[Dr. DiMattina] is very kind, calm, and confident. From the first time he came in to monitor me, he was asking me personal questions about my career and interests. He remembers details about those little things on each visit. He definitely exudes a command over these procedures, but does so in a very reassuring way...My egg retrieval went perfectly. Embryo fertilization went perfectly. My embryo transfer also went perfectly. I kept sharing with my friends and family that the entire process from the start of my cycle to the transfer was so straight forward and easy - which I did not expect it to be!
This clinic [Dominion Fertility] is wonderful. The offices and lobby are always neat and clean, and the waiting area is comfortable. The front desk staff will always greet you with kindness and a smile. Appointments are made very efficiently over the phone, and I have never been kept waiting past an appointment time before seeing the doctor. Billing is even around the corner and incredibly helpful - they will answer any and all questions you have about costs of treatment on the spot. If I had just one issue, and it's a slight one, it would be that you can almost never reach a nurse directly in real time - you'll have to leave a voicemail at the nurses' desk, and they will return your call. At times, this can take a few hours, but they never make you wait more than a day for a return call, so it's really a minor issue.
How was your experience with Michael DiMattina at Dominion Fertility?
Dr. DiMattina is, as I mentioned before, kind, calm, controlled and clearly an expert in his field. As he was monitoring my follicles for retrieval, he was able to assess almost instantly whether or not we were ready for the procedure. My egg retrieval went perfectly. Embryo fertilization went perfectly. My embryo transfer also went perfectly. I kept sharing with my friends and family that the entire process from the start of my cycle to the transfer was so straight forward and easy - which I did not expect it to be! I believe Dr. D played a huge role in that. I also believe that Dr. D genuinely is invested in helping families like ours create a life together, and although we weren't successful with this treatment, we intend to try again.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Michael DiMattina at Dominion Fertility?
I would recommend that you try to allow yourself to trust that he will give you the information that you need, but if you want more details (like the size of your ovarian follicles on each visit, for example), you should ask him questions. I have no doubt that he is happy to answer them.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Michael DiMattina at Dominion Fertility?
Dr. D is very kind, calm, and confident. From the first time he came in to monitor me, he was asking me personal questions about my career and interests. He remembers details about those little things on each visit. He definitely exudes a command over these procedures, but does so in a very reassuring way.
Describe the protocols Michael DiMattina used in your cycles at Dominion Fertility and their degree of success.
I was put on a daily dose of baby Aspirin to help with the lining of my uterus. Once our embryo was fertilized, I began taking supplemental progesterone and estradiol to prepare my body further for planned implantation. I also was to refrain from certain activities after my embryo transfer to attempt to secure implantation. The rationale for all of these is that combined, they offer the best possible chance for an embryo to implant into the uterus for pregnancy.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Dominion Fertility. (Assigned nurse: Amy (called me the most))
I can't say enough about the incredible nursing staff and coordinators at Dominion Fertility Arlington. Every nurse at every visit is kind, friendly and eager to make you feel comfortable. Being poked with needles for blood draws and having sonograms every other day during follicle monitoring can be unpleasant, but the nurses remain positive and calm - and they all seem to know how to draw blood very delicately. I have always felt very comforted by the staff at Dominion.
Describe your experience with Dominion Fertility.
This clinic is wonderful. The offices and lobby are always neat and clean, and the waiting area is comfortable. The front desk staff will always greet you with kindness and a smile. Appointments are made very efficiently over the phone, and I have never been kept waiting past an appointment time before seeing the doctor. Billing is even around the corner and incredibly helpful - they will answer any and all questions you have about costs of treatment on the spot.
If I had just one issue, and it's a slight one, it would be that you can almost never reach a nurse directly in real time - you'll have to leave a voicemail at the nurses' desk, and they will return your call. At times, this can take a few hours, but they never make you wait more than a day for a return call, so it's really a minor issue.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Dominion Fertility.
Monitoring appointments happen in the mornings every day of the week, starting slightly later on the weekends. You can come in anytime during the window of about three hours. They almost always see you within ten minutes of your arrival time, and I was never there more than 20 minutes or so. For my personal schedule (I work afternoons and nights), it is a little challenging because I must be in there before 9 AM, but for most people working in jobs during the day, I imagine it's a very convenient process.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Michael DiMattina at Dominion Fertility.
Because Virginia doesn't have a mandate for fertility treatment coverage through health care, patients pay for all of treatments out of pocket. Prior to starting treatment, we did a mock embryo transfer and a water sonogram, which cost us a total of $650. Most everything that occurs during a Natural Cycle IVF treatment (monitoring, egg retrieval, semen collection, fertilization, embryo transfer, etc.) is covered under a package price of $4900. We also paid for assisted hatching of the embryo at $500. Anesthesia for the egg retrieval is an additional separate cost of $500, and then there is the cost of medications, which for us was around $300. All in all, our treatment cost us around $6850.
Describe Michael DiMattina's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Dominion Fertility.
This particular question is not applicable to us for this treatment, because we did a Natural Cycle IVF (there was only one egg produced by my body naturally for retrieval).
10
Clinic
Dominion Fertility
Arlington