Grace Couchman

Dr. Couchman can be a bit cold, but I also feel like she doesn't just waste your time doing things that likely won't work. She is a good balance of reality and hope. I have been working with Dr Couchman since conceiving my son, and we've had a lot of insurance-related hurdles, and because we've worked closely together, I feel she has more of an understanding of my case. But before that, I did feel a bit like she was just putting me through a standard protocol, and I was just another patient. However, with my relationship change with Dr. Couchman, the clinic's staff and other doctors also have been friendlier, so I feel like it's a clinic effort as well.

ADVOCATE FOR YOURSELF! Read up on what may be causing your infertility, ask lots of questions, and if something doesn't feel right, bring it up. The tendency with Dr Couchman is to do what works for most, but you know what works for you. Ask for it. Dr Couchman is very reasonable and will listen, but you have to ask to get a different result.

When I first started with Carolina Conceptions, I felt like a human, but there were definitely points along my journey where I haven't. I will say they have gotten a TON better in the last 6 months or so, across the board. Dr. Couchman can be a bit cold, but what I appreciate about her is that she is open to my thoughts on the process and the direction I want to go. There was a cycle (ended up being my best), that I had seen a different dr for my monitoring, who wanted to proceed very early with an IUI with just one follicle. I tried to push back, but the other dr was fairly adamant. I emailed Dr. Couchman later, and she came up with a plan that actually netted 9 eggs eventually. So I would say, in general, the clinic's approach is more number-like, but overall, if you advocate for yourself and what you want, you will get individual treatment. But the status quo is more number driven, and one size fits all treatment.

I did an IVF cycle with menopur, testosterone, gonal-f, and something else, and I got very few follicles. I've done many IUIs with different doses of Gonal-F

The nurses associated with my FET and egg retrieval "in the back" were great! Very compassionate and sweet and caring. The front staff is kind of hit or miss, some are very nice, most are just so so. The lab staff are also very nice. The embroyologist we had was not very nice, borderline cranky.

There seems to be an effort underway over the last 6 months to be friendlier, everyone is chattier, smiles more, and just more caring and friendly overall. I did have a few instances a few months back where the HCP doing my exam over a few of the appointments (different people each time) had to have a chaperone, which was a little weird, but overall, they seem to be trying to be nicer. I will say, they default your treatment overall, and if you feel something should be different, you need to speak up, across the board.

$15,125 for one IVF cycle, just clinic services, nothing additional

Carolina Conceptions has guidelines for this, but we didn't have multiple to transfer, so wasn't an issue for us. In general, I felt their guidelines were very responsible and reasonable.

I would definitely recommend Dr. Couchman because I feel confident that she is an expert in her field and I trust that she did everything in her power to help me become pregnant. She's not always warm and fuzzy but she tells you like it is and I respect that.

When you have appointments with her, have your questions ready! You mostly see nurses during office visits (they are great with questions too!). You can email Dr. Couchman, but I feel like I'm being annoying if I do this often or if I have long emails because her answers are short and sweet. She probably means nothing negative by this. She seems like she is super busy!

I like that Dr. Couchman is realistic, to-the-point, and obviously knows what she is talking about. Sometimes, I feel like it is hard to get thorough answers and explanations about my treatment. I want to know every little detail and would LOVE to be able to look at all of my medication orders, office notes, labs, etc on a patient portal. I appreciate that Dr. Couchman replies to most emails. It would've been nice to have her or a nurse to call or email to check in on me after my egg retrieval because recovery was harder than expected. I had to email with an update on my symptoms to be sure this was normal and there was nothing more I could do.

I did 1 round of medicated timed intercourse and 1 IUI each with Letrozole, Gonal-F 150 (I did not need Cetrotide but had it in case), and Ovidrel. With IVF, I was on birth control for a month then did Gonal-F 225 with 2 vials Menopur, added Cetrotide and ended up reducing Gonal-F and Menopur doses, then triggered with Lupron and a low dose of HCG. I have high AMH and am over 35. I had 39 eggs retrieved and 16 embryos made it to freeze. We did PGS testing and ended up with 5 normal embryos. We transferred one and we are pregnant!

The nurses have been wonderful! They return calls promptly, answer questions well, encourage you, and are the ones you see most. If they don't know an answer, they will find out.

Strengths: High success rates!!, friendly front desk and nurses, knowledgeable staff, lab draws always go smoothly and the lab staff is great, embryologists know their stuff and are very nice Weaknesses: Providing details and thorough information about diagnoses, treatment, results-I'm sure this is tough because too much info for some patients may be bad. I am just one that loves to know it all upfront and see it. Having no portal to view my records is a bit of a challenge for me. You have to trust and ask questions along the way.

Well-organized and I was able to ask the nurse questions

The clinic has been open about how they prefer single embryo transfer. I agree that this is safest for mom and baby.

Dr. Couchman is a phenomenal doctor. She is attentive, compassionate, confident in the work she does, and has instilled confidence and reassurance in me and my husband every step of the way. She has never once been pushy about a treatment and has been patient with us as we have arrived at IVF in our own time. It is clear that it is important that her patients understand all procedures and options. She has also taught me the best diet and exercise program given that I have PCOS. I don't think I have anything negative to say about Dr. Couchman; I would recommend anyone in my situation to go to her.

Even with an amazing doctor, it is a tough journey to go through. Trust Dr. Couchman, she will steer you down the right path.

Dr. Couchman has been wonderful through our journey. From the moment we walk in the office to the moment we leave, we feel special and important. The administrators know us and ask about our personal lives, the nurses are involved in our process, and Dr. Couchman has been patient with us as we have made tough decisions. Dr. Couchman also championed our successes and was comforting in times of heartache. I feel lucky to have landed with such an incredible treatment center.

