Dr. Dicken was thorough, professional, and informative. I never felt rushed or like I couldn’t or shouldn’t ask questions. She helped guide us to making decisions that would be best for us and keeping us fully aware of expectations and options...took the time to patiently answer all of my questions as well as considering my feelings and wishes in the process. She was informative but also kind and personable...
The nurses [at RMA Long Island IVF] were sweet and helpful. They were friendly and gentle and considerate. I felt like they went above and beyond to make each visit a positive experience...This clinic is accessible and helpful. All staff were professional and organized and informed. They responded promptly and thoroughly. Everyone was accommodating and supportive...
How was your experience with Cary Dicken at RMA Long Island IVF (formerly Long Island IVF)?
Dr. Dicken was thorough, professional, and informative. I never felt rushed or like I couldn’t or shouldn’t ask questions. She helped guide us to making decisions that would be best for us and keeping us fully aware of expectations and options.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Cary Dicken at RMA Long Island IVF (formerly Long Island IVF)?
Dr. Dicken took the time to patiently answer all of my questions as well as considering my feelings and wishes in the process. She was informative but also kind and personable.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at RMA Long Island IVF (formerly Long Island IVF).
The nurses were sweet and helpful. They were friendly and gentle and considerate. I felt like they went above and beyond to make each visit a positive experience.
Describe your experience with RMA Long Island IVF (formerly Long Island IVF).
This clinic is accessible and helpful. All staff were professional and organized and informed. They responded promptly and thoroughly. Everyone was accommodating and supportive. We have been pleased with our experience so far.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Cary Dicken at RMA Long Island IVF (formerly Long Island IVF).
Insurance covered all costs except copays and the cost of the donor eggs.
I switched to Dr Dicken after a failed IVF cycle at another clinic and the difference is night and day. Dr Dicken is compassionate yet straightforward, always reachable, did 99% of my scans. She gave me information but also provided advice. She has customized my treatment and allowed for flexible timing depending on the likelihood of success at each baseline...she has been present at every scan and been very forthcoming with information, describing her thought process step by step. She was much more thorough in the diagnostic workup and has found potential issues that other doctors had missed.
I’ve worked with different nurses [at Sher Fertility of New York]. Some senior nurses are great, very helpful and compassionate. First primary nurse was kind but extremely disorganized - forgot to send my calendar, forgot to order meds, missed some consents, didn’t submit insurance authorization for meds...I’ve had repeated problems ordering meds...I asked four separate times to order meds through my insurance company’s in-network pharmacy but it never got done so i had to pay out of pocket.
How was your experience with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
I have had an excellent experience so far with Dr Dicken, she has been present at every scan and been very forthcoming with information, describing her thought process step by step. She was much more thorough in the diagnostic workup and has found potential issues that other doctors had missed.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Get educated, ask questions, be an active partner in your treatment.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
I switched to Dr Dicken after a failed IVF cycle at another clinic and the difference is night and day. Dr Dicken is compassionate yet straightforward, always reachable, did 99% of my scans. She gave me information but also provided advice. She has customized my treatment and allowed for flexible timing depending on the likelihood of success at each baseline.
Describe the protocols Cary Dicken used in your cycles at Sher Fertility Solutions New York and their degree of success.
Estrogen prime antagonist protocol + PICSI:
- estradiol, follistim 150iu, menopur 150iu, ganirelix, HGH, dual trigger (Lupron, Novarel)
Supplements, acupuncture, thyroid medication.
We prime every month but base treatment on my antral count at baseline to maximize results, delay stims until CD4 or 5 (long cycles).
Results: 3 eggs retrieved, one day 6 embryo frozen. Prior doctor said I would never be able to retrieve more than 1-2 eggs per cycle, so this was above expectations.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
It varies. I’ve worked with different nurses. Some senior nurses are great, very helpful and compassionate.
First primary nurse was kind but extremely disorganized - forgot to send my calendar, forgot to order meds, missed some consents, didn’t submit insurance authorization for meds. Every step required chasing with repeated reminders, zero communication.
Since then I have rotated between different nurses, some better than others.
Describe your experience with Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
Strengths: I really like my doctor, and like that it’s a smaller clinic with more personalized care. I love that my doctor does every scan and procedure herself, this is a huge advantage over larger clinics.
Weaknesses: they are experiencing financial difficulties and it shows, they seem increasingly disorganized and understaffed. Logistics at every step have been a challenge, if I didn’t have leftover meds from my prior clinic I would have had to cancel my cycle.
I saw a different attending doctor one day who provided conflicting (incorrect) information with poor bedside manner. However, this only happened once vs my prior clinic where it was the norm to see a different doctor every day.
What specific things went wrong at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Lost paperwork
Failed to call with results
Provided conflicting information
Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
I’ve had repeated problems ordering meds. Eg I asked four separate times to order meds through my insurance company’s in-network pharmacy but it never got done so i had to pay out of pocket. It can be difficult to reach someone after hours. I have also had problems with billing since they began financial restructuring, hoping this gets rectified once the new billing team is in place.
Dr Dicken has always been very clear in her explanations and our expectations. She is been very easy to reach via phone or email and answered all of our questions in a very understandable way. She is also been very supportive from an emotional point of view...Thru frequent monitoring she adjusted my medications and stopped treatments if not worth it.
The entire team at [Sher Fertility Solutions New York] was easy to reach via phone or email. All the explanations along the way were very clear and communicated very well...The environment is nice and clean. The front-desk has been friendly and helpful. The wait was minimal and they were always trying to accommodate my schedule. They also took very good precautions during the Covid-19 epidemic.
How was your experience with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Dr Dicken has always been very clear in her explanations and our expectations. She is been very easy to reach via phone or email and answered all of our questions in a very understandable way. She is also been very supportive from an emotional point of view. She gave us hope but at the same time she is been very "real".
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Ask any questions!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Felt very comfortable with Dr. Dicken. Her explanations were very easy to understand.
Describe the protocols Cary Dicken used in your cycles at Sher Fertility Solutions New York and their degree of success.
She managed my treatments very well. Thru frequent monitoring she adjusted my medications and stopped treatments if not worth it.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
The entire team at sher was easy to reach via phone or email.
All the explanations along the way were very clear and communicated very well.
Describe your experience with Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
The environment is nice and clean. The front-desk has been friendly and helpful. The wait was minimal and they were always trying to accommodate my schedule. They also took very good precautions during the Covid-19 epidemic.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
approximately 60K for (3) cycles.
Describe Cary Dicken's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
Dr Dicken tried to retrieve as many good eggs as possible.
She did a very thorough phone consultation for us before cycling again, obviously reviewed our extensive records, and has been extremely responsive while cycling. ... Dr Dicken added a few tweaks to that protocol for poor responders (like a dual trigger, for example). I liked that she had poor responder data and observations to back up her protocol tweaks.
I believe the embryology lab at SIRM is top notch. Financial can be difficult to navigate. And honestly it would be so much easier if each patient were assigned a dedicated clinical coordinator/nurse. It’s also no picnic trying to cycle out of town as a satellite patient. You really have to be your own advocate and review all of the calendars they send you. ...
How was your experience with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Honestly, when Dr. Wang left, I wanted to follow him to his new clinic. But because of various logistical reasons we decided to stay at SIRM. Dr. Dicken has been fantastic. As a poor responder, I appreciate that her protocol for our most recent freezing cycle hasn’t simply been a canned response.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
If you’re a former patient of Dr. Wang’s and you’re thinking about staying with SIRM, Dr. Dicken is a wonderful option.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
I went to Dicken after Wang left the Sher Institute. Nobody will ever be Wang, but Dicken is a good substitute! She did a very thorough phone consultation for us before cycling again, obviously reviewed our extensive records, and has been extremely responsive while cycling.
Describe the protocols Cary Dicken used in your cycles at Sher Fertility Solutions New York and their degree of success.
Our protocol has been shaped mainly by past failures and though our work with Dr. Wang. We use a combination of low-stims and estrogen priming, plus hGH. Dr Dicken added a few tweaks to that protocol for poor responders (like a dual trigger, for example). I liked that she had poor responder data and observations to back up her protocol tweaks.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
There are a lot of clinical coordinators at SIRM. Sometimes you’re not sure who to communicate with when a problem arises.
Describe your experience with Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
I believe the embryology lab at SIRM is top notch. Financial can be difficult to navigate. And honestly it would be so much easier if each patient were assigned a dedicated clinical coordinator/nurse. It’s also no picnic trying to cycle out of town as a satellite patient. You really have to be your own advocate and review all of the calendars they send you.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
I am a satellite patient and I monitored out of town and flew in for egg retrievals. It’s difficult but not impossible to do this but you have to be prepared to manage a lot of the appointment go-betweens yourself.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
I am fortunate to finally have IVF coverage but it’s not the greatest and many thing still aren’t covered. The things we have had to pay out of pocket for are required to be paid for before cycling. SIRM is much more expensive out of pocket than other clinics we have been to.
