We initially chose [Dr. Natalia Grindler] based on her nutritional and environmental approach to infertility...shared numerous articles and research on diet and lifestyle recommendations that made the whole process a little easier to swallow. While we only physically saw Dr. Grindler a handful of times over the course of our treatment, each visit she came prepared with all lab results and a plan of action for moving forward....
[Conceptions Reproductive Associates] uses a three phase treatment cycle for IVF and requires you and your partner take an IVF class prior to retrieval...uses ICSI for the insemination technique and freezes all viable embryos...Round of IUI: Around $600 IVF with Chromosome Assessment: $18,375 Medication for Stimulation for Egg Retrieval: $4,740.15 Anesthesia for Egg Retrieval: $400 Medication for Transfer: TBD (Anticipating $2,260)
How was your experience with Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
We initially chose Dr. Grindler based on her nutritional and environmental approach to infertility. As I imagine it is with every couple, it was a hard struggle to accept infertility was our reality. As someone who doesn’t even like to take Advil, I was facing a battle against my values knowing I would have many rounds of medications and injections. Dr. Grindler shared numerous articles and research on diet and lifestyle recommendations that made the whole process a little easier to swallow.
While we only physically saw Dr. Grindler a handful of times over the course of our treatment, each visit she came prepared with all lab results and a plan of action for moving forward. She explained in detail our results and was readily available for any questions we may have.
We were diagnosed with mild diminished ovarian reserve and a slight male factor, Dr. Grindler recommended IVF as our best course of action however, respected that we wanted to try IUI before taking the plunge into the scary and overwhelming world of IVF. While our two rounds of IUI were unsuccessful, Dr. Grindler treated us with the upmost care and respect and never made us feel that our chosen path to treatment was wasteful. While I communicated with nurses daily, I knew Dr. Grindler’s expertise and extensive knowledge was at the backbone of our treatment and played a high role in our successful egg retrieval.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Put your trust in their hands - Conceptions is highly regarded and has the best live birth rates in the country. Their facility, practice and doctors are ahead of the game, paving the path to success.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Dr. Grindler has such a kind heart and warm smile, from the moment we met with her for our initial consultation, we felt like we were in caring hands. Dr. Grindler explained the full process right from the start and mapped out all of our options for us, giving her best recommendation but also respecting our choices along the way.
Describe the protocols Natalia (Grindler) Grob used in your cycles at Conceptions Reproductive Associates and their degree of success.
Prior to starting treatment, various diagnostic testing is preformed to ensure the best course of treatment: Pap Smear, Ovarian Reserve Testing, Vitamin D, Thryoid, Infectious Disease, HSG and Semen Analysis.
We were assigned the Antagonist protocol, Conceptions uses a three phase treatment cycle for IVF and requires you and your partner take an IVF class prior to retrieval. Here they explain the full IVF process and show you how to administer medication. This class was SO helpful and relived a lot of anxiety I had for administering injections. My overall experience was so much better than I expected – I had truly expected the worse out of IVF however, I the class helped me to overcome my fear of administering injections, I ended up giving myself all shots with the exception of the Trigger. I even found that the egg retrieval wasn’t as painful as I had expected, recovery was quick and I was back to work the next day. We had a great outcome, we started with 26 eggs being retrieved, 16 of which fertilized. We ended up sending 8 embryos off for genetic testing, 5 of which came back as viable embryos to transfer.
Phase 1 is IVF Stimulation and Embryo Development. During this phase, I was placed on birth control for a couple weeks followed by 1.5 weeks of twice daily home injections and daily blood and ultrasound visits. I had two trigger shots once my ovaries had reached their peak in stimulation and egg retrieval followed. Conceptions uses ICSI for the insemination technique and freezes all viable embryos. Their You’ll learn the number of eggs retrieved the same day of your retrieval, their Embryology Lab calls you the next morning with the number that fertilized overnight and a second phone call a few days later confirming how many embryos developed. Embryos are then sent off for genetic testing, which takes about two weeks to get results back.
Phase 2 they call the “Wash Month”, which allows hormone levels to return back to normal and ovaries to recover from stimulation. I was placed back on birth control for a few weeks and had three uterine procedures: Hysteroscopy (this I found to be the most painful of everything related to IVF), Trial Embryo Transfer and Doppler Ultrasound (all done on the same visit). This phase is where you’ll learn the genetic screening results confirming the final number of viable embryos, if you had testing preformed.
Phase 3 is the Frozen Embryo Transfer, which takes 6-8 weeks. I’m currently at this stage, which unfortunately got put on hold due to COVID-19.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Conceptions Reproductive Associates. (Assigned nurse: Lindsay Dole)
The Nursing Team at Conceptions is extremely friendly, always have smiles on their faces and some even greet me by name. Communication is always timely and detailed and if a call was missed on my end, they ensured to follow up until they received confirmation that I had received instructions on dosage and timing. They were readily available for any questions we had and showed extreme patience and care.
Describe your experience with Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
Conceptions was our third fertility clinic, while it took some frustrations, wasted money and most importantly time to find this clinic, we couldn't be happier to put our trust in Conceptions team. Conceptions is highly regarded and has the best live birth rates in the country. Their facility, practice, doctors and nursing staff are ahead of the game, paving the path to success. We hope and have confidence that we will become a number in their success rates.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
Round of IUI: Around $600
IVF with Chromosome Assessment: $18,375
Medication for Stimulation for Egg Retrieval: $4,740.15
Anesthesia for Egg Retrieval: $400
Medication for Transfer: TBD (Anticipating $2,260)
Describe Natalia (Grindler) Grob's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
Conceptions recommends transferring one embryo at a time for the best outcome as well as the health and safety of the baby and mother. However, they do not prohibit multiple embryo transfers if that is what the patient prefers. They explain the risks involved with transferring multiple embryos and that there is a chance for the embryos to divide resulting in triplets or even quadruplets.
What specific things went wrong at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Lost appointments
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
While going through daily blood and ultrasounds for Phase 1 of IVF Stimulation, I had testing done at their Denver Rose office as it was in close proximity to my work. My nurse had scheduled and confirmed all my appointments with me however, the appointments to have my blood drawn each day did not transfer over to the Denver Rose location. While I knew that I needed blood drawn every day, some patients may have just trusted what the front desk had on their calendar. This also caused a delay in their schedules as they didn't have me scheduled and had to build in time while I was there.
I'm a bit of a perfectionist, and for good reason - while reviewing medication orders at our IVF class, I realized that the names of the trigger shots they were discussing were not listed on my prescription list. Luckily I had caught the mistake and had time to get the shot mailed to me. However, that mistake could have been drastic if it wasn't noticed as the trigger shot is the most important and timely shot of them all.
my experience with her [Dr. Grob] has been very disappointing in terms of feeling supported and catered to as an individual. She does not seem to like to be questioned and does not offer much information, either upfront or when directly asked...For all retrieval cycles, we used a protocol involving Menopur and Gonal-F, with Ganirelix added in and a HCG trigger with Lupron shots. Omnitrope was used as an adjuvant to hopefully help egg quality, and estradiol was employed for priming. With a high number of eggs retrieved each time, this protocol succeeded on that front, which seemed like the main objective- quality, on the other hand, did not seem to have much evidence for ways in which it could be improved
the clinic [Conceptions Reproductive Associates] seems designed to deal with the volume of patients by having the doctor be as hands-off as possible, with the nurses responsible for 95% of patient contact...Calls to the clinic's dedicated nurse line are never answered; they go to voicemail and are responded to generally within the day, but it can be frustrating to have no way to access a person directly with urgent matters...The incorrect protocol and medications were sent by my nurse on multiple occasions. Routine bloodwork was lost and had to be redone...
How was your experience with Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Dr Grob seems like a smart, capable doctor who is keen on getting results and being on the forefront of this field. However, my experience with her has been very disappointing in terms of feeling supported and catered to as an individual. She does not seem to like to be questioned and does not offer much information, either upfront or when directly asked. If you are not fully prepared for a consult with everything you want to know, it is very difficult to get satisfactory answers or information afterwards via email, and you will be asked to set up another (paid) consult. As a person who struggles with anxiety and likes to know the ins and outs of what is happening to my body, I found her less-is-best approach to explaining her reasoning on protocols to be very frustrating and stressful.
In my experience, it also seems like Dr Grob might err on the side of throwing the kitchen sink at this process, medication-wise. With only my age as a clear factor, my first stim protocol started at the highest level of medications (according to general consensus of information including the FertilityIQ education pages) but to Dr Grob this was what she deemed standard, and despite a retrieval of MANY eggs, her second stim protocol employed yet an even higher dosage of medications. For the FET phase, a fully-medicated protocol- with every single medication you can possibly use for it- was the only one she offered, with no indication that there was any other way to do it. My concerns about the safety/necessity/efficacy of these protocols were repeatedly dismissed in a way that unfortunately eroded some of the vital trust, adding a lot more stress to this process.
