I think Dr. Damario really provided me with the right level of care I wanted. He was really informative and blunt with me about risks like with me originally wanting to try for twins. He also was caring while still being professional and not overbearing. He really put me at ease. I always felt better and reassured after talking with him. The only thing that maybe could have been better is that sometimes I had to remind him on details that I think the nurse knows or he would know if he reread my file.
I think the clinic is really professional and organized. I felt comfortable in their spaces...Overall the communication is good, however, the user site is a little clunky to navigate so it would have been nice to have an easier to use site to see my results and instructions. It can also be a little transactional at first because you have to pay in advance though I think Shawn tried her best to be helpful and understanding about our financial situation.
How was your experience with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
I think Dr. Damario really provided me with the right level of care I wanted. He was really informative and blunt with me about risks like with me originally wanting to try for twins. He also was caring while still being professional and not overbearing. He really put me at ease. I always felt better and reassured after talking with him. The only thing that maybe could have been better is that sometimes I had to remind him on details that I think the nurse knows or he would know if he reread my file.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
I think you should not be afraid to ask questions and to call the nurse's line or afterhours line to ask question. That's what you are paying for and if I hadn't asked directly, there would probably be a few things I was still confused about. As for medical costs, it can be daunting as they explain that at the beginning. You should also ask a lot of questions about that so you understand your coverage and your options.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
The doctor was always warm when I saw him. He spent a lot of time with me in his initial visit and I was able to consult with him several times during the process. I felt like he was really encouraging and honestly calmed me down when I would start to panic.
How competent was Mark Damario at LGBTQ+ care?
I never got a negative feeling from him when I discussed my wife and what our goals were. The doctor met my wife several times and seemed genuinely happy for us.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
You end up talking more with the nurses than the doctor. The nurses explain how you take the medicine and answer your questions over the phone. They also check in with you after your ultrasounds. The nurses knew my case really well and always were very sure of their answers so I felt confident in their advice.
Describe your experience with Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
I think the clinic is really professional and organized. I felt comfortable in their spaces and I was able to get to the Lilydale clinic easily and be in and out for routine visits really fast. It was a little bit more work going to the Minneapolis clinic. Overall the communication is good, however, the user site is a little clunky to navigate so it would have been nice to have an easier to use site to see my results and instructions. It can also be a little transactional at first because you have to pay in advance though I think Shawn tried her best to be helpful and understanding about our financial situation.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
The cost for IVF was about $13,000 not including the cost of medications
I felt like a number by the simple fact that Dr Damario didn't listen to me. He also barely said a word to me when I had my first in person interaction/exam...He didn't go over the previous diagnosis he gave me or any possibility of treatment plan. I had to call the clinic weeks later just to find out I needed an appointment to get my results..
I had no interaction with nursing staff beyond when I called 2 weeks after my appointment to get my testing results. No one told me I even needed an appointment until I had called...The St Paul location was not helpful at all. Minneapolis location was great until my insurance forced me to transfer care. For example, the staff at Minneapolis tried to get approval from my insurance to allow me to continue to be seen. They also listened to me when I cried on the phone when I first found out about my insurance. They made it very easy to transfer care to another clinic. Forms were completed right away.
How was your experience with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Because of Covid19, my first consult was on the phone. I was given a diagnosis of PCOS without any sort of physical exam or diagnostic testing. I was extremely frustrated with my interaction, but went in for an exam anyway. The phlebotomist drawing my blood seemed to care more about me than Dr Damario! During my ultrasound, he didn't say much beyond how everything looked normal. He didn't go over the previous diagnosis he gave me or any possibility of treatment plan. I had to call the clinic weeks later just to find out I needed an appointment to get my results. I was not happy.
It wasn't until failed attempts at home that I realized I had to go back. I was able to transfer to the Minneapolis clinic. Proof that Dr Damario didn't listen to me? The new doctor went over his notes and had NO IDEA my husband is transgender. Funny how he was so focused on me paying for in office treatments and donor sperm, but couldn't factor in that my husband doesn't have any.
Furthermore, I am currently dealing with the confusion as to why Dr Damario saw a normal number of follicles (5-7) and a normal uterus whereas my new clinic saw over 30 follicles and a slightly heart shaped uterus. That's a pretty big change even factoring in a few days difference in my cycle. (The higher count was seen earlier in my cycle, but only by a couple days.)
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Go to the Minneapolis clinic. Don't bother seeing Dr Damario at the St Paul location.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
I felt like a number by the simple fact that Dr Damario didn't listen to me. He also barely said a word to me when I had my first in person interaction/exam.
Describe the protocols Mark Damario used in your cycles at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota and their degree of success.
There was no plan beyond purchasing donor sperm and having IUI done in office. Since my infertility was not properly diagnosed, I was not given the medications I am on now.
10 days of 400mg progesterone (to induce a period)
5 days of 5mg letrozole (once they determine I am ready)
1 250mcg Ovidrel injection (used before IUI)
I have yet to use all 3 medications because it is unknown if my body will be producing viable eggs.
How competent was Mark Damario at LGBTQ+ care?
He never noted in my charts that my husband is transgender. Without any diagnostic work done for myself, I already had male factor infertility that should've been accounted for. Plus, when I went to another doctor at the Minneapolis location, she had no idea about my situation.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
I had no interaction with nursing staff beyond when I called 2 weeks after my appointment to get my testing results. No one told me I even needed an appointment until I had called.
Describe your experience with Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
The St Paul location was not helpful at all. Minneapolis location was great until my insurance forced me to transfer care.
For example, the staff at Minneapolis tried to get approval from my insurance to allow me to continue to be seen. They also listened to me when I cried on the phone when I first found out about my insurance. They made it very easy to transfer care to another clinic. Forms were completed right away.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
My two visits ended up costing under $200 after my insurance. There were billing issues, though. I paid one bill and an updated bill arrived later with an additional cost. It was explained as insurance sometimes takes awhile to complete a claim.
How competent was Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota at LGBTQ+ care?
I did not see any resources in the waiting area nor did any staff offer information when I told them my husband is transgender.
Describe your experience using 3rd party reproduction (donor eggs, donor sperm, or gestational carrier) at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
I never had the chance to use donor sperm at this clinic because I transferred care.
What specific things went wrong at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Failed to call with results
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
I probably would've transferred to the Minneapolis location sooner had I known I could. With that in mind, I could've also had treatment started in 2020. I still can't believe I had to call them to find out my results. What would've happened if I hadn't called??
Dr. Damario did a wonderful job of making us feel like a human, took the time to review all of our records and go over them in depth. Explained everything in great detail and made us feel like we were important to him... was very professional and described our situation in depth, he explained everything that we were facing and what our best options were, when we decided ivf with donor eggs were not an option for us he didnt hesitate to change the course of treatment and gave us all the details on why or why not an iui would or wouldnt work. He was very sympathetic of our situation and made sure our fears and concerns were answered and put at ease before we left
Our initial consultation [at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota] was about $400. That included a baseline ultrasound and some blood work up. The iui will be about $1200 for injectable medications and 2000 for services...is a wonder clinic with very caring nurses and an amazing doctor. They take the time to get to know you, what you want and what you dont want. They listen to all your concerns and are more then willing to work with you. They treat you like a human not a number and always want the best for their patients. I would highly recommend them!
How was your experience with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Dr. Damario was very professional and described our situation in depth, he explained everything that we were facing and what our best options were, when we decided ivf with donor eggs were not an option for us he didnt hesitate to change the course of treatment and gave us all the details on why or why not an iui would or wouldnt work. He was very sympathetic of our situation and made sure our fears and concerns were answered and put at ease before we left
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
To go in with an open mind and be honest about what you want and dont want. Don't be afraid to speak up for what you want. Dr. Damario is more then willing to work with you.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Dr. Damario did a wonderful job of making us feel like a human, took the time to review all of our records and go over them in depth. Explained everything in great detail and made us feel like we were important to him.
Describe the protocols Mark Damario used in your cycles at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota and their degree of success.
We were set up to begin an IUI treatment before the Corona virus canceled all new treatments, our plans was to use Follistim 150iu of 8 days and the an ovidral hcg shot and the iui the next day. However we have been put on hold until it is safe to begin treatment again!
