Christine Skiadas
Harvard Vanguard
Available Lines of Communication
Doctor email
Nurse email
Nurse email
Direct line to nurse
Not available by personal cell phone
Medical SchoolU. of Pennsylvania
ResidencyHarvard
FellowshipHarvard
Boston
133 Brookline Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
617-421-1000
Quincy
1250 Hancock Street
Quincy, MA 02169
617-774-0600
11 assessments
10
8
Age
35
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
3 IVF
Diagnosis
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss, Unexplained
10
8
Dr. Skiadas turned my retrieval protocol on its head, using Gonal-f and microdose Lupron with a 37 hour HCG trigger, each twice daily. I had daily monitoring and my doses were adjusted frequently. Because of my good response to this protocol, Dr. Skiadas had concerns for OHSS so she added in Cabergoline and Cetrotide post-retrieval, which was very effective... has been informed and up to date on all of my treatment and results during my appointments with her. I felt that she carefully put together an IVF retrieval protocol that was tailored to me. Although most of my telephone contact has been with her nurses, Liz and Caitlin, I have always felt both that the nursing staff had spoken to Dr. Skiadas and also that were very familiar with my case.
HVMA has multiple locations throughout Massachusetts, with two labs open on weekends. Although this can be a good thing, only one location is really convenient for me and I sometimes found it difficult to get early weekday ultrasound appointments at my location because it seems to be a popular site. If you have an inflexible work schedule this can be a challenge. Also, bloodwork needs to be done prior to 8:45 a.m. to allow the specimens to be picked up by courier.
Age
35
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
?
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Lawyer
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
3 IVF
Diagnosis
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss, Unexplained
10
8
How was your experience with Christine Skiadas at Harvard Vanguard?
Although I have not been seeing Dr. Skiadas that long, I have been incredibly impressed with her. Having been through two previous egg retrievals and three failed transfers of PGD/PGS tested embryos, I feel that she worked really hard to put together a new protocol with aggressive monitoring that, so far, has yielded positive results. It was very clear to me that, prior to our initial appointment, she had carefully reviewed my previous cycles and results to find new treatment or tweaks. I had lots of questions about how to do things differently and different tests we could try and she took the time to fully respond to all questions that my husband and I had. She was very supportive of my desire to do some outside testing. Dr. Skiadas explained all of the risks and odds of success at each step of the process, something that I felt in the dark about prior to meeting with her. Although I really liked my previous doctor, I never felt truly informed about important factors to me, such as the rate of fertilization with ICSI, how many embryos can be expected to make it to biopsy, etc. Dr. Skiadas provided me with all of the information I was looking.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Christine Skiadas at Harvard Vanguard?
Dr. Skiadas seems to be a very popular doctor so make sure to always schedule a follow up appointment right away. So far I have to say that the initial delay in seeing her has been worth it!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Christine Skiadas at Harvard Vanguard?
Dr. Skiadas has been informed and up to date on all of my treatment and results during my appointments with her. I felt that she carefully put together an IVF retrieval protocol that was tailored to me. Although most of my telephone contact has been with her nurses, Liz and Caitlin, I have always felt both that the nursing staff had spoken to Dr. Skiadas and also that were very familiar with my case.
Describe the protocols Christine Skiadas used in your cycles at Harvard Vanguard and their degree of success.
Dr. Skiadas turned my retrieval protocol on its head, using Gonal-f and microdose Lupron with a 37 hour HCG trigger, each twice daily. I had daily monitoring and my doses were adjusted frequently. Because of my good response to this protocol, Dr. Skiadas had concerns for OHSS so she added in Cabergoline and Cetrotide post-retrieval, which was very effective.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Harvard Vanguard. (Assigned nurse: Liz and Caitlin)
Caitlin and Liz are the doctor's primary nurses and they are both excellent. Whenever I called with a question or concern, I received a prompt call back. They both also did an excellent job of keeping me informed throughout the retrieval cycle, which decreased my stress and anxiety. I have always been impressed with the Harvard Vanguard nursing staff, including the incomparable Chris.
