This is the most recent data from the CDC. The CDC cautions that it should not be used to compare doctors and clinics. This data represents the outcomes of IVF cycles when using a person's own eggs.
For more information please see our FAQs.
Where you see a “?” on the chart, a clinic has done fewer than 20 cycles in this category and age range, so the CDC says showing percentages from this small data set would be misleading and unreliable.
Dr. Milroy has always made feel like I could ask any questions I had, that she always had time for me, and she always has taken the time to explain and when helpful, illustrate what she is going over with me so I can refer to it later. We have had to make a lot of adjustments to my treatment plans and change directions fairly quickly and she has been with me and beyond supportive every step of the way.
[Dr. Milroy] and her staff [at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care] are available and easy to reach, knowledgeable, kind, empathetic, and genuinely root and advocate for you. They listen to my unique needs and requests and go the extra mile to help me feel as comfortable as possible while proceeding with the hardest decisions I’ve had to make. I feel so lucky Dr. Milroy and her staff are in my city and I can work with them through this.
How was your experience with Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Dr. Milroy has always made feel like I could ask any questions I had, that she always had time for me, and she always has taken the time to explain and when helpful, illustrate what she is going over with me so I can refer to it later. We have had to make a lot of adjustments to my treatment plans and change directions fairly quickly and she has been with me and beyond supportive every step of the way.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Become her patient because once you are, you are in very capable and kind, healing hands.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Dr. Milroy prioritizes information and education about what she can offer for testing options. Once we had results from testing, her educator heart really shined as she walked us through what was going on with my reproductive system- including writing things down that she was explaining and drawing easy to understand illustrations so we could refer to them later. She and her staff are available and easy to reach, knowledgeable, kind, empathetic, and genuinely root and advocate for you. They listen to my unique needs and requests and go the extra mile to help me feel as comfortable as possible while proceeding with the hardest decisions I’ve had to make. I feel so lucky Dr. Milroy and her staff are in my city and I can work with them through this.
Describe the protocols Colleen Milroy used in your cycles at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care and their degree of success.
We started out with timed intercourse during tracked ovulation with Clomid as I had a low ovarian reserve. After that wasn’t working, she referred me for an HSG and we found out both of my Fallopian tubes were blocked. She wanted to perform laparoscopic surgery because one of my tubes looked inflamed. At the same time she did a hysteroscopy. One of my tubes had to be removed and the other couldn’t be unblocked so then our only option was IVF. We were moving forward with that but after another test to check my ovarian reserve and egg quality, found that my numbers had decreased rapidly and now was below the threshold of being able to complete an IVF cycle with my own eggs. At that point, we decided to pursue embryo donation as a way to grow our family. We had planned to do our first frozen embryo transfer in June 2020 but Covid-19 has put that on hold for now.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care. (Assigned nurse: Zoey Hallam)
Zoey is so knowledgeable about what needs to be done for next steps and is the one you call for first day of menstrual cycles and to check in with. She is also very available and very responsive. She is also so kind and understanding and really advocates for her patients. I can’t imagine getting through this journey without her.
Describe your experience with Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
This clinic is very accessible, clean, and easy to work with. Billing and coding can be confusing and if I have ever had any questions, it is very easy to get ahold of the one person who handles it for the reproductive medicine department. She is super knowledgeable and patient and helpful and kind and ready to resubmit with new coding if needed. I couldn’t ask for more.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
My costs haven’t been much yet other than office visits and my surgery and HSG test. My surgery was $7000ish, HSG test was $700ish, and office visits are $200ish. Infertility is not covered by insurance in MT so it’s all been out of pocket except my surgery because of the inflamed Fallopian tube.
Dr. Milroy met with us directly and explained all the options we were going to explore to find the cause of our recurrent miscarriage. She broke down and explained all causes behind infertility. After we had found our root cause of pregnancy loss, she helped us to navigate what was next and what our options were. She never left us feeling like we had unanswered questions. With tests following our initial visits, she was always prompt with getting us results...