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
I have no had alot of one on ones with the nursing staff as we havent started our treatment yet, however, the couple nurses I have seen an spoke to are so kind and patient and answer any and all questions I did have!
Describe your experience with Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
Center for Reproductive medicine is a wonder clinic with very caring nurses and an amazing doctor. They take the time to get to know you, what you want and what you dont want. They listen to all your concerns and are more then willing to work with you. They treat you like a human not a number and always want the best for their patients. I would highly recommend them!
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
Our initial consultation was about $400. That included a baseline ultrasound and some blood work up. The iui will be about $1200 for injectable medications and 2000 for services
I only got to see him [Dr. Mark Damario] once in our three failed cycles at CRM...I asked if I could try other things to help me produce more follicles at a faster rate because they took longer to grow and no one seemed to care what I thought...Nothing was adjusted to my body’s needs...not one person in the clinic or my Doctor had called me to check on me or continue care into the next step...I very much felt like a number.
[Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota] is professional and clean. Everyone was nice but felt like it was because they had to be. I felt a little rushed after my follicle checks/ office visits...They weren’t very up front with their costs. I had to pay a lot of money for blood work that was not discussed with me in detail what all the test meant...Only one specific nurse was very nice and genuine with me. She made me feel very comfortable and listened to me when my first cycle failed about trying or adding more medications into the mix.
How was your experience with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Dr. Damario is professional and was nice at my initial consultation. He explained our next steps and was clear in what he wanted. I only got to see him once in our three failed cycles at CRM. I did feel like a number because I always had to reach out to them and I never got my blood work tested throughout my 3 cycles with them. Only at initial consultation. I asked if I could try other things to help me produce more follicles at a faster rate because they took longer to grow and no one seemed to care what I thought with my body. Nothing was adjusted to my body’s needs and therefore could of resulted in a pregnancy and not another failed cycle. Then after my three cycles were finished no one called me as usual and no one offered to discuss the next step with me. I very much felt like a number.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Be adamant of what you want and speak up if no one is listening to you.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
I only seen my Doctor once in the whole three cycles I have done at CRM; including all of the office visits, follicle scans. Also after the three FAILED cycles not one person in the clinic or my Doctor had called me to check on me or continue care into the next step.
Describe the protocols Mark Damario used in your cycles at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota and their degree of success.
Dr. Damario suggested we do three cycles of letrozole and ovidrel trigger with timed intercourse. No blood work occurred to check any of my levels. And or adjust medication. All three cycles resulted in 0 pregnancies. I did not even know if I ovulated because levels were not checked.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
Only one specific nurse was very nice and genuine with me. She made me feel very comfortable and listened to me when my first cycle failed about trying or adding more medications into the mix. After our talk it was brought up by me to another nurse to try other medications or up my dose and I was totally ignored. The other nurses were professional but made me feel like I was just a number.
Describe your experience with Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
This clinic is professional and clean. Everyone was nice but felt like it was because they had to be. I felt a little rushed after my follicle checks/ office visits. If you don’t mind feeling like a number and having them call all the shots then go to this clinic , otherwise keep looking.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
$4500-$5,500 my whole time there. Out of pocket.
What specific things went wrong at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Failed to call with results
Failed to order appropriate test
Provided conflicting information
Scheduled the wrong procedure
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
They weren’t very up front with their costs. I had to pay a lot of money for blood work that was not discussed with me in detail what all the test meant. Then I got billed for it later even though I already paid for the consult and follicle scan right away. All the tests they took at initial consult was never discussed with me about any of the results. They did not listen to me when I suggested we try higher doses or other medications. I never got tested during my cycles to see how well I ovulated or if I even ovulated. Or how well I was responding to the medications. I got my period after every failed cycle because I was on progesterone. After the failed cycles I never got a phone call to see how I was doing with another failed cycle or to discuss further treatment. They required my husband do another SA when I told them he had one, one year prior. And I provided them with his results. Which were excellent. I have spent thousands of dollars on failed cycles and nothing was ever adjusted and I felt like it was a waste of money.
We really respect Damario’s approach. ... As having a recurrent miscarriage diagnosis Damario was proactive on getting a full panel blood work done. ... He tells it like it is and explores all possibilities. Any and all prior research on my end was supported by Damario. He does not take a one size fits all approach which is exactly what we were looking for. He isn’t warm and fuzzy but I appreciate his logical thinking.
Strengths [of CRMM]: Regular appointments are mostly on time. Nurses are wonderful. Damario is a knowledgeable doctor. Do not follow a one size fits all approach. Phlebotomist is really great at her job. Weaknesses: Front staff isn’t always as warm and compassionate. They can be frustrating to work with at times. Appointments with the doctor seem to always run late.
How was your experience with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
We really respect Damario’s approach. He tells it like it is and explores all possibilities. Any and all prior research on my end was supported by Damario. He does not take a one size fits all approach which is exactly what we were looking for. He isn’t warm and fuzzy but I appreciate his logical thinking.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Express what you want and if you have any questions ask!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
I really love the staff at CRM. They really get to know you and are warm and caring. Dr. Damario is not as connected but has been very quick to be informed of our case. We understand he sees a lot of patients and his time with us is minimal, we’re good with that.
Describe the protocols Mark Damario used in your cycles at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota and their degree of success.
As having a recurrent miscarriage diagnosis Damario was proactive on getting a full panel blood work done. After the results came back, we discussed and decided to do medicated IUI. I took Fermara cycle day 2-6 and went in for a follicle count day 10. Once my follicle (less than 4) and lining (9mm) checked out I took an injectable, Ovidral, that evening. This triggers ovulation. Intercourse is scheduled that evening and then IUI day 12. The IUI is administered by the nurses. After the send is delivered, I lay on the table for 10 mins. Once I leave I go about my day. Call back in 2 weeks after a pregnancy test is taken with results. The first 2 were negative results as my lining was only at 5.5mm. The 3rd resulted in a positive test but miscarriage after 8 weeks. I am currently in the middle of my 4th cycle.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
The nursing staff is half the reason I stay at CRM. They are so kind, likable, and knowledgeable. I only have wonderful things to say about them, especially Sue.
Describe your experience with Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
Strengths:
Regular appointments are mostly on time.
Nurses are wonderful.
Damario is a knowledgeable doctor.
Do not follow a one size fits all approach.
Phlebotomist is really great at her job.
Weaknesses:
Front staff isn’t always as warm and compassionate. They can be frustrating to work with at times.
Appointments with the doctor seem to always run late.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
I do not remember costs as these are mostly covered by insurance.
What specific things went wrong at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Lost paperwork
Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
When I discovered there was no heartbeat my clinic informed me they would call my OBGYN clinic to prompt an appointment for a D&C. I never heard from my clinic and I had to do the follow up work. This was a traumatic event and the doctor didn’t call, very disheartening. This resulted in having to wait four days until I got in for the procedure.
He [Dr. Mark Damario] was very clinical, but I preferred that as we are pursuing our second child, I just wanted to see progress and results. He was very detail oriented and required all the tests in order to determine diagnosis. He also is very good at explaining procedures and reasoning....
Our first round of IUI, I did a Clomid, to stimulate follicles. Then a trigger shot of Ovidrel to make sure I ovulated and progesterone vaginal suppositories following the IUI up until my pregnancy test. The suppositories were to help secure the possible pregnancy. This IUI failed. We repeated the same protocol for IUI#2.
The nursing staff [at Center for Reproductive Med of MN- St. Paul] is FANTASTIC. They listen to my cry and complain but are so compassionate and understanding. They just want me to feel as comfortable as possible... They are generally very flexible with scheduling, very nice front desk staff, and are very organized. The offices are comfortable and not too clinical feeling. They can sometimes get behind on their schedule but not very often.
How was your experience with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
He was very clinical, but I preferred that as we are pursuing our second child, I just wanted to see progress and results. He was very detail oriented and required all the tests in order to determine diagnosis. He also is very good at explaining procedures and reasoning.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Don’t go into it expecting lots of warm and fuzzy conversations. He is focused on the details and every little thing, even things you wouldn’t have thought would matter.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
While he was pretty clinical and blunt (which I preferred) the nurse practitioners were fantastic and relatable.
Describe the protocols Mark Damario used in your cycles at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota and their degree of success.