Describe your experience with Harvard Vanguard.
HVMA has multiple locations throughout Massachusetts, with two labs open on weekends. Although this can be a good thing, only one location is really convenient for me and I sometimes found it difficult to get early weekday ultrasound appointments at my location because it seems to be a popular site. If you have an inflexible work schedule this can be a challenge. Also, bloodwork needs to be done prior to 8:45 a.m. to allow the specimens to be picked up by courier.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Christine Skiadas at Harvard Vanguard.
Luckily, my insurance covers most of my fertility care and treatment so I paid co-pays for office visits, procedures and medications after meeting my deductible. I did not have to pay for monitoring bloodwork or ultrasounds. I paid out of pocket for PGD/PGS testing through Igenomix ($6k - $9k per time for both).
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8
8
Age
39 - 42
Treated
2015 - 2018
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
6 IUI, 1 Egg Freezing, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
—
8
8
All of my interactions with Dr. Skiadas...have been positive...Dr. Skiadas is clearly knowledgeable, compassionate, and understanding. I have chosen to try to become a mother on my own (SMC) and have never felt anything but support from her. Her approach has been clear and honest, and progressive relative to what has happened...for the most part my interactions have not been directly with Dr. Skiadas but rather with the nurses.
All of my interactions with Dr. Skiadas, the nurses, and the medical team have been positive. However, Harvard Vanguard is a big operation and can, at times, feel like a machine. There are definite (for me) upsides to that in terms of ease of scheduling (for US, for IUI, etc.) and convenience of multiple locations. ...The nurses have also been very available to answer questions... They have always been warm, professional, and thorough. But if you want a more one on one experience or a lot of time with your physician this may not be the practice for you.
Age
39 - 42
Treated
2015 - 2018
Success with this Doc
?
Race
European
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
6 IUI, 1 Egg Freezing, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
—
8
8
How was your experience with Christine Skiadas at Harvard Vanguard?
Dr. Skiadas is clearly knowledgeable, compassionate, and understanding. I have chosen to try to become a mother on my own (SMC) and have never felt anything but support from her. Her approach has been clear and honest, and progressive relative to what has happened. Again, while I have primarily interacted with the nurses and other members of the medical team, rather than Dr. Skiadas, that hasn't troubled me and so far the convenience offered by the large practice has been a plus.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Christine Skiadas at Harvard Vanguard?
Because of the nature of the practice, and the opportunities to interact with Dr. Skiadas directly tend to be more limited, I would recommend being prepared to ask all your questions in those consultations if it's important for you to get answers from your RE. The nurses have also been very available to answer questions, but some patients may feel strongly about communicating directly with their physician.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Christine Skiadas at Harvard Vanguard?
All of my interactions with Dr. Skiadas, the nurses, and the medical team have been positive. However, Harvard Vanguard is a big operation and can, at times, feel like a machine. There are definite (for me) upsides to that in terms of ease of scheduling (for US, for IUI, etc.) and convenience of multiple locations. The size also means that you're one of many patients and so for the most part my interactions have not been directly with Dr. Skiadas but rather with the nurses. Personally, that hasn't bothered me. I feel like I have always been able to get questions answered and the team is responsive. And when I have had interactions with Dr. Skiadas she is warm, clear, and straightforward.
Describe the protocols Christine Skiadas used in your cycles at Harvard Vanguard and their degree of success.
Dr. Skiadas' plan and preference was to do three natural cycles of IUI. The first cycle I did was completely natural and I had a short luteal phase and early period (less than two weeks post-insemination). After that, Dr. Skiadas added a progesterone suppository to the next IUI to help maintain a pregnancy if indeed fertilization and insemination happened. IUI's 2 and 3 were natural, and 2 was with a trigger shot. The 4th was with Clomid and a trigger shot and progesterone, the 5th (due to a cyst being present) was unmedicated but with trigger and progesterone. And the 6th was with Clomid, a trigger shot, and progesterone.
