Nicholas Shamma
IVF Michigan Fertility Centers
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Medical SchoolAmerican U. Of Beirut
ResidencyYale
FellowshipYale
Bloomfield Hills
37000 Woodward Ave
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304
(248) 952-9600
Saginaw
5400 Mackinaw Rd
Saginaw, MI 48604
(989) 792-8771
Ypsilanti
3145 Clark Rd.
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
(734) 434-4766
Sylvania
6711 Monroe St.
Sylvania, OH 43560
(419) 885-8080
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55 assessments
10
10
Age
34
Treated
2015
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
3 IUI, 2 IVF, 1 Embryo Freezing
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
10
From the first meeting Dr Shamma made us feel very comfortable. He explained everything and answered all our questions. He even suggested a study we could join that happened to fit with our situation. He is very busy and can sometimes be in and out quickly. With that said, if you have questions he will always stop and take the time to talk you through some thing or answer all the questions you have...I had to get a hysteroscopy and have a polyp removed each time we did a transfer. We did an egg retrieval, but because I became slightly inflamed he decided to freeze all the embryos and wait until my next cycle for transfer. I was on lupron depot, estradiol patches and pills, vitamin b, prenatal vitamin, metformin, baby aspirin, enoxaparin, and progesterone.
The blood work, ultrasounds, Dr visits, surgeries, transfers, retrieval’s, etc. are all done right at the office [at IVF Michigan]. All the staff and nurses are very friendly and supportive...The staff and Dr were all very kind and would take all the time you needed to answer any questions until you felt comfortable...There were a couple of nurses that I really liked and were always very detailed and thorough. Some of the others weren’t as detailed or gave a lot of info all at once and it was too much to digest and remember all at once. I had to start asking for them to write it down for me so I would remember by the time I got home. It was a lot when your dealing with all the medications, dosages, times, etc. Overall I thought the nurses were very kind and great to work with.
Age
34
Treated
2015
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Teacher
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
3 IUI, 2 IVF, 1 Embryo Freezing
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
10
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
From the first meeting Dr Shamma made us feel very comfortable. He explained everything and answered all our questions. He even suggested a study we could join that happened to fit with our situation. He is very busy and can sometimes be in and out quickly. With that said, if you have questions he will always stop and take the time to talk you through some thing or answer all the questions you have.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
No question is silly to ask. It is important for you to be informed and comfortable with what is going on. Dr Shamma is great at explaining things and making patients feel comfortable.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
The staff and Dr were all very kind and would take all the time you needed to answer any questions until you felt comfortable. I had gone through a bunch of treatment with another Dr and Dr Shamma didn’t try to waste my time or money by doing any of it again. He told me straight up that we needed to do ivf. The other things didn’t work, why waste our time or money. When we came back to try for a second, they really seemed to be understanding of financial and emotional stress and worked with us.
Describe the protocols Nicholas Shamma used in your cycles at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers and their degree of success.
I had to get a hysteroscopy and have a polyp removed each time we did a transfer. We did an egg retrieval, but because I became slightly inflamed he decided to freeze all the embryos and wait until my next cycle for transfer. I was on lupron depot, estradiol patches and pills, vitamin b, prenatal vitamin, metformin, baby aspirin, enoxaparin, and progesterone.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
There were a couple of nurses that I really liked and were always very detailed and thorough. Some of the others weren’t as detailed or gave a lot of info all at once and it was too much to digest and remember all at once. I had to start asking for them to write it down for me so I would remember by the time I got home. It was a lot when your dealing with all the medications, dosages, times, etc. Overall I thought the nurses were very kind and great to work with.
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
The billing department was always very understanding and helpful. The ladies at the front desk are very nice. One issue I did have was that the nurses call back with test results, bloodwork, and everything else after 4:00 pm. They will leave a message, but if you have questions or something was unclear, you can’t get a hold of anyone or get a call back until the next day because the phones shut off at 4:00. They have an email address you can email, but they may not get it until the next day. They do also have an emergency number to call the nurse on call. I just feel like if the nurses are there making calls you should be able to return the call and speak to someone. Other than the phones shutting off at 4, everything was great. Every thing was clean, modern, and inviting. The blood work, ultrasounds, Dr visits, surgeries, transfers, retrieval’s, etc. are all done right at the office. All the staff and nurses are very friendly and supportive.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
There was a set rate for the transfer, thawing process, and everything they had to do to prepare the embryo. The medications are all separate and so are the labs and ultra sounds. The cost all depends on your insurance. My insurance changed a couple of times over the years while going through the process. Sometimes all the labs and ultra sounds were covered and a good portion of my meds and other times nothing at all was covered.
Describe Nicholas Shamma's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
When we started treatment Dr Shamma said he would only transfer one embryo. It was successful. We were told that with how far they have come in infertility treatments it was no longer necessary to transfer multiple embryos. Our second time around again he transferred one and we had a chemical pregnancy. We decided to try one more time and we had two embryos left. He told us if we really wanted to he would transfer both. After getting multiple positive blood draws, I miscarried just before my first ultrasound. I don’t believe the decision had any thing to do with the results. I was very comfortable with how he decided what to transfer.
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10
10
Age
21 - 23
Treated
2018 - 2020
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
1 IVF, 1 Egg Freezing, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
Male Factor, PCOS, Other
10
10
I have had 0 issues with Dr. Shamma. He has always been wonderful. He's upfront, tells you his opinion on what should be done. Let's you know everything that's happening. It made me feel very aware of the entire situation...He's very busy so it's not always easy to get your first appointment. We had to wait several weeks for ours but it's so worth it...We did a frozen transfer 3 months after same medications as before but added aspirin 81 mg once a day and Enoxoparin 40 mg injection once a day. That transfer was successful. I am in the middle of another GET and have the same protocols as my successful FET.
They [nurses at IVF Michigan] are wonderful. They've kept me very in the loop with appointments. If dates need changed they call me immediately...Our first transfer was two embryos (fresh)...sometimes they'll say they'll call at 2pm and they almost never call back on time. They do call back same day or reply to emails quickly. Just know that when they give a call back time they probably won't stick to it. They get very busy I'm sure.
Age
21 - 23
Treated
2018 - 2020
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
1 IVF, 1 Egg Freezing, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
Male Factor, PCOS, Other
10
10
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
I have had 0 issues with Dr. Shamma. He has always been wonderful. He's upfront, tells you his opinion on what should be done. Let's you know everything that's happening. It made me feel very aware of the entire situation.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
He's very busy so it's not always easy to get your first appointment. We had to wait several weeks for ours but it's so worth it.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Dr. Shamma was very sympathetic with our failed transfer. He felt terrible right along with us. He also knew we were religious and kindly prayed that I get pregnant during both my transfers.
Describe the protocols Nicholas Shamma used in your cycles at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers and their degree of success.
I can't remember my protocols for meds with my retrieval but my first transfer (fresh) I was on progesterone 2 mL once a day, esradiol three times a day, and the estrogen patch every three days. That transfer failed. We did a frozen transfer 3 months after same medications as before but added aspirin 81 mg once a day and Enoxoparin 40 mg injection once a day. That transfer was successful. I am in the middle of another GET and have the same protocols as my successful FET.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
They are wonderful. They've kept me very in the loop with appointments. If dates need changed they call me immediately. We had to push things back due to COVID-19 and they we very kind with letting us know everything that was going on and getting rescheduled.
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
I think it's mostly that sometimes they'll say they'll call at 2pm and they almost never call back on time. They do call back same day or reply to emails quickly. Just know that when they give a call back time they probably won't stick to it. They get very busy I'm sure.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
So we have very good infertility coverage but without it we would have spent a fortune. It would have been about 35,000 for our retrieval, fresh transfer, and all medications from a pharmacy. But with insurance we paid like 4,000 for the first transfer and retrieval
Describe Nicholas Shamma's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Our first transfer was two embryos (fresh). Dr Shamma advised that we should only use 1 with my age but we chose to still do 2. It failed. We used 1 embryo in our second transfer which worked and will be doing another single embryo transfer next month. He allows you to do multiple embryos as long as there's not any apparent extra risk
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10
10
Age
39
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor
10
10
He [Dr. Nicholas Shamma] was practical but knowledgeable. At the end of the whole process, we ended up with a little baby girl so we obviously couldn't be more pleased. We have one more embryo on ice, and will not hesitate to visit Dr. Shamma again... (I was 38, almost 39), and my husband had very few sperm with heads/tails. So the doctor suggested we skip right to IVF, where we could extract eggs, and insert them with the best sperm. So we did an egg retrieval, ICSI, and frozen embryo transfer (5 day). Dr. Shamma put in 2 embryos, and one took. We gave brith to a very healthy baby girl as an end result. We did not opt for genetic testing of the embryos (too expensive).
we did an egg retrieval, ICSI, and frozen embryo transfer (5 day) [at IVF Michigan]. Dr. Shamma put in 2 embryos, and one took. We gave brith to a very healthy baby girl as an end result. We did not opt for genetic testing of the embryos (too expensive)...The nursing staff is very kind. We liked all the nurses we dealt with...$25,000 for the retrieval and implantation (and everything associated with this process like the medication)...The waiting room is often very full, and sometimes you have to wait a really long time. But overall, I would go back and have no regrets about going here in the first place.
Age
39
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Professor
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor
10
10
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
My husband and I went to see Dr. Shamma after failing to conceive using Clomid. We were both 38/39 years old, and wanted to start a family using using our own egg/sperm. He comes across as personable and gentle, but highly knowledgeable. At first we thought maybe he was a little arrogant and overly confident, but shortly thereafter realized he just knew what he was doing. He told us he could help us have a child. He was practical but knowledgeable. At the end of the whole process, we ended up with a little baby girl so we obviously couldn't be more pleased. We have one more embryo on ice, and will not hesitate to visit Dr. Shamma again to try one more implantation.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
When you first visit Dr. Shamma, he will have already read your file and will pretty much have your situation assessed before you walk in. My husband and I were taken aback by that, but honestly looking back we realized that he does this every day - and the man has seen just about everything. Once we put our trust in him, we were not dissapointed.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Dr. Shamma was wonderful. He has a very caring and gentle bedside manner. My husband and I really appreciated his blunt (but kind) approach, because he gets to the point and delivers the information succinctly. He is an expert in his field, and it shows because from the start it felt that he had everything under control and could help us conceive.
Describe the protocols Nicholas Shamma used in your cycles at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers and their degree of success.
My eggs were old (I was 38, almost 39), and my husband had very few sperm with heads/tails. So the doctor suggested we skip right to IVF, where we could extract eggs, and insert them with the best sperm. So we did an egg retrieval, ICSI, and frozen embryo transfer (5 day). Dr. Shamma put in 2 embryos, and one took. We gave brith to a very healthy baby girl as an end result. We did not opt for genetic testing of the embryos (too expensive).
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
The nursing staff is very kind. We liked all the nurses we dealt with, and were impressed that many of them were Dr. Shamma's former IVF patients. Sometimes we got wrong information or different information from different nurses which was confusing and frustrating. It is a busy office and almost always full of patients, so I tried to be understanding.
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
The clinic itself is fine/typical. The waiting room is often very full, and sometimes you have to wait a really long time. But overall, I would go back and have no regrets about going here in the first place.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
$25,000 for the retrieval and implantation (and everything associated with this process like the medication).
What specific things went wrong at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
- Failed to call with results
- Provided conflicting information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
A few things went wrong. 1) One nurse told us our implantation day would be one of two days, and it ended up that the implantation date is always unknown. So I had a to of stress trying to coordinate my schedule because of this. Everything did work out. 2) They did not ever call me with how many embryos were successful in making it to the 5 day stage, which made me stress out a bunch because of not-knowing. Neither of these events affected my success, they were just stressors.
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Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
9
9
Age
28
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
IVF
Diagnosis
—
9
9
We explained to Dr. Shamma that my Wife had emergency surgery and her Uterus was removed. She was fortunate enough to keep her ovaries so we would be able to use one of her embryos to have a child. My Wife was very nervous because she is pushing 37 years old, and Dr. Shamma quickly shut that down. He explained the whole process very thoroughly; walked us through steps; and guided us with positive vibes....He told us we would both go on prenatal vitamins; folic acid; and I would need to go on birth control to regulate my periods. Then, we would start injections and then the retrieval and placement process.
The only flaw I can think of was the waiting room [IVF Michigan]. Our appointment was at 10:30am and we weren't seen until 11:30am and once we were taken back into the room - Dr. Shamma was still delayed about 25 minutes or so. No one seemed apologetic either, it seemed as if that was their normal routine which was bizarre....Dr. Shamma was a very good communicator and kept us up to speed on the process if we decided to move forward with his location. He also kept things light hearted, so it wasn't completely overwhelming.
Age
28
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
?
Race
—
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
Marketer or PR
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
IVF
Diagnosis
—
9
9
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Dr. Shamma was a very good communicator and kept us up to speed on the process if we decided to move forward with his location. He also kept things light hearted, so it wasn't completely overwhelming.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Prepare to wait awhile in the waiting room.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
My Wife and I had a consultation with Dr. Shamma because we were finalists in the 95.5 "Give You A Baby" contest. We did not end up winning, however, while we met with Dr. Shamma we both feel in love with him. We decided then and there we would utilize him for our IVF needs. We explained to Dr. Shamma that my Wife had emergency surgery and her Uterus was removed. She was fortunate enough to keep her ovaries so we would be able to use one of her embryos to have a child. My Wife was very nervous because she is pushing 37 years old, and Dr. Shamma quickly shut that down. He explained the whole process very thoroughly; walked us through steps; and guided us with positive vibes.
Describe the protocols Nicholas Shamma used in your cycles at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers and their degree of success.
I remember Dr. Shamma taking us through a step by step process of what to expect and what we will both need to do. He told us we would both go on prenatal vitamins; folic acid; and I would need to go on birth control to regulate my periods. Then, we would start injections and then the retrieval and placement process.
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
The only flaw I can think of was the waiting room. Our appointment was at 10:30am and we weren't seen until 11:30am and once we were taken back into the room - Dr. Shamma was still delayed about 25 minutes or so. No one seemed apologetic either, it seemed as if that was their normal routine which was bizarre.
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10
10
Age
33
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Tubal Blockage
10
10
We have only had a consult with him but Dr. Shamma truly made my husband and myself feel very comfortable. He spoke with genuine kindness, hope, showed direct eye contact and had empathy....only negative thing I would say is that it did feel a bit rushed. However, he was very compassionate and concerning our issue with my bilateral salpingectomy, he said "well you guys needed this done, like yesterday" in which we all had a little chuckle. He wrote down our treatment plan, went over it with us and that was really it.
The location [IVF Michigan] is beautiful, the waiting room is very spacious, perfect for a little elbow room & privacy if you're looking for that. When we were there, it was busy as I'm sure it is every day...Dr. Shamma is very compassionate, he really makes you feel safe, hopeful and ensures that you are in good hands just by simply talking with him. His nurses are incredible, especially the head nurse (I wanna say Julie?) Dr. Shamma has our best interest at heart
Age
33
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
?
Race
European
Income
$0 - $49K
Occupation
Entrepreneur
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Tubal Blockage
10
10
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Well we were one of the 10 finalists on the Channel 95.5 "Mojo Gives You A Baby" contest. We had our consult with Dr. Shamma; only negative thing I would say is that it did feel a bit rushed. However, he was very compassionate and concerning our issue with my bilateral salpingectomy, he said "well you guys needed this done, like yesterday" in which we all had a little chuckle. He wrote down our treatment plan, went over it with us and that was really it. Unfortunately, we weren't a grand prize winner, so we have yet to see him again. We are saving up!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Go in with a clear mind and a positive attitude. Write down a list of questions you may have, so you don't forget to ask (I totally wish I would have done that) and put all your faith in God and Dr. Shamma because they both really do have your best interests at heart. Dr. Shamma has & will continue to create miracles for all of us that are struggling.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
We have only had a consult with him but Dr. Shamma truly made my husband and myself feel very comfortable. He spoke with genuine kindness, hope, showed direct eye contact and had empathy.
Describe the protocols Nicholas Shamma used in your cycles at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers and their degree of success.
I have yet to have a cycle done.
Only had a consult.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
Very compassionate, respectful and informative. They answered all billing questions I had and sent me all paperwork I requested to ensure that we have all the funds we need prior to starting our cycle.