Describe Cary Dicken's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
Dr. Dicken counsels each patient on this individually.
With a frozen embryo transfer and genetic testing Dr Dicken advised the chances of success were high enough only one embryo was needed and we had success!...never made me feel rushed and always took her time to explain everything to me...She was kind, compassionate and knowledgeable. She even caught complications two other doctors I consulted with missed. She always took her time with me and fully explained everything. She’s the best and I will use her again.
All the nurses [at Sher Fertility of New York] were very friendly and knowledgeable...The care was pricey but in line with anywhere else and definitely not the most expensive. They did offer financing though I didn’t take advantage of it...Loved the clinic. Everyone was very friendly. Easy to get in touch with them and to get an appointment. Never really had to wait. Everything was very clean and I always felt comfortable. Everyone was very professional. I will gladly go to them again for our next and already have recommended them to friends.
How was your experience with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
She was kind, compassionate and knowledgeable. She even caught complications two other doctors I consulted with missed. She always took her time with me and fully explained everything. She’s the best and I will use her again.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
If things don’t work as planned first try keep trying and don’t loose hope.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Dr Dicken never made me feel rushed and always took her time to explain everything to me.
Describe the protocols Cary Dicken used in your cycles at Sher Fertility Solutions New York and their degree of success.
She supported egg transfer with medication/hormones which I think made all the difference.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
All the nurses were very friendly and knowledgeable.
Describe your experience with Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
Loved the clinic. Everyone was very friendly. Easy to get in touch with them and to get an appointment. Never really had to wait. Everything was very clean and I always felt comfortable. Everyone was very professional. I will gladly go to them again for our next and already have recommended them to friends.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
The care was pricey but in line with anywhere else and definitely not the most expensive. They did offer financing though I didn’t take advantage of it.
Describe Cary Dicken's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
With a frozen embryo transfer and genetic testing Dr Dicken advised the chances of success were high enough only one embryo was needed and we had success!
Dr. Dicken is a skilled doctor who is willing to treat patients with severely diminished ovarian reserve. I went to retrieval with an AFC of 7 and an AMH of below .4. She specializes in this type of treatment and did not overmedicate me, in order to avoid compromising the quality of remaining eggs. She was willing to incorporate HGH at my suggestion, based on outside research I had done. At one point we had some communication glitches, which resulted in our having to delay a cycle, but we came to learn this was more the result of failed communication between her and the office staff. We are very grateful to her for her willingness to help patients like me - she will go to retrieval for only one egg, because she understands how precious that one egg is.
SHER is willing to work with patients who have DOR which was our biggest priority. I previously did a cycle at RMA who treated me like a number for sure. All doctors are skilled in this sub-area. The clinic is great about sending instructions and calendars, has very responsive and communicative staff who are always available by email, and has a great late-night nursing call back system. I would highly recommend for a patient with diminished ovarian reserve as they are one of few clinics who will go to retrieval for one or two eggs.
How was your experience with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Dr. Dicken is a skilled doctor who is willing to treat patients with severely diminished ovarian reserve. I went to retrieval with an AFC of 7 and an AMH of below .4. She specializes in this type of treatment and did not overmedicate me, in order to avoid compromising the quality of remaining eggs. She was willing to incorporate HGH at my suggestion, based on outside research I had done. At one point we had some communication glitches, which resulted in our having to delay a cycle, but we came to learn this was more the result of failed communication between her and the office staff. We are very grateful to her for her willingness to help patients like me - she will go to retrieval for only one egg, because she understands how precious that one egg is.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Ask questions, and be sure that you understand every aspect of the proposed treatment as well as the rationale. Maintain communication throughout.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Dr. Dicken is excellent at maintaining active correspondence during treatment. She always responded to our emails, which were often sent during periods of heightened emotion and anxiety, within 24 hours, and was both reassuring and realistic. She always read our chart before seeing us, and asked us how we were before delivering news.
Describe the protocols Cary Dicken used in your cycles at Sher Fertility Solutions New York and their degree of success.
Our first cycle, we used 150iu of Menopur and 150iu of Gonal F, then added in 250mg of Cetrotide three days before retrieval. We triggered with HCG. The rationale was to not overmedicate, as I have DOR and too much medication can compromise the quality of eggs. We retrieved 4 eggs, and froze one 5-day embryo, which tested PGS normal. The second cycle, we hoped to have similar results but possibly retrieve more eggs without compromising quality, so we kept the protocol the same for the first five days, but then increased the Gonal f to 225iu on the sixth day, and added 1mL of Omnitrope (HGH) to increase egg quality. We also started the Cetrotide sooner to allow the eggs to grow a bit longer while preventing premature ovulation. We triggered with a combination of HCG and Lupron. That cycle, we retrieved 9 eggs, though only 6 were mature. Of those six, three made it past day 3, and 2 made it to freeze. We tested both - one came back PGS normal, and the other was inconclusive (the cells that were biopsied did not have enough DNA to run the test - annoying). We are about to start a third cycle and will probably keep the treatment the same as the second, because we were happy with the results.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Sher Fertility Solutions New York. (Assigned nurse: Marian Gerges)
Marian was responsive, kind, and organized. We had one problem with communication that was frustrating - when we started our second cycle we did not have a full consultation, only a partial, so some decisions were made without our knowledge. They were responsive and rectified the situation with a mid-cycle consultation. We will not make the mistake again - the office staff in that case needed to be better as communicating as an entire team, but Marian herself was great. she even answered our late-night call when we had a panic attack about administering the double trigger We really love her and hope to work with her again.
Describe your experience with Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
SHER is willing to work with patients who have DOR which was our biggest priority. I previously did a cycle at RMA who treated me like a number for sure. All doctors are skilled in this sub-area. The clinic is great about sending instructions and calendars, has very responsive and communicative staff who are always available by email, and has a great late-night nursing call back system. I would highly recommend for a patient with diminished ovarian reserve as they are one of few clinics who will go to retrieval for one or two eggs.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
We had two cycles covered by insurance. The next will be self pay. The first two cycles came out to about 5K each including the cost of PGS testing and co-pays. They have quoted the self pay cycle at about 12K.
Describe Cary Dicken's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
Dr. Dicken recommends transferring two past the age of 35, though she is more cautious with PGS-tested normal embryos and the last time we spoke, indicated that it was ultimately up to us. We will most likely transfer the PGS normal embryo along with the inconclusive embryo at the same time, because that (according to her) gives us the highest chance of a single live birth. Overall, she is a good combination of realistic but cautious.
What specific things went wrong at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Provided conflicting information
Canceled a cycle due to clinic error
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
As written in the nursing section, we had a glitch with our second cycle where the staff didn't give us a full consultation appointment so decisions were being made without communicating to us the rationale. Also, we had to delay a cycle because Dr. Dicken didn't tell us to abstain from intercourse in the weeks prior and didn't want to risk proceeding if I was possibly pregnant (I wasn't). This was very frustrating, though they were responsive to our concerns. Overall we were happy enough with the outcome and so grateful to her for treating us with DOR that we took this as a lesson to always make sure we are asking the right questions and insisting on appointments and rationale. We will take it upon ourselves to be hypervigilant in the future. This is the only reason for the lower ratings.
Dr. Dicken was always clear, efficient, and realistic but positive. She responded to emails quickly, within 24 hours on weekends and much sooner during business hours. She easily answered any questions I had, and I always felt cared for. She went out of her way to support me when a cycle went awry financially and while it was a small thing for her, it made a huge difference to me. She responded conscientiously to my financial needs as well as my body to adjust treatment and I never felt like I wasn't getting the best care just because I couldn't afford every option.
Very nice facility [Sher Fertility of NY]. Some weird art. The staff knew me and again always struck me as efficient and conscientious. While Dr. Dicken was based on the 6th floor mostly, many procedures are on the third floor, and that could sometimes be confusing. Doctors cover for each other occasionally, and the in interactions I had with Dr. Tortoriello and Dr. Wang, I found them both pleasant, responsive and effective.
How was your experience with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Dr. Dicken was always clear, efficient, and realistic but positive. She responded to emails quickly, within 24 hours on weekends and much sooner during business hours. She easily answered any questions I had, and I always felt cared for. She went out of her way to support me when a cycle went awry financially and while it was a small thing for her, it made a huge difference to me. She responded conscientiously to my financial needs as well as my body to adjust treatment and I never felt like I wasn't getting the best care just because I couldn't afford every option.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
If you're not sure, ask and she'll tell you.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Dr. Dicken and nurses and staff at the clinic were all kind and responsive in communicating.
