Mary Stephenson

Explore over 200 courses and lessons taught by leading fertility experts.

35% strongly recommend

4 reviews

Education

Medical School

U. of British Columbia

Residency

U. of British Columbia

Fellowship

U. of British Columbia

Mary Stephenson works at

University of Illinois at Chicago
Rated 7.3

At 1 office

Chicago

1801 West Taylor St

Chicago, IL 60612

312.355.4205

2018, Unknown Success

Age 33

5 IUI

1 IVF

Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Unexplained

European

Income $200K - $499K

Sales Representative

4th of 4 Docs

Strongly Recommends

Neutral

Success w/ Doc Too early to know

Review of

Mary Stephenson University of Illinois at Chicago

We first saw Dr. Stephenson after our third loss and felt very encouraged by how thorough she was at our initial consultation. During the course of her work up, she treated me for chronic endometritis that took several biopsies and courses of antibiotics to clear.... She is very connected in the field and runs tests with other doctors across the country. Everything she does is based on numbers and science and data. I felt very encouraged to have her as our doctor, but it is frustrating that she favors natural conception

It's tough to see Dr. Stephenson at UIC Hospital because it's part of the Women's Clinic seeing all types of patients. It is not uncommon to be surrounded by pregnant patients waving their ultrasound pictures around (not like my experience at normal RE's offices where you are all there hoping and trying to get pregnant).... Jennifer [nurse] is very compassionate. During a hysteroscopy earlier this year they found retained pregnancy tissue

How was your experience with Mary Stephenson at University of Illinois at Chicago?

Dr. Stephenson is a detective and will do all the necessary work ups to evaluate you as a patient. In our experience she is the only person we've encountered who focuses on recurrent pregnancy loss and staying pregnant (beyond just getting pregnant like most REs). She is very connected in the field and runs tests with other doctors across the country. Everything she does is based on numbers and science and data. I felt very encouraged to have her as our doctor, but it is frustrating that she favors natural conception when it feels like there are things we could be doing in a given cycle to improve our chances at a pregnancy.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mary Stephenson at University of Illinois at Chicago?

If you've experienced two first trimester losses or one late loss, I would get in to see her as soon as possible. I feel like if we had seen her earlier in this process, we would not have experienced our third miscarriage (second trimester loss).

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mary Stephenson at University of Illinois at Chicago?

We first saw Dr. Stephenson after our third loss and felt very encouraged by how thorough she was at our initial consultation. During the course of her work up, she treated me for chronic endometritis that took several biopsies and courses of antibiotics to clear. When we finally were ready to start trying again she suggested progesterone supplements after ovulation and baby aspirin. She definitely favors natural conception for her recurrent pregnancy loss patients.

Describe the protocols Mary Stephenson used in your cycles at University of Illinois at Chicago and their degree of success.

Dr. Stephenson favors natural conception. She put us on progesterone supplements post ovulation and baby aspirin throughout your cycle.

Describe your experience with your nurse at University of Illinois at Chicago. (Assigned nurse: Jennifer Benson)

Jennifer is very compassionate. During a hysteroscopy earlier this year they found retained pregnancy tissue (months after my D&C) which was extremely scary to watch on the monitor. She reassured me that I was exactly where I needed to be to resolve the situation. She also answers all of my questions throughout the process via phone calls.

Describe your experience with University of Illinois at Chicago.

Describe the costs associated with your care under Mary Stephenson at University of Illinois at Chicago.

Everything has been covered by my insurance for recurrent pregnancy loss evaluation and treatment.

Describe Mary Stephenson's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at University of Illinois at Chicago.

Doctor

Mary Stephenson

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

Mary Stephenson University of Illinois at Chicago

2016 - 2017, Unsuccessful

Age 38 - 39

4 IUI

5 IVF

Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Unexplained

European

Income $100K - $199K

2nd of 2 Docs

Doesn't Recommend

Unsuccessful

Review of

Mary Stephenson University of Illinois at Chicago

Dr Stephenson is a brilliant scientist. However, if your issues do not lie squarely within her interest of study, she shrugs you off. She is uninterested in the work of other doctors and does not care to try methods common at other clinics. As a patient, I did not feel that she took a personal interest in our case. She is always rushed, often running off to a conference, and her post-procedure write-ups regularly included errors...I primarily saw Dr Stephenson for RPL management

The clinic [UIC - Chicago] shares a waiting room with MFMs and OBs. For doctor's appointments, it is common to wait with obviously pregnant women and children. Monitoring is done before this other section of the clinic is open...I've had to call multiple times to get RXs called in. I've had temps call me when cycles have failed (rather than the regular nurse or the RE). There was an instance when the doctor said I was okay to cycle and the nurse disagreed. In the time it took to clear up the confusion the cycle filled and I was delayed two months.