My OBGYN recommended me to Grace Couchman after a few rounds of treatment that were unsuccessful. When I met with Dr. Couchman she went through all of my records and immediately asked me to do a lifestyle change of eating low carb and no sugar because of my PCOS. She then went through all the possible treatments we could try and what will work best for our situation. We tried a combination of oral meds and injections with intercourse. Our next option was IUI, but Dr. Couchman recommended we do IVF because the chances of pregnancy would be much better. We waited until we were ready and discussed it several times with Dr. Couchman until we were ready. It took my husband and me a while to get there. We just finished our retrieval and everything is going extremely well. We are looking forward to the next two months as we move into our preparation for our frozen transfer. I also want to point out that Carolina Conceptions offers education classes on the science behind the treatment. I feel extremely informed and know exactly what is happening with my body.

They are awesome! The nursing staff is always smiling and has made me very comfortable in every interaction.

Again, it's a great place and I feel fortunate to be a patient there. They are friendly and welcoming. They also have a fantastic reputation and have a well thought out process. It is clean and comfortable, and my favorite thing is that they are not pushy.

15,000 for IVF, 4,000 for meds, 1,050 for genetic testing, 475 annually to keep frozen embryos

Carolina Conceptions has a strict approach on eSET. There are several criteria that are required in order to qualify for a 2 embryo transfer. Again, they are very thorough in explaining why they do this.

Dr. Couchman is to the point and somewhat blunt. Dr.Couchman isn’t the most warm and welcoming however her experience and education are outstanding. Dr.Couchman seems to stay on top of modern treatments and seems to have high success rates.

I would like future patients to go into the appointment with the understudy Dr.Couchman is a professional at this and though her bedside manner isn’t as warm and fuzzy as you may desire, she is telling you truthful facts and giving you top of the line care.

It is impossible to get in contact with someone is phone. Typically I play phone tag 3 or 4 times before speaking with the person I am trying to reach. The clinic would much rather email and I think that’s very inappropriate as detail is so important in the fertility world.

Letroze 2.5 mg days 3-7 Follistim Aq 900 days 8-12 Ovidrel 250 for trigger Ganitelix as instructed Progesterone suppositories 4 days following Ovidrel for 16 days.

The staff is different to contact as I stated previously. Once in contact I did feel that I got the answers I needed.

We’ll start with weaknesses. Reaching the clinic via phone is at times impossible, especially if you have a specific extension that you’ve been transferred to, they prefer email. Bedside manner is not as impressive as I think fertility patients desire. Blunt with opinions, news etc. Strengths. Knowledgeable staff with top of the line technology and procedures. Money back guarantee on IVF (certain requirements must be met) Main clinic is in a great location.

I wish I could remember the costs better. I feel that we paid around $250.00 for monitoring transvaginal ultrasounds. A consultation appointment may be around that as well. My husband is a State Trooper and the clinic does offer a great IVF discount for Law Enforcement officers, military, nurses and others I do believe.

Based on articles provided by Dr.Couchmans clinic I feel they lean towards single embryo transfer as they see it has no significant difference in success rates, they feel it’s equally effective as multiple.

My experience as a patient is a little different. I am an obstetrics nurse, so I am pretty familiar with infertility treatments, and what that entails. My husband is not medical. Dr. Couchman was great with us! She spoke to me as a nurse, but also explained everything out to my husband. When we left, all of our questions were answered, both of us. Dr. Couchman has been honest, a straight shooter, with us about our particular case, and has been very honest about steps we need to take to make that happen.

Trust her! She truly wants to give you a child, and weighs what she says. Her words are honest, wise and full of knowledge.

The second we walked in the door, Dr. Couchman knew us by name. She greeted us with a smile and handshake. Each time we are in the office, she continues to remember our names and details about our lives, without glancing at her chart. She truly has an incredible memory! She remembers friends of ours she has treated, where we work, even our dogs and aspects of our lives!

We were referred to UNC Infertility first after a year of trying to get pregnant. It was going to take months to get into UNC. My friends had success with Dr. Couchman, and we called and were able to get into them right away. Dr. Couchman looked at my HSG, looked at the SA results, and came up with a plan. We discussed IUI and IVF, and waited to do anything until we had a confirmation SA. We then did another SA, which was also low, and due to my health and age, we attempted IUI. IUI was unsuccessful, and the SA was lower. Dr. Couchman was very real with us about our odds and options. We then opted to pursue IVF, which we are currently getting ready to start. She was wonderful with explaining the process, and simply stated facts. She never tried to advise us one way or another, and happily supported our decisions.

The nursing staff have been exceptional. They have been patient, compassionate and full of knowledge. They have been wonderful through the entire process.

I don't see any weaknesses. CC have been very prompt with getting us in and scheduling appointments, their responsiveness is A+. The atmosphere is very happy and friendly, and everyone is incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. They are very compassionate and aware that this is a hard time for patients, and treat them appropriately.

So far, we have spent approximately $2,000 and are about to begin IVF, which will be around $15-20,000.

At CC, as of 2017, they will only transfer one embryo. Multiples was not listed as an offer.

I wanted a doctor who would be exhaustive in her assessments, honest, knowledgeable, balanced with enough compassion to make me feel hopeful and comfortable. I felt like Dr Couchman covered all the bases with my assessments during both courses of treatment, and she was matter-of-fact without being discouraging or rude. I also genuinely felt that she wanted us to conceive and wanted to do everything she could to help. That's exactly what I needed.

Dr Couchman is compassionate without being warm and fuzzy. She wants you to ask questions, as many and whatever you need. Also, during your treatment, utilize email if you need. There is no way that any single doctor can do all of your monitoring appointments and such; they may not be working that day or weekend, they may be doing surgery or egg procedures that day, etc., but definitely either ask while you're there or use email. Dr Couchman is very responsive.

I felt like Dr Couchman listened to us and considered my unique set of circumstances.