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
We have only had a consult so far with Dr. Shamma at IVF Michigan in Bloomfield Hills; therefore I cannot go off of much. However, I can say is this- Dr. Shamma is a pioneer in this, his success rate is at about 70%. The location is beautiful, the waiting room is very spacious, perfect for a little elbow room & privacy if you're looking for that. When we were there, it was busy as I'm sure it is every day. Going into this, knowing that we have to have this procedure and all this medication is a very scary process.; for me it is anyways. Dr. Shamma is very compassionate, he really makes you feel safe, hopeful and ensures that you are in good hands just by simply talking with him. His nurses are incredible, especially the head nurse (I wanna say Julie?) Dr. Shamma has our best interest at heart and I put all my trust in his hands. I know of people who he has helped perform miracles for! We have zero kids and IVF is our only option at conceiving our own children.. I would pick Dr. Shamma at IVF Michigan over and over again, I truly believe he is the best out there. I can only hope & pray that soon he will be helping create our miracle rainbow baby. Good luck to you, always keep your faith. God is great. Miracles DO happen! xxoo
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Egg retrieval $5120
Isci/blast $3100
Prepaid cryro $550
Transfer $3100
Optional cycling $1500
Total: $13,370.00
Medications $4-6,000 additonal
Grand total: $17,370-19,370.00
Describe Nicholas Shamma's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
No comment.
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9
8
Age
30
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
2 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss, Other
9
8
Dr. Shamma is very kind and doesn’t sugar coat things, but makes sure to fully explain what his plan is. He has years of experience and at the first appointment he didn’t pressure me to have him do the surgery... I have Asherman’s Syndrome and we recently did a hystereoscopy to clear out all of the scar tissue. I am on Micronor until we have a protocol in place....I felt like a human because the first appointment we were in his office
The nursing staff [IVF Michigan] is very friendly and will answer all of my questions. They have an after hours number to reach them as well which helps give peace of mind....Strengths: They have Saturday hours every other week. They answer the phones quickly. Staff is friendly. Weaknesses: No online portal for test results. Nurses typically don’t answer when you get transferred and you have to leave a message (however they typically call back quickly). Difficulty getting records to fax over.
Age
30
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
?
Race
Other
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Operations
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
2 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss, Other
9
8
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Dr. Shamma is very kind and doesn’t sugar coat things, but makes sure to fully explain what his plan is. He has years of experience and at the first appointment he didn’t pressure me to have him do the surgery and actually recommended other senior level doctors to see if we wanted. We immediately felt comfortable with him and had him do my surgery. Everything went very well. I feel safe with him as my doctor.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
If you are new to fertility doctors do not take his honesty as being harsh. My previous doctor gave us a lot of false hope and did not explain the severity of things.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
I felt like a human because the first appointment we were in his office instead of the traditional room with a table, ultrasound machine, etc. for the surgery I had he checked in with me right after arriving and spoke to me after to let me know how it went. He is very kind and welcoming to me and my husband.
Describe the protocols Nicholas Shamma used in your cycles at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers and their degree of success.
We are currently in the process of coming up with my protocol. I have Asherman’s Syndrome and we recently did a hystereoscopy to clear out all of the scar tissue. I am on Micronor until we have a protocol in place.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
The nursing staff is very friendly and will answer all of my questions. They have an after hours number to reach them as well which helps give peace of mind.
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Strengths:
They have Saturday hours every other week. They answer the phones quickly. Staff is friendly.
Weaknesses:
No online portal for test results. Nurses typically don’t answer when you get transferred and you have to leave a message (however they typically call back quickly). Difficulty getting records to fax over.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
My insurance covers office visits, ultrasounds, and hystereoscopy. IVF quote including freezing embryos, transfer and genetic testing is $22,500
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Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
10
10
Age
34
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
Egg Freezing (cancer)
Diagnosis
Cancer
10
10
Dr. Shamma is an extremely intelligent Doctor. I was refereed to him because I had been diagnosed with endometrial cancer & would be having a complete hysterectomy with removal of my tubes, ovaries & cervix. My husband & I still want children so we opted to have an egg retrieval before surgery.... While you will not see Dr. Shamma during every visit, he reviews your lab & ultrasounds and is still very much involved with each patient. Dr. Shamma was unable to do my egg retrieval but called ahead to the Doctor whom he wanted to do the procedure and discussed my case.
I honestly can not say enough amazing things about the nurses at the Toledo Fertility Clinic! They were all so compassionate & knowledgeable. These are the ladies you will see the most for your ultrasounds, blood work & medicine information.... While you will not see Dr. Shamma during every visit, he reviews your lab & ultrasounds and is still very much involved with each patient. Dr. Shamma was unable to do my egg retrieval but called ahead to the Doctor whom he wanted to do the procedure and discussed my case.
Age
34
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
?
Race
Prefer not to answer
Income
$0 - $49K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
Egg Freezing (cancer)
Diagnosis
Cancer
10
10
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Dr. Shamma is an extremely intelligent Doctor. I was refereed to him because I had been diagnosed with endometrial cancer & would be having a complete hysterectomy with removal of my tubes, ovaries & cervix. My husband & I still want children so we opted to have an egg retrieval before surgery. After our first meeting with Dr. Shamma we felt comfortable under his care. Dr. Shamma was always friendly with us during appointments & didn't withhold any information or opinions. While you will not see Dr. Shamma during every visit, he reviews your lab & ultrasounds and is still very much involved with each patient. Dr. Shamma was unable to do my egg retrieval but called ahead to the Doctor whom he wanted to do the procedure and discussed my case. It really made me feel like I was being taken care of.
Describe the protocols Nicholas Shamma used in your cycles at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers and their degree of success.
We started my treatment with Medroxyprogesterone to induce menstruation. He also wanted me on Metformin, Vitamin D & Inositol. After my first ultrasound I started with Gonal F 150 and was eventually bumped up to 450 in increments. Closer to egg retrieval I added Cetrotied & Menopur. Thirty six hours preretrieval I took my trigger shot of Leuprolide & Novarel. On the day of my egg retrieval they collected 21 eggs, 16 were mature & 13 fertilized. We're just waiting to find out how many will be frozen!
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
I honestly can not say enough amazing things about the nurses at the Toledo Fertility Clinic! They were all so compassionate & knowledgeable. These are the ladies you will see the most for your ultrasounds, blood work & medicine information.
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
I don't really have anything to add here. My husband & I were lucky enough to have a positive all around experience. The ladies at the front desk, nurses & Dr Shamma were all awesome.
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8
8
Age
30 - 31
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor, PCOS
8
8
He [Dr. Shamma] did not sugar coat anything. I'm still not sure if that's a good or a bad thing. I also feel like he isn't the best at explaining things so I often leave the quick consultations a bit confused. He has also contradicted himself before. ... For my next transfer, he wanted to be more pro-active to prevent miscarriage. So in addition to all of the things from the last transfer, he also added a steroid (starting 5 days before transfer) and Lovenox (to start two days after transfer).
The clinic's [IVF Michigan] weakness is how expensive it is and how they don't do the best job telling you up front how much things will cost. This is especially true for additional testing that they request. They go through an outside lab, but they are not good at knowing that lab's pricing. ... The nursing staff does a very good job being compassionate and also being open to any of your questions.
Age
30 - 31
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
?
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Teacher
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor, PCOS
8
8
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
He gave us his personal experiences with IVF but at the same time, he was pretty blunt. He did not sugar coat anything. I'm still not sure if that's a good or a bad thing. I also feel like he isn't the best at explaining things so I often leave the quick consultations a bit confused. He has also contradicted himself before. He said that he didn't suggest PGS for us in our first meeting and then after our miscarriage said that he always suggests PGS. I am glad that my husband was there to verify that we had both heard the same thing.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Take a notebook with you to write down what he is saying because otherwise you will end up confused. Also, don't be afraid to have him explain something again if you don't understand.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
He gave us his personal experiences with IVF but at the same time, he was pretty blunt. He did not sugar coat anything. I'm still not sure if that's a good or a bad thing. I also feel like he isn't the best at explaining things so I often leave the quick consultations a bit confused. He has also contradicted himself before. He said that he didn't suggest PGS for us in our first meeting and then after our miscarriage said that he always suggests PGS. I am glad that my husband was there to verify that we had both heard the same thing.
Describe the protocols Nicholas Shamma used in your cycles at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers and their degree of success.
I unfortunately do not know all of the lingo associated with treatments. For my retrieval, I ended up with around 60 follicles due to my PCOS so they had me do a trigger that was only 50% HCG and then a freeze-all. From that I ended up with16 embryos. I then moved to a FET of 2 non-PGS embryos. He likes to do a hysteroscopy 5 weeks or so before transfer to make sure that everything is looking good. I did a lupron shot about a month before the transfer. The first transfer got postponed a week due to thin lining but eventually got up to 6.8 the week before transfer with taking 4 estradiol pills a day and one patch changed every 3 days. I also took an anti-biotic a few days before the transfer. The first transfer was a success but I miscarried at 5w5d unexpectedly with an HCG of 66k measured that evening in the ER. For my next transfer, he wanted to be more pro-active to prevent miscarriage. So in addition to all of the things from the last transfer, he also added a steroid (starting 5 days before transfer) and Lovenox (to start two days after transfer). My lining was thin again so we once again postponed the transfer a week and my lining got up to 7.5 a week before transfer. That transfer of 2 non-PGS embryos was unsuccessful.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
The nursing staff does a very good job being compassionate and also being open to any of your questions. The night of my miscarriage, they were texting us checking in. There is just one nurse in the practice who is less warm than the others. She's not bad, but I don't feel the same level of compassion from her. They do a pretty good job of organization, but sometimes they need to more clearly talk about the tests you need to get done, how long they take, and telling you what your results were quickly.
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
The clinic's weakness is how expensive it is and how they don't do the best job telling you up front how much things will cost. This is especially true for additional testing that they request. They go through an outside lab, but they are not good at knowing that lab's pricing. I was told one price by the clinic and it ended up being twice as much when I was billed. I also feel that this clinic is much more expensive than other clinics. When I discuss what I am paying with over IVF patients around the country, they are appalled.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
The retrieval process ended up being around 12k. An FET is 6.5k. PGS testing for 14 embryos was 11k.
Describe Nicholas Shamma's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
I am transferring 2 non-PGS embryos but I think if they were PGS tested, he would only do 1.
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10
10
Age
28 - 29
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
—
Diagnosis
Male Factor
10
10
We are struggling with male infertility so Dr. Shamma has already made us aware that he will be cautious as to not overstimulate me and delay the process. ... He is honest, but able to present information in a way that isn’t offensive. He also told my husband and I about a way to try to get our medications cheaper, as there is little to no insurance coverage. He cares about his patients.
The clinic [IVF Michigan] is easy to find and well kept. It is fairly modern and has a comforting atmosphere. The one negative for me was when our blood was drawn it was in quite a public space instead of a private room and that increased anxiety. Other than that things are wonderful there. ... Betsy is very organized and helps to put me at ease. She listens to my endless list of questions and concerns and is making it possible for me to go between two clinics due to timing and location! Awesome staff.
Age
28 - 29
Treated
2018 - 2019
Success with this Doc
?
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Nurse or HC Services
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
—
Diagnosis
Male Factor
10
10
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Dr Shamma was recommended to me by a friend and I have been pleased to be under his care since the first visit. He is honest, but able to present information in a way that isn’t offensive. He also told my husband and I about a way to try to get our medications cheaper, as there is little to no insurance coverage. He cares about his patients.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Write down information that he discusses with you. He is so intelligent and uses clinical terms so looking back it can be hard to remember the exact wording and things discussed sometimes.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Dr Shamma makes sure to take time to address any and all questions. Although he is serious it is evident he cares.
Describe the protocols Nicholas Shamma used in your cycles at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers and their degree of success.
We are only a few months from starting our cycle! We are struggling with male infertility so Dr. Shamma has already made us aware that he will be cautious as to not overstimulate me and delay the process.
Describe your experience with your nurse at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers. (Assigned nurse: Betsy)
Betsy is very organized and helps to put me at ease. She listens to my endless list of questions and concerns and is making it possible for me to go between two clinics due to timing and location! Awesome staff.
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
The clinic is easy to find and well kept. It is fairly modern and has a comforting atmosphere. The one negative for me was when our blood was drawn it was in quite a public space instead of a private room and that increased anxiety. Other than that things are wonderful there.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
My husband had already had a procedure done to extract and store sperm so that wasn’t factored into price. The treatment was quoted around $14,000 with medications on top of that. They do offer financing within the office.
Describe Nicholas Shamma's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Dr. Shamma would rather transfer a single embryo, to possibly avoid health issues associated with twins. However, my husband and I have opted for the maximum of two embryo transfer to increase our odds.
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10
10
Age
31 - 37
Treated
2012 - 2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
PCOS, Uterine Fibroids
10
10
[Dr. Nicholas Shamma] insisted, based on evidence, on using Intracytoplasmic sperm injection for all the eggs as he found it more beneficial...For our first fresh cycle, he suggested implanting two embryos because of the timing but warned us about the risk of multiples. On our second frozen transfer he suggested we only transfer one embryo as it was easier to plan the timing and therefore get a higher success rate with a single embryo...spent a good amount of time taking with us about the the process and explaining why he was doing what he was doing. He was up-front and honest and even gave us his cell number so we could call if we had any questions. He never hurried or pressured us in any way
Everyone at the clinic [IVF Michigan] is friendly and treat you like a person. we never had to wait very long for appointment and they were always on top of everything...They [nurses] were all very pleasant and efficient. No complaints...[Dr. Nicholas Shamma] insisted, based on evidence, on using Intracytoplasmic sperm injection for all the eggs as he found it more beneficial...For our first fresh cycle, he suggested implanting two embryos because of the timing but warned us about the risk of multiples. On our second frozen transfer he suggested we only transfer one embryo as it was easier to plan the timing and therefore get a higher success rate with a single
Age
31 - 37
Treated
2012 - 2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
Teacher
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
PCOS, Uterine Fibroids
10
10
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Dr. Shamma is one of my favorite doctors I have seen. He is well educated and up to date and takes the time to educate about the process and explain himself. His personal attitude is very calm and confident and he makes you feel like you're the most important person in the room. I'm very happy with his work.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Stop looking around, just go see him.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Dr. Shamma spent a good amount of time taking with us about the the process and explaining why he was doing what he was doing. He was up-front and honest and even gave us his cell number so we could call if we had any questions. He never hurried or pressured us in any way
Describe the protocols Nicholas Shamma used in your cycles at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers and their degree of success.
During the process of harvesting the eggs he find y or that they hadn't matured as expected. He then choose to give another trigger injection and then return the next day where they successfully received 10 eggs.
He also insisted, based on evidence, on using Intracytoplasmic sperm injection for all the eggs as he found it more beneficial.
Describe your experience with your nurse at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers. (Assigned nurse: Erin)
They were all very pleasant and efficient. No complaints.
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Everyone at the clinic is friendly and treat you like a person. we never had to wait very long for appointment and they were always on top of everything. the only downside is that if you live far away from their main Treatment Center you might have to drive but that's not really a big deal.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
I think about $10,000 for full IVF including egg harvesting and another $10,000 for meds and such for the first cycle.
The second transfer was between $5,000-$8,000
Describe Nicholas Shamma's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
For our first fresh cycle, he suggested implanting two embryos because of the timing but warned us about the risk of multiples. On our second frozen transfer he suggested we only transfer one embryo as it was easier to plan the timing and therefore get a higher success rate with a single embryo.
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10
10
Age
25
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
2 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Male Factor, PCOS, Uterine Fibroids
10
10
I love Dr. Shamma. His presence alone made me feel comfortable right away. Although he had to tell my husband and I why we haven't been able to conceive all these years and was blunt, he was also very compassionate and choose his words wisely....I'm a new patient in Dr. Shamma's office so we started off with 10 days of Provera to induce my period (since I have irregular cycles due to PCOS) which I did receive my menstrual cycle. I'm currently on Metformin and I take 2,000mg a day. I take Vitamin D 2,000 iu and am also on Birth Control.
I'm still pretty new [to IVF Michigan-Sylvania] so not sure what weaknesses they have but some of their strengths are communication, I like how much they spend communicating with you to make sure you understand and know what's going on. Another strength they have is how organized they are and they make you feel comfortable.... The nurse I had explained everything thoroughly to me because I did have a lot of questions. She took her time making sure I understood and even wrote everything down for me so that I wouldn't forget.
Age
25
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
?
Race
Prefer not to answer
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
2 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Male Factor, PCOS, Uterine Fibroids
10
10
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
I love Dr. Shamma. His presence alone made me feel comfortable right away. Although he had to tell my husband and I why we haven't been able to conceive all these years and was blunt, he was also very compassionate and choose his words wisely. I know I can put all my trust into him because he answered all my questions throughly without making me feel like I had to rush and genuinely made me feel important because he listened to everything my husband and I had to say. I'm so glad I met Dr. Shamma!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
He's very firm but compassionate.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Dr. Shamma was very polite and has a warm side to him. He explained everything throughly even though it was hard to hear. He's very patient and kind.
Describe the protocols Nicholas Shamma used in your cycles at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers and their degree of success.
I'm a new patient in Dr. Shamma's office so we started off with 10 days of Provera to induce my period (since I have irregular cycles due to PCOS) which I did receive my menstrual cycle. I'm currently on Metformin and I take 2,000mg a day. I take Vitamin D 2,000 iu and am also on Birth Control.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
The nurse I had explained everything thoroughly to me because I did have a lot of questions. She took her time making sure I understood and even wrote everything down for me so that I wouldn't forget.
