As a doctor, she [Dr. Serena Chen] is warm and knowledgeable. She cuts to the chase and makes sure you understand what she is saying. She has a confidence about her that makes you feel comfortable and makes you feel confident going into the process...you likely won't see her at appointments or hear from her directly, so be sure to ask everything up front and demand to speak to her or see her when you feel it is needed.
[Institute for Reproductive Medicine & Science is] Clean and modern. In a hospital setting. Flexible for monitoring (can be seen at other locations). US tech Shirley is wonderful! Monitoring 7 days a week. Has Andrology lab on site, but hours are terrible and there is no flexibility for men and sperm collection. We were turned away from submitting a specimen during a certain time frame even though the doctor told us we could submit at that time.
How was your experience with Serena Chen at Institute for Reproductive Medicine & Science?
As a doctor, she is warm and knowledgeable. She cuts to the chase and makes sure you understand what she is saying. She has a confidence about her that makes you feel comfortable and makes you feel confident going into the process.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Serena Chen at Institute for Reproductive Medicine & Science?
She is a wonderful doctor, but you likely won't see her at appointments or hear from her directly, so be sure to ask everything up front and demand to speak to her or see her when you feel it is needed.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Serena Chen at Institute for Reproductive Medicine & Science?
With her, at a visit, I felt like a human 1000% of the time. She has wonderful bedside manner when you are present with her. When it was up to phone tag or relaying messages through the portal or nurses, I felt like a numbers. On two occasions I was given incorrect information which I attest to "too many cooks in the kitchen".
Describe the protocols Serena Chen used in your cycles at Institute for Reproductive Medicine & Science and their degree of success.
First IUI: Clomid cycle. After days 3-7 on pills, monitoring. Follicles were not growing sufficiently and was given another round of Clomid. Finally had a lead follicle and triggered.
Second IUI: Letrozole. Was incorrectly told to come in for IUI when bloodwork did not match the follicles. Subsequently cycle did not end in IUI, but instead timed intercourse.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Institute for Reproductive Medicine & Science. (Assigned nurse: Pamela)
Pamela was lovely in that she was compassionate and relayed the messages. The bigger problem was when she wasn't in and I was dealing with many other people who didn't know me, messages got lost in translation. It was when my nurse was out that I was told to come in for a procedure, even though I knew from reviewing my bloodwork myself I wasn't ready. I think overall, too many people communicating made everything more frustrating and confusing.
Describe your experience with Institute for Reproductive Medicine & Science.
Clean and modern. In a hospital setting. Flexible for monitoring (can be seen at other locations). US tech Shirley is wonderful! Monitoring 7 days a week. Has Andrology lab on site, but hours are terrible and there is no flexibility for men and sperm collection. We were turned away from submitting a specimen during a certain time frame even though the doctor told us we could submit at that time.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Serena Chen at Institute for Reproductive Medicine & Science.
My insurance covered almost everything. We were not told ahead of time that a male genetic test could cost up to $400, but insurance did pay for it 100%
Describe Serena Chen's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Institute for Reproductive Medicine & Science.
Prefers single embryo, but never got to the stage in discussing whether multiple could be appropriate.
What specific things went wrong at Institute for Reproductive Medicine & Science?
- Failed to call with results
- Provided conflicting information
- Failed to convey critical information
- Canceled a cycle due to clinic error
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Institute for Reproductive Medicine & Science.
During an IUI cycle, I was incorrectly told it was time for IUI and scheduled. It was only when I said no, look at the bloodwork that I was then told to come back for more scans.
In this same cycle, I was not given enough information about the follicles (they were likely leftover from the previous cycle) and they operated as though it was a normal cycle.
At another time, a sperm sample was refused and the clinic was not willing to be flexible to accept it to move forward with a procedure. The hours for the andrology lab seem to be very rigid with no flexibility for men with anxiety or timing concerns. No alternatives were presented outside of seeing a urologist or therapist.
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Clinic
Institute for Reproductive Medicine & Science
Livingston