Describe the protocols Cary Dicken used in your cycles at Sher Fertility Solutions New York and their degree of success.
I had exhausted my covered IVF cycles and prescriptions and was limited to paying out of pocket for all drugs but had unlimited covered IUI cycles. She prescribed letrazole for low side-effect follicle stimulation, which I responded well to, producing 3-6 follicles for each of 5 cycles, the third resulting in a chemical pregnancy. Around that time, she suggested injectables would produce more eggs, if I could afford it. After two more negative cycles, I felt I was ready to try the more aggressive injectables. She gave me the choice of Menopur or Gonal-F, giving me a timeline and estimated number of doses, saying the output would be about the same. She did not indicate that the number of doses could go much higher, based on how my body responded, but it did, by five days, the follicles needing more time to grow than anticipated. I might have made a different choice had I known, but when it happened, I couldn't just scrap the cycle and while I did incur some unforeseen debt, she helped me out with a box of Menopur they had on hand at the clinic. This made a big difference to me both in how much I had to pay and struck me as a caring, humane gesture that certainly she didn't have to make. It was worth it, though, since that sixth cycle has ended up in a viable pregnancy!
Describe your experience with your nurse at Sher Fertility Solutions New York. (Assigned nurse: Jacqueline Piccardo)
The nursing staff I encountered on visits were always kind, professional and efficient. I wish they all wore name tags because I often ended up seeing the same people and while they knew me, after a while, it was awkward not to know theirs and to have to ask. Jacqueline, the coordinating nurse, once or twice was party to minor miscommunication, but it was always resolved quickly. She always had a lovely affect, which goes a long way.
Describe your experience with Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
Very nice facility. Some weird art. The staff knew me and again always struck me as efficient and conscientious. While Dr. Dicken was based on the 6th floor mostly, many procedures are on the third floor, and that could sometimes be confusing. Doctors cover for each other occasionally, and the in interactions I had with Dr. Tortoriello and Dr. Wang, I found them both pleasant, responsive and effective.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
$50 copay each visit--30 for seeing the doctor, 20 for labs whether I had them done or not. I was billed later for fees. I ended up spending an average of $800 a month at the clinic and on associated out-of-pocket drug costs (I used Kings in Brooklyn) for IUI cycles using letrozole. I did not investigate discount online fertility pharmacies, and I wish I had.
What specific things went wrong at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
Once a prescription was not sent in to the pharmacy. I sent an email and they remedied it quickly.
Dr. Dicken was very compassionate...was always available on email and very through during all the consults I had including phone consults. She is a very kind woman and made me feel empowered and involved in my treatment plan. She never was condescending and she would get back to me with through responses via email during very stressful times and always put me at ease...I have DOR and we attempted to bank embryos and she usually stuck to the same protocol of low dose folistim and 1 vial of menopur but at my urging we did add other things into my protocol. I urged her to raise my dose once and she finally complied and it was a mistake and ended up a canceled cycle but I’m glad we at least tried.
My nurse Marian [at Sher Fertility of New York] was lovely. Jackie another nurse there was incredible to me. All the nurse staff even the ones that naturally had a rough way about them were all my angels...There were a few mishaps here and there but nothing egregious. Doctors and nurses are human too...PICSI cost $1000 even if it was just 2 eggs retrieved. Consults were $50. Most of my other costs I was lucky enough to have covered by insurance.
How was your experience with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Dr Dicken was always available on email and very through during all the consults I had including phone consults. She is a very kind woman and made me feel empowered and involved in my treatment plan. She never was condescending and she would get back to me with through responses via email during very stressful times and always put me at ease.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Tell her what you are thinking and she will work with you to do the best treatment for you.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
I felt that this clinic treated me very well. Everyone was always kind as Dr. Dicken was very compassionate
Describe the protocols Cary Dicken used in your cycles at Sher Fertility Solutions New York and their degree of success.
I have DOR and we attempted to bank embryos and she usually stuck to the same protocol of low dose folistim and 1 vial of menopur but at my urging we did add other things into my protocol. I urged her to raise my dose once and she finally complied and it was a mistake and ended up a canceled cycle but I’m glad we at least tried.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Sher Fertility Solutions New York. (Assigned nurse: Marian)
My nurse Marian was lovely. Jackie another nurse there was incredible to me. All the nurse staff even the ones that naturally had a rough way about them were all my angels.
Describe your experience with Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
This clinic is small and personal. The doctors are flexible and the nurse staff is wonderful. I felt well taken care of even though I did not have the outcome I wanted. When I got naturally pregnant after years of failed treatments I went back to this clinic because I could not imagine getting treatment from anywhere else. That was unfortunately a miscarriage at 8 weeks but I was so grateful to go through that surrounded by so many kind people who knew me.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
PICSI cost $1000 even if it was just 2 eggs retrieved. Consults were $50. Most of my other costs I was lucky enough to have covered by insurance.
What specific things went wrong at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Failed to order appropriate test
Provided conflicting information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
There were a few mishaps here and there but nothing egregious. Doctors and nurses are human too.
Dr. Dicken was a kind and understanding doctor, who did not hesitate to give us the information we needed but was sensitive and considerate when she had bad news to deliver. She remembered us, kept in touch and was always available when we needed her...took the time to explain things when we had questions. She was encouraging but was always clear about risks and the probability of success.
We dealt closely with two or three nurses under Dr. Dicken [at Sher Fertility of New York]. All were excellent. They were not only professional but were warm and friendly. It made a big difference to us that even the receptionists at the front desk remembered our names and greeted us warmly every time we saw them...We compared facilities and found that costs at SHER were about average.
How was your experience with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
We found Dr. Dicken to be a consummate professional who gave us clear information and took the time to explain things when we had questions. She was encouraging but was always clear about risks and the probability of success. Dr. Dicken also remained available to us when we had questions for her. She responded promptly to emails and made sure that her staff followed up when necessary. We saw her at every appointment that involved a doctor.
It is hard to overstate how important this was for us. We went to Dr. Dicken after first seeing a well-known doctor at a major facility who we found cold, remote and insensitive. By contrast, we felt comfortable with Dr. Dicken as our guide through this sometimes difficult process. After some setbacks, we were blessed with a beautiful baby boy and we are eternally grateful to Dr. Dicken for her help in getting us there.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
The advice I would give is to see Dr. Dicken first before trying other facilities. Frankly, we wasted time and money with another doctor who was more of a big name but ended up a disappointment.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Dr. Dicken was a kind and understanding doctor, who did not hesitate to give us the information we needed but was sensitive and considerate when she had bad news to deliver. She remembered us, kept in touch and was always available when we needed her. In contrast to other doctors we saw, Dr. Dicken was as kind and warm as she was totally professional. That made a great difference to us as we were going through a stressful process.
Describe the protocols Cary Dicken used in your cycles at Sher Fertility Solutions New York and their degree of success.
When we first came to see Dr. Dicken, we were trying IVF using our own eggs. We knew the odds were against us - and Dr. Dicken was clear with us about the statistics - but we were not ready to give up. Dr. Dicken led us through two cycles and made some adjustments to the process. After two IVF cycles, we decided to use an egg donor. The first transfer was not successful, and Dr. Dicken again made some adjustments to the treatment. The second time it worked.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
We dealt closely with two or three nurses under Dr. Dicken. All were excellent. They were not only professional but were warm and friendly. It made a big difference to us that even the receptionists at the front desk remembered our names and greeted us warmly every time we saw them.
Describe your experience with Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
This is a relatively small clinic, which for us was a plus. Before going to SHER, we first went to another facility that was much larger and felt like an assembly line where no one knew our name; frankly, we came to feel unwelcome at this other facility, as though we were dragging down their success statistics. In contrast, SHER was a smaller, kinder and more welcoming place, while still being totally professional.
As we were nearing the end of our treatment, SHER was sold to another company. Some changes started to happen, such as reorganization of offices and departments, but we saw only a little of this as we were on our way out (happily, we became pregnant and had a baby). So because we didn't have much experience with SHER after the sale, we don't feel that we can fully evaluate it today.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
We compared facilities and found that costs at SHER were about average.
What specific things went wrong at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Lost paperwork
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
One time, a nurse apparently lost some requested paperwork that we brought in and left at the front desk for her. We were annoyed with this but it was the only time anything like that happened. Otherwise they were completely organized and professional about all things.
She [Dr. Dicken] was so positive and encouraging. She was open to my own ideas and made me feel like we were partnering and not like I was a science project. At the same time she is professional knowledgeable and made a protocol that didn’t feel cookie cutter. ... Estrogen priming antagonist protocol with icsi. ... We transferred 2 as I was 44 at time of transfer. ...Embryo banking till we got enough embies to transfer.