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
I'm still pretty new so not sure what weaknesses they have but some of their strengths are communication, I like how much they spend communicating with you to make sure you understand and know what's going on. Another strength they have is how organized they are and they make you feel comfortable.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Still a brand new patient.
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10
10
Age
31 - 36
Treated
2013 - 2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
3 IVF
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
10
[Dr. Nicholas Shamma is] Very straightforward, discussed all options with me, described in detail what he was planning for my cycles and what to expect. Was very empathetic, compassionate, and optimistic... Stimulation with bravele and menopur and ganirelix added to prevent premature ovulation. Trigger was used with lupron due to previous hyperoverian stimulation using HCG and producing over 50+ follicles. Also used lovenox. Only fresh cycle used under dr shamma. Embryos produced resulted in 3 children.
[IVF MI- Bloomfield Hills'] Strength is knowledgeable physicians, good and efficient support staff, state of the art technology and facility. Weakness is wait times and busy clinic. Costs have significantly gone up over the years as well.... Had to make monitoring appts in the morning, ran efficiently though. Usually had to wait if dr wanted to see me also.... Fresh cycle with transfer was about $12,000. Additional fees for associated procedures, monitoring and labs, anesthesia were probably a few thousand dollars. Medications were additional costs. Frozen embryo transfer costs went up substantially over the years. First one was about $4000 and went up to about $6000 the next transfer
Age
31 - 36
Treated
2013 - 2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Nurse or HC Services
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
3 IVF
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
10
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Very straightforward, discussed all options with me, described in detail what he was planning for my cycles and what to expect. Was very empathetic, compassionate, and optimistic. I am happy to have had him lead me to my journey of motherhood. Highly recommend dr shamma.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
He is very compassionate and honest. Might not tell you what you want to hear but he does so in a very caring way. Also has so much experience in treating infertility.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Very caring, knowledgeable, and compassionate
Describe the protocols Nicholas Shamma used in your cycles at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers and their degree of success.
Stimulation with bravele and menopur and ganirelix added to prevent premature ovulation. Trigger was used with lupron due to previous hyperoverian stimulation using HCG and producing over 50+ follicles. Also used lovenox. Only fresh cycle used under dr shamma. Embryos produced resulted in 3 children.
Describe your experience with your nurse at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers. (Assigned nurse: Susan)
All very knowledgeable and caring. Answered all questions and was very efficient with prescriptions and prior authorizations.
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Strength is knowledgeable physicians, good and efficient support staff, state of the art technology and facility.
Weakness is wait times and busy clinic. Costs have significantly gone up over the years as well.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Had to make monitoring appts in the morning, ran efficiently though. Usually had to wait if dr wanted to see me also.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Fresh cycle with transfer was about $12,000. Additional fees for associated procedures, monitoring and labs, anesthesia were probably a few thousand dollars. Medications were additional costs. Frozen embryo transfer costs went up substantially over the years. First one was about $4000 and went up to about $6000 the next transfer
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Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
10
10
Age
35 - 37
Treated
2016 - 2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
2 IUI, 3 IVF
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
10
Dr Shamma never needs reminding about our situation or past experience. I know he sees many clients throughout the duration of IVF cycles. While he's extremely efficient and gets to the point quite quickly, he has never rushed us out and if/when we have questions, he answers them thoroughly.... He has also made time for me outside of scheduled visits. I have received calls from him and also called him directly. After this last failed cycle, I was definitely hesitant to try a 6th round.
You do not feel like a number at the clinic [IVF Michigan]. Calling is even an easy, enjoyable experience. The only negative is that you can wait quite a while prior to appointments (I have waited an upwards of 45 minutes past my appointment time). Again, this is my only complaint.... The nurses I interacted with were hands down the best nurses I've ever met. In a situation that has so many ups and downs, they helped me every step of the way. I cannot say enough great things about the Ann Arbor team.
Age
35 - 37
Treated
2016 - 2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
Other
Income
$200K - $499K
Occupation
Business Executive
Order & Number of Docs Seen
3rd of 3 Docs
Treatment
2 IUI, 3 IVF
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
10
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
I have done 5 rounds of IVF with Dr Shamma. Dr Shamma is honest, direct and smart as hell. Following every failed cycle, Dr Shamma has made time to meet with us and talk about our options. He has also made time for me outside of scheduled visits. I have received calls from him and also called him directly. After this last failed cycle, I was definitely hesitant to try a 6th round. After talking to Dr Shamma, who is not only sincere, but also motivating, I am going to give it another go. If it weren't worth trying (i.e., if we were a hopeless cause), I know he would tell us it's time to stop.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
He may come across as abrupt or hurried, but he will answer every single one of your questions. He will acquaint himself with every aspect of your situation. He will do everything in his power to help you conceive. He does genuinely care about you as a patient.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Dr Shamma never needs reminding about our situation or past experience. I know he sees many clients throughout the duration of IVF cycles. While he's extremely efficient and gets to the point quite quickly, he has never rushed us out and if/when we have questions, he answers them thoroughly. When I have asked him difficult or uncomfortable questions, Dr Shamma looks me in the eyes and provides candid responses. It's not always rainbows and roses, but it's the truth and I trust him. Even though we have had a difficult time conceiving, I wouldn't go to another doctor.
Describe the protocols Nicholas Shamma used in your cycles at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers and their degree of success.
Ovarian stimulation protocols with antagonist. Medications utilized during IVF cycle: Birth Control Pills, Gonal-F, Menopur, Cetrotide, Pregnyl, Progesterone in Oil, Estrogen, Lovenox, Aspirin, Methylprednisolone. Also prescribed (at my request) supplements and pre-natal vitamins.
Describe your experience with your nurse at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers. (Assigned nurse: I saw Cathy & Kerri most frequently.)
I could not have done this without them (literally and figuratively). The nurses I interacted with were hands down the best nurses I've ever met. In a situation that has so many ups and downs, they helped me every step of the way. I cannot say enough great things about the Ann Arbor team.
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
You do not feel like a number at the clinic. Calling is even an easy, enjoyable experience. The only negative is that you can wait quite a while prior to appointments (I have waited an upwards of 45 minutes past my appointment time). Again, this is my only complaint.
Describe Nicholas Shamma's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
IVF Michigan will only transfer 2 (max) embryos.
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10
10
Age
32 - 33
Treated
2017 - 2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss, Other
10
10
Dr. Shamma may not have the best bed side manner, however when we asked him to slow down or repeat himself when something was unclear, he obliged. He did not get frustrated with our questions (and we had a lot!). His strengths are compassion, empathy and confidence in his work... We did not have any donors (eggs or sperm) so after the embryos made it past the five day period, 4 of our 8 made it to genetic testing and 1 of our 4 were genetically "healthy." If we had not followed Dr. Shamma's advice, we may have experienced more miscarriages.
The nursing staff [at IVF Michigan] was amazing. They were always ready to answer questions and there was only one nurse (who I tried to avoid) that ever made me feel like I was a bother to her. There was one nurse that specifically wanted to call us with the positive pregnancy test and said that she wanted to make the phone call because she was so happy for us. The nurses were well organized and responsive and empathetic to our concerns and quickly responded to any questions. I miss them terribly now that we're with our OB GYN.
Age
32 - 33
Treated
2017 - 2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
Other
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss, Other
10
10
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Dr. Shamma may not have the best bed side manner, however when we asked him to slow down or repeat himself when something was unclear, he obliged. He did not get frustrated with our questions (and we had a lot!). His strengths are compassion, empathy and confidence in his work. I would say that Dr. Shamma's weakness is his bed side manner because it could be a bit better. With that said, I'd rather have someone who does their job well and may not be sugary sweet than have the opposite.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Take notes during every appointment. There were times that we walked out and I felt like I heard everything, but retained nothing! Just so much information to take in. Don't be afraid to clarify!! This is your treatment and your dream of having a sweet little one.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Dr. Shamma always called us by our names and shook our hands at every visit. The nurses and other staff at the clinic are personable (except one that always seemed grumpy) and extremely helpful. Even now, after our transfer is complete and I call to make a payment or need something, they are quick to respond and happy to help.
Describe the protocols Nicholas Shamma used in your cycles at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers and their degree of success.
We did not have a problem getting pregnant, however, lost three pregnancies in a row, therefore, Dr. Shamma identified the importance of being able to genetically test our embryos. I was on a number of different injections including injections that increased follicles to get more eggs during the retrieval and also injections that held the release of eggs until the day of retrieval. We did not have any donors (eggs or sperm) so after the embryos made it past the five day period, 4 of our 8 made it to genetic testing and 1 of our 4 were genetically "healthy." If we had not followed Dr. Shamma's advice, we may have experienced more miscarriages.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
The nursing staff was amazing. They were always ready to answer questions and there was only one nurse (who I tried to avoid) that ever made me feel like I was a bother to her. There was one nurse that specifically wanted to call us with the positive pregnancy test and said that she wanted to make the phone call because she was so happy for us. The nurses were well organized and responsive and empathetic to our concerns and quickly responded to any questions. I miss them terribly now that we're with our OB GYN.
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Strengths of the clinic would be that that everyone seems to be happy to be there (again except for one who always seemed grumpy). We had our treatments done in the Michigan office and the nurses there were so extremely sweet and comforting. I told my husband one of the times that I felt like my mom was there with us because they were so sweet and wanted to make sure that we were doing okay. The weaknesses are really hard to think about....I guess we did feel rushed out of the appointments sometimes, but there were always people in the waiting room and I know we were not their only patients.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
$20,000 plus the $3,200 for medications.
Describe Nicholas Shamma's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
We only had one to transfer, however Dr. Shamma made it clear that they would only transfer one embryo at a time. I trusted this decision from Dr. Shamma and he explained his reasoning to me when I asked. He explained that we've already experienced loss and are considered high risk up until a certain point and would like to increase the chances as much as possible of us having a healthy and successful pregnancy.
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7
9
Age
29 - 30
Treated
2017 - 2018
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
4 IUI, 2 IVF, Surrogacy
Diagnosis
PCOS, Uterine Fibroids, Recurrent Pregnancy Loss, Unexplained
7
9
Overall we think we had a great experience with Dr. Shammas office. We do feel that on our fourth round of IVF treatment we could have been tested for a few more Things that would have resulted in us saving our money and using surrogacy vs. me trying to carry again.... He used everything protocol. We did every medication that was possible to give. It was our fourth time trying and we didn’t want to miss anything at all. We used genetically tested embryos so we had to use blood thinners as well.
I would make sure you have a full work up done with blood and everything in between. We came from another clinic so it was a bit confusing on what we were tested for and not tested for.... Nurses [IVF Michigan] were absolutely wonderful! Kind and caring and we’re very compassionate. They communicated wonderfully and always kept in touch. We loved them!... $26,000 was spent on our ivf process along with the genetic testing.
Age
29 - 30
Treated
2017 - 2018
Success with this Doc
No
Race
Other
Income
$0 - $49K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
6th of 6 Docs
Treatment
4 IUI, 2 IVF, Surrogacy
Diagnosis
PCOS, Uterine Fibroids, Recurrent Pregnancy Loss, Unexplained
7
9
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Overall we think we had a great experience with Dr. Shammas office. We do feel that on our fourth round of IVF treatment we could have been tested for a few more Things that would have resulted in us saving our money and using surrogacy vs. me trying to carry again. We have gone trough 4 IUI’s and two full rounds of ivf along with 4 transfers. We want nothing more than to be parents to a child and if we were chosen for this it would truly be a dream come true to me and my husband.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
To cover everything from top to bottom throughly. I feel the further you get into IVF treatments, the more you learn about testing. I wish there was someway that every patient could have a one on one visit with some who prior went through ivf treatments.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
I feel that there were so many people
Going through cycles at the same time it almost felt as if we were being pushed through. I don’t feel as if all issues were tested for prior to our last transfer and it resulted in a miscarriage. Following up with him we did more blood work that resulted in having a mossisim gene?! We felt that this could have prevented our last miss carriage and we could have used a surrogate from the vet go.
Describe the protocols Nicholas Shamma used in your cycles at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers and their degree of success.
He used everything protocol. We did every medication that was possible to give. It was our fourth time trying and we didn’t want to miss anything at all. We used genetically tested embryos so we had to use blood thinners as well.
Describe your experience with your nurse at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers. (Assigned nurse: Cheryl and Lori )
Nurses were absolutely wonderful! Kind and caring and we’re very compassionate. They communicated wonderfully and always kept in touch. We loved them!
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
The nurses were absolutely wonderful! I would make sure you have a full work up done with blood and everything in between. We came from another clinic so it was a bit confusing on what we were tested for and not tested for. All around we have had a tough time with the ivf process and have been trying to conceive for 5 years and have had many ups and downs with the whole process. We have tried everything and have negative outcomes. We will keep a positive attitude and keep chugging.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
$26,000 was spent on our ivf process along with the genetic testing.
What specific things went wrong at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
- Failed to order appropriate test
Describe the specific things that went wrong at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
My husband and I were never tested through the last 5 years for a general genetic testing for blood work. I did some research online and came across karoytype testing and had it ordered. Mine came back not normal and have some rare genetic gene. If we would have known that we would have used surrogacy initially and saved us the heartbreak of another failed cycle.
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10
10
Age
25
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
1 IVF, 1 Egg Freezing
Diagnosis
Male Factor, PCOS
10
10
He [Dr. Nicholas Shamma] was amazing. To the point and blunt about our issues, which is what I wanted. He explained things thoroughly and talked in normal people terms, not just medical talk. Any question I had he made sure to take the time and explain it or explain what will happen next... We went straight to IVF. I was on meds to get my eggs nice and large (I cant remember them all). We did a hysc (? Spelling) to make sure there was no blockage. Then retrieval and transfer per usual. We transferred 2 eggs and 1 survived
They [the nurses at IVF Michigan- Saginaw] always made sure to answer my questions. Even during a late night when I was unsure which meds to use lori answered the phone and showed so much compassion towards us. Betsy also answers the phone on easter Sunday and after I apologized many times she told me that's what they were there for. They both always wished me luck every single time I talked to them
Age
25
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
Other
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
1 IVF, 1 Egg Freezing
Diagnosis
Male Factor, PCOS
10
10
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
He was amazing. To the point and blunt about our issues, which is what I wanted. He explained things thoroughly and talked in normal people terms, not just medical talk. Any question I had he made sure to take the time and explain it or explain what will happen next
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
If you are not ok with straight forward answers he might not be a good fit for you
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
He was concerned about our case and our issues. Absolutely amazing to work with. The nurses, betsy and lori are amazing as well
Describe the protocols Nicholas Shamma used in your cycles at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers and their degree of success.
We went straight to IVF. I was on meds to get my eggs nice and large (I cant remember them all). We did a hysc (? Spelling) to make sure there was no blockage. Then retrieval and transfer per usual. We transferred 2 eggs and 1 survived
Describe your experience with your nurse at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers. (Assigned nurse: Betsy and Lori)
They always made sure to answer my questions. Even during a late night when I was unsure which meds to use lori answered the phone and showed so much compassion towards us. Betsy also answers the phone on easter Sunday and after I apologized many times she told me that's what they were there for. They both always wished me luck every single time I talked to them
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Everything was absolutely perfect. Clean, neat, welcoming. We loved it. Even if they were super busy they always made you feel like a person. Not just another paycheck. Even the receptionist was welcoming from the moment we got there
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
They were quicker than I imagined them being but again, if I had questioned they were always answered.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
I believe it was roughly $20,000
Describe Nicholas Shamma's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
They told us the pros and cons of single and multiple transfer. My husband and I chose to do 2 embryos
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10
10
Age
32
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
2 IUI, 1 IVF, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve
10
10
My wife and I both found Dr. Shamma to be very passionate about his work. He is very matter of fact, and pretty cut and dry about his delivery but we both liked that about him. We did reciprocal IVF using my wife's eggs and me as the carrier ... He had a plan ready for us for our next steps ... Sometimes it was pretty quick and in and out of the room during appointments but I didn't feel rushed. If we had questions he always answered them and made sure we understood.
We were nervous about being a same sex couple and if we would be treated the same as any other couple and we were. ... Everything seemed to run very smoothly. There were a couple of times we waited awhile to be seen [IVF Michigan] but it wasn't terrible ... I can't say enough good things about the nursing and office staff at this office. They were all so nice and respectful to my wife and I...
