual appointments and she even called me personally after I had sent a patient portal message. [She] sent my husband to get checked out which led to us learning he had a pituitary tumor, no one else had even thought of this. Dr. Giuliani has been honest about next steps in treatment...She was also very honest that we may need to consider IVF and provided some information on that as well, since we have some male factor issues as well as PCOS.

[The Fertility Center of Michigan] is definitely a clinic that you have to keep track of your care somewhat. Meaning you should follow up with the nurses/scheduling/billing if you haven’t heard from then when you were supposed to. You do have to do some of your own benefits investigating because the billing doesn’t look into it thoroughly...There are a lot of nurses in the office and some are great and effectively communicating and others do not have much compassion. So far the nurses have all responded in a reasonable timeframe when I have called or sent patient portal messages.

How was your experience with Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Dr. Giuliani was very personable and took a thorough history from me. We have met 3 times via virtual appointments and she even called me personally after I had sent a patient portal message. Dr. Giuliani sent my husband to get checked out which led to us learning he had a pituitary tumor, no one else had even thought of this. Dr. Giuliani has been honest about next steps in treatment.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Take notes during the appointment and don’t be afraid to ask any questions.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

I felt like a human because Dr. Giuliani was personable and engaged in conversation other than just what we were meeting about such as asking about my work.

Describe the protocols Emma Giuliani used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.

Dr. Giuliani suggested we start with timed intercourse cycles with the option to add IUI at any time. We opted to do several timed intercourse cycles first. Dr. Giuliani suggest we try clomid as I had done several cycles with femara previously. She also suggested a mid cycle ultrasound and trigger shot with the timed cycle which I hadn’t done previously. When we were ready to add IUI Dr. Giuliani met with us to discuss that in further detail and answer any questions we had. She was also very honest that we may need to consider IVF and provided some information on that as well, since we have some male factor issues as well as PCOS.

Describe your experience with the nursing staff at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

There are a lot of nurses in the office and some are great and effectively communicating and others do not have much compassion. So far the nurses have all responded in a reasonable timeframe when I have called or sent patient portal messages.

Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.

This is definitely a clinic that you have to keep track of your care somewhat. Meaning you should follow up with the nurses/scheduling/billing if you haven’t heard from then when you were supposed to. You do have to do some of your own benefits investigating because the billing doesn’t look into it thoroughly. For example they only looked up my benefits online and would not call to see if something was covered when I said it should be, I had to call on my own.

Describe the costs associated with your care under Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

My ultrasounds and office visits were billed to insurance, although I was not aware of the cost associated with speaking with the nurse after some of my ultrasounds so that was an extra cost. My portion of my first IUI was billed to insurance as I had asked, we did pay out of pocket for the semen was which was $375. Total cash price for each IUI is currently $800, up from $650 last year.

Describe Emma Giuliani's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

We have not reached this step in treatment.

Doctor

Emma Giuliani

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

The Fertility Center of Michigan

Grand Rapids

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

Emma Giuliani The Fertility Center of Michigan

2021 - 2022, Unsuccessful

Age 38 - 39

2 IVF

Diminished Ovarian Reserve

Poor Egg Quality

Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Other

Income $100K - $199K

Doesn't Recommend

Unsuccessful

Review of

Emma Giuliani The Fertility Center of Michigan

I think [Dr. Emma Giuliani] is really nice, and we’ll intentioned. I think overall the clinic runs poorly with lack of communication between the departments— which probably makes it hard for her to do her job. I do find speaking on the phone with her difficult as it’s sometimes hard to understand what she’s saying. More in person meetings would be valuable. I also think we should have a set meeting after each retrieval to go over what worked and what didn’t. And what if anything we need to change.

No departments [at The Fertility Center of Michigan] communicate with one another. I am often left waiting for call backs. Confused about billing and unsure of what next steps are. And nobody ever seems to know right from left when I ask questions...Recently the nursing team ‘forgot’ To call me with my plan for the evening. Luckily I saw the doctors notes in my online chart so I was able to continue. Additionally I got scheduled for a sonohystogram which I did not need, which caused confusion with billing and nursing staff.

How was your experience with Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

I think Dr G is really nice, and we’ll intentioned. I think overall the clinic runs poorly with lack of communication between the departments— which probably makes it hard for her to do her job. I do find speaking on the phone with her difficult as it’s sometimes hard to understand what she’s saying. More in person meetings would be valuable. I also think we should have a set meeting after each retrieval to go over what worked and what didn’t. And what if anything we need to change.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Do a lot of your own research, and demand time.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

I have only had one official meeting with Dr. G which was the initial consult. She has called a few times, but only after I have requested. I don’t feel like my DOR and balanced translocation are taken into consideration for our treatment plan. I’ve been left to make tough calls like canceled with little to no guidance. Also she has never been the doctor to perform my egg retrievals.

Describe the protocols Emma Giuliani used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.

I was on the highest dose of meds she said she could prescribe. We added HGH for the second retrieval to help with embryo survival. Still waiting on results for that. Was never given much explanation for anything else really.

Describe your experience with your nurse at The Fertility Center of Michigan. (Assigned nurse: Emily)

Emily is great — and now that I’m able to meet with her in person it’s been even better. She even came back to see me after my egg retrieval which I thought was really nice.

Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.

No departments communicate with one another. I am often left waiting for call backs. Confused about billing and unsure of what next steps are. And nobody ever seems to know right from left when I ask questions.

Describe the costs associated with your care under Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

Close to 20K just for the three retrievals. Medicine, ultrasounds and bloodwork are all separate. When we complete our third retrieval we will have spent close to 75,000

What specific things went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Failed to call with results
Provided conflicting information
Failed to convey critical information
Scheduled the wrong procedure

Describe the specific things that went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

Recently the nursing team ‘forgot’ To call me with my plan for the evening. Luckily I saw the doctors notes in my online chart so I was able to continue. Additionally I got scheduled for a sonohystogram which I did not need, which caused confusion with billing and nursing staff.

Doctor

Emma Giuliani

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

The Fertility Center of Michigan

Grand Rapids

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

Emma Giuliani The Fertility Center of Michigan

2021 - 2022, Unknown Success

Age 38 - 39

1 IVF

Endometriosis

Male Factor

Uterine Fibroids

European

Income $100K - $199K

Lawyer

2nd of 2 Docs

7 Fertility Medications With Other Docs

Neutral

Strongly Recommends

Success w/ Doc Too early to know

Review of

Valerie Shavell The Fertility Center of Michigan

Dr. Shavell seems like a great doctor. She does seem to be very busy, but there's a lot of support staff on call to help with the treatment plan...She wanted to push for a single embryo transfer, but we asked for two given my age. We did end up with two transferred the first time...I was put on Orilissa for several months before treatment to help reduce inflammation from endometriosis and fibroids. It seemed to work.