The first time, we started with some letrozole, Ovidrel, and timed intercourse. We moved on to IUI and got pregnant on the second IUI cycle. The second time (about 4.5 years later), we used the same drug protocol with one additional pill of letrozole per day, and went straight to IUI. Both times I was encouraged to lose some weight; the second time, she referred me to a newer clinic to expedite that process . They were fantastic, and I was grateful for the referral. In fact, I plan on going back to a less intense version of that plan once I'm done breastfeeding to take a little of that weight back off.

The nurses are great. The ones doing monitoring are very knowledgeable, but also did not hesitate to check with the doctors if needed. They were also efficient, knowing that you're there a good bit and don't want to be there all day, but they do it without focusing on efficiency or being rude.

The clinic is fantastic. I tell people that despite all the emotions surrounding infertility, we could not have had better experience at Carolina Conceptions from beginning to end. The front desk folks are fantastic (I walked back in after over 4 years and the manager at the front still knew me, and she also got so excited when I was there for my pregnancy tests for my second pregnancy), the nurses are knowledgeable, the phlebotomists excellent (I am hard to draw blood from, and they never ceased to impress me with their skills), and all the doctors great. You're going to be there a lot; the overall experience matters in addition to the individual doctor.

I don't remember the specifics as we had some insurance coverage as well. Importantly, they did everything possible to get as much covered by our insurance as possible, and even refiled some things after the year had turned and our insurance coverage had changed.

We did not do IVF, but I definitely wanted to be at a place that would focus on eSET because if we did pursue IVF, I wanted to balance the potentials for success and risk.

Dr. Couchman had great bedside manner. We were very happy with the results of the treatment we received. I am sure there was a time or two we were less than happy, but the end result was 2 beautiful baby boys...at the ages of 44 and 45. I have found myself questioning whether or not an egg donor was the way to go, or if we should have tried a few more times with my own eggs, but the cost benefit of using an egg donor was so much lower than repeated failed cycles given my age...and my eggs were only getting older every try. I did wish the amount of time between attempts could be shortened. I sometimes wonder if the extra month between cycles is really warranted.

I don't think she is in the clinic full time at this point, so that may be a reason to choose someone else on the team. I met with Dr. Park and Dr. Meyer. While Dr. Meyer was very nice, I felt like he was just "being nice" instead of really listening to me...sort of like he had things he said to everyone, and didn't really treat me like a person. Dr. Park, on the other hand, seemed a little more honest.

She is no longer at CC.

The scheduling staff was fantastic. The phlebotomists were also. Really, overall, no complaints about the clinic. The financial staff did a good job explaining the costs. The embryologists were also great and emailed us photos of the embryos at every transfer.

I think it was ~$25k for transfer of my own embryos. If using donor eggs, they offer a refund program. For ~$25k + "pass through" charges, you get as many transfers as you want from up to 3 egg donors, or until you bring a baby home from the hospital. So, we were on our 4th IVF, having used 2 egg donors, when I became pregnant and delivered healthy twins. So, we fortunately did not receive a refund. The pass through charges were about $6k every IVF cycle.

We transferred 2 embryos 4 times. The fifth time, we transferred 3 embryos. Dr. Couchman encouraged us to only transfer 2 embryos each time. I chose to do 3 embryos the fifth time. We ended up with twins. We were very happy with our choice.

I did not feel that Dr. Couchman was compassionate, and did not feel that she was interested in or had time to answer my questions, or consider any alternatives other than the course she thought was best for us. I was very disappointed that I only saw Dr. Couchman twice during our entire course of treatments at the clinic. The first was during our initial consultation and the other was when my body was not responding to the medications, and she just happened to be in the office and the nurse called her into my room to discuss.

Don't be afraid to ask questions, and demand that you be heard. Don't settle for only one option.

I felt more like a number than a human because I only saw Dr. Couchman twice during my treatment at the clinic. I was constantly seeing different doctors and nurses, and never felt any compassion from any of them.

I used Follistim, Menopur, and a growth harmone for my first IVF cycle. My body did not respond to the medication well. Dr. Couchman readjusted the dosages of the same medication for my second IVF cycle. The outcome was a bit better, and I had 3 mature eggs at retrieval. Of the three, none made it to day 5.

The nursing staff were not as compassionate as I would have liked. There was one nurse who was very cold, and would not even return to the room when I had questions during one visit. She had the financial coordinator deliver the answers to me. I was already an emotional wreck, and not being given the time to answer a simple question just made things worse. The nurses would always return phone calls, and call in medications timely, however, you never knew what nurse you were going to get.

The clinic can be very unorganized. There was trouble with my paperwork in the beginning leading to a misunderstanding about my treatment protocol. When I called to make appointments, they weren't sure what type of appointment I needed. I also applied for the refund program and my application was lost. I was told the day before my treatment was to start that I was not approved for the refund program. This lead to having to rethink our financial situation at the last minute. There is already so much stress related to infertility and treatments that having the additional financial related stress is just too much when it can be, and should be avoided.

$15,125 IVF package with PSG testing $480 IUI procedure

N/A

We were just another number and when things didn’t work out with our first IVf cycle she just gave up on us and said we needed to do egg donor. She didn’t adjust treatment protocol to try something else the second round. It was like she just gave up and pushed us to the side.

Be your own advocate.

When I went in for most visits, the receptionists knew me by name and exactly why I was there, but Dr. Couchman always has to ask me why I was in instead of checking my chart ahead of time. One time, she even took my husband and I back to her office for a consultation when we were actually there for a follicle scan. When we let her know, she apologized and made us wait in the waiting room for a room to come available.

We did birth control pills for 2 weeks. Then we began Follistim injections along with Menopur. When we had a good number of mature follicles, we started Ganirelix injections until our Ovidrel trigger shot. They retrieved 10 eggs, 8 were mature, all 8 fertilized (4 normal fertilization and 4 abnormal fertilization), no embryos made it to day 5 transfer, so our cycle was canceled.

Some nurses we saw were wonderful. They were friendly, compassionate, understanding, and were patient with any questions we had. Some nurses seemed busy, rushed, not compassionate.