Our first round of IUI, I did a Clomid, to stimulate follicles. Then a trigger shot of Ovidrel to make sure I ovulated and progesterone vaginal suppositories following the IUI up until my pregnancy test. The suppositories were to help secure the possible pregnancy. This IUI failed.
We repeated the same protocol for IUI#2.
For the 3rd IUI, we switched to femara, and continued with Ovidrel and Progesterone. Saw better results with more follicles on Femara. IUI failed.
We upped my dose of Femara for round 4 of IUI. This IUI is still in progress so we will know in about 2 weeks if it is successful.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
The nursing staff is FANTASTIC. They listen to my cry and complain but are so compassionate and understanding. They just want me to feel as comfortable as possible.
Describe your experience with Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
They are generally very flexible with scheduling, very nice front desk staff, and are very organized. The offices are comfortable and not too clinical feeling. They can sometimes get behind on their schedule but not very often.
What specific things went wrong at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
I just had one incident that they called in my prescription to the wrong pharmacy but it was quickly remedied.
I didn't have a lot of medical history for Dr. Damario to work from, so our couple meetings were brief and informative, especially if I asked questions, but they weren't as lengthy or detailed as I expected. I did appreciate how he made a recommendation at first, but then when he got my test results back, he was very clear about changing his opinion, and why. That promoted me to take a clear course and not second-guess whether it was the right one.
The nurses [at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota] were nice, compassionate, and treated me well. My only complaint is that because I saw different nurses, they weren't always up-to-date on details of my situation. I had to mention each time that a certain tool made the IUI much easier to accomplish, and it was a little annoying that they weren't reading that in my chart each time, or always taking my word for it.
How was your experience with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
I didn't have a lot of medical history for Dr. Damario to work from, so our couple meetings were brief and informative, especially if I asked questions, but they weren't as lengthy or detailed as I expected. I did appreciate how he made a recommendation at first, but then when he got my test results back, he was very clear about changing his opinion, and why. That promoted me to take a clear course and not second-guess whether it was the right one.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Come in with questions and don't be afraid to ask him to elaborate. He's more than willing to explain things, but sometimes takes prompting, otherwise he'll wrap up a meeting quickly.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Dr. Demario was pretty dry and generally straight-forward in his communications, without a lot of personality or emotion, but his staff (who I ended up seeing a lot more) were very friendly and more caring.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
The nurses were nice, compassionate, and treated me well. My only complaint is that because I saw different nurses, they weren't always up-to-date on details of my situation. I had to mention each time that a certain tool made the IUI much easier to accomplish, and it was a little annoying that they weren't reading that in my chart each time, or always taking my word for it. So, they didn't usually have that tool there; some went and got it, while others tried without and then had to get it. One was successful without.
Describe your experience with Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
Front desk staff was friendly and recognized me...or had a great system to do so. So, visiting was quick and easy and on schedule. And it felt like they knew me, and I wasn't just a number. Processing medical account info or any other details went smoothly.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
Depends on insurance, of course, but a natural IUI cycle was about $700 (I did 4) and a fertility support cycle was about $2,000 (I did two). Fertility meds about $100 each round. Recommended ovulation tests $90 (for 2). Lab unfreezing and testing was $160 each time, worked into total round cost.
Dr. Damario tried the "usual" protocols with us for our 3 IUIs. We used a frozen sperm sample for one IUI and had a nurse tell me that the sperm count was fairly low, minutes before the IUI rather than actually calling on the day the sample was given.... After 2 failed IUIs, I requested additional testing, which he relented to. These tests gave us some clues regarding our challenges but Dr. Damario was not great at explaining the significance of our results
The billing office [Ctr for Repro Med of MN] wouldn't give us an outright refund for services we paid for OOP after we learned that some of the procedures were covered by our insurance....To change doctors at this clinic, you literally have to discuss the change with the CEO. The CEO told me that she was really surprised at my requested change and made me feel like I had done something wrong... nurses couldn't answer a simple question like "on average, what % of sperm don't make it through the freeze-thaw cycle."
How was your experience with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Dr. Damario started us with the "typical" IUI protocol given our diagnosis of unexplained infertility. After 2 failed IUIs, I requested additional testing, which he relented to. These tests gave us some clues regarding our challenges but Dr. Damario was not great at explaining the significance of our results. We wound up googling for information. We also then found out that there are a number of lifestyle issues that can impact sperm quality, which Dr. Damario never once mentioned. The lack of information was highly disappointing and left us feeling like we had spent thousands of dollars without learning very much. I would not recommend his practice for anyone who wants a proactive, communicative physician.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
You have to be your own advocate and invest in a lot of research on your own. He will not push you or advocate for aggressive treatment.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Dr. Damario tried the "usual" protocols with us for our 3 IUIs. We used a frozen sperm sample for one IUI and had a nurse tell me that the sperm count was fairly low, minutes before the IUI rather than actually calling on the day the sample was given. This is one example of several times when the clinic didn't seem to have any sense of urgency or be very proactive about helping my husband and I navigate infertility. It was highly disappointing.
Describe the protocols Mark Damario used in your cycles at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota and their degree of success.
1st IUI: 50 mg Clomid on CD 5-9 with ovidrel trigger; 2nd IUI: 100 mg Letrozole CD 4-8 - ovulated early and cancelled cycle; 3rd IUI: 100 mg Letrozole with frozen sperm sample with very low count and ovidrel trigger; 4th IUI: 100 mg Letrozole with fresh sperm sample with normal count with ovidrel trigger; all cycles were BFN.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
Sue was great; most of the other nurses at the St Paul location were not great at communicating. Many couldn't explain the rationale behind changes in protocol; also, nurses couldn't answer a simple question like "on average, what % of sperm don't make it through the freeze-thaw cycle."
Describe your experience with Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
Clinic was located convenient to my home, which is why I initially chose them. Their appointments are generally on time. The billing office wouldn't give us an outright refund for services we paid for OOP after we learned that some of the procedures were covered by our insurance. Instead, they issued a credit and many months later, I still have never received an account balance. To change doctors at this clinic, you literally have to discuss the change with the CEO. The CEO told me that she was really surprised at my requested change and made me feel like I had done something wrong in requesting a change of doctor rather than truly trying to understand how the clinic might improve. It was disappointing.
What specific things went wrong at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
I met with Dr. Damario for an initial consultation and then once more two weeks prior to Stimulation start for a baseline ultrasound and trial transfer. During the entire course of IVF treatment, egg retrieval, and transfer I did not see or hear from Dr. Damario at all.... He did not seem to be aware of what was happening with my care. He couldn’t recognize me and didn’t know my name. He always had his nurse contact me, except once
We pre-paid $1200 for cryopreservation of embryos. More than 6 wks after all of our embryos stopped developing and it was confirmed we did not have any left for cryopreservation, we had still not received a refund for this or heard from the clinic [Ctr for Repro Med of MN] about a refund.... Sue was great- explained everything in great detail, kept me informed about my lab work and my progress
How was your experience with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
He did not seem to be aware of what was happening with my care. He couldn’t recognize me and didn’t know my name. He always had his nurse contact me, except once— Dr. Damario called me after my first BHCG to tell me I was pregnant and had “an honest to goodness good pregnancy level.” But two days later, when my BHCG dropped, Dr. Damario had one of the nurses contact me to tell me I was going to miscarry. Dr. Damario miscounted my follicles during my baseline ultrasound. During my ultrasound after miscarriage diagnosis, Dr. Damario looked around for about 3 minutes before confirming miscarriage will be happening and giving me my options to proceed with the miscarriage. He diagnosed me with a “blighted ovum” at 6.5wks, which I have read should never be diagnosed before wk 9. I also had a visible yolk sac, which I also understand does not meet the definition for blighted ovum. Here I am at 9.6wks and still have not miscarried (will likely still miscarry), but have chosen to follow up with further ultrasounds at a different clinic with a new provider.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Do your research about your own situation and possible IVF protocols before meeting with Dr. Damario so you are prepared to ask specific questions & get the answers you need.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
I met with Dr. Damario for an initial consultation and then once more two weeks prior to Stimulation start for a baseline ultrasound and trial transfer. During the entire course of IVF treatment, egg retrieval, and transfer I did not see or hear from Dr. Damario at all. His nurses were always the ones in contact with me about my progress and with orders for stimulation dosage changes. Dr. Damario would not have been to recognize me in the waiting room or recall my name at any point, even once completed with treatment.