On the clerical side [of Sher Fertility of New York], I was told the day before my transfer that I owed a substantial amount of money even though I was assured these charges were covered by insurance. I found it to be terrible timing and also not cool that the insurance coordinator wasn’t clean on what was covered. The lady was very sweet, but she needed to be more precise about that.
How was your experience with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
She was so positive and encouraging. She was open to my own ideas and made me feel like we were partnering and not like I was a science project. At the same time she is professional knowledgeable and made a protocol that didn’t feel cookie cutter.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions and trust her instincts. I was so annoyed she sent me for an MRI of my uterus... it turns out my earlier RE’s totally missed that I had a uterine septum! Her instincts were right!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
She a d her staff were just really cool and personable. They remember you and your case and everyone was positive and encouraging.
Describe the protocols Cary Dicken used in your cycles at Sher Fertility Solutions New York and their degree of success.
Estrogen priming antagonist protocol with icsi. Embryo banking till we got enough embies to transfer.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Sher Fertility Solutions New York. (Assigned nurse: Mariam)
All the nurses were awesome, including my nurse coordinator, tho she started slipping a bit here and there. She sometimes gave incorrect updates which when I double checked was corrected. Generally, she was good, and I found two other nurses I could reach out to (also part of the team) who were always on point. Together, The team was amazing.
Describe your experience with Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
It’s hard for me to make much of a complaint on the clinical side, they gave me my rainbow baby at 45 with my own eggs. To me they are IVF superheroes. On the clerical side, I was told the day before my transfer that I owed a substantial amount of money even though I was assured these charges were covered by insurance. I found it to be terrible timing and also not cool that the insurance coordinator wasn’t clean on what was covered. The lady was very sweet, but she needed to be more precise about that.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
I don’t remember actual prices as my insurance covered almost everything
Describe Cary Dicken's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
We transferred 2 as I was 44 at time of transfer. Ultimately one stuck and I am nursing her as I type!
What specific things went wrong at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Provided conflicting information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
Just a couple times the coordinating nurse told me one thing in person and then emailed me something in error. When I wrote back to confirm, she was able to give the right info. Wasn’t a big deal.
Dr. Dicken is approachable, direct and very up to date on recent developments in fertility technology. I had done a lot of research which she was very open to discussing. She’s also reachable via email and responds within 24 hours normally.... Trustworthy and knowledgeable. I saw her at every appointment. Very communicative and able to be reached directly via email. Only negative I can think of is the appointments are short / can sometimes feel slightly rushed.
This [Sher Fertility of NY] is a boutique clinic that makes you feel confident in your investment, both from a financial and time standpoint. You can book monitoring appointments which is a huge plus for anyone who’s also been treated at a “farm” like NYU or RMA. Only downside is some issues with billing - this department is not as organized as the doctors and nurses and I had some misunderstandings which had to be sorted out. Make sure you’re familiar with your coverage and are billed as such.
How was your experience with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Trustworthy and knowledgeable. I saw her at every appointment. Very communicative and able to be reached directly via email. Only negative I can think of is the appointments are short / can sometimes feel slightly rushed.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
SIRM patients are often those who’ve not seen success elsewhere, so feel free to do research and come armed with what you’re looking for (how aggressive you’d like to move, concerns, etc).
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Dr. Dicken is approachable, direct and very up to date on recent developments in fertility technology. I had done a lot of research which she was very open to discussing. She’s also reachable via email and responds within 24 hours normally.
Describe the protocols Cary Dicken used in your cycles at Sher Fertility Solutions New York and their degree of success.
Letrezole, Ovidrel, IUI
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
Nursing staff was very nice, organized and compassionate. They tended to rotate between doctors so I often saw different staff.
Describe your experience with Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
This is a boutique clinic that makes you feel confident in your investment, both from a financial and time standpoint. You can book monitoring appointments which is a huge plus for anyone who’s also been treated at a “farm” like NYU or
RMA. Only downside is some issues with billing - this department is not as organized as the doctors and nurses and I had some misunderstandings which had to be sorted out. Make sure you’re familiar with your coverage and are billed as such.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
$1000-2000 for IUI and medication
Describe Cary Dicken's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
NA
What specific things went wrong at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Failed to call with results
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
Dr. Dicken is well informed, compassionate and kind. She’s a seasoned professional and practitioner. Still, there were times when she was not as clear as she could have been due to fatigue. It is my impression that the work/life balancing act was at times overwhelming. This at times led to inconsistent statements and instructions...
The offices [at Sher Fertility of New York] are very clean, cozy and welcoming. The staff are very professional and compassionate. All of the different practitioners know their stuff and do their very best to be attentive and supportive...People always greeted us by name and knew the details of our case file...They [nurses] definitely valued teamwork and worked together to provide good patient care.
How was your experience with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Dr. Dicken is well informed, compassionate and kind. She’s a seasoned professional and practitioner. Still, there were times when she was not as clear as she could have been due to fatigue. It is my impression that the work/life balancing act was at times overwhelming. This at times led to inconsistent statements and instructions.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Ask many questions and take copious notes.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
People always greeted us by name and knew the details of our case file.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
They definitely valued teamwork and worked together to provide good patient care.
Describe your experience with Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
The offices are very clean, cozy and welcoming. The staff are very professional and compassionate. All of the different practitioners know their stuff and do their very best to be attentive and supportive.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
$5,000 per cycle with insurance.
What specific things went wrong at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Failed to inform you of changes in protocol
Provided conflicting information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
We were not told that we must completely abstain from sexual activity prior to starting a new cycle of retrievals. This nearly compromised one of our cycles.
Dr. Dicken individualized my protocols and changed them as necessary based on my response and test results. I've done both natural and medicated transfer cycles. She added supplements and anticoagulants based on immune and clotting test results...She always mentioned treatment costs upfront as well as potential savings. .... She found a number of things that were missed by my previous doctor. She explains treatment and procedures, so that you know her rationale and what to expect.
They [Sher] truly make the process as easy as possible for you. Everything runs on-time and almost seamlessly. Everyone, even doctors, email with you in record time. It's a warm, inviting environment, and staff take the time to get to know you. I'd never go anywhere else!...ackie, who communicates test results and instructions, is absolutely wonderful! She's friendly and greets each patient, and she's very efficient at communicating instructions and calling in prescriptions.
How was your experience with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Dr. Dicken is the best doctor I've ever had...I often say to friends and family that I wish Dr. Dicken could be my doctor for everything! It's a very difficult process, but I got better results each cycle and didn't give up because of her excellent care. She is very thorough, pragmatic, and individualizes treatment. She found a number of things that were missed by my previous doctor. She explains treatment and procedures, so that you know her rationale and what to expect. She always has recommendations to improve the next cycle, and her recommendations always are a good balance of proven treatments and the latest research.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Communicate openly and honestly with Dr. Dicken--she really listens and respects patient concerns, questions, and wishes. When she makes a recommendation or communicates test results (you'll never need to follow up to get test results on time!), she asks what questions you have rather than asking if you have any questions. I was open about some embarrassing things and never been met with judgement, which is very different from my experiences with other doctors. My results and overall experience were definitely been much better because of it.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
My treatment was highly individualized, and my care was very hands-on. Dr. Dicken makes recommendations based on medical needs but takes your preferences and resources into consideration as well. Somehow, she managed to recite almost all my numerous test results and numbers off the top of her head during appointments. She always mentioned treatment costs upfront as well as potential savings. Since I prefer less medication, Dr. Dicken always explained why she recommends a new medication or increase in dosage. I appreciated that I was informed and involved in my healthcare decisions.
Describe the protocols Cary Dicken used in your cycles at Sher Fertility Solutions New York and their degree of success.
Dr. Dicken individualized my protocols and changed them as necessary based on my response and test results. I've done both natural and medicated transfer cycles. She added supplements and anticoagulants based on immune and clotting test results. She used protocols with letrozole and lupron to address my ongoing receptivity problems and abnormal uterine biopsy results. I got better results each cycle and finally was successful.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Sher Fertility Solutions New York. (Assigned nurse: Jackie)
Jackie, who communicates test results and instructions, is absolutely wonderful! She's friendly and greets each patient, and she's very efficient at communicating instructions and calling in prescriptions. The other nurses (it's changed a bit) that meet with you before your cycle are less helpful and often get instructions and information incorrect.
Describe your experience with Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
They truly make the process as easy as possible for you. Everything runs on-time and almost seamlessly. Everyone, even doctors, email with you in record time. It's a warm, inviting environment, and staff take the time to get to know you. I'd never go anywhere else!
