Frank Wittmaack

At first, my husband and I appreciated his matter of fact attitude. However, when our first cycle went poorly, we were immediately dismissed as a lost cause. In addition, I was given this information over the phone, in a non-compassionate manner. The recommendation was to stop TTC immediately and pursue other options. Thankfully, we sought a second opinion, and I am now 5 months pregnant with a child made from my own eggs, and my husbands sperm. Dr. Wittmaack made us feel as if that was an outcome that could never be achieved.

Be sure to ask questions, and ask the alternatives ahead of time. I.e. - “If this doesn’t work, or we don’t get a good result, what is the next step?” Also, don’t be afraid to seek a second opinion.

Pretty standard Lupron/follistim/menopure protocol with an HcG trigger. Lab will allow embryo growth to day five or six. Will not freeze or transfer after day 6. Patients are batched, as there is only one doctor.

Flat fee that covered everything up until the pregnancy test. For a slight upcharge (~$1,500) you could add PGS testing.

We did not get any embryos with Dr Wittmaack, so I’m unsure of their policy.

I initially chose this clinic because it was closest to my home, but I was really happy to see his success rates of live births for my age group (3rd in the country, according to latest CDC report) and the care and compassion he brings to his practice. His style is very calm and reassuring - he has a great bedside manner, but as someone who also likes a lot of facts and detail, I sometimes have to push for more information. He always readily answers questions, but he doesn't always offer it straightaway. That said, I would rather have that than a Doctor who has a cold bedside manner.

Ask as many questions as you want and need

We did 2 rounds of IUI and 1 round of IVF so far. With IVF, my stims included 125 units of Follistim (reduced to 75 units after estrogen spiked), 75 units of Menopur, and Ganirelix. Trigger with .4 units of Lupron. Next cycle we will reduce the units of stims because I was on the cusp of hyperstimulation (I have PCOS).

For IVF: Filed to insurance is $19,721, estimated medical costs $4,000-$8,000

Dr. Wittmaack strongly suggests single embryo transfer, but the decision is ultimately up to the patient.

Dr. Wittmaack truly has your best interest at heart! He will give it to you straight, but he is also warm and friendly. If you are someone who has a lot of “why” questions or wants a lot of detail about treatment and cycle progression, ASK QUESTIONS. Dr. W may assume you don’t want all those details otherwise. I was much happier once I started asking for the info I wanted to know at the start of each appointment (especially at monitoring). Overall, Dr. W was very knowledgeable about my diagnosis and prescribed the right protocol for me. Putting my full trust in him during our IVF cycle was the best decision I’ve ever made!

Again, ask questions. Advocate for yourself, but also try to relinquish some control and trust the doctor. He is great at making adjustments as needed and I would highly recommend him for anyone considering IVF.

Because I have Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Dr. W put me on a mini-Lupron flare protocol. The dosages of Menopur and follistim were pretty high - so if you find yourself in the same boat, brace yourself for an expensive prescription cost! We shopped around and applied for a couple discount programs that greatly reduced our cost. Dr. W also had me take DHEA and CoQ10 for the 3 months leading up to IVF. When we started, I had the most antral follicles yet - 8! They all grew with the protocol prescribed and we got 5 mature eggs. I had hoped for more, but somehow we ended up 3 beautiful embryos. One resulted in our current pregnancy, while the other two are on ice!

Monitoring appointments were sometimes conducted by Dr. Strawn. He was typically the one I would see the second week of any month if that’s when monitoring fell. I believe this is because Dr. W splits time in Oshkosh. Dr. Strawn definitely seemed to take his time more during monitoring, while Dr. W was pretty quick about it.