Cycles 1-5 did not produce a pregnancy. I am currently in Cycle 6.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
Both Caitlin and Liz are warm and compassionate and great communicators. They have been readily available for consultation and follow up questions.
Describe your experience with Harvard Vanguard.
The Center for Fertility and Reproductive Medicine at Harvard Vanguard is a large practice, with offices in several locations. That contributes to a lot of positives with respect to convenience - generally being able to schedule diagnostics (ultrasounds, labs) and basic procedures (IUIs) at a time and location of your preference. It can, however, at times lead to it feeling a bit like a factory. While my experiences with the medical team have always been positive, I have dealt almost exclusively with the nurses and by phone rather than in person. They have always been warm, professional, and thorough. But if you want a more one on one experience or a lot of time with your physician this may not be the practice for you.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Christine Skiadas at Harvard Vanguard.
To date (after 6 IUIs), I have had to pay a co-pay for IUIs and for the HSG test, as well as a copay for medication (Clomid, progesterone). Labs and ultrasound monitoring were covered by insurance.
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10
10
Age
33 - 35
Treated
2015 - 2017
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
1 IUI, 2 IVF
Diagnosis
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss, Other
10
10
I can’t say enough good things about Dr. Skiadas. She was compassionate to my unfortunate struggle , but was also Very honest about expectations. She always had a plan and my trust in her never waivered...Not only did she work to surgically improve a problem that is quite rare and not well understood, she also was always there to answer question and provide guidance and emotional support along the way during our visits.
Always got a call back [from the nurses at Harvard Vanguard] in a timely fashion. Nursing (and reception) was super well organized. If they didn’t know the answer, they would ask my doctor and always get back to me. This is a hard and emotional process— they were always fantastic without exception...multiple locations are helpful!...I can’t say enough good things about Dr. Skiadas. She was compassionate to my unfortunate struggle , but was also Very honest about expectations. She always had a plan and my trust in her never waivered.
Age
33 - 35
Treated
2015 - 2017
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
Prefer not to answer
Income
—
Occupation
Doctor
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
1 IUI, 2 IVF
Diagnosis
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss, Other
10
10
How was your experience with Christine Skiadas at Harvard Vanguard?
If I had to do this process 1000 Times, I still would only choose Dr. Skiadas to coordinate my care. She performed several surgical procedures on me and I trusted her judgement and clinical skills above anyone else. Every time I had a procedure done at the hospital, all of the nurses would say “oh, you are so lucky to have Dr. Skiadas”. I could not agree more. Not only did she work to surgically improve a problem that is quite rare and not well understood, she also was always there to answer question and provide guidance and emotional support along the way during our visits. Once my issue was surgically improved, we did several rounds of Ivf. And— while it was certainly a long road— I have a beautiful baby to show for it. I could not be more grateful for dr. Skiadas. I feel like I owe her the world.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Christine Skiadas at Harvard Vanguard?
Wait for her no matter how long it takes. She is the only doctor I would ever see.
Trust her process— it works!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Christine Skiadas at Harvard Vanguard?
I can’t say enough good things about Dr. Skiadas. She was compassionate to my unfortunate struggle , but was also
Very honest about expectations. She always had a plan and my trust in her never waivered.
Describe the protocols Christine Skiadas used in your cycles at Harvard Vanguard and their degree of success.
I had multiple surgeries in the operating room prior to starting Ivf with dr. Skiadas. She performed all of my surgeries and the entire process was seamless. Once my uterus was improved, we did an IUI which was successful but ended in miscarriage. She was so compassionate during this time and helped me recover both physically and emotionally. We then did IVF and had an unsuccessful transfer x 2. The third one worked and I have a perfect little baby to show for it.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
Fabulous! Always got a call back in a timely fashion. Nursing (and reception) was super well organized. If they didn’t know the answer, they would ask my doctor and always get back to me. This is a hard and emotional process— they were always fantastic without exception.