The nursing staff [at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care] was very kind and sympathetic to our situation. After losses they were very soft hearted and offered resources if we needed help coping. Results were always clearly explained and any questions we had asked were answered in a reasonable time...From our experience, the clinic is very well run and organized. Tests were performed in sterile environments and the staff was very kind and authentic. No complaints other to an scheduling appointments were hard due to the Dr. Being very popular and having many patients. That being said, we always had answers to our questions or options available to us....
How was your experience with Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Dr. Milroy met with us directly and explained all the options we were going to explore to find the cause of our recurrent miscarriage. She broke down and explained all causes behind infertility. After we had found our root cause of pregnancy loss, she helped us to navigate what was next and what our options were. She never left us feeling like we had unanswered questions. With tests following our initial visits, she was always prompt with getting us results. Through losses after we had met her, she had been very helpful and supportive.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Don’t feel hesitant to lay out all your concerns with Dr. Milroy. She is very thorough and wants to help you find peace in this journey to the best of her ability.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
She was very personable and understanding. She explained all her findings and tests with us. Dr. Milroy helped us discover the cause of our infertility and she continues to guide us as we navigate these waters.
Describe the protocols Colleen Milroy used in your cycles at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care and their degree of success.
Dr. Milroy had set us a wide spectrum of blood tests to help determine what was causing infertility in both me and my spouse. We also set up a saline ultrasound to see if we had any plasma cells that may have affected our chances to carry a healthy pregnancy. When we discovered it was a chromosomal issue within myself that was causing our losses, she set up a meeting with a genetic specialist to help us get more information as we moved forward with our journey. When we had successfully conceived, she had a plan set up to help encourage a healthy pregnancy. We were asked to start progesterone and baby aspirin to as soon as we discovered we were pregnant. Multiple HCG tests were performed to see if our baby was growing as well as an early ultrasound. We were very thankful for how proactive she was in wanting to keep tabs on our pregnancy progress. While we were thankful for this, the cost of testing became very expensive and she was understanding as we had asked to stop with continued tests.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
The nursing staff was very kind and sympathetic to our situation. After losses they were very soft hearted and offered resources if we needed help coping. Results were always clearly explained and any questions we had asked were answered in a reasonable time.
Describe your experience with Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
From our experience, the clinic is very well run and organized. Tests were performed in sterile environments and the staff was very kind and authentic. No complaints other to an scheduling appointments were hard due to the Dr. Being very popular and having many patients. That being said, we always had answers to our questions or options available to us.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
Many of my costs were covered by insurance. The overall bill was well over $4,000, but we were thankful for the thoroughness of tests run. We did not see more than $1000 go out of our pocket with insurance.
Dr. Milroy was very thorough and made sure to go over my blood work with me before starting the IVF process. She explained everything very well and was able to answer all the questions I had. She made me feel very confident through the whole process...The transfer was successful and my pregnancy went full term.
The [Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care] clinic was great at answering any questions or concerns. They were always friendly when I went in for an appointment and the check in process was easy! There is multiple offices in the clinic, so everyone checks in at the same front desk, but they instruct you where to go and wait for the nurse.
How was your experience with Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Dr. Milroy was very thorough and made sure to go over my blood work with me before starting the IVF process. She explained everything very well and was able to answer all the questions I had. She made me feel very confident through the whole process.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
To relax and walk in knowing Dr. Milroy will make you feel welcome and comfortable.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Dr. Milroy and her staff treated me like a friend. They explained every step thoroughly, and were excited with me throughout my treatment. They even called me after I had my little guy to ask how his birth went.
Describe the protocols Colleen Milroy used in your cycles at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care and their degree of success.
