Brenda Houmard
Seattle Reproductive Medicine
Available Lines of Communication
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Medical SchoolOhio St
ResidencyOhio St
FellowshipU. of Wisconsin
Spokane Valley
15920 E. Indiana Ave.
Spokane Valley, WA 99216
509-321-5560
18 assessments
10
Age
24 - 28
Treated
2015 - 2019
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
1 IUI
Diagnosis
Anovulation, Tubal Blockage
10
I do not ovulate on my own, so [Dr. Houmard] used femera. The first portion of my cycle I didn't respond as well as we thought I would, so we did 5 more days of femera and my eggs successfully grew. I had a lot of nausea with the femera but nothing anti nausea meds didn't fix...does everything possible to know you are cared for and she wants to see the best outcome possible...She has a very warm heart and you can tell that this was her calling in life. She is very up front and wants you to know everything that is going on. There hasn't been a time that I've came to her with a question or concern and she has not been able to address it in a timely manner, if not right then and there.
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Age
24 - 28
Treated
2015 - 2019
Success with this Doc
?
Race
European
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
Operations
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
1 IUI
Diagnosis
Anovulation, Tubal Blockage
10
How was your experience with Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
She has a very warm heart and you can tell that this was her calling in life. She is very up front and wants you to know everything that is going on. There hasn't been a time that I've came to her with a question or concern and she has not been able to address it in a timely manner, if not right then and there.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
You need to have an open mind and know that she has the best intentions when treating you.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
Dr.Houmard does everything possible to know you are cared for and she wants to see the best outcome possible.
Describe the protocols Brenda Houmard used in your cycles at Seattle Reproductive Medicine and their degree of success.
I do not ovulate on my own, so we used femera. The first portion of my cycle I didn't respond as well as we thought I would, so we did 5 more days of femera and my eggs successfully grew. I had a lot of nausea with the femera but nothing anti nausea meds didn't fix.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Seattle Reproductive Medicine. (Assigned nurse: Stephanie)
Everyone in the staff is a thousand times more compassionate that I could ever ask for. We have had some bumps in the road, but any time we have ever needed an answer to something, we get a response very quick. Any time labs are completed, 4/5 times we get the results the same day. Stephanie is just the most amazing nurse on the face of the Earth!
Describe your experience with Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
Overall the clinic is pretty relaxing, for as intimidating as this process can be. Whether you are new to going through all of it, or a long time member of this journey, everyone at the clinic is very supportive. The only drawback I have had, is I do have insurance that covers infertility and I have to always make sure that they are billed, not that we are surprised with a huge up front amount.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
The initial evaluation is about $300.00 (covered by insurance), HSG procedure was approximately $700 (all but $100 was covered by insurance), IUI procedure is $375 (covered by insurance) and washing of sperm was $125 paid OOP.
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10
Age
29
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
1 IUI
Diagnosis
Anovulation, Endometriosis, PCOS, Tubal Blockage
10
Dr. Houmard wanted to know my husband and I as people before she looked at our diagnosis’s. She went over every aspect of our charts and made notes as she talked with us. It was so refreshing that she didn’t just look at our problem list and assume she knew us based on that. I left with visit feeling so informed and hopefully for the first time in a very long time.... She spoke to us as people. She explained everything in great detail and was able to decipher medical terminology for us.
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Age
29
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
?
Race
European
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
Nurse or HC Services
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1st of 3 Docs
Treatment
1 IUI
Diagnosis
Anovulation, Endometriosis, PCOS, Tubal Blockage
10
How was your experience with Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
She is very intelligent, knowledgeable and kind. She never assumed anything about us or what we might already know. She spoke to us as people. She explained everything in great detail and was able to decipher medical terminology for us.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
Be open and honest. You are a person to her, not just a person struggling to have a child
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
Dr. Houmard wanted to know my husband and I as people before she looked at our diagnosis’s. She went over every aspect of our charts and made notes as she talked with us. It was so refreshing that she didn’t just look at our problem list and assume she knew us based on that. I left with visit feeling so informed and hopefully for the first time in a very long time.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Seattle Reproductive Medicine. (Assigned nurse: Stephanie )
Our nurse Stephanie is absolutely wonderful! She answers whatever questions we have in detail, with compassion and promptly. She is so good to us.
Describe your experience with Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
This clinic is so awesome! It’s so cool to see how they are all integrated. As patients we have a financial counselor, behavioral health counselor, nurse practitioner and nurse at our disposal. When we established we got to meet everyone and learned our they impact our care.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
The cost is substantial obviously when your dealing with infertility but our financial counselor went over all our options including what our insurance covered and different payment options. Best of all we have a great handout as to what everything would cost us and he went over it in great detail. It’s very overwhelming but having all these tools at our fingertips was definitely helpful
Describe Brenda Houmard's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
Dr. Houmard was very honest about our options. She let us know the risks to the babies and myself. She left it completely up to us. We felt very informed and comfortable making a safest decision for our family
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10
Age
29 - 30
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
4 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
Same as before, Brenda [Houmard] really took the time to explain things to us. She found it frustrating that they didn’t have a straight answer for me as to why I could get pregnant but not carry. She even went as far as drawing pictures to help us understand. ... she took the time to really explain things to us to help us understand what they could find was wrong or going on with me.