The reception staff and finance staff were top notch. Some of the doctors, such as Meyer and Park were a much better, organized, blunt but with good bedside manner fit for the practice. Our primary doctor was not the best fit for my husband and myself.

Our entire IVF cycle cost around $20,000.

No comments because we had zero embryos to transfer.

My wife and I feel that Dr. Couchman is very knowledgeable and compassionate. We have tried to get pregnant several times over 2 years under the direction of a previous doctor. When he transferred us to Dr. Couchman's care, she suggested that we try a very regimented timed intercourse treatment. Unfortunately, our attempt was unsuccessful yet again. We had a follow-up appointment with Dr. Couchman to discuss next steps. She suggested trying IUI at least once or twice, but we feel like so much time has been lost and want to go straight for the IVF since the odds of success are much higher. Additionally, we can't really afford to keep trying different techniques with the odds of success being so low and that's why we want to pursue IVF. She was completely understanding of our needs and frustrations and gave us all the information we needed. We are hoping to schedule it for sometime this summer.

Listen carefully and don't be afraid to ask questions until you fully understand everything you need to know. There will be a lot of information and different factors to consider.

Dr. Couchman always took the time to sit with us and explain every relevant detail to us concerning our situation. She offered honest advice and spoke to us like intelligent human beings.

My wife and I underwent a timed intercourse treatment in which she had to take prenatal vitamins. We then had to go in for an ultrasound followed by Letrozole tablets for several days. After that I had to administer Follistim injections for 3 consecutive days. Then, we had to go back in for another ultrasound. We were then instructed to begin taking Ganirelix. Lastly we had to begin the progesterone suppositories nightly until we became pregnant.

They were very informative and helpful and instructed my wife on how to administer the injections that she was to take.

Everyone in the office was very professional, courteous, and helpful from the front desk clerks to the nurses, doctors, and billing staff. They will take the time to answer all of your quesetions and address all of your needs. Everything is handled very efficiently in this office and we highly recommend it.

If I remember correctly, the total cost of the timed intercourse treatment package was around $500.

When we first met with Dr. Couchman, we immediately knew that she had a lot of experience and knowledge. This was great as we had very little knowledge. She was very direct and to the point with all of her answers, she wanted to make sure we received accurate information when we asked questions. My husband and I like to understand the full scope of what to expect for the full process, but Dr. Couchman was more inclined to go step by step and explain things as we got to the next step. This made it difficult to know what to expect as we moved through the process for the first time. During the second IUI, Dr. Couchman was great at keeping the room friendly and upbeat. It made for a big difference from the first time.

Know that she is going to tell it as it is, in no uncertain terms. If you want someone to sugar coat the truth, she is maybe not the best fit, but if you want someone to get straight to the point, she is great!

On our first IUI, we had no idea what to expect, and during our consultation, we weren't told that our doctor would not be the one completing the IUI. When we went in for the procedure, someone we had never met came in, completed the procedure and then left with little communication. The second IUI went much better as our doctor was the one to complete the procedure. My husband and I are planners, and we have a lot of 'what if' questions. We could tell that the doctor wanted to get our questions answered as quickly as possible and then send us on our way.

The first consultation was to meet with the doctor and decide if we were a good fit. Next, we scheduled an HSG. The HSG showed that I had a uterine septum. We scheduled surgery to correct the uterine setpum and we were able to start the IUI process right away. The treatment had me go in on cycle days 1-3 for an ultrasound. If the ultrasound looked good, then I would start taking Femara for 5 days. Then I went in for a second ultrasound. If that ultrasound looked good, then on cycle day 12, I would inject myself with 1 pre-filled syringe of Ovidrel 250MCG/.5ML syringe. then two lays later, I would go in for the IUI. Then 2 weeks after the IUI, I would take a pregnancy test. The first IUI resulted in a negative pregnancy test. I wanted to wait for one cycle before trying again, but Dr. Couchman advised against that, saying that it was best to do it right away. We tried a second time, and this time along with the Femara pills, I used a Progesterone 50MG suppository. The rest of the treatment was the same. The second IUI resulted in a negative pregnancy test.

Nurses were all friendly. A nurse completed our first IUI. We were not confident that she had the experience or knowledge to be performing an IUI on her own. She explained that she was newer to the practice. She didn't talk much during the IUI and then after, she disappeared, so we weren't sure if it was done or what our next steps were. The call coordinator at the front desk was always amazing. Whenever we called, he was always happy to answer any questions that he could, and directed us to the right person. When we arrived at the office, he always knew our names, and what we were there for, and always had a smile on his face.

The location was easy to find, but if you got there before hours, or after a certain time, the elevator would be locked, and there aren't clear signs on how to access the top floor if you can't use the elevator. The elevator opens up to a wall of windows, so it is initially a bit disorienting because usually the elevators open up to the front desk. There is a large waiting room with plenty of seating options. I loved that the bathrooms all had different themes, so it felt like you were at home, and not at a doctor's office.

The initial consultation was $250.00. HSG was $538.00. Ultrasounds were $250.00 per ultrasound (This included $70.00 office visit and $180.00 for Ultrasound). IUI day of procedure was $430.00 (This included Office visit of $90.00, IUI $260.00, Thawing of sperm, $55.00, Semen Analysis $75.00).

N/A. We did not do an embryo transfer.

She always seems very knowledgeable and gets to the point, but she also will take the time to explain and go over things if needed. She's compassionate and will change treatment if needed, and is not afraid to say what she thinks or recommends. She doesn't do a lot of small talk, which was totally fine with me.

She is not going to waste any time, so go to her when you're ready to start discussing treatment.

She always was familiar with my previous treatment and had a plan for future treatment ready to discuss with me.

She started me out on Letrozole, and when I didn't respond as expected (follicles didn't mature on schedule), we moved on to Clomid and Ovidrel. After three unsuccessful IUIs (one resulted in a chemical pregnancy), I did a round with Gonal-F, Cetrotide, and Ovidrel. When that round resulted in a negative pregnancy test (despite several mature follicles prior to trigger), she suggested that we move on to IVF.