There was little that she offered in our consults to make me feel as if I was getting treatment tailored to me as an individual, or using the information gleaned from all the tests and procedures to determine the best way to proceed. It feels very one-size-fits-all and with her direct, very scripted manner, it definitely does not lend itself to feeling like you are working as a team with your doctor. I have no doubt that she can generally get good results, but the way in which it is undertaken leaves me feeling like I'm a statistic she's hoping to add to her success column. If you do not need reassurance or support and are happy to place complete faith in your doctor without requiring much information, Dr Grob might be great for you. Likewise, if you are willing to do your own research, prepare thoroughly for consults, and fiercely advocate for yourself, you might also get good results working with her, albeit in a more DIY manner. If you fall somewhere in between, then you might find what is already a very emotional, stressful experience exacerbated by your own doctor.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Inform yourself on medications, protocols etc so you can fully discuss any concerns or thoughts you might have, as not much detail may be offered by Dr Grob. Be prepared to advocate for yourself if you are not feeling aligned on things- and instead of much reasoning, you may well get told the doctor version of "Because I said so".
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
In the first meeting, Dr G came across as friendly and fairly warm, if a little brief and breezy. However, subsequent communication revealed a pattern of very scripted, short responses and unwillingness to directly answer questions or go into detail at all, and a real lack of proactively offering information, to the point of frustration. We have only had a handful of consults with her, mostly via video, and absolutely none of my procedures (ultrasounds/hysteroscopies/egg retrievals etc) have been handled by her personally. This lack of contact during my time as a patient has left me feeling very unsupported and disconnected from her as "my" doctor.
Describe the protocols Natalia (Grindler) Grob used in your cycles at Conceptions Reproductive Associates and their degree of success.
For all retrieval cycles, we used a protocol involving Menopur and Gonal-F, with Ganirelix added in and a HCG trigger with Lupron shots. Omnitrope was used as an adjuvant to hopefully help egg quality, and estradiol was employed for priming. With a high number of eggs retrieved each time, this protocol succeeded on that front, which seemed like the main objective- quality, on the other hand, did not seem to have much evidence for ways in which it could be improved, so the only change suggested was to add CoQ10 supplements (which require at least three months to have any potential effect; it would've been good, given my age factor, to have been told that at the very beginning of the process).
Describe your experience with your nurse at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
The nurse I was assigned for my retrieval phase started out very personable and communicative over email. However I never received any of my updates/instructions/results over the phone from her, and despite her apparently being in the office during my visits, I saw her in person on only one occasion and only after being bounced to other staff for 20min. I was always asked "who is your nurse?" when I had any questions or issues, so it seemed the clinic's system is designed to have that person handle all your stuff, but I invariably ended up being handled by another nurse in every way except via email.
My nurse also very quickly became unreliable in keeping my protocols straight. I was prescribed the wrong medications and sent the wrong dosage instructions on multiple occasions, and communication seemed to have a disconnect between the doctor and the nurse. What should've been simple directions took many exhaustive emails to try to untangle and I had to be vigilant and double check any change against previous instructions- had I not done this, I would have had to cancel a cycle or carried out an incorrect one due to the nurse's errors.
The other nurses I dealt with over the phone and in person for my updates/instructions etc were all quite lovely and helpful. The few occasions I had to call on the after-hours nurse for help, the person on duty was very kind and patient and made me feel supported in a way that I craved to have on the day-to-day basis!
Describe your experience with Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
Conceptions certainly seems to have strong success stats that make you feel like you're in good hands, so that's a reassuring start. The office experience itself is not particularly luxe and cutting-edge but more comfortably standard, and there's certainly a lot of people coming to them for help.
However, based on the experience with my doctor (other doctors there *may* be different), the clinic seems designed to deal with the volume of patients by having the doctor be as hands-off as possible, with the nurses responsible for 95% of patient contact. If your doctor having first-hand knowledge of you, your body and your case by performing ultrasounds or uterine procedures or trial transfers etc is important to you, you are likely not going to get that here. It lends a little of an ivory-tower feel, where the doctor is an untouchable figure who shows up only to dispense protocol at the start and retrieve the eggs/transfer the embryo at the end, so the nurse who is assigned to you plays a vital role in crafting your experience of this process.
As mentioned previously, you are assigned a nurse, which is great in theory. However, in practice, this still oftentimes results in getting information and care from whomever is available. Calls to the clinic's dedicated nurse line are never answered; they go to voicemail and are responded to generally within the day, but it can be frustrating to have no way to access a person directly with urgent matters.
The financial department will also assign someone to your case to whom you can direct billing questions and issues, but our contact left and it took a number of queries to have someone realize that and reassign us. Our contact has been friendly and helpful, but there seems to be a huge disconnect between departments and/or disarray that has led to every bill we have received being incorrect, and our insurance being billed when we are also charged for self-pay.
The upshot of these issues are that while you might get top-level medical insight in a fairly well-oiled machine, you have to be prepared to be in charge of your care to ensure you are getting the correct information and the financials are billed properly.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
Our insurance included a fertility coverage with a lifetime max- this fortunately also covered medication as "pharmacy" , so these did not contribute to the lifetime max. After our max was reached- with the insurance out of pocket of $6700- we also did a cycle retrieval package rate that was around $10k. Genetic testing was additional and charged for additional embryos over a certain amount plus shipping fees, and cyro-storage for embryos is charged at around $65/month. Frozen transfer is charged as a separate entity.
Describe Natalia (Grindler) Grob's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
Dr Grob advocates for single embryo transfer; it was presented as a given due to my age and the higher risks.
What specific things went wrong at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Lost paperwork
Failed to order appropriate test
Failed to inform you of changes in protocol
Lost results
Provided conflicting information
Failed to convey critical information
Lost or damaged samples
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
The incorrect protocol and medications were sent by my nurse on multiple occasions. Routine bloodwork was lost and had to be redone, but I was also questioned as to whether I had actually done it in the first place (no matter how many times you get blood drawn, you really don't forget when you've been stabbed in the arm!) Prescriptions that my nurse said had been sent to the pharmacy were in fact not on several occasions, and I'd have to follow up on it.
Dr. Grob was very pleasant, shared her direct email with me prior to my egg retrieval, and did our regroup when I had no embryos to transfer so that we could talk about next steps. She is systematic, empathic, and relies on facts and stats, which both my parter and I appreciate...You only see [her] once or twice, and may not see her for all of your procedures (based on availability)...[she] sent us an email when all of our embryos were found to be abnormal, sending condolences.
Strengths [of Conceptions Reproductive Associates]: very efficient appointments—especially ultrasound monitoring and blood draws. They have a system and have it DOWN. I was never seen after my appointment time. Weaknesses: communication, especially with the donor team. They are apparently a small team, but there are a lot of balls dropped at the expense of the patient. I have been pretty disappointed and have felt like they just delay every single step despite my efforts to expedite things.
How was your experience with Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Dr. Grob was very pleasant, shared her direct email with me prior to my egg retrieval, and did our regroup when I had no embryos to transfer so that we could talk about next steps. She is systematic, empathic, and relies on facts and stats, which both my parter and I appreciate.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
You only see Dr. Grob once or twice, and may not see her for all of your procedures (based on availability).
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Dr. Grob sent us an email when all of our embryos were found to be abnormal, sending condolences. This was the first time a reproductive endocrinologist showed care and expressed a loss that felt very real to us.
Describe the protocols Natalia (Grindler) Grob used in your cycles at Conceptions Reproductive Associates and their degree of success.
My retrieval protocol with Dr. Grob was very similar to my previous retrieval protocol at another clinic. She added Omnitrope, which my previous clinic had not (until transfer time), citing that this would hopefully help with egg quality given my advanced age. We did get one more egg than my previous cycle, and my embryos were initially rated as higher-quality than at my previous clinic—however, the CCS outcome was that all of our embryos were abnormal, and they were because of my poor egg quality.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
There are nurses assigned to different parts of the IVF cycle—retrieval nurse and then transfer nurse. I have yet to have a transfer, but did end up getting shifted to the donor team nursing staff, which has been a more difficult team to work with. My ratings are for the IVF nurses, who, generally, have been compassionate and kind. There was a switch in staff during my cycle, which initially concerned me; however, I did end up really liking my nurse and her very positive approach.
Describe your experience with Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
Strengths: very efficient appointments—especially ultrasound monitoring and blood draws. They have a system and have it DOWN. I was never seen after my appointment time.
Weaknesses: communication, especially with the donor team. They are apparently a small team, but there are a lot of balls dropped at the expense of the patient. I have been pretty disappointed and have felt like they just delay every single step despite my efforts to expedite things.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
$17K+ for retrieval and genetic testing of own embryos. This cost would normally include uterine testing and a FET, but we had to move to donor eggs, so we have just been paying lots of money with nothing to show for it.
Describe Natalia (Grindler) Grob's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
No.