How was your experience with Mary Stephenson at University of Illinois at Chicago?

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mary Stephenson at University of Illinois at Chicago?

Do your research ahead of time. Have your questions ready and your history clearly written out. If you are interested in a specific treatment, bring supporting documents with you. Don't read into her tone; she talks to everyone that way.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mary Stephenson at University of Illinois at Chicago?

The majority of our appointments were spend correcting information that was put into the system wrong. Even after two years of treatment, she still looked at me like I was a stranger every time she saw me.

Describe the protocols Mary Stephenson used in your cycles at University of Illinois at Chicago and their degree of success.

I primarily saw Dr Stephenson for RPL management. She is an advocate of TLC aka weekly first trimester ultrasounds. She also very carefully monitors TSH.

Describe your experience with your nurse at University of Illinois at Chicago. (Assigned nurse: Karen)

Nurses tend to return calls by close of business the following day. They are generally compassionate. Their attention during procedures is excellent. Unfortunately, it wasn't clear if they were actually passing on information (from calls) to the doctors. There were several occasions where I felt as if they were making decisions for the doctors.

Describe your experience with University of Illinois at Chicago.

The clinic shares a waiting room with MFMs and OBs. For doctor's appointments, it is common to wait with obviously pregnant women and children. Monitoring is done before this other section of the clinic is open. The clinic is part of a very large health system so you have the potential to benefit from many doctors, in many specialities.

Describe the costs associated with your care under Mary Stephenson at University of Illinois at Chicago.

Dr Stephenson's care was mostly covered under my insurance. The only exception was the EFT (Endometrium Function Test) which cost $600.

What specific things went wrong at University of Illinois at Chicago?

Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Failed to call with results
Failed to order appropriate test
Provided conflicting information
Canceled a cycle due to clinic error

Describe the specific things that went wrong at University of Illinois at Chicago.

I've had to call multiple times to get RXs called in. I've had temps call me when cycles have failed (rather than the regular nurse or the RE). There was an instance when the doctor said I was okay to cycle and the nurse disagreed. In the time it took to clear up the confusion the cycle filled and I was delayed two months.

Doctor

Mary Stephenson

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

Mary Stephenson University of Illinois at Chicago

2018, Consult

Age 37

IVF

1 Egg Freezing

Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

European

Income $100K - $199K

Operations

3rd of 3 Docs

Strongly Recommends

Doesn't Recommend

Success w/ Doc Too early to know

Review of

Mary Stephenson University of Illinois at Chicago

It’s worth the wait to get in to see her [Dr. Mary Stephenson]!...There was a 3mos waiting period from the time i called to schedule my appt to the time we were able to see her...in our very first meeting we found out i had miscarried for the 6th time in a row. The circumstances were very tough but dr Stephenson and her staff her absolutely wonderful and incredible supportive throughout the remainder of my visit.

they [staff at University of Illinois at Chicago] were just wonderful, supportive, friendly, kind and accurate...There was a 3mos waiting period from the time i called to schedule my appt to the time we were able to see her [Dr. Mary Stephenson]. On the day we went there was a pretty long wait in the waiting room from the time we checked in, close to an hour after my appt time. Once we got in though, the staff and doctor were fantastic!

How was your experience with Mary Stephenson at University of Illinois at Chicago?

My first appt had been planned for months for a consultation to advise on unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss... weekend before the appt i found out i was pregnant unexpectedly, but the staff advised me to keep my appt. the first step in the appt was an ultrasound where we found that at 7weeks the baby’s heartbeat had stopped. So in our very first meeting we found out i had miscarried for the 6th time in a row. The circumstances were very tough but dr Stephenson and her staff her absolutely wonderful and incredible supportive throughout the remainder of my visit. We had driven in from 4hrs away for the appt and like i said had been scheduled to see her for months so despite the traumatic we wanted to make our time together count..-& were there for several hours after receiving the news of the miscarriage. The medical staff continued to treat us as if we were family, it was very appreciated.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mary Stephenson at University of Illinois at Chicago?