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Age
29 - 30
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
?
Race
European
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 3 Docs
Treatment
4 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
How was your experience with Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
Same as before, Brenda really took the time to explain things to us. She found it frustrating that they didn’t have a straight answer for me as to why I could get pregnant but not carry. She even went as far as drawing pictures to help us understand.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
Make sure you have all of your questions ready and don’t be afraid to give her a heads up or write a little letter explaining yourself. I went from seeing a doctor who acted like I was just a product on a conveyor belt to someone who truly seemed to care about our situation.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
Not only did Dr. Houmard’s staff go above and beyond, but she took the time to really explain things to us to help us understand what they could find was wrong or going on with me.
Describe the protocols Brenda Houmard used in your cycles at Seattle Reproductive Medicine and their degree of success.
All of our previously medicated cycles were with our first RE. So far we have planned IVF with Dr. Houmard twice. The first Time was cancelled because we were able to conceive naturally however lost that 4th pregnancy early like all the rest. We are set for meds to start the beginning of March and retrieval at the end of March.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Seattle Reproductive Medicine. (Assigned nurse: Stephanie, Alli, Summer (there have been so many) )
Everyone from the nurses, to the phlebotomist, to the financial counselor was absolutely wonderful. I felt at home in this clinic. Like a person and not a number.
Describe your experience with Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
Front desk wasn’t as friendly as the rest of the staff. She wasn’t terrible by any means. But her demeanor didn’t seem the friendliest. Maybe needs some time to warm up to patients? But as front desk, they are the face of the company. They should be warm and friendly when you first arrive. Won’t stop me from going though!
Describe the costs associated with your care under Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
Cost with all appointments at Brenda’s office was quoted a base price of $18,500. If my monitoring appointments were done in my home town in a Montana, our cost went down to around $12,500 with her office.
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7
Age
29
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
IUI
Diagnosis
Unexplained
7
She [Dr. Houmard] talked to us specifically based on our situation. She asked us multiple times about our thoughts and made sure we understood her explaination while never making us feel dumb.... She made a diagram of the reasons a couple could have trouble getting pregnant and crossed out categories based on our medical history. It gave us a clearer picture to move forward with treatment. I never felt pressured to choose one type of treatment versus another.
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Age
29
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
?
Race
Prefer not to answer
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Nurse or HC Services
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
IUI
Diagnosis
Unexplained
7
How was your experience with Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
She made a diagram of the reasons a couple could have trouble getting pregnant and crossed out categories based on our medical history. It gave us a clearer picture to move forward with treatment. I never felt pressured to choose one type of treatment versus another.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
Ask questions. She did a great job explaining our options
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
She talked to us specifically based on our situation. She asked us multiple times about our thoughts and made sure we understood her explaination while never making us feel dumb.
Describe the protocols Brenda Houmard used in your cycles at Seattle Reproductive Medicine and their degree of success.
I am still currently in my first IUI cycle. We started with clomid 100mg days 3-7. We did a follicle scan on day 12 and I had one follicle on each ovary. One measured 12mm and the other 9mm. I have to go back in on cycle day 16 for another US because the want at least only follicle greater than 20mm to do the trigger shot. Still waiting to get my second US.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Seattle Reproductive Medicine. (Assigned nurse: Steph)
She was very welcoming when we met with her. She was prompt when responding to portal messages and gave me option when I was having a hard time getting records to her.
Describe your experience with Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
When we had our consultation each staff member took us to the next and introduced us as well as a summary of our situation. The hours are not great considering we like about 40 miles away from the clinic
Describe the costs associated with your care under Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
Genetic testing for carrier status was $350 ( mine was negative so we didn’t need to test my husband. Consultation was about $250. HSG was $850. Semen anaylsis was $125. HCG trigger shot was $70. Clomid was $20. Follicle scan was $300. And the IUI with sperm washing is $650
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9
Age
33
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Other
9
I appreciate her [Dr. Houmard] big smile. Honestly her energy is important to me and she has a caring presence. Even when she has had to share "bad news" she has done so in a honest but sensitive way. She is informative. My only concern or upset is that she only presented positive information about PGS testing not the drawbacks or conflicting research. I wish we had not done PGS testing as a part of our treatment plan.
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Age
33
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
?