What specific things went wrong at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Failed to call with results
Provided conflicting information
Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
Most of the mistakes have been with the donor team, so most individuals going to Conceptions will likely not experience these setbacks. However, there have been incorrect paperwork shared, miscommunication (results not shared in a timely manner), and delays in coordinating with an egg bank.
Dr. Grindler was very straightforward at our initial visit and went over our desired family size and the results I already had from diagnostic testing done by my ob/gyn...I had some problems with my trial embryo transfer and despite my bringing up my concerns, Dr. Grindler mostly brushed them off and was confident that I would not have any problems. Unfortunately my first embryo transfer had to be cancelled at the last minute (literally while I was on the procedure table) due to the same problem. After that Dr. Grindler took steps to address the issue and made sure it would not be a problem the next time around and the next embryo transfer went very smoothly and was successful.
I think the communication from Conceptions isn't always great. Especially during the diagnostic phase before beginning IVF, there were times when I wasn't sure what we were waiting on and no one would reach out to contact me. There have also been multiple instances of my nurse telling me that I need to have bloodwork when I come in for something else, but then there were no orders for bloodwork when I arrived. I think Dr. Grindler and all the nurses, phlebotomists, and other staff I encountered were great but you do need to advocate for yourself if you have questions or concerns.
How was your experience with Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Dr. Grindler was very straightforward at our initial visit and went over our desired family size and the results I already had from diagnostic testing done by my ob/gyn. I had some questions before starting IVF and we were able to schedule a virtual visit with her to go over everything. I had some problems with my trial embryo transfer and despite my bringing up my concerns, Dr. Grindler mostly brushed them off and was confident that I would not have any problems. Unfortunately my first embryo transfer had to be cancelled at the last minute (literally while I was on the procedure table) due to the same problem. After that Dr. Grindler took steps to address the issue and made sure it would not be a problem the next time around and the next embryo transfer went very smoothly and was successful.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Communicate any questions or concerns you are having and if you are concerned about something make sure it is addressed. Also grab one of her cards at some point - at the end of my appointments with her she would always tell me to email her if I had any questions, but I didn't have her email address until I grabbed one of her business cards off the front desk at one of my last appointments! (Also I could have just asked her for her email address!)
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
When I first started with the egg retrieval it felt a lot like a one-size fits all plan and the communication about what all the different medications were and what they were for was not great. But Dr. Grindler and my IVF nurse (Lindsay) took the time to answer my questions. It felt similar as I started going into my embryo transfer cycle, but I think at that point I had gotten better at asking for more information when I needed it.
Describe the protocols Natalia (Grindler) Grob used in your cycles at Conceptions Reproductive Associates and their degree of success.
I think I got a version of the standard starting stimulation protocol used at Conceptions for my egg retrieval. I used injectable menopur in the mornings and gonal-f in the evenings and added in ganirelix when my follicles were getting large. I used a lupron only trigger for my egg retrieval because they were worried about OHSS. The egg retrieval was successful and we had 4 euploid embryos at the end.
I did 2 (mostly) unmedicated/natural FET cycles (the first one was cancelled at the last minute). I went in for a lot of monitoring to check my lining and follicles and when I was ready to ovulate on my own I triggered with pregnyl and used progesterone suppositories. So far the second FET cycle has been successful. I will stop taking the progesterone suppositories soon, when I am 10 weeks pregnant. We graduated from Conceptions after our 9 week ultrasound showed that everything looked normal with the pregnancy so far.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Conceptions Reproductive Associates. (Assigned nurse: Lindsay (IVF), Jessica (FET))
My IVF nurse, Lindsay, was great! I was nervous and had a lot of questions at the start and she took the time to answer them. I had trouble receiving phone calls at work and she always emailed me my medication instructions since that worked so much better for me.
My FET nurse, Jessica, was also great! I had a work conflict at the start of my first FET cycle and she made sure to schedule things so that I wouldn't have to cancel anything. We did have some miscommunication about a trigger shot, and some problems with prescriptions not getting to the pharmacy ahead of time, but everything was fine in the end (and by this point I had learned to double-check everything anyway).
Describe your experience with Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
I think the communication from Conceptions isn't always great. Especially during the diagnostic phase before beginning IVF, there were times when I wasn't sure what we were waiting on and no one would reach out to contact me. There have also been multiple instances of my nurse telling me that I need to have bloodwork when I come in for something else, but then there were no orders for bloodwork when I arrived.
I think Dr. Grindler and all the nurses, phlebotomists, and other staff I encountered were great but you do need to advocate for yourself if you have questions or concerns.
My financial counselor, Hannah, was also great! She was always super helpful anytime I had billing questions. If you ever have a question about the cost of something or if the front desk staff said you would have a co-pay but you think they're wrong, reach out to someone from billing and they should be able to help!
Describe the costs associated with your care under Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
Our IVF self-pay package was $17,875 (included egg retrieval, ICSI, PGS testing of up to 5 embryos, pre-FET diagnostic testing, and 1 FET cycle). We also paid an additional $1400 for testing additional embryos.
Anesthesia for the egg retrieval was $400; IVF medications were about $3600; and FET medications (for 2 unmedicated/'natural' cycles) were about $1200.
The embryo storage fee at Conceptions is currently $62.50 per month.
Describe Natalia (Grindler) Grob's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
We preferred to transfer only one embryo. I think we were told that if we really wanted to we could convince Dr. Grindler to transfer 2 embryos.
What specific things went wrong at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Provided conflicting information
Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
I had a miscommunication with my trigger shot dosage for an FET cycle (I was told 2 different dosages) that was compounded by my trigger happening on Christmas eve and there not being any instructions in my file for the on-call nurse to use to help me. It worked out in the end, but was very stressful in the moment.
For another FET cycle, my nurse had not called in my methylprednisolone and valium prescriptions to my local pharmacy before I was ready to trigger (and she happened to be off on the day I was ready). But those were filled very quickly so it worked out ok.
I needed another medication for a trial embryo transfer and mismatched dosages/instructions were sent in to my local pharmacy. I finally figured it out when it was taking several days to fill instead of several hours. I think Walgreen's may have been trying to contact Conceptions about the mismatch but wasn't getting through. When I pointed it out to my nurse she got it fixed and everything was ready before I needed it.
Dr. Grindler has a very analytic and scientific way of talking through the information presented. She did a great job of walking through the all of our options...we only saw Dr. Grindler 2 times from initial consult to egg retrieval...The majority of the communication was completed through nurses and we didn't know until closer to the egg retrieval that it would be a different doctor completing the procedure...
They [Conceptions Reproductive Associates] provide detailed instructions via email and set clear expectations of timeline and when/how they will be in contact during the IVF process...The nurses were all very responsive with all of our questions. Most communication was done via email, but they were willing to transfer our prescriptions to several different pharmacies who would not give quotes without having the orders. This allowed us to save thousands of dollars...
How was your experience with Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Dr. Grindler has a very analytic and scientific way of talking through the information presented. She did a great job of walking through the all of our options. However, we felt concerned when the pharmacists we shopped around with kept exclaiming how much Menopur we were prescribed. It would have been nice for these dosages to be explained (due to low ovarian reserve), as we had to follow-up to confirm it was the correct dosage. I think overall the experience we had with Dr. Grindler was probably typical of any large fertility clinic that is just getting people through rounds of IVF. What we weren't fully aware of at the time was that were in a fragile state and were looking for more empathy and explanations of potential upcoming loss/failure/stages of grief.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Be prepared for every appointment with questions, especially on the rates of success for the various treatment options. You may want to pair Dr. Grindler's medical advice with additional emotional support.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
We had to follow-up for the list of dietary recommendations Dr. Grindler spoke of in our initial meeting, and the person who responded was a nurse. It didn't feel like the recommendations were in any way catered toward us and our specific situation. The majority of the communication was completed through nurses and we didn't know until closer to the egg retrieval that it would be a different doctor completing the procedure, so we only saw Dr. Grindler 2 times from initial consult to egg retrieval.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Conceptions Reproductive Associates. (Assigned nurse: M'Kaylah Woods)
The nurses were all very responsive with all of our questions. Most communication was done via email, but they were willing to transfer our prescriptions to several different pharmacies who would not give quotes without having the orders. This allowed us to save thousands of dollars.