Describe the costs associated with your care under Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
Luckily, my insurance covered the majority of my costs. I chose to do a few more experimental tests that weren't covered by insurance, but they weren't pushed on me and the costs were made clear upfront. I've had a few errors on my bills, but they've been cleared up pretty easily. The biggest hurdle was the initial financial consult, but everything has been fine since.
What specific things went wrong at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Dr. Dicken is up to date with the latest research, explains her opinion to our questions directly with the positives/negatives, shows compassion/empathy to the tough situation we are in, typically responds to our questions within hours, has a kind/understanding "bedside manner", remembers our preferences for almost every issue (e.g. preference for how medicated we want our cycle to be, how we prefer to take medication), is very sensitive to how we react to the medication, and basically goes ABOVE AND BEYOND IN EVERY SITUATION to provide excellent patient care.
It always feels very orderly and zen-like in the waiting area [at Sher]. The staff that picks up the phone/coordinates appointments are professional and efficient. The clinic's schedule is managed so well that I am simultaneously always able to get an appointment and yet there is never a wait to see the Dr...Dr. Dicken's nurse Jackie is efficient, friendly and caring. She answers all our questions promptly, takes extra time to send us our blood test results levels (our request) after every blood test (and there are many!) and efficiently executes tasks accurately e.g. calling in prescriptions and conveying doctor's response.
How was your experience with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Dr. Dicken is up to date with the latest research, explains her opinion to our questions directly with the positives/negatives, shows compassion/empathy to the tough situation we are in, typically responds to our questions within hours, has a kind/understanding "bedside manner", remembers our preferences for almost every issue (e.g. preference for how medicated we want our cycle to be, how we prefer to take medication), is very sensitive to how we react to the medication, and basically goes ABOVE AND BEYOND IN EVERY SITUATION to provide excellent patient care.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
I wish I switched to Dr. Dicken sooner. Do not hesitate. She is an all around rock star in all aspects of patient care.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
From the onset, Dr Dicken asked what our long term goals were and what we were willing to do to achieve them. She remembers practically every detail we've shared with her about issues ranging from our preference for non-medicated cycles to why we have a timing preference for our most recent planned transfer. She demonstrates empathy and always shares her professional opinion directly, kindly and without judgement.
Describe the protocols Cary Dicken used in your cycles at Sher Fertility Solutions New York and their degree of success.
Dr. Dicken monitored my results closely throughout the process and adjusted my protocol, as needed. Unlike my previous clinic, she was open to estrogen priming and allowed me to use the patch when the pill caused nausea.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
Dr. Dicken's nurse Jackie is efficient, friendly and caring. She answers all our questions promptly, takes extra time to send us our blood test results levels (our request) after every blood test (and there are many!) and efficiently executes tasks accurately e.g. calling in prescriptions and conveying doctor's response.
Describe your experience with Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
It always feels very orderly and zen-like in the waiting area. The staff that picks up the phone/coordinates appointments are professional and efficient. The clinic's schedule is managed so well that I am simultaneously always able to get an appointment and yet there is never a wait to see the Dr.
She treated me for having overactive natural killer cells, PCOS and hormonal imbalance. Whether via email or in person, Dr. Dicken was readily available to me and my husband during a very challenging time...Dr. Dicken was responsive, attentive, patient and very accessible by phone, email or in person. She made me feel like I was her only patient...
The clinic’s strengths are that it has Flexible hours, great team, great with technology (e.g. email), resourceful (I.e. each doctor has their own expertise) , open minded (I.e. supportive of holistic measures like acupuncture) and comprehensive beyond just the medical/technical work involved (e.g. They have financial counseling)....
How was your experience with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Dr. Dicken made me feel like I was her only patient. She was compassionate, accessible, has a strong command for her field and can explain things in terms that are easy for a non-medically trained person to understand. Dr. Dicken was the second doctor I saw after 2 failed IVF transfers with Greenwich Fertility and several IUI’s. On the first IVF transfer Dr. Dicken performed, I conceived. She treated me for having overactive natural killer cells, PCOS and hormonal imbalance. Whether via email or in person, Dr. Dicken was readily available to me and my husband during a very challenging time. We are grateful for our newborn son who was born just 13 months after our first time meeting with Dr. Dicken.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Ask as many questions as you must and avail yourself of asking questions of her via email or her team.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Dr. Dicken was responsive, attentive, patient and very accessible by phone, email or in person. She made me feel like I was her only patient.
Describe the protocols Cary Dicken used in your cycles at Sher Fertility Solutions New York and their degree of success.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Sher Fertility Solutions New York. (Assigned nurse: Jacqueline Piccardo)
Incredibly compassionate - I felt like Jackie felt everything I was going through personally and did everything she could to make me feel less alone.
Describe your experience with Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
The clinic’s strengths are that it has Flexible hours, great team, great with technology (e.g. email), resourceful (I.e. each doctor has their own expertise) , open minded (I.e. supportive of holistic measures like acupuncture) and comprehensive beyond just the medical/technical work involved (e.g.
They have financial counseling).
Her strengths: she will answer emails in a timely manner. She seems like a nice person. Her weaknesses: very poor verbal communication skills. You may have to wait several days before receiving lab report. Dr. Dicken will call you herself. You will have no communication with the embryologist....Overall, Dr. Dicken disappointed us greatly. She failed to communicate important information to me and my partner several times which nearly cost us a cycle and caused emotional distress while we awaited our results FOR EIGHT DAYS! We also felt she didn't even take the time to read our notes before checking in with us during apts. Ie. In a conversation with me she did not remember my partner's name nor the fact that we'd opted for PICSI. I am also very concerned that the lab did not provide me with an embryology report---vital information for our next cycle.
Neither Dr. Dicken nor her team [at Sher] communicated with me or my partner for 8 days while we waited for the embryology report. An IVF clinic will typically provide you information about embryo growth at days 2, 3, 5, and 6. Not the case here. On the morning of day 8 she called me to tell me all embryos had suddenly arrested on day 3. However, she said she was not sure she could provide me or my partner with an embryology report because she wasn't sure the embryologist had even taken notes on day 3! It is important to note that I froze my eggs with Dr. Dicken two years ago. I had great results---18 eggs retrieved and 14 eggs frozen. I also had 6 eggs frozen from another clinic. We attempted to thaw and fertilize these 20 eggs along with the fresh cycle. I received a call from Dr. Dicken letting me know that only 25 percent of my eggs had properly tha
How was your experience with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
I will say that I am impressed with Dr. Dicken's ability to help us improve our egg quantity during a cycle that was initially bound for failure. We had 8 eggs retrieved after she greatly lengthened our protocol. That said, I have read that longer stim protocols more often result in poorer outcomes. I wish she had iterated that information to us in order to help us make a decision about continuing with the cycle.
Overall, Dr. Dicken disappointed us greatly. She failed to communicate important information to me and my partner several times which nearly cost us a cycle and caused emotional distress while we awaited our results FOR EIGHT DAYS! We also felt she didn't even take the time to read our notes before checking in with us during apts. Ie. In a conversation with me she did not remember my partner's name nor the fact that we'd opted for PICSI. I am also very concerned that the lab did not provide me with an embryology report---vital information for our next cycle.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Her strengths: she will answer emails in a timely manner. She seems like a nice person.
Her weaknesses: very poor verbal communication skills. You may have to wait several days before receiving lab report. Dr. Dicken will call you herself. You will have no communication with the embryologist.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Dr. Dicken informed us that we could have local monitoring (in conjunction with care at Sher) since we live in another state. However, neither the Sher medical team nor my local clinic techs communicated with one another throughout day 5 of my monitoring cycle. I had to call Sher several times to ensure the ultrasound and blood test results were received and read by my RE. In addition, when we arrived at Sher NYC for day 8 monitoring apt, Dr. Dicken said that she only saw 3 large follicles. She said that had been given more information by the local clinic (i.e. follicle sizes measuring under 10mm) then she would have known my follicles were not properly aligned and would have suggested I be placed on a full week of estrogen priming prior to the cycle. However, Dr. Dicken and her team failed to communicate this information to me or to my local clinic during the first 7 days of my cycle. As a result, I nearly cancelled this retrieval.
Neither Dr. Dicken nor her team communicated with me or my partner for 8 days while we waited for the embryology report. An IVF clinic will typically provide you information about embryo growth at days 2, 3, 5, and 6. Not the case here. On the morning of day 8 she called me to tell me all embryos had suddenly arrested on day 3. However, she said she was not sure she could provide me or my partner with an embryology report because she wasn't sure the embryologist had even taken notes on day 3!
