How was your experience with Rebecca Chilvers at Fertility Specialists of Texas?
I don't think Dr. Chilvers is suited to this particular sector of the profession. She has other skills, of course, and I think she is/would be a great OB/GYN, but became an RE due to financial reasons. She has never been in the chair herself, so she has no great personal belief in the outcomes. And for someone over 40, she had 0 ability to customize a treatment plan that would provide the best chance of a positive outcome. Other clinics will provide a list of supplements including DHEA, which has shown positive scientific results in treatment of AMA patients. Dr. Chilvers put me on a standard cycle, with just greater dosages. I'd have preferred it if she admitted that 40+ wasn't her expertise and referred me to one of the other doctors in her practice, perhaps, but there didn't seem to be that type of collaboration inside the practice, either.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Rebecca Chilvers at Fertility Specialists of Texas?
If you are over 40, go somewhere else. Period.
If you're under 40, review the SART rates, and ask for more information about their lab. Also, ask ask ask about supplements you can take to increase your chances. Additionally, consider what it means to treat the WHOLE you throughout this process. There are IVF meditiations on apps for your iPhone, see a counselor. This is hard. Do things to take care of YOU throughout this process and find the right doctor that supports you.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Rebecca Chilvers at Fertility Specialists of Texas?
Very rarely, during my cycle, was Dr. Chilvers available. I saw only her staff 90% of the time. I'd get whichever doctor was on call on Saturdays. Her nurse, Brandy, was belligerent and would not explain things in ways that I could understand.
Dr. Chilvers often provided evasive answers.
Describe the protocols Rebecca Chilvers used in your cycles at Fertility Specialists of Texas and their degree of success.
375 gonal F, 150 menopur. Day 5 start of Cetrotide. Ovadril trigger shot.
THERE WAS NO RATIONALE provided.
Results: 5 mature follicles. 2 retrieved, 3 "stuck to wall" (Dr. Goeffrey Sher has a blog post on why that likely happens in AMA women: https://drgeoffreysherivf.com/implications-of-empty-follicle-syndrome-and-premature-luteinization/). Notice that in 2015, this Doctor wrote about how LH hormone could be the issue with egg quality in stim cycles for AMA patients. Now, look back at my treatment plan: double the LH hormone from Day 1.
No ICSI recommended by doctor, so 1 fertilized, poor quality embryo; didn't make it to Day 5. Was left a message on a Sunday that my embryo died and that it was on me to make a follow-up appointment.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Fertility Specialists of Texas. (Assigned nurse: Brandy)
I think, overall, they tried hard. I believe they meant well. There was ONE lady there who had been there over 14 years, assigned to Dr. Goldstein - she was a gem.
The rest of them.... Brandy was a terrible communicator. When doing the all-important every-other-day ultrasounds, couldn't consistently get a view of both ovaries. Led to a lot of confusion around what results to expect come retrieval time. Felt like nursing staff could have been more compassionate, overall.
Describe your experience with Fertility Specialists of Texas.
They have a quality facility, and good SART rates for the easy stuff - younger mothers with unexplained infertility. If you're local and young, this is a great choice. I also understand that they have an in-house fresh donor egg program. If you're looking for this option, that's a nice offering over dealing with outside agencies.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Rebecca Chilvers at Fertility Specialists of Texas.
I remember most of the testing being over $1000 each, which meant over $300 out of pocket for an HSG, ultrasound, etc. Claims were delayed in hitting my insurance for some reason, so monies paid toward my deductible weren't being counted when they would talk to me about my OOP for pharmacy and IVF treatment. It was frustrating.
What specific things went wrong at Fertility Specialists of Texas?
- Lost results
- Failed to convey critical information