Describe the protocols Mark Damario used in your cycles at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota and their degree of success.
- Birthcontrol for downregulation 6 weeks prior to treatment start
- Lupron 20IU for further downregulation for 10 days
- Lupron decreased to 5IU from day 3-5 of stimulation, then stopped
-Stimulation Start: Menopur 150IU morning & Follistim 150IU for 14 days (Follistim bumped up to 300IU after day 3 d/t slow ovarian response/possible over sensitivity to Lupron)
- Trigger Shot: 10,000IU Novarel (HCG) injection 36 hours before transfer
* my body was downregulated significantly prior to treatment start, which required doubling the dose of the follistim and added an extra 2-4 days of stimulation before trigger shot. I also had two lead follicles and was told of a potential risk for cycle cancelation
* I had 16 follicles, but only 14 eggs retrieved. 8 eggs were mature and all 8 fertilized with ICSI. No embryos made to blastocyst stage.
* we transferred a morula and 8-cell embryo on day 5. All other embryos stopped developing by day 6 and we did not have any leftover to freeze.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
Sue was great- explained everything in great detail, kept me informed about my lab work and my progress, described ultrasounds while doing them, remembered my name and things about me.
Julie- great, very kind and personable; remembered my name and things about me.
There were other nurses that didn’t even introduce themselves or attempt to build any rapport during the appt at all, were very blunt and jumped to worst case scenario. I don’t know their names because they never said their name.
Describe your experience with Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
Strengths:
- front desk staff friendly and personable
- a few nurses were friendly and personable
- most of lab staff was nice and efficient (aside from one lab person)
Weaknesses:
- a few bad nurses that make you feel like a number
- care team didn’t seem to take time to understand our situation
- we were not given any possible explanation for the underdevelopment of all of our embryos
- our miscarriage was diagnosed immediately, and with 100% certainty before taking additional bloodwork or ultrasound to confirm— this seemed very insensitive, considering our entire process.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
Describe Mark Damario's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
Dr. Colleen Casey did the embryo transfer. She recommended transferring only 1 embryo because the next most developed one was only 8 cells. She told us transferring two could be harmful to the morula which was further developed. We told her we wanted to transfer two anyway and asked for more information on how it could be harmful and she then said that it probably wouldn’t be harmful, but it just wouldn’t be likely to implant. We transferred two and all remaining embryos arrested the next day.
What specific things went wrong at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Lost paperwork
Provided conflicting information
Failed to consider drug intolerance
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
We pre-paid $1200 for cryopreservation of embryos. More than 6 wks after all of our embryos stopped developing and it was confirmed we did not have any left for cryopreservation, we had still not received a refund for this or heard from the clinic about a refund. We finally had to reach out to them to initiate the refund process. 2 wks after we reached out, and we have yet to receive our refund (8 weeks after it was confirmed there would be no cryopreservation).
He [Dr. Damario] never seemed to study up on the current cycle's prior visits and it felt like we were telling him what happened...always seemed wishy washy and not assertive enough with his opinion and assessment of the cycle status. I would have preferred someone who was more confident. He also never followed up with me after the 2 miscarriages...The nurses showed more compassion following our miscarriages than the dr. did.
Strength [at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota] - allowing you to do monitoring in St Paul or Minneapolis. Weaknesses - (1) not always giving more than 24 hours notice for the amount you have to prepay per visit, if you don't have insurance. (2) No communication from management to clinic finance person that their contract with health insurance provider was updated and patient wasn't supposed to prepay anything
How was your experience with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Dr Demario always seemed wishy washy and not assertive enough with his opinion and assessment of the cycle status. I would have preferred someone who was more confident. He also never followed up with me after the 2 miscarriages.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Ask lots of questions if you don't understand something.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
He never seemed to study up on the current cycle's prior visits and it felt like we were telling him what happened.
Describe the protocols Mark Damario used in your cycles at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota and their degree of success.
2016 we had 3 iui's with follistim, femara, and ovidrel to trigger.
2017 we had 2 ivf cycles (stims, retrieval, icsi, embryo transfer. First round was birth control for initial suppression, then follistim, menopur, endometrin, minivelle patches, hcg injection for trigger. Second round was the same except for increased follistim, coQ10 supplement, and I think we added in microdose Lupron. In 2018 we had 1 FET with the 2 remaining embryos from 2017 round 2, with birth control for initial suppression, estradiol tablets, and PIO injections.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
The nurses showed more compassion following our miscarriages than the dr. did. They were also always willing to answer questions.
Describe your experience with Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
Strength - allowing you to do monitoring in St Paul or Minneapolis.
Weaknesses - (1) not always giving more than 24 hours notice for the amount you have to prepay per visit, if you don't have insurance. (2) No communication from management to clinic finance person that their contract with health insurance provider was updated and patient wasn't supposed to prepay anything
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
I believe our reimbursement for the ART side of the first cycle was $9870. That does not include any bloodwork, monitoring appointments, or medication. The reimbursement we got the 2nd time was slightly higher due to needing embryo cryopreservation.
Describe Mark Damario's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
We only ever got grade 3 embryos. When we arrived at our FET in January 2018 he encouraged us to consider transferring 2 which would increase the chance of 1 sticking.
What specific things went wrong at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Failed to call with results
Failed to order appropriate test
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
We were thankful to have insurance coverage and the way our first cycle went is we prepaid everything to the clinic and then submitted to insurance for reimbursement later. That in itself is a whole different story. We did the same prepay/request reimbursement the 2nd time and we found out after the fact that a contract was agreed to and nobody informed my clinic and the insurance company thought i was going to send all of the money back to them that they had reimbursed me for. They wanted to do it that way and re-process all of the claims through insurance first. It was a major nightmare.
We didn't feel like we had any understanding of our treatment or what they could do for us to help us start a family. He [Dr. Mark Damario] basically read back our questionnaire when we met with him and kept reading and showing us statistics. The statistics were not encouraging at all. We were mostly confused and didn't have any idea what the plan was. He didn't explain chromosomal/genetic testing with us very well, even though I'm over 35 years old. He was big into selling us on buying multiple IVF sessions, but didn't really give us a reason why we would need to do IVF multiple times.
This clinic [Center for Reproductive Med of MN] had a long waiting period to see a doctor (months). When I had a fail IUI the nurse asked me what I wanted to do next, my answer I don't know, what are my options (cause I honestly didn't know) I said IVF? The nurse goes you need to make an appt with the doctor to discuss that and he is book for weeks. Found that very frustrating to not be able to see a patient in a timely matter especially when everything with this is timely.
How was your experience with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
We didn't feel like we had any understanding of our treatment or what they could do for us to help us start a family. He basically read back our questionnaire when we met with him and kept reading and showing us statistics. The statistics were not encouraging at all. We were mostly confused and didn't have any idea what the plan was. He didn't explain chromosomal/genetic testing with us very well, even though I'm over 35 years old. He was big into selling us on buying multiple IVF sessions, but didn't really give us a reason why we would need to do IVF multiple times.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
For us, it was a blessing that our insurance had us switch clinics. This clinic was not the place for us. We do have friends that liked this clinic and Dr Darmario and had success here.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
I felt like we had no direction in where to go with our treatments. We filled out a questionnaire and basically when we met with Dr. Damario he just read it back to us. My husband and I walked out of the clinic wondering if we should even continue. This clinic is where our insurance sent us first. Thankfully before we go fully into our treatment we were able to switch clinic and doctor. This was a night and day difference for us.
Describe the protocols Mark Damario used in your cycles at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota and their degree of success.
We did IUI because I had unexplained infertility and felt like it would work for us. Really with my age, we should of went straight to IVF and skipped IUI. Now it's clear to me why I was a great candidate for IVF, and not IUI. But this wasn't explained to me at this clinic.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
The nursing staff was nice. When I was at this clinic they didn't have an online portal where you could easily ask questions. I found that very frustrating and a little old school to not be able to email a nurse with a simple question.