It is important to note that I froze my eggs with Dr. Dicken two years ago. I had great results---18 eggs retrieved and 14 eggs frozen. I also had 6 eggs frozen from another clinic. We attempted to thaw and fertilize these 20 eggs along with the fresh cycle. I received a call from Dr. Dicken letting me know that only 25 percent of my eggs had properly thawed! She said she didn't know why---possible poor lab conditions (and 14 of my eggs were vitrified at Sher) or poor egg quality. Again, she couldn't give me a clear answer.
Describe the protocols Cary Dicken used in your cycles at Sher Fertility Solutions New York and their degree of success.
Estrogen priming (although not primed for long enough)
225 Gonal F, 75 menopur, ganirelix
16 day stim cycle because my follicles were many different sizes
Describe your experience with your nurse at Sher Fertility Solutions New York. (Assigned nurse: Marian)
Nurse was extremely organized and thorough. She was very busy and hard to reach but overall I enjoyed my experience with her.
Describe your experience with Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
Clinic is small boutique style which is nice.
Compare this embryology lab to some of the more reputable clinics: NYU, CCRM Colorado, Cornell. Their SART rates are much higher. In retrospect, I regret not choosing another clinic regardless of my outcome because at least I would trust my eggs/embryos were in good hands!
Describe the costs associated with your care under Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
14.5 K and 5 K for medications
Describe Cary Dicken's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
We were extremely disappointed that she wasn't direct about the pros and cons of day 3/day 5 transfer. Also, had I known my embryos would arrest on day 3 I would have opted for this option. Since the embryologists do not check the embryos on day 2 there is no option for day 3 transfer if you opt for day 5.
What specific things went wrong at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Dr. Dicken was consistently warm and friendly, while still being honest and frank about our chances. She remembered me and the details our my history from appointment to appointment and answered emails quickly...I was doing an IVF transfer with a PGS'ed 5 day blastocyst. I did the usual drug protocol I'd done at another clinic, but I also did intralipid infusions every 2-3 weeks starting before the transfer and then through the beginning of the pregnancy. SIRM does this treatment for people who've has recurrent, unexplained miscarriages like me in the past.
It's a small clinic [Sher Manhattan], which I found helpful in navigating treatment, schedules, and billing. Nurses sometimes goofed on details of drug protocols and scheduling, but I just made sure to check things and follow up. They were always very kind and accommodating...I was doing an IVF transfer with a PGS'ed 5 day blastocyst. I did the usual drug protocol I'd done at another clinic, but I also did intralipid infusions every 2-3 weeks starting before the transfer and then through the beginning of the pregnancy. SIRM does this treatment for people who've has recurrent, unexplained miscarriages like me in the past.
How was your experience with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Again, Dr. Dicken was warm, friendly, available and kept my feelings in mind during a difficult time. She didn't withhold information or try to sugar coat anything, but she was clearly rooting for our success. At another clinic, I sometimes felt like their course of action was motivated more by their need to keep up their success rates.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
I'm not sure -- I really felt like I received good care. I was transferring embryos from another clinic and I wish I'd done a better job of keeping all the details of all of my testing clear, but that is more a statement about my own level of disorganization. Dr. Dicken was thorough and considered all the aspects of my history.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Dr. Dicken was consistently warm and friendly, while still being honest and frank about our chances. She remembered me and the details our my history from appointment to appointment and answered emails quickly.
Describe the protocols Cary Dicken used in your cycles at Sher Fertility Solutions New York and their degree of success.
I was doing an IVF transfer with a PGS'ed 5 day blastocyst. I did the usual drug protocol I'd done at another clinic, but I also did intralipid infusions every 2-3 weeks starting before the transfer and then through the beginning of the pregnancy. SIRM does this treatment for people who've has recurrent, unexplained miscarriages like me in the past.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
They were all very kind and encouraging. Again, I felt like a human at every turn. I will say I found it much easier to communicate via phone than email.
Describe your experience with Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
It's a small clinic, which I found helpful in navigating treatment, schedules, and billing. Nurses sometimes goofed on details of drug protocols and scheduling, but I just made sure to check things and follow up. They were always very kind and accommodating.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
My insurance covered 80% of the cost of the transfer. Some of the drugs weren't covered.
Describe Cary Dicken's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
Dr. Dicken suggested we transfer only one embryo rather than the two we had to choose from b/c of my history of miscarriages.
I see Dr. Dicken for EVERY SINGLE THING - meetings, follow-ups, consultations, every single morning monitoring, egg retrieval, etc. If I ever have any questions - big or little - I email her and she responds directly to me within 24 hours. It's been amazing. Such great, personal care...Since she is so good at answering questions - bring ALL the questions you have! She will give you her honest, professional opinion. If you have a wild idea or heard of a new thing, mention it - she's open to talking about everything and seems to understand how hard and complex this is. She may stick to her professional assessment, but always worth mentioning anything and everything that crosses your mind.
[Nurses at SHER] They are all very nice, friendly and compassionate. They work pretty efficiently as well...It's a small clinic with personal care... At Sher, we feel very much seen. One time they messed up our consultation appointment time and that was annoying. But that was the only bump, logistically. The facilities are nice as well. I don't feel "gross" going there. I feel comfortable...It's a small clinic - only 4 total doctors...Freezing and boring embryos was about $80/month.
How was your experience with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Dr. Dicken is great. She took the time in our first consultation to review our charts (from another clinic), give us her opinion and talk about ALL the options - something we did not get at our previous clinic. She is open-minded, caring, thorough and very responsive to all our questions in person and via emails. I feel very taken care of in a personal way with her.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Since she is so good at answering questions - bring ALL the questions you have! She will give you her honest, professional opinion. If you have a wild idea or heard of a new thing, mention it - she's open to talking about everything and seems to understand how hard and complex this is. She may stick to her professional assessment, but always worth mentioning anything and everything that crosses your mind.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
It's a small clinic - only 4 total doctors. And I see Dr. Dicken for EVERY SINGLE THING - meetings, follow-ups, consultations, every single morning monitoring, egg retrieval, etc. If I ever have any questions - big or little - I email her and she responds directly to me within 24 hours. It's been amazing. Such great, personal care.
Describe the protocols Cary Dicken used in your cycles at Sher Fertility Solutions New York and their degree of success.
I did an antagonist protocol. I did a week of estrogen priming in hopes of creating good quality, uniform eggs. I did FSH only to start then added menopur. I did about 14 days (longer than originally expected) of stims to create as many follicles as possible. We also did ICSI and PGS. She also had me take a lot of supplements and antioxidants - CoQ10, Fertilaid, Vitamin C, D, Red wine extract.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Sher Fertility Solutions New York. (Assigned nurse: Yisraela)
They are all very nice, friendly and compassionate. They work pretty efficiently as well.
Describe your experience with Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
It's a small clinic with personal care - this is what we needed after being at Columbia where we never knew who we would see and did not get to really know our primary doctor and vice versa. At Sher, we feel very much seen. One time they messed up our consultation appointment time and that was annoying. But that was the only bump, logistically. The facilities are nice as well. I don't feel "gross" going there. I feel comfortable.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
The first cycle was covered by our insurance. The next one we will wither choose 1 IVF with ICSI and1 FET for $13,000 (not including PGS) or two IVFs with ISCI and unlimited FETs for $26,000. Roughly. I believe the PGS was about $2,000. Freezing and boring embryos was about $80/month.
Describe Cary Dicken's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
I believe she prefers single embryo transfers - after PGS tested - for best results
What specific things went wrong at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Lost appointments
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
One time they messed up a consultation appointment - they had it down fro the wrong day. We took off work to get there only to be turned away. They tried to see if Dr. Dicken could see us, but she couldn't. So we had to reschedule.
At our initial meeting, I thought Dr. Dicken was incredible (she still is). She was knowledgeable with just the right amount of empathy and professionalism. We went into detail about my concerns. On the day that we met, I got a surprise positive pregnancy test. I emailed Dr. Dicken and asked if I could use the progesterone that she had prescribed for my upcoming IUI. She responded quickly and gave me the go-ahead to use the progesterone. Unfortunately, that pregnancy ended in a miscarriage. Once my first period showed, I went back to SIRM for the IUI. Dr. Dicken was available for the first ultrasound. She explained that she would be out of office over the weekend and that I would see another doctor.
Strengths [of Sher]: Scheduled appointments (no early morning blood draws). Front desk staff was efficient. Care coordinator is amazing! Weaknesses: Not all doctors are created equal. Not all doctors will be as great as yours. (Pray your Doctor shows up on the day of your procedure).... My coordinator was Jacqueline. All of the support staff are helpful and nice. Jacqueline responded to me immediately. She had a big smile every time I saw her. I have absolutely nothing but great things to say about her.