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Entrepreneur
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Other
9
How was your experience with Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
I appreciate her big smile. Honestly her energy is important to me and she has a caring presence. Even when she has had to share "bad news" she has done so in a honest but sensitive way. She is informative. My only concern or upset is that she only presented positive information about PGS testing not the drawbacks or conflicting research. I wish we had not done PGS testing as a part of our treatment plan.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
Nothing to share. She's awesome.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
They don't over book. Every time I'm there the attention is on me. The staff and Dr. Houmard are kind, attentive, quick to respond, and skilled.
Describe the protocols Brenda Houmard used in your cycles at Seattle Reproductive Medicine and their degree of success.
I took bcp to start, then after suppression I started with 325 iu if follistim, 1 menopur powder and eventually added ganarelix/centrotide. I stimmed for 9 days, triggered with Lupron cd10, and retrieved on cd12. We retrieved 8 eggs. 6 were mature. All fertilized with icsI and 5 became blastocysts. We had great results with embryology. Very pleased.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Seattle Reproductive Medicine. (Assigned nurse: Alli and Summer )
The staff at SRM is really really great. They communicate well with me but also with each other. They are quick to respond and that was important to me. They explain options and protocols very well. They make this process a bit easier.
Describe your experience with Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
SRM in Spokane is the best option in the inland northwest. I started my treatment at a different clinic in town and it was a bad experience. When coming to SRM the difference was clear. They were professional, timely, caring, and overall great communicators. Changing to SRM was the best decision we've made in our IVF journey. It was more expensive but honestly it is worth it to know they are working promptly and trading great care of my and my embryos. I'm not just a walking dollar sign at SRM. They truly care.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
Egg retrieval with icsi including monitoring was $13,715
We paid $3500 for each FET
Describe Brenda Houmard's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
She preferred to transfer one embryo at a time which is also or preference.
What specific things went wrong at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
- Provided conflicting information
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10
Age
31 - 32
Treated
2017 - 2018
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
3 IUI, 2 IVF
Diagnosis
Endometriosis, PCOS
10
The moment I met her [Dr. Houmard] my husband and I knew she was amazing and we were so thrilled to be her patients! She is so smart and so kind she really helped us through our journey. She cares about her patients and it shows. I wouldn’t want another doctor now I am so happy with my care from her!... I have PCOS and my first round with a different doctor a lot of my eggs weren’t fully matured they were smaller so Dr Houmard chose to have a longer protocol for me and she waited until the exact time to have the best quality eggs.
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Age
31 - 32
Treated
2017 - 2018
Success with this Doc
?
Race
Other
Income
$0 - $49K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 3 Docs
Treatment
3 IUI, 2 IVF
Diagnosis
Endometriosis, PCOS
10
How was your experience with Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
I was seeing her partner the first round and he moved away and I was transferred to her service. I was nervous at first because I loved her partner as a doctor and hadn’t met her yet. The moment I met her my husband and I knew she was amazing and we were so thrilled to be her patients! She is so smart and so kind she really helped us through our journey. She cares about her patients and it shows. I wouldn’t want another doctor now I am so happy with my care from her!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
I would recommend her and let them know they will be treated with the utmost respect and feel as though they’re her only patient because of the care she gives you.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
She is very kind and she explains things to you so you can understand them. She holds your hand through it all and is extremely knowledgeable as well as personable.
Describe the protocols Brenda Houmard used in your cycles at Seattle Reproductive Medicine and their degree of success.
I have PCOS and my first round with a different doctor a lot of my eggs weren’t fully matured they were smaller so Dr Houmard chose to have a longer protocol for me and she waited until the exact time to have the best quality eggs. It got pushed back a couple times because she wanted them to grow a little bit longer which was great. I was on an antagonist protocol. My medicines were menopur, gonal-f, oral estrace, endometrin.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Seattle Reproductive Medicine. (Assigned nurse: Kelly Walker)
My nurse is beyond exceptional. She actually stepped back and isn’t in charge of patients as much now but I consider her a huge part of my life and am so thankful for her.
The entire nursing staff is amazing. They all know you and care to. They cheer you on and help with any problem or question you may have. They are kind and amazing at their jobs.
Describe your experience with Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
They have a patient portal which is so amazing, if you have a small question you just send it through the portal for a response. Your results are also on your portal and easy to access. They have extra meds available in case your protocol is extended, which mine was into a weekend and they gave me meds so I didn’t have to try and order. They call promptly, the doctor calls you herself at times as well as your main nurse. They are very organized and clean and it’s an amazing environment.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
They have an option to buy with an outside program called Attain. I chose to do this because I did the buy 3 refund option where if I don’t bring a baby home I am refunded all of my money, for $27,500. Also medication each round varies from 1,000-4,000.
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9
Age
35 - 36
Treated
2017 - 2018
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
3 IUI
Diagnosis
PCOS, Unexplained
9
We don’t see Dr. Houmard every time we have an appointment but when do she is very knowledgeable and takes the time to answer our questions. She oversees each cycle and adjusts things as needed each time. We do see her for follow ups every few months and so far I am happy with our decision to use her as our doctor.... After she diagnosed me with PCOS, the first thing she wanted to do was to make sure I ovulated because I hadn’t had a period in 6 six months at that point.
