During this call, she [Dr. Deirdre Conway] went through other options that we could try before the egg retrieval to produce more eggs, and help with the development of the embryos. She told us that she thought we would be a great candidate for these options, and that if she didn't think that, she would not recommend it. After talking with her, and discussing our options, there is no doubt that will do another round of IVF. I feel very hopeful after our discussion...I have absolutely loved working with Dr. Conway, and will continue to do so! We live in a different state than her, but will continue to travel the eight hours to work with her. I feel as though she has taken the time to get to know my husband and I, which in our experience does not happen often. Dr. Conway is very personable, professional and knowledgeable. We just got done doing our first round of IVF with her, and I felt very comfortable every step of the way. Unfortunately, we did not get pregnant after this round. After our negative pregnancy test, a call was scheduled for us to
For our IVF with Dr. Conway [at Utah Fertility Center], we payed the clinic itself around $15,000. This did not include the genetic testing for the eight embryos, the medications and the ultrasounds and bloodwork. Total, we paid around $21,000 for everything. After doing research on different clinics and hospitals, even with the travel to Utah from Montana for IVF, this was by far the most cost efficient clinic that we found...The clinic was very easy to work with. Their financial specialist was very helpful and knowledgeable, and responded to all of my questions in a timely manner. The clinic has a patient portal that allowed us to sign all the required documents electronically, as well as access all of our test results. I found this to be very helpful. This clinic has several different locations throughout Utah and Idaho, which I think speaks for itself in showing how great they are.
How was your experience with Deirdre Conway at Utah Fertility Center?
I have absolutely loved working with Dr. Conway, and will continue to do so! We live in a different state than her, but will continue to travel the eight hours to work with her. I feel as though she has taken the time to get to know my husband and I, which in our experience does not happen often. Dr. Conway is very personable, professional and knowledgeable. We just got done doing our first round of IVF with her, and I felt very comfortable every step of the way. Unfortunately, we did not get pregnant after this round. After our negative pregnancy test, a call was scheduled for us to talk to Dr. Conway. I went into this call feeling very down, and not certain about what to do in the future. During this call, Dr. Conway first asked if we would be up for another round of IVF--which at this point, we were not sure. During this call, she went through other options that we could try before the egg retrieval to produce more eggs, and help with the development of the embryos. She told us that she thought we would be a great candidate for these options, and that if she didn't think that, she would not recommend it. After talking with her, and discussing our options, there is no doubt that will do another round of IVF. I feel very hopeful after our discussion.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Deirdre Conway at Utah Fertility Center?
Do not be afraid to ask questions! We have done a lot of research on infertility, and she took the time to let us ask all our questions, and answered all of them. She made us feel very comfortable.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Deirdre Conway at Utah Fertility Center?
Dr. Conway is fantastic! After our very first meeting with her, I knew that she was the doctor that I wanted to work with. She took the time to review all of our medical records from the three previous IUI's, that we did with another doctor. We were able to sit down with her and walk through all of the results from our previous tests required for IUI's--this did not happen with our previous provider. At our first meeting, she went into great detail about infertility, what we could expect in working with her, what other tests we would need and why, and of course what she would recommend for our treatment plan. She answered all of our questions, and we did not feel rushed to be done with our appointment. I have left every meeting or phone call that I have had with Dr. Conway feeling like I knew what was going on and why, and that she actually cared about the treatment that we were getting from her.
Describe the protocols Deirdre Conway used in your cycles at Utah Fertility Center and their degree of success.
For our IVF, we did an egg retrieval and then had all of our embryos genetically tested, and the embryos were frozen while we waited for the testing results.
Below is the timeline for the egg retrieval--this includes the medicines with dosage, and the number of ultrasound and bloodwork appointments and on which day(s) of the pre-egg retrieval prep. I should note, that I do live in a different state than Dr. Conway, so the sonohysterograph, the ultrasounds and the bloodwork were all completed at my local hospital, and the results were sent that same day to Dr. Conway.
One month prior to beginning the medicines for egg retrieval: Started taking a birth control pill, CoQ10 at 600 mg per day, and continued to take pre-natal vitamins.
One month prior: I had a saline infusion sonohysterograph.
On days 24-28 of the month prior to beginning medications: My husband and I both took a z-pack.
Day 32: Stopped taking the birth control pill.
3 days after I stopped taking the birth control: First baseline ultrasound and bloodwork, which I will know refer to as Day 1 egg-retrieval prep.
Day 2: I continued to take the pre-natal vitamin and CoQ10 at 600 mg per day, and added in a baby aspirin. I began taking Gonal F ( 150mg) and 2 powders of Menopur all in the AM, which ended up being three shots in my stomach.
Day 3: Pre-natal vitamin, baby aspirin, CoQ10 at 600 mg per day, Gonal F (150mg) and 2 powders of Menopur, all in the AM.
Day 4: Bloodwork. Pre-natal vitamin, baby aspirin, CoQ10 at 600 mg per day, Gonal F ( 150mg) and 2 powders of Menopur, all in the AM.
Days 5-6: Pre-natal vitamin, baby aspirin, CoQ10 at 600 mg per day, Gonal F (150mg) and 2 powders of Menopur, all in the AM.
Day 7: Ultrasound and bloodwork. Pre-natal vitamin, baby aspirin, CoQ10 at 600 mg per day, Gonal F ( 150mg) and 2 powders of Menopur, all in the AM.
Day 8: Pre-natal vitamin, baby aspirin, CoQ10 at 600 mg per day, Gonal F (150mg) and 2 powders of Menopur, all in the AM.