Describe your experience with Harvard Vanguard.
Fabulous— multiple locations are helpful!
Describe Christine Skiadas's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Harvard Vanguard.
She strongly recommended single transfer.
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10
10
Age
33 - 36
Treated
2014 - 2017
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
2 IUI, 2 IVF
Diagnosis
—
10
10
Dr. Skiadas is very skillful as a physician and a wonderful, warm person. She is incredibly knowledgeable, but won't hesitate to consult with colleagues if a situation arises that she hasn't treated before. She was appropriately aggressive and didn't try the same thing that failed too many times. She truly seemed to care...We had a few hiccups with nursing staff not totally being on top of the treatment plan (assuming we were following a standard course when Dr. Skiadas had recommended some uncommon changes). They were all very kind and supportive, just maybe didn't spend enough time reviewing charts before making calls.
Dr. Skiadas and her team [at Harvard Vanguard] are great; I have heard nightmares about her colleagues (one in particular). Stick with Dr. Skiadas and don't see one of her colleagues in the event she is unavailable for something...We had a few hiccups with nursing staff not totally being on top of the treatment plan (assuming we were following a standard course when Dr. Skiadas had recommended some uncommon changes). They were all very kind and supportive, just maybe didn't spend enough time reviewing charts before making calls.
Age
33 - 36
Treated
2014 - 2017
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
Ashkenazi Jewish
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Lawyer
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
2 IUI, 2 IVF
Diagnosis
—
10
10
How was your experience with Christine Skiadas at Harvard Vanguard?
Dr. Skiadas is very skillful as a physician and a wonderful, warm person. She is incredibly knowledgeable, but won't hesitate to consult with colleagues if a situation arises that she hasn't treated before. She was appropriately aggressive and didn't try the same thing that failed too many times. She truly seemed to care.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Christine Skiadas at Harvard Vanguard?
It is worth the wait for appointments to see her; don't settle for another doctor at the practice!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Christine Skiadas at Harvard Vanguard?
Dr. Skiadas is amazing. She really seems to care about all her patients (both me and my spouse), and always remembers (or is really good at writing notes and reviewing before the next appt) personal details about me and the conversations we had. She is respectful of our goals and desires, and always asks for our input.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
We had a few hiccups with nursing staff not totally being on top of the treatment plan (assuming we were following a standard course when Dr. Skiadas had recommended some uncommon changes). They were all very kind and supportive, just maybe didn't spend enough time reviewing charts before making calls.
Describe your experience with Harvard Vanguard.
Dr. Skiadas and her team are great; I have heard nightmares about her colleagues (one in particular). Stick with Dr. Skiadas and don't see one of her colleagues in the event she is unavailable for something.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Christine Skiadas at Harvard Vanguard.
Insurance copays.
Describe Christine Skiadas's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Harvard Vanguard.
She recommended a single embryo transfer based on my age and other factors, but was very patient as I asked her about a lot of statistics, the possibility of a selective reduction if we transferred multiples, etc. She never judged but gently advised what she thought was best.
What specific things went wrong at Harvard Vanguard?
- Lost appointments
- Provided conflicting information
- Failed to convey critical information
- Scheduled the wrong procedure
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7
7
Age
37 - 39
Treated
2014 - 2016
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
3 IUI, 2 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor
7
7
Dr. Skiadas herself took time to answer questions, check in with me during a loss, and was considerate. I had lots of technical questions which she was patient with....Dr. Skiadas is compassionate, caring, and I felt she was truly interested in getting me pregnant. She was patient with questions. I enjoyed seeing her during visits. I wish I saw her more during treatment...She did not recommend ICSI or PGS due to my age and the severity of my husbands MFI
The nurse manager [at Harvard Vanguard] is good. The nurse coordinators are painful and provide the wrong information which is very challenging in an IVF cycle where one misstep can cost you an entire cycle....The first nurse miscommunicated my menopur dose. That was just the start..... The second nurse didn’t communicate my trigger accurately. Also had issues with the blood work in the lab... I’m not 100% confident in the lab. Only in the sense that they didn’t seem to do the more recent innovative things, like PICSI
Age
37 - 39
Treated
2014 - 2016
Success with this Doc
?