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Age
35 - 36
Treated
2017 - 2018
Success with this Doc
?
Race
Other
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
Nurse or HC Services
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
3 IUI
Diagnosis
PCOS, Unexplained
9
How was your experience with Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
We don’t see Dr. Houmard every time we have an appointment but when do she is very knowledgeable and takes the time to answer our questions. She oversees each cycle and adjusts things as needed each time. We do see her for follow ups every few months and so far I am happy with our decision to use her as our doctor.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
Don’t except to see her with every single visit.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
Dr. Houmard and her entire staff are very friendly and personable. They treat us like we are their only patients every time we are in the office!
Describe the protocols Brenda Houmard used in your cycles at Seattle Reproductive Medicine and their degree of success.
After she diagnosed me with PCOS, the first thing she wanted to do was to make sure I ovulated because I hadn’t had a period in 6 six months at that point. She started me on a med that I can’t remember the name of but it gets you to start your period. I haven’t had to take this med again since then because my body has started on its own. Then she has me take 10mg of Letrozole for five days and then a couple days later in my cycle I give myself an 150 of GonalF that is suppose to trigger your follicles to grow. I usually will go in around cycle day 15 for an ultrasound to see if there are a follicle that is at the right size for for the next injection called Ovidrel which triggers your bony to ovulate. This is also all in conjunction with times intercourse. Three of my cycles we also did an IUI. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to get pregnant yet but I can tell that my body is working correctly now and that gives me hope that it will happen eventually.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Seattle Reproductive Medicine. (Assigned nurse: Sarah)
They are wonderful, friendly, kind, and compassionate. I couldn’t ask for a better office to be a patient at.
Describe your experience with Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
Strengths would be that they don’t treat you like a number and they genuinely care, and we never usually have a long wait when we go in.
Weakness would be that there are a lot of people (nurses, assistants, nurse practitioner) that are involved in your care.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
Our insurance actually covered a lot more of our coats then I expected but it’s not cheap by any means.
Ultrasounds I believe are about $100-200 give or take but only about $20 out of pocket.
Meds (not including injections) are less then a dollar out of pocket.
Injections are not covered by our insurance but the pharmacy they come from give us a discount because we go to SRM. They are still about $160 for both the GonalF and Ovidrel.
Semen analysis is only about $40 out of pocket.
IUIs are not covered for us and we’re about $700 each.
We are currently saving up for IVF that will be about $18,000 but will also be applying to finance about half of it.
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9
Age
35 - 36
Treated
2017 - 2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss, Unexplained
9
Dr Houmard was professional and personal. ... I found Dr H to be just what I was looking for- compassionate but honest. She didn’t sugar coat issues or lead us to believe a live birth was an absolute but she set realistic expectations- having suffered 8 miscarriages previously this was our last shot and she was on board with that and supported us the way we wanted and needed to be supported.
+ Read more
Age
35 - 36
Treated
2017 - 2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
Prefer not to answer
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
3rd of 3 Docs
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss, Unexplained
9
How was your experience with Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
I found Dr H to be just what I was looking for- compassionate but honest. She didn’t sugar coat issues or lead us to believe a live birth was an absolute but she set realistic expectations- having suffered 8 miscarriages previously this was our last shot and she was on board with that and supported us the way we wanted and needed to be supported.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
Be honest!!! Tell her everything- your history, experience, expectations, fears, needs, etc
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
Dr Houmard was professional and personal. She’s a member of my community and had things in common with my husband and I. She is also friends with both our former fertility doc and our current ob
Describe the protocols Brenda Houmard used in your cycles at Seattle Reproductive Medicine and their degree of success.
We had already had several consultantatuons with other docs in Seattle and were familiar with what would be suggested for our treatment, retrieval, icsi, ohs, fet, and potential gestational carrier for future. Rpl and unexplained infertility, we knew that there could be no explanation and a bad outcome- dr H set these scenarios for us as well
Describe your experience with your nurse at Seattle Reproductive Medicine. (Assigned nurse: Sara)
Sara was bad. Made some comments that weren’t appropriate for our experience, looked unprofessional, and ultimately sent the wrong order
For my medications so I Over ordered and over paid which was bad. I asked to get a new nurse which SRM complied and apologized
Describe your experience with Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
Able to get in quickly and often, fast service, clean, appeared organized, connected to community
Sara the nurse was the worst. Financial info could be stronger, and I’d like to see them be more welcoming of husbands/dads- it appeared as though i as the woman had to do everything- which wasn’t good considering I was very emotional. My husband often felt like an outsider even though he was very involved. I think fertility clinics and docs need to make a conscious effort to include fathers in all aspects
Describe the costs associated with your care under Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
Around $30k total
Describe Brenda Houmard's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
Na
What specific things went wrong at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
- Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
- Provided conflicting information
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5
Age
36
Treated
2017
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
2 IUI, 3 IVF
Diagnosis
Anovulation, Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Male Factor
5
I think she [Dr. Brenda Houmard] is a compassionate doctor. She tried to help our very severe infertility problems. However, she did more harm than good, because she refused to vary her protocol which was not working for us, didn't draw labs to check things during treatment and also proceeded forward with ivf stims without baseline labs or ultrasounds. All things that caused us to waste money on unsuccessful treatment. We attempted 6 mini IVF cycles and only made it to retrieval on the 6th one. One egg was retrieved, but was found to be overmature. There was no labwork done to check my E2 levels, or my LH levels, so it was a very risky thing to proceed to retrieval at that point.
