How was your experience with Anil Pinto at Repromed Fertility Center?
As mentioned above, I feel like he has a standard protocol despite his website stating he has a special interest in PCOS, which is why I went to him after others pushed for me to try another area RE. While he was personable and available to answer questions after hours via phone (pre-arranged by his nurse), I feel like he doesn't vary from his standard protocol. We left our last appointment with three courses of action and statistics for them to consider. Apparently, he/the clinic took it upon themselves to decide that we were going to proceed with IVF rather than ask if that's what we wanted to do. When I emailed back with my concerns, while I did not fully expect him to respond, I'm surprised that he did not because he randomly called the person who referred me to him who had since stopped treatment with him due to financial reasons.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Anil Pinto at Repromed Fertility Center?
He will not coddle you -- he is a 'this is how it is' person. He will try to lighten the mood in terms of the awkwardness some procedures are. He did do both my sonohyst and my HSG test personally. However, he rotates between five offices and my husband and I feel he forgets what he tells patients from one appointment to the next.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Anil Pinto at Repromed Fertility Center?
While Dr. Pinto was friendly in our brief interactions with him and was personable, I still felt like I was one of many he's treated and that my age was the only thing he was focused on, not my prior diagnosis (10 years ago) of PCOS. He was more focused on the possibility of diminished ovarian reserve and/or egg quality due to my age than past diagnoses. AMR tests ruled out the DOR, but he was still focused on my age and possible egg quality issues. PCOS only came up if I asked specifically about it. I had the same standard blood workup that a friend with unexplained infertility. Where my OB/GYN tested for additional PCOS issues for baseline info, he did not run all of those same tests. I feel like he has a standard protocol and that he doesn't vary from it
Describe the protocols Anil Pinto used in your cycles at Repromed Fertility Center and their degree of success.
He was hell bent on the fact my age had to mean DOR or egg quality issues and did not address/respond to the PCOS aspect at all. He never tested testosterone levels. I was referred to him mainly for testing, not to immediately jump into treatment, but after all the workup, I was told that due to my age (no mention of PCOS) what my odds were via the natural (no meds) route, IUI, and min stim IVF. He provided stats on his live birth rates with each option. We have not proceeded with treatment yet due to hesitation on the fact he seems to want to do procedures, not address the underlying issue to make certain it does not interfere with said procedures.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Repromed Fertility Center.
I've dealt with three members of the medical staff + one scheduler. I loved Ava, she was sweet and positive. Jennifer (the scheduler) is the only reason I haven't fully walked away to finding another RE just yet. Amber may have had an off day the day she did an ultrasound for me, but compared to the technician at my OB/GYN, she rubbed me the wrong way personality wise. Sarah Jane -- while I've been told good things about her, she is the one that has me very close to walking away. Her way too perky email wanting to set up my IVF treatment (that we have not agreed to or advised them to such) was inappropriate. She should have emailed asking if we (or any patient) had made a decision on how to proceed rather that being pushy, which is how her email came off to me, but to several others (who don't have infertility issues) interpreted it. I don't mind upbeat, but be considerate and ask before pushing an option that hasn't been agreed upon.
Describe your experience with Repromed Fertility Center.
All of the above statements apply, Dr. Pinto is the only doctor in the practice at this time. If cookie cutter/standard treatment routes appeal to you or you are ready to (emotionally and financially) dive into treatment, then this clinic may be for you. However, if you want the underlying issue treated as well, seek second options before finalizing a treatment plan with any one doctor.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Anil Pinto at Repromed Fertility Center.
My insurance paid a majority of the costs associated with the diagnostic testing (I was out of pocket less than $400 on copays and coinsurance for two office consulatations (one including an ultrasound), lab work (10 vials), sonohyst, and HSG). However, my insurance will not pay for any infertility treatment. I am facing approximately $2000 per round for IUI or $25,000 for one round of minimal stimulation IVF (which includes two rounds of egg retrievals and one embryo implantation after PGS testing). My husband had to pay $140 out of pocket for a semen analysis that the offsite lab would not file insurance on.
Describe Anil Pinto's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Repromed Fertility Center.
He stated that he would only do a single embryo transfer in my "situation". However, had he asked my preference, I would be okay with a multiple embryo transfer.
What specific things went wrong at Repromed Fertility Center?
- Failed to send your chart to another clinic
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Repromed Fertility Center.
I've requested that records be sent back to my OB/GYN as I was referred for testing options that the practice does not do; as of my last inquiry, they still did not have the results from any of the diagnostic tests completed.