Describe your experience with Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
This clinic is a well-oiled machine. They provide detailed instructions via email and set clear expectations of timeline and when/how they will be in contact during the IVF process. There was some confusion between the front desk staff and the billing department when providing the Kaiser-insurance package as we were billed for a visit we shouldn't have been, and then had to resolve the issue with the billing department later. We felt the pre-recorded IVF informational video was helpful to be able to reference, but the zoom session with the male nurse did not answer our additional lingering questions and felt impersonal.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
$11,000 for one round of egg retrieval (not including cost of medications)
Describe Natalia (Grindler) Grob's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
Conceptions clinic as a whole believes in elective single embryo transfer, but will transfer multiple embryos if you feel strongly
Dr. Grindler was very friendly, she was warm, affirming and made it clear that she was here to assist in whatever decision we chose to make...I only saw [her] once, there’s a recap appointment that was set after testing was done to go over results. After that I did not see/hear from her again. I only worked with the nursing staff or ultrasound technicians during my fertility journey
This was my first attempt at fertility treatments and [our Conceptions Reproductive Associates nurse] was patient with my anxiety and constant messaging for questions...I selected the Skyridge location but frequently had to go to another location for all my testing and the actual IUI. I wish they had made that clear in the beginning...They want payment at time of visit and sometimes it’s hundreds of dollars at a time, they kept telling me that my insurance didn’t cover anything and I had to push back so many times to explain that they would cover all the testing
How was your experience with Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
I only saw Dr. Grindler once, there’s a recap appointment that was set after testing was done to go over results. After that I did not see/hear from her again. I only worked with the nursing staff or ultrasound technicians during my fertility journey
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Don’t expect to see her
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Dr. Grindler was very friendly, she was warm, affirming and made it clear that she was here to assist in whatever decision we chose to make.
Describe the protocols Natalia (Grindler) Grob used in your cycles at Conceptions Reproductive Associates and their degree of success.
She was positive that I would be able to conceive without medication, which was very reassuring. I was told to report my next period and they would go from there. It was going to be a pretty straightforward approach and I was excited to get started after our meeting
Describe your experience with your nurse at Conceptions Reproductive Associates. (Assigned nurse: Melissa Vrban)
Melissa was AMAZING! I cannot say enough about her. This was my first attempt at fertility treatments and she was patient with my anxiety and constant messaging for questions. She definitely helped make the process enjoyable and not so stressful
Describe your experience with Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
Conceptions is a good facility, they helped my wife and I achieve our goal of reproduction, we got pregnant on the first try with minimal medical intervention and the medical staff couldn’t be better.
I selected the Skyridge location but frequently had to go to another location for all my testing and the actual IUI. I wish they had made that clear in the beginning. The Skyridge office seems to only be useful for administrative visits.
The receptionist at Skyridge was amazing, I looked forward to my visits in that office because she was always so nice. The Highlands Ranch receptionists were often short and rude with me and I didn’t like going there but had to do all my testing there.
Billing was a nightmare. I had a very thorough understanding of my health insurance and what was/was not covered. Yet I’ve had to constantly debate with the receptionist about having my visits submitted to insurance. They want payment at time of visit and sometimes it’s hundreds of dollars at a time, they kept telling me that my insurance didn’t cover anything and I had to push back so many times to explain that they would cover all the testing. It took 6 months to get them to have the ultrasounds I got right before my IUI submitted to insurance for payment, and that was only after my insurance company called them directly to request that they submit the charges. Once that was done I received a final notice invoice and my account was sent to collections. I suggest anyone going through this process have a detailed discussion with their insurance carrier so that they know for sure what their coverages are, because it felt like they were only after money and didn’t want to be bothered with insurance or didn’t want to take the contractural discount. They’ll offer a discount for paying in full at the time of the appointment (even if you have a deductible that you haven’t met, urge them to submit to insurance, you still get the discount if they are in network), and at one time they finally got it updated to submit to insurance but then switched it back to self pay primary and wouldn’t change it back.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
They give you a handout pretty early on with a cost breakdown which was awesome. I knew what to expect right away. All of the testing was about $1100, I had to have a lot of ultrasounds which were covered by my insurance thankfully, and the IUI was about $250 which I paid cash the day of the procedure
What specific things went wrong at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Dr. Grindler pushed us into IVF, even though insurance would cover IUI. She pushed extra expensive tests in us, that we could have done with our OB. [she] didn’t tailor a protocol for us, she used the one size fits all approach, and just kept upping the dose of medicine...We saw her 4 times total. We asked about IUI, because insurance covered it. Grindler was very dismissive. Telling us our only chance was IVF
Our FET nurse was very communicative and helpful/compassionate...Conceptions is not transparent with billing or cost...I was told by the billing department that we would be charged Max $28,000, in the end we paid $35,000...Conceptions doesn’t tailor their protocol to a person, they use a one size fits all approach..
How was your experience with Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Dr. Grindler is very cold, and treats patients as a number. We saw her 4 times total. We asked about IUI, because insurance covered it. Grindler was very dismissive. Telling us our only chance was IVF. Even though I got pregnant AFTER ivf failed. Conceptions just cares about money, not people. They prey on the desperate.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Do your research, they try and “sell” you things you don’t need. Be aware of your diagnosis and what protocols work for you. If IVF fails, don’t go back to get tested, they will charge you and arm and leg.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Dr. Grindler pushed us into IVF, even though insurance would cover IUI. She pushed extra expensive tests in us, that we could have done with our OB. Grindler didn’t tailor a protocol for us, she used the one size fits all approach, and just kept upping the dose of medicine.
Describe the protocols Natalia (Grindler) Grob used in your cycles at Conceptions Reproductive Associates and their degree of success.
Antagonist Protcol, ICSI, day 6 FET transfer, endometrial scratch, ovarian cyst draining.
We were told I don’t have many eggs and the antagonist protocol would work best. I had a cyst on my ovary that had to be drained.) We got 4 eggs from 9 follicles, 1 was mature. The one made it to day 6 blastocyst. We PGS tested it normal. Grindler said that an endometrial scratch would make my uterus “fluffy” and more likely to stick.
It didn’t stick. It failed.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Conceptions Reproductive Associates. (Assigned nurse: Sarah )
The nurses were nice, but gave us the wrong dosage for the trigger shot, after calling the emergency number she called back and apologized. I thought I would be talking with Sarah the whole time, but only talked to her 3 out of 8 times.
Our FET nurse was very communicative and helpful/compassionate.
Describe your experience with Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
Most unethical place I have ever been. I was told by the billing department that we would be charged Max $28,000, in the end we paid $35,000. We were told to go straight to IVF, even though our insurance covered IUI, our “only chance to have a baby.” At 29 years old, IVF failed miserably... after all the emotions, money and time... and we didn’t get any sympathy just told to do more tests. Instead of being transparent and letting us know these tests weren’t covered and hundreds of dollars, Dr. Grindler ordered more and more.
Conceptions doesn’t tailor their protocol to a person, they use a one size fits all approach. They prey on the desperate and leech as much money as they possibly can. We were just another number. And after being told it was “impossible” for me to get pregnant naturally, I fell pregnant. I would never recommend Conceptions to anyone.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
We got quoted Max $28,000 we paired well over $35,000
What specific things went wrong at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Failed to call with results
Failed to order appropriate test
Failed to send your chart to another clinic
Provided conflicting information
Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
Conceptions is not transparent with billing or cost. For self pay patients like me, I had outrageous unknown large bills come in after the failed IVF.
Conceptions had me thinking that IVF was the only way I could have kids. Even though I got pregnant AFTER IVF.
Conceptions wouldn’t let me switch doctors. Patients are just numbers and Conceptions is a scam.
Dr. Grindler is straightforward, she doesn't really sugar coat things. She did give my husband and I ample time to ask questions, email with questions and book follow up appointments to get our needs met...I was given a fairly straightforward protocol- menopur in the morning & gonal f in the evening. The closer we got to egg retrieval the doses increased..
Monitoring appointments [at Conceptions Reproductive Associates] were pretty quick, they have a good process set up. I was in & out in 15 minutes most mornings...We had 12 eggs retrieved, 7 fertilized normally and 4 embryos that are genetically normal...IVF was $18,775 and stimulation medication was $7170. We have not done our frozen embryo transfer yet, so I am unsure of the cost of meds.
How was your experience with Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Dr. Grindler seems to know her stuff and took the time to answer all of our questions. If anything, communication can feel a little scripted, which I tried to look past as I don't need a best friend in a doctor; just the facts and someone who has my best interests in mind.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Know that you'll only see the doctor a handful of times. Your IVF nurse is your main point person after you commit to treatment.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Dr. Grindler is straightforward, she doesn't really sugar coat things. She did give my husband and I ample time to ask questions, email with questions and book follow up appointments to get our needs met. She isn't the warm, fuzzy, outwardly friendly doctor, but I was fine with that.
Describe the protocols Natalia (Grindler) Grob used in your cycles at Conceptions Reproductive Associates and their degree of success.
We have been diagnosed with unexplained infertility. I was given a fairly straightforward protocol- menopur in the morning & gonal f in the evening. The closer we got to egg retrieval the doses increased. My husband took sperm enhancing vitamins for 4 months before our retrieval.
We had 12 eggs retrieved, 7 fertilized normally and 4 embryos that are genetically normal. I am 36; Dr. Grindler was hoping for 2 genetically normal embryos, so we were very excited to receive 4.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Conceptions Reproductive Associates. (Assigned nurse: Sarah)
My hunch is your nurse at Conceptions can be hit or miss. Initially I had a different nurse who seemed to only work part time. It was difficult to get an email back from her (and I received a lot of out of office replies with no information on how to contact someone else).