+ Read more
Age
36
Treated
2017
Success with this Doc
No
Race
European, Native American
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
Nurse or HC Services
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 3 Docs
Treatment
2 IUI, 3 IVF
Diagnosis
Anovulation, Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Male Factor
5
How was your experience with Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
I think she is a compassionate doctor. She tried to help our very severe infertility problems. However, she did more harm than good, because she refused to vary her protocol which was not working for us, didn't draw labs to check things during treatment and also proceeded forward with ivf stims without baseline labs or ultrasounds. All things that caused us to waste money on unsuccessful treatment. We attempted 6 mini IVF cycles and only made it to retrieval on the 6th one. One egg was retrieved, but was found to be overmature. There was no labwork done to check my E2 levels, or my LH levels, so it was a very risky thing to proceed to retrieval at that point. Unfortunately as the patient at that point in time I did not know that those were routine things done at most practices to prevent poor outcomes. Perhaps if you are doing standard IVF or IUI with her, your treatment outcome might be better, but I do not recommend for those with more difficult problems to overcome. They lower the price of mini IVF, but don't actually do enough monitoring to make you successful.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
Don't do mini IVF with her.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
Dr. Houmard was empathetic throughout treatment until the last cycle. She was clear that due to diminished ovarian reserve treatment options with own egg might be limited. She was willing to treat us though she never offered to vary from one protocol. She also a few times gave extremely devastating information either via email, or over the phone without offering any followup.
Describe the protocols Brenda Houmard used in your cycles at Seattle Reproductive Medicine and their degree of success.
Mini IVF- No baseline ultrasound or labs.
Letrazole 5mg CD 3-7, Follistim 150 units CD 6-8. Start Ganirelix CD 8. No labs checked, ultrasound CD 9.
Zero labs checked prior to retrieval. Ultrasound to measure follicle size only. Birth control pills for cycle batching (also bad for DOR).
Results = all dismal.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Seattle Reproductive Medicine. (Assigned nurse: Kelly)
The nursing care at the clinic was amazing. Very organized, always available. Very helpful in trying to explain the physician's rational if there was something I didn't understand.
Describe your experience with Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
The clinic is very new and clean. They only have an embryologist part of the month so must do batching for IVF. Appointments are easy to get. Billing is a nightmare and extortionistic. I had to call 7 times to get an itemized bill. They held on to $13,000 for several months and it took weeks to get a refund. When I was transitioning from a patient to a monitoring patient, despite the fact that I had been a patient there for 2 years they wanted to charge me "to set me up as a tech patient" plus charge for sending results to my new doctor. I was told "they have to make money somehow".
Describe the costs associated with your care under Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
Mini IVF cycle was $13,600, ultrasounds $330 unless you are a tech patient then they are $400.
Describe Brenda Houmard's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
N/A
What specific things went wrong at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
- Failed to order appropriate test
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10
Age
32 - 34
Treated
2016 - 2018
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
3 IUI, 1 IVF
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
She [Dr. Houmard] always followed up & checked in on us while we had to wait for the next time we did the IUIs. She clarified & answered questions we had when the IUIs didn’t work & as we headed into IVF she did the same. We transferred 1 frozen embryo last month & when we didn’t get pregnant she debriefed with us & encouraged us through the pain. I’m thankful she’s our doctor...She’s a kind & compassionate doctor that roots for you & your family the whole time. She did phone consults when I had questions & had caring answers for me. I appreciate how she took the time to ask if we needed clarification on the treatment or procedure. She was always happy to see us.
+ Read more
Age
32 - 34
Treated
2016 - 2018
Success with this Doc
?
Race
South Asian
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Teacher
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
3 IUI, 1 IVF
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
How was your experience with Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
She’s a kind & compassionate doctor that roots for you & your family the whole time. She did phone consults when I had questions & had caring answers for me. I appreciate how she took the time to ask if we needed clarification on the treatment or procedure. She was always happy to see us.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
If you don’t want to feel like a number, she’d be the best choice.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
She’s so caring and warm.