Describe your experience with Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
This clinic had a long waiting period to see a doctor (months). When I had a fail IUI the nurse asked me what I wanted to do next, my answer I don't know, what are my options (cause I honestly didn't know) I said IVF? The nurse goes you need to make an appt with the doctor to discuss that and he is book for weeks. Found that very frustrating to not be able to see a patient in a timely matter especially when everything with this is timely.
Describe Mark Damario's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
We did not do IVF with this clinic.
What specific things went wrong at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
I had a hard time in the beginning getting my medication ordered. My insurance was telling me one pharmacy to use and the clinic was telling me another. Once I took control of double checking on my medication orders, this became much better.
Dr. Damario personally meets with you to explain your treatment options...From my first time meeting Dr. Damario, I knew he was a caring doctor. Compared to my first doctor, he is much more hands on with my care. I have seen him more in my one IUI cycle than I saw my other doctor in my 4 IUI's. Dr. Damario takes the time to explain things to you to make sure you understand the course of action. I highly recommend him...For my one IUI cycle with Dr. Damario, we used Gonal-F (150 IU) and then Ovidril. We decided to go with this route because this is what worked in my last IUI which resulted in my son with a different doctor. This worked again as I got pregnant right away and we found out it was twins. Unfortunately, we lost the twins at 8 weeks gestation.
Strengths [at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota] are that they will see you on the weekend so no time is wasted with waiting extra days. However, if you are at the St. Paul clinic, you will need to go to Minneapolis for your weekend appointments...You just have to stay on top of them to ensure they are sending in proper insurance paperwork in a timely manner. Weakness is that they only see you for certain procedures during the weekend. So if your baseline ultrasound ends up happening on a weekend, they will prefer you do it during a week day.
How was your experience with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
From my first time meeting Dr. Damario, I knew he was a caring doctor. Compared to my first doctor, he is much more hands on with my care. I have seen him more in my one IUI cycle than I saw my other doctor in my 4 IUI's.
Dr. Damario takes the time to explain things to you to make sure you understand the course of action.
I highly recommend him.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Make sure you ask lots of questions.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Dr. Damario personally meets with you to explain your treatment options. Then when you do your first pregnancy ultrasound, he is the one who does it (NOT a nurse).
Describe the protocols Mark Damario used in your cycles at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota and their degree of success.
For my one IUI cycle with Dr. Damario, we used Gonal-F (150 IU) and then Ovidril. We decided to go with this route because this is what worked in my last IUI which resulted in my son with a different doctor. This worked again as I got pregnant right away and we found out it was twins. Unfortunately, we lost the twins at 8 weeks gestation.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
I have had mostly wonderful experiences with the nursing staff. They are kind and understanding. The only big hurdle I've run into was getting approval from my new insurance this year and having the nurses send in the proper paperwork for approval in a timely manner. Other than that, all previous interactions have been very good.
Describe your experience with Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
Strengths are that they will see you on the weekend so no time is wasted with waiting extra days. However, if you are at the St. Paul clinic, you will need to go to Minneapolis for your weekend appointments. Dr. Damario is great and the nursing staff are also mostly great. You just have to stay on top of them to ensure they are sending in proper insurance paperwork in a timely manner.
Weakness is that they only see you for certain procedures during the weekend. So if your baseline ultrasound ends up happening on a weekend, they will prefer you do it during a week day.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
I'm covered by insurance so I have a $30 co-pay almost every time I go in. I am unsure what the other costs are.
What specific things went wrong at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Lost paperwork
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
I was having insurance approval issues and had asked a nurse to send in some paperwork to my insurance. She must have forgotten to do it and I had to start my cycle without insurance approval. The good thing is that they were willing to give me samples of my meds until the insurance issue was resolved.
Dr. Damario decided to change my dosages on my meds and add in Ganirelix in hopes that I would produced more mature eggs and prevent any premature ovulation. ... He was very nice and personable and explained everything to my husband and I in great detail. Even though he was quiet I felt like he was to the point and made sure we understood everything. ....
My monitoring appointments were always in the morning as then it gave time for the doctor to review everything and then make any necessary medicine dosage changes or anything like that. It was very much a well-run clinic [CRMM] and never did it feel like you were the next in line. ... The staff is really there to help you and they want the best outcome for their patients. Never once did they make me feel like I was being a burden and they always answered any questions I had.
How was your experience with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
He was a very good doctor. I was scheduled with him after I had to reschedule my appointment from another doctor at the clinic. He was very nice and personable and explained everything to my husband and I in great detail. Even though he was quiet I felt like he was to the point and made sure we understood everything. He took the time to answer all of our questions and address our concerns.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Don't be afraid to ask questions. He is quiet but very personable.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Dr. Damario was quiet but explained everything very well. He always answered my questions and never did I feel like I was being a burden to him. He was to the point and never gave any sense of false hope.
Describe the protocols Mark Damario used in your cycles at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota and their degree of success.
My first protocol I was on Lupron, Menopur, and Follistim. After the first retrieval I produced 17 eggs, 10 were mature and 8 fertilized. Unfortunately we were left with no embryos after our genetic testing was done. For my next egg retrieval Dr. Damario decided to change my dosages on my meds and add in Ganirelix in hopes that I would produced more mature eggs and prevent any premature ovulation. At my retrieval we got 15 eggs, 13 were mature and 10 fertilized. After both retrievals and genetic testing we were left with 2 genetically normal embryos.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
The nurses and staff were the ones who I/we dealt with the most. We had the most communication between us and they could not have been more great. They always made sure our questions were answered and our concerns were addressed. Because I live about 2 hours away from them they were always so good about communication and accommodating when needed.
Describe your experience with Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
The staff is really there to help you and they want the best outcome for their patients. Never once did they make me feel like I was being a burden and they always answered any questions I had. They were so helpful in so many ways and they really made you feel comfortable and that you mattered. When you're dealing with infertility the last thing you want to feel is as if you're just another number. The staff really treated me well.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
My monitoring appointments were always in the morning as then it gave time for the doctor to review everything and then make any necessary medicine dosage changes or anything like that. It was very much a well-run clinic and never did it feel like you were the next in line.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
The costs were broken down into monitoring, procedures, and they gave estimates on what medications and genetic testing would cost. They also had the embryo storage cost information.
Describe Mark Damario's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
We did discuss the risks about transferring 2 vs 1 and ultimately the decision was left up to myself and my husband.
Dr. Damario did a great job of explaining my cycle, process and possible outcomes with both my husband and myself. He is thoughtful in his answers and takes his time with patients... is very soft spoken...Sometimes the science behind the procedures gets in the way of his human connection. He is the person that made decisions as to how to proceed in my treatment plan because of his knowledge and previous experience and then handed my treatment off to the incredible nursing staff at CRM. He explained risks and procedures well and was able to answer our questions.
I always felt welcome at CRM St. Paul. The entire staff is fantastic! They are very organized, well versed in insurance, compassionate, honest, friendly, kind and gentle. They get to know you, your family and your availability. They care!...The nurses at CRM are incredible! They are compassionate, kind, super intelligent, honest and available. I cannot say enough remarkable things about the nurses at CRM...The cost of procedures was very clearly outlined early on in our treatment and we were very aware of what to expect as far as insurance coverage and personal billing.
How was your experience with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Dr. Damario is very soft spoken. He is thoughtful and very intelligent. Sometimes the science behind the procedures gets in the way of his human connection. He is the person that made decisions as to how to proceed in my treatment plan because of his knowledge and previous experience and then handed my treatment off to the incredible nursing staff at CRM. He explained risks and procedures well and was able to answer our questions.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
I would suggest a future patient to be prepared with questions during the meeting with Dr. Damario. After our first two meetings, we did not see him but saw the fabulous nursing staff at CRM. (Seriously, the nurses are AMAZING!)
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Dr. Damario did a great job of explaining my cycle, process and possible outcomes with both my husband and myself. He is thoughtful in his answers and takes his time with patients.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
The nurses at CRM are incredible! They are compassionate, kind, super intelligent, honest and available. I cannot say enough remarkable things about the nurses at CRM.
Describe your experience with Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
I always felt welcome at CRM St. Paul. The entire staff is fantastic! They are very organized, well versed in insurance, compassionate, honest, friendly, kind and gentle. They get to know you, your family and your availability. They care!