Birth control and injectable’s for the egg retrieval (cannot remember the names). Retrieved 20 eggs and 3 made it to blastocyst. The transfer I took an antibiotic, baby aspirin, estrogen vaginally and PIO shots. The Estrogen and Progesterone were taken until 10 weeks pregnant. The transfer was successful and my pregnancy went full term.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care. (Assigned nurse: Lisa)
The nursing staff was wonderful! Lisa was the care coordinator, but was also a nurse at the clinic. They were amazing at drawing blood, communicating instructions, and went over each medication and injectable.
Describe your experience with Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
The clinic was great at answering any questions or concerns. They were always friendly when I went in for an appointment and the check in process was easy! There is multiple offices in the clinic, so everyone checks in at the same front desk, but they instruct you where to go and wait for the nurse.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
My initial consult and blood work was around $500. Before I could start my egg retrieval process I had to pay $10,000 and the medication was around $1200. Before I could start my egg transfer I had to pay $3500 and the medication was around $1000.
Describe Colleen Milroy's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
My Dr. believed in transferring one embryo at a time due to the risk of multiples. She said with having endometriosis an IVF transfer would give me a good chance at becoming pregnant and we did not want to chance having a multiple pregnancy.
I loved that [Dr. Colleen Milroy] was upfront and realistic when she shared information. She always kept a positive attitude which was important to hear, especially when I felt pessimistic. I felt like she was eager to learn about new treatment protocols and was able to customize my protocol based on that information and my previous protocols...We always chose to do a single embryo transfer and that was in line with [her] recommendations
Love all the staff [at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care]!! Some of the staff are previous patients and I felt they really understood how I was feeling and anticipated the questions I might have. They always answered the phone and returned my calls...Each cycle was roughly $15-20k and each embryo transfer was roughly $5k...felt like the Maternal Fetal Medicine department played on our anxieties by offering additional screening (heart scans, ultrasounds for nasal bones) because we’d done IVF, but really were not necessary
How was your experience with Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
I loved that she was upfront and realistic when she shared information. She always kept a positive attitude which was important to hear, especially when I felt pessimistic. I felt like she was eager to learn about new treatment protocols and was able to customize my protocol based on that information and my previous protocols
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Do what they say! Follow directions and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Dr Milroy and her staff knew my name and remembered details about my life; I felt like they cared about us on a personal level outside of fertility treatments.
Describe the protocols Colleen Milroy used in your cycles at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care and their degree of success.
Unsure.. I tried to not research online about the various protocols and just trusted my care tread. I recall my medications included ganirelix, Lupron, saizan, and my HCG trigger. FET protocols included estrogen and progesterone supplements.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care. (Assigned nurse: Melanie Schmidt)
Love all the staff there!! Some of the staff are previous patients and I felt they really understood how I was feeling and anticipated the questions I might have. They always answered the phone and returned my calls.
Describe your experience with Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
Once I was transferred to my regular OB, I felt like some of my medical records didn’t find their way to the new office. I also felt like the Maternal Fetal Medicine department played on our anxieties by offering additional screening (heart scans, ultrasounds for nasal bones) because we’d done IVF, but really were not necessary.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
Each cycle was roughly $15-20k and each embryo transfer was roughly $5k
Describe Colleen Milroy's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
We always chose to do a single embryo transfer and that was in line with Dr Milroy recommendations.
What specific things went wrong at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Lost paperwork
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
When I went for my egg retrieval, they couldn’t find my consent form. The issue was resolved quickly and there was no delay in my procedure.
Dr. Milroy is wonderful. She took time to answer all my questions and even ordered extra testing for my peace of mind. She spent an hour with us during our initial consultation. Her bedside manner was warm and open. I didn't feel rushed or hurried... Initially we started with clomid and T.I. plus progesterone supplementation(my husband wanted to go slow). After 2 cycles we added a trigger shot. After 4 more cycles we went to a hybrid cycle using cloud, gonal f, trigger shot and progesterone supplementation.