Describe the protocols Brenda Houmard used in your cycles at Seattle Reproductive Medicine and their degree of success.
Dr. Houmard helped us find the best doctor to take out the fibroid she found when we tried to do the IUI the very first time. She helped & guided us through the best steps after. She always followed up & checked in on us while we had to wait for the next time we did the IUIs. She clarified & answered questions we had when the IUIs didn’t work & as we headed into IVF she did the same. We transferred 1 frozen embryo last month & when we didn’t get pregnant she debriefed with us & encouraged us through the pain. I’m thankful she’s our doctor.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
They’re very nice & kind. They always took the time to help us & answer any questions.
Describe your experience with Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
The clinic is great! The front office staff is nice. The financial people were helpful. They always great us so warmly & kindly. It’s also very clean. They bathrooms are clean. They do a great job taking care of the office. The area when they do the retrievals is also very tidy & neat. It’s very sanitary. It’s a great place.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
$13,000 for IVF plus $3,000-$5,000 meds
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8
Age
35 - 36
Treated
2016 - 2017
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Male Factor
8
Dr. Houmard rarely called to give us updates. We mostly called them to get information.... She has compassion. But her communication lacks. She didn't even call after I said I got my period and the transfer didn't work. I have not spoken to her since day of transfer, where I was thrilled about her because she was so compassionate on that day. After that day it was like she forgot about me, which was disappointing.... It was just over.
+ Read more
Age
35 - 36
Treated
2016 - 2017
Success with this Doc
No
Race
Other
Income
—
Occupation
Nurse or HC Services
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Male Factor
8
How was your experience with Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
She has compassion. But her communication lacks. She didn't even call after I said I got my period and the transfer didn't work. I have not spoken to her since day of transfer, where I was thrilled about her because she was so compassionate on that day. After that day it was like she forgot about me, which was disappointing.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
You have to be your own advocate. She will not keep you informed unless you constantly call the office to pry information.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
Dr. Houmard rarely called to give us updates. We mostly called them to get information. She also did not call when I called and said I got my period. I talked to the nurse that day and never heard from anyone again. It was just over.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
She was caring but as well a very bad communicator.
Describe your experience with Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
They some holes in their clinic. I am giving it to part that they are a satellite faculty with the mother facility being 5 hrs away. They screwed up my billing massively. They show compassion but at a minimal level. Be prepared to be just a number. Their communication is subpar so be sure to advocate for yourself. If you know this ahead you will have a better time then learning it as you are going for your first experience. If there was more options in this area I am sure they would not be doing as well due to these factors.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
Not the most affordable but their are not many options here and the know it.
What specific things went wrong at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
- Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
- Failed to call with results
- Failed to order appropriate test
- Failed to inform you of changes in protocol
- Failed to convey critical information
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10
Age
22 - 23
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
1 IUI
Diagnosis
Anovulation, Male Factor
10
Dr. Houmard is clearly intelligent and does everything she can to understand the situation and approach it as calmly and as aggressively as needed. She listens to her patients and wants to fix problems that are fixable and then if they aren’t she comes up with a plan. She answers all questions in a kind manner and never makes you feel silly for asking something. She explains all test results fully and the implications of it all. She is clearly respected by her staff and we enjoy her immensely.
+ Read more
Age
22 - 23
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
?
Race
European
Income
$0 - $49K
Occupation
Teacher
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
1 IUI
Diagnosis
Anovulation, Male Factor
10
How was your experience with Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
Dr. Houmard is clearly intelligent and does everything she can to understand the situation and approach it as calmly and as aggressively as needed. She listens to her patients and wants to fix problems that are fixable and then if they aren’t she comes up with a plan. She answers all questions in a kind manner and never makes you feel silly for asking something. She explains all test results fully and the implications of it all. She is clearly respected by her staff and we enjoy her immensely.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
Ask the questions that you’re afraid to ask. She will answer them and be honest, and not make you feel stupid.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
Brenda cares about our desires to start a family and our lives as a whole not just medically.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
Warm. Kind. Understanding. Welcoming. They know you never WANTED to end up there but somehow make you feel like going back.
Describe your experience with Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
I truly only have great things to say about SRM. They are thorough, cooperative, collaborative, kind, and easy to communicate and work with. They have an online portal that helps you see test results and communicate with your team. From the moment you walk in, even the front desk staff is kind and welcoming. They make you feel as comfortable as they can.
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8
Age
23 - 24
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
2 IUI
Diagnosis
Male Factor, Other
8
Before Each appointment she [Dr. Houmard] take the time to review our charts and write key notes on a word document for review along with the steps she recommends.... She Uses Visual aids to help explain Good at explaining next steps and hopes for treatments Listens and accepts our wants, even if they are outside of what she recommended originally Good at coordinating care with other providers out of clinic for continuity of care
+ Read more
Age
23 - 24
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
?