The staff at the Fertility Center are very welcoming and have great bedside manner...The weakness of the clinic is the paperwork they give out such as the calendars are extremely unclear. The strengths are they seem to be very good at working with conditions to ensure optimal outcomes, even if it delays the IVF cycle a bit. Overall the level of care is great, particularly with the on-call nurses available to talk.

How was your experience with Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Dr. Shavell seems like a great doctor. She does seem to be very busy, but there's a lot of support staff on call to help with the treatment plan. So far I have been very happy with the outcomes of her treatment plans and in carefully adjusting them for what's going on with me.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

It takes a very long time to get an initial consult so reach out as soon as you think you may be interested.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

The staff at the Fertility Center are very welcoming and have great bedside manner.

Describe the protocols Valerie Shavell used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.

I was put on Orilissa for several months before treatment to help reduce inflammation from endometriosis and fibroids. It seemed to work.

Describe your experience with the nursing staff at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

The nursing staff was very helpful. There are extremely confusing IVF calendars they give out, and I believe I was never instructed on what to do for one stage of my transfer, but they have a nurse on call and they always were helpful.

Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.

The weakness of the clinic is the paperwork they give out such as the calendars are extremely unclear. The strengths are they seem to be very good at working with conditions to ensure optimal outcomes, even if it delays the IVF cycle a bit. Overall the level of care is great, particularly with the on-call nurses available to talk.

Describe the costs associated with your care under Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

We have out of state insurance, so it was mostly covered. However, the costs would have been extremely prohibitive without insurance.

Describe Valerie Shavell's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

She wanted to push for a single embryo transfer, but we asked for two given my age. We did end up with two transferred the first time.

What specific things went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Provided conflicting information

Describe the specific things that went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

Some of the paperwork was very confusing and the instructions were not always clear. Overall, this was minor.

Doctor

Valerie Shavell

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

The Fertility Center of Michigan

Grand Rapids

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

Valerie Shavell The Fertility Center of Michigan

2021 - 2022, Unknown Success

Age 29 - 30

4 Fertility Medications

Male Factor

Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Other

European

Income $50K - $99K

Nurse or HC Services

Strongly Recommends

Neutral

Success w/ Doc Too early to know

Review of

Emma Giuliani The Fertility Center of Michigan

Every interaction with Dr Giuliani has been good. She is so kind, takes the time to answer all my questions and doesn’t make me feel rushed, and overall has a positive attitude...She did a full evaluation of me and my partner. We got 2 diagnoses of septum uterus and mild male factor. I had surgical intervention, my husband was sent to a specialist (urologist). We then came up with a plan of a medicated cycle (letrozol, mid cycle ultrasound, and trigger shot). The first cycle resulted in a chemical pregnancy. We naturally conceived right after that miscarriage

Not great experiences with the staff [at The Fertility Center of Michigan] whom I communicate with on the phone and online (not sure if it’s nurses or techs). They never answer the phone, you have to wait for them to call you back and if you don’t answer then you are out of luck to communicate with them that day. I’ve had multiple people call me with the same results. I’ve had a ultrasound technician walk in and not know the ultrasound to to confirm or deny a blighted ovum when it’s clearly in my chart. I’ve had nurses tell me different things about my HCG numbers vs my doctor...

How was your experience with Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

She is always, kind, compassionate, takes her time with me, values what I have to say, and she never makes me feel stupid. (In comparison to her male counterparts at the office, it’s night and day difference).

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Don’t be afraid to ask many questions!

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Every interaction with Dr Giuliani has been good. She is so kind, takes the time to answer all my questions and doesn’t make me feel rushed, and overall has a positive attitude. I love her!

Describe the protocols Emma Giuliani used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.

She did a full evaluation of me and my partner. We got 2 diagnoses of septum uterus and mild male factor. I had surgical intervention, my husband was sent to a specialist (urologist). We then came up with a plan of a medicated cycle (letrozol, mid cycle ultrasound, and trigger shot). The first cycle resulted in a chemical pregnancy. We naturally conceived right after that miscarriage, she put me on progesterone, but that ended in a blighted ovum diagnosed at our first 6w ultrasound. After D&C and genetic testing that baby was found to have a genetic anomaly. We were advised to wait at least one cycle before we try again. We did a recurrent miscarriage blood panel, every thing was fine. She added baby aspirin to my daily vitamins. We did 3 more medicated cycles with the same dosage of letrozol for me because my body always responded well. This last cycle we conceived! We are 5 weeks today so hoping for our rainbow baby. We had met with Giuliani a few weeks ago to come up with a plan if this didn’t work, we had a plan in place to move onto IUI.

Describe your experience with the nursing staff at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

Not great experiences with the staff whom I communicate with on the phone and online (not sure if it’s nurses or techs). They never answer the phone, you have to wait for them to call you back and if you don’t answer then you are out of luck to communicate with them that day. I’ve had multiple people call me with the same results. I’ve had a ultrasound technician walk in and not know the ultrasound to to confirm or deny a blighted ovum when it’s clearly in my chart. I’ve had nurses tell me different things about my HCG numbers vs my doctor.

Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.

Strengths- now an all woman doctor team who are all amazing. Weakness- office team are not good communicators. Be your own advocate, ask all your questions, if you don’t think what the nurse is saying is correct ask them to clarify with the Doctor.

Describe the costs associated with your care under Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

Oh who knows! In 2021 we met our deductible bc of costs associated with going there but luckily our insurance covered a good amount.

Describe Emma Giuliani's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

What specific things went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Lost paperwork
Provided conflicting information

Describe the specific things that went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

I had a paper for work get lost when I dropped it off at the front counter. I’ve had nurses say different things about the same HCG number than my drsaid

Doctor

Emma Giuliani

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

The Fertility Center of Michigan

Grand Rapids

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

Emma Giuliani The Fertility Center of Michigan

2016 - 2021, Successful

Age 38 - 43

3 IVF

Surrogacy

Unexplained

Black or African-American

Income $50K - $99K

Nurse or HC Services

Strongly Recommends

Successful

Review of

William Dodds (retired)The Fertility Center of Michigan

Dr. Dodds always kept me aware of what was going on. He would sit and listen to me when I had questions or concerns. He even called me after hours to address any questions I had. With our 3 miscarriages and 1 failed transfer he called each time and gave his condolences and we would talk about what we would do different next time

The lady at the front desk was so nice [at The Fertility Center of Michigan]. Whenever I would come in she would address me by my name. I was there so much she remembered my name. The staff has changed since then. With my last transfer I felt kind of out of the loop with my gestational carrier. My nurse Robin was great, but it was with the other staff that did the ultrasounds and such. I hardly got any feedback from them, my gestational carrier kept me in the loop. I addressed this concern to Robin and she got it taken care of. Being the intended parent they are to keep you updated on the thongs going on.

How was your experience with William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

He was a very knowledgeable doctor and treated his patient like we were human. He would answer questions to my satisfaction, if I did not know something he was talking about he would make sure I know exactly what it meant before I left. Very caring and understanding.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

He is a great doctor and you would not be disappointed with him.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Describe the protocols William Dodds (retired) used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.

