How was your experience with Semara Thomas at CARE Fertility?
I have no negative feedback for Dr. Thomas. From our very first consultation, she was kind and positive, while also setting realistic expectations and what problems and roadblocks we may or may not face.
Everything went according to plan and I think she did a great job in adjusting medication based on how my body reacted.
We love her and if we ever need a little extra help, we're going back to her.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Semara Thomas at CARE Fertility?
I would tell them to trust her and the process, while also having realistic expectations. Don't be afraid to ask questions.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Semara Thomas at CARE Fertility?
Dr. Thomas was very kind while also setting very realistic expectations for my partner and I. She took her time answering all our questions in person, and was available (along with nurse assistant Natasha) to answer questions via email.
Describe the protocols Semara Thomas used in your cycles at CARE Fertility and their degree of success.
For IUI we had half a dose of letrozole so that we're only producing one egg. our IUI failed.
For IVF:
Egg retrival: we took 300 units of gonal and then 150 iu of monpur, and then gonal decreased to 150 on the 5th day. we did around 10 days of medication before getting novarel and lupron trigger shot 2 days or so before retreival
Transfer:
We did 4 mg of estrace for first 6 days, then increased to 6mg every day for the rest of the cycle. we started progesteron in oil + progesterone suppositories on the 10th day onwards, and we did the transfer on the 16th day after starting medication. We kept taking estrace, progesterone in oil + progesterone suppositories until the the 12th week or so of pregnancy
Describe your experience with your nurse at CARE Fertility. (Assigned nurse: Natasha Pelaez)
Natasha is awesome. She was very clear with instructions and was very prompt when I emailed questions.
Describe your experience with CARE Fertility.
CARE Fertility had great staff. Their space was nice. They took a lot of precautions during COVID, which made us feel safe.
We experienced a tiny snag because Labcorp once charged me for a test, but it was very easy to fix. All I did was email one of their staff the receipt and it was all handled.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Semara Thomas at CARE Fertility.
The cost was out of pocket for me. While they were closed during the pandemic they were a little harder to reach and coordinate with as we were preparing, which is understandable. I had a scheduled call with their finances, but I ended up getting a call from their CEO who walked me through financial options as well as what was covered.
All procedures, testing, ultrasound and consultation was part of a packaged price, and medication and genetic testing was extra. Tests that were done with my hospital prior to starting care with CARE fertility were taken out of the package price.
Describe Semara Thomas's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at CARE Fertility.
We did single embryo transfer because of my uterus' limitations. She had warned me that it was risky for me to carry multiples.