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Marketer or PR
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
3 IUI, 2 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor
7
7
How was your experience with Christine Skiadas at Harvard Vanguard?
Dr. Skiadas is compassionate, caring, and I felt she was truly interested in getting me pregnant. She was patient with questions. I enjoyed seeing her during visits. I wish I saw her more during treatment
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Christine Skiadas at Harvard Vanguard?
Come armed with questions, information about who will communicate with you and how, and how you can reach her personally if there is a staff communications issue.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Christine Skiadas at Harvard Vanguard?
Dr. Skiadas herself took time to answer questions, check in with me during a loss, and was considerate. I had lots of technical questions which she was patient with. The only reason I didn’t rate her the absolute highest was the nurse staff which were often poor communicators
Describe the protocols Christine Skiadas used in your cycles at Harvard Vanguard and their degree of success.
Textbook antagonist protocol with a traditional hcg trigger. There was a miscommunication along the way and the nurse increased my menopur along the way, yet my Doctor hadn’t recorded it. I’m convinced this is why I had so many eggs and a mild case of OHSS. She did not recommend ICSI or PGS due to my age and the severity of my husbands MFI. When we did a second cycle, I did antagonist again with a lower menopur dose, CoQ10 for my husband and I both, thyroid meds for me, ICSI due to low fertilization rate the first time around, and PGS due to a loss.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Harvard Vanguard.
The first nurse miscommunicated my menopur dose. That was just the start.....
The second nurse didn’t communicate my trigger accurately.
Also had issues with the blood work in the lab
Describe your experience with Harvard Vanguard.
Dr Skiadas is great. The nurse manager is good. The nurse coordinators are painful and provide the wrong information which is very challenging in an IVF cycle where one misstep can cost you an entire cycle.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Christine Skiadas at Harvard Vanguard.
I used insurance so we only paid for PGS
Describe Christine Skiadas's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Harvard Vanguard.
She wanted to transfer more than one due to my age, but my insurance required an eSET for the first attempt. It just worked out that each time I did a cycle and transfer, I had one embryo remaining and insurance did not allow banking.
What specific things went wrong at Harvard Vanguard?
- Lost paperwork
- Failed to inform you of changes in protocol
- Provided conflicting information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Harvard Vanguard.
Menopur dose increased by nurse. I had to take notes to understand how to mix the vials. My doctor never ordered my dose to be increased.
I wasn’t told to go to a specific area of the clinic for blood work on a weekend. Due to the wait at the lab and being redirected after my blookdwork was taken, I almost missed the opportunity to have my blood work checked and dosage adjusted. The PGS solution explained to me was sunset as an option during my cycle and had to get an exception to be able to continue with the plan for a fresh transfer.
I’m not 100% confident in the lab. Only in the sense that they didn’t seem to do the more recent innovative things, like PICSI. I sometimes wonder if I would have gotten more embryos if I was at a different lab.
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7
10
Age
42 - 44
Treated
2015 - 2017
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
1 IUI, 2 IVF
Diagnosis
Unexplained
7
10
My experience with Dr. Skiadas, although we have not been successful yet in having a child, has been positive. I do not think that I could have made it this far without someone so intelligent thoughtful and caring...Dr. Skiadas is thoughtful and kind and takes her time with us, always. She is sympathetic when she needs to be and hopeful when she needs to be. She is great at explaining the facts in a way that we can understand and is always empathetic of what we as the patients are going through.
I find HVMA [Harvard Vanguard] to be extremely organized and well run. The nursing staff overall are wonderful, however, when you get reassigned, sometimes it is not seamless. You have to make sure you ask questions, clarify all timelines and treatments and double check med levels. Usually they are spot on, but make sure you are your own advocate.