Everyone on staff is professional and compassionate, and all of them, including the receptionists, are very nice. They have always been friendly. I can be hard to draw blood from, and occasionally they have trouble with that, but that's not unusual for me. Usually they do a great job with that too.

Sometimes the clinic can be very busy (especially during walk-in hours at the beginning of the day), and depending on what's going on, sometimes they can be running a little bit behind. The receptionists and nurses are very friendly and return calls, and are happy to answer questions and take the time to make sure you understand what's going on. The doctors seem very experienced and each has a unique personality, but they are all very nice and professional.

Some of my rounds were partially covered by insurance, thanks to a strange loophole. IUI rounds cost a total of around $1000 if paying out of pocket, plus the additional cost for sperm and medications (medicine was usually around $80 for a clomid round, $1600 for a Gonal-F round).

Dr. Couchman STRONGLY recommends only transferring one embryo, citing the higher risks of twins.

We met with Dr. Couchman for an initial consultation, and she was very prepared. She had reviewed our records and made some additional testing recommendations, including some additional blood work and an HSG (we had already had some of the routine testing done - semen analysis, day 21 blood work). Since everything looked good, she recommended a couple trials of IUI. My insurance covered TIC, but not IUI, so we agreed to start with a few rounds of TIC. Those were not successful, so we're now trying IUI with Dr. Meyer. What I most appreciated was, she looked at both of us and assured us that we WOULD get pregnant. She couldn't promise when or how much money it would cost, but she was very confident that it would happen for us. We found this incredibly reassuring. A note: when you go for your baseline ultrasounds for TIC or IUI, and sometimes for your day 12 ultrasound, you will likely see a nurse. If a doctor is available, they may do it, but it can be tough to get your doctor. Truth be told, I have seen Dr. Meyer a lot more than I've seen Dr. Couchman. I think she is probably the more popular doctor, perhaps because women prefer women.

She can be hard to get into, but the other doctors are great as well.

I have never felt like just a number with Dr. Couch man, or anyone else at Carolina Conceptions. She reviewed our prior medical records, recommended additional tests, and recommended a course of treatment.

We are dealing with unexplained infertility. She recommended a couple rounds of IUI, but since my insurance covered TIC, we agreed to try that first.

The one nurse I saw the most often was just ok. She didn't have a very warm demeanor. Other nurses were better.

Strengths: front staff is WONDERFUL, doctors know what they're doing, they are easily accessible. I think they are one of the more popular clinics in the area. Also the financial coordinators are always prepared, and are open and honest. Facility is nice. Weaknesses: can be difficult to see "your" doctor. I have seen Dr. Meyer and the nursing staff more than I've seen Dr. Couchman.

TIC was covered by my insurance, so just had to pay copays for appointments and ultrasounds. Switched to an HSA, so everything is out of pocket now. A visit with a doctor cost me $175. Ultrasounds are about $250, IUI is $500 day of. Total cost for IUI with oral meds is about $1000-$1500. Next month we're going to try IUI with injection medications, and I've been advised that the costs will be $2000-3000.

Dr. Couchman is earnest and honest, without coming across as cold or overly clinical. I always felt comfortable in her office. Her warmth and confidence helped to dispel my anxieties (as much as they could be dispelled). She communicated with my partner and I well and I felt good about each decision I made under her care.

Be patient.

Dr. Couchman always responded to my emails personally and my interactions with her were always warm and personable. She was careful to tell me exactly what to expect with each phase and I never felt confused or hopeless as I had with my previous doctor.

With Dr. Couchman, I initially started with timed intercourse coupled with injections (Follistim and Ovidrel? I think). This didn't work, we proceeded to IUI, with injections that were similar to the timed intercourse. We did 2 rounds of IUI (I had already had one unsuccessful IUI with a previous doctor). My partner and I had initially indicated to Dr. Couchman that we didn't want to do IVF, but I changed my mind after the last IUI. She was supportive of both decisions and did not pressure us toward any additional procedures. She gave us ALL the data we could need and helped us make a truly informed decision to proceed. Day after tomorrow I will go do my first implantation. I feel good about it.

I love the nurses. They always remember my name and are friendly in a genuine way, I always felt comfortable and informed

Everyone here is extremely compassionate and friendly. The atmosphere is calming. They seem to enjoy working there, and together, and I never dreaded an appointment. (I think they put something calming in the air!)

It was definitely a well-oiled machine. I never waited long, and they were always aware that I had a classroom waiting for me!

My copay was $70 when I saw a doctor, and $55 for monitoring with a nurse (I think! It's been a while.) The IVF was a package deal, which was great.

She prefers eSET, which I agree with and understand. I would rather have more than one transfer than risk a pregnancy with multiples.

Dr. Couchman was extremely confident in our treatment plan and explained every step to us. I felt like we were all part of a team, not like there was some doctor-patient hierarchy and we just did whatever the doctor told us. There was always a clear explanation and we were given time to consider our next step. We never felt pressured or belittled- just part of a team!

Don't be afraid to ask questions- lots of them! Dr. Couchman is so willing to answer anything and help put you at ease!

I had severe OHSS twice after retrievals. We were terrified and Dr. Couchman took all our calls, emails and appointment requests immediately. She made us feel like we were her own family that she was caring for. Never once did I feel like she thought we were complaining or overreacting. She treated me twice with IV fluids at the clinic so that we could avoid the ER. When we finally got to our first ultrasound after the transfer, she was just as excited as we were to see our little one there, wiggling around! We would recommend her and the entire Carolina Conceptions Clinic to anyone trying to conceive!