It’s worth the wait to get in to see her!

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mary Stephenson at University of Illinois at Chicago?

The medical and office staff were very welcoming.

Describe the protocols Mary Stephenson used in your cycles at University of Illinois at Chicago and their degree of success.

We have only had a single consult with her.. will be scheduling our next appt soon.

Describe your experience with your nurse at University of Illinois at Chicago. (Assigned nurse: Jennifer)

Again they were just wonderful, supportive, friendly, kind and accurate.

Describe your experience with University of Illinois at Chicago.

There was a 3mos waiting period from the time i called to schedule my appt to the time we were able to see her. On the day we went there was a pretty long wait in the waiting room from the time we checked in, close to an hour after my appt time. Once we got in though, the staff and doctor were fantastic!

Describe the costs associated with your care under Mary Stephenson at University of Illinois at Chicago.

N/a

Describe Mary Stephenson's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at University of Illinois at Chicago.

No comments on this topic

Doctor

Mary Stephenson

Humanity

Communication

Frequency Seen

Trustworthiness

Compassion

Explained risks

Adaptability

Clinic

University of Illinois at Chicago

Chicago

Operations

Scheduling

Billing Department

Nursing Staff

Clinic Atmosphere

Educational Resources

Review of

Mary Stephenson University of Illinois at Chicago

2017, Unsuccessful

Age 39

IUI

3 IVF

Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Prefer not to answer

Income $100K - $199K

Business Executive

3rd of 6 Docs

Doesn't Recommend

Unsuccessful

Review of

Mary Stephenson University of Illinois at Chicago

Dr. Stephenson spent a lot of time documenting my case and instructing the students she had along during my care, instead of really talking to me...Be aware that this is a teaching institution and she will spend most of her time typing up your case during your appointment, instead of in f2f conversation with you...Dr. Stephenson is a recurrent pregnancy loss expert. We were really hoping to get answers beyond "it's unexplained, you have a good chance if you just keep trying, and use progesterone"

[University of Illinois at Chicago is] a university clinic. We flew into Chicago and took the train to save money. Expect long wait times, a cramped waiting room, to feel like a number, and plenty of paperwork and bureacracy. The staff was helpful, but the clinic was difficult to get into and felt hectic and uncertain when you would be seen...The coordinator for all your testing was organized and efficient, and even worked with insurance to clear my testing coverage

How was your experience with Mary Stephenson at University of Illinois at Chicago?

Dr. Stephenson is a recurrent pregnancy loss expert. We were really hoping to get answers beyond "it's unexplained, you have a good chance if you just keep trying, and use progesterone". After 5 miscarriages, you really want an answer and not to keep blindly trying.

What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mary Stephenson at University of Illinois at Chicago?

Be aware that this is a teaching institution and she will spend most of her time typing up your case during your appointment, instead of in f2f conversation with you.

During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mary Stephenson at University of Illinois at Chicago?

Dr. Stephenson spent a lot of time documenting my case and instructing the students she had along during my care, instead of really talking to me

Describe the protocols Mary Stephenson used in your cycles at University of Illinois at Chicago and their degree of success.

Use progesterone suppositories

Describe your experience with the nursing staff at University of Illinois at Chicago.

The coordinator for all your testing was organized and efficient, and even worked with insurance to clear my testing coverage.

Describe your experience with University of Illinois at Chicago.

It's a university clinic. We flew into Chicago and took the train to save money. Expect long wait times, a cramped waiting room, to feel like a number, and plenty of paperwork and bureacracy. The staff was helpful, but the clinic was difficult to get into and felt hectic and uncertain when you would be seen.

Describe the costs associated with your care under Mary Stephenson at University of Illinois at Chicago.

Diagostic tests all covered by my health insurance

Describe Mary Stephenson's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at University of Illinois at Chicago.

Dr. Stephenson doesn't really advocate IVF.

What specific things went wrong at University of Illinois at Chicago?