Age
42 - 44
Treated
2015 - 2017
Success with this Doc
No
Race
East Asian
Income
$500K
Occupation
Accountant
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
1 IUI, 2 IVF
Diagnosis
Unexplained
7
10
How was your experience with Christine Skiadas at Harvard Vanguard?
My experience with Dr. Skiadas, although we have not been successful yet in having a child, has been positive. I do not think that I could have made it this far without someone so intelligent thoughtful and caring.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Christine Skiadas at Harvard Vanguard?
None.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Christine Skiadas at Harvard Vanguard?
Dr. Skiadas is thoughtful and kind and takes her time with us, always. She is sympathetic when she needs to be and hopeful when she needs to be. She is great at explaining the facts in a way that we can understand and is always empathetic of what we as the patients are going through.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Harvard Vanguard. (Assigned nurse: Jackie, Liz and Sue)
I find HVMA to be extremely organized and well run. The nursing staff overall are wonderful, however, when you get reassigned, sometimes it is not seamless. You have to make sure you ask questions, clarify all timelines and treatments and double check med levels. Usually they are spot on, but make sure you are your own advocate.
Describe your experience with Harvard Vanguard.
Extremely organized, thoughtful and thorough. They have a patient system that you can log onto to get various test results, see upcoming appointments and most importantly ask questions of your providers. If it is an emergency, make sure to call. They are very responsive.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Christine Skiadas at Harvard Vanguard.
IUI and first round fully covered. Subsequent rounds I had to pay for the screenings and monitorings.
What specific things went wrong at Harvard Vanguard?
- Failed to order appropriate test
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Harvard Vanguard.
There were two instances where I went to have blood drawn and the order was not in. It was immediately rectified.
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Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
10
10
Age
33
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
2 IUI, 1 IVF, 1 Embryo Freezing
Diagnosis
Male Factor, Uterine Fibroids
10
10
Natural frozen cycle (the BEST IVF treatment I've ever done). She [Dr. Skiadas] also did a lupron protocol for the egg retrieval and used high does CoQ6 during stimulation that resulted in a lot of viable embryos...She was very straight with me about what was happening, what the odds were, etc and then actually let us make the decisions...She will only transfer one unless there's a reason to do more. In my case we did genetic testing on day 5 embryos, no reason to do more than 1
Transfers and retrievals [for Harvard Vangaurd] are done at Boston IVF, I didn't realize that at first, but it's fine. Otherwise I love that they're part of a larger health care network so you have multiple locations that you can use and transferring to an OB within that network is easy...Everyone I spoke to were very compasionate and answered my many, many questions...Natural frozen cycle (the BEST IVF treatment I've ever done). She [Dr. Skiadas] also did a lupron protocol for the egg retrieval and used high does CoQ6 during stimulation that resulted in a lot of viable embryos
Age
33
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
—
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Teacher
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
2 IUI, 1 IVF, 1 Embryo Freezing
Diagnosis
Male Factor, Uterine Fibroids
10
10
How was your experience with Christine Skiadas at Harvard Vanguard?
She was very compassionate and understanding. Was patient with my issues, I'm not great at this. Let me make informed decisions about everything, did not try to sell me any procedures, made us feel like it would be fine if we quit at any time.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Christine Skiadas at Harvard Vanguard?
Don't be afraid to ask questions, she'll give you an accurate answer.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Christine Skiadas at Harvard Vanguard?
She was very straight with me about what was happening, what the odds were, etc and then actually let us make the decisions
Describe the protocols Christine Skiadas used in your cycles at Harvard Vanguard and their degree of success.
Natural frozen cycle (the BEST IVF treatment I've ever done). She also did a lupron protocol for the egg retrieval and used high does CoQ6 during stimulation that resulted in a lot of viable embryos.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Harvard Vanguard. (Assigned nurse: Chris French)
Everyone I spoke to were very compasionate and answered my many, many questions
Describe your experience with Harvard Vanguard.