Age
32
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
2 IUI, 1 IVF, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve
10
10
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
My wife and I both found Dr. Shamma to be very passionate about his work. He is very matter of fact, and pretty cut and dry about his delivery but we both liked that about him. We did reciprocal IVF using my wife's eggs and me as the carrier and when we unfortunately did not get pregnant I could swear I saw his eyes tear up a little during our follow up consultation. He had a plan ready for us for our next steps and after we ended up getting pregnant on our 2nd IUI procedure. Sometimes it was pretty quick and in and out of the room during appointments but I didn't feel rushed. If we had questions he always answered them and made sure we understood.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Make the best of the time you have with him. He is very busy but will make the time for you when you have it.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Both Dr. Shamma and his staff always referred to us by name. They were knowledgeable of our case and circumstances. Everyone treated us kindly and was very welcoming.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
I can't say enough good things about the nursing and office staff at this office. They were all so nice and respectful to my wife and I. We were nervous about being a same sex couple and if we would be treated the same as any other couple and we were. They are quick to get back to you by phone or email with questions and explain everything very well. Michelle was our favorite nurse! She's awesome
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Everything seemed to run very smoothly. There were a couple of times we waited awhile to be seen but it wasn't terrible. Be sure to go to the class that they offer before your IVF cycle begins. You learn a TON of good info.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Get there as soon as possible if you want to get in and out quickly. I usually arrived by 730 and was to work usually within 2 hours.
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10
9
Age
38
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Anovulation, Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Male Factor, PCOS, Uterine Fibroids
10
9
Dr Shamma is very engaging. I let him know right away that I also work in a medical field, while my husband does not. So, our conversations were very professional and scientific, while theirs were quite a bit less technical.... I have severe PCOS, so I first saw Dr Shamma for a hysteroscopy and to determine if having children was even an option. The hysteroscopy and metformin treatments were successful, to a point. The physical changes went well, but my hormones were still very much out of balance. After several months of not cycling, again, I am back on metformin and am about to have a water sono and start injections for IVF.
In the clinic [IVF Michigan], they are wonderful. Since the doctors rotate through other locations, as well, it is hard for them to get info right away, unless it happens to be a day that the doctor is right with them.... Be prepared to drive around the area. The doctors rotate through different locations, so Mondays will be here, Tuesdays there, etc. That can make things complicated for scheduling. It can also slow general communications down.
Age
38
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
?
Race
European
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
Nurse or HC Services
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Anovulation, Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Male Factor, PCOS, Uterine Fibroids
10
9
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Dr Shamma is very engaging. I let him know right away that I also work in a medical field, while my husband does not. So, our conversations were very professional and scientific, while theirs were quite a bit less technical.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Make sure you have a list of questions to ask and go over, even if it is just to request a copy of the treatment plan steps.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
While I was in clinic, I was very much engaged with. However, it has been difficult to communicate with them otherwise, especially getting a call back in what I would consider a timely manner.
Describe the protocols Nicholas Shamma used in your cycles at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers and their degree of success.
I have severe PCOS, so I first saw Dr Shamma for a hysteroscopy and to determine if having children was even an option. The hysteroscopy and metformin treatments were successful, to a point. The physical changes went well, but my hormones were still very much out of balance. After several months of not cycling, again, I am back on metformin and am about to have a water sono and start injections for IVF.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
In the clinic, they are wonderful. Since the doctors rotate through other locations, as well, it is hard for them to get info right away, unless it happens to be a day that the doctor is right with them.
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Be prepared to drive around the area. The doctors rotate through different locations, so Mondays will be here, Tuesdays there, etc. That can make things complicated for scheduling. It can also slow general communications down.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
My insurance covers almost everything, so it has only been a few hundred dollars.
Describe Nicholas Shamma's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
As I have severe PCOS, husband has severe male factor, and we are both older and overweight, we have agreed with Dr Shamma that we need to wait to see how I react to the medications. It will depend on how the egg retrievals and development go. Dr Shamma is willing to do two embryos, in our case, if we so choose and have the quality eggs to do so.
What specific things went wrong at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
- Lost appointments
- Failed to call with results
- Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
When I had my initial hysteroscopy, I also had a biopsy done, and was to have a two week progress exam to create a treatment plan from there. This is not typical, so when the nurse called to let me know they got clear results, she missed the info as to why I was supposed to have a re-examination, and just said that I didn't need to come in, and that they would just send on all of the pertinent info to my regular OB-GYN. It got sorted out, but it took a few weeks.
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10
10
Age
32
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Endometriosis
10
10
He [Dr. Shamma] has been phenomenal in our journey. After our miscarriage he was truly upset, and he moved his schedule around to meet with us. He has done this now twice... has treated me as a daughter. He has been phenomenal through multiple losses, and sat by our sides as we emotionally broke down. He continues to work to help us bring a child into this world. Still have yet to have a successful pregnancy, but each miscarriage he has worked to adjust his schedule to meet with me and my husband.
Get to know the ladies that are nurses [at IVF Michigan]. They will be working with you quite a bit...The nurses have become like a second family, and I feel comfortable asking them anything that I need...Monitoring before the egg retrieval was done a bit more by blocked hours in the morning. However, my ultrasounds were always w [Dr. Shamma]. He even would have his staff squeeze me in early in the morning to not force me to wait through the day!
Age
32
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
?
Race
Other
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Endometriosis
10
10
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Dr. Shamma has treated me as a daughter. He has been phenomenal through multiple losses, and sat by our sides as we emotionally broke down. He continues to work to help us bring a child into this world. Still have yet to have a successful pregnancy, but each miscarriage he has worked to adjust his schedule to meet with me and my husband.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Bedside manner aside, once you get to know dr shamma, you will see that he has a phenomenal heart and one goal- to help you bring life into this world. He has one of the best labs around and I believe the combination of a great doctor and a great lab are a huge part of success.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
He has been phenomenal in our journey. After our miscarriage he was truly upset, and he moved his schedule around to meet with us. He has done this now twice.
Describe your experience with your nurse at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers. (Assigned nurse: Michelle, Bev, and Shirley. Have spoke with Emily as well! they are all phenomenal!)
My primary nurse is Michelle, but i have spoken w Bev multiple times as well as Shirley! Michelle has been an amazing support system for me and my husband. Her and Bev and cami the nurse in the Bloodwork lab sat and talked me through my first miscarriage and what to expect with my Endometriosis and d&c. They shared their stories and allowed me to ask anything I could think of. The entire office has been beyond supportive. I will forever be appreciative of the impact they have made on my life.
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Get to know the ladies that are nurses. They will be working with you quite a bit. I am a believer in the more you care about people, the more they will care about you. The nurses have become like a second family, and I feel comfortable asking them anything that I need.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Monitoring before the egg retrieval was done a bit more by blocked hours in the morning. However, my ultrasounds were always w shamma. He even would have his staff squeeze me in early in the morning to not force me to wait through the day!
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Would truly have to add everything up. Would be around 30k
Describe Nicholas Shamma's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
I had my embryos pgs tested. Dr shamma wanted to transfer one for our first transfer. Both embryos implanted, and one split. I lost triplets during my first miscarriage. He recommended one for the next transfer!
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6
7
Age
30
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor
6
7
He [Dr. Shamma] felt strongly about not transferring more than 2. He does not do embryo reduction at his clinic, I am not sure if that is why he limits his numbers or not...After the procedure he didn’t mention if we would move forward with the transfer or freeze, I had to bring it up, after I had just woke up from anesthesia. At that point he acted like of course I should know we were going to freeze, with no explanation of what was going on. This resulted in an additional 2600$, plus more med costs we were not prepared for.
12,000$ for the procedure, 2,650$ for embryo thaw, 250$ for mock transfer [at IVF Michigan]...Strengths: great nurses, nice comfortable office, easy to get an appointment that worked with my work schedule Weaknesses: all procedures are done at a different office which is 1.5 hrs away from Toledo. Doctor isn’t always there, the nurses and office staff run the show... When we moved on to IVF I was on menopur, gonal, ganirelix and did hcg as my trigger shot. I did ok with all of those. My estrogen level went too high and so after retrieval my transfer was cancelled and embryos frozen. I am now preparing for the frozen embryo transfer and they have me on lupron, estrace, vivelle dot and eventually will start the poi. I did have to have a cyst aspiration prior to starting my meds for retrieval and he did a mock transfer.
Age
30
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
?
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Nurse or HC Services
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor
6
7
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
He seems to be very knowledgeable and good at his job. I just get the feeling he is too busy and just wants to move his patients along and make that money. Again, as long as I end up with a baby, I don’t care too much but my experience thus far hasn’t been stellar.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Come prepared with all your questions. Ask for all possible avenues your treatment could take and what that means financially. Do as much research as you can ahead of time so you know what to ask.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
He did not take the time to explain much to me. All of that is left to the nurses. We had what I would consider a huge change in plan. After my egg retrieval transfer was cancelled and my embryos were frozen due to their concern for OHSS. My retrieval was on a Sunday and I had never been told this was even a possibility until Fri evening when the nurse mentioned “he may want to freeze but he will make the call on Sunday”. Come procedure day I was taken back to the OR before the doctor was even there. I laid on the OR table for almost 25 min, awake, in stirrups before he finally arrived. Very scary and awkward. After the procedure he didn’t mention if we would move forward with the transfer or freeze, I had to bring it up, after I had just woke up from anesthesia. At that point he acted like of course I should know we were going to freeze, with no explanation of what was going on. This resulted in an additional 2600$, plus more med costs we were not prepared for. I had to call the nurse the next day to get an explanation of why we wouldn’t be transferring. I also called he office manager and explained my frustrations with the events. She waived half of the additional procedure fees which was nice, but I never heard from my doctor. I have not yet had my transfer so we will see if things improve, but at this point I do feel like a number. I am a nurse and get that my doctor doesn’t need to give me the warm fuzzies if they do their job well, but with something this serious and emotional I would at least like him to act like he cares.
Describe the protocols Nicholas Shamma used in your cycles at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers and their degree of success.
We began with my husband trying clomid (didn’t work) and then hcg (didn’t work). When we moved on to IVF I was on menopur, gonal, ganirelix and did hcg as my trigger shot. I did ok with all of those. My estrogen level went too high and so after retrieval my transfer was cancelled and embryos frozen. I am now preparing for the frozen embryo transfer and they have me on lupron, estrace, vivelle dot and eventually will start the poi. I did have to have a cyst aspiration prior to starting my meds for retrieval and he did a mock transfer.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
I love the nursing staff. They run the show at this clinic. They are efficient, knowledgeable, organized, compassionate and communicate well. Megan and Emily are the absolute best.
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Strengths: great nurses, nice comfortable office, easy to get an appointment that worked with my work schedule
Weaknesses: all procedures are done at a different office which is 1.5 hrs away from Toledo. Doctor isn’t always there, the nurses and office staff run the show
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
12,000$ for the procedure, 2,650$ for embryo thaw, 250$ for mock transfer, not sure on my meds. My insurance covered 10,000$ of meds so I only came out of pocket about 800$ for meds.
Describe Nicholas Shamma's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
He felt strongly about not transferring more than 2. He does not do embryo reduction at his clinic, I am not sure if that is why he limits his numbers or not.
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10
10
Age
30 - 31
Treated
2016 - 2017
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
7 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
PCOS
10
10
When I first met Dr Shamma, I walked out of his clinic with a full diagnosis and a plan. When he learned that I have never had an ultrasound performed, one was done that same day. He gave us different options to try and gave us our chances of conceiving each month. He is very compassionate and took his time explaining the treatment course with us and other treatments that we may decide to u dergo... from the very first visit, and you weren't treated as a number but as a person wanting to have a baby....All labs/ultrasounds go through Dr Shamma...
Everytime we are in the clinic [IVF Michigan] the staff knows our names even without a chart. Always greets us with a handshake....Everytime I go in for my labs, I'm hard to get blood on. They take their time making sure that I'm doing ok. Normally I have 2 nurses at a time drawing my blood. When doing my ultrasounds if they have questions, they go get another nurse for another opinion. ...The front desk staff is wonderful. Once your established as a patient, they immediately transfer you to a nurse if one is available to answer your questions. If one is not you can leave a message. They never try and answer the questions themselves....
Age
30 - 31
Treated
2016 - 2017
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
Other
Income
$0 - $49K
Occupation
Nurse or HC Services
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1st of 2 Docs
Treatment
7 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
PCOS
10
10
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
When I first met Dr Shamma, I walked out of his clinic with a full diagnosis and a plan. When he learned that I have never had an ultrasound performed, one was done that same day. He gave us different options to try and gave us our chances of conceiving each month. He is very compassionate and took his time explaining the treatment course with us and other treatments that we may decide to u dergo.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
If you are referred to go see him, go sooner than later. We waited a good 6 months to go see him after being referred, due to being scares. He was very warm and compassionate from the very first visit, and you weren't treated as a number but as a person wanting to have a baby.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Everytime we are in the clinic the staff knows our names even without a chart. Always greets us with a handshake. Once we had our baby we took him to visit with the staff and Dr Shamma couldn’t get to the front lobby fast enough to meet our new bundle of joy!
Describe the protocols Nicholas Shamma used in your cycles at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers and their degree of success.
Femara 5 MG with ovidrel for 3 rounds, he gave us a 10% chance each month of conceiving, which every cycle failed due to my severe PCOS. We are going in for a consult soon to discuss other options such as IVF which he gives us a 75% chance of resulting in a pregnancy. We ended up doing a cycle of IVF and we conceived twins, but I unfortunately miscarried 1 of them but Dr Shamma kept me through my first trimester to make sure there were no complications with the other baby and I’m happy to say that we have a healthy baby now from our fertility treatment
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
Everytime I go in for my labs, I'm hard to get blood on. They take their time making sure that I'm doing ok. Normally I have 2 nurses at a time drawing my blood. When doing my ultrasounds if they have questions, they go get another nurse for another opinion. All labs/ultrasounds go through Dr Shamma and then they call me later that day with the next step. They would call me during my first trimester to make sure everything was going ok since I was having some complications
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
The front desk staff is wonderful. Once your established as a patient, they immediately transfer you to a nurse if one is available to answer your questions. If one is not you can leave a message. They never try and answer the questions themselves.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Timed intercourse cost about 600 a round, that's just for the lab/ultrasounds. There is additional costs for the ovidrel which was 85 and 30 something for the femara. Our round of IVF was 12,000 not including medication; which can be anywhere from 3,000-5,000
Describe Nicholas Shamma's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Our bodies are not meant to carry 5+ babies, he will only implant so many to help ensure that you as his patient is going to be safe. His main concern is his patients
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9
9
Age
31 - 34
Treated
2014 - 2017
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
2 IVF
Diagnosis
Tubal Blockage
9
9
Immediately after my transfer, he [Dr. Shamma] took a call from daughter while still in room w me ... and Ifelt that was very unprofressional as I lay there on the table crying. ... He definitely shows compassion but at one point he made a comment that I thought was a little upsetting and kinda turned me off ... I just feel that he has expanded his business so much, it's harder for him to take additional time w patients
Everyone [IVF Michigan] very helpful and willing to explain things and go over billing. ... We live almost 3 hrs away and the office was about to close. Never received a call from them, i had to call them and then they scrambled to make a call then call me back with a time. I ended up being the last pt for the day. I feel like they forgot about me or knew my embryos didn't look promising. ... There was one nurse who was not my favorite, she just rubbed me the wrong way. Was not on top of her game at all.
Age
31 - 34
Treated
2014 - 2017
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
Other
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
Nurse or HC Services
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
2 IVF
Diagnosis
Tubal Blockage
9
9
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
He definitely shows compassion but at one point he made a comment that I thought was a little upsetting and kinda turned me off.. I do know he is one of the best though, I just feel that he has expanded his business so much, it's harder for him to take additional time w patients
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
He is good. Ask questions, do your research so that your asking the right questions. And don't hesitate if you don't understand.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
For my very first round that resulted in twins.. definitely felt like a person and not just a number. 2yrs later for frozen cycle and then new fresh cycle, felt like a #. Immediately after my transfer, he took a call from daughter while still in room w me and said he was running late to meet her, that he would be there in two minutes. I was already emotional bc my transferred embryo was of poor quality and Ifelt that was very unprofressional as I lay there on the table crying.
Describe the protocols Nicholas Shamma used in your cycles at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers and their degree of success.
I was on a different protocol for my last round. Started to borderline hyperstimulate, my retrieval was a couple days sooner than expected. Had 8 eggs retrieved, 8 mature, 4 fertilized, 2 that grew, but never made to tje blastocyst stage.. transferred 1 embryo, which resulted in an ectopic pregnancy.
Describe your experience with your nurse at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers. (Assigned nurse: Brittany, wasn't assigned to her but had her a lot and loved her. She was my favorite to deal with!)
Very compassionate, made me feel comfortable and answered all questions or found out the answers for me. Always emailed me back promptly. Really appreciative of Brittany
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Looks good. Everyone very helpful and willing to explain things and go over billing. There was one nurse who was not my favorite, she just rubbed me the wrong way. Was not on top of her game at all. The others were great, and very helpful and never made me feel rushed when they were behind schedule
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
For icsi without genetic testing and freezing of embryos along w one trasfer was around $12k. For my surgeries to make sure no fibroids or anything was around $3-3,500 with anesthesia. For the frozen cycle, that cost $5,600 and for all my meds in state, was at $6,500, overseas around $4,500 roughly. Storage fees for 1 year were $650. Office visits that included ultrasounds were close to $250.00
Describe Nicholas Shamma's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
He strongly urged us to do the genetic testing. We declined bc we had such great luck our very first round with twins. Definitely felt like he was urging the testing for one good embryo transfer. But w/o growing to be a blast, testing wouldnt have happened anyway..and it was an additional $6k on top of my surgeries and fresh cycle.