It's been a while since my egg retrievals. So I do not remember the specifics. I do know I would have to go in every other day to get a transvaginal ultrasound to check on the number and size of my eggs. Out first transfer we retrieved 7 and only one made it to blast. So with the second retrieval he let my eggs grow bigger hoping to get more we did, the procedure was stopped early because I was having a lot of pain and my oxygen levels were dropping. I was not under anesthesia for the first 2 retrievals. We stuck with that same protocol for my third retrieval and I had anesthesia that time and 12 were collected. At the end I had 7 that made it to blast. We did our first transfer to our gestational carrier and it ended in a miscarriage at 10.5 weeks. We did send tissue for analysis and it cam back as the fetus having trisomony 17. We did a second transfer with a different gestational carrier we transferred 2 embryo's and she miscarried at 5 weeks. Our third transfer we transferred 2 again that one ended in a miscarriage as well at 5.5 weeks. Our fourth transferred we transferred 1 and it failed.

Describe your experience with your nurse at The Fertility Center of Michigan. (Assigned nurse: Robin)

Since I was not the one carrying, Robin would call and give me updates on test and procedures with my gestational carrier. She always kept me in the loop. She would send me her medication schedule and everything I would need to know.

Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.

The lady at the front desk was so nice. Whenever I would come in she would address me by my name. I was there so much she remembered my name. The staff has changed since then. With my last transfer I felt kind of out of the loop with my gestational carrier. My nurse Robin was great, but it was with the other staff that did the ultrasounds and such. I hardly got any feedback from them, my gestational carrier kept me in the loop. I addressed this concern to Robin and she got it taken care of. Being the intended parent they are to keep you updated on the thongs going on.

Describe the costs associated with your care under William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

This is the cost I had with my last transfer. It is a frozen embryo transfer with a gestational carrier. Cycle Management fee $1700.00- that was paid to hold your spot on the calendar for your transfer Preparation of Embryos $1130.00 Embryo transfer $1115.00 If you needed assisted Hatching $665.00 we did not Internal and external screening $245.00 we did not we had already done all the screening because it was the same carrier . Abdominal ultrasound $225.00 Optional Procedure costs Embryogen $465.00 we did not have Cryopreservation of Embryo's (freezing 3 or more) $955.00 (2 or more( $545.00 Ultrasound monitoring and blood work depended on your insurance For my gestational carrier it depended on her insurance for sonohysterogram, Mock ET, and endometrial biopsy. Medications cost for IVF patient are apptoximately $3000.00- $6600.00 Medication for gestation carrier are approximately $750- $1500.00

Describe William Dodds (retired)'s approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

They prefer to transfer one. I did speak with Dr. Dodds and gave him my reasoning of wanting to transfer 2 and he agreed and let me transfer 2 embryo's. We transferred 2 embryo's twice.

What specific things went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Failed to call with results

Describe the specific things that went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

With our last transfer as the intended parents I felt left out of the cycle. They did not call me a couple times with results from my carriers ultrasound. After I spoke with my nurse she made sure I was called with all results

Doctor

William Dodds (retired)

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

The Fertility Center of Michigan

Grand Rapids

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

William Dodds (retired)The Fertility Center of Michigan

2019 - 2020, Successful

Age 36 - 37

1 IVF

Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Other

Income $50K - $99K

2nd of 2 Docs

Strongly Recommends

Successful

Review of

William Dodds (retired)The Fertility Center of Michigan

I had already seen a previous IVF doctors and specialists over our 9+ years of infertility and numerous miscarriages. Dr. Dodd went through all of those results prior to suggesting IVF...[he] was very honest but encouraging regarding the odds of a successful pregnancy. He reached out personally with results and to make sure we had any follow up questions answered that may have come up...felt pretty strongly about transferring only two

The entire staff [at The Fertility Center of Michigan] was aware of the length and losses my husband and I have been through. They were very compassionate and patient. I was never rushed through visits, phone calls or questions. There were times when Dr. Dodd had called personally to go over tests and information were professional and punctual. I always was taken back for my appointments on time if not early. The rooms were very clean and well maintained. They were flexible with scheduling and had hours that could be worked around my work schedule as well as my husbands

How was your experience with William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Our experience with Dr. Dodds was nothing but exceptional care. He took his time explaining treatment and educating us with possible issues or complications. He was very honest but encouraging regarding the odds of a successful pregnancy. He reached out personally with results and to make sure we had any follow up questions answered that may have come up. When he called to tell us we were pregnant, he was excited. He shared this victory with us. We always felt like this was as important to him as it was to us. That's what we wanted and needed in a fertility doctor.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Make a list of questions. Don't be afraid to ask a million of 'em. He will answer every one of them and keep explaing it to you until you understand every bit of your diagnosis, results or treatment. He is a very patient Doctor and will walk you through all the steps.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

The entire staff was aware of the length and losses my husband and I have been through. They were very compassionate and patient. I was never rushed through visits, phone calls or questions. There were times when Dr. Dodd had called personally to go over tests and information. When things went well he celebrated those victories with us as if they were his own. We always felt like we were a priority.

Describe the protocols William Dodds (retired) used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.

I had already seen a previous IVF doctors and specialists over our 9+ years of infertility and numerous miscarriages. Dr. Dodd went through all of those results prior to suggesting IVF. Some testing was eliminated due to an egg donation I had made over 13 years ago, prior to knowing I myself would have issues. (Both of the women that chose me as their egg donor were successful.) I had already had genetics and chromosomes checked as well. My husband had his chromosomes checked and everything came back normal. I can't really describe anything further, I had so much testing done prior by so many different doctors and specialists that Dr. Dodd had to go through it and come up with a game plan based on those. We were successful with our first round of IVF. Unfortunately I developed pre-eclampsia at 20 weeks and my placenta had back flow and my son was experiencing growth restriction. I was admitted into the hospital at that point.The maternal fetal doctor was able to hold off delivery until 23 weeks and 4 days. My son lived for 5 days, but unfortunately his lungs weren't strong enough and we lost him. We plan on discussing risks and possibly another round of IVF when the time is right.

Describe your experience with your nurse at The Fertility Center of Michigan. (Assigned nurse: Libby Walters)

Libby, as well as the entire nursing staff were amazing. There was always someone there answering the phone and they always had an answer. If they had to check with the doctor, they returned your call promptly. There was a few episodes I had with bleeding once I was pregnant and they were very patient and calming when I called upset and crying. Their calmness helped me to panic less. They never made me feel like I was a bother and were always very compassionate.

Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.

Absolutely no weaknesses. They were professional and punctual. I always was taken back for my appointments on time if not early. The rooms were very clean and well maintained. They were flexible with scheduling and had hours that could be worked around my work schedule as well as my husbands.

Describe the costs associated with your care under William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

Without medications, we spent under $9,000. There were a few extra services that we had requested to increase our chances.