I’d say we spent around $30-35k when all was said and done. However, the clinic offers an IVF payment plan so we are still paying a lot of it off without interest. The monthly payments are high, but o my last a year or two depending on the plan you select. They also offer Sharec Success plans that will reimburse you if you don’t get pregnant. I didn’t qualify for those since I have DOR, but was still able to do a multi-cycle plan at a greatly reduced price. We ended up not needing more than one retrieval/transfer, but it was worth paying more for the extra reassurance of knowing we’d have more chances if the first protocol didn’t work. Prescriptions were sent to Mandell’s. I ended up applying for various discount programs and taking out a loan to cover my medications through Future Family. Our initial med cost of $8,000 went down to $5,500 by taking these extra steps! Do yourself a favor and shop around. You could save a LOT of money.

Dr. Wittmaack diagnosed me with PCOS without explaining what that meant. He is quick with explaining things and is slightly awkward when things get emotional. He also surprised me when the second round of IVF failed and showed great compassion. So I suppose he was there when we needed him and he made sure to contact me with any bad news directly.

Ask questions. Sometimes he acts like we should know things but this process is new to so many. I had to seek out supplements in hopes it improve our chances.

We started with pills. Moved on to IUIs with trigger injections. We only did 2 IUIs which surprise me before moving into IVF. I was put on birth control to control my cycle. I took the minimum dosage for injections along with vitamin D and Dhea supplements for healthy cell development. Each IVF cycle had 14 eggs retrieved and 3 ended up blastocysts. Each time we have them tested and each time they all came back abnormal. Which is why we never reached the transfer stage. One of the eggs was slightly abnormal but we decided against transfer because of chromosome 13 being high risk. Each time we had conversations with genetics and they found nothing wrong with my husband and I. Everyone was baffled by our experience.

Ultrasounds, medication, consults

He preferred single transfer if eggs were tested. Otherwise he would transfer two.

Dr. Wittmaack made me feel very important and cared for. He hesitates between conversations leaving the door open for any questions or concerns. He made us laugh and kept us positive, especially when I was starting to feel overwhelmed by the process.

Ask questions - he gives you all the information you need to know and keeps it simple. I think he doesn't want to overwhelm you and wants you to focus on whatever step of the process you are on before you start worrying about the next. But if you're someone who wants greater detail - ask away! He's very honest and knowledgable.

Because of my husband's pretty low sperm count, we went right to IVF. After an examination revealed I had a great number of follicles in my ovaries he put me on a medication that would work better for me than someone with an average amount of follicles. When my ovaries got pretty big from all those eggs, he decided to freeze our embryos and do a frozen transfer two months after the retrieval so I would not get hyper ovarian stimulation. We were disappointed to wait those extra weeks, but knew it was a good decision and so appreciate him looking out for me in the long term. We did a frozen transfer, which was successful, and they kept me on progesterone shots and inserts until week 11 to support the pregnancy. They are not messing around and want you to have a baby!

We qualified for the 'shared success program.' We paid a specific amount that covered everything but medication and ensured a live birth in three IVF rounds (I believe - the specifics are on their website). If you do not achieve a live birth you get 70 percent of the money back. If felt so nice to have that extra insurance and know if it didn't work we would have a chunk of money back to put towards another means of building our family, like adoption.

Dr. Wittmaack discussed the pros and cons of putting in one embryo or two. He told us about the higher risk of pregnancy complications with multiples, but left the decision up to us. We went with one for our first transfer.

Very good doctor, we have unexplained infertility and we were told what our treatment would look like at our first visit. We started with IUI and if that didn't work we were told they would try the same thing 3 times. Not changing a thing. Hoping it will work out but im a bit hesitant.

Always ask questions if you have any! They explain every detail to you but once you start treatment it becomes a whirlwind.

We were diagnosed unexplained infertility and told he would try 3 rounds of IUI all with the same medication and dosage. Even if they failed he wouldnt change a thing. If that didnt work then IVF is next. We are just starting IUI #1 so i cant really say much yet.

We have no infertility coverage so almost everything is out of pocket. One round of IUI is $1,082 (includes the insemination, sperm washing, and one ultrasound) a progesterone blood draw is $181 and each doctor visit was $370. The only thing covered for us is any bloodwork needed. Which was a lot.

