Just reading through my history, he [Dr. Bruce Albrecht] was able to pinpoint a potential issue, which he explored right away during initial testing...explains everything very clearly and draws diagrams, makes lists of supplements, next steps...not overly compassionate or gooey (some doctors can be so fake about it), but he is certainly not cold or detached. I find him to be the perfect balance of friendly and straightforward with the facts and figures...
I really like how small [Denver Fertility Albrecht Women's Care] feels...Dr Albrecht and his team are always familiar with my case when I see them...vast majority of your hands-on care is done by nurses and ultrasound techs, but I know that [doctor] is consulted for everything...their pricing is extremely competitive!...open on the weekends for time-sensitive procedures (like IUI)...breakdown in communication somewhere, because often when I am told that a nurse will call me...it is not unusual to not hear from them until I call, late in the day, requesting my results.
How was your experience with Bruce Albrecht at Denver Fertility Care (formerly Denver IVF Albrecht Women's Care)?
Doctor Albrecht is highly knowledgeable, well-educated, and has tons of experience. Just reading through my history, he was able to pinpoint a potential issue, which he explored right away during initial testing. He explains everything very clearly and draws diagrams, makes lists of supplements, next steps, etc. Everything he presented was laid out in a way that was easy to understand. He is not overly compassionate or gooey (some doctors can be so fake about it), but he is certainly not cold or detached. I find him to be the perfect balance of friendly and straightforward with the facts and figures. I have been in his care for 1 medicated cycle, 3 completed IUIs, and we are in the middle of our 4th round of IUI. In that time, I saw Dr Albrecht for the initial consultation and Femvue procedure. The vast majority of your hands-on care is done by nurses and ultrasound techs, but I know that he is consulted for everything because I have had nurses leave to check with him on multiple occasions. Some people may not find that ideal, but I would prefer that the basics of day-to-day are handled by his team so he can focus on the meat of our case. If this IUI does not work, we will be talking about IVF, so I do not yet know if he is more involved in that (egg retrieval, FET) but I imagine he may be.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Bruce Albrecht at Denver Fertility Care (formerly Denver IVF Albrecht Women's Care)?
Get the sperm analysis (if applicable) done before your initial consult, and any additional testing you have had is a bonus (but he will direct your tests based on your history, so female testing in advance is less necessary unless you have known issues). It was nice to be able to sit and chat with him with a good amount of knowledge on our case, already. Come prepared with any questions you may have, as meeting with him again is not a standard part of the process unless something big comes up or it's time for a regroup.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Bruce Albrecht at Denver Fertility Care (formerly Denver IVF Albrecht Women's Care)?
Dr Albrecht and his team are always familiar with my case when I see them, and they know who I am when I call in. I did a lot of research to find a doctor who was not only knowledgeable, but who would take care of me and treat me with respect and care. Doctor Albrecht and his team definitely do that. They have a small team, so it doesn't take long to get familiar with everyone. The nurses, phlebotomists, and ultrasound techs are always excited to see me and ask how I am doing.
Describe the protocols Bruce Albrecht used in your cycles at Denver Fertility Care (formerly Denver IVF Albrecht Women's Care) and their degree of success.
We first completed my testing (we had the semen analysis done already), which included blood tests, a transvaginal ultrasound, and a Femvue (saline ultrasound to make sure uterus and fallopian tubes look good). We did our 1 cycle of Clomid and timed intercourse during the same cycle as testing. After confirming a cervical abnormality, we decided to move forward with IUI to get "past" the problem, as Dr Albrecht had suggested we would probably want to do in our first meeting. Every cycle has been slightly different. #1- 50mg Clomid and timed intercourse, #2- 50mg Clomid and IUI, #3- 100mg Clomid and IUI, #4- 10mg Letrozole and IUI, #5 (current cycle)- 10mg Letrozole and IUI + supplemental progesterone. I responded well to Clomid, but we moved to Letrozole because my progesterone results on Clomid were still lower than they would like. They improved on Letrozole, but last I knew they were still talking about possibly giving supplemental prog. this cycle anyway (it can't hurt), though whether that is the case remains to be seen after the IUI. The general consensus around the office seems to be that after 4 of the same thing (so, 4 IUI) it's time for a regroup meeting, which is why we will be exploring IVF if this one doesn't take.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Denver Fertility Care (formerly Denver IVF Albrecht Women's Care).
As I mentioned before, the clinic has a small staff in general. I think there are only about 3 or 4 monitoring nurses, and some dedicated IVF nurses. The nurses are mostly very helpful and willing to talk you through things, answer questions by phone, etc. But there is a breakdown in communication somewhere, because often when I am told that a nurse will call me (such as with blood results, when available, or to discuss the ultrasound results during COVID (normally would meet in person)), it is not unusual to not hear from them until I call, late in the day, requesting my results. I do not know whose fault it is, but it is the biggest complaint I have about the office. However, when I do leave a message in that scenario, they typically do get back to me very quickly.
Describe your experience with Denver Fertility Care (formerly Denver IVF Albrecht Women's Care).
I really like how small the clinic feels. It feels like a very personal experience, as opposed to some of the huge clinics in the Denver area. I chose the clinic based on Dr Albrecht, as I did a ton of research looking for the right place. But it also turns out that their pricing is extremely competitive! Compared to friends I have at other clinics in the area, my self-pay expenses are about half (we have no insurance coverage for infertility). So really, between the small staff, compassionate team, helpful explanations, and great prices, I feel like I hit the jackpot. Also, they are open on the weekends for time-sensitive procedures (like IUI).
Describe the costs associated with your care under Bruce Albrecht at Denver Fertility Care (formerly Denver IVF Albrecht Women's Care).
The prices are very competitive. They have a self-pay price list so that the costs of every test and procedure is very transparent. Compared to what other people I know are paying, in many cases it is about half the cost. When it isn't half, it's still always less than other clinics.
What specific things went wrong at Denver Fertility Care (formerly Denver IVF Albrecht Women's Care)?
- Failed to call with results
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Denver Fertility Care (formerly Denver IVF Albrecht Women's Care).
My only complaint about the clinic is that I don't always get a call when I am told that I will. For progesterone blood testing, standard procedure is (I'm told) for a nurse to call on the second of two days of tests, with the results from both days. The clinic closes at 4:30, so by 4pm I am leaving a message to ask for my results. They do tend to call back pretty quickly after that, but it is frustrating to have to call and bug them in the first place.
10
Clinic
Denver Fertility Care (formerly Denver IVF Albrecht Women's Care)
Englewood