After a failed IUI cycle due to OHSS, as a team, we decided IVF would be our only option. We closely monitored my injections, beginning slowly so as not to overstimulate. I was seen my Dr. Couchman or one of her colleagues each time I visited the office for monitoring, at Dr. Couchman's request. This was so we could be hyper-vigilant for OHSS. After the retrieval, 48 eggs were collected, 35 were inseminated, and we ended up with 17 embryos at 5 days. Needless to say, I had OHSS. Prior to the retrieval, I was given a Lupron injection to help with the OHSS. After the retrieval, Dr. Couchman required that I be out of work for at LEAST 2 weeks because I was so ill. My husband called almost everyday to check in with her and the nurses, and we were seen immediately several days for IV fluids. Prior to the retrieval, Dr. Couchman and her team strongly recommended that we do a freeze-all to make sure that my body recovered from the retrieval. We felt that we were given the best treatment plan, tailored to us.

Michele was my main nurse coordinator. I was able to reach her daily via phone or secure email. This was excellent and comforting as we had so many questions and concerns, even after a positive pregnancy! If Michele was not available, I felt completely confident in speaking with any of the other nurses!

Strengths: Communication, the best front desk staff (friendly, warm), clean and professional environment, extremely experienced, appointments are on time and you are seen quickly, they have office hours early in the morning and on weekends

In total, including medication, we spent roughly $17,000.

Dr. Couchman recommended that we transfer one embryo but was not opposed to us doing two.

Dr. Couchman has been great. I've sat in her office in her office for several consultations. She has been patient and understanding as we have asked questions and made decisions. Dr. Couchman has made sure that we are well informed. I've never felt dumb asking her questions. She has taught as much as she has supported. While she has recommended specific treatment, she has never been pushy. She has allowed us to walk through this journey at our own pace. I am so appreciate of the care she has provided.

Dr. Couchman is not always warm and fuzzy, but that doesn't mean she doesn't care. She shows that she cares through her knowledge and supportive nature.

She seems to know me and be familiar with my medical history. She made recommendations based on that.

Dr. Couchman has pretty much let us dictate what we want to do. At this point we've only tried medicated IUIs with injectable medications. One cycle I produced a high number of follicles, so she suggest that we use a lower dosage of Follistim for the next round. We are thinking about starting and IVF cycle in the summer and she has been very upfront with the fact that we may not need a lot of medication because I tend to respond well to lower doses.

I've mostly seen nurses to check follicles, so there isn't a whole lot to share. They are knowledgeable and if they have questions, they consult the doctor. I've been pleased thus far.

I think Carolina Conceptions does a great job trying to educate their patients. The financial department has been helpful along the way as we have dealt with insurance. The front desk receptionists are always quick to help however they are able. The female receptionist knows my name when I walk in the door. She is always polite and super sweet.

I honestly cannot remember. Some of our IUIs were covered under insurance, and some were not. We were offered a special rate for IVF because they consider me to be a "service worker."

If she has a preference, I'm not 100 percent sure. I imagine that it would be a single due to the lower risk factors. We have not yet crossed that bridge, so we will probably discuss it further in future appointments.

Dr. Couchman is extremely qualified in her domain. She was always straight forward and to the point. She always prescribed the appropriate course of action based on our particular situation. She clearly explained the pros and cons and elicited our input into the course of treatment.

She is very supportive and has the appropriate level of bed side manners while being very straight forward in her assessment and plan.

She always reviewed our charts prior to our visits. She established a relationship with us and was very sympathetic to our issues.

Michelle, was very attentive and was able to effectively communicate the course of treatment. She was always very responsive when we have follow on questions returning our calls same day. Her ability to teach the different protocols such as injections was very helpful to our overall treatment plan. I would highly recommend her as a case nurse.

Kiesha at the front desk was very personable and nice and showed genuine concern for our overall progress. She was a ray of light as we went through several treatment plans. Always providing an uplifting spirit. Kelly from the Finance/insurance department was very dedicated and on top of our case. We felt we were always in great hands with her I would highly recommend you work with Kelly for all of your financial concerns.

$30K over the course of 2 years with several cycles. However, The clinic decided to charge us at in-network even though our provider insurance coverage changed and they were really out-of-network. This was unexpected and very much appreciated. It showed they were there for the long term care and not just the revenue.

Dr. Couchman is very blunt. If you're sensitive and your feelings are easily hurt, you may not appreciate this and should consider seeing a different doctor. Personally, this is one of the things I like about Dr. Couchman. She explained my fertility issues and ALL treatment options in great detail. She gave her opinion about which option would work best for us, and she encouraged us to go home and take our time discussing these options. My husband and I never felt like we were being rushed or pressured into choosing one treatment over another.

She is very straightforward. If you have any questions, make a list and come prepared. She's great at reading body language and will be able to pick up on any reluctance or hesitation that you may have. She won't move forward with treatment until she's 100% sure that your ready and that she has your trust.

Dr. Couchman was friendly and had a great bedside manner. She remembered not only details about my past fertility issues, but also details about my personal life that I had shared with her. She took the time to explain ALL treatment options and not just those that she felt would be most successful. Dr. Couchman made sure that all of our questions were answered. If I had any questions after I left the clinic, I was able to email her and get a response.