What specific things went wrong at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
- Failed to call with results
- Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
It was the day before my transfer, I was waiting for the call as to the time it would be the following morning. We live almost 3 hrs away and the office was about to close. Never received a call from them, i had to call them and then they scrambled to make a call then call me back with a time. I ended up being the last pt for the day. I feel like they forgot about me or knew my embryos didn't look promising. This was never mentioned over the phone. Have always felt like that was a bad sign from the start.
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0
8
Age
33
Treated
2017
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
2 IVF
Diagnosis
Anovulation, Male Factor, PCOS, Poor Egg Quality, Uterine Fibroids, Unexplained
0
8
Dr. Shamma viewed our infertility as a "Slam Dunk" for pregnancy. We are young and the problems that we had were fixable with IVF. Once we had 3 failed PGS, good quality embryos transfers - we were put in the "Surrogacy" category. I felt like my Dr. gave up on me without exploring any other options. We became a problem and not a Slam Dunk as he thought... and I am sure, affecting his success numbers.... If you are a researcher, be prepared to feel belittled by your questions.
The clinics [IVF Michigan] in both Saginaw, MI and Detroit, MI were both clean and well organized. The front desk staff were pleasant and helpful. Pleasant waiting rooms with plenty of reading materials and TV's running.... Those nurses were the best at keeping the "line" moving. All the patients knew the time and if you needed to get out early, you knew to be first in line at the door. I didn't see any problem with monitoring.
Age
33
Treated
2017
Success with this Doc
No
Race
Other
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1st of 2 Docs
Treatment
2 IVF
Diagnosis
Anovulation, Male Factor, PCOS, Poor Egg Quality, Uterine Fibroids, Unexplained
0
8
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Dr. Shamma viewed our infertility as a "Slam Dunk" for pregnancy. We are young and the problems that we had were fixable with IVF. Once we had 3 failed PGS, good quality embryos transfers - we were put in the "Surrogacy" category. I felt like my Dr. gave up on me without exploring any other options. We became a problem and not a Slam Dunk as he thought... and I am sure, affecting his success numbers.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
If you are a researcher, be prepared to feel belittled by your questions. I would also recommend asking for all your records. As a patient, you are left in the dark - ie-- when getting bloodwork you will get a call saying "bloodwork is fine" and that is it. It is your right to know the details. You should also know that Dr. Shamma is very by the book and not open to new or unfounded treatments ---even if they only hurt your pocketbook.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
We were perceived as a "slam dunk" couple walking through the door. A great candidate for IVF. Once 3 transfers failed, we were immediately moved onto a surrogacy recommendation. I felt like my Dr. had given up on me when I didn't become that slam dunk or helping his success numbers.
Describe your experience with your nurse at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers. (Assigned nurse: Elizabeth Borchard)
Both Elizabeth Borchard and Lori McQuinn were absolutely wonderful. They were compassionate, helpful and truly wanted to see the best for me.
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
The clinics in both Saginaw, MI and Detroit, MI were both clean and well organized. The front desk staff were pleasant and helpful. Pleasant waiting rooms with plenty of reading materials and TV's running.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Those nurses were the best at keeping the "line" moving. All the patients knew the time and if you needed to get out early, you knew to be first in line at the door. I didn't see any problem with monitoring.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
For IVF with PGS testing, it was $22,000
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7
7
Age
31
Treated
2017
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
5 IUI, 2 IVF, 2 Egg Freezing
Diagnosis
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss, Unexplained
7
7
Dr. Shamma is a knowledgeable man but he is also extremely busy and he will rush through your appointment if he can, at least that is the way he handled us.... Dr. Shamma treated me like a valid human for the most part. He told us that we had excellent odds for becoming pregnant and being that I had 3 previous miscarriages before being in his care he recommended PGS testing.... We went through with PGS testing and transferred one PGS normal embryo.
Overall we had no major issues with the clinic [IVF Michigan] itself. While I do feel they are overpriced, they are competitive with other clinics in Michigan... The front desk was always helpful in scheduling appointments, etc when I was working with them. I will say that when we went to get another opinion they weren't quick to send over my medical history and it took a couple phone calls to get that completed.... There were a few instances where I had to call MORE THAN ONCE to get results, information and or answers.
Age
31
Treated
2017
Success with this Doc
No
Race
European
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
Consultant
Order & Number of Docs Seen
3rd of 3 Docs
Treatment
5 IUI, 2 IVF, 2 Egg Freezing
Diagnosis
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss, Unexplained
7
7
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
He's very knowledgeable and confident with his approach. He doesn't see you for most ultrasounds/monitoring but is the one doing your major procedures. He was quick to jump to PGS testing even though there is no guarantee, we are young and we don't have any underlying issues family wise. So we trusted his outlook and still miscarried using a PGS normal embryo. I'm not saying he was wrong to push PGS but he wasn't upfront that it could potentially still end in heartbreak. So that came as a shock to us; we wish he would have explained it better.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Do your research, ask a million and two questions. Don't leave the office without being sure of what's to come. Dr. Shamma is a knowledgeable man but he is also extremely busy and he will rush through your appointment if he can, at least that is the way he handled us. So make sure you have your questions ready to go and get them answered. Your time is precious too.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Dr. Shamma treated me like a valid human for the most part. He told us that we had excellent odds for becoming pregnant and being that I had 3 previous miscarriages before being in his care he recommended PGS testing. Which was an additional $5000. We are young, healthy and as far as anyone can tell us we have unexplained infertility. We went through with PGS testing and transferred one PGS normal embryo. Everything was textbook perfect, we ended up pregnant with perfect high and doubling betas. Our first ultrasound at 6 weeks showed the gestational sac and flicker of a heartbeat. It was all downhill after that; Shamma wouldn't give me a copy of that ultrasound and said "you don't want that" and said we will check again a week later. He said he saw some concerning things during the ultrasound like the sac was not very big and something about the baby being too far to the right corner of it? He didn't elaborate and left the room quickly. We were crushed, there's a heartbeat!! The following week we confirmed the heartbeat was gone and I would miscarry. No answers as to why; no compassion. We did a D&C and the embryo came back as normal tissue. Shamma's answer for that was that I'm the problem. I now need a gestational carrier and there is no hope for me to ever carry a baby. He heard that my husband has a sister (with 4 healthy children) and said perfect! He jumped right into that and didn't want to discuss myself carrying after that. He won't use our remaining embryo with me. My SIL is not an option, she won't do it for us. Shamma didn't care to look at other options, said there was nothing more he could do and to come back when we found a Gestational Carrier. That's when I officially felt like a number. He also told us the sex of the miscarried baby, it was female, which we didn't ask to know. We left very disappointed and have now moved on to getting more opinions.
Describe the protocols Nicholas Shamma used in your cycles at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers and their degree of success.
Dr. Shamma used the maximum protocol with us for transfer. He had me on low dose aspirin, 40mg of lovenox daily, estrace, vivelle patch (every 3 days), and progesterone in oil injections. I also was given Amoxicillin the week of transfer and started steroids a few days before and a few days after (5 days total).
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
The nurses got to know us very well; they communicated with me often and were always quick to call me back. There was one mishap where the new nurse on staff didn't explain everything to me and I didn't know to take my estrace after transfer because she made my calendar up and forgot to include it. I called and questioned it and caught the mistake after 2 days. Dr. Shamma advised that wouldn't have an effect on my pregnancy because I was also on the patch, but i'll never know if that had anything to do with our miscarriage.
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Overall we had no major issues with the clinic itself. While I do feel they are overpriced, they are competitive with other clinics in Michigan and Dr. Shamma is very well known so that comes with a higher price tag. The front desk was always helpful in scheduling appointments, etc when I was working with them. I will say that when we went to get another opinion they weren't quick to send over my medical history and it took a couple phone calls to get that completed.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
We paid for a multiple cycle treatment - meaning 3 egg retrievals and unlimited transfers (depending on number of eggs) for $21,500. This program did not allow for PGS to be added; so when Dr. Shamma advised we needed PGS testing after 3 miscarriages we had to break contract. We had the remainder of our prepaid money go towards another retrieval and transfer but needed to pay an additional $5000 at that time for PGS. We are now out of funds completely as that last transfer failed; so we ended up having 2 eggs retrievals, 3 transfers (1 of those being PGS).
Describe Nicholas Shamma's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
We asked for single embryo transfer due to PGS testing.
What specific things went wrong at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
- Failed to call with results
- Failed to send your chart to another clinic
- Failed to inform you of changes in protocol
- Provided conflicting information
- Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
There were a few instances where I had to call MORE THAN ONCE to get results, information and or answers. But there were other instances where they went out of their way to make sure we were good, so overall no huge complaints. Like I've stated before, there was an issue with my medication calendar and the new nurse was allowed to create it for me and no one reviewed it and the estrace after transfer was missed. I shouldn't as a patient have to make sure I know this and I trusted my nurse had it correct. NOW I will definitely make sure going forward that I have a seasoned nurse and nothing else gets missed.
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10
10
Age
33
Treated
2017
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
3 IUI, 1 IVF, Egg Freezing
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
10
He [Dr. Nicholas Shamma] was very straight forward and honest with my husband and I about the plan to move forward. He said, "we will get you pregnant." I did not hear an empty promise there, I heard that he will walk us through whatever it takes. We had seen another specialist prior to Dr. Shamma that was not this way and it was exhausting. Dr. Shamma was funny, caring, friendly, knowledgeable and took his time with us.
I liked the scheduling capabilities and location availability. They had an office right by my house that I could go to for my frequent visits (ultrasounds/blood draws) This was very convenient. The nurses and front desk made me feel comfortable and were never rude and never made me feel overwhelmed. I have felt the complete opposite at the previous fertility specialist I was at so I know what to compare to!
Age
33
Treated
2017
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
Other
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Sales Representative
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
3 IUI, 1 IVF, Egg Freezing
Diagnosis
Unexplained
10
10
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
He was very straight forward and honest with my husband and I about the plan to move forward. He said, "we will get you pregnant." I did not hear an empty promise there, I heard that he will walk us through whatever it takes. We had seen another specialist prior to Dr. Shamma that was not this way and it was exhausting. Dr. Shamma was funny, caring, friendly, knowledgeable and took his time with us.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Trust him, he knows what he is doing and also ask questions!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
The nurses were very personable and happy to answer all my questions. I never felt rushed. Dr. Shamma was personable and funny and caring. Front desk staff was so accommodating and friendly. They were all very willing to work with my schedule and made me feel like I was their most important patient.
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
I liked the scheduling capabilities and location availability. They had an office right by my house that I could go to for my frequent visits (ultrasounds/blood draws) This was very convenient. The nurses and front desk made me feel comfortable and were never rude and never made me feel overwhelmed. I have felt the complete opposite at the previous fertility specialist I was at so I know what to compare to!
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Costs were comparable to others. I checked with three highly recommended fertility specialists in the state to compare. The only difference is that we did NOT feel "nickel and dimed" here. Everything was explained to us up front in detail as far as costs for care.
Describe Nicholas Shamma's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
We were educated and made a decision based on what we thought was best. Dr. Shamma did not push his opinion on to us and let us know possible outcomes.
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Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
7
8
Age
45 - 47
Treated
2015 - 2017
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
1 IUI, IVF, Donor Eggs
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Poor Egg Quality
7
8
I feel that Dr. Shamma is capable and very knowledgeable. His bedside manner is direct and confident. He will not offer false hope and that's positive. He is a very busy doctor and unfortunately there are moments that can cause you to feel like he's rushing or just done with your appointment before you feel like you are....I had an egg donor. So my protocol was for transfer only. I started on birth control pills the month prior to transfer to sync my cycle with my donor. At that time I had a saline ultrasound, which showed a polyp. I was scheduled for a surgery the following week to have that removed.
The staff at the clinic [IVF Michigan] was great!...Betsy and Lori were amazing! At times they gave a bit too much information so that you felt a bit confused when you got home. However, they are more than available if you have a question and need to call them. It would have been helpful to have a binder or big folder so that we could have the information with us....I had an egg donor. So my protocol was for transfer only....Very close to 20,000$
Age
45 - 47
Treated
2015 - 2017
Success with this Doc
No
Race
Other
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
1 IUI, IVF, Donor Eggs
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Poor Egg Quality
7
8
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
I feel that Dr. Shamma is capable and very knowledgeable. His bedside manner is direct and confident. He will not offer false hope and that's positive. He is a very busy doctor and unfortunately there are moments that can cause you to feel like he's rushing or just done with your appointment before you feel like you are.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Be prepared for anything.
Describe the protocols Nicholas Shamma used in your cycles at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers and their degree of success.
I had an egg donor. So my protocol was for transfer only.
I started on birth control pills the month prior to transfer to sync my cycle with my donor. At that time I had a saline ultrasound, which showed a polyp. I was scheduled for a surgery the following week to have that removed. I began estradiol and a low dose aspirin. I also took a multivitamin with higher folic acid in it. The day of my donors retrieval I began progesterone and oil injections. I also began taking steroid pills. I took those 3 times a day, 5 pills each time. Dr. Shamma uses this as a burst for your immune system. This was one of the most difficult parts. The steroids had many side affects for me. At transfer, we had 2 eggs put back, I continued with the progesterone and oil injections, also added in the blood thinner injection in my stomach. Can not think of the name. Also, 5 days of an antibiotic. This was to prevent any infection from the transfer. My blood was checked regularly. And my levels were always good. Unfortunately, my procedure did not result in a positive pregnancy test.
Describe your experience with your nurse at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers. (Assigned nurse: Betsy )
Betsy and Lori were amazing! At times they gave a bit too much information so that you felt a bit confused when you got home. However, they are more than available if you have a question and need to call them. It would have been helpful to have a binder or big folder so that we could have the information with us.
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
The staff at the clinic was great!
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Very close to 20,000$
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8
10
Age
27
Treated
2017
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
8 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
PCOS, Other
8
10
Dr Shamma is very knowledgeable, and he will answer all of your questions. However, he is very quick and straight to the point.... he tends to use big terms, so you have to remind him to break it down a little better for you.... When my husband and I experienced our miscarriage, he was truly empathetic to our situation. He opened up about his experience with his wife with infertility.... When something doesn’t work, he was quick to move to the next option.
The clinic [IVF Michigan] was just remodeled so it is super fresh and clean. The equipment is up to date. The staff is excellent. Never had a single moment where they weren’t happy or helpful. They are quick to get you checked in and out. Can pay bills in person or through mail. Quick to have things faxed. Overall great clinic.... Kathy was there for multiple ultrasounds, explaining things, and was truly helpful with the miscarriage.
Age
27
Treated
2017
Success with this Doc
No
Race
European
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
Nurse or HC Services
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
8 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
PCOS, Other
8
10
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
As I previously said, Dr Shamma is very knowledgeable. He has an extensive educational back ground and he is well known in the state of Michigan for his clinic. He will answer all of your questions, he seems to genuinely care. When my husband and I experienced our miscarriage, he was truly empathetic to our situation. He opened up about his experience with his wife with infertility. He truly was sorry, and only wanted what was best for us.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Because Dr Shamma is so knowledgeable, he tends to use big terms, so you have to remind him to break it down a little better for you.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Dr Shamma is very knowledgeable, and he will answer all of your questions. However, he is very quick and straight to the point.
Describe the protocols Nicholas Shamma used in your cycles at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers and their degree of success.
When something doesn’t work, he was quick to move to the next option. Which I liked, my husband and I have been trying for four years to have a child, and I didn’t want to play a guessing game or wait around to hope something might work. Moving on to the next option was what I wanted! I saw Dr Ayers for six months before he retired and then switched to Dr Shamma. They both had strict plans, and laid it out perfectly so that it was easy to follow. I did two rounds of Femara, the first round I was not able to make it to the office for the ultrasound, so I did another round, on this ultrasound the eggs weren’t growing like they’d hoped, so we moved on to the next option. We tried femara with I jectable hormones, and I got pregnant with twins. Unfortunately at ten weeks I had a miscarriage, but this is where Dr Shamma and the whole staff were so gracious. The nurse, Kathy, told me day or night to call her even if I just needed to cry. When we were ready to try again, we went back and Dr Shamma had the next plan for us. Because I have Factor V Leiden, he wanted to do IVF to ensure only one egg was implanted because he thought twins or greater would be too stressful for my body and I would possibly miscarry again. So this is where we, getting financing for IVF.
Describe your experience with your nurse at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers. (Assigned nurse: Kathy)
Kathy was there for multiple ultrasounds, explaining things, and was truly helpful with the miscarriage. She made herself available to me day or night, for anything, to ask questions or to simply even cry.
