Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
2019 - 2020, Unsuccessful
[Dr. James Chuong] always remains positive and encouraging...After my 5th and final IUI...he called me personally on the phone and spoke with me for about 15 minutes to discuss the next steps and what could have been the reason this cycles was not successful...knows how expensive fertility treatments are so he provides patients with websites to seek discounts and gives options of pharmacies so we can choose the most cost effective one...
[Cooper Institute for Advanced Reproductive Medicine] isn't a 5-star resort...people may very well easily overlook his [Dr. Chuong] clinic because it isn't aesthetically appealing like most clinics, but little do they know it's a hidden gem...Everyone in the clinic knows you by name and are always polite and professional...Every time they are truly sorry to hear that I started my period instead of having a positive pregnancy test. I can call or text them anytime during the work day and they'll always respond.
How was your experience with James Chuong at Cooper Institute for Advanced Reproductive Medicine?
He truly is excellent. Dr. C has the patients best interest in mind as well as the fact that we are desperately wanting to have a child or children. In front of you he always remains positive and encouraging. You would not believe how many times he said something positive to me that made me feel better emotionally.
I also like the fact that he keeps his website up to date and current with different conferences he's gone to and new information about fertility. Financially, he also knows how expensive fertility treatments are so he provides patients with websites to seek discounts and gives options of pharmacies so we can choose the most cost effective one.
I had started another IUI cycle as the pandemic was starting and offices were shutting down and cancelling cycles, but Dr. C did not. He understands the time and emotional investment we've made and he made sure to continue with only cycles that were already in progress. Again, I had another negative pregnancy test but I wouldn't change him as my doctor.
After my 5th and final IUI, his office was closed and when I got the results, he called me personally on the phone and spoke with me for about 15 minutes to discuss the next steps and what could have been the reason this cycles was not successful. No one can ask for any better treatment than that.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of James Chuong at Cooper Institute for Advanced Reproductive Medicine?
You don't need a fancy building or the nicest dressed professionals, you need people who care about you and your willingness to trust them with the journey to you having a baby. For anyone who is considering going to Dr. C, don't think twice. He is a good doctor and more importantly a good person. That means a lot to people and if you're like me, someone who wants to be involved in the process, want to know the whys and hows, and what's next, he'd be a perfect doctor for you.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with James Chuong at Cooper Institute for Advanced Reproductive Medicine?
Everyone in the clinic knows you by name and are always polite and professional. Dr. C always reviews your chart after your visit and sits down and goes over his professional take on what he sees and gives recommendation that are based on current research in the fertility world.
Every time I visit, I will get a phone call with specific information about my hormone profile and a "solution" if my estrodiol is too high or something else. He is my second doctor and everything I have learned about fertility, especially my own has been from him and his team. When moving to his clinic, he reviewed all of my procedures and treatments from my previous clinic and sat down an discussed his findings with me. Very grateful even though I have experienced true heartache in this process over and over again.
Describe the protocols James Chuong used in your cycles at Cooper Institute for Advanced Reproductive Medicine and their degree of success.
First cycle - Started me on Clomid instead of Letrozole, which is what I used at my previous clinic. He said that research shows Clomid has better results and that he rarely uses it, maybe for older women. I started on a standard dose, however I can't recall what it was.
I did a cycle day 3 appointment to check my follicles and hormones. Once they came back within range, I started Clomid on cycle day 3 and took if for 5 days.
I came back to do a mid-cycle appointment on cycle day 12. I was instructed to use an OPK kit and have the results when I went. Again, checked follicles and on cycle day 14 I took the trigger shot and waited 36 hours and had the insemination the next day. 3 mature follicles. Results negative.
Second cycle - Same process, the only difference was the day I did the trigger and the date of the insemination. I also took a higher dose of Clomid, four pills instead of one for 5 days. I only produced one good follicle. Results negative.
Third cycle - Came in on cycle day 2 instead of 3 because his recommendation was to do a round with injectables. His protocol is that with injectables you start on cycle day 3 but it takes a day for the medication to arrive. I took Gonol-F in the morning for 11 days, 150 for 5 days and 75 for 5 days. At night, I took 75IU Menopur for 6 days and then I started Cetrotide for 3 days and took 1.5 Ovidrel on cycle day 10. I produced 8 follicles, 7 mature. Results negative.
? Cycle - I don't know when I'll be able to start treatment again, but Dr. C's recommendation is IVF. At the time of this review, I am 34 but will be 35 in May so my window is narrowing. So I will start IVF for my next treatment, whenever that will be.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Cooper Institute for Advanced Reproductive Medicine. (Assigned nurse: Annie & Dessire )
Annie and Dessire are always going above and beyond. They have a clinic cellphone that patients can text or call throughout the day. If they communicate with you via text, they always make sure to say please respond so I know you received it.
The team will provide you with training on how to administer your shot and take medications. They provide you with a monitoring sheet to keep for your reference with instructions and what to do on each cycle day.
Every time they are truly sorry to hear that I started my period instead of having a positive pregnancy test. I can call or text them anytime during the work day and they'll always respond.
I also recommended a co-worker to Dr. C's clinic. Her appointments were usually a few days before mine. She ended up getting pregnant and what I appreciated is that the staff still remained professional and did not make me feel different even though that was and still is very difficult for me.
Describe your experience with Cooper Institute for Advanced Reproductive Medicine.
Dr. C is very knowledgeable and he makes an effort to continue to use research-based methods, I think that is a great strength of his. I also thinks he has trained his staff well, even though a few of them are not nurses just medical assistants, they are also knowledgeable.
Something that people may view as a weakness is that his clinic isn't a 5-star resort. Which is perfectly fine with me. However, I say this to say people may very well easily overlook his clinic because it isn't aesthetically appealing like most clinics, but little do they know it's a hidden gem.
Dr. C is honest and compassionate and understands that we are fragile in those moments and he does a very good job of seeing that and adjusting to it.
Describe the costs associated with your care under James Chuong at Cooper Institute for Advanced Reproductive Medicine.
Cycle 1 and Cycle 2:
IUI w/ ultrasound - $525
Sperm transfer - $100
Sperm plus shipping - $970
Injectables - $4,000
(all resulted in negative cycles)
Describe James Chuong's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Cooper Institute for Advanced Reproductive Medicine.
I have not had the sit down IVF conversation yet. I will be having it when I can start treatment again. I don't know his approach yet, but mine in no more than two, lol!