We tried 3 cycles with Clomid while waiting for test results. None of these cycles were successful. I was diagnosed with diminished ovarian reserve, poor egg quality, endometriosis, and a blocked fallopian tube, which had to be removed. My husband has low sperm count and varicocele. We were told that our best chance of conceiving would be through IVF. Dr. Couchman said that we could try using my eggs, but she felt that we'd have a better chance of conceiving if we used donor eggs. We were told that if we chose to use my eggs that we should be prepared to spend a lot of time and money on the process. My husband and I decided that we had spent more than enough time trying to get pregnant, and we didn't have an unlimited amount of money to spend on something that would more than likely fail. We decided to try IVF using donor eggs. This wasn't an easy decision, but we felt it was the best option for us. I have 3 children from a previous marriage, but my husband has none that are biologically his. I know what it's like to have children that are genetically mine, and I wanted him to experience that same joy. Due to our financial situation, we decided to share a donor with another couple. We selected a donor using the clinic's database, but we waited for another couple for several months with no luck. After growing impatient, we found a donor using a frozen egg bank that we found online. Once we notified the clinic that we had found a donor, things moved very quickly. I found my donor in February, and I started taking birth control pills in March to prepare my body for a transfer in April. I can't remeber the exact timing and details, but I also had to take estrogen pills and progesterone injections at some point. I also had to go in several times for bloodwork and for an ultrasound to check my uterine lining before the transfer. We started with 8 eggs, and 3 of them made it to day 5. We decided to transfer 2 embryos and freeze 1 embryo. Dr. Couchman was not present for the transfer, but Dr. Bowling was. I had to continue the progesterone injections after the transfer, but I can't remember the exact timing. It may have been for about 10 weeks, but I can't remember. I went to the clinic 8 days after the transfer for bloodwork, which revealed that our 1st attempt was successful! We started our journey at Carolina Conceptions in May 2016, and we now have 5 month old twins.

Nothing really stands out about my experience with the nursing staff. I saw a different nurse each time. I didn't have any bad experiences, but I didn't have any that stood out either.

The office is neat and clean. The receptionists are very friendly and helpful. It is difficult to reach anyone when you call. So be prepared to leave a detailed message and wait for someone to call you back. The billing part was a little frustrating at first, but the staff who work in that department are friendly and helpful. I was a little disappointed in the lack of donors available in the clinic's database and also disappointed that no one told me where to find other donors. I had to go online and figure that out for myself. I had to pay a hefty deposit just to get a password to use the database, only to find out that there are only a handful of donors who are qualified to participate in a shared cycle. I was very pleased that Carolina Conceptions was willing to refund that deposit when we decided to use another database to find a donor. For us, the hardest part of our journey was finding a donor and getting our finances together. Once we found our donor, things moved very quickly.

I can't remember the exact costs. I know that I had to pay for a hsg, office visits, an ultrasound, and lab work that wasn't covered by my insurance. I was given a discount for having no insurance. I'm sure that I easily spent a couple thousand dollars on all of that. We found our donor at an online site for a frozen egg bank, and we used a single cycle guarantee that they were offering. Therefore, we didn't directly pay Carolina Conceptions for our IVF cycle.

We were allowed to choose wether or not we wanted to transfer 1 embryo or 2 embryos. Our doctor seemed confident that the transfer would be successful either way. She also made sure that we were well aware of the possible complications associated with carrying and delivering multiples.

don't feel strongly one way or the other. clinically seemed ok, could be more specific. Ex told me at the beginning we could do one or 2 embryo transfers, but then when go to plan the transfer, told could only do one despite knowing upfront that I'd do PGS testing

Extremely unhappy with clarity around finances and visibility into options. I was told I MUST use Cigna pharmacy for my specialty prescriptions and was never given the option to select my own pharmacy or given my prescription to even do price checking. Turns out Cigna was the most expensive option which results in me being out of pocket by few thousand dollars extra. After calling the doctors office, I'm being told that it's my responsibility to choose which pharmacy. However, I was never given the information to chose and was flat out told I MUST use Cigna! I absolutely get that the dr office can't know what's going on in the gazillion flavors of insurance that are out there, and I certainly don't expect them to be experts in insurance. However, I do expect transparency and accurate information. If it is my responbility to make the choice, they should give me the prescription, or at least confirm that I want my Rx filled by their suggested pharmacy. It's poor practice to make the choice for someone, give no visibility into the options or even what's being ordered, then tell the patient it's their responsibility to choose with ZERO information. Given this experience, I now question the accuracy of any information provided (it's a slippery slope). The office has also said there's nothing they are willing to do from their side (not willing to discount their fees at all).

All up ~$25k

Dr. Couchman was completely invested in our treatment. It was clear she wanted the best outcome for us. She was direct and explained things clearly and as many times as we needed. She ALWAYS responded to emails I sent her, even while she was on vacation. She goes out of her way to help us succeed.

Dr. Couchman is a great doctor who is very invested in her patients.

Dr. Couchman new me and my situation throughout my treatment. She listened to concerns. And was available via email at nearly any time of day. She would even respond to my questions while on vacation. When I gave birth to my daughter after many years of infertility, she was very invested in seeing pictures and learning about her. It was clear she cared.

Terry Hunter is a wonderful nurse. Compassionate, explains the processes well and as many times as you need. Promptly returns emails and phone calls. Always described what we could expect from each process.

compassionate, caring, cutting edge treatments. Doctor's and nurses communicated everything we needed to know very well. Quick response time to calls/emails. Can email your doctor directly with concerns or questions and they respond promptly. help guide you in making hard decisions by providing factual statistics and information. Always presented us with different options and the pros and cons of each. I felt like we were easily making informed decisions, even if they were difficult. I saw Dr. Couchman, Dr. Meyer, and Dr. Park, and would recommend each one of these providers. Nursing staff was kind and compassionate. The front desk and office employees knew me by name when walking in. And the finance employees were always warm and helpful.

$60,000

Dr. Couchman was always willing to listen to us first, she heard our story as to why we were seeking out a second opinion without any judgement. She did interject along the way to ask more in depth questions but she showed empathy toward us. She gave us hope even after one miscarriage that we could become pregnant again. Anything we wanted to try she was willing to work with us to come up with the best treatment plan each time. She referred to us by our names and when I would come to the practice for monitoring and was seen by another doctor but saw her in the hallway she would give me a warm friendly smile and say hello!

Don't be afraid to speak out and share what you really feel is best for you. She will respond with empathy.

I felt like a human because of her empathetic communication style - she was able to understand and share the feelings we were having during each cycle.

Based on my history and lab test results she had me start at a mid range level of IU's for the main drug I took during the first 7 days of the cycle but when I came in for my first monitoring appointment she would readjust it if deemed necessary. In my first cycle I had to order another vial of the second drug to give my follicles a little more time to grow and also to make sure I didn't ovulate to early.