Describe William Dodds (retired)'s approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

Dr Dodd felt pretty strongly about transferring only two. I've never had an issue getting pregnant, just staying pregnant so he felt like this was a safer approach than the three I requested. After hearing his reasoning, I was more than happy to just transfer two of them.

Doctor

William Dodds (retired)

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

The Fertility Center of Michigan

Grand Rapids

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

William Dodds (retired)The Fertility Center of Michigan

2015 - 2020, Successful

Age 31 - 36

4 IUI

1 IVF

Male Factor

Unexplained

European

Income $50K - $99K

Teacher

2nd of 3 Docs

Egg Freezing With Other Docs

Strongly Recommends

Successful

Review of

James Young (retired)The Fertility Center of Michigan

Dr. Young is very dry, so if you need a touchy feely person, he is not the doctor for you. However, I like that personality, and I appreciated how matter of fact he was. While he didn't sugar coat anything, I felt he cared about me as a person and the heartbreak I was going through...I feel he always did what was best for us but allowed us to make the decisions...He truly cares about his patients.

The only weakness [at The Fertility Center of Michigan] is the hours. It would be nice if they were open later in the evening for ultrasounds and consultations. Everyone in the office is extremely personable, compassionate, and helpful. The Billing department has the best "customer service" I have ever received! They are so helpful when dealing with insurance companies and trying to pay for expensive procedures.

How was your experience with James Young (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of James Young (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

He truly cares about his patients.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with James Young (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

I never felt rushed. Dr. Young always answered all of my questions, and when I would have a negative result, he personally called me to express how sorry he was at the result.

Describe the protocols James Young (retired) used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.

Oh man, what didn't we do? Dr. Young was always very upfront with the results and didn't sugar coat anything. After two failed IUIs, he ordered more testing for the sperm. Instead of allowing us to continue with IUIs, even though there was a chance, he recommended IVF as the best option. I feel he always did what was best for us but allowed us to make the decisions.

Describe your experience with the nursing staff at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

The nurses at the center are fantastic. When going through IVF, you get to know them well. The whole staff deeply care about their patients and want to make the experience has painless as possible. I know giving negative results isn't easy, but they do it with compassion and empathy.

Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.

The only weakness is the hours. It would be nice if they were open later in the evening for ultrasounds and consultations. Everyone in the office is extremely personable, compassionate, and helpful. The Billing department has the best "customer service" I have ever received! They are so helpful when dealing with insurance companies and trying to pay for expensive procedures.

Describe the costs associated with your care under James Young (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

We were lucky and during our first procedure our insurance covered 50% of procedures. However, even with that, I'm certain we have spent over $20,000 over the course of our treatment.

Doctor

James Young (retired)

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

The Fertility Center of Michigan

Grand Rapids

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

James Young (retired)The Fertility Center of Michigan

2018 - 2020, Unsuccessful

Age 33 - 35

5 IUI

2 IVF

Poor Egg Quality

Unexplained

European

Income $50K - $99K

Teacher

1st of 3 Docs

Strongly Recommends

Unsuccessful

Review of

William Dodds (retired)The Fertility Center of Michigan

Dodds was wonderful in explaining the procedures that I would undergo. He was friendly and relate able. It seemed like he truly cared about us and our goals. Despite non of my cycles working, he changed plans each to hopefully give us a better outcome...First we completed a few rounds of clomid resulting in negatives tests. Then we moved to IUI's. We completed 3 IUI's on femara and ovidrel and one on Gonal-F.

The main office manager [at Fertility Center of Michigan] always remembered my name, which I really appreciated. The billing team was easy to work with when I had insurance issues and my IVF nurses were very helpful...Because of my age (35) two embryo transfers were recommended. Those that were younger than I, a single embryo transfer was recommended.

How was your experience with William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

He was my favorite out of all the doctors there.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

It seemed like he cared about me and my husband.

Describe the protocols William Dodds (retired) used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.

First we completed a few rounds of clomid resulting in negatives tests. Then we moved to IUI's. We completed 3 IUI's on femara and ovidrel and one on Gonal-F. I took a few months off after that. Next, we completed 2 egg retrievals. 1 egg retrieval resulted in 5 eggs, and 2 embryos sadly they didn't make it past day 2. That cycle included a prime of birth control and then increasing dosages of Gonal-F, Menopur and Cetrotide. The second egg retrieval was a mini dose IVF which included a prime of femara and low dosages of Gonal-F, Menopur and Cetrotide. On the day of the egg retrieval, I ovulated 5 hours before my retrieval. We did an IUI that morning. All resulted in negative pregnancy tests. Currently we are doing a couple rounds of Femara while clinics are closed.

Describe your experience with your nurse at The Fertility Center of Michigan. (Assigned nurse: Libby)

The nursing and support staff were great! They made me feel at easy and were always available if I had any questions.

Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.

It is very clean and warm feeling. The main office manager always remembered my name, which I really appreciated. The billing team was easy to work with when I had insurance issues and my IVF nurses were very helpful.

Describe the costs associated with your care under William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

Our first cycle was around 15K, but alot of that were medications. Since our 1 round never made it to a transfer, we were refunded the amount a transfer would cost. Our next IVF round was $3500.

Describe William Dodds (retired)'s approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

Because of my age (35) two embryo transfers were recommended. Those that were younger than I, a single embryo transfer was recommended.

Doctor

William Dodds (retired)

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

The Fertility Center of Michigan

Grand Rapids

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

William Dodds (retired)The Fertility Center of Michigan

2019 - 2020, Unknown Success

Age 34 - 35

2 IUI

European

Income $200K - $499K

Doctor

Strongly Recommends

Success w/ Doc Not sure

Review of

Mili Thakur The Fertility Center of Michigan

[Dr. Mili Thakur] is always available for consultation and answers all questions/messages in a timely manner. I feel she is very trustworthy. I feel that I am in good hands with her as my doctor...Started with 2 rounds of IUI...My husband had cancer and chemo treatments so we only had 1 vial of his sperm...now I am going through treatment for IVF...She prefers single transfer

Everyone at [The Fertility Center of Michigan] is professional and courteous. Sometimes it is hard to make appointments because you usually have to leave a message and wait for someone to call you back...my husband was trying to schedule to leave sworn before his chemotherapy started. Because he was unable to schedule (he left multiple messages and didn’t hear back for a while) he was only able to donate one time...$2000 to be scheduled for IVF

How was your experience with Mili Thakur at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Knowledgeable and compassionate. She is always available for consultation and answers all questions/messages in a timely manner. I feel she is very trustworthy. I feel that I am in good hands with her as my doctor.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mili Thakur at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Don’t be worried to call and make consultation appointment.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mili Thakur at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

She has wonderful bedside manner and is very thorough in her explanations and expectations.

Describe the protocols Mili Thakur used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.