Dr. Wittmaack is a very intelligent provider and truly seems to care about his patients! He explains things well and is honest but gentle with his delivery! I could not recommend him more! When our first egg retrieval failed (no normal embryos) he adjusted meds and we were able to try again with a successful transfer!

Ask questions! This is a big deal so make sure you understand. The staff will answer all of your questions and remember no question is dumb!

For my first egg retrieval he prescribed Lupron and birth control prior to starting stims. I started gonal-f and menopur for stimulation meds. Initially I was not responding to the meds and therefore they were increased! I was at risk of OHSS and was prescribed an oral med but cannot recall the name. I also had a trigger shot the use prior to the egg retrieval. For the second egg retrieval I also used birth control but no Lupron the second time. For stims I started gonal f and menopur. They also had me use cetradtide to help with OHSS and used a Lupron trigger. An antibiotic was given through IV for each retrieval.

If I recall correctly the total cost of the IVF with frozen embryo transfer was about 23,000.

They seemed to have a preference for only transferring one embryo and did educate us as patients and ultimately gave us the choice.

Dr. Wittmaack was very nice. I did not feel like he explained the process thoroughly or the "why" for treatments/medications. I felt rushed anytime he was present. He has a hard time comforting the upset patient making awkward jokes as opposed to putting things in perspective. I feel his work up was not complete prior to starting treatments. I did not like that he did not preform all of my IUIs and I did not like that nurses do the IUIs and ultrasounds.

Be your own advocate. Ask many questions.

Letrozole + trigger + IUI

There are no options for the patient that is traveling from a distant location. Either you pay the package deal and have everything done at that clinic or you pay very high costs for individual services. You must pay for every consult every time meeting with the doctor

From the very beginning Dr. Wittmaack was ready and willing to help. After advising my husband and I that IVF was probably our best route he never pressured us for an answer immediately. We took 7-8 months and when we were ready to try he was there and excited to help us. He would call me himself when something didn't turn out right or for test results. Communication was amazing and much appreciated.

Be ready for one hell of a journey. Dr. Wittmaack will have your back the whole way. But be ready to not always get the answers you want or expect.

I went through 2 egg retrievals. The protocol was different each time. The first one was pretty basic and we got 12 eggs. We opted for genetic testing so at the end we had 1 female egg that sadly didn't take. For the next retrieval he had me take DHA and CoQ10 for 3 months beforehand. We got 22 eggs second time around! Again we did genetic testing and ended up with 4 female eggs to work with. Each one of my transfers were a little different too. Just little things were tweaked like amount and times I took my progesterone injections. And in between there were tests he had me take and do as well to figure out why my transfers weren't working. I can't remember what the test is called where they insert saline solution, I've had done a couple times. And I've also had the test done that's like a mock transfer. I take all the meds and get my body ready for a transfer but instead of transfer he removed a piece of uterine lining to see if when we were doing the transfer was the right time.

We did 2 retrievals and 5 transfers. I don't remember specific prices for specific procedures but I know in totally we paid well over $25,000

For me because of my age we only transferred 1 embryo. We never really discussed more because my husband was terrified of multiples haha!

Dr. Wittmaack can be a little hard to understand because German is his first language. He always double checks to make sure I understood the information before I left my visits. He got to know me personally through all of my appointments and always took time to answer my questions.

Ask lots of questions and don't be afraid to reask them to make sure you completely understand your course of treatment.

For IUI I took Letrozle and then a HCG Trigger shot. For egg retrieval I used Lurpon, Gonal F, and Menopur. Birth Control was also used to regulate my cycles. For frozen embryo transfer I used Progesterone in Oil, Estridol Valerate and Lupron. I also took an antiboiotic to help reduce risk of infection at the time of the transfer.

My costs were covered through insurance. Medications were not covered, but for Egg Retrieval they were about $5000.