Race
European
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
2 IUI
Diagnosis
Male Factor, Other
8
How was your experience with Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
She Uses Visual aids to help explain
Good at explaining next steps and hopes for treatments
Listens and accepts our wants, even if they are outside of what she recommended originally
Good at coordinating care with other providers out of clinic for continuity of care
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
Trust your provider but also do your own research so you have as much knowledge as possible.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
Before Each appointment she take the time to review our charts and write key notes on a word document for review along with the steps she recommends. She uses visual charts and diagrams to help explain
Describe the protocols Brenda Houmard used in your cycles at Seattle Reproductive Medicine and their degree of success.
IUI with 100mg of Clomid on days 3-7, with monitoring ultra sounds and 250 Ovidril injection for trigger. Semen sample provided morning of treatment 1 hour prior. NP/Nurse preforms IUI then home and proceed with normal activity
Describe your experience with your nurse at Seattle Reproductive Medicine. (Assigned nurse: Stephanie)
She responds to messages quickly with all the info requested. She makes phone calls when necessary. She is compassionate about our situation and wishes us luck through each step.
Describe your experience with Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
No long wait times for getting appointments
on time care in clinic
responds to Patient Portal messages quickly & efficiently
Clean nice exam rooms and office areas
great staff overall
good coordination of care with out of office providers
Describe the costs associated with your care under Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
2004 Per IUI
Describe Brenda Houmard's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
not to this point yet
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8
Age
36
Treated
2017
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
4 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Unexplained
8
She [Dr. Houmard] was very informative, nice and non-judgmental. The only reason we did not go forward with treatment was cost. My one complaint is that they suspected that we would never get pregnant natualy but did not 100% confirm why.... They did a HGS to confirm that one tube was damaged (ie ruptured in the past), It confirmed that but also confirmed the other one was not blocked. Blood tests were done and confirmed that my eggs were fine and that my husbands sperm was ok.
+ Read more
Age
36
Treated
2017
Success with this Doc
?
Race
European
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1st of 2 Docs
Treatment
4 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Unexplained
8
How was your experience with Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
She was very informative, nice and non-judgmental. The only reason we did not go forward with treatment was cost. My one complaint is that they suspected that we would never get pregnant natualy but did not 100% confirm why.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
Be financially ready to go through IVF.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
They were very nice and made sure i understood the whole process that was occuring.
Describe the protocols Brenda Houmard used in your cycles at Seattle Reproductive Medicine and their degree of success.
They did a HGS to confirm that one tube was damaged (ie ruptured in the past), It confirmed that but also confirmed the other one was not blocked. Blood tests were done and confirmed that my eggs were fine and that my husbands sperm was ok. No other procedures were done b/c they said our best bet would be IVF.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
Kind and informative.
Describe your experience with Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
Clinic was fine. HSG and sperm evaluation were both done on site which was nice and saved time. Nice building and fairly convent to our location. Dont know if all treatments were going to be at the same place since we did not continue them.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
our costs for evaluation were around $1500 out of pocket. We were told that if we did go through the IVF is would be base $13,000 to $25,000
Describe Brenda Houmard's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
They said they would only do 2 embryo transfers at a time.
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10
Age
32 - 34
Treated
2016 - 2018
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
1 IUI
Diagnosis
Male Factor, Uterine Fibroids
10
Dr. Houmard is so caring and compassionate. She is honest and straight forward. I feel like I can trust her 100%. She understands how stressful infertility is and doesn't belittle the feelings that I have....I feel very well cared for.... I am on the antagonist protocol due to my good AMH level and we are male factor... The only thing I can say they didn't do was they didn't tell me I needed a full bladder for my uterine sounding so I went to the bathroom right before my appt
+ Read more
Age
32 - 34
Treated
2016 - 2018
Success with this Doc
?
Race
European
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
Nurse or HC Services
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1st of 2 Docs
Treatment
1 IUI
Diagnosis
Male Factor, Uterine Fibroids
10
How was your experience with Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
Dr. Houmard is so caring and compassionate. She is honest and straight forward. I feel like I can trust her 100%. She understands how stressful infertility is and doesn't belittle the feelings that I have.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
Go see her immediately lol
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
She is so compassionate and honest and caring and straight forward. I feel very well cared for.
Describe the protocols Brenda Houmard used in your cycles at Seattle Reproductive Medicine and their degree of success.
I am on the antagonist protocol due to my good AMH level and we are male factor
Describe your experience with your nurse at Seattle Reproductive Medicine. (Assigned nurse: Sara Whipkey)
I really appreciate my nurse Sara. The only downside is that she is now my third nurse. I feel that shows a lack of continuity.