Started with 2 rounds of IUI because it is less invasive. My husband had cancer and chemo treatments so we only had 1 vial of his sperm. Those did not result in pregnancy so now I am going through treatment for IVF. I started injections for egg retrieval but I had a dominant follicle so we ended the infections, I went on hormone therapy and we will begin again as soon as we can (based on COVID)

Describe your experience with your nurse at The Fertility Center of Michigan. (Assigned nurse: Sarah)

They seem organized, always able to answer questions and inform me of next steps.

Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.

Clean and organized. Everyone at the clinic is professional and courteous. Sometimes it is hard to make appointments because you usually have to leave a message and wait for someone to call you back. This was frustrating at the beginning of our process because my husband was trying to schedule to leave sworn before his chemotherapy started. Because he was unable to schedule (he left multiple messages and didn’t hear back for a while) he was only able to donate one time. This means that we have very limited sperm to work with.

Describe the costs associated with your care under Mili Thakur at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

$2000 to be scheduled for IVF. Most of my other costs are covered by my insurance.

Describe Mili Thakur's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

She prefers single transfer.

Doctor

Mili Thakur

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

The Fertility Center of Michigan

Grand Rapids

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

Mili Thakur The Fertility Center of Michigan

2018 - 2020, Unknown Success

Age 32 - 34

1 IVF

PCOS

European

Income $100K - $199K

2nd of 2 Docs

4 IUI With Other Docs

Neutral

Strongly Recommends

Success w/ Doc Too early to know

Review of

Mili Thakur The Fertility Center of Michigan

Dr. Thakur is very kind, gentle and confident. When our first transfer was unsuccessful she very thoughtfully came up with a new treatment plan that made sense for my condition. She reached out after our second transfer to extend her sympathy and already had an idea of what our next steps would be. She’s never forced us into procedures we weren’t comfortable with and always takes the time to listen and answer our questions

How was your experience with Mili Thakur at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mili Thakur at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Ask lots of questions, do your own research so you know what she is talking about, but know that is she very smart and capable and you are in great hands.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mili Thakur at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Dr. Thakur has always treated me with kindness and respect. She remembers details about our lives and always takes the time to answer all our questions.

Describe the protocols Mili Thakur used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.

For our first transfer we did a long lupron protocol with PIO. For my second transfer, we did a Femara cycle with progesterone suppositories as I have PCOS and I responded very well. Unfortunately, both were not successful.

Describe your experience with the nursing staff at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

Overall the nurses are very helpful and responsive. They do their best to make sure you are not waiting on them, some things, like insurance authorizations are out of their control. I did not have any issues with them being rude. Because I went to the remote office I did not interact with them face to face very often so I haven’t developed a strong relationship with any of them.

Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.

I am overall happy with The Fertility Center. I go to one of their remote offices and so I do feel like I am forgotten a little or have to overcompensate to make sure that my appointments are scheduled in the correct office, I also am at the mercy of their schedule, and if I need a last minute appointment is is harder to get in at a time that is flexible with my work schedule. I have had only minor issues with billing (my husband and I are separate accounts so money can get applied to the wrong account). I do not have any major issues with the clinic, but I also have not received outstanding service, just a what I expect.

Describe the costs associated with your care under Mili Thakur at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

For IUIs the out of pocket cost for the procedure is about $600. IVF for a retrieval and transfer is about $10,000, a FET is about $4,000.

Describe Mili Thakur's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

Because we got a large number of embryos, she recommended one embryo at a time. We did not want to transfer more then one.

What specific things went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Failed to call with results

Describe the specific things that went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

I was scheduled for the wrong office for an appointment before an IUI, which then had to be cancelled. Also, I didn’t get a call back with blood results until the next day - this is also due to the fact that I go to a remote office as the bloodwork is done by a third party.

Doctor

Mili Thakur

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

The Fertility Center of Michigan

Grand Rapids

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

Mili Thakur The Fertility Center of Michigan

2020, Unknown Success

Age 30

1 IVF

Endometriosis

Tubal Blockage

Other

Income $50K - $99K

Operations

Strongly Recommends

Success w/ Doc Too early to know

Review of

William Dodds (retired)The Fertility Center of Michigan

[Dr. Dodds] has made me feel top priority with just one ovary remaining...blunt as far as success may go when involving financial means. It’s unfortunate we have not met him in person as our initial was a televisit as we live a few hours away, and he was not the one who actually did our procedure...very basic IVF cycle as it was our first time...allowing us to transfer 2 embryos as we would be ecstatic with multiples.

Location [The Fertility Center of Michigan] was very easy to find. Accessibility is a plus...Although I didn’t always get [assigned nurse] they had my case readily available and took the time to listen to my thoughts and concerns even if I was “new” to them...very easy to reach the nursing staff...I ran out of medications and didn’t know what to do...helped me get them right away on a Sunday night.

How was your experience with William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Dr. Dodd’s is very knowledgeable and honest about RE care. We only have endometriosis and while that’s all we have standing in our way he didn’t down play the severity of my case. He has made me feel top priority with just one ovary remaining. A family is important to us and he was very blunt as far as success may go when involving financial means. It’s unfortunate we have not met him in person as our initial was a televisit as we live a few hours away, and he was not the one who actually did our procedure. However, I respect all of his decisions and appreciate his time and guidance throughout our first cycle. While it didn’t work for us, we are biting at the bullet to try again.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Just make sure you’re comfortable with your RE and their decisions because you may not have them when come procedure day.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Dr Dodd’s helped me feel like a human by listening to my questions and answering them without just statistic.

Describe the protocols William Dodds (retired) used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.

We had a very basic IVF cycle as it was our first time. It started with birth control, blood work and then waiting. It then turned into other stimulating injections, and trigger. We then had our retrieval 36 hours later in their GR office. And a transfer two days later.

Describe your experience with your nurse at The Fertility Center of Michigan. (Assigned nurse: Shelly)

Although I didn’t always get Shelly, they had my case readily available and took the time to listen to my thoughts and concerns even if I was “new” to them.

Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.

Location was very easy to find. Accessibility is a plus. It’s a little unfortunate they don’t have more accessible clinics in northern Michigan but a family is worth the travel. It was very easy to reach the nursing staff in time of need. I ran out of medications and didn’t know what to do. They helped me get them right away on a Sunday night.

Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

I had my monitoring appointments at home locally which was very helpful. Results were called to me no later than 4pm

Describe the costs associated with your care under William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

We have spent about 12k total on treatment and another 4K on meds.

Describe William Dodds (retired)'s approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

I appreciated Dr Dodd’s allowing us to transfer 2 embryos as we would be ecstatic with multiples. Being fairly young and healthy, we felt it was a good decision he helped us make.