However, that nurse was let go at the start of Covid-19, so I was assigned a different nurse- Sarah. Sarah has been fantastic- very communicative, friendly, easy to get a hold of and even send me nice congratulatory messages.
Describe your experience with Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
Just about everyone at Conceptions has been incredibly kind and friendly. However, because I was in the middle of stimulation when Covid-19 starting shutting the country down, I was pretty disappointed (and angry at times) about the lack of transparency the clinic shared.
I was incredibly fearful that my egg retrieval would be cancelled (and all the money and medication would be down the drain). That did not happen, however it took me poking around on Conceptions social media accounts to find out what they had been telling patients. I was floored that there hadn't been pro-active email communication to all current patients (and there still hasn't been). Yes, they have some more general statements on their website; but their facebook page is where they post videos, host Q&A sessions, etc. For someone who is rarely on social media, I was angry that this is how I was supposed to be getting information about an incredibly unknown situation. It is very poor form and I would urge Conceptions to really think about patient communication holistically and how to get messages out to ALL of their patients when necessary. A few days before my egg retrieval, I ended up emailing Dr. Grindler who shot me back a fairly scripted email about the status of the clinic; which I appreciated, but honestly, I shouldn't have needed to ask for. It should have happened multiple times throughout my IVF treatment because of the uncertainty of what was happening in the country at the time.
I understand that going through IVF during Covid-19 is a unique experience, but it did show me some major gaps in Conceptions communication style.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
Monitoring appointments were pretty quick, they have a good process set up. I was in & out in 15 minutes most mornings.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
IVF was $18,775 and stimulation medication was $7170. We have not done our frozen embryo transfer yet, so I am unsure of the cost of meds.
Describe Natalia (Grindler) Grob's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
She was very straightforward about the risks of a multiple embryo transfer and strongly advised against it. We were 100% on the same page.
Dr Grindler was kind and empathetic but at times a little scripted. Some of the information provided was clearly often delivered in the same manner. I did feel like she cared though. She did not do my retrieval as another doctor handled them that day. It was strange to meet a doctor that day after anesthesia had been started but understandable...When my retrieval failed to give us any eggs she called me that afternoon to tell us how sorry she was
The clinic's [Conceptions Reproductive Associates] strengths are the doctors, nurses, receptionists, and techs...The doctors are very good at their job but you don't see them often. The billing department has been a nightmare. I'm more then 4 months out from a procedure and still trying to get back a refund owed to me for medical work that wasn't done...My husband was not in the recovery room with me after my retrieval. They failed to tell him that it had failed. I was still fairly drugged when they sent me out to him and had to try to explain what happened to him myself as we were driving away. Our doctor and nurse were not there and very apologetic when we told them.
How was your experience with Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
I felt comfortable with Dr Grindler. She was a little scripted at times. I liked her more than my husband did. He didn't like that she sounded rehearsed at times. Despite the occasional rehearsed answer I really liked her and felt like she was very empathetic. When my retrieval failed to give us any eggs she called me that afternoon to tell us how sorry she was. She is very knowledgeable and I felt like I could trust her advice. She was not the doctor that did my retrieval as the clinic rotates those by day.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
I would suggest making sure you ask any questions that you have. She is happy to talk through them if you ask. Do to how the clinic is run you won't see her much so be prepared for that going in.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Dr Grindler was kind and empathetic but at times a little scripted. Some of the information provided was clearly often delivered in the same manner. I did feel like she cared though. She did not do my retrieval as another doctor handled them that day. It was strange to meet a doctor that day after anesthesia had been started but understandable.
Describe the protocols Natalia (Grindler) Grob used in your cycles at Conceptions Reproductive Associates and their degree of success.
I have diminished ovarian reserve so I was on a high protocol of injections to give us the best chance of retrieving mature eggs. She did not believe that IUI would be successful so we went straight to IVF. We had one underdeveloped egg and one damaged egg at retrieval and no viable eggs.
If we do a second round of IVF with Dr Grindler it will be even higher.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Conceptions Reproductive Associates. (Assigned nurse: Sarah)
Due to covid I didn't see my nurse in person until after our retrieval. The nurses were dealing with shortened hours due to covid as well. There were a couple times were I felt frustrated that it took longer than usual to get ahold of my nurse but that was not her fault. The nurses were amazing during a very difficult time. I felt immensely supported by my nurse. She was incredibly knowledgeable and helpful.
Describe your experience with Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
The clinic's strengths are the doctors, nurses, receptionists, and techs. They are very kind and welcoming. The woman who did my blood work and ultrasounds were amazing. They were so kind and very good at their jobs. They really care. The nurses are incredible, they are so kind and knowledgeable. The doctors are very good at their job but you don't see them often.
The billing department has been a nightmare. I'm more then 4 months out from a procedure and still trying to get back a refund owed to me for medical work that wasn't done. It's bad enough to make me seriously consider moving clinics despite how much I like the medical staff.
Also, some of the staff did not handle the covid changes well. We were required to take a 4 hour virtual class that promised to teach us how to administer shots and ended up being more of an orientation for people new to the clinic. We had to depend on supplemental videos for the things we really needed. The 4 hour class was a waste for us. They also failed to deliver the news of our retrieval failing to my husband. Due to covid he was not in the recovery room with me and they forgot about him. My doctor and nurse were not responsible for those problems though. I truly liked working with them despite our retrieval failing.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
We spent around $8000 after insurance. Then around $8000 on medication.
What specific things went wrong at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
My husband was not in the recovery room with me after my retrieval. They failed to tell him that it had failed. I was still fairly drugged when they sent me out to him and had to try to explain what happened to him myself as we were driving away. Our doctor and nurse were not there and very apologetic when we told them.
Dr. Grindler explained the process of preconception testing since my husband and I were older and we wanted to make sure we were healthy enough to get pregnant. I had a very early miscarriage and that is what brought us into see Dr. Grindler. She started with preconception testing and she explained everything very thoroughly. She is very informative and very clear and transparent about the odds of conceiving .
The [Conceptions Reproductive Associates] clinic is great so far, we had a little hiccup over billing but the billing department was friendly and quickly corrected their mistakes. The staff and reception when we met Dr. Grindler in person were great. We are looking forward to getting the IVF process started...So far nurses have been great. We communicate with the nurses through email or by leaving messages and they immediately respond within the day. We think they will be very supportive and helpful during the process of IVF when we begin.
How was your experience with Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
We have not started IVF due to the pandemic however we met with her in person once and once again via telemedicine for our results since we are out of town. She answered all my questions and even responded to emails when I thought of questions later on. We both felt like we can ask any clarification questions and she would take the time to explain things.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Do your research and come in with questions, if it's your first time considering IVF or IUI don't hesitate to ask questions or clarifications. If you know the process well it will help you make decisions later on.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Dr. Grindler explained the process of preconception testing since my husband and I were older and we wanted to make sure we were healthy enough to get pregnant. I had a very early miscarriage and that is what brought us into see Dr. Grindler. She started with preconception testing and she explained everything very thoroughly. She is very informative and very clear and transparent about the odds of conceiving .
Describe the protocols Natalia (Grindler) Grob used in your cycles at Conceptions Reproductive Associates and their degree of success.
We have not started any protocols or drugs due to postponing IVF due to pandemic.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
So far nurses have been great. We communicate with the nurses through email or by leaving messages and they immediately respond within the day. We think they will be very supportive and helpful during the process of IVF when we begin.
Describe your experience with Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
The clinic is great so far, we had a little hiccup over billing but the billing department was friendly and quickly corrected their mistakes. The staff and reception when we met Dr. Grindler in person were great. We are looking forward to getting the IVF process started.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
We knew our insurance wouldn't cover any cost of fertility treatment so they have pricing different for out of pocket patients compared to insurance billing. I believe for the original consultation it was between $130-200. I remember at our consultation we wanted to start the preconception blood work so we would know where we would stand in terms of available options. The preconception blood work for both my husband and I included STDs, Ab testing and transvaginal US. We paid between $1200-$1700 not including genetic chromosomal analysis. They are transparent on their website about costs associated with different treatment, however we are waiting to begin our IVF so we will see what the actual costs turn out to be.
Dr. Grindler did bloodwork and ultrasound to determine my baseline strategy. She took my age and health factors into consideration...is very good at managing expectations to just focus on the step at hand. Because so much of this process is beyond control and results driven, she doesn't like to get ahead in the process of planning next steps...felt "firm but fair". She was very thorough, but lacked warmth. Fortunately, I prefer a blunt, more candid doctor. She is very smart and forthcoming and I feel like she knows what is best for me and will do what is best for me. At no point did I ever feel like just a number with Dr. Grindler. I understand that in her line of work, she is required to be detached and not give false hope to those who are so invested.
the clinic [Conceptions Reproductive Associates] does practice multiple embryo transfer and that the decision to do that is up to the patient... Every single encounter I have had at the clinic has been a compassionate, positive, forthcoming, and easy experience. Everyone at Conceptions, from the receptionists to the phlebotomists, to the embryology team, to my doctor, to the whole nursing staff, is wonderful. I have felt fully supported throughout this whole experience. I did not feel like a number or cattle being herded. I felt like a human being that they truly cared about. No question was too dumb or too silly.