Transfers and retrievals are done at Boston IVF, I didn't realize that at first, but it's fine. Otherwise I love that they're part of a larger health care network so you have multiple locations that you can use and transferring to an OB within that network is easy.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Christine Skiadas at Harvard Vanguard.
Covered by insurance
Describe Christine Skiadas's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Harvard Vanguard.
She will only transfer one unless there's a reason to do more. In my case we did genetic testing on day 5 embryos, no reason to do more than 1
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5
6
Age
42 - 43
Treated
2017 - 2018
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
3 IVF
Diagnosis
Poor Egg Quality, Unexplained
5
6
I felt it [protocol with Dr. Skiadas] was very random and specifics weren't discussed too much. I felt so naive through the first cycle and wish I would have known more...is sweet and seems caring but her patient load is too high and she is never the doctor that attends the retrieval or the transfer, she just sets the protocol. I also felt she could have provided more information and assistance early on and after my insurance ran out I felt abandoned and hopeless.
[Harvard Vanguard is in a] Convenient location, convenient appointment times. Attached to a clinic that provides other services. Parking was good. Overall the staff was professional but they seem to have too many patients to really care about your personal care...Sometimes nurses were very caring but I had other incidents where I felt they treated me like a number and just weren't responsive to my feelings.
Age
42 - 43
Treated
2017 - 2018
Success with this Doc
No
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Sales Representative
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1st of 5 Docs
Treatment
3 IVF
Diagnosis
Poor Egg Quality, Unexplained
5
6
How was your experience with Christine Skiadas at Harvard Vanguard?
Dr. Skiadas is sweet and seems caring but her patient load is too high and she is never the doctor that attends the retrieval or the transfer, she just sets the protocol. I also felt she could have provided more information and assistance early on and after my insurance ran out I felt abandoned and hopeless.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Christine Skiadas at Harvard Vanguard?
Just be aware she does not handle your retrieval and transfers. You also need to speak up and advocate for yourself if you have questions and concerns.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Christine Skiadas at Harvard Vanguard?
Patient load is too high. Had to learn a lot on my own. Felt like follow-up wasn't great.
Describe the protocols Christine Skiadas used in your cycles at Harvard Vanguard and their degree of success.
I felt it was very random and specifics weren't discussed too much. I felt so naive through the first cycle and wish I would have known more.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
Sometimes nurses were very caring but I had other incidents where I felt they treated me like a number and just weren't responsive to my feelings.
Describe your experience with Harvard Vanguard.
Convenient location, convenient appointment times. Attached to a clinic that provides other services. Parking was good. Overall the staff was professional but they seem to have too many patients to really care about your personal care.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Christine Skiadas at Harvard Vanguard.
Insurance covered 90% of my costs.
What specific things went wrong at Harvard Vanguard?
- Failed to call with results
- Provided conflicting information
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7
8
Age
32 - 33
Treated
2014 - 2015
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
5 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Unexplained
7
8
She [Dr Christine Skiadas] was a good communicator and direct. She explained the process and logic of each step well. At one point we had an early miscarriage, and she was sympathetic but not overly so....You don't see much of the dr, most everyday items are handled by the nurses and other staff...She tended to take the more conservative method in terms of treatment and dosing (which I generally agreed with given my history)
The nurses [at Harvard Vanguard] were great. Waiting times were a bit inconsistent or long, which could be frustrating. They also just moved the practice to a brand new floor on an area by itself so you don't have to interact with the obgyn patients, and have brand new rooms / machines...You don't see much of the dr, most everyday items are handled by the nurses and other staff
Age
32 - 33
Treated
2014 - 2015
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
East Asian
Income
$500K
Occupation
Investment Banker
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
5 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Unexplained
7
8
How was your experience with Christine Skiadas at Harvard Vanguard?
She was a good communicator and direct. She explained the process and logic of each step well. At one point we had an early miscarriage, and she was sympathetic but not overly so.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Christine Skiadas at Harvard Vanguard?
