Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
2019, Unsuccessful
Dr. Katz seemed compassionate but also seemed over focused on the donor egg option. We felt he treated us only because we wanted to be treated and that he did so with a very pessimistic viewpoint. He didn't seem to want to spend time understanding our unique situation and adapting the treatment protocol accordingly...He would only transfer one embryo at a time.
It [Shady Grove Fertility clinic] seemed like the cheapest option out there and it certainly is set up to draw people in with webinars and fancy marketing materials. The office was very modern and nice. We just felt like a number in a large machine and that it lacked personalization and empathy...My assigned nurses (I had two as there was turn-over while I was there) were nice. They answered my questions.
How was your experience with Eugene Katz (retired) at Shady Grove Fertility?
Dr. Katz seemed compassionate but also seemed over focused on the donor egg option. We felt he treated us only because we wanted to be treated and that he did so with a very pessimistic viewpoint. He didn't seem to want to spend time understanding our unique situation and adapting the treatment protocol accordingly. He seemed to rush from our first treatment into the second and the second option was just larger doses of the hormones rather than trying a different approach. Needless-to-say, we had to cancel the second cycle because my body didn't respond to the hormones.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Eugene Katz (retired) at Shady Grove Fertility?
Do a lot of research ahead of time so you can be your own advocate. Know that his clinic does not adapt or try a lot of new protocols so if the ones they use don't work for you, you most likely will need to go somewhere else.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Eugene Katz (retired) at Shady Grove Fertility?
The doctors and staff are nice, but it is clear that they are treating a large volume of patients. It felt like we were moved through their office as if we were on a conveyor belt. We felt like it was rather impersonal and inflexible.
Describe the protocols Eugene Katz (retired) used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility and their degree of success.
My protocol started with birthcontrol (Nuvaring) for about 20 days, then we went on lupron for 10 days, followed by menapur (350) and follistim (250). After testing, he increased the follistim. The rationale was to stop the body, and then to try and ramp up egg production so that we could retrieve as many as possible. I only retrieved 5 eggs, 3 fertilized, and none made it beyond day 3.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility. (Assigned nurse: Tina and Beth )
My assigned nurses (I had two as there was turn-over while I was there) were nice. They answered my questions. I was rather upset when the turnover happened as I had become dependent on the first nurse and in the midst of all the stress of a cycle, it was hard to adjust to a new one. At times they were hard to get a hold of. The nurses who did the sonograms and drew blood varied in how engaging they were (how much they explained what they were doing when they were doing it) or how well (or not) they took blood. Some of them left pretty large bruises.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility.
It seemed like the cheapest option out there and it certainly is set up to draw people in with webinars and fancy marketing materials. The office was very modern and nice. We just felt like a number in a large machine and that it lacked personalization and empathy.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Eugene Katz (retired) at Shady Grove Fertility.
Thankfully, we did have insurance coverage. However, even with it we paid $35 per visit, had a $200 initiation fee, and had to put down $1,200 before starting IVF. After one and a half cycles, we owed the clinic an additional $1,000. We had put down $3,500 to do genetic testing (which we never did). When we asked for it to be refunded, they said they had to wait until all of our bills were processed with our insurance company before they would release it. We still have not received it - making the total (with insurance) around $5,700 (so far - I do not know if we will receive more bills).
Describe Eugene Katz (retired)'s approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility.
He would only transfer one embryo at a time. He said multiples was too much of a risk.
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility?
- Lost appointments
- Provided conflicting information
- Failed to consider drug intolerance
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility.
I had to remind them frequently of my allergies to antibiotics. We also had some issues with scheduling.