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
The clinic was just remodeled so it is super fresh and clean. The equipment is up to date. The staff is excellent. Never had a single moment where they weren’t happy or helpful. They are quick to get you checked in and out. Can pay bills in person or through mail. Quick to have things faxed. Overall great clinic.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
My insurance was actually very good. I only ever paid my copay, which was $40 per visit. The prescriptions were very inexpensive as well. We received paperwork regarding the IVF cycle and costs associated. It was broken down line by line indicating what each dollar was allocated to.
Describe Nicholas Shamma's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
As I said before, I have Factor V Leiden. This is a bleeding disorder that causes clotting. Pregnancy is a hypercoagulating state, and the more babies you carry, the greater your risk is. With the bleeding disorder the risk is even higher. So with the single embryo transfer, we were able to guarantee obviously only one embryo.
What specific things went wrong at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
- Lost paperwork
Describe the specific things that went wrong at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
The office had lost my paperwork regarding my referral letter from my PCP, so I had to have that faxed over to them again.
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10
10
Age
30
Treated
2016
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
3 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
PCOS
10
10
[Dr Shamma] introduced himself gave us his background he went over our file and was very thorough with asking questions. He then went over a couple of options and he wanted us to know it was completely our choice and was very detailed. He was compassionate and caring and easy to talk to. He is very efficient...told us in the beginning that the clomid was a low chance with my pcos but still he was ok with us trying that option and supported us...
The nursing staff [at IVF Michigan] was very helpful and compassionate. They were very knowledgeable and helped anyway they could...Total for IVF without prescription costs $11,130 this was including a $2000 discount for law enforcement...The clinic’s Dr and staff work well together and help one another. They are all very friendly and compassionate. The clinic’s office makes you feel welcomed. You feel like you’ve known all of them for awhile they take the time and ask you questions and make sure you have everything you need. Any time you phone them you get your answer in a timely manner. I wouldn’t say there are any weaknesses.
Age
30
Treated
2016
Success with this Doc
?
Race
European, Latino, Native American
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
3 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
PCOS
10
10
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
The first time meeting Dr Shamma I was scared of what he was going to tell me. He introduced himself gave us his background he went over our file and was very thorough with asking questions. He then went over a couple of options and he wanted us to know it was completely our choice and was very detailed. He was compassionate and caring and easy to talk to. He is very efficient.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions if you don’t understand he will explain everything and if you don’t understand he will help with understanding. He is very friendly and compassionate. The office treats you as human being and not just another number coming through. You feel welcomed and it is a relief.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Dr Shamma and his staff are very caring and take the time with each patient. They listen to you, explain to their fullest, give suggestions and ask for your personal opinion to help you along the difficult journey.
Describe the protocols Nicholas Shamma used in your cycles at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers and their degree of success.
When we first met with Dr Shamma he had given us 2 options. One was try clomid with an injection. The second option was directly to IVF. With the price and the money we had at the time we chose option one trying the clomid and injection but I was never able to try the injection in all 3 times I tried. Dr Shamma told us in the beginning that the clomid was a low chance with my pcos but still he was ok with us trying that option and supported us.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
The nursing staff was very helpful and compassionate. They were very knowledgeable and helped anyway they could.
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
The clinic’s Dr and staff work well together and help one another. They are all very friendly and compassionate. The clinic’s office makes you feel welcomed. You feel like you’ve known all of them for awhile they take the time and ask you questions and make sure you have everything you need. Any time you phone them you get your answer in a timely manner. I wouldn’t say there are any weaknesses.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Retrieval cost $8400 or $8900 if over 10 eggs. Transfer fee $2730 freeze and storage up to 4 $550(if pre-paid) or $850. Total for IVF without prescription costs $11,130 this was including a $2000 discount for law enforcement
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9
9
Age
30 - 31
Treated
2015 - 2016
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
5 IUI, 2 IVF
Diagnosis
Tubal Blockage
9
9
I absolutely love Dr. Shamma. He was very truthful and knowledgeable. I always felt 100% at ease with him....He was very personable and had great bed side manners.... IVF with ICSi was our only option. My tubes are blocked and my husbands sperm quality and quantity were on the low end. I was on medication and injections. On retrieval day, Dr. Shamma retrieved 2 eggs. 1 turned into an embryo and was transferred on day 5. Today I have a beautiful spunky little girl.
The staff at IVF Mi were not the friendliest. Many times I would call due to an issue and have to wait 2-3 days before I got a return phone call.... Strengths: clean and modern environment, knowledgeable doctors who have great bedside manners Weakness: office staff is not organized, nurses can be somewhat rude, wait time are long even when you have an appointment
Age
30 - 31
Treated
2015 - 2016
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
East Asian
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
3rd of 3 Docs
Treatment
5 IUI, 2 IVF
Diagnosis
Tubal Blockage
9
9
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
I absolutely love Dr. Shamma. He was very truthful and knowledgeable. I always felt 100% at ease with him. What I appreciate the most and what I will always remember is my day of transfer with Dr. Shamma. I was really nervous on the day of the transfer, and I only had 1 embryo. Dr. Shamma said a prayer for me before the transfer and stayed by my side to help comfort my husband and I. He went above and beyond to ensure that we understood every step he was taking.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Be patient when dealing with the nurses and staff. They are not the friendliest; however, Dr. Shamma is worth it!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
The staff at IVF Mi were not the friendliest. Many times I would call due to an issue and have to wait 2-3 days before I got a return phone call. When I went in for monitoring, I felt like the interactions I had with the nurses were automated. However, besides the nurses and office staff, Dr. Shamma is amazing. He was very personable and had great bed side manners.
Describe the protocols Nicholas Shamma used in your cycles at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers and their degree of success.
IVF with ICSi was our only option. My tubes are blocked and my husbands sperm quality and quantity were on the low end. I was on medication and injections. On retrieval day, Dr. Shamma retrieved 2 eggs. 1 turned into an embryo and was transferred on day 5. Today I have a beautiful spunky little girl.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
I felt like the nursing staff was not the most approachable group of people. This is probably because they are inadated with work. Many times I would call for help and not get a call back until 2-3 days.
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Strengths: clean and modern environment, knowledgeable doctors who have great bedside manners
Weakness: office staff is not organized, nurses can be somewhat rude, wait time are long even when you have an appointment
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
My husband and I paid for the guaranteed program that covered 3 fresh rounds and 3 frozen rounds. It was $19,950 plus $300 for anesthesia for each retrieval’s. Luckily, we got our baby the 1st time.
What specific things went wrong at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
- Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
- Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
The nurses did not inform me when to stop taking blood thinners. While my cycle was successful, I was on blood thinners longer then what the doctor wanted.
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10
10
Age
29 - 30
Treated
2015 - 2016
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
IVF, Donor Eggs
Diagnosis
PCOS
10
10
Our IVF [with Dr. Nicholas Shamma] resulted in a pregnancy but unfortunately ended in miscarriage a few weeks later...allowed me to ask any questions and he answered them and took the time doing so. He’s in this business for the right reasons!...made this rather difficult process, as easy as he possibly could. He thoroughly explained things, asked if we were okay and comfortable and never left us in the dark. He had compassion over what was a difficult decision for us to make and didn’t try to sway us one way or another.
[The staff at IVF Michigan were] Kind, caring, compassionate! Helpful in explaining things to you. Quick wait times most of the time at each appointment. Billing was confusing but otherwise overall care at the clinic was outstanding!...Our primary nurse was amazing as well as the other nurse we had! The only issue we had with the clinic was the office manager. She was short to talk with and feisty and didn’t explain much with the billing so we were often left confused and needing more money than we anticipated that day.
Age
29 - 30
Treated
2015 - 2016
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
Prefer not to answer
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
Nurse or HC Services
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
IVF, Donor Eggs
Diagnosis
PCOS
10
10
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Dr. Shamma made this rather difficult process, as easy as he possibly could. He thoroughly explained things, asked if we were okay and comfortable and never left us in the dark. He had compassion over what was a difficult decision for us to make and didn’t try to sway us one way or another.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Ask questions. He doesn’t hold anything back from you! You are your own worst enemy if you don’t ask to know the entire process!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Dr. Shamma allowed me to ask any questions and he answered them and took the time doing so. He’s in this business for the right reasons!
Describe the protocols Nicholas Shamma used in your cycles at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers and their degree of success.
We used donor eggs due to a genetic condition. Our donor and myself were synced together to match our cycles. When she went for retrieval my husband and I went down so my husband could leave his semen to be put with the eggs. The embryos were allowed to grow for a few days and then transferred into me. Our IVF resulted in a pregnancy but unfortunately ended in miscarriage a few weeks later.
Describe your experience with your nurse at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers. (Assigned nurse: Betsy)
Our primary nurse was amazing as well as the other nurse we had! The only issue we had with the clinic was the office manager. She was short to talk with and feisty and didn’t explain much with the billing so we were often left confused and needing more money than we anticipated that day.
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Kind, caring, compassionate! Helpful in explaining things to you. Quick wait times most of the time at each appointment. Billing was confusing but otherwise overall care at the clinic was outstanding! We have referred several friends there and they have had great success as well.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Do not remember
Describe Nicholas Shamma's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
He advised us to transfer two only and no more than that.
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10
10
Age
30 - 31
Treated
2014 - 2015
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
2 IUI, IVF
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve
10
10
Dr Shamma is not only an extremely smart, knowledgeable and skilled doctor but he is also a kind human being. He treats every patient with respect and shows empathy if he has to give you news that you dont want to hear. ... Dr Shamma was open and honest about the route we needed to take. He didn't try and talk over our heads, he explained everything exquisitely and was very kind. ...
The only weakness I can think of is it can be hard to get scheduled as a new patient because they [IVF Michigan] are very busy. But again, this is not a bad thing. ... Be patient and wait for them, I'm glad I did! ... I think the only weakness I can say is the nursing staff cares too much but that is not a bad thing, at least for the patients. I could sit here all day and list their strengths. They are knowledgeable, skilled, kind, and real. We loved all the nurses.
Age
30 - 31
Treated
2014 - 2015
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
Other
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
Business Executive
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
2 IUI, IVF
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve
10
10
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Dr Shamma is not only an extremely smart, knowledgeable and skilled doctor but he is also a kind human being. He treats every patient with respect and shows empathy if he has to give you news that you dont want to hear. I cannot thank him enough for everything he has done for us.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Though Dr Shamma is highly skilled, he ultimately isnt God, so if God forbid he is unable to help, it's not his fault. He truly goes above and beyond and if it is possible, he is the dr to help make it happen.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Dr Shamma was open and honest about the route we needed to take. He didn't try and talk over our heads, he explained everything exquisitely and was very kind.
Describe the protocols Nicholas Shamma used in your cycles at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers and their degree of success.
It has been a few years but after testing but before IVF, I had a hysteroscopy to help clear my uterus of any polyps or fibroids. Then started a cycle of injections twice a day for 2 weeks. Us and bloodwork every 2-3 days during that time with adjustments to meds if necessary. Then egg retrieval and injections of progesterone. Day 5 embryo transfer and blood work 2 weeks after for positive/negative pregnancy test. I know there was more but it's been a cpl years.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
I think the only weakness I can say is the nursing staff cares too much but that is not a bad thing, at least for the patients. I could sit here all day and list their strengths. They are knowledgeable, skilled, kind, and real. We loved all the nurses.
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
The only weakness I can think of is it can be hard to get scheduled as a new patient because they are very busy. But again, this is not a bad thing. They are busy because they are the best!!! Be patient and wait for them, I'm glad I did!
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10
10
Age
27
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
48 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Male Factor, PCOS
10
10
He [Dr. Nicholas Shamma] was very passionate about ivf working for us. He also explained and wrote down exactly what we needed to do and what we could expect for the next step in our infertility process. We had seen 3 other fertility doctors before Dr. Shamma and he instantly knew I had pcos and instantly started me on metformin... He told his personal story of ivf and just made us feel like we had hope.
The clinic [IVF Michigan- Saginaw] is in a remote location from where I live. I just wish they can do egg retrieval and transfers right at the Saginaw location as oppose to driving to Bloomfield. But all ultrasounds and blood work are done alin Saginaw.. They [the nursing staff] are very understanding. Anytime I've had a question I would just call and they would be glad to answer/help with anything.
Age
27
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
?
Race
—
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
Operations
Order & Number of Docs Seen
4th of 4 Docs
Treatment
48 Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Male Factor, PCOS
10
10
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
He was very passionate about ivf working for us. He also explained and wrote down exactly what we needed to do and what we could expect for the next step in our infertility process. We had seen 3 other fertility doctors before Dr. Shamma and he instantly knew I had pcos and instantly started me on metformin.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
I would highly recommend him and his office. Infertility can be a long process in itself so be sure to ask questions so you can closure on what your curious qbout. Dr. Shamma and his staff are more than willing to explain everything step by step so there is no question or doubt.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
He told his personal story of ivf and just made us feel like we had hope.
Describe the protocols Nicholas Shamma used in your cycles at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers and their degree of success.
I have not started the IVF process (shots, ultrasounds, blood work etc) yet. They do have an estimated egg retrieval day expecting my period to start on a certain day.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
They are very understanding. Anytime I've had a question I would just call and they would be glad to answer/help with anything.
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
The clinic is in a remote location from where I live. I just wish they can do egg retrieval and transfers right at the Saginaw location as oppose to driving to Bloomfield. But all ultrasounds and blood work are done alin Saginaw.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Treatment costs were about $15,000. Not including any medication.
Describe Nicholas Shamma's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
He did not have a preference on how many embryos to transfer but did say that if we transferred two we would have better chances than if we just transferred one.
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0
0
Age
37 - 38
Treated
2017 - 2018
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
11 IUI, 2 IVF
Diagnosis
—
0
0
I mentioned my husband had infertility issues, he [Dr. Shamma] said it was not a factor. Each time it was 20-30 min after the appointment to see him. We maybe had 15 minutes with him before pushing us out the door to his next appointment. ... He barely looked at our file. Didn't ask any questions of each of us. ... He was matter of fact. ... Go in with thick skin and be prepared for bluntness.
Weaknesses: The office [IVF Michigan] is under staffed, rude, terrible communication skills and have screwed up on medications. ... Faxed and emailed in information to them multiple times. They say they never got it or it was misplaced. Called after the times of when my medication should have been administered because they got busy. Forgot to tell me when certain things should be done.
Age
37 - 38
Treated
2017 - 2018
Success with this Doc
No
Race
Prefer not to answer
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
Sales Representative
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
11 IUI, 2 IVF
Diagnosis
—
0
0
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
He barely looked at our file. Didn't ask any questions of each of us. I mentioned my husband had infertility issues, he said it was not a factor. Each time it was 20-30 min after the appointment to see him. We maybe had 15 minutes with him before pushing us out the door to his next appointment.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Go in with thick skin and be prepared for bluntness. Most say he has no bedside manner but I did not see him that way. He was matter of fact.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
No one in the office looked you in the eye. Always down at their sheet. They were guick to get you out of the office.
Describe the protocols Nicholas Shamma used in your cycles at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers and their degree of success.
Injections to stimulate the eggs
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
They don't look you in the eye. Takes 2-3 days to get emails or a call back
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Strengths: They have a good success rate when it comes to IVF once eggs are transferred. Shamma is confident that if you produce a good egg - he will make it stick. Weaknesses: The office is under staffed, rude, terrible communication skills and have screwed up on medications.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
$22,000 for IVF all upfront. Not including medications. If you do not make it to egg transfer you have to wait 3 months to get your money back that you initially payed
What specific things went wrong at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
- Lost paperwork
- Failed to call with results
- Failed to inform you of changes in protocol
- Lost results
- Provided conflicting information
- Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Faxed and emailed in information to them multiple times. They say they never got it or it was misplaced. Called after the times of when my medication should have been administered because they got busy. Forgot to tell me when certain things should be done.
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6
7
Age
40 - 41
Treated
2017 - 2018
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
2 IUI, 8 IVF, 2 Embryo Freezing
Diagnosis
Unexplained
6
7
Don't expect a warm and compassionate person. He [Dr. Nicholas Shamma] is knowledgeable but lacks in bedside manner...I had a high dose of gonal/menopur/cetrotide. My doses were pushed to the max to increase my results. He did give try a few different methods regarding supplements and hormone treatment each time...I never had more than one embryo to transfer but I do know he suggests 2 for someone my age (40)...always seemed very busy. He made time to talk but it always felt somewhat rushed.
Each cycle with PGS testing [at IVF Michigan] was approximately $16,000 with some discounts...The clinic in Ann Arbor is smaller than the other locations and felt like a small family. Very organized and clean. My experience with the clinic was pleasant and I have no complaints. During the ups and downs, I felt like everyone was really rooting for me...The nursing staff was amazing. Kind and compassionate and always available...I had a high dose of gonal/menopur/cetrotide. My doses were pushed to the max to increase my results. He did give try a few different methods regarding supplements and hormone treatment each time.
