Dr. Hunter is not very warm and fuzzy, he gives you the information/numbers. I personally would prefer my RE be knowledgeable and have good success versus someone who is warm and fuzzy, so I am okay with that. Dr. Hunter was amazing and would respond to all e-mails and concerns even if it was after hours or on the weekend...While he does give you a lot of information, I did find there was certainly more information I would have like to know about my options. If I asked the questions, he was always willing to give me answers and information, but I had to make sure to ask a lot of the questions.
I had a hard time with my IVF coordinator [at Kentucky Fertility Institute]...had issues where I send an e-mail with a question and do not get a response or it will take 4-5 days to get a response. I was also told to take the wrong dose of my estrogen for my next transfer...I feel like I have to be on top of things to make sure it gets done on time and make sure I ask questions because I worry things are getting missed.
How was your experience with Robert Hunter II at Kentucky Fertility Institute?
Dr. Hunter has always been great with communication. He will respond to e-mails even if he is off on spring break for the week or on the weekend/after hours. He presents you with the facts and numbers which I appreciate. He is not warm and fuzzy like you would expect someone working in this field to be. For me, that is not a problem because as long as I feel confident in my care I do not need "hand-holding". I do sometimes feel like I am presented with only the information that is felt to be necessary at the time instead of the big picture of information. For example, I wish I was given more information about success rates of IUI versus IVF and given more information to help me decide which option I would like to start with, versus mostly being given information on IUI and told this is where we would start.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Robert Hunter II at Kentucky Fertility Institute?
Advocate for yourself. Make sure you do your own research and know what you want answered. At the beginning of my journey with Dr. Hunter I tried to just "trust the process" and not ask too many questions because I felt like that was the RE's job and what I was paying all this money for. After the first year of seeing him I took it upon myself to be more involved in my care, do my own research, and ask questions. While he does give you a lot of information, I did find there was certainly more information I would have like to know about my options. If I asked the questions, he was always willing to give me answers and information, but I had to make sure to ask a lot of the questions.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Robert Hunter II at Kentucky Fertility Institute?
Dr. Hunter is not very warm and fuzzy, he gives you the information/numbers. I personally would prefer my RE be knowledgeable and have good success versus someone who is warm and fuzzy, so I am okay with that. Dr. Hunter was amazing and would respond to all e-mails and concerns even if it was after hours or on the weekend. I just wish the rest of Dr. Hunter's support staff was as good with communicating with me.
Describe the protocols Robert Hunter II used in your cycles at Kentucky Fertility Institute and their degree of success.
My first IUI was non-medicated. I did OPK testing until I hit peak fertility. Once I hit peak fertility I called the office and they scheduled me for a visit 2 days later for IUI. Because we were thought to be male-factory infertility and me having no issues, this was thought to be the best place to start.
I then did 4 medicated IUIs. My first non-medicated ended with an ectopic that required me to receive Methotrexate. Methotrexate unfortunately did not work and I had emergency surgery to have my left fallopian tube removed. Because of this, it was recommended I continue with medicated IUI cycles. It was as this point I wish I was given more information about the success of this since my circumstance had changed. Anyway, I would notify them at the start of my cycle. I would take Letrazole days 3-7 of my cycle. Day 10-11 I would go in for ultrasound to measure follicles. If my follicles were adequate I was then given a time to take a trigger shot (Lupron), usually the following evening. After Lupron, I would have my IUI 2 days later. After IUI I would do progesterone vaginal suppositories nightly until 14 days after transfer. I would then do a home pregnancy test. After failing 4 medicated IUIs we moved to IVF
Egg Retrieval included birth control, Menopur, Gonal-f, Cetrotide. Birth control for 2 weeks after starting cycle. Menopur and Gonal-f every evening for 5 days, then adding Cetrotide for an additional 3 days.
FET start birth control with cycle start for 2 weeks. Then come in for baseline labs including estrogen, progesterone, and FSH as well as transvaginal US. After 2 weeks of birth control stop birth control and start estrogen. Estradiol three times daily for 2 weeks, then another US and lab work to check lining and estrogen level. If that all looks okay transfer scheduled 7 days later with IM progesterone given the 5 days prior to transfer along with doxycycline twice daily and medrol. After transfer continue estrogen and progesterone IM as well as add vaginal suppository progesterone. Blood hCg 10 days later.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Kentucky Fertility Institute. (Assigned nurse: Carol)
I had a hard time with my IVF coordinator. During stimulation and egg retrieval I was constantly stressed about getting medications refilled. I would be told at my visit I would need 1 more day of injections, would call the pharmacy who said they needed prescription sent in, so I would contact my IVF coordinator who sends that in who would half the time not even respond. Medications did not get filled in time so my clinic gave me some of their own supply because of this. I have also had issues where I send an e-mail with a question and do not get a response or it will take 4-5 days to get a response. I was also told to take the wrong dose of my estrogen for my next transfer, which I noticed and asked about it so it was corrected, but does not leave me feeling confident with her. I feel like I have to be on top of things to make sure it gets done on time and make sure I ask questions because I worry things are getting missed.