Initial office visit- about 350.00 [at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine and Fertility Care] Seman analysis- about 60.00...Strengths: small, intimate, organized, helpful, friendly...no real financing options to pay for treatments (other than accepting all major credit cards and having "bundle " pricing for iui, fresh transfer ivf cycle, and frozen transfer ivf cycle...The nurses are great at taking time to answer questions and always get right back to you if you have to leave a message. I dislike that the PA hasnt felt it necessary to switch my oral medication from clomid to letrazole even though I expressed concern about the number of cycles I have been on it.
How was your experience with Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Dr. Milroy is wonderful. She took time to answer all my questions and even ordered extra testing for my peace of mind. She spent an hour with us during our initial consultation. Her bedside manner was warm and open. I didn't feel rushed or hurried.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Dont be afraid to ask questions or have her explain if something doesnt make sense.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Dr. Milroy was super thorough and answered all of our questions. The nurses are great at taking time to answer questions and always get right back to you if you have to leave a message. I dislike that the PA hasnt felt it necessary to switch my oral medication from clomid to letrazole even though I expressed concern about the number of cycles I have been on it.
Describe the protocols Colleen Milroy used in your cycles at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care and their degree of success.
We started (and are still on) meds and timed intercourse. Initially we started with clomid and T.I. plus progesterone supplementation(my husband wanted to go slow). After 2 cycles we added a trigger shot. After 4 more cycles we went to a hybrid cycle using cloud, gonal f, trigger shot and progesterone supplementation. We are on another round of that regimen.
The hardest struggle is if I dont produce follicles on the ovary that has a fallopian tube, we dont trigger or use the progesterone and the ovary without a tube is the one that more frequently produces follicles. Out of the last 7 cycles, we have had 3 "successful" meaning I produced follicles on the correct side- but no pregnancies yet. We can go to iui at any point per Dr. Milroy or even fast forward to IVF
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
The nurses are kind and sweet and take time to answer a million questions. They schedule your ultrasounds for you. They also answer messages in a timely manner, I have never had to wait more than 30-60minutes to get a return call (and usually dont have to leave a message)
Describe your experience with Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
Strengths: small, intimate, organized, helpful, friendly
Weaknesses: small number of clients= lower rates of sucess with ART, no real financing options to pay for treatments (other than accepting all major credit cards and having "bundle " pricing for iui, fresh transfer ivf cycle, and frozen transfer ivf cycle
Describe the costs associated with your care under Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
Initial office visit- about 350.00
Seman analysis- about 60.00
Lab results- over 500.00
Follicle ultrasound- 176.00/time
Ovidrel shot- 87.00
Gonal F 300unit pen- over 250.00
Describe Colleen Milroy's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
Have not had this conversation yet
What specific things went wrong at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Failed to call with results
Failed to consider drug intolerance
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
No one called us with my husbands seman analysis results, I had to call for them and only spoke to the nurse about them ( I would have preferred the doctor)
Also, I have done research about clomid not being effective after 6 cycles and am concerned about that but the PA seems unconcerned and didnt want to change my hybrid regiman because I am responding well to the clomid and my uterine lining has been within normal limits, though on the lower side (I asked to be put on letrazole or just injections)
She [Dr. Milroy] has great bedside manner and a welcoming personality. She seems confident that we will be great candidates for DE IVF. She takes time to explain everything to me, and has come up with a wonderful treatment plan for my condition. She has broken things down for me on a real levels made things easy to understand. I'm eager to get started on choosing a donor!... because I have autoimmune disease, she will use a protocol with Plaquenil.
The clinic [Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine and Fertility Care] isn't the prettiest, or biggest but I trust the medical team there. I consulted with a very large clinic in Portland OR years ago and honestly I just felt like a number there. I dont feel like a number at Billings Clinic.... They always answer the phone, and if they cant get to it, they are quick to reply! They also try their best to answer all of my questions.
How was your experience with Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
She has great bedside manner and a welcoming personality. She seems confident that we will be great candidates for DE IVF. She takes time to explain everything to me, and has come up with a wonderful treatment plan for my condition. She has broken things down for me on a real levels made things easy to understand.