Age
40 - 41
Treated
2017 - 2018
Success with this Doc
No
Race
European, Middle Eastern
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Lawyer
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 3 Docs
Treatment
2 IUI, 8 IVF, 2 Embryo Freezing
Diagnosis
Unexplained
6
7
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Dr. Shamma was somewhat on the brusque side. While he seemed highly qualified medically speaking, he lacked a warm bedside manner. He just seemed spread too thin and it always felt rushed. My last hysteroscopy, he suggested I use a gestational surrogate due to scar tissue. I did seek a second opinion and it was different. After so many failures, I decided to change clinics.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Don't expect a warm and compassionate person. He is knowledgeable but lacks in bedside manner.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Dr. Shamma always seemed very busy. He made time to talk but it always felt somewhat rushed.
Describe the protocols Nicholas Shamma used in your cycles at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers and their degree of success.
I had a high dose of gonal/menopur/cetrotide. My doses were pushed to the max to increase my results. He did give try a few different methods regarding supplements and hormone treatment each time.
Describe your experience with your nurse at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers. (Assigned nurse: Cathy)
The nursing staff was amazing. Kind and compassionate and always available.
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
The clinic in Ann Arbor is smaller than the other locations and felt like a small family. Very organized and clean. My experience with the clinic was pleasant and I have no complaints. During the ups and downs, I felt like everyone was really rooting for me.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Each cycle with PGS testing was approximately $16,000 with some discounts.
Describe Nicholas Shamma's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
I never had more than one embryo to transfer but I do know he suggests 2 for someone my age (40).
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Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
5
6
Age
29 - 30
Treated
2017 - 2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
3 IVF, 3 Embryo Freezing
Diagnosis
—
5
6
I learned the day before my egg retrieval he [Dr. Shamma] would not be the one doing it- which was a bit upsetting. He and I got into an argument the day of my transfer because I wanted to transfer two eggs. The clinic had already thawed them and I would have lost one/possibly not had the pregnancy I ended up with.... We had a standard stim cycle that stayed as planned. With my transfer he used a blood thinner- they think this is why I had so much bleeding in my first trimester.
They [IVF Michigan] are not great about letting you know every cost upfront. They can get you in to be seen really quickly. Billing can be a nightmare. The location is fairly convenient and well taken care of. Lab is alrIght but I have had better experiences.... Kathy and Kerrie are always invested in your cycle and I felt comfortable with them.... I learned the day before my egg retrieval he [Dr. Shamma] would not be the one doing it- which was a bit upsetting.
Age
29 - 30
Treated
2017 - 2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European
Income
$0 - $49K
Occupation
Marketer or PR
Order & Number of Docs Seen
4th of 4 Docs
Treatment
3 IVF, 3 Embryo Freezing
Diagnosis
—
5
6
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
I learned the day before my egg retrieval he would not be the one doing it- which was a bit upsetting. He and I got into an argument the day of my transfer because I wanted to transfer two eggs. The clinic had already thawed them and I would have lost one/possibly not had the pregnancy I ended up with.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Make sure to be clear upfront and be ready to see other providers as I rarely even saw him.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
I had another doctor that would personally call me when I had questions or bleeding in the first trimester, with Shamma everything went through a nurse. I felt like I was just pressured into making an appointment so he could earn money.
Describe the protocols Nicholas Shamma used in your cycles at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers and their degree of success.
We had a standard stim cycle that stayed as planned. With my transfer he used a blood thinner- they think this is why I had so much bleeding in my first trimester.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
Kathy and Kerrie are always invested in your cycle and I felt comfortable with them.
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
They are not great about letting you know every cost upfront. They can get you in to be seen really quickly. Billing can be a nightmare. The location is fairly convenient and well taken care of. Lab is alrIght but I have had better experiences.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
$12k about for a full cycle
Describe Nicholas Shamma's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
I believe multiple embryo transfer is more successful, Shamma wants to only transfer a single.
What specific things went wrong at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
- Lost paperwork
- Provided conflicting information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Billing is a disaster
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6
7
Age
27 - 28
Treated
2017 - 2018
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Male Factor, Unexplained, Other
6
7
He [Dr. Nicholas Shamma] is very honest and realistic. When we were told that my husband had no sperm, it was a shock to us and we cried in his office. He told us not to give up and even told my husband “I’m going to tell you like I’d tell my son, we will fix this someway” it was a very genuine moment with him.... He’s very forward, don’t get upset by the way he delivers results. He’s trying to get answers and doesn’t allow emotion to get in his way.
We dealt with a lot of nurses in the office [IVF Michigan]. Some were very kind and compassionate while others were down right rude and condescending. They’d give you a packet of information and then briefly explain it, if you had questions it was like they’re were annoyed. Very discouraging. Insult to injury. They didn’t care that we were grieving the loss of our future children.
Age
27 - 28
Treated
2017 - 2018
Success with this Doc
No
Race
European
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Male Factor, Unexplained, Other
6
7
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
He is very honest and realistic. When we were told that my husband had no sperm, it was a shock to us and we cried in his office. He told us not to give up and even told my husband “I’m going to tell you like I’d tell my son, we will fix this someway” it was a very genuine moment with him.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
He’s very forward, don’t get upset by the way he delivers results. He’s trying to get answers and doesn’t allow emotion to get in his way.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
It was very nice that the dr treated us well. He explained what we would need to do and he was very honest with what our outcome was looking like. However, his staff, nurses, are very rude if you call with a question. They treat you like you’re stupid and talk down to you. Very discouraging.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
We dealt with a lot of nurses in the office. Some were very kind and compassionate while others were down right rude and condescending. They’d give you a packet of information and then briefly explain it, if you had questions it was like they’re were annoyed. Very discouraging. Insult to injury. They didn’t care that we were grieving the loss of our future children.
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Be prepared for the bluntness of this clinic. They can be great and helpful but they don’t really care about your feelings. Not much emotional support. You will get the answers you are looking for, even if they aren’t what you’re hoping for.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Our insurance covered everything for diagnosis. IVF cycle quote we got was over $14,000
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10
10
Age
27 - 30
Treated
2012 - 2015
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Anovulation, Other
10
10
After a thorough work up we met with him and he [Dr Nicholas Shamma] told us that IVF was our only option (due to my specific problem). He was patient and kind, answered all of our questions. Never made us to feel that he had a waiting room full of people on his mind. He was also upfront about what we should expect. Because Dr Shamma has many satellite locations in Michigan and Ohio, he is only in Saginaw every Monday.
IVF requires frequent labs and ultrasounds so there were lots of interactions with nurses. Lori and Betsy [at IVF Michigan] were fantastic and made the process SO much easier. They would call you same day with lab results and were always available. Betsy even met me at the office at 5:30pm on the night of her sons high school graduation to assess an allergic reaction I was having to the progesterone in oil. I can't say enough about the office staff. I have completed my IVF and TTC journey but hope that others considering the process will be so lucky as to choose Dr Shammas office. You won'
Age
27 - 30
Treated
2012 - 2015
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Nurse or HC Services
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1st of 2 Docs
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Anovulation, Other
10
10
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
I went to Dr Shamma when I was 26. I knew I would have trouble getting pregnant but being a healthy and young I didn't think IVF was in my future. After a thorough work up we met with him and he told us that IVF was our only option (due to my specific problem). He was patient and kind, answered all of our questions. Never made us to feel that he had a waiting room full of people on his mind. He was also upfront about what we should expect. Because Dr Shamma has many satellite locations in Michigan and Ohio, he is only in Saginaw every Monday.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
He was kind and positive. His demeanor was very caring.
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
IVF requires frequent labs and ultrasounds so there were lots of interactions with nurses. Lori and Betsy were fantastic and made the process SO much easier. They would call you same day with lab results and were always available. Betsy even met me at the office at 5:30pm on the night of her sons high school graduation to assess an allergic reaction I was having to the progesterone in oil. I can't say enough about the office staff. I have completed my IVF and TTC journey but hope that others considering the process will be so lucky as to choose Dr Shammas office. You won't be sorry.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Total cost for a fresh cycle in 2012 was ~12-15k with drugs and for a frozen cycle in 2014 was ~10k
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Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
10
10
Age
30 - 32
Treated
2016 - 2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
IVF, Surrogacy
Diagnosis
—
10
10
He [Dr. Shamma] prefers single transfers, however is open to multiple transfers. Depending on the quality of the uterus and quality of the embryos...Always starting on a birth control regimen and then into a protocol of steroids, anabiotic’s, injections and assisting medications. Protocol altered when setbacks occurred. The doctor is always proactive in his treatments...Compassionate, caring, unbelievably knowledgeable and brilliant.
Nursing staff [at IVF Michigan], wonderful. Office staff could use some improvement. All questions are always answered efficiently, calls and emails returned in a timely manner, paperwork and any testing required all done efficiently. The office staff seems as though it’s changing Frequently and the personal touch and care is missed...He [Dr. Shamma] prefers single transfers, however is open to multiple transfers.
Age
30 - 32
Treated
2016 - 2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
Other
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
Operations
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1st of 3 Docs
Treatment
IVF, Surrogacy
Diagnosis
—
10
10
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Compassionate, caring, unbelievably knowledgeable and brilliant. My fave:proactive. He goes above and beyond to set and exceed expectations. Throughout every step of the way he’s helpful and kind. All questions always answered, statistics to prove history, experience and how he foresees treatment and transfers outcome.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Go for it!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
He’s the best thing since sliced bread. No joke.
Describe the protocols Nicholas Shamma used in your cycles at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers and their degree of success.
Always starting on a birth control regimen and then into a protocol of steroids, anabiotic’s, injections and assisting medications. Protocol altered when setbacks occurred. The doctor is always proactive in his treatments
Describe your experience with your nurse at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers. (Assigned nurse: Megan)
Wonderful, warm and caring
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Dr., incredible. Nursing staff, wonderful. Office staff could use some improvement. All questions are always answered efficiently, calls and emails returned in a timely manner, paperwork and any testing required all done efficiently. The office staff seems as though it’s changing Frequently and the personal touch and care is missed.
Describe Nicholas Shamma's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
He prefers single transfers, however is open to multiple transfers. Depending on the quality of the uterus and quality of the embryos
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8
8
Age
28 - 32
Treated
2014 - 2018
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
1 IVF, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
—
8
8
Dr. Shamma is amazing at what he does. He takes his job very seriously. He wants his patients to be successful while also maintaining patient safety.... Medications were ordered based on my needs. However, labwork is always on a "no news is good news" basis. Leaving room for error.... I had a cancelled FET. Dr. Shamma increased medications for my next FET.... The nurses and surgical techs are great at Bloomfield Hills. Tori is AMAZING!!!! The clinic is organized. Planning can be difficult for procedures because scheduling is done the day before.
Treatment at IVF Michigan is VERY expensive! Discounts are given to certain people throughout treatment. Not sure how those are always given. FET is over $6000 with nothing included other than the transfer.... The nurses and surgical techs are great at Bloomfield Hills. Tori is AMAZING!!!! The clinic is organized. Planning can be difficult for procedures because scheduling is done the day before.
Age
28 - 32
Treated
2014 - 2018
Success with this Doc
No
Race
Other
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
Professor
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
1 IVF, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
—
8
8
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Dr. Shamma is amazing at what he does. He takes his job very seriously. He wants his patients to be successful while also maintaining patient safety. However, the cost is a significant concern with continued care with Dr. Shamma.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Be prepared for high cost treatment.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Medications were ordered based on my needs. However, labwork is always on a "no news is good news" basis. Leaving room for error.
Describe the protocols Nicholas Shamma used in your cycles at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers and their degree of success.
I had a cancelled FET. Dr. Shamma increased medications for my next FET.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
Megan and Brittany are amazing.
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
The nurses and surgical techs are great at Bloomfield Hills. Tori is AMAZING!!!! The clinic is organized. Planning can be difficult for procedures because scheduling is done the day before.
I have nothing more to say about the clinic.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Treatment at IVF Michigan is VERY expensive! Discounts are given to certain people throughout treatment. Not sure how those are always given. FET is over $6000 with nothing included other than the transfer.
What specific things went wrong at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
- Failed to call with results
Describe the specific things that went wrong at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
They operate the lab results on a "no news is good news" basis. Seems unprofoessional considering the cost of IVF treatment at IVF Michigan.
- Read less
8
8
Age
34 - 35
Treated
2016 - 2017
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
5 IUI, 2 IVF
Diagnosis
Anovulation, Unexplained
8
8
Dr Shamma had a more aggressive, let's try everything approach. This was very much what we needed at the time after some big setbacks with previous experiences. If it had been our first experience U may have felt that he was overly aggressive, but it was what we needed at the time.... Maybe not the fuzziest person, but a good and kind doctor.... We did everything this round.. including pgs, uterine procedures, and higher doses of hormones
The head nurse [at IVF Michigan-Ypsilanti] made an effort to communicate regularly with us. After a negative experience with another clinic we really needed some extra care. It wasnt perfect but they made every effort and we were much happier with our experience this time around.... I think going into any IVF experience you need to be prepared and ready to advocate for yourself. Dont be afraid to speak up. They tend to only gice.the information they deem necessary so if you want more info you have to ask.
Age
34 - 35
Treated
2016 - 2017
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Sales Representative
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
5 IUI, 2 IVF
Diagnosis
Anovulation, Unexplained
8
8
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Dr Shamma had a more aggressive, let's try everything approach. This was very much what we needed at the time after some big setbacks with previous experiences. If it had been our first experience U may have felt that he was overly aggressive, but it was what we needed at the time.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Maybe not the fuzziest person, but a good and kind doctor.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
The head nurse made an effort to communicate regularly with us. After a negative experience with another clinic we really needed some extra care. It wasnt perfect but they made every effort and we were much happier with our experience this time around.
Describe the protocols Nicholas Shamma used in your cycles at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers and their degree of success.
We did everything this round.. including pgs, uterine procedures, and higher doses of hormones
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
We had mixed experiences with the nursing staff
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
I think going into any IVF experience you need to be prepared and ready to advocate for yourself. Dont be afraid to speak up. They tend to only gice.the information they deem necessary so if you want more info you have to ask.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Psg, all procedures and medications.. everything together at the end of the day we paid about $30,000
Describe Nicholas Shamma's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
We did PSG and only had one viable embryo
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8
8
Age
34 - 35
Treated
2015 - 2016
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
1 IVF, 1 Egg Freezing, 1 Embryo Freezing
Diagnosis
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss, Unexplained
8
8
Dr Shamma was kind and extremely well-versed in the field. With a diagnosis of unexplained pregnancy loss he did seem quick to conclude that i would be unable to carry my own pregnancy without further tests and trials. Once i miscarried there was no follow up from Dr Shamma or his staff, which was disappointing.... MTHFR treatment Folic Acid Factor 8 treatment Lovenex
Overall a very good clinic, [IVF Michigan] great staff, very helpful and knowledgeable. There are many options for fertility meds, be sure to do your research on meds as well as financial assistance available for fertility programs.... The entire nurse staff was outstanding!... MTHFR treatment Folic Acid Factor 8 treatment Lovenex... Dr Shamma and his staff were very personable, kind and helpful.
Age
34 - 35
Treated
2015 - 2016
Success with this Doc
No
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Operations
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1st of 2 Docs
Treatment
1 IVF, 1 Egg Freezing, 1 Embryo Freezing
Diagnosis
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss, Unexplained
8
8
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Dr Shamma was kind and extremely well-versed in the field. With a diagnosis of unexplained pregnancy loss he did seem quick to conclude that i would be unable to carry my own pregnancy without further tests and trials. Once i miscarried there was no follow up from Dr Shamma or his staff, which was disappointing.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
He is known to be one of the best, he and is staff are great but if your case is not clear cut it wouldn’t be my top recommendation.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Dr Shamma and his staff were very personable, kind and helpful.
Describe the protocols Nicholas Shamma used in your cycles at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers and their degree of success.
MTHFR treatment Folic Acid
Factor 8 treatment Lovenex
Describe your experience with your nurse at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers. (Assigned nurse: Brittany)
The entire nurse staff was outstanding!
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Overall a very good clinic, great staff, very helpful and knowledgeable. There are many options for fertility meds, be sure to do your research on meds as well as financial assistance available for fertility programs.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
About $30,000
Describe Nicholas Shamma's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Dr Shamma did recommend a single transfer however as newlyweds & hoping to be first time parents in our mid to late 30s we were eager and opted for 2 embryos. We lost 1 at 9weeks and the other at 10.5weeks.
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Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
4
3
Age
34
Treated
2013
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor
4
3
For most of the appointments I saw the nurse. Procedures like retreat all are not performed in our area so we had to travel 2 hours.... Dr Shamma pushed for an eset... We were told we had 5 embryos but in reality the document's show 4. We never were called with an embryology report and it took 2 hours of calls the day before transfer to determine if we even had embros to transfer.