Doctor

William Dodds (retired)

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

The Fertility Center of Michigan

Grand Rapids

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

William Dodds (retired)The Fertility Center of Michigan

2018 - 2020, Unknown Success

Age 31 - 33

3 IVF

Diminished Ovarian Reserve

Endometriosis

Tubal Blockage

European

Income $50K - $99K

Neutral

Success w/ Doc Too early to know

Review of

James Young (retired)The Fertility Center of Michigan

Dr. Young is very professional he has good knowledge of endometriosis and the paths to take to pregnancy...He is dry and witty and has a way of making you feel comfortable...we started with famera and were going to move on to IUI. When an endometrioma was discovered before my first IUI cycle, we pivoted to egg retrieval...

the nurses [of Fertility Center of Michigan] are all very friendly. They know my name and always are able to answer my questions/get back to me in a timely manor...doctors are very compassionate, everyone is willing to answer questions and the doctors have a warm sense of humor...but sometimes you have to ask for things or remind them of situations...[cost]17k plus meds so far

How was your experience with James Young (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Dr Young is very professional he has good knowledge of endometriosis and the paths to take to pregnancy. I am confidant I will get where I want to be with him as my doctor. He is dry and witty and has a way of making you feel comfortable

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of James Young (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

ask lots of questions

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with James Young (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

the nurses and doctors are very compassionate, everyone is willing to answer questions and the doctors have a warm sense of humor

Describe the protocols James Young (retired) used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.

we started with famera and were going to move on to IUI. When an endometrioma was discovered before my first IUI cycle, we pivoted to egg retrieval. This proved difficult, as I needed higher and higher doses to get my follicles to develop. My first cycle i had 5 follicles, got one egg and one embryo. Thankfully, TFC has a multi egg retrieval program where for only 3 thousand dollars more than one cycle and transfer you can do 3 revivals, bank your eggs and do a transfer after your third retrieval. Eventually we got 6 embryos and froze them all. I then had endo surgery and had a transfer that failed. We tried for another transfer but canceled it due to a hormone producing ovarian cyst. We treated that with birth control, and while waiting we decided to do the recurrent pregnancy loss workup where we found polyps in my uterus. I had surgery scheduled to remove the polyps but that was canceled due to Corona virus.

Describe your experience with your nurse at The Fertility Center of Michigan. (Assigned nurse: it was a team)

the nurses are all very friendly. They know my name and always are able to answer my questions/get back to me in a timely manor

Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.

they're smart, but sometimes you have to ask for things or remind them of situations. I asked for the recurrent miscarriage workup, eset, etc. Or remind them I have endo so thats why I think this way.

Describe the costs associated with your care under James Young (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

17k plus meds so far

Describe James Young (retired)'s approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

I asked to do one in our next transfer, he had no problem with it, but it was not offered

What specific things went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy

Describe the specific things that went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

I had a nurse prescribe a certain amount of injections, but didn't call in the correct size vial

Doctor

James Young (retired)

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

The Fertility Center of Michigan

Grand Rapids

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

James Young (retired)The Fertility Center of Michigan

2015 - 2020, Successful

Age 30 - 35

3 IUI

1 IVF

Tubal Blockage

European

Income $100K - $199K

Business Executive

2nd of 2 Docs

3 Fertility Medications With Other Docs

Strongly Recommends

Successful

Review of

Valerie Shavell The Fertility Center of Michigan

One week before the transfer, we discovered my remaining tube now was blocked and had hydro. She [Dr. Valerie Shavell] did another laparoscopy to remove it. And we are waiting for Covid to be stable before doing the transfer our last two remaining embryos...She seems to prefer two embryos while giving the risks of multiple pregnancies but letting us know that the success rates are higher with transferring two vs one...She was extremely sympathetic while waiting for an imminent miscarriage. She has great bedside manner and expresses empathy for the ups and downs of the process.

IUIs - a couple hundred each [at The Fertility Center of Michigan]...IVF retrieval with fresh - $8000 plus meds...frozen transfer - $4500 plus meds...The whole process takes longer than you want it to. 2 months for the consult, then the testing might take a month or two to do labs at certain times of your cycle. There is a small month or two wait list for IVF and it all depends on where you are in your cycle too. The clinic is well run, everyone is super friendly and supportive.

How was your experience with Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Dr. Shavell was fantastic from the very beginning. I've done three IUIs, one egg retrieval, and three transfers that have resulted in my two children. We are currently under her care for another transfer for hopefully baby #3. She doesn't rush to the next treatment unless she feels it's the right move, included us in the decisions as well. She's performed two laparoscopy surgeries on me and has been very attentive to an issues or questions.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

She is a bit softer spoken. But she answers all questions thoroughly and is extremely empathetic.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

She was extremely sympathetic while waiting for an imminent miscarriage. She has great bedside manner and expresses empathy for the ups and downs of the process.

Describe the protocols Valerie Shavell used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.

We did three IUIs while knowing that one tube was blocked and the other was damaged. It felt okay trying this before going to IVF. Before IVF, she removed the blocked tub because it had hydro in it. We did an egg retrieval and fresh transfer of two embryos that resulted in a singleton pregnancy that resulted in a miscarriage at 11 weeks. We did a fresh transfer of two embryos that resulted in a twin pregnancy, but we lost one baby at 9 weeks, but it resulted in my healthy first born daughter. We returned two years later and did another frozen transfer of two embryos that resulted in my second healthy daughter. We are currently under care for another transfer. One week before the transfer, we discovered my remaining tube now was blocked and had hydro. She did another laparoscopy to remove it. And we are waiting for Covid to be stable before doing the transfer our last two remaining embryos.

Describe your experience with the nursing staff at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

Very easy to communicate via phone or message. Answered all my questions that came and got me in contact with the dr as needed.

Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.

The whole process takes longer than you want it to. 2 months for the consult, then the testing might take a month or two to do labs at certain times of your cycle. There is a small month or two wait list for IVF and it all depends on where you are in your cycle too. The clinic is well run, everyone is super friendly and supportive.

Describe the costs associated with your care under Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

IUIs - a couple hundred each IVF retrieval with fresh - $8000 plus meds frozen transfer - $4500 plus meds

Describe Valerie Shavell's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

She seems to prefer two embryos while giving the risks of multiple pregnancies but letting us know that the success rates are higher with transferring two vs one.

What specific things went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Failed to convey critical information

Describe the specific things that went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

I had called on cycle day 1 and was to start meds on cycle day 21, at one point I called for another reason and they acted surprised that I had started meds. It appears like a nurse didn't record my cycle day 1 notes and that she had given me a start date for the meds. Everything was fine, they did have me scheduled for that month and everything proceeded fine.

Doctor

Valerie Shavell

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

The Fertility Center of Michigan

Grand Rapids

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

Valerie Shavell The Fertility Center of Michigan

2019 - 2020, Unknown Success

Age 34 - 35

Male Factor

Other

Income $50K - $99K

Nurse or HC Services

1st of 2 Docs

2 IUI With Other Docs

Neutral

Success w/ Doc Too early to know

Review of

Mili Thakur The Fertility Center of Michigan

We met [Dr. Mili Thakur] at our initial consultation, but since then I've only dealt with the nurses. I was surprised that she was not the one who performed my IUI's...I feel like my expectations were set high. When my husband and I went in for our initial consult we felt a little rushed and had questions that we were unable to get answered. Although she did explain in detail the recommended treatment...I realize the doctor's are busy but I wish I could see them more often.

