Dr. Goodman (and staff) were very welcoming, didn't seem rushed, were very patient with all of our questions and concerns. We felt like she really understood us, did not give us false hope yet at the same time was very confident in our fertility plan. We did NOT feel like just a number or just another patient with her...She spent time with us answering questions and having well thought out and truthful answers...
The clinic [Reproductive Medicine Group] was great! Clean, efficient, and organized. I didn't have to wait too long to be seen...Sarah was our care coordinator and nurse. She was very quick to communicate, knowledgeable and kind...Everyone I came into contact with was very kind, the staff seemed to get along and I never had any issues...very welcoming, didn't seem rushed, were very patient with all of our questions and concerns
How was your experience with Sandy Goodman at The Reproductive Medicine Group?
A few things stood out to me about Dr. Goodman.
First, she is very skilled, confident, and knowledgeable. She spent time with us answering questions and having well thought out and truthful answers. She was compassionate. One thing to note, though, is she is a fast talker. I had to take good notes to review later and also have her repeat things at times because she would talk too fast for me to really comprehend. Infertility and the treatments are very involved and complex, so we definitely needed time to fully understand everything she told us.
Dr. Goodman is very compassionate and has a good bedside manner. As an example, a few days after my egg retrieval, I started getting symptoms of OHSS (it was awful!). My husband called the office and was able to get through to Dr. Goodman who assured him I would be okay and to come straight into the office. She saw us immediately and gave me an exam to see if I indeed had OHSS. She determined I had a mild case, but it wasn't severe enough for further medical treatment. She was incredibly sympathetic to the pain and discomfort I was in and took the time to assuage our fears, answer questions, and made it clear that if I wasn't starting to feel better or got worse then we were to come straight back in.
Overall, she is smart, quick, but will definitely slow down and take her time if/when needed.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Sandy Goodman at The Reproductive Medicine Group?
Don't be afraid to ask questions and to ask her to repeat something if you didn't quite catch everything the first time. Bring a notebook to take notes.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Sandy Goodman at The Reproductive Medicine Group?
Dr. Goodman (and staff) were very welcoming, didn't seem rushed, were very patient with all of our questions and concerns. We felt like she really understood us, did not give us false hope yet at the same time was very confident in our fertility plan. We did NOT feel like just a number or just another patient with her.
Describe the protocols Sandy Goodman used in your cycles at The Reproductive Medicine Group and their degree of success.
After our consultation, we were required to go to a infertility class that was put on by our clinic at a local hospital that gave the basics on treatments etc..
I don't remember the names of the drugs. But I started by tracking my cycle with ovulation test strips and then taking birth control for 2 weeks to regulate my cycle. Once I reached a certain day (confirmed by blood tests), we began injections (3 of them - i forget what they were, but pretty standard for egg retrievals from what I understand). We were given a short training session on how to do the injections as well. Injections lasted, i think, 3 weeks and then I had my retrieval (blood tests, again, confirming I was ready for retrieval as well as ultrasound on my ovaries).
After egg retrieval, we were told later that day how many eggs were retrieved, then in the next couple days how many embryos were created and finally how many embryos had survived to be frozen.
Next, we had our GC come in for a consultation. After a consult and exam, she was determined fit to be our GC and we went through the legal and psych parts. Once we completed that, we could begin the medical process. Our GC also went on birth control to regulate her cycle and once she was at a certain day (confirmed by blood test), injections began. She had 2 or 3 injections daily (progesterone and something else? I think a 3rd was added at some point). Injections took about 3 weeks and then, after blood tests and ultrasounds, she was ready for embryo transfer. After transfer, she maintained injections for a few weeks, even after confirmed pregnancy. At the 8 week mark, we were released from care and transferred to our own OBGYN for the rest of pregnancy. Everything we did was successful.
My egg retrieval, from first consultation to frozen embryos took about 4 months (however we did take a break in december for holidays).
The surrogacy portion, from first consultation to actually delivering a baby took 1 year.
Describe your experience with your nurse at The Reproductive Medicine Group. (Assigned nurse: Sarah (she doesn't work there anymore though))
Sarah was our care coordinator and nurse. She was very quick to communicate, knowledgeable and kind. Shortly after we were released from care, I heard that she had moved on to work somewhere else, though.
Describe your experience with The Reproductive Medicine Group.
The clinic was great! Clean, efficient, and organized. I didn't have to wait too long to be seen (there was one time I did, but it was not the norm). Everyone I came into contact with was very kind, the staff seemed to get along and I never had any issues.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Sandy Goodman at The Reproductive Medicine Group.
We spent about $15,000 at this clinic for treatments (visits, retrieval, transfer, blood tests and ultrasounds etc).
Medications were paid to another company and cost about $6,000.
Legal was about $4,000 and the psych eval was in the hundreds.
Describe Sandy Goodman's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at The Reproductive Medicine Group.
n/a
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Clinic
The Reproductive Medicine Group
North Tampa