How was your experience with Tamer Yalcinkaya at Carolinas Fertility Institute?
I have not seen Dr. Yalcinkaya at every appointment because there have been several months that I just go in for additional bloodwork or in many cases an ultrasound for an IUI or timed intercourse. I scheduled many of those appointment on days he is at his other clinic. Every time I needed to talk to him or there was an issue with my treatment, I was scheduled on a Monday or Wednesday so that I could see him. He has a staff that is very knowledgable and I did not feel like I had to see him each and every time. I could always contact him if needed - he makes himself available to his patients well after office hours. He is very kind and he will give his professional opinion and respect your ideas and plans as well. I never felt like I was being pushed into a decision that I was not comfortable with.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Tamer Yalcinkaya at Carolinas Fertility Institute?
Please be patient when you are waiting to be seen. Dr. Y takes his time with each of his patients and sometimes that means that appointments get a bit delayed. Also, ask questions, don't be afraid to ask questions, he will answer all of your questions!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Tamer Yalcinkaya at Carolinas Fertility Institute?
Dr. Y is in the Greensboro office on Mondays and Wednesdays. Each time that I had an appointment on those days, I met with him. I was able to ask him questions and talk about current and future treatment options. I never felt rushed at all. Sometime this meant that I stayed after closing to talk to him and there was a time or two that he gave me and my husband his number to talk so that we could talk to him via phone conferencing when we could not get off of work. Also, the ladies that work in the office are amazing! Crystal and Emma are so sweet and helpful! Crystal has returned every phone call and answered every question that I have every asked, sometimes there have been multiple questions in a day. They are so kind and patient!
Describe the protocols Tamer Yalcinkaya used in your cycles at Carolinas Fertility Institute and their degree of success.
I started with timed intercourse with Letrozole and Metformin. I have PCOS so this is a very typical pathway. The Letrozole helps ovulation and the Metformin helps get a period - both of these are very hard to accomplish with PCOS without medication. My perscriptions were increased in strength when I started at Carolinas Fertility Insitute. After a couple of months, he suggested having a sperm analysis done on my husband. After the sperm analysis it was found that my husband had lower than perferred sperm motility so we talked about options. My husband was perscribed medicine that helps with sperm molitity which did help. We continued with timed intercourse and added Ovidrel shots to help mature follicles during ovulation. We then did 3 cycles of IUI within 5 months, using medication, and Ovidrel injections. Those were not successful for us. My husband and I decided to keep trying the timed intercourse with medication route because it was the most affordable route for us. We did get pregnant after about 12 cycles. However, he miscarried so after. Dr. Yalcinkaya talked to my husband and I about our thoughts on IVF. We had talked about IVF off and on throughout the year with and with Dr. Y but I am overweight and was trying to lose weight to give IVF more of a chance and it is also expensive and we will need to get it financed. My husband and I wanted to exhaust our other options before moving into IVF and Dr. Y has allowed us that time but is now suggesting that we start considering it more seriously. We were able to met with the anesthesiologist and get cleared to egg retrieval despite still being a bit over the BMI requirements. Once my cycle returns we will be able to start the journey down the IVF pathway. We are hopeful that this avenue will work for us. Dr. Y has said that our chances on success increases to 60-70% with IVF and that prior to implanting the fetus into the uterus they will be able to do gentic testing and see which eggs have the highest chances of success and by doing this we are hoping to avoid another miscarriage.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Carolinas Fertility Institute. (Assigned nurse: Crystal (Hepburn?) )
The nursing staff at Carolinas Fertility Institute in Greensboro is awesome! They are so very kind and helpful. I can't remember everyone's name but Emma is really sweet; she often checks me in and occasionally helps with my bloodwork - I have tiny, impossibly small veins. Crystal is AMAZING! She has done a lot of my ultrasounds and answers a lot of my questions both in the office and on the phone. I feel like I am always asking her questions, sometimes multiple questions in a day, and she always returns my calls and is kind and patient with me.
Describe your experience with Carolinas Fertility Institute.
Staff is great just be patient as you wait. They are very flexible when it comes to scheduling me or fitting me in last minute - this happens more times then it should but they are always wonderful and get me in there.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Tamer Yalcinkaya at Carolinas Fertility Institute.
I paid for visiting a specialist at the first appointment, $80 after insurance. I had to pay for the sperm analysis $250 (not covered by insurance). Each month my Metformin and Letrozole is about $10 together, after insurance. Each month when I take Ovidrel, I order that through a fertility medication company for $107, I don't believe insurance covers any of it. When we did the IUIs, those cost $1,000 each and we did 3 cycles of IUIs. I had genetic testing on my bloodwork in the beginning which is sent to another company, Natera, I had to pay $250 for that but some insurances cover that but mine did not - depends of medical history according to my insurance company. I also had an after clinic hours phone conference with Dr. Y one evening beforewe started IUI to talk about the procedure then again to talk about IVF; I was only charged $45 for a lengthy phone conference at 6:30pm.
I have not paid anything additional for each of my monthly visits or additional bloodwork. I have had approximately 12 ultrasounds and the dye test on my fallopian tubes and those most all be covered fully by my insurance company because I never saw a bill for those and I have asked for an update on my account; currently $0 balance.
We are about to start IVF. I met with the anesthesiologist last weekfor a consultation and I was not charged for that meeting. I have been given some rough estimations for IVF but nothing concrete yet as we are just not starting this process. IVF does not appear to be something my insurance covers, at all so here are some estimations I have been given. The process is estimated to be $13,000 - $15,000; medication will be $3,000 - $6,000; implantation of embryo is about $2,800; genetic testing on embryos - know sure yet but national average is around $3,500 (this is a number I found online because I fotgot to ask during our consultation but I will). There is a program to help pay for medications that aren't cover by insurance; Compassionate Care Program - it is a quick process, I heard back within 3 days. This program covers between 10 - 75% of medication costs. Please keep in mind that these are just estimations that I was given at the end of last week - I am still in the beginning stages.