The nursing staff at [The Fertility Center of Michigan] is phenomenal! The nursing staff are the ones who communicate with me on the phone and through the patient portal. They are also the ones I saw after my ultrasound to discuss plan of care and for my IUI's...This clinic has a good reputation and success rate. The nurses are phenomenal! I've only seen Dr. Thakur and Dr. Young once...I realize the doctor's are busy but I wish I could see them more often.

How was your experience with Mili Thakur at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

We met Dr. Thakur at our initial consultation, but since then I've only dealt with the nurses. I was surprised that she was not the one who performed my IUI's. The one time I met her I thought she was nice, but I felt rushed and did not have an opportunity to have all my questions answered.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mili Thakur at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Don't let her rush you and stay until all of your questions get answered.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mili Thakur at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

I feel like my expectations were set high. When my husband and I went in for our initial consult we felt a little rushed and had questions that we were unable to get answered. Although she did explain in detail the recommended treatment.

Describe the protocols Mili Thakur used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.

Our diagnosis is male factor infertility. Dr. Thakur did one medicated cycle that was unsuccessful. Next I had an IUI that resulted in pregnancy, but the pregnancy was not viable so I miscarried. I did a second IUI that was unsuccessful. My third IUI was scheduled, but had to be cancelled due to illness.

Describe your experience with the nursing staff at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

The nursing staff at TFC is phenomenal! The nursing staff are the ones who communicate with me on the phone and through the patient portal. They are also the ones I saw after my ultrasound to discuss plan of care and for my IUI's.

Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.

This clinic has a good reputation and success rate. The nurses are phenomenal! I've only seen Dr. Thakur and Dr. Young once. Dr. Thakur at my consultation and Dr. Young when I was having complications from my miscarriage. I realize the doctor's are busy but I wish I could see them more often.

Describe the costs associated with your care under Mili Thakur at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

Each IUI cost $600 out of pocket. My insurance does not cover anything dealing with infertility.

Describe Mili Thakur's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

I don't have any experience with this yet.

Doctor

Mili Thakur

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

The Fertility Center of Michigan

Grand Rapids

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

Mili Thakur The Fertility Center of Michigan

2019, Unsuccessful

Age 39

2 IUI

Diminished Ovarian Reserve

European

Income $100K - $199K

Nurse or HC Services

Doesn't Recommend

Unsuccessful

Review of

Valerie Shavell The Fertility Center of Michigan

Very clean and nice setting. Appointment times [at Fertility Center of Michigan] are flexible to for the patients. Appointments generally run on time. Staff is generally friendly. Billing department is flexible with making payments to some degree. Financial assistance programs are available. In office financing not available...Additionally, sometimes the nurse didn't even know the next plan for treatment before calling me with instructions. Felt very unorganized and as though they have too many patients to manage or should at least have one nurse assigned to the patient.

How was your experience with Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Dr. Shavell was very compassionate and encouraging during the consults. However, she did not perform any of my procedures or other follow up visits which was not fully explained to me during the consultation. During the second consultation I asked about a IUI protocol used at a another highly related clinic in Arizona and she all but dismissed the request without offering other suggestions or supporting reasons as to why she wouldn't at least consider that protocol. I was disappointed. But this is the only fertility clinic in my area so I am stuck. I considered going to a clinic in New York but then COVID happened. So hopefully once the travel restrictions are released I can go to a different clinic.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

If you are able to travel the distance to a different clinic would be my recommendation. Dr. Shavell is a decent doctor with nice bedside manner during the consult then you never see her again. Doesn't feel very personal when you don't have the doctor more involved.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Always get a different nurse handling phone calls and visits outside of the consultation with the doctor whichever to lack of continuity in my care. Often times the nurse was versed on some of the changes to fertility medications and why they were changed. Additionally, sometimes the nurse didn't even know the next plan for treatment before calling me with instructions. Felt very unorganized and as though they have too many patients to manage or should at least have one nurse assigned to the patient.

Describe the protocols Valerie Shavell used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.

Clomid, trigger shot, IUI, estrogen and progesterone. Second round did Femara instead of clomid. Changed to Femara due to side effect of clomid- peripheral vision flashes of light.

Describe your experience with the nursing staff at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

Disorganized, most acted very robotic and routine in nature. Not nearly as personal as I would have liked, yet they were the ones providing all of the direct patient care.

Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.

Very clean and nice setting. Appointment times are flexible to for the patients. Appointments generally run on time. Staff is generally friendly. Billing department is flexible with making payments to some degree. Financial assistance programs are available. In office financing not available.

Describe the costs associated with your care under Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

Approximately $3000 for 2 IUI procedures, medications, ultrasounds, and office visit co-pays.

Describe Valerie Shavell's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

What specific things went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Provided conflicting information
Failed to consider drug intolerance

Describe the specific things that went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

As described in previous answers, disorganized nursing care. Lack of attention to previous chart notes prior to calling with instructions. Nurse often time did not know all of the details when discussing treatment plan and I had to correct them.

Doctor

Valerie Shavell

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

The Fertility Center of Michigan

Grand Rapids

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

Valerie Shavell The Fertility Center of Michigan

2018 - 2019, Unknown Success

Age 23 - 24

3 IUI

1 IVF

Anovulation

PCOS

European

Income $50K - $99K

Strongly Recommends

Success w/ Doc Too early to know

Review of

James Young (retired)The Fertility Center of Michigan

Dr. Young gave us lots of advice on what treatment options to pursue first and what was best for us. He never judged us for pursuing fertility treatments in our early twenties. My health was always his #1 priority and he would take possible concerns seriously...He encouraged us to try options that were not as financially difficult since we were so young and had only tried clomid before meeting him. He made us feel like we had control over what treatments we would be doing, yet we knew he would not put us in a situation that did not make sense. His humor and social skills are a bit dry, but he is so smart and knows what he is doing. He took time to get to know us and made sure we left the office knowing exactly what to do and what to expect. For our IVF cycle, he would not add more treatments to our plan without asking us and explaining the benefits. We have always trusted Dr. Young to help us make the best decisions for us to start our family. Although we did not see him at every visit, he was always available via phone if needed.

I had my retrieval but was close to overstimulation, so my fresh transfer was cancelled [at The Fertility Center of Michigan]...There are no words that could ever describe my love for the nursing staff...They are so compassionate and take the time to really explain our treatment plans. I have never left feeling overwhelmed or confused. They are so encouraging, yet realistic about what to expect. They have asked me what I expect and desire from them (blunt or straight to the point, talking it out vs. letting it sink in, etc). They truly are wonderful and so experienced.