Day 9: Ultrasound and bloodwork. Pre-natal vitamin, baby aspirin, CoQ10 at 600 mg per day, Gonal F ( 300mg) and 2 powders of Menopur, all in the AM. *We increased the Gonal F to 300 mg based on the results from my ultrasound.
Day 10: Ultrasound and bloodwork. Pre-natal vitamin, baby aspirin, CoQ10 at 600 mg per day, Gonal F ( 300mg) and 2 powders of Menopur, and added in Cetrotide, which now was four shots in my stomach, all in the AM.
Day 11: Ultrasound and bloodwork. Pre-natal vitamin, baby aspirin, CoQ10 at 600 mg per day, Gonal F ( 300mg) and 2 powders of Menopur, and added in Cetrotide, which now was four shots in my stomach, all in the AM.
Day 12: Ultrasound and bloodwork. Pre-natal vitamin, baby aspirin, CoQ10 at 600 mg per day, Gonal F ( 300mg) and 2 powders of Menopur, Cetrotide, all in the AM. Took trigger shot in the PM.
Day 13: Husband took Cipro--which is necessary before the male gives a sperm sample.
Day 14: EGG RETRIEVAL!
Dr. Conway was able to retrieve 18 eggs, 14 were fertilized, and then we had eight that made it to embryos (day 5/6) and were sent off for genetic testing. About three week later, we found out that out of the eight embryos we had tested, we only had one normal embryo.
About two week after our retrieval, I began taking birth control again and stopped taking it on Day 24, which is when we began the frozen embryo transfer prep. I also continued to take a pre-natal vitamin and added in baby aspirin on day 24.
Day 1: Baseline ultrasound and bloodwork. Pre-natal vitamin, baby aspirin and added Estrace 4mg (PM).
Days 2-9: Pre-natal vitamin, baby aspirin and Estrace 4mg (AM and PM)
Day 10: Ultrasound and bloodwork. Pre-natal vitamin, baby aspirin and Estrace 4mg (AM and PM.)
Days 11-14: Pre-natal vitamin, baby aspirin and Estrace 4mg (AM and PM).
Day 15: Bloodwork. Pre-natal vitamin, baby aspirin and Estrace 4mg (AM and PM). Added in 2 mg of Estrace (vaginal suppository) in the PM.
Day 16: Pre-natal vitamin, baby aspirin and Estrace 4mg (AM and PM), 2 mg of Estrace (vaginal suppository--PM).
Day 17: Pre-natal vitamin, baby aspirin and Estrace 4mg (AM and PM), 2 mg of Estrace (vaginal suppository--PM). Added in the AM 1 ml of progesterone oil (injection--AM).
Days 18-21: Pre-natal vitamin, baby aspirin, 1 ml of progesterone oil (AM), Estrace 4mg (AM and PM), 2 mg of Estrace (vaginal suppository--PM).
Day 22: EMBRYO TRANSFER! Pre-natal vitamin, baby aspirin, 1 ml of progesterone oil (AM), Estrace 4mg (AM and PM), 2 mg of Estrace (vaginal suppository--PM). Added in a progesterone vaginal suppository (PM).
Days 23-24: PRINCESS DAYS! Pre-natal vitamin, baby aspirin, 1 ml of progesterone oil (AM), Estrace 4mg (AM and PM), 2 mg of Estrace (vaginal suppository--PM). Added in a progesterone vaginal suppository (PM).
Days 25-31: Pre-natal vitamin, baby aspirin, 1 ml of progesterone oil (AM), Estrace 4mg (AM and PM), 2 mg of Estrace (vaginal suppository--PM). Added in a progesterone vaginal suppository (PM).
Day 32 PREGNANCY TEST! Pre-natal vitamin, baby aspirin, 1 ml of progesterone oil (AM), Estrace 4mg (AM and PM), 2 mg of Estrace (vaginal suppository--PM). Added in a progesterone vaginal suppository (PM).
Unfortunately, our pregnancy test came back negative, so I stopped all medications on day 33.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Utah Fertility Center. (Assigned nurse: Lacey Mickelsen)
Lacey Mickelsen was my main contact in working with Dr. Conway. She was amazing! She created a calendar for me to keep track of the dates for ultrasounds, bloodwork and all of the medications that I needed to take. Anytime, I had a question I would call or email her and she was very quick to respond. I was so happy when I actually got to meet her in person. She was the one that called me and told me our pregnancy test came back negative, and she was very compassionate and it felt that she really cared about the results.
When I wasn't working with Lacey, all of the other staff that I had contact with was great!
Describe your experience with Utah Fertility Center.
The clinic was very easy to work with. Their financial specialist was very helpful and knowledgeable, and responded to all of my questions in a timely manner.
The clinic has a patient portal that allowed us to sign all the required documents electronically, as well as access all of our test results. I found this to be very helpful. This clinic has several different locations throughout Utah and Idaho, which I think speaks for itself in showing how great they are.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Utah Fertility Center.
I do not live in the same state that this clinic is located in, so I was able to have all of my orders for my ultrasounds and bloodwork faxed to my local hospital. I was able to have all of my appointments done there in the AM, and have results sent to Dr. Conway the same day.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Deirdre Conway at Utah Fertility Center.
For our IVF with Dr. Conway, we payed the clinic itself around $15,000. This did not include the genetic testing for the eight embryos, the medications and the ultrasounds and bloodwork. Total, we paid around $21,000 for everything. After doing research on different clinics and hospitals, even with the travel to Utah from Montana for IVF, this was by far the most cost efficient clinic that we found.
Describe Deirdre Conway's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Utah Fertility Center.
We only had one embryo to transfer, so this was not an option for us.
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Clinic
Utah Fertility Center
Pleasant Grove