I'm eager to get started on choosing a donor!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Take a list of questions, and schedule a consult! I dont see how anyone would feel uncomfortable around Dr. Milroy.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
I have been to clinics where I felt like a number, and believe me I can tell the difference. I know what my infertility problem is, it is a medical condition. Dr. Milroy is treating my medical condition as well, and when we're ready and choose our donor we will choose her to get us pregnant!
Describe the protocols Colleen Milroy used in your cycles at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care and their degree of success.
We havent been able to start yet, but because I have autoimmune disease, she will use a protocol with Plaquenil. We will need to find an egg donor first.
I also know they use ICSI.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
They always answer the phone, and if they cant get to it, they are quick to reply! They also try their best to answer all of my questions.
Describe your experience with Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
The clinic isn't the prettiest, or biggest but I trust the medical team there. I consulted with a very large clinic in Portland OR years ago and honestly I just felt like a number there. I dont feel like a number at Billings Clinic.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
My costs will be roughly 21-25k
Describe Colleen Milroy's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
We chatted about transfering one or more and she stated for me, they would transfer one. I am under 40 and have not yet experienced losses.
I would recommend Dr. Milroy to anyone going through fertility treatment. I always felt like a priority, and I felt that throughout the course of my treatments that my best interests were in mind. She is very knowledgeable and confident in the medical aspect of all fertility treatments. ... Since I only had one embryo available, an ERA test was recommended. I did the test and the result showed that my lining was pre-receptive, so for my FET, 6 days of progesterone in ethyl oleate were used.
One thing I wish that the clinic [Billings Clinic Repro Med] focused more on is the use of supplements and the impact lifestyle and diet can have on the outcome of certain treatments. ... The clinic was very good at explaining the financial details and there were no surprises in any of the costs associated with treatment. There were a few times recently that invoices did not get billed through my insurance, so I had to call and have it run, but things were always taken care of.
How was your experience with Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
I would recommend Dr. Milroy to anyone going through fertility treatment. I always felt like a priority, and I felt that throughout the course of my treatments that my best interests were in mind. She is very knowledgeable and confident in the medical aspect of all fertility treatments. She is great at explaining in detail every step of a particular treatment.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Ask questions and learn as much as you can about the treatments that you are going through and what options are available because she will tell you everything you want to know.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
I felt like a human because my doctor always knew exactly who I was and what my situation was. Every time I came in, she was always knowledgeable about my individual case, instead of having to look in my chart to remember things. Phone calls and emails were always returned quickly, and I also received phone calls during cycles in a timely fashion.
Describe the protocols Colleen Milroy used in your cycles at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care and their degree of success.
IVF cycle: stimulation with Follistim and Menopur. Follicles slow to respond, so dosage of menopur was increased. Ganirelix was added from day 10 to day 14. Total stimulation days was 14, which resulted in a freeze all cycle. Double trigger was used (Novarel and Lupron). 13 eggs were retrieved, 11 mature, 6 eggs fertilized the traditional way (3 took), 5 eggs fertilized with ICSI (5 took). By day 3, all but one embryo survived, but all were very fragmented. By day 6 only one embryo had made it to freeze. Since I only had one embryo available, an ERA test was recommended. I did the test and the result showed that my lining was pre-receptive, so for my FET, 6 days of progesterone in ethyl oleate were used. During the ERA cycle, I found that I had a reaction to the Progesterone in sesame oil, so the compound was changed. My FET resulted in a miscarriage at 8 weeks.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
I cannot say enough about the nurses at this clinic. They are some of the most caring people I have ever met. They take everything seriously and always made me feel comfortable and well informed. All phone calls were returned quickly. I received prompt phone calls with updates from my cycles. I also was able to email them with any questions, which were returned quickly. I always felt like they genuinely cared about me as a patient.