The nursing staff was helpful will the process of ordering the medications, from the call ins to the pharmacy to sending in additional prescriptions to explaining the process of how it all works. Most of the nurses I saw were empathetic during my treatment cycles. They were friendly each time I was there lending a smile or a hello how are you... They were attentive if you needed anything or didn't understand a protocol they would be patient and explain it to you in terms you could understand without any hesitations.

The doctors are competent they are all friendly, knowledgeable and willing to work with each couple on coming up with the best treatment plan. Not once did I feel like I was being pushed into something I didn't want to do. Each time I was seen I was always told to please call them at anytime with any other questions I may have and they would be happy to help me. I was able to reach out to Dr. Couchman by email with questions too and she would always respond in a timely manner. All the doctors want the same thing and that is to help every couple that comes through their doors to take a baby home. It is such a blessing to be in a place where they have the same goals as you do.

I was told insurance would cover up to three cycles of medications, which they were with only co-pays. I also had coverage for monitoring and blood work. The cycle for IUI was out of pocket since this wasn't coverage from the insurance company so we paid for the monitoring and blood work. However we were aware of this thanks to the awesome financial counselors.

No

From the very beginning we have found it easy to talk with Dr Couchman. Going through this process has been mentally exhausting. Dr Couchman has sat and talked with us numerous times and I have never felt rushed or like we were just another patient. I feel like she has a very realistic professional opinion. She doesnt sugarcoat anything but she still has comforting way of talking with you.

You won't always see Dr Couchman at every visit. I wasn't used to this at first. But I do feel comfortable with everyone in the practice.

Dr Couchman has always taken her time with me and my husband. She has always been very easy to talk to.

We first tried medication (I don't remember what we used) and did timed intercourse. After the negative pregnancy test we decided to do an IUI. We did two IUI's that both resulted in a negative pregnancy test. We tried a third IUI but I had no follicles that time. She told us to proceed with timed intercourse. That ended with a negative pregnancy test. We took some time off after that. We came back and decided to try IVF. We had 9 follicles. From there we had 4 embryos. By day 5 we only had 2 embryos and they were not as developed as they hoped, but still growing. So we transferred 2. We got a negative pregnancy test.

I really like the nursing staff at Carolina Conceptions. Some are friendlier than others. But that will be anywhere you go.

I have always had a good experience with Carolina Conceptions.

Insurance paid for up to three IUI's. We had to pay out of pocket for IVF.

She listened and she explained things clearly. Just wish that consistent in who I saw each check up. During our loss she didn't stress us to decide and when asked that's when she told us what options to take depending on what we wanted, consistent with our beliefs. She also advised us to take time to heal before we inform what next step we wanted, to try again or to stop, was pour choice. She didn't say it out, it was obviously implied. She was sensitive and caring.

She's very experienced, but also very busy. You have to specify that she will do all the follow up check ups unless it's ok to get the other doctors.

She listened and considered certain reservations I had especially since I've had a slightly conservative upbringing. Also had qualms regarding surgery though she called me about the need and did try to check if it could be avoided, but ultimately had to be done. During our loss, she was very sympathetic and didn't pressure us on whay next step. Advising us to take our time to heal before talking with her again on what we wanted to do next.

Age was a factor for our decision and time. I have a condition that makes me irregular and if we insisted on own eggs out might not have worked out even given time to try to harvest, if any will. Plus the possibility of disorders.

She's perky and quick to reply to any question. As a first time pregnant person, I asked a lot of seemingly idiotic questions that other already with kids people know.

The receptionists keep changing for this year. Unfortunately new receptionists aren't always aware of patient log ins. I had to wait more than 20+ minutes once agent everyone after me was already seen before my log in was seen

A lot

N/a

Even though I had suffered a set back, Dr. Couchman always listened to my concerns and ideas for a different protocol. She considered them and allowed me to try different protocols to try to get my endometrial lining thicker.

All the Doctors at Carolina Conceptions are update on the newest protocols and off label use for fertility treatments. Don't be afraid to suggest a different protocol to be used because we all don't react the same way to a prescribed protocol. Dr. Couchman will listen and discuss your options with you to determine the best protocol to use.

I knew when I walked into Carolina Conceptions that this was the place I would start my journey of becoming pregnant. Dr. Couchman was very nice and went over my medical history. I felt very comfortable with her and our discussion of using donor eggs.

I was using BCP, progesterone Ethyl Oleate, estrogen pills/patches and I became pregnant with the first transfer; however, had a miscarriage After having a D&C, my lining wasn't the same. It just didn't look as thick as it did before the D&C. I was approximately 6 mm when I got pregnant the first time. We tried doing a cycle with follistim with sildenafil which didn't work in getting my lining thicker. Then we tried trental on my last cycle and even though my lining didn't seem to be more than 6mm, we were successful in getting and maintaining a pregnancy.

All the nursing staff was always nice and friendly when I came in for visits. Terry gave me my lessons on how to do the injections 2 times. Tammy or Terry would always response to my emails of questions I had in a reasonable amount of time.

I went to another IVF clinic in Raleigh before going to CC. Once I came off the elevators, I knew this was the right place. The front staff, nurses and doctors all made you feel comfortable and answered any questions I had. I like the fact they are opened early in the AM and I could be seen early so I wouldn't have to take time off of work for my appointments.

I spent approximately $40,000. I decided the best option was the CC Refund Plan ($22, 800). This did not include the egg donor fee of $6,000 and associated drugs approximately $2,000 to $3,000. the first donor there were only 2 viable embryos for transfer and I became pregnant; however, had a miscarriage. I decided to try again and paid another $6,000 plus drugs for a new egg donor. This donor produced 7 viable embryos and had them transferred 2, 2, and 3 for the last transfer. I now have a beautiful baby.