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
The cost of injections and other medications were expensive. I learned quickly to call around to various pharmacies when that option was available. The cost of procedures was very clearly outlined early on in our treatment and we were very aware of what to expect as far as insurance coverage and personal billing.
Describe Mark Damario's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
Dr. Damario talked very openly and honestly about multiple vs. single transfers. He offered insight into possible challenges and listened carefully to our wishes.
He is very thoughtful and methodical. He lays out all the options and explains things well and always answers our questions. He doesn't mince words. He allowed us to choose treatment steps that were best for us. ... I am just starting an IVF cycle and I will start on birth control pills, do follistim + generelix then trigger with hcg or lupron depending on my risk of OHSS at that time. We will have special sperm testing and if it looks ok we will not do ICSI. We plan on doing fresh transfer if possible.
There are two convenient locations and they [Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota] have a rule about patients not bringing children which is really nice. We sometimes felt a little unsure about the plan or things worked more slowly than we wanted. ... They [nursing staff] have been friendly so far and good communicators. They answered our questions. Sometimes response time is slower than I would like.
How was your experience with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
He is very thoughtful and methodical. He lays out all the options and explains things well and always answers our questions. He doesn't mince words. He allowed us to choose treatment steps that were best for us.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Have your questions ready ahead of time.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
He kept track of my history and he gave me options based on my priorities.
Describe the protocols Mark Damario used in your cycles at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota and their degree of success.
I am just starting an IVF cycle and I will start on birth control pills, do follistim + generelix then trigger with hcg or lupron depending on my risk of OHSS at that time. We will have special sperm testing and if it looks ok we will not do ICSI. We plan on doing fresh transfer if possible.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
They have been friendly so far and good communicators. They answered our questions. Sometimes response time is slower than I would like.
Describe your experience with Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
There are two convenient locations and they have a rule about patients not bringing children which is really nice. We sometimes felt a little unsure about the plan or things worked more slowly than we wanted.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
Each IVF cycle is 15,000. FET is about 5,000. There is an insurance program that patients can apply to participate in.
Describe Mark Damario's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
He recommended single embryo transfer unless the quality of embryos is poor in which case we could transfer two embryos. He states he prefers single embryo transfer due to the risks associated with multiples.
The doctor [Dr. Mark Damario] did not tell me about my PCOS diagnosis, I only learnt of it after my records were transferred to the next physician...I only actually met Dr. Damario one time. He never once called me to provide an update on the cycle. He left everything to the nurses who treated me as any other patient and did not consider my own past experiences when building my protocol...spent the majority of the time speaking to my spouse and talking about how impressed he was with his sperm. He spent the entire meeting writing down the things that we were saying and it did not feel as though he was actually listening to what we wanted. He diagnosed me with PCOS but never actually told me that he had given me that diagnosis, I only found out after my records were transferred to my sub
I did three cycles of IUI using Clomid and injectibles [at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota]...The doctor [Dr. Mark Damario] did not tell me about my PCOS diagnosis, I only learnt of it after my records were transferred to the next physician...Treat their patients as a number, there is no such thing as an individualized treatment plan at CRM. The nursing staff was kind but they were not very open with communication and only told me things when I would ask...Ask specifically about what diagnosis and treatment plan he is giving you...He diagnosed me with PCOS but never actually told me that he had given me that diagnosis, I only found out after my records were transferred to my subsequent doctor. I would never recommend him to anyone seeking out treatment. As a woman, I felt that he was incredibly incompassionate.
How was your experience with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
During my one meeting with Dr. Damario he treated me as though I was not even in the room and spent the majority of the time speaking to my spouse and talking about how impressed he was with his sperm. He spent the entire meeting writing down the things that we were saying and it did not feel as though he was actually listening to what we wanted. He diagnosed me with PCOS but never actually told me that he had given me that diagnosis, I only found out after my records were transferred to my subsequent doctor. I would never recommend him to anyone seeking out treatment. As a woman, I felt that he was incredibly incompassionate.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Ask specifically about what diagnosis and treatment plan he is giving you.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Throughout my time being treated at Center for Reproductive medicine I only actually met Dr. Damario one time. He never once called me to provide an update on the cycle. He left everything to the nurses who treated me as any other patient and did not consider my own past experiences when building my protocol.
Describe the protocols Mark Damario used in your cycles at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota and their degree of success.
I did three cycles of IUI using Clomid and injectibles.
Describe your experience with Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
Treat their patients as a number, there is no such thing as an individualized treatment plan at CRM. The nursing staff was kind but they were not very open with communication and only told me things when I would ask.
What specific things went wrong at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Failed to call with results
Provided conflicting information
Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
The doctor did not tell me about my PCOS diagnosis, I only learnt of it after my records were transferred to the next physician.
Dr. Damario cares about his patients based on communication. He is however conservative and doesn’t give the option of trying things that seem new and experimental. For a patient with DOR, this is important...He’s got single embryo transfer...Expect someone who has experience doing what he does. Expect a traditional way of practicing medicine. Also ask him lots of questions, otherwise he will be brief.
Only thing is that the St.Paul clinics is closed over the weekend, and you have to go to Minneapolis. That’s where retrieval’s happen as well...[the nurses] relay messages to doctor Damario, and are not road blocks...$15,000 for the retrieval without medication...Strength - experienced doctor with hood success rates. Dr. Damario is conservative in his approach, and I wish he was more flexible. As a new patient, please do your homework and be prepared to ask questions. He will answer them and is willing to be challenged.
How was your experience with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Dr. Damario cares about his patients based on communication. He is however conservative and doesn’t give the option of trying things that seem new and experimental. For a patient with DOR, this is important.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Expect someone who has experience doing what he does. Expect a traditional way of practicing medicine. Also ask him lots of questions, otherwise he will be brief.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
The nurses always call back within 24 hours. The doctor takes the time to explain things as well.
Describe the protocols Mark Damario used in your cycles at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota and their degree of success.
Microdoze Lupron - cycle 1 and 2 (both 150 menopur and 300 Gonal F) - 4 blasts total.
Cycle 3 - Antagonist with same dose of Menopur and Gonal F (this was cancelled for slow response)
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
Matter of fact. They relay messages to doctor Damario, and are not road blocks.
Describe your experience with Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
Strength - experienced doctor with hood success rates.
Dr. Damario is conservative in his approach, and I wish he was more flexible. As a new patient, please do your homework and be prepared to ask questions. He will answer them and is willing to be challenged.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
They’re great. Only thing is that the St.Paul clinics is closed over the weekend, and you have to go to Minneapolis. That’s where retrieval’s happen as well.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
$15,000 for the retrieval without medication.
Describe Mark Damario's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
We met our doctor [Dr. Mark Damario] for our initial consultation and then after our ectopic pregnancy for a follow up and to see what our next game plan would be. He explained what our next steps will be cleary.... Letrazole 2.5 mg, ovidrel, and IUI-negative pregnancy results. Letrazole 5 mg, ovidrel, iui- positive pregnancy test that ended up ectopic. Will do the same protocol after a 3 month wait and hsg testing.
It [Center for Reproductive Med of MN- St. Paul] is a small clinic so if more specialized care is needed you will need to go to their Mpls office which is there main location. Clinic in st.paul is smaller, easy to get to, and parking is easy. Mpls office is larger in a shared building with a ramp.... You may have to go to their Mpls office for weekend visits or if you need trained techs to do your ultrasounds like I did. It wasn't a big deal for me to do so.
How was your experience with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
St.paul is a small office, but I don't mind that. We met our doctor for our initial consultation and then after our ectopic pregnancy for a follow up and to see what our next game plan would be. He explained what our next steps will be cleary.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
You may have to go to their Mpls office for weekend visits or if you need trained techs to do your ultrasounds like I did. It wasn't a big deal for me to do so.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
In the middle. We work with mostly nurses after the consultation.
Describe the protocols Mark Damario used in your cycles at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota and their degree of success.
Letrazole 2.5 mg, ovidrel, and IUI-negative pregnancy results.
Letrazole 5 mg, ovidrel, iui- positive pregnancy test that ended up ectopic. Will do the same protocol after a 3 month wait and hsg testing.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
There are many nurses so I feel like i'm always seeing/ meeting a new one but all have been helpful.
