How was your experience with Shauna McKinney at Tulsa Fertility Center?
Dr McKinney is the most intelligent human being I have ever met and her attention to detail was excellent. She never promised success, just that she would do everything within her power to ensure the highest chance of success which made us feel like we were more than numbers or dollar signs. Dr McKinney held my hand and hugged me when I cried at my appointments and she explained everything in a way that was not overwhelming. No one wants to walk through the doors at her clinic, but since we had to be there I am so glad we had her to be our guide through the infertility journey.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Shauna McKinney at Tulsa Fertility Center?
Write ALL of your questions down and ask every single one of them. So your research beforehand and be your own advocate. If you do not want to do certain things, be vocal. The doctor cannot read your mind. We knew we wanted to give ourselves the best chance of a successful pregnancy and live birth, regardless of costs and we expressed that in the beginning.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Shauna McKinney at Tulsa Fertility Center?
Dr McKinney never rushed our appointments and she answered every question in a manner we were able to understand. She provided information on all options and allowed us to choose the one that made the most sense for our family. I was afraid we would be required to do several rounds of IUIs before we would be allowed to explore IVF, but due to our diagnosis, we were able to pursue IVF in the beginning. We spent seven months from our earliest blood test to the frozen embryo transfer - making the process much quicker than we had anticipated.
Describe the protocols Shauna McKinney used in your cycles at Tulsa Fertility Center and their degree of success.
10-12 days of stims: Follistim (50-250u) and Ganirelix (3-5 days) Follistim to stimulate the ovaries and produce eggs. Ganirelix to slow the maturation and allow the smaller follicles to catch up to the larger ones.
Trigger shot of Ovidrel.
FET: Birth control for one month before transfer. Approx 30 days of Lupron to suppress reproductive system. Estrogen patches, 1-4 changed every other day, to thicken lining during weeks before FET and through week 10 of pregnancy. Progesterone in oil 5 days before FET and through week 9 of pregnancy because the pregnancy was unnatural and the placenta had not taken over production.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Tulsa Fertility Center. (Assigned nurse: Nicole and Amanda)
The nurses were always accommodating at appointments and always passed along any questions or concerns to my doctor. The patient portal allowed me to communicate with the nurses on an as-needed basis and that convenient feature helped ease my mind when I had a question but wasn't sure to whom it should be directed.
Describe your experience with Tulsa Fertility Center.
I was overwhelmed by the amount of medical history that was requested BEFORE my initial consultation. I had no idea why they would need all of that two weeks before my appointment, but I learned after meeting the staff that they want to study and prepare so that the best form of treatment is presented for the couple's specific needs. The staff reviewed our history and were able to discuss health concerns from the beginning.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Shauna McKinney at Tulsa Fertility Center.
Egg retrieval cycle and most tests associated with cycle $13,000-$14,500
Egg retrieval medication: $7,500
FET procedure: $5,000
FET meds: $2,500
Describe Shauna McKinney's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Tulsa Fertility Center.
TFC has ethical and moral basis for transferring no more than two embryos during a cycle because excessive multiples not only endangers the lives of the fetuses, the mother's safety is severely jeopardized. For those seeking treatment, not in the advanced maternal age bracket, one to two embryos may be transferred.