How was your experience with Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Dr. Grindler comes off as very smart, educated and competent. I think those are her strengths. She is also quite thorough and provides info in a calm and objective manner. What she lacks in warmth, she makes up for in comprehensiveness. I never left her office without fully understanding a diagnosis, procedure, or with any open questions.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
A little warmth goes a long way. This process is so emotional for a newcomer to infertility. Initially, maybe acknowledge that fear, trepidation and nervousness about the process before delving into the specifics of the consultation.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
I know that this clinic sees A LOT of patients. Dr. Grindler felt "firm but fair". She was very thorough, but lacked warmth. Fortunately, I prefer a blunt, more candid doctor. She is very smart and forthcoming and I feel like she knows what is best for me and will do what is best for me. At no point did I ever feel like just a number with Dr. Grindler. I understand that in her line of work, she is required to be detached and not give false hope to those who are so invested.
Describe the protocols Natalia (Grindler) Grob used in your cycles at Conceptions Reproductive Associates and their degree of success.
Dr. Grindler did bloodwork and ultrasound to determine my baseline strategy. She took my age and health factors into consideration. I have Hashimoto's so she was looking for specific thyroid factors in the bloodwork. After that came back, she then suggested we do an HSG to determine if my anatomy was a factor in my infertility. The HSG showed a blocked tube, so essentially she gave me the option of IUI or IVF. My chances of conceiving naturally she determined were about 1-2% a month, given my age and hydrosalpinx. She gave the IUI a 10% chance of success and IVF a 70-75% chance of success. She agreed that IVF would be the best bang for our buck, so we started right away. She had me do more blood work and determined that I would prime with estrogen. on Cycle Day 2, we started with injections: 4 vials Menopur & 0.7 cc of Omnitrope AM and 300 IU Gonal-F PM. We slowly increased the Gonal-F throughout the cycle from 300 to 375 and then finally to 450. On cycle day 8, I started with Cetrotide and continued with the protocol until we triggered on Day 12. Overall I came away with 12 follicles. We retrieved 9 eggs, 5 were mature and 5 fertilized. Of those 5 embryos, 4 made it to blastocyst on day 5 and day 6, respectively. We biopsied all 4 and sent them to Natera for PGS testing. 3 came back abnormal with trisomy 16, 21 and deletion of chromosome 7. One came back PGS "normal" with an 85% confidence on chromosome 13. That embryo is currently frozen. Because of the confidence, Dr. Grindler agreed with my decision to do a second retrieval cycle to try to get more healthier embryos to potentially transfer. She is changing my second retrieval to prime with Estrogen, Cetrotide and Omnitrope and will start my Gonal-F at 450 IU from the start. She will also have my take the Omnitrope for longer. Unfortunately, my insurance company denied my second cycle and wants me to transfer my 85% confidence embryo first before they approve a second cycle. That is currently where I am with my protocol.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Conceptions Reproductive Associates. (Assigned nurse: Erika Peksens)
I loved Erika. She was incredibly compassionate, funny, real, and made me feel like a human during this process. She wasn't afraid to show her emotions or support during this process. Without her, I would have felt so lost! Every single nurse that I spoke with was transparent, thorough, and communicated very well about every step. I feel that the nursing staff is one of the biggest strengths of this clinic.
Describe your experience with Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
Fortunately for me, the closest fertility clinic recognized by my insurance as a "center of excellence" and therefore approved, was Conceptions in Littleton, CO. They are one of the top fertility clinics in the country and I can see why.
Every single encounter I have had at the clinic has been a compassionate, positive, forthcoming, and easy experience. Everyone at Conceptions, from the receptionists to the phlebotomists, to the embryology team, to my doctor, to the whole nursing staff, is wonderful. I have felt fully supported throughout this whole experience. I did not feel like a number or cattle being herded. I felt like a human being that they truly cared about.
No question was too dumb or too silly. They always called me when they said they would and made sure I felt good about the process every step of the way.
I highly recommend Conceptions. Their strengths are with their incredibly caring nursing staff, and with their knowledgeable doctors on staff. I truly feel the doctors at Conceptions are at the forefront of fertility research. They included cutting edge meds in my protocol that many other clinics do not. For these reasons, I feel that they score so high in all fertility clinic surveys and with results.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
I believe my insurance has covered about $38k to date. I have a $55k lifetime fertility benefit. Out of pocket I have paid just under $10k for medications not covered and the PGS genetic testing that is not covered.
Describe Natalia (Grindler) Grob's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
Dr. Grindler said that the clinic does practice multiple embryo transfer and that the decision to do that is up to the patient. Dr. Grindler is very good at managing expectations to just focus on the step at hand. Because so much of this process is beyond control and results driven, she doesn't like to get ahead in the process of planning next steps. She redirected conversations about transfer back to the retrieval process. She knows that patients can get ahead of themselves and therefore their expectations can be shattered. She is very good about having patients temper their expectations and focus on the present task. As such, we never had an in depth conversation about multiple embryo transfer other than what I stated above.
What specific things went wrong at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Canceled a cycle due to clinic error
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
I don't think this was the clinic's fault, but less than a week before I was scheduled to start my second retrieval cycle, they called me and told me that my insurance denied the second cycle because technically I have a "transferable" embryo frozen from my first cycle. Because the confidence was only 85% on that embryo, we all agreed I should do a second cycle to try for a healthier 100% confidence PGS normal embryo for transfer. Unfortunately, I had already purchased about $2500 worth of medication that cannot not be used for a second retrieval and now I must have a salpingectomy and hysteroscopy ahead of schedule so that I can schedule the FET before the end of the year. It's disappointing, but I truly don't feel this is the clinic's fault.
I have a rare medical condition that could be complicated if I was to provide my own eggs or become pregnant. While the complication was not a guarantee, the risk was too great, so we decided to move forward using an egg donor and gestational carrier. Dr. Grindler was very understanding and felt that I was no different than an intended parent who was infertile. We were turned away from other clinics, so it was nice to be treated with respect and understanding.
The only problem we had [with Conceptions Reproductive Associates] was with billing. We were able to get things straightened out in the end. Keeping records of everything helps!...$38,000 included egg retrieval, their own anonymous egg donor fee, IVF, and FET...we LOVE the nursing staff and doctor. Our gestational carrier even loves the office!...Dr. Grindler was very understanding and felt that I was no different than an intended parent who was infertile.
How was your experience with Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Dr. Grindler is a very compassionate person. While I am not infertile, I have a rare medical condition that could be exacerbated by pregnancy and possibly result in major surgery post pregnancy. I was turned away from a clinic since I was not infertile. Dr. Grindler treated me no different and explained that her goal is to help every family that wants a baby to have one. She was very clear when outlining the process and made herself available if we had any questions. As of now, she has helped us to create 7 exceptional frozen embryos. Her plan for the egg donor - amounts of medications, timing, etc -was phenomenal, resulting in 7 frozen genetically exceptional embryos. We couldn't be more thrilled!! Our gestational carrier will soon be starting medications for the FET, and we can't wait!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Don't hesitate to ask any questions. She is more than happy to answer!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
I have a rare medical condition that could be complicated if I was to provide my own eggs or become pregnant. While the complication was not a guarantee, the risk was too great, so we decided to move forward using an egg donor and gestational carrier. Dr. Grindler was very understanding and felt that I was no different than an intended parent who was infertile. We were turned away from other clinics, so it was nice to be treated with respect and understanding.
Describe the protocols Natalia (Grindler) Grob used in your cycles at Conceptions Reproductive Associates and their degree of success.
We don't know the exact treatment strategies as of now since she has only worked with our anonymous egg donor. Thus, we were not informed of any of the specifics of the treatment.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Conceptions Reproductive Associates. (Assigned nurse: Christina, Tasha, and Cori)
The nursing staff is AMAZING. Christina, Tasha, and Cori have been a god send. They are so organized and on top of everything. They respond in a timely manner and genuinely care about you. I couldn't have asked for a better nursing staff!!
Describe your experience with Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
We love everything about this clinic except for billing. We have run into issues with them. We recommend that you keep records of everything, ask lots of questions, and keep all of the emails!!! Please note that we LOVE the nursing staff and doctor. Our gestational carrier even loves the office!
Describe the costs associated with your care under Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
$38,000 included egg retrieval, their own anonymous egg donor fee, IVF, and FET.
What specific things went wrong at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Provided conflicting information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
The only problem we had was with billing. We were able to get things straightened out in the end. Keeping records of everything helps!