Describe your experience with Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
It is a small clinic so if more specialized care is needed you will need to go to their Mpls office which is there main location. Clinic in st.paul is smaller, easy to get to, and parking is easy. Mpls office is larger in a shared building with a ramp.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
Around $1500 with medications, ultrasounds and IUI.
Caring, compassionate, not in a hurry to get the appointment done. Answers all questions fairly and straightforward. He [Dr. Mark Damario] gets to know your past and takes all details into determining a plan. The only thing I would change is having him more involved in the actual procedures. I feel like the nurses take over more in that sense... I had 2 natural iui with donor sperm. After 2 failed cycles we are to meet with him to decide which route of medicated cycle I would undergo next
[Center for Reproductive Med of MN-St Paul is] Easy to get to. Has open weekend hours. Detailed handouts on what to do at each point in your cycle. They walk you through who to talk to, numbers to call, what happens at what point in your cycle. It’s helpful because I wouldn’t have even thought about certain things they include in the information I need to know.
How was your experience with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Caring, compassionate, not in a hurry to get the appointment done. Answers all questions fairly and straightforward. He gets to know your past and takes all details into determining a plan. The only thing I would change is having him more involved in the actual procedures. I feel like the nurses take over more in that sense.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Ask questions and get to know your current plan and back up plan
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
He is caring and has a good bedside manner. He speaks facts which I appreciate, but in a easy to understand manner
Describe the protocols Mark Damario used in your cycles at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota and their degree of success.
I had 2 natural iui with donor sperm. After 2 failed cycles we are to meet with him to decide which route of medicated cycle I would undergo next
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
Quick to get back to you and helpful at answering all questions.
Describe your experience with Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
Easy to get to. Has open weekend hours. Detailed handouts on what to do at each point in your cycle. They walk you through who to talk to, numbers to call, what happens at what point in your cycle. It’s helpful because I wouldn’t have even thought about certain things they include in the information I need to know.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
Cost of diagnostics, iui procedures, and ultrasounds
Dr. DeMario himself was very kind and gentle but doesn't sugar coat anything. He was up front about success rates and costs.... At CRM you only meet the doctor once, then you see nurses for the testing and treatment. Our appointment with Dr. DeMario went well. He was knowledge and obviously has a lot of experience. I didn't feel a strong personal connection with him, but I do feel good about his expertise.... I took clomid to stimulate egg growth
They are high end and very professional. There are many clients so care is not super personal, but you know that they know what they're doing. I am not sure if we may get a second opinion but for now I am comfortable working with the Center for Reproductive Medicine.... The nurses at the clinic vary in their attitudes - it really depends on who is working when you go in for your appointment.... $2,000 for one cycle of IUI
How was your experience with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
At CRM you only meet the doctor once, then you see nurses for the testing and treatment. Our appointment with Dr. DeMario went well. He was knowledge and obviously has a lot of experience. I didn't feel a strong personal connection with him, but I do feel good about his expertise.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Take things one step at a time.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Dr. DeMario himself was very kind and gentle but doesn't sugar coat anything. He was up front about success rates and costs. The nurses at the clinic vary in their attitudes - it really depends on who is working when you go in for your appointment.
Describe the protocols Mark Damario used in your cycles at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota and their degree of success.
I took clomid to stimulate egg growth followed by two days on vaginal estrogen to help thicken the uteran lining. I then took a "trigger shot" to stimulate ovulation. Two days later, we did the IUI followed by two weeks of vaginal progesterone.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
It really depends on the nurse.
Describe your experience with Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
They are high end and very professional. There are many clients so care is not super personal, but you know that they know what they're doing. I am not sure if we may get a second opinion but for now I am comfortable working with the Center for Reproductive Medicine.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
$2,000 for one cycle of IUI
Describe Mark Damario's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
DeMario did 2 FET's for us. Used the same protocol that Dr. Malo established for us 2 years earlier. Didn't change anything regardless of test results...He never remembered any details about my case. It seems like he didn't even review my file before any meeting. Consistently asked the same questions over and over...He is not compassionate, he doesn't see you as a person. Doesn't remember anything from prior meetings. Generally seems confused. Very frustrating for someone who is in a vulnerable position. I had no choice but to use him as my prior RE at the clinic retired. Total difference of night and day between DeMario and Malo. Dr Malo always knew where I was at and what my history was. Made me feel like a patient and not a payment, which is how I feel when I see DeMario.
Jan [nurse at CRM] has been there forever and is excellent; caring, compassionate, hard working, remembers you as a person...Feel like cattle. So many women processed through on any given morning. Care is not personalized...Quite expensive compared to national averages. Higher success rates though. FET $5k (plus meds)...DeMario did 2 FET's for us. Used the same protocol that Dr. Malo established for us 2 years earlier. Didn't change anything regardless of test results.
How was your experience with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
He is not compassionate, he doesn't see you as a person. Doesn't remember anything from prior meetings. Generally seems confused. Very frustrating for someone who is in a vulnerable position. I had no choice but to use him as my prior RE at the clinic retired. Total difference of night and day between DeMario and Malo. Dr Malo always knew where I was at and what my history was. Made me feel like a patient and not a payment, which is how I feel when I see DeMario.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Go to the Minneapolis clinic and see a different RE in the CRM clinic.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
He never remembered any details about my case. It seems like he didn't even review my file before any meeting. Consistently asked the same questions over and over.
Describe the protocols Mark Damario used in your cycles at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota and their degree of success.
DeMario did 2 FET's for us. Used the same protocol that Dr. Malo established for us 2 years earlier. Didn't change anything regardless of test results.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
Jan has been there forever and is excellent; caring, compassionate, hard working, remembers you as a person.
Describe your experience with Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
Feel like cattle. So many women processed through on any given morning. Care is not personalized.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
Quite expensive compared to national averages. Higher success rates though. FET $5k (plus meds).
What specific things went wrong at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Felt he [Dr. Damario] had a good ideas on what to do, but felt like I did have PCOS and no one was addressing that. As a doctor we liked him, he was very straightforward, doesn’t sugar coat anything, but the Minneapolis office left us not trusting the CRM name.... Ask for a detailed plan of your protocol. We never got that. Just named meds that we would use, but not the dose or why.... Only met one of the nurses and she talked a bit about the meds and a schedule and what would happen the day of retrieval.
CRM doesn’t have a clear protocol that they show their patients. I always asked what IVF would look like for us and never was given a clean answer. I think they need to have more protocols written down to show patients during the initial visit....Smaller office than the Minneapolis location; felt he [Dr. Damario] knew our story a little better than our previous doctor....Only met one of the nurses and she talked a bit about the meds and a schedule and what would happen the day of retrieval.
How was your experience with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Felt he had a good ideas on what to do, but felt like I did have PCOS and no one was addressing that. As a doctor we liked him, he was very straightforward, doesn’t sugar coat anything, but the Minneapolis office left us not trusting the CRM name.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Ask for a detailed plan of your protocol. We never got that. Just named meds that we would use, but not the dose or why.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Smaller office than the Minneapolis location; felt he knew our story a little better than our previous doctor.
Describe the protocols Mark Damario used in your cycles at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota and their degree of success.
Never given a protocol.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
Only met one of the nurses and she talked a bit about the meds and a schedule and what would happen the day of retrieval.
Describe your experience with Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
CRM doesn’t have a clear protocol that they show their patients. I always asked what IVF would look like for us and never was given a clean answer. I think they need to have more protocols written down to show patients during the initial visit.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
Did not have any billing issues.
Describe Mark Damario's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
I only met him twice. He seemed super cautious in his treatment protocol...Lots and lots of letrozole with and without IUI. I never had a positive pregnancy test....People [at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota] were nice but it wasn't clear they knew me or remembered my treatment plan.
The nurses would come in with the wrong charts, not have the treatment plan. I had to remind them of the current protocol and tell them the plans we had discussed in the previous appointment. It was a little scary....Disorganized, shabby, charged for parking and they had a rude receptionist.
How was your experience with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
I only met him twice. He seemed super cautious in his treatment protocol.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Be your own advocate.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
People were nice but it wasn't clear they knew me or remembered my treatment plan.
Describe the protocols Mark Damario used in your cycles at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota and their degree of success.
Lots and lots of letrozole with and without IUI. I never had a positive pregnancy test.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
The nurses would come in with the wrong charts, not have the treatment plan. I had to remind them of the current protocol and tell them the plans we had discussed in the previous appointment. It was a little scary.