How was your experience with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
At our initial meeting, I thought Dr. Dicken was incredible (she still is). She was knowledgeable with just the right amount of empathy and professionalism. We went into detail about my concerns. On the day that we met, I got a surprise positive pregnancy test. I emailed Dr. Dicken and asked if I could use the progesterone that she had prescribed for my upcoming IUI. She responded quickly and gave me the go-ahead to use the progesterone. Unfortunately, that pregnancy ended in a miscarriage.
Once my first period showed, I went back to SIRM for the IUI. Dr. Dicken was available for the first ultrasound. She explained that she would be out of office over the weekend and that I would see another doctor. Dr. O’Shaughnessy was neither warm nor patient centered. She gave me minimal information during the ultrasound. It felt very impersonal. Still, I figured its only one appointment.
I was called that afternoon and told to trigger the next day and come in 2 days after. In that time, I emailed Dr. Dicken about my positive OPK. She assured me that I wasn't ovulating yet. I apologized profusely for constantly emailing her. I was having a tough time. She never responded to my email. Okay. I figured I was going to be seeing her anyway.
On the morning of the IUI, I was told that the Doctor was with someone else and would be with me soon. I was taken to a room to undress. I was very surprised to see Dr. O’Shaughnessy walk in. I was baffled. One of the reasons I chose SIRM was the fact that they did things differently. Now, I understand that emergencies happen. What was confusing to me was why no one could let me know that my Doctor was not available. Dr. O’Shaughnessy was very rough. This was my third and most painful IUI ever. She didn't even say what she was doing. She just rammed the speculum and catheter inside of me. She gave me no instruction (even about the progesterone). Didn't tell me how long to lay down for either. I didn't even hear a good luck. I waited 20 minutes, dressed and left quietly.
Downstairs in the car, I cried my eyes out. I guess my doctor was busy with another procedure. I just felt like my procedure was not important. She did the old bait and switch on me and I did not appreciate it. The whole "patient centered" thing is nonsense. I don't think I'll even bother going in for beta.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Communication is key. Ask questions and don't let yourself be treated like cattle.
Being told that she would be unavailable would have allowed me to be informed and aware of the changes. That is important to women dealing with infertility as we already have little control over most things.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
At first, everything was perfect. The structure of visits was totally different than the factories I was used to going to. Unfortunately, it ended up being like most places I have been to. Impersonal and another number.
Describe the protocols Cary Dicken used in your cycles at Sher Fertility Solutions New York and their degree of success.
150 of Menopur. Trigger shot of Ovidrel. Only one follicle. In the two week wait.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Sher Fertility Solutions New York. (Assigned nurse: Jacqueline Piccardo)
My coordinator was Jacqueline. All of the support staff are helpful and nice. Jacqueline responded to me immediately. She had a big smile every time I saw her. I have absolutely nothing but great things to say about her.
Describe your experience with Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
Strengths: Scheduled appointments (no early morning blood draws). Front desk staff was efficient. Care coordinator is amazing!
Weaknesses: Not all doctors are created equal. Not all doctors will be as great as yours. (Pray your Doctor shows up on the day of your procedure) Also, they need better monitoring equipment (you can not see what they see on ultrasound. In other clinics, there is a tv on the wall so you can view it too. No justified system where you can find your bloodwork results (you have to ask your coordinator to give you details).
What specific things went wrong at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
My Doctor did not show up to my procedure. Instead, another doctor who did not give me pertinent information and had a terrible bed side manner.
Cary [Dr. Dicken] is warm, smart, and professional. She has a friendly demeanor but still feels like your doctor...Cary did some very specific blood work for me that detected an elevated prolactin level, which may have been contributing to implantation problems. Along with prescribing a medicine for that, she also sent me for an MRI to make sure there wasn't something more serious causing that- very thorough...Pleasant, intelligent, answers all questions and emails.
[At Sher Fertility] I needed to get my ovidril injection ordered within a specific time frame due to travel needs and delivery times. The nurses were aware, but the attending doctor (not Dr Dicken) did not sign off on the prescription til the following day. This caused me to run around last minute to get it from a pharmacy in the city that didn't take my insurance: I had to pay $160 out of pocket...[The nurses are] Good with blood work, more attentive...The office is clean and bright, with tea in the waiting room – does not feel dreary like a hospital.
How was your experience with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Cary is warm, smart, and professional. She has a friendly demeanor but still feels like your doctor. The office is clean and bright, with tea in the waiting room – does not feel dreary like a hospital.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Trust her!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Pleasant, intelligent, answers all questions and emails.
Describe the protocols Cary Dicken used in your cycles at Sher Fertility Solutions New York and their degree of success.
Cary did some very specific blood work for me that detected an elevated prolactin level, which may have been contributing to implantation problems. Along with prescribing a medicine for that, she also sent me for an MRI to make sure there wasn't something more serious causing that- very thorough.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
Good with blood work, more attentive
Describe your experience with Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
The office is clean and bright, with tea in the waiting room – does not feel dreary like a hospital.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
Covered by insurance so far
What specific things went wrong at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
I needed to get my ovidril injection ordered within a specific time frame due to travel needs and delivery times. The nurses were aware, but the attending doctor (not Dr Dicken) did not sign off on the prescription til the following day. This caused me to run around last minute to get it from a pharmacy in the city that didn't take my insurance: I had to pay $160 out of pocket.
Cary Dicken is a wonderful doctor who really cares about her patients. She answers her e-mails right away, makes time for each patient to ask questions or raise concerns both in person and over the phone. She is calm, nurturing and honest. The way she delivers information is with respect and care. She has amazing communication skills....I love Sher and would highly recommend them to anyone seeking fertility treatment.
Cary Dicken is a wonderful doctor who really cares about her patients. She answers her e-mails right away, makes time for each patient to ask questions or raise concerns both in person and over the phone. She is calm, nurturing and honest. The way she delivers information is with respect and care. She has amazing communication skills....I love Sher and would highly recommend them to anyone seeking fertility treatment.
How was your experience with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
I highly recommend Cary Dicken to anyone who is exploring fertility treatment. I plan on going back to her again soon. She is one of the best doctors I have ever been to. She is kind, caring and sympathetic.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
See her as soon as you can so she can explore all options with you.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Cary Dicken is a wonderful doctor who really cares about her patients. She answers her e-mails right away, makes time for each patient to ask questions or raise concerns both in person and over the phone. She is calm, nurturing and honest. The way she delivers information is with respect and care. She has amazing communication skills.
Describe the protocols Cary Dicken used in your cycles at Sher Fertility Solutions New York and their degree of success.
I first went through blood work and for an HSG test with a radiologist. The doctor she recommended was outstanding.
I then took oralmedications and injections to prepare for egg retrieval.
On the 3rd try I became pregnant.
She was there every step of the way!
Describe your experience with your nurse at Sher Fertility Solutions New York. (Assigned nurse: Mellissa was the nurse and Jacqueline was her Coordinator. They were outstanding!)
Mellissa and Jaqueline were both amazing.
Describe your experience with Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
I love Sher and would highly recommend them to anyone seeking fertility treatment.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
They were very accommodating with my work schedule.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
Mine were mostly covered by my insurance plan. If I had to pay out of pocket they looked to be fair.
Dr. Dicken is smart, caring, compassionate. She understood the emotional implications that go along with treatment. She was always available and responded quickly to my emails. Can't recommend her more highly!!... At sher, you will not feel like your at a fertility factory but rather a human who she will care for and get to know !
It [Sher Fertility of New York] is a much smaller feel having some of the larger fertility clinics. I always felt well cared for by the front desk staff, nurses and of course Dr. Dicken.... At sher, you will not feel like your at a fertility factory but rather a human who she will care for and get to know !
How was your experience with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Dr. Dicken is smart, caring, compassionate. She understood the emotional implications that go along with treatment. She was always available and responded quickly to my emails. Can't recommend her more highly!!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
She is the best! Call her for a consultation! You won't be disappointed. At sher, you will not feel like your at a fertility factory but rather a human who she will care for and get to know !
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Dr. Dicken is a warm, smart, caring doctor. She was always available to talk by email and wrote me personally to update me. I never felt like I was being treated at a factory. I felt cared for and important.
Describe the protocols Cary Dicken used in your cycles at Sher Fertility Solutions New York and their degree of success.
Letrozole, trigger shot & timed intercourse.
Describe your experience with Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
It is a much smaller feel having some of the larger fertility clinics. I always felt well cared for by the front desk staff, nurses and of course Dr. Dicken
Describe the costs associated with your care under Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
She [Dr. Cary Dicken] was very honest in predicting our chances and I had the impression she tried everything to enhance our chances to get pregnant. She even gave us some extra medication for free when ours ran out and she felt like I need another injection before egg retrieval. She always made me feel welcome, understood and secure. I loved having her as my doctor in this critical, emotional challenging time.
