He [Dr. Paul Lin] had a strong preference to 1 embryo. I don't think he could be convinced to let us do 2. He educated us as to why, and we feel comfortable with 1...has taken the time to personally call me during my second round of IVF during the stimulation phase. After my day 6 monitoring/US appointment, I was really concerned with how many (or how few) follicles we saw. He called me and talked me through everything and made me feel much better about continuing with this cycle. He cares a lot about his patients. I had a monitoring appt. on Easter and he said that he was going to check the portal for the results. He's on top of every detail and I have complete trust in him - even though my first retrieval only ended up with 1 embryo. I am currently stimming in round 2 right now - egg retrieval will be in about 3 days!
Total cost for 2 IVF cycles [at Seattle Reproductive Medicine]: $36,802.28 (which under the 2 cycle plan includes transfers until you run out of embryos / until you have a live birth)...Excellent nurses. Knowledgeable doctors who work as a team. Weaknesses: at times I feel like a small fish in a big sea there just because it is so big, but they really do their best. I wish my doc could be the one to do my ER and transfer, but that is unrealistic unless you go to a small clinic - which has it's own setbacks and limitations. I am happy with SRM and would recommend it to anyone.
How was your experience with Paul Lin at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
During our consult with Dr. Lin, he did a great job explaining the IVF process. I came with a list of about 20 questions, and he made sure he hit each one. He explained the risks of IVF, but we left the appointment feeling really hopeful. Our first round of IVF, we used the Antagonist protocol. This is something I wish was explained more to me (the protocols). I think doctors should explain the various protocols and explain why they are choosing a specific one for you. The Antagonist protocol did NOT work for me. I ended up with 1 "fair grade" embryo. I had 14 follicles. Nine of those follicles were of good size. We only retrieved 5. Even the doctor who did my retrieval was a little confused at the results. I didn't get a good explanation - or any explanation at all - as to why that protocol was chosen for me to begin with and why it didn't produce decent results. He was sympathetic that it didn't work well and explained that we would try a different protocol. Again, leaving out the "why". I am now on day 10 of stims, using the Luteal Lupron protocol. At every monitoring appointment, I am behind with egg production as compared to the Antagonist - which is scary. Once again, not much of an explanation. However, I really do believe that he has my best interest and cares a lot about the outcome. It's unfair for patients to put blame on doctors for everything (most of the time). Dr. Lin is really direct. He is honest and truthful, but also sheds hope onto our situation. He has a good balance between warm and real.
I do wish I could have him do my egg retrieval and embryo transfer. SRM is just so big...and I haven't seen Dr. Lin in 3 months since our consult.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Paul Lin at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
Don't be afraid to ask questions. Ask for further explanations. Ask "why" for the protocol you are put on.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Paul Lin at Seattle Reproductive Medicine?
Dr. Lin has taken the time to personally call me during my second round of IVF during the stimulation phase. After my day 6 monitoring/US appointment, I was really concerned with how many (or how few) follicles we saw. He called me and talked me through everything and made me feel much better about continuing with this cycle. He cares a lot about his patients. I had a monitoring appt. on Easter and he said that he was going to check the portal for the results. He's on top of every detail and I have complete trust in him - even though my first retrieval only ended up with 1 embryo. I am currently stimming in round 2 right now - egg retrieval will be in about 3 days!
Describe the protocols Paul Lin used in your cycles at Seattle Reproductive Medicine and their degree of success.
For both of my IVF cycles with Dr. Lin, I didn't get a reason why he chose them.
I am a 30 year old (husband is 30 too) and our only factor is stage 2 endometriosis. TTC for 6 years.
IVF Cycle 1: Antagonist Protocol
Birth control for 19 days, 250IU gonal-f, 150IU menopur, cetrotide .25mg, pregnyl (hCG trigger) 10,000 units. I stimmed for 10 days. Cetrotide was introduced on day 7.
Results: 14 follicles, 9 measurable, 5 retrieved, 2 fertilized via ICSI, 1 embryo (frozen)
IVF Cycle 2: Luteal Lupron Protocol
Birth control for 21 days, Lupron 10 units was started 2 weeks after being on BCP (decreased to 5 units when I started stims), 300IU gonal-f, 150IU menopur, omnitrope (HGH) 50 units, pregnyl trigger 10,000 units, and progesterone 200 mg. I will be doing a fresh transfer.
Results: 18 follicles (or around there). 6 eggs retrieved. All 6 mature. 5 fertilized. 2 embryos made it to 5 day blast. 3 embryos arrested on day 6. 1 embryo was transferred (pregnant!) and 1 was frozen.
Total embryos from both cycles: 3
Describe your experience with your nurse at Seattle Reproductive Medicine. (Assigned nurse: Alex Brown)
Alex is amazing!!!! She is so sweet and caring. I look forward to talking with her and seeing her. I don't have a negative thing to say about her. She is quick to respond to all of my emails and questions. She is thorough in explaining everything. She even visited me post egg retrieval so I could see a familiar face that day since my doctor wasn't the one doing the ER. She's just awesome!
Describe your experience with Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
Strengths: they know what they're doing, clean environment, systematic, welcoming, professional. I feel really taken care of there. Excellent nurses. Knowledgeable doctors who work as a team.
Weaknesses: at times I feel like a small fish in a big sea there just because it is so big, but they really do their best. I wish my doc could be the one to do my ER and transfer, but that is unrealistic unless you go to a small clinic - which has it's own setbacks and limitations.
I am happy with SRM and would recommend it to anyone.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
They give you the dates for your suppression check, day 6 monitoring, and day 9 monitoring in advance, so it is not much of an inconvenience. After day 9, they warn you to keep your schedule flexible. Sometimes the appointments after day 9 were limited and inconvenient times, but most of the time it worked out fine because I knew I had to be flexible those days way in advance. It's hard, because the amount of appts you need depend on how you are responding - which no one can control.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Paul Lin at Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
We did a 2 cycle nonrefundable program through Attain. That alone was $24,600.00. We spent about $2,000 on bloodwork, consultation, and genetic testing on the day of our consult before we even started IVF.
My IVF meds for round 1 through Fertility Pharmacy of America were $4,557.28.
For round 2, meds were $5,645.00.
Total cost for 2 IVF cycles: $36,802.28 (which under the 2 cycle plan includes transfers until you run out of embryos / until you have a live birth)
Describe Paul Lin's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Seattle Reproductive Medicine.
He had a strong preference to 1 embryo. I don't think he could be convinced to let us do 2. He educated us as to why, and we feel comfortable with 1.
9
Clinic
Seattle Reproductive Medicine
Seattle