Describe your experience with Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
I feel like all the staff is very caring and kind. Highly professional. Each of the people I have to interact with have given me their direct line so I don't have to go through the operator. I can call whenever I need to and often times they answer the phone right away. If I send a message through the portal, I can count on them to answer promptly as well.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
I feel like the costs have been the same as or less than most other clinics.
Describe Brenda Houmard's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
She said based on my age and health that we can choose to transfer 1 to 2 with a goal of a singleton pregnancy.
What specific things went wrong at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
- Failed to convey critical information
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10
Age
29 - 30
Treated
2015 - 2016
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
6 IUI, 1 IVF
Diagnosis
Endometriosis
10
A great experience. She [Dr. Brenda Houmard] explained the procedure and recommendations. She made time to answer all our questions. She wanted to make sure we knew the risks but also the benefits. We will go back to her to do multiple frozen transfers...Be open and clear on your expectations. If you have questions or concerns vocalize them. Brenda will take the time to clearly answer your questions.
+ Read more
Age
29 - 30
Treated
2015 - 2016
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
Investment Banker
Order & Number of Docs Seen
3rd of 3 Docs
Treatment
6 IUI, 1 IVF
Diagnosis
Endometriosis
10
How was your experience with Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
A great experience. She explained the procedure and recommendations. She made time to answer all our questions. She wanted to make sure we knew the risks but also the benefits. We will go back to her to do multiple frozen transfers.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
Be open and clear on your expectations. If you have questions or concerns vocalize them. Brenda will take the time to clearly answer your questions.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
She was sincere and really took the time to answer all our questions and teach us about the entire process.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
All wonderful. Again took the time to listen to our questions and then explain clearly their answers. Knew our names and case.
Describe your experience with Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
We never waited more than 5 minutes at anytime. Clinic was clean and comfortable. Good location.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
Drugs ($500) and initial testing ($200) were largely covered by insurance. IVF appointments, retrieval, and transfer were not covered ($13,000)
Describe Brenda Houmard's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
We were strongly encouraged to just do a single transfer due to my wife's age and overall health. If we wanted to do multiple Brenda was willing to, but wanted to be clear on the risks. We opted just to do one, and it was the right decision.
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10
Age
36
Treated
2014
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
1 IUI, 1 IVF
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
[Dr Brenda Houmard was] friendly and knowledgeable...I had already done several iui attempts with local gyn that included letrozole, clomid and trigger hcg shots to no avail, so when I got to Dr. Houmard [at Seattle Reproductive Medicine] I was ready for IVF. Did birth control to suppress then several meds to stimulate them retrieval then 3 day transfer, only one egg turned into transferrable embryo. But it worked and had a great pregnancy and healthy boy...5000 for meds, 24000 for the package I bought which was through attain and if I wasn't successful I would have gotten 50% back, two IVF cycles and endless transfers.
+ Read more
Age
36
Treated
2014
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
Nurse or HC Services
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
1 IUI, 1 IVF
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
How was your experience with Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
Friendly and knowledgeable.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
Don't give up on the dream
Describe the protocols Brenda Houmard used in your cycles at Seattle Reproductive Medicine and their degree of success.
I had already done several iui attempts with local gyn that included letrozole, clomid and trigger hcg shots to no avail, so when I got to Dr. Houmard I was ready for IVF. Did birth control to suppress then several meds to stimulate them retrieval then 3 day transfer, only one egg turned into transferrable embryo. But it worked and had a great pregnancy and healthy boy.
Describe your experience with Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
Far away, 3 hour drive for me.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
5000 for meds, 24000 for the package I bought which was through attain and if I wasn't successful I would have gotten 50% back, two IVF cycles and endless transfers.
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9
Age
26 - 27
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
IUI
Diagnosis
Male Factor
9
Dr Houmard is very understanding about what you are going through. She will go through you and your spouses medical history to determine where the problem may lie. She will go through all treatment routes as well.... Dr Houmard is very easy going and will make sure you know exactly what is going on and how to fix it.... My clinics [Seattle Reproductive Medicine- Spokane Valley] stregths were that we were able to get into an appointment very quickly and easy. They have a great team set up to help with Financial counseling and help you get everything set up. I don’t think there was any weaknesses. And I think that any patient would love to come here to be able to get the best care possible.
+ Read more
Age
26 - 27
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
Teacher
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
IUI
Diagnosis
Male Factor
9
How was your experience with Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
Dr Houmard is very understanding about what you are going through. She will go through you and your spouses medical history to determine where the problem may lie. She will go through all treatment routes as well.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
Dr Houmard will break it all down for you.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Brenda Houmard at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
Dr Houmard is very easy going and will make sure you know exactly what is going on and how to fix it.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
They want to make sure you are under the right care and have all questions answered.
Describe your experience with Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
My clinics stregths were that we were able to get into an appointment very quickly and easy. They have a great team set up to help with Financial counseling and help you get everything set up. I don’t think there was any weaknesses. And I think that any patient would love to come here to be able to get the best care possible.
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