I was on a "cheaper" low-stimulation plan which SHER institute doesn't offer anymore...the girls at the reception desk are not so well trained. For example, I was denied an appointment because the girl didn't know the difference between starting a cycle and doing some pre-testing. I had to contact the doctor directly who sorted things out very quickly... The doctors working there are all at the top of their field and have great bedside manners. The clinic treats you like a human being. You see one doctor all the time. The rooms are friendly and clean.
How was your experience with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Dr. Cary Dicken is very understanding and top-notch in her field. We did one round of IVF with my own eggs with her and we got pregnant immediately. Before, we did an IUI with her which didn't result in a pregnancy. She advised us to go do IVF to increase our chances which we did and ended up with a beautiful baby boy. I saw Dr. Dicken every visit (apart from the egg retrieval which was on a weekend with another great doctor on duty). She always made me feel good and optimistic about the whole process. I especially liked that she also answers emails quickly and detailed. Dr. Dicken explains things very easily which was important since I am not a native speaker. I felt that she did her best in giving us the best chance to conceive. What I like most about her is her warm, caring personality. I would recommend her to anybody who wants to do IVF.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Just rest assured hat you are in good hands with her and that she will do the best to get you pregnant.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Dr. Dicken has wonderful bedside manners. She answered all our questions in great detail. She even replied fast to emails. She was very honest in predicting our chances and I had the impression she tried everything to enhance our chances to get pregnant. She even gave us some extra medication for free when ours ran out and she felt like I need another injection before egg retrieval. She always made me feel welcome, understood and secure. I loved having her as my doctor in this critical, emotional challenging time.
Describe the protocols Cary Dicken used in your cycles at Sher Fertility Solutions New York and their degree of success.
I was on a low stimulation plan since my ovarian reserve was still good for my age (38 at the time of treatment). I was a case of unexplained infertility so I didn't have any known issues apart from being Vitamin D insufficient which Dr. Dicken found out in preliminary tests. I also did a genetic test as recommended by Dr. Dicken. The test revealed that I have a MTFHR Mutation, so Dr. Dicken prescribed me extra Folate. Overall, I didn't encounter any problems with the medication. I felt that her treatment plan was excellent.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Sher Fertility Solutions New York. (Assigned nurse: Melissa)
Melissa who was my nurse coordinator did a good job explaining how to do all the injections and kept me updated about the next steps in the procedure. She was a little bit reserved and could have been a little bit more compassionate. We communicated a lot by email and she always replied in a timely manner. There was another nurse whom I particularly grew fond of. Her name is Jacqueline. She was so welcoming and nice. She really helped me go through the whole process.
Describe your experience with Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
SHER institute is a great clinic to do your IVF with. The doctors working there are all at the top of their field and have great bedside manners. The clinic treats you like a human being. You see one doctor all the time. The rooms are friendly and clean.
The downside, they are very pricey, when you have to pay out of your own pocket. They don't offer any grants or discounts for people who don't make so much money like other clinics do. The accounting department is horrible. They gave us a lot of stress with wrong invoices. For example, they charged us for egg freezing while we didn't have anything to freeze. This was not only unprofessional, it was also very insensitive because we would have loved to have more embryos to try for a second child.
Also, the girls at the reception desk are not so well trained. For example, I was denied an appointment because the girl didn't know the difference between starting a cycle and doing some pre-testing. I had to contact the doctor directly who sorted things out very quickly.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
The monitoring appointments fit well into my schedule and once I was there, the wait times weren't long. It was a pretty smooth process.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
I don't remember the exact amounts anymore. I was on a "cheaper" low-stimulation plan which SHER institute doesn't offer anymore.
Describe Cary Dicken's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
We only had two embryos worth transferring. Given my age Dr. Dicken would have let us decide if two or three embryos were going to be transferred if we had enough.
What specific things went wrong at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Failed to call with results
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
I was denied an appointment for testing on my third day of my period because the nurse claimed that the Doctor doesn't accept new cycles anymore this month. I couldn't make her understand that I am not starting a cycle I just wanted to come in for a test which was discussed with the Doctor. I had to contact the Doctor and in the end did the test one month later.
Dr. Dicken is an amazing doctor. She was constantly present wether it was during a visit, over the phone and through email. She answered every question clearly and non-judgmental can, even if it was a question that I had asked a ton of times before. I felt she truly understood what U was going through not only medically and emotionally and handle it in a delicate manner but still direct and professionally. When I found out I was pregnant she was just as excited for me.
The nurses and front desk [Sher Fertility NY] were a welcome sight durning such an emotional time. They understood the challenges of fertility and managing it with everyday life a family.... From the moment I walked in the door I was treated with compassion. The nurses knew my name, which made it feel like a comfortable place to be. My doctor was available, direct, but would consoul me when I needed it. I truly have wonderful memories from my experience, I can not think of any weaknesses.
How was your experience with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Dr. Dicken is an amazing doctor. She was constantly present wether it was during a visit, over the phone and through email. She answered every question clearly and non-judgmental can, even if it was a question that I had asked a ton of times before. I felt she truly understood what U was going through not only medically and emotionally and handle it in a delicate manner but still direct and professionally. When I found out I was pregnant she was just as excited for me. I thought that was amazing because she sees so many people. But I felt I was the only one.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
No matter what you are thinking or feeling tell Dr. Dicken. She is understanding and kind. Dr. Dicken wants the same outcome as you and she truly cares.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
from the moment I walked in to Dr.Dickens office I was treated with such kindness. She was direct, but had a nice way of speaking to me. I left her office hopeful.
Describe the protocols Cary Dicken used in your cycles at Sher Fertility Solutions New York and their degree of success.
We used clomid to help with the folicals.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Sher Fertility Solutions New York. (Assigned nurse: Jacqueline Piccardo)
The nurses and front desk were a welcome sight durning such an emotional time. They understood the challenges of fertility and managing it with everyday life a family.
Describe your experience with Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
From the moment I walked in the door I was treated with compassion. The nurses knew my name, which made it feel like a comfortable place to be. My doctor was available, direct, but would consoul me when I needed it. I truly have wonderful memories from my experience, I can not think of any weaknesses.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
I would only have to pay our copay and for the shots, which were around $300. We also had to pay for some tests.
From our first consultation, Dr. Dicken really made an effort to get to know us. She was always available to answer any questions over email, and her tone was always warm and professional. Even when she had bad news to deliver, Dr. Dicken was straightforward but still encouraging...For my IUI cycle, I saw Dr. Dicken for all monitoring appointments. She prescribed me Clomid, and then Ovidrel...Dr. Dicken is very knowledgeable, and thoroughly explains every step of the process.
her has a nice office space, conveniently located in midtown. We never had to wait for an appointment! They opened at 8:00, which allowed me to come in for monitoring before work. They are able to check what your insurance covers before you start treatment, and are organized with billing...The nurses were friendly and professional, and provided great care...She [Dr. Dicken] was always available to answer any questions over email, and her tone was always warm and professional.
How was your experience with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Dr. Dicken is very knowledgeable, and thoroughly explains every step of the process. From our first meeting, I trusted her expertise and knew I was in capable hands. She helps you decide what is best for you as a couple and doesn't force anything on you. Moreover, Dr. Dicken is kind and friendly, which made the whole process less intimidating. I cannot recommend her highly enough!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
Don't be shy to ask questions! Dr. Dicken is great at breaking down complicated test results and procedures, and is always accessible over email.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York?
From our first consultation, Dr. Dicken really made an effort to get to know us. She was always available to answer any questions over email, and her tone was always warm and professional. Even when she had bad news to deliver, Dr. Dicken was straightforward but still encouraging. Believing that she really cares for her patients helped me remain optimistic throughout the process.
Describe the protocols Cary Dicken used in your cycles at Sher Fertility Solutions New York and their degree of success.
For my IUI cycle, I saw Dr. Dicken for all monitoring appointments. She prescribed me Clomid, and then Ovidrel. My husband's counts had been all over the place, and the sample for the IUI wasn't ideal, but it was successful! Dr. Dicken timed it perfectly, and it resulted in a healthy full-term pregnancy.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
The nurses were friendly and professional, and provided great care.
Describe your experience with Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
Sher has a nice office space, conveniently located in midtown. We never had to wait for an appointment! They opened at 8:00, which allowed me to come in for monitoring before work. They are able to check what your insurance covers before you start treatment, and are organized with billing.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Cary Dicken at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
I have GHI, and my treatment was covered. Each visit did have a $50 copay.
Describe Cary Dicken's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Sher Fertility Solutions New York.
We did not do IVF, but Dr. Dicken carefully monitored my follicles before IUI, so as not to risk multiple pregnancies.