You don't see much of the dr, most everyday items are handled by the nurses and other staff.
Describe the protocols Christine Skiadas used in your cycles at Harvard Vanguard and their degree of success.
She tended to take the more conservative method in terms of treatment and dosing (which I generally agreed with given my history)
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
Generally very good, but sometimes the wait times were very long (and frustrating)
Describe your experience with Harvard Vanguard.
The nurses were great. Waiting times were a bit inconsistent or long, which could be frustrating. They also just moved the practice to a brand new floor on an area by itself so you don't have to interact with the obgyn patients, and have brand new rooms / machines
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10
10
Age
30
Treated
2012
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
IVF, 1 Egg Freezing
Diagnosis
Anovulation, Unexplained
10
10
She [Dr. Skiadas] was wonderful as well as her whole staff at Harvard Vanguard....Dr. Skiadas also pushed our insurance paperwork and process faster so that we could move onto the next level of care within 24 hours. I don't remember any specific people at RSC but overall I had a good experience, everyone was professional and moved us along quickly which was nice.
She [Dr. Skiadas] was wonderful as well as her whole staff at Harvard Vanguard....She and all of her nurses were calm, professional, and warm. I felt like they knew how emotional this whole process is and took that into consideration with their care.
Age
30
Treated
2012
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European, Ashkenazi Jewish
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Teacher
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
IVF, 1 Egg Freezing
Diagnosis
Anovulation, Unexplained
10
10
How was your experience with Christine Skiadas at Harvard Vanguard?
My experience with Dr. Skiadas and her whole staff was wonderful. She and all of her nurses were calm, professional, and warm. I felt like they knew how emotional this whole process is and took that into consideration with their care. Dr. Skiadas also pushed our insurance paperwork and process faster so that we could move onto the next level of care within 24 hours. I don't remember any specific people at RSC but overall I had a good experience, everyone was professional and moved us along quickly which was nice.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Christine Skiadas at Harvard Vanguard?
She was wonderful as well as her whole staff at Harvard Vanguard
Describe your experience with your nurse at Harvard Vanguard. (Assigned nurse: Jen)
Kind and compassionate
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Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
9
8
Age
28 - 33
Treated
2013 - 2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
4 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Unexplained, Other
9
8
She [Dr. Christine Skiadas] is very kind, takes her time to answer questions.... Very nice and thorough, I only wish she had more appointments available! It took awhile to get the first appointment and then scheduling could be difficult at times. She was very supportive and made sure to know all of my history.... I wanted a second opinion closer to home and the clinic was extremely unhelpful in getting my records transferred.
[Harvard Vanguard-Quincy] Definitely needs more appointments and more flexible scheduling, it would be very hard to get what I needed. The Quincy office is in an area of high traffic and I was once scolded by the receptionist for being late on a very snowy day.... I wanted a second opinion closer to home and the clinic was extremely unhelpful in getting my records transferred.
Age
28 - 33
Treated
2013 - 2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Nurse or HC Services
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
4 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Unexplained, Other
9
8
How was your experience with Christine Skiadas at Harvard Vanguard?
Very nice and thorough, I only wish she had more appointments available! It took awhile to get the first appointment and then scheduling could be difficult at times. She was very supportive and made sure to know all of my history.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Christine Skiadas at Harvard Vanguard?
She is very kind, takes her time to answer questions.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
Sometime took awhile to get ahold of on the phone.
Describe your experience with Harvard Vanguard.
Definitely needs more appointments and more flexible scheduling, it would be very hard to get what I needed. The Quincy office is in an area of high traffic and I was once scolded by the receptionist for being late on a very snowy day.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Christine Skiadas at Harvard Vanguard.
I don't remember.
What specific things went wrong at Harvard Vanguard?
- Failed to call with results
- Failed to send your chart to another clinic
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Harvard Vanguard.
I wanted a second opinion closer to home and the clinic was extremely unhelpful in getting my records transferred.
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