Describe your experience with Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
Disorganized, shabby, charged for parking and they had a rude receptionist.
What specific things went wrong at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Lost paperwork
Failed to order appropriate test
Failed to inform you of changes in protocol
Lost results
Provided conflicting information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
He [Dr. Damario] came to appointments not even knowing our names or any previous treatments or procedures that had occurred with us, even though he was the one completing them...He forgot to send orders multiple times causing our retrieval process to be postponed multiple months. Almost six months working with them without a single completed stimulation med cycle, let alone egg retrieval. After multiple egregious errors and repeated demonstration of disorganizationed business practice, we asked for our money back...
[Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota] One of the most disorganized businesses I've ever worked with...Almost six months working with them without a single completed stimulation med cycle, let alone egg retrieval...complete lack of communication and also miscommunication, both with us and within their own company...nurse Jenn was a real positive during our negative experience at CRM. Both her and the main phlebotomist at the St. Paul location were genuine, caring, and kind...
How was your experience with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
of the most disorganized businesses I've ever worked with, which for a medical facility is inexcusable. The entire experience at CRM, St. Paul with Dr. Demario was discouraging and infuriating. Dr. Demario clearly takes on more patients than he can handle and didn't have a clue who we were at appointments. He came to appointments not even knowing our names or any previous treatments or procedures that had occurred with us, even though he was the one completing them. It was concerning to say the least. The biggest shock and disappointment was the complete lack of communication and also miscommunication, both with us and within their own company. He forgot to send orders multiple times causing our retrieval process to be postponed multiple months. Almost six months working with them without a single completed stimulation med cycle, let alone egg retrieval. After multiple egregious errors and repeated demonstration of disorganizationed business practice, we asked for our money back and have proceeded to work with RMIA. Even though we wasted our time, emotional well- being, and about $4,000 at CRM (coming away with literally nothing) we are so, so happy with RMIA. If you are looking for an involved, supportive, organized fertility experience then CRM and Dr. Demario in particular are not recommended. As unhappy and brokenhearted we were about our experience at CRM, we have been equally overjoyed at how thoroughly and quickly RMIA has supported us.
On a positive note, however, nurse Jenn was a real positive during our negative experience at CRM. Both her and the main phlebotomist at the St. Paul location were genuine, caring, and kind
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Look elsewhere. If you are seeking an involved, dedicated, and committed fertility doctor who shows genuine concern, effort, and communication skills regarding treatment, then DO NOT settle for Mark Demario.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
One of the most disorganized businesses I've ever worked with, which for a medical facility is inexcusable. The entire experience at CRM, St. Paul with Dr. Demario was discouraging and infuriating. Dr. Demario clearly takes on more patients than he can handle and didn't have a clue who we were at appointments. He came to appointments not even knowing our names or any previous treatments or procedures that had occurred with us, even though he was the one completing them. It was concerning to say the least. The biggest shock and disappointment was the complete lack of communication and also miscommunication, both with us and within their own company. He forgot to send orders multiple times causing our retrieval process to be postponed multiple months. Almost six months working with them without a single completed stimulation med cycle, let alone egg retrieval. After multiple egregious errors and repeated demonstration of disorganizationed business practice, we asked for our money back and have proceeded to work with RMIA. Even though we wasted our time, emotional well- being, and about $4,000 at CRM (coming away with literally nothing) we are so, so happy with RMIA. If you are looking for an involved, supportive, organized fertility experience then CRM and Dr. Demario in particular are not recommended.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
At the St. Paul location ,nurse Jenn was a real positive during our negative experience at CRM. Both her and the main phlebotomist at the St. Paul location were genuine, caring, and kind.
Describe your experience with Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
of the most disorganized businesses I've ever worked with, which for a medical facility is inexcusable. The entire experience at CRM, St. Paul with Dr. Demario was discouraging and infuriating. Dr. Demario clearly takes on more patients than he can handle and didn't have a clue who we were at appointments. He came to appointments not even knowing our names or any previous treatments or procedures that had occurred with us, even though he was the one completing them. It was concerning to say the least. The biggest shock and disappointment was the complete lack of communication and also miscommunication, both with us and within their own company. He forgot to send orders multiple times causing our retrieval process to be postponed multiple months. Almost six months working with them without a single completed stimulation med cycle, let alone egg retrieval. After multiple egregious errors and repeated demonstration of disorganizationed business practice, we asked for our money back and have proceeded to work with RMIA. Even though we wasted our time, emotional well- being, and about $4,000 at CRM (coming away with literally nothing) we are so, so happy with RMIA. If you are looking for an involved, supportive, organized fertility experience then CRM and Dr. Demario in particular are not recommended. As unhappy and brokenhearted we were about our experience at CRM, we have been equally overjoyed at how thoroughly and quickly RMIA has supported us.
On a positive note, however, nurse Jenn was a real positive during our negative experience at CRM. Both her and the main phlebotomist at the St. Paul location were genuine, caring, and kind.
What specific things went wrong at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Lost paperwork
Lost appointments
Failed to call with results
Failed to order appropriate test
Failed to send your chart to another clinic
Failed to inform you of changes in protocol
Lost results
Provided conflicting information
Failed to convey critical information
Canceled a cycle due to clinic error
Scheduled the wrong procedure
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
of the most disorganized businesses I've ever worked with, which for a medical facility is inexcusable. The entire experience at CRM, St. Paul with Dr. Demario was discouraging and infuriating. Dr. Demario clearly takes on more patients than he can handle and didn't have a clue who we were at appointments. He came to appointments not even knowing our names or any previous treatments or procedures that had occurred with us, even though he was the one completing them. It was concerning to say the least. The biggest shock and disappointment was the complete lack of communication and also miscommunication, both with us and within their own company. He forgot to send orders multiple times causing our retrieval process to be postponed multiple months. Almost six months working with them without a single completed stimulation med cycle, let alone egg retrieval. After multiple egregious errors and repeated demonstration of disorganizationed business practice, we asked for our money back and have proceeded to work with RMIA. Even though we wasted our time, emotional well- being, and about $4,000 at CRM (coming away with literally nothing) we are so, so happy with RMIA. If you are looking for an involved, supportive, organized fertility experience then CRM and Dr. Demario in particular are not recommended. As unhappy and brokenhearted we were about our experience at CRM, we have been equally overjoyed at how thoroughly and quickly RMIA has supported us.
On a positive note, however, nurse Jenn was a real positive during our negative experience at CRM. Both her and the main phlebotomist at the St. Paul location were genuine, caring, and kind
[Dr. Damario] has always carefully and patiently listened to my questions and provided clear explanations and information with every step and stage of my fertility treatment. He takes time, even beyond my scheduled appointments, to make sure my and my husband's inquiries are addressed...communicates quickly with his team of nurses and staff to provide us with the support we need during this emotional process
[Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota] is fantastic! Don't hesitate to make your first appointment! The entire staff treats me and my experience with the highest care and concern. All of my appointments were easy to make. The procedures I've had completed so far have been efficient and performed very well.
How was your experience with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Dr. Demario has always carefully and patiently listened to my questions and provided clear explanations and information with every step and stage of my fertility treatment. He takes time, even beyond my scheduled appointments, to make sure my and my husband's inquiries are addressed. Additionally, Dr. Demario communicates quickly with his team of nurses and staff to provide us with the support we need during this emotional process and important time.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Don't be afraid to ask Dr. Demario any question you have. He will take the time to answer them with kind and caring regard.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota?
Dr. Demario has always carefully and patiently listened to my questions and provided clear explanations and information with every step and stage of my fertility treatment. He takes time, even beyond my scheduled appointments, to make sure my and my husband's inquiries are addressed. Additionally, Dr. Demario communicates quickly with his team of nurses and staff to provide us with the support we need during this emotional process and important time.
Describe your experience with Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
CRM is fantastic! Don't hesitate to make your first appointment! The entire staff treats me and my experience with the highest care and concern. All of my appointments were easy to make. The procedures I've had completed so far have been efficient and performed very well.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mark Damario at Center for Reproductive Medicine of Minnesota.
My healthcare plan covers fertility diagnosis and treatment, but does not include IVF costs.