I never met a doctor [Dr. Grinder] until we needed a regroup. Before that I saw nurses and nurse practitioners. The doctors seemed hands off with patients...She was very frank at a regroup. If oral meds didn’t work she would not do injectables with IUI. She would only do IVF. She said she didn’t want me wasting money on Iui when Ivf had better outcomes. We only met once at the first regroup (still continuing care).
Nurse [at Conceptions Reproductive Associates] failed to call with results on day 3 before beginning letrozole. I started on my own. Miscommunication caused me to skip an oral med cycle. Then my period was off, had to take provera, resulted in cyst needing to be drained... The office has 2 floors and it is hard to know where to check in at. They have multiple locations so we would do ultrasounds/blood work closer to home, and travel to the main office for procedures. This helps with my work schedule. Staff seems friendly and while the beginning was a rocky start, I came to see them as organized and on top of the paperwork.
How was your experience with Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
She was very frank at a regroup. If oral meds didn’t work she would not do injectables with IUI. She would only do IVF. She said she didn’t want me wasting money on Iui when Ivf had better outcomes. We only met once at the first regroup (still continuing care).
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
She seemed to push IVF ($$ for them), but I do think in my case, that is probably the only outcome that will work. She seemed compassionate and understanding, but busy enough to only communicate through nurses on a monthly basis.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
I never met a doctor until we needed a regroup. Before that I saw nurses and nurse practitioners. The doctors seemed hands off with patients. However the staff I did interact with were nice.
Describe the protocols Natalia (Grindler) Grob used in your cycles at Conceptions Reproductive Associates and their degree of success.
She chose letrozole as I had only used clomid in the last with no results. She also wanted as least invasive as possible, so we started with oral meds with iui.
Letrozole 5mg - no ovulation
Miscommunication with clinic - no meds, missed cycle, regroup
Letrozole 7.5mg - ovulation, 2 eggs, unsuccessful iui
Letrozole 7.5mg - ovulation, 1 egg, unsuccessful iui
Letrozole 7.5mg - no ovulation
Describe your experience with your nurse at Conceptions Reproductive Associates. (Assigned nurse: Liz)
Our nurse was great. The only exception was there was a time she didn’t call with results before I started the letrozole (I took a chance and started it on my own). She answered emails in a timely manner and wven responded once when she was out of the office for an extended few days.
A secondary nurse at a separate branch helped when my nurse was unavailable. This resulted in miscommunication about the reason for the regroup. I went in expecting one thing and the dr was prepared to discussion another thing.
Describe your experience with Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
When we started, the clinic didn’t give instructions - stop/continue birth control - which created a delay in treatment.
The office has 2 floors and it is hard to know where to check in at.
They have multiple locations so we would do ultrasounds/blood work closer to home, and travel to the main office for procedures. This helps with my work schedule.
Staff seems friendly and while the beginning was a rocky start, I came to see them as organized and on top of the paperwork.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
Describe Natalia (Grindler) Grob's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
N/a
What specific things went wrong at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Failed to call with results
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
Nurse failed to call with results on day 3 before beginning letrozole. I started on my own.
Miscommunication caused me to skip an oral med cycle. Then my period was off, had to take provera, resulted in cyst needing to be drained.
Dr. Grob truly customized a treatment plan for my specific situation. She listened to all of my concerns and always took the time to give me thoughtful answers to my questions...I’ll never forget her holding my hand and comforting me as I was being put under anesthesia for my Asherman’s surgery. Something so simple made the world of difference...
The nursing staff has always been extremely responsive and has eased my nerves during this time...Conceptions has a package for IVF with one embryo transfer and they were able to bill my insurance. Their costs are transparent and are laid out on their website...Their embryo lab is one of the best in the country and gives me confidence that my embryos are well cared for.
How was your experience with Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Dr. Grob is one of the most passionate and compassionate doctors I have ever had. I’ll never forget her holding my hand and comforting me as I was being put under anesthesia for my Asherman’s surgery. Something so simple made the world of difference. Not to mention she is always keeping current on newly published studies and is even performing her own studies. I trust her and know I am in great hands with her.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Write down any questions you have ahead of time and make sure to ask them. She will never judge you for asking any questions and she takes time to answer them.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Dr. Grob truly customized a treatment plan for my specific situation. She listened to all of my concerns and always took the time to give me thoughtful answers to my questions.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
The nursing staff has always been extremely responsive and has eased my nerves during this time.
Describe your experience with Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
Conceptions has extremely knowledgeable staff at every office. They make this difficult journey more tolerable by being caring and attentive through every step. Their embryo lab is one of the best in the country and gives me confidence that my embryos are well cared for.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
Conceptions has a package for IVF with one embryo transfer and they were able to bill my insurance. Their costs are transparent and are laid out on their website
When meeting Dr. Natalia Grindler for the first time, she was very attentive to hearing my history and ensuring to ask for questions to fully understand. She was empathetic and caring when I struggled to share my history. She was very kind and was sure to mirror my tone as to ensure that she was listening to my story.... Thus far, Dr. Natalia Grindler has been very candid, direct, and thorough in responding to my fears and explaining the risks of certain procedures. She was blunt when needed and compassionate in other areas as well. The risks and procedures are clearly explained.
overall, I feel that the expectation has been set that Conceptions is the standard for infertility treatments. They are clear robust and provide a lot of data to support and back their results methods. I feel confident that I am in a good place.... I feel as though Erika has been very communicative, thorough, and clear with the timeline and expectations of me. The COVID-19 issue did cause some hiccups as far as the communication went; not at the fault of the nurse but it was hard to get a hold of anyone.
How was your experience with Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Thus far, Dr. Natalia Grindler has been very candid, direct, and thorough in responding to my fears and explaining the risks of certain procedures. She was blunt when needed and compassionate in other areas as well. The risks and procedures are clearly explained.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Ensure that you are prepared for any and all questions, I struggled to find the words to fully understand procedures. Regardless, she is patient and will allow time for you to gather your thoughts during your visit to ensure that your concerns are heard.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
When meeting Dr. Natalia Grindler for the first time, she was very attentive to hearing my history and ensuring to ask for questions to fully understand. She was empathetic and caring when I struggled to share my history. She was very kind and was sure to mirror my tone as to ensure that she was listening to my story.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Conceptions Reproductive Associates. (Assigned nurse: Erika )
I feel as though Erika has been very communicative, thorough, and clear with the timeline and expectations of me. The COVID-19 issue did cause some hiccups as far as the communication went; not at the fault of the nurse but it was hard to get a hold of anyone.
Describe your experience with Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
overall, I feel that the expectation has been set that Conceptions is the standard for infertility treatments. They are clear robust and provide a lot of data to support and back their results methods. I feel confident that I am in a good place.
Dr Grindler is caring and passionate. She explained results and procedures well and truly wants what’s best for each patient. She provided her personal email to reach out to her with any questions that may arise. My only complaint is I wish I would have seen her more often than the nurses during my IUI treatments...Letrazole with IUI cycles. Earlier testing with my ultrasounds due to producing follicles quickly and history of cysts.
My strongest complaint [with Conceptions Reproductive Associates] was the miscommunication or inconsistent communication regarding calling to report day 1 of menses and the on call/weekend protocol...$2,000 for polyp removal. $3,000+ for 2 rounds of IUI...The weaknesses of the clinic include lack of communication, difficulty reaching someone by phone, and slow to return calls. Communication was much stronger during my initial contact and Consultation.
How was your experience with Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Dr Grindler is caring and passionate. She explained results and procedures well and truly wants what’s best for each patient. She provided her personal email to reach out to her with any questions that may arise. My only complaint is I wish I would have seen her more often than the nurses during my IUI treatments.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
The infertility journey is draining emotionally and physically and be prepared for bumps along the road.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
At times it was difficult to speak with a Dr to get questions answered. The clinic did not promptly return phone calls.
Describe the protocols Natalia (Grindler) Grob used in your cycles at Conceptions Reproductive Associates and their degree of success.
Letrazole with IUI cycles. Earlier testing with my ultrasounds due to producing follicles quickly and history of cysts.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
My main nurse Erin was compassionate and understanding. My only complaint with the nursing staff overall is the lack of communication between offices in describing the protocol for IUI.
Describe your experience with Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
The weaknesses of the clinic include lack of communication, difficulty reaching someone by phone, and slow to return calls. Communication was much stronger during my initial contact and Consultation.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
$2,000 for polyp removal. $3,000+ for 2 rounds of IUI.
What specific things went wrong at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Failed to call with results
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
My strongest complaint was the miscommunication or inconsistent communication regarding calling to report day 1 of menses and the on call/weekend protocol .
She [Dr. Natalia Grob] is very knowledgeable and has reasonings behind everything she does. Sometimes I felt like I wasn’t being heard but I think that was due to her using science and studies as opposed to my own findings...Due to unexplained infertility we were given a moderate dose of medication and we had none left over. She was very precise in her plan.