[IVF Michigan- Sylvania has a] Great team but lacks communication between department's or to patients everyone is compassionate, and caring. There is only one procedure center that all patients must go to regardless of the distance..... The embryology department did not communicate at all. We were given much different information that what is written in the record
Age
34
Treated
2013
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1st of 2 Docs
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor
4
3
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
There is only one clinic in the area so the prices are high. We had an overall good experience at the clinic but a tremendous amount of difficulty with the embryology lab. For most of the appointments I saw the nurse. Procedures like retreat all are not performed in our area so we had to travel 2 hours.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
The embryology department did not communicate at all. We were given much different information that what is written in the record
Describe the protocols Nicholas Shamma used in your cycles at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers and their degree of success.
I can't remember my protocols
Describe your experience with your nurse at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers. (Assigned nurse: Eric )
We saw Erin, who is not at the clinic any longer. She was awesome!
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Great team but lacks communication between department's or to patients everyone is compassionate, and caring. There is only one procedure center that all patients must go to regardless of the distance.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
We had insurance at the time. We did look into FET and the cost is VERY high compared to other clinica.
Describe Nicholas Shamma's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Dr Shamma pushed for an eset.
What specific things went wrong at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
- Failed to call with results
- Provided conflicting information
- Failed to convey critical information
- Scheduled the wrong procedure
Describe the specific things that went wrong at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
We were told we had 5 embryos but in reality the document's show 4. We never were called with an embryology report and it took 2 hours of calls the day before transfer to determine if we even had embros to transfer.
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Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
8
9
Age
32
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
2 IUI
Diagnosis
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss, Unexplained
8
9
He [Dr. Shamma] is very to the point, not a sweet overly loving guy. He wants answers and to make babies.... He is very well known for good results. He could have easily taken our money and done IVF without ever going into the reasons why it took so long to get pregnant and why we miscarried twins. He is very to the point, black and white. I was not sire what to expect at our initial consult but left feeling okay.
IVF Michigan has several locations which is nice, it has a great reputation and tries to offer competitive pricing for folks like me who has no insurance coverage. The staff is friendly, the office is open from 8-4 daily which is nice. They are courtesy billing our insurance just in case there is any chance of somthing being covered... I have only been to 2 appointments so far but I have worked with 2 nurses. Each is friendly and gives me fast answers to my worry wart questions.
Age
32
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
?
Race
European
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
2 IUI
Diagnosis
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss, Unexplained
8
9
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
He is very well known for good results. He could have easily taken our money and done IVF without ever going into the reasons why it took so long to get pregnant and why we miscarried twins. He is very to the point, black and white. I was not sire what to expect at our initial consult but left feeling okay.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Ask questions to make sure you are comfortable with all aspects of your care
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
He is very to the point, not a sweet overly loving guy. He wants answers and to make babies.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
I have only been to 2 appointments so far but I have worked with 2 nurses. Each is friendly and gives me fast answers to my worry wart questions.
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
IVF Michigan has several locations which is nice, it has a great reputation and tries to offer competitive pricing for folks like me who has no insurance coverage. The staff is friendly, the office is open from 8-4 daily which is nice. They are courtesy billing our insurance just in case there is any chance of somthing being covered
- Read less
Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
10
8
Age
29
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Endometriosis, Tubal Blockage, Uterine Fibroids
10
8
My doctor [Dr. Shamma] understood my fertility issues and explained them to me as simply as possible. Everything was done in a timely manner and everyone was polite. Testing was done very accurately and precisely. I did not leave with any questions and felt like part of the family when I left.... I had ultrasounds performed, blood work done and my partner's semen checked. I did not receive any injections yet, that was my next step but I did not have the funds to start the process.
I did not notice any weaknesses, overall I felt like they [IVF Michigan] answered my questions and were very thorough when helping me and my family. I am very excited to continue on to the next steps of the IVF cycle with this clinic.ment....People took time out of their day to spend with me and made the entire experience very intimate and personable.... My doctor understood my fertility issues and explained them to me as simply as possible.
Age
29
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
Native American, Other
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Endometriosis, Tubal Blockage, Uterine Fibroids
10
8
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
My doctor understood my fertility issues and explained them to me as simply as possible. Everything was done in a timely manner and everyone was polite. Testing was done very accurately and precisely. I did not leave with any questions and felt like part of the family when I left.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
People took time out of their day to spend with me and made the entire experience very intimate and personable.
Describe the protocols Nicholas Shamma used in your cycles at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers and their degree of success.
I had ultrasounds performed, blood work done and my partner's semen checked. I did not receive any injections yet, that was my next step but I did not have the funds to start the process.
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
appointPersonable, quick to get an appointment. I did not notice any weaknesses, overall I felt like they answered my questions and were very thorough when helping me and my family. I am very excited to continue on to the next steps of the IVF cycle with this clinic.ment.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
$8800: $3000 for injections and $5800 for IVF procedure
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10
10
Age
31
Treated
2017
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
IVF, Donor Eggs
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve
10
10
Dr Shamma seemed personable and skilled. I felt confident under his care and felt that he was always honest with me. His experience showed and I was happy we only had to do one cycle to become pregnant. Couldn’t have asked for a better outcome. I plan to use him in the future with our frozen embryos.... He strongly encouraged single embryo transfer with donor, but was willing to do up to two if the patient wished.
The aesthetics of the Ann Arbor office [IVF Michigan] weren’t great, but the West Bloomfield office was beautiful. This is where the procedure was done. I will use the West Bloomfield office in the future. Staff were all great.... They were always willing to answer questions and called back promptly if I left a message. They were compassionate and helped ease my fears with the process.
Age
31
Treated
2017
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
IVF, Donor Eggs
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve
10
10
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Dr Shamma seemed personable and skilled. I felt confident under his care and felt that he was always honest with me. His experience showed and I was happy we only had to do one cycle to become pregnant. Couldn’t have asked for a better outcome. I plan to use him in the future with our frozen embryos.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Trust your doctor.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
He was caring and empathetic
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
They were always willing to answer questions and called back promptly if I left a message. They were compassionate and helped ease my fears with the process.
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
The aesthetics of the Ann Arbor office weren’t great, but the West Bloomfield office was beautiful. This is where the procedure was done. I will use the West Bloomfield office in the future. Staff were all great.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Insurance covered dr visits and tests, but not the IVF procedure or donor costs
Describe Nicholas Shamma's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
He strongly encouraged single embryo transfer with donor, but was willing to do up to two if the patient wished.
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8
9
Age
29
Treated
2017
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Endometriosis, PCOS
8
9
He was a very proficient doctor, and I would recommend him to a friend. I am very happy with the result, but as I said I did often feel rushed. He was very clear about treatment and expectations. I wanted to transfer twins and am glad he talked me out of it because I had a difficult pregnancy, due to my size (very petite)... The office visits as well as ultrasound appointments always felt rushed, but when ever I spoke to him about concerns he gave me ample time and appeared to really care.
This clinic [IVF Michigan] was good. They did a great job at communication and most of the people I worked with really seemed sensitive and caring, which is important because IVF is so stressful and tiring, and expensive... They whole nursing staff was amazing, but the boss nurse Cathy was really uniquely great... Don't let the brevity of appointment with the doctor discourage you
Age
29
Treated
2017
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European, Ashkenazi Jewish
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Endometriosis, PCOS
8
9
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
He was a very proficient doctor, and I would recommend him to a friend. I am very happy with the result, but as I said I did often feel rushed. He was very clear about treatment and expectations. I wanted to transfer twins and am glad he talked me out of it because I had a difficult pregnancy, due to my size (very petite)
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Don't let the brevity of appointment with the doctor discourage you
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
The office visits as well as ultrasound appointments always felt rushed, but when ever I spoke to him about concerns he gave me ample time and appeared to really care.
Describe your experience with your nurse at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers. (Assigned nurse: Cathy)
They whole nursing staff was amazing, but the boss nurse Cathy was really uniquely great.
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
This clinic was good. They did a great job at communication and most of the people I worked with really seemed sensitive and caring, which is important because IVF is so stressful and tiring, and expensive
What specific things went wrong at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
- Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
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5
5
Age
31
Treated
2016
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Endometriosis, Uterine Fibroids, Unexplained
5
5
Dr. Shamma was great and compassionate. He was gentle and easy to talk to. He made me feel at ease about what was happening. He gave me an amazing opportunity. The care he gave was exceptional. Dr. Shamma wants the best for you and your dreams.... Dr. Shamma was great, but his staff kept me in the dark about my treatments and all the details of what was really happening.... Instead of the staff calling you on updates, you had to call them constantly.
Not for your average joe. The clinic [IVF Michigan] is tailored towards individuals with a lot of money. They don't want you using your neighborhood pharmacy but rather the extremely expensive pharmacy. Instead of the staff calling you on updates, you had to call them constantly.... Dr. Shamma was great, but his staff kept me in the dark about my treatments and all the details of what was really happening.... Dr. Shamma was great and compassionate
Age
31
Treated
2016
Success with this Doc
No
Race
East Asian, South Asian
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
Consultant
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1st of 2 Docs
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Endometriosis, Uterine Fibroids, Unexplained
5
5
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Dr. Shamma was great and compassionate. He was gentle and easy to talk to. He made me feel at ease about what was happening. He gave me an amazing opportunity. The care he gave was exceptional. Dr. Shamma wants the best for you and your dreams.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Ask stupid questions.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Dr. Shamma was great, but his staff kept me in the dark about my treatments and all the details of what was really happening.
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Not for your average joe. The clinic is tailored towards individuals with a lot of money. They don't want you using your neighborhood pharmacy but rather the extremely expensive pharmacy. Instead of the staff calling you on updates, you had to call them constantly.
What specific things went wrong at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
- Failed to call with results
- Failed to inform you of changes in protocol
- Failed to convey critical information
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9
8
Age
27 - 29
Treated
2014 - 2016
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
2 IVF, Surrogacy
Diagnosis
PCOS, Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
9
8
Dr Shamma is extremely knowledgeable and forth coming. He knows what is best for his patients and does his best to accommodate. The only negative is that he is only in the office [IVF Michigan] 1 day a week so your schedule is dependent on him...He aware that the schedule will not go as planned...They took on too many patients. Everyone was very friendly but always felt rushed!...[Nursing staff] Very friendly but sometimes wasn't the best source of knowledge...
Dr Shamma is extremely knowledgeable and forth coming. He knows what is best for his patients and does his best to accommodate. The only negative is that he is only in the office [IVF Michigan] 1 day a week so your schedule is dependent on him...He aware that the schedule will not go as planned...They took on too many patients. Everyone was very friendly but always felt rushed!...[Nursing staff] Very friendly but sometimes wasn't the best source of knowledge...
Age
27 - 29
Treated
2014 - 2016
Success with this Doc
No
Race
Other
Income
—
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
2 IVF, Surrogacy
Diagnosis
PCOS, Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
9
8
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Dr Shamma is extremely knowledgeable and forth coming. He knows what is best for his patients and does his best to accommodate. The only negative is that he is only in the office 1 day a week so your schedule is dependent on him.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
He aware that the schedule will not go as planned
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
They took on too many patients. Everyone was very friendly but always felt rushed!
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
Very friendly but sometimes wasn't the best source of knowledge
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
60k
What specific things went wrong at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
- Failed to call with results
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0
0
Age
35 - 36
Treated
2016 - 2017
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
IUI, 1 IVF, 1 Egg Freezing
Diagnosis
Male Factor, PCOS, Poor Egg Quality, Uterine Fibroids, Unexplained
0
0
He didn't explain anything very much and just kept insisting upon IVF... Almost all appointments felt very rushed. Staff was very pushy and if you didn't agree with someone, you were talked down to. Dr. Shamma became visibly aggravated when you asked lots of questions. He pushed IVF down our throat without considering other options, which we found out later, there were other options.... Too be completely honest, I would tell anyone, even my worst enemy, to not go to Dr. Shamma for treatment.
We have nothing good to say about our experience with IVF-MI. It was bad all-round....Almost all appointments felt very rushed. Staff was very pushy and if you didn't agree with someone, you were talked down to. Dr. Shamma became visibly aggravated when you asked lots of questions. He pushed IVF down our throat without considering other options, which we found out later, there were other options.... He didn't explain anything very much and just kept insisting upon IVF
Age
35 - 36
Treated
2016 - 2017
Success with this Doc
No
Race
Prefer not to answer
Income
—
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1st of 2 Docs
Treatment
IUI, 1 IVF, 1 Egg Freezing
Diagnosis
Male Factor, PCOS, Poor Egg Quality, Uterine Fibroids, Unexplained
0
0
How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Almost all appointments felt very rushed. Staff was very pushy and if you didn't agree with someone, you were talked down to. Dr. Shamma became visibly aggravated when you asked lots of questions. He pushed IVF down our throat without considering other options, which we found out later, there were other options.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Too be completely honest, I would tell anyone, even my worst enemy, to not go to Dr. Shamma for treatment.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Almost all appointments felt very rushed. Staff was very pushy and if you didn't agree with someone, you were talked down to. Dr. Shamma became visibly aggravated when you asked lots of questions. He pushed IVF down our throat without considering other options, which we found out later, there were other options.
Describe the protocols Nicholas Shamma used in your cycles at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers and their degree of success.
He didn't explain anything very much and just kept insisting upon IVF.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
Almost all appointments felt very rushed. Staff was very pushy and if you didn't agree with someone, you were talked down to. Dr. Shamma became visibly aggravated when you asked lots of questions. He pushed IVF down our throat without considering other options, which we found out later, there were other options.
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Almost all appointments felt very rushed. Staff was very pushy and if you didn't agree with someone, you were talked down to. Dr. Shamma became visibly aggravated when you asked lots of questions. He pushed IVF down our throat without considering other options, which we found out later, there were other options.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
With medications, $16,000+
What specific things went wrong at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
- Lost paperwork
- Lost appointments
- 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
- Failed to consider drug intolerance
Describe the specific things that went wrong at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
We have nothing good to say about our experience with IVF-MI. It was bad all-round.
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0
0
Age
35
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
—
Diagnosis
Uterine Fibroids
0
0
He [Dr. Nicholas Shamma] rushed us through the whole session of about 20 mins and denied any other treatments except IVF without any valid reason. Bad bed side manners. He brought 2 resident docs and we politely said no and it threw him off. He mentioned 'Old Age' as one the reason for IVF even though I am 34. I requested for diagnosis and they provided an illegible doctors note handwritten. I will never recommend this doctor or his clinic to anyone...He even commented on how long we have been trying to conceive. His exact words were 'why are you not pregnant after trying for 1 year?'. Well, if we knew we never would have visited Dr Nicolas Shamma for consultation. We felt discriminated and he walked out immediately after ultrasound without explaining the diagnosis.
I requested for diagnosis and they [staff at IVF Michigan] provided an illegible doctors note handwritten. I will never recommend this doctor or his clinic to anyone...Diagnosis not explained and treatment suggested does not align...They do not have electronic records. Gives handwritten notes for ultrasound results. Totally illegible and waste. No one can do any research or further consultation with those. Will have to redo everything from scratch. what a waste of time and money!...He [Dr. Nicholas Shamma] rushed us through the whole session of about 20 mins and denied any other treatments except IVF without any valid reason. Bad bed side manners. He brought 2 resident docs and we politely said no and it threw him off. He mentioned 'Old Age' as one the reason for IVF even though I am 34. I requested for diagnosis and they provided an illegible doctors note handwritten. I will never recommend this doctor or his clinic to anyone...He even commented on how long we have been trying to conceive. His exact words were 'why are you not pregnant after trying for 1 year?'. Well, if we knew we never would have visited Dr Nicolas Shamma for consultation. We felt discriminated and he walked out immediately after ultrasound without explaining the diagnosis.
Age
35
Treated
2019
Success with this Doc
No
Race
South Asian
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
—
Diagnosis
Uterine Fibroids
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How was your experience with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
Bad bed side manners, rude and rushed us through the whole 20 min initial consultation. He stressed on age(I am 34) and gave age as the factor for suggesting IVF as the only course of treatment. He even commented on how long we have been trying to conceive. His exact words were 'why are you not pregnant after trying for 1 year?'. Well, if we knew we never would have visited Dr Nicolas Shamma for consultation. We felt discriminated and he walked out immediately after ultrasound without explaining the diagnosis.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
please go else where if you are in 30s and if it is your first visit.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
He rushed us through the whole session of about 20 mins and denied any other treatments except IVF without any valid reason. Bad bed side manners. He brought 2 resident docs and we politely said no and it threw him off. He mentioned 'Old Age' as one the reason for IVF even though I am 34. I requested for diagnosis and they provided an illegible doctors note handwritten. I will never recommend this doctor or his clinic to anyone.
Describe the protocols Nicholas Shamma used in your cycles at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers and their degree of success.
No rationale, just told us IVF as treament because of age, I am 34.
Describe your experience with IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Bad, we will not go back. They do not have electronic records. Gives handwritten notes for ultrasound results. Totally illegible and waste. No one can do any research or further consultation with those. Will have to redo everything from scratch. what a waste of time and money!
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicholas Shamma at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
expensive
Describe Nicholas Shamma's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
none
What specific things went wrong at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers?
- Failed to call with results
- Lost results
- Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at IVF Michigan Fertility Centers.
Diagnosis not explained and treatment suggested does not align
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