We didn't do any genetic testing so we were given the option of transferring 1 or 2 embryos. Our clinic gave us information from the CDC on risks associated with a multiple pregnancy. After talking with the Embryologist about the quality of our embryos we ultimately made our decision.

I feel that Dr. Wittmaack is a compassionate and caring doctor who always had our best interests at heart. He was honest and forthcoming with what was not always good news. Unfortunately he is an employee of a corporation and I feel that this affected how the outcome of our unique situation was handled.

Do not rush into anything and ask lots of questions. If you are signing anything, make sure to read it thoroughly, ask for copies and make sure that you understand the risks of the treatment you are undertaking.

After 3 failed IUIs we were scheduled to start IVF with our own eggs, however the cycle we were to start my FSH had risen significantly and we decided mutually to go right to donor eggs. From there we encountered numerous setbacks. The first proven donor we we selected from the clinic's donor pool ended up not being available (the donor files had not been updated). Our second choice tested positive as a carrier for alpha thalassemia so we had to see a genetic counselor and my husband had to be tested. We decided to proceed as we had already invested a great deal of money on her FDA testing and psych evaluation. I was put on birth control pills then Lupronef. Our donor was not responding well to stims so we had to pay for additional meds with no notice. Then at my last ultrasound before retrieval we discovered I had a follicle and subsequent blood work showed I was ovulating despite being on Lupron. We had to then freeze for FET. Then disaster happened!!! Our donor went to retrieval. 14 eggs were retrieved; 8 mature, 2 post mature and the rest, according to the embryologist "were just bad eggs." All 8 fertilized with ICSI but by day 3 we had 5 poor and 3 fair. All were highly fragmented. By day 5 we had NO embryos to freeze. Dr. said it was 100% an egg quality issue. This is exactly the outcome we were attempting to avoid by using a donor in the first place! We then had to wait an entire month for a follow up and when I called to schedule it I was told there were no appointments available for over 3 weeks!!! I had to settle for a phone appointment. Dr Wittmaack seemed genuinely devastated for us and agreed to speak to the clinic administrator to see of they would help us out financially by discounting a new cycle or waiving or discounting our current bill (in addition to the 10k plus we had already spent we currently have an outstanding bill of over 10k!). It is not looking good as the financial coordinator said the "we signed and dated the consent forms and we knew the risks." We felt we were rushed through the consent signing and we were not given copies. We were NEVER told of the risk of this outcome. On the contrary we were constantly told how successful their donor cycles are!

Costs added up quickly! There was an unexpected price increase at the last minute with our donor cycle. We paid around 10k for our donor's FDA testing, genetic testing, psychological evaluation and medications beyond our donor cycle fee. We have over well over 20k invested in our donor cycle (including the pending bill) and we never even got to transfer.

Dr. Wittmaack is a gentle, intelligent and caring man. He took as much time as necessary to make sure I understood and was comfortable with the next step. He never pushed us toward a certain method of treatment, always explaining all the options and allowing us to make an informed decision on our own with his assistance. I felt 100% confident in his diagnosis, prognosis and treatment methods and never once doubted his practice- even if the cycle turned out to be negative. I am currently 7 months pregnant with my incredible IVF miracle that Dr. Wiittmaack helped my husband and I to conceive. He and his staff even have plans to come visit the three of us after delivery. I will most definitely be recommending Dr. W. to everyone and anyone who is looking. We are so lucky that he practices near our home.

Relax. He and his staff know exactly what they're doing and they will never let you feel like you aren't important. They will help you make all of the tough decisions and will care for you with world class efficiency. Do not be afraid or nervous. Trust.

