How was your experience with Richard Marrs at California Fertility Partners?
Dr. Marrs was very candid about our situation and experience. He didn't sugar coat anything, which I TOTALLY appreciated. This wasn't our first experience with a fertility doctor so we wanted to know the good, the bad and the ugly. He was very caring and knowledgeable, but honest and to the point. For me, it was the perfect combination. In our consultation he explained everything fully, in detail, like we were intelligent human beings. He didn't talk down to us, or skip things, thinking we wouldn't understand. And we NEVER felt like there was a stupid question. He answered everything we asked without making us feel like we were bothering or annoying him. We felt like he wanted us to be up to date and know exactly what was going on.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Richard Marrs at California Fertility Partners?
Don't be afraid to ask questions!! Anything you're wondering, anything you've read or heard about. Just ask. He will take the time to explain. And if the explanation isn't clear to you, please ask again. Make sure you are 100% comfortable with everything going on and you know why he's doing what he's doing. For me, information is power and stress reducing.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Richard Marrs at California Fertility Partners?
Dr. Marrs started every visit looking us in the eye, shaking our hand, asking how we were doing...then actually listening to the answer!! He was up to date on anything that had happened between visits (blood work, semen analysis, new records received.) He even joked when my husband was dressed up one day, and apologized when an ultrasound was taking longer than usual!! He always made us feel safe and comfortable and like we were being taken care of.
Describe the protocols Richard Marrs used in your cycles at California Fertility Partners and their degree of success.
We were doing an IVF cycle. I had to go on the pill for a week to help clear the corpus luteum from one ovary and suppress the follicles in the other. After a week they were synced so we started Clomid for 5 days, with Follistim and Menopur injectables every other day. After the 5 days, we did the injectables every day and added Ganirelix toward the end. Because of my age, we did lower dose meds and it was amazing! I felt so much better and my follicles stayed synced the whole time. We got a great number of mature eggs - twice as many as my cycles at a different clinic, and we are still waiting the results of genetic testing.
Describe your experience with your nurse at California Fertility Partners. (Assigned nurse: Erin)
Erin was so helpful throughout our process. She explained what the steps were, what was happening next. There were a few times, especially at the beginning when trying to gather old records and see what we needed before we could start a new cycle, where a few things (sort of) fell through the cracks. Nothing major at all. But she was very quick to respond to emails, always answer every single question - big or small. And during the medicine tutorial she was very patient and helpful. We hadn't done medicine in a year and I was a bit nervous about the whole thing and she totally put my mind at ease. While she was out of town, we saw several of the nurses and they were all very kind and helpful. Anita especially made the experience AMAZING! She was the after hours on-call nurse who talked us off the ledge during one crazy night of injectables and helped us get through it all.
Describe your experience with California Fertility Partners.
Everything was fantastic. The atmosphere is warm, calm and welcoming. The front desk staff were friendly, knowledgable and helpful. The billing staff...amazing!! What could be a scary experience (seeing the $$ put out on paper), was clear and concise. And the phlebotomists were the best I've ever had.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Richard Marrs at California Fertility Partners.
I've been to one other clinic, and these costs were pretty much in line with what we paid there - actually a little less overall.
Describe Richard Marrs's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at California Fertility Partners.
We aren't to that phase yet, but if I remember correctly, our nurse during our initial meeting mentioned that they usually prefer to transfer a single embryo. But it is dependent on many factors that we would discuss at a later date.