Conceptions is very responsive. The front desk ladies are very helpful and scheduling and rescheduling appointments. The office was always on time and I never had to wait more than 5 minutes for appointments. This was a plus so I could get in and out quickly before work...AMAZING [nurses]. I couldn’t have done it without any of them. They are all so positive, compassionate and available. Loved them.
How was your experience with Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
She is very knowledgeable and has reasonings behind everything she does. Sometimes I felt like I wasn’t being heard but I think that was due to her using science and studies as opposed to my own findings.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Trust
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
She was very scripted in her answers. Not the best warm and fuzzy feeling but she gave you the statistics and her recommendations. I truly trusted her and her approach.
Describe the protocols Natalia (Grindler) Grob used in your cycles at Conceptions Reproductive Associates and their degree of success.
Due to unexplained infertility we were given a moderate dose of medication and we had none left over. She was very precise in her plan.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Conceptions Reproductive Associates. (Assigned nurse: Erika Peskens, Vanessa Morton and Andrea)
AMAZING. I couldn’t have done it without any of them. They are all so positive, compassionate and available. Loved them.
Describe your experience with Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
Conceptions is very responsive. The front desk ladies are very helpful and scheduling and rescheduling appointments. The office was always on time and I never had to wait more than 5 minutes for appointments. This was a plus so I could get in and out quickly before work.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
$18,000 IVF
$3,000 per IUI
~$5000 in additional testing and appointments
Describe Natalia (Grindler) Grob's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
she [Dr. Grob] was very blunt with answers and her treatment plan. I was concerned about endometriosis but she didn't think it was a factor for me and wouldn't look into it, saying it wouldn't change her treatment plan. We did 2 cycles of Letrozole and IUI without success and I asked if we could try Clomid for a 3rd (and probably final) IUI cycle and she agreed. This was the cycle that worked after getting me 2 perfect sized follicles, resulting in a singleton pregnancy. I was a little annoyed in her briefness during our appointments...
My nurse [at Conceptions Reproductive Associates] was extremely responsive to all e-mails with any questions or concerns I had, and to make appointments. She would usually respond within the hour, if not quicker. She did mix up my medication when I was switching from Letrozole to Clomid so I had to remind her to send in the correct prescription, otherwise everything was on point and very well communicated...The clinic in Littleton was great, I rarely had to wait once I arrived for an appointment...
How was your experience with Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
she was very blunt with answers and her treatment plan. I was concerned about endometriosis but she didn't think it was a factor for me and wouldn't look into it, saying it wouldn't change her treatment plan. We did 2 cycles of Letrozole and IUI without success and I asked if we could try Clomid for a 3rd (and probably final) IUI cycle and she agreed. This was the cycle that worked after getting me 2 perfect sized follicles, resulting in a singleton pregnancy. I was a little annoyed in her briefness during our appointments but the plan got me pregnant! She was also great when my daughter had to join our video appointments and was interacting with her as well, which was nice. She mentioned her not being there when she wasn't.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Have a lot of information going into treatment because I would have felt a little lost if I didn't have a strong up front understanding about everything and my options.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
She was very responsive to questions I had over e-mail, even though sometimes they weren't the answers I wanted. She had answers to all questions and made some small changes to the treatment plan at my request.
Describe the protocols Natalia (Grindler) Grob used in your cycles at Conceptions Reproductive Associates and their degree of success.
She started me on Letrozole, as it has fewer side effects and a smaller chance for multiples. We did the same dose for 2 cycles in a row, the first yielding one good sized follices and the second getting 2 follicles, though one was slightly bigger than optimal and one was slightly smaller than optimal at trigger time. The third cycle I requested to try Clomid, she warned of possible increased side effects and an increased chance for multiples. I had 2 perfect sized follicles this cycle, one on each ovary, and ended up with a singleton pregnancy. No increased side effects for me.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Conceptions Reproductive Associates. (Assigned nurse: Christy Costa-Katsnelson)
My nurse was extremely responsive to all e-mails with any questions or concerns I had, and to make appointments. She would usually respond within the hour, if not quicker. She did mix up my medication when I was switching from Letrozole to Clomid so I had to remind her to send in the correct prescription, otherwise everything was on point and very well communicated.
Describe your experience with Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
The clinic in Littleton was great, I rarely had to wait once I arrived for an appointment. It was well laid out and organized. Appointments were easy to get, even same day, and they were very nice and efficient.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
I was charged for each blood draw, ultrasound and appointment with the doctor. They seemed like fairly standard charges and once I hit my deductible everything was covered by insurance.
What specific things went wrong at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Failed to send your chart to another clinic
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
The wrong prescription was sent to the pharmacy once. And they had some miscommunication about a phone appointment versus an in person appointment, so we drove there only to find out it was a phone call.
When polyps were found in my uterus, Dr. Grindler made sure they were removed, so the embryo wouldn't implant on one. When my thyroid level elevated, she pushed back my transfer to make sure our baby would have the perfect environment and that I wouldn't miscarry. We trusted Dr. Grindler every step of the way and so glad we did! ... She also always handed me a tissue when I shed many tears in her office.
They [Conceptions Repro Assoc] are very thorough. I like how they give you a break between the IVF cycle and the transfer cycle. It gives you time to get all those medications out of your system. I also like how they only transfer one embryo at a time. ... When they called, I always felt like they generally cared. One piece of advice - perhaps work on their "email voice"? Sometimes it would take a few emails going back and forth before getting more of an answer.
How was your experience with Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
I was devastated to learn at 33-years-old, I had diminished ovarian reserve. When my husband and I didn't get any good embryos after our first round of IVF (due to my poor egg quality), Dr. Grindler didn't throw out the word "donor eggs", as most fertility doctors quickly would. She believed in my body, at a time when I wasn't sure I entirely did. She prescribed me a steroid and we ended up getting two perfect embryos :-)
When it came time for transfer, Dr. Grindler knew how bumpy of a road it was to get our embryos and made sure the stars aligned perfectly, so I could be pregnant. I've heard at other fertility clinics, they just transfer all the embryos back in you and "hope for the best" - not at Conceptions. When polyps were found in my uterus, Dr. Grindler made sure they were removed, so the embryo wouldn't implant on one. When my thyroid level elevated, she pushed back my transfer to make sure our baby would have the perfect environment and that I wouldn't miscarry. We trusted Dr. Grindler every step of the way and so glad we did! It took a lot of patience, but then the big day for transfer finally came! Dr. Grindler couldn't do my transfer, as the date got pushed back a few days to give my uterine lining more time to grow, but she made sure I was in good hands.
Now, my husband and I are beyond ecstatic to welcome a baby girl later this summer!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Trust her! I know you wish you could've had a baby yesterday, but she truly wants you to have the best result - a perfect, healthy baby.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates?
Dr. Grindler listened to my crazy questions and dealt with my anxiety. She also always handed me a tissue when I shed many tears in her office. When we found out we had two perfect embryos, she came out to the waiting room and gave us the biggest hug! This journey was not easy, and Dr. Grindler put both me and my husband at ease through this whole process.
Describe the protocols Natalia (Grindler) Grob used in your cycles at Conceptions Reproductive Associates and their degree of success.
My first IVF cycle was tricky, as no one knew how my body would react to the medications. My husband and I didn't receive any good embryos from our first round (due to my poor egg quality), but this helped Dr. Grindler get a better idea of how to approach round 2. This time, she put me on Estrogen pills instead of birth control, as the birth control shut my body down, and I wasn't making the necessary hormones. Then she added Omnitrope to the mix to improve my egg quality. She also increased my dosage of Menopur and Follistom. It all worked, as we ended up getting two perfect embryos!
Describe your experience with your nurse at Conceptions Reproductive Associates. (Assigned nurse: Nancy Guin (during the IVF cycle) and Jessica Rico (during the transfer cycle))
They were great at answering all my emails (I had a lot of crazy questions!) When they called, I always felt like they generally cared. One piece of advice - perhaps work on their "email voice"? Sometimes it would take a few emails going back and forth before getting more of an answer. Overall though, they were great!
Describe your experience with Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
There are a lot of fertility clinics you could go to in the Denver-area, but Conceptions is the best of the best! There's a reason why people from all over the world go there for IVF treatment. They are very thorough. I like how they give you a break between the IVF cycle and the transfer cycle. It gives you time to get all those medications out of your system. I also like how they only transfer one embryo at a time. Most fertility clinics my friends have gone to just put a bunch of embryos back in you and "hope for the best" - not a good approach. It's not like we're still doing IVF treatment circa 1990. Conceptions has the latest and greatest innovative technologies to help your dream of having a baby become a reality.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Natalia (Grindler) Grob at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
My husband's insurance covered $10,000 lifetime for IVF, but we still paid tens of thousands of dollars, as we did the package that includes chromosome testing.
Describe Natalia (Grindler) Grob's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Conceptions Reproductive Associates.
Conceptions always recommends one embryo, as their success rates are so high and multiple pregnancies are complicated.