Describe your experience with Kentucky Fertility Institute.
Dr. Hunter is the main reason I have stayed at this clinic for so long. He is great with communication and always takes time to respond to all concerns whether it is on the weekend or after hours. The two nurses there are also very friendly and personable which I appreciate.
I have had a hard time connecting with his nurse practitioner and she does not seem to know as much about my care. She will often come into the room knowing she is doing a transvaginal ultrasound on me, but not know why. For example, I asked a question about ReceptivaDx and she told me I couldn't have that with a transfer, just a mock cycle. My appointment was for baseline ultrasound to start prep for my mock cycle, which left me feeling a little anxious that they didn't know what I was there for. Also when I have asked questions I have been told to e-mail the doctor, meaning I cannot have a face to face conversation with someone about my questions or concerns.
I have also had a hard time getting other people in the office to respond via phone or e-mail to questions or concerns I have, which is why I often just resort to e-mailing Dr. Hunter who always give me a timely response. I cannot speak highly enough of Dr. Hunter, but he is also just one person in this equation and you are only seeing him for procedures like FET and egg retrieval, otherwise you are seeing the nurse practitioner. I am a nurse practitioner myself and have no problem with seeing providers other than the doctor, but I need to feel that they are just as involved and knowledgeable about my care and health history, and unfortunately I do not always feel that with this office.
Going through fertility treatment is stressful. I have had added stress due to lack of communication and not feeling confident in all of those involved in my care with this office. However, Dr. Hunter always comes to the rescue with all of the answers and reassurance I am looking for. I have stayed because I trust Dr. Hunter. However, if you want well-rounded care from everyone in the office involved in your care, you may need to look elsewhere. If you do come here though, you will have an amazing RE.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Robert Hunter II at Kentucky Fertility Institute.
I have insurance that has a lifetime 10K max. I paid out of pocket for IUI. I used insurance for IVF for what they would cover, the lab was out of network.
I paid about $1,000 for donor sperm vial. $500 day of IUI.
Egg retrieval and IVF meds together cost $2,000.
Egg retrieval cost $8500, and additional $2000 for PGT
Each transfer cost $1300. My insurance does not cover the "lab side" of things, but every on the doctor side.
Describe Robert Hunter II's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Kentucky Fertility Institute.
My doctor recommended transferring one due to my age (29). I have had 2 FETs that have failed to implant. I am undergoing additional testing to find out why (ERA, Emma/Alice, ReceptivaDx) but if we cannot find any reasoning for failed implantation then we are considering transferring two embryos with the next transfer.
What specific things went wrong at Kentucky Fertility Institute?
- Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
- Lost appointments
- Failed to call with results
- Provided conflicting information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Kentucky Fertility Institute.
During stimulation for egg retrieval I had a hard time getting medications filled in a timely manner. This was due to prescriptions not being sent to my pharmacy. My pharmacy ended up calling the clinic for me because I could not get ahold of anyone and was panicking. They tried to overnight the meds to me, but they still did not get there in time. I had 2-3 days to get the meds delivered, but no one would refill them and I could not get ahold of anyone. I reached out to Dr. Hunter finally who told me I could come to the office and they would provide me with the medication.
After my first FET I had my beta hCg performed. I was told results would be called to me between 1-2:00, so I left work in order to be home at 1:00. By 4:00 I had not heard from anyone and was starting to worry that no one was going to call me before they closed. Over the next hour I called close to 10 times, e-mailed my IVF coordinator, e-mailed the NP, e-mailed Dr. Hunter and couldn't get ahold of anyone. 15 minutes before they closed they called me and said they had caller ID and wanted to know why I had called so many times. I told them I was still waiting for results for my hCg and was then transferred to Dr. Hunter who told me my transfer failed.
My IVF coordinator Carol told me to take the wrong dose of estrogen for my mock transfer. I was sent an e-mail that said to take estrogen twice daily and in all of my other cycles have done three times daily. I figured it was because it was a mock cycle I didn't need as much. I felt weird about it and didn't want to seem like I was questioning them, but because it was different without any explanation as to why I went ahead and asked. I was then just told "yes, go ahead with three times daily". If it was a mistake from the first e-mail I would feel better if they just told me that versus not giving me any explanation. It has made me feel like I have to double check everything because they are not paying close attention.
6
Clinic
Kentucky Fertility Institute
Louisville