After 3 cycles of IUI with letrozole (1 cancelled) that all failed, we decided to move forward with IVF. I have Diminished Ovarian Reserve and damaged fallopian tubes, so we all decided that IVF was the best option moving forward. Birth control pills for 6 weeks 10 units of Lupron for 10 days 8 days of: 225 units of Gonal-F 75 units of menopur 5 units of lupron Following egg retrieval: 2 estrace tablets 2 units of progesterone in oil 11 eggs retrieved 11 mature 10 fertilized 4 made it to embryo stage 2 transferred fresh 2 frozen 1 beautiful baby boy at 7 months gestation

The cost for IVF (one fresh cycle) was $12000 The cost of IUI was about $3000 per cycle

Dr. Wittmaack is so kind and truly wants to help each of his patients. He's very skilled and I trust him completely. He was always very encouraging and optimistic. He always took adequate time with us to answer all of our questions.

Be sure to ask questions to thoroughly understand your course of treatment. Make sure you understand all of the costs involved. Also, try to relax and trust in Dr. Wittmaack and his staff.

We did three IUIs with Letrozole and injectibles during the summer of 2014. This course of treatment was chosen for unexplained infertility. We conceived our daughter on our third IUI in August 2014 and are currently starting this process again (June 2017).

The cost of an IUI cycle is about $2,000.

Dr. Wittmack seems like he knows what he is doing. He can be a bit awkward but I did feel confident that he had our best interest in mind. It did feel like we were not receiving as individualized care as I would have liked. After the IUIs, nobody ever called to follow-up and at no time throughout treatment would anyone call unless you called them or there was a test result they needed to share. They also never really bothered to help figure out why we were having trouble conceiving, it was more about getting you pregnant at all costs.

Do your research before you go for your initial assessment and have an idea of what you are willing to spend if insurance does not cover treatment.

We did 2 IUI cycles. I believe one was with Clomid and the other with Letrozole and both times used a trigger shot. We were unsuccessful in both.

Yes, you meet with someone that explains costs.

Dr. Wittmaack was able to make possible our impossible dream of having a baby. I had an excellent first IVF cycle, got pregnant, but sadly miscarried the baby. Due to my age, I wanted to do another egg retrieval cycle rather than FET my other two embryos. I had yet another successful cycle, and our daughter is two months old. I had labs coming back with bad results repeatedly. The results didn't make sense, and Dr. Wittmaack stayed on the case until discovering I had antibodies thar were reacting with the lab assay itself. He is some sort of reproductive endocrinology genius.

It can take awhile to get started, but it goes fast once you are.

My doctor would let me transfer one or two, recommending two due to my age and that my embryos were untested.

The dr is very good about explaining things to you and when talking to you he looks at you and waits for you to answer to make sure you understand. I have not had any bad experiences with him. He is the one who made me go through a laparoscopic procedure that had found my endometriosis when no other dr thought I had it.

He may come off as not caring at first but he is a great dr and does care

I have not started the procedure yet I am just in the beginning of it. But so far he has explained everything to me very well so I know why he is going to do

They gave out sheets that broke down the cost and what the costs were for

He will do 2 embryos but they give you information on why you shouldn't do 2 at a time

Dr Wittmaack is very friendly and down to earth. He is very intelligent and explains things in a way that’s easy to understand. I have gone through a miscarriage and he was very reassuring that it was not my fault

You must be mentally ready to go through fertility treatments

I was only able to transfer one embryo due to having a small uterus

The doctor was very inappropriate and made several comments to us that we completely out of line. Including but not limited to we should try things the old fashioned way, as well as telling my wife she could now really see my inner beauty while pointing to an ultrasound screen and preforming a vaginal ultrasound.

Stay far far far away.

We never got to protocols. After the initial baseline ultrasound where inappropriate comments were made I never went back.

Seems very knowledgable and intelligent. Dr. Wittmaack was friendly and honest about my treatment. Always very encouraging. Dr. Wittmaack and his staff are always upbeat and positive which was encouraging. His staff recognized me on the phone and in person. I felt like a friend and not just a patient. Although my journey hasn't ended how I'd hoped, I still feel like I made the right choice with Dr. Wittmaack.

Costs add up fast. Do research and be prepared with questions to best understand the treatments.