How was your experience with James Young (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Dr. Young has always taken us seriously from our first meeting. He encouraged us to try options that were not as financially difficult since we were so young and had only tried clomid before meeting him. He made us feel like we had control over what treatments we would be doing, yet we knew he would not put us in a situation that did not make sense. His humor and social skills are a bit dry, but he is so smart and knows what he is doing. He took time to get to know us and made sure we left the office knowing exactly what to do and what to expect. For our IVF cycle, he would not add more treatments to our plan without asking us and explaining the benefits. We have always trusted Dr. Young to help us make the best decisions for us to start our family. Although we did not see him at every visit, he was always available via phone if needed.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of James Young (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Trust that he will help you make the best decisions for your personal and unique situation. Also, that he may not seem as personable/warm in person, however his actions speak wonders of how much he cares and desires for his patients to start their families.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with James Young (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Although his social skills were a bit dry and awkward, Dr. Young gave us lots of advice on what treatment options to pursue first and what was best for us. He never judged us for pursuing fertility treatments in our early twenties. My health was always his #1 priority and he would take possible concerns seriously.

Describe the protocols James Young (retired) used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.

Dr. Young started me on metformin right away due to my pcos. I started at 1000mg and worked up to 1500mg. I continue to receive 6 month blood work checks for this med. When we first started at the fertility center, we had only tried 50mg, 100mg, and 150mg of clomid at our OBGYN. Dr Young suggested clomid along with metformin and ovidrel. We tried 100mg and 150mg, not timed intercourse with no success due to no follicle growth. He then suggested femara 7.5mg with ovidrel. I responded to that and tried that for a few months with timed intercourse. Eventually I did femara, ovidrel and IUI with no success for about 2 months. I then moved to injections (gonal f) and did this for a couple months with IUI with no success. When then decided on IVF. I had my retrieval but was close to overstimulation, so my fresh transfer was cancelled. Our frozen transfer is in October. Dr. Young told us after the first few months of IUIs, that we may need to look into IVF, but he never made us feel pressured to jump into it until we gave it a few more tries.

Describe your experience with your nurse at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

There are no words that could ever describe my love for the nursing staff at The Fertility Center. They are so compassionate and take the time to really explain our treatment plans. I have never left feeling overwhelmed or confused. They are so encouraging, yet realistic about what to expect. They have asked me what I expect and desire from them (blunt or straight to the point, talking it out vs. letting it sink in, etc). They truly are wonderful and so experienced.

Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.

Everyone in the office, no matter the role, is friendly and compassionate. If you leave a message, they will get back with you in a timely manner. There is a lot that is not covered by most insurances, but that is not their fault personally, but it’s good to know going into it.

Describe the costs associated with your care under James Young (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

My ultrasound and blood work was covered by insurance. IUIs were about $500-$600. And IVF cost roughly $9,000 with the extra cost of FET at $2,000 and meds around $3,000. Time lapse photography was around the upper hundreds to $1,000.

Describe James Young (retired)'s approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

Dr. Young told us the benefits and pros/cons of transferring 2 vs. 1. He let us decided based on our preference after educating us on our options.

What specific things went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Provided conflicting information

Describe the specific things that went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

There was only one time that I had gotten a phone call from a nurse that was supposed to go over my instructions. I had previously met with a nurse at the clinic and had my instructions written down, the phone call was to go over them one last time. The nurse on the phone was giving me different instructions (lower dosage than prescribed and wrong timing). After I said I did not think that was accurate she stated “let me open your chart.” It was concerning that she had called to go over meds, but implied that my chart had never been open to begin with. I complained to the clinic at my next visit, as my instructions were for a new cycle of gonal f, which is expensive medication to have it not work for a cycle.

Doctor

James Young (retired)

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

The Fertility Center of Michigan

Grand Rapids

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

James Young (retired)The Fertility Center of Michigan

2019, Unsuccessful

Age 28

2 Fertility Medications

Tubal Blockage

European

Income $50K - $99K

Operations

Neutral

Strongly Recommends

Unsuccessful

Review of

Valerie Shavell The Fertility Center of Michigan

I feel the protocols for cycles are explained [by Dr. Valerie Shavell] but not alternatives or other options. It’s more of a this is it unless I were to press. I also have yet to hear risks associated except regarding OHSS and multiples...Simply told me that I could have no more than 2 transferred but I was given many many handouts on single embryo transfer...I feel like now after two failed transfers she remembers me and is ready and willing to work with me on our plan for the next cycle. Not as another number.

You need to be adamant about communication or you can get lost in the shuffle [at The Fertility Center of Michigan]. I needed help with a grant and the nurse consulting me did not make notes so I missed a deadline on a potentially huge opportunity. But honestly it’s probably because they are focused on care and treatments, not busy paperwork. So I can respect that...LOVE the nursing staff at the fertility center!!! Can’t say enough good things.

How was your experience with Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

I think she is compassionate and caring, but until you are a committed patient and on the schedule I did not feel taken seriously. Now that I’ve gone through a few cycles I feel that we have a doctor patient relationship built.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Ask questions.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

I feel like now after two failed transfers she remembers me and is ready and willing to work with me on our plan for the next cycle. Not as another number.

Describe the protocols Valerie Shavell used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.

I feel the protocols for cycles are explained but not alternatives or other options. It’s more of a this is it unless I were to press. I also have yet to hear risks associated except regarding OHSS and multiples.

Describe your experience with your nurse at The Fertility Center of Michigan. (Assigned nurse: Kim)

LOVE the nursing staff at the fertility center!!! Can’t say enough good things.

Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.

You need to be adamant about communication or you can get lost in the shuffle. I needed help with a grant and the nurse consulting me did not make notes so I missed a deadline on a potentially huge opportunity. But honestly it’s probably because they are focused on care and treatments, not busy paperwork. So I can respect that.

Describe the costs associated with your care under Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

They seem competitive, although I wish the ‘case management’ fee was explained more because it seems quite steep without explanation. They do give a discount on FET’s following a failed cycle.

Describe Valerie Shavell's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

Simply told me that I could have no more than 2 transferred but I was given many many handouts on single embryo transfer.

What specific things went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan?

Lost paperwork
Provided conflicting information

Describe the specific things that went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan.

I think a lot went right but I just have had more experiences with the paperwork/clinical side of things. As far as IVF/FET treatments things have all gone right so far except a successful cycle.

Doctor

Valerie Shavell

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

The Fertility Center of Michigan

Grand Rapids

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

Valerie Shavell The Fertility Center of Michigan

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The Fertility Center of Michigan

6 doctors work here

CDC Success Rates

Available Resources

This clinic has 5 offices
Visit clinic website

242 patient reviews

Filter by patient information

Learn from top fertility experts

The Fertility Center of Michigan

6 doctors work here

CDC Success Rates

Available Resources

This clinic has 5 officesVisit clinic website

242 patient reviews

Learn from top fertility experts

This clinic has 5 offices
Visit clinic website