Describe your experience with Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
The clinic was very good at explaining the financial details and there were no surprises in any of the costs associated with treatment. There were a few times recently that invoices did not get billed through my insurance, so I had to call and have it run, but things were always taken care of. One thing I wish that the clinic focused more on is the use of supplements and the impact lifestyle and diet can have on the outcome of certain treatments. Several times I asked about things that I could do to possibly help the outcome of treatments and was always told that there was nothing that I could do to change anything. They may not have been wrong, but it went against other research that I had found, so it was a little confusing.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
The cost of my IVF cycle was $13,500, which included everything except for meds, which were an additional $3-4,000.
Describe Colleen Milroy's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
My doctor usually only transfers one embryo at a time, but will make exceptions based on what the patient wants and their individual case.
Our first IVF cycle [with Dr. Colleen Milroy] was pretty standard from what I understand. We retrieved 20 eggs and I stimmed beautifully but we lost all embryos. Our plan has changed for round 2 a lot and has encompassed 3 additional months of prep work for both myself and husband. Our hope is to overcome egg health, sperm health and sperm binding issues...She is genuine in everything from her explanation of what is happening or going to happen up to her presence and smile. I never feel like she is padding an answer to save my feelings but is delivering good or bad news with compassion and heart. I can't imagine being this comfortable on this journey with any other provider.
Our first IVF cycle [at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine and Fertility Care] was pretty standard from what I understand. We retrieved 20 eggs and I stimmed beautifully but we lost all embryos...All of the nurses we have talked to or met were wonderful. Each one answered any questions or concerns in full detail and even addressed them again when I inevitably called again...and again...Egg retrieval was around $11,000. Medication was around $5,500 with our specialty pharmacy...I understand the reasonings behind the single embryo transfer and the office explained it in totality...
How was your experience with Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Dr. Milroy is absolutely amazing on every level. She is genuine in everything from her explanation of what is happening or going to happen up to her presence and smile. I never feel like she is padding an answer to save my feelings but is delivering good or bad news with compassion and heart. I can't imagine being this comfortable on this journey with any other provider.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Be honest, ask questions and take home her drawings for future reference.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
The whole office knows my name and never has to ask for an account number or date of birth to look me up. They just know it's me and ask personal questions - "How are you?" "How's the business going?" ect. We also share book recommendations on the regular so it's a pretty neat relationship above all the medical stuff we have to deal with!
Describe the protocols Colleen Milroy used in your cycles at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care and their degree of success.
Our first IVF cycle was pretty standard from what I understand. We retrieved 20 eggs and I stimmed beautifully but we lost all embryos. Our plan has changed for round 2 a lot and has encompassed 3 additional months of prep work for both myself and husband. Our hope is to overcome egg health, sperm health and sperm binding issues.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care. (Assigned nurse: Zoey, Darcy)
All of the nurses we have talked to or met were wonderful. Each one answered any questions or concerns in full detail and even addressed them again when I inevitably called again...and again...
They grieved with me, raised the happiness in the room and support each of our decisions and concerns.
Describe your experience with Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
I have absolutely no complaints with any of the facilities we have used in reference to our fertility journey. My family attended my egg retrieval to watch our 2 year old and they found it inviting and helpful in entertaining him. They communicate well from the financial department (CJ) to the nurses to the doctor and even the check in office.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
Egg retrieval was around $11,000. Medication was around $5,500 with our specialty pharmacy. I never made it to the transfer stage but I am told that will be $3,500 out of pocket and $500 for medication.
Describe Colleen Milroy's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
I understand the reasonings behind the single embryo transfer and the office explained it in totality.
She [Dr. Milroy] was very open and honest with us about my lab results and even took some updated blood work because it had been 6 months. She told us right way about the devastating news that my blood work showed I was producing eggs at a 40 year old or older. This blood work let me tell you was the SAME blood work that was taken 6 plus months prior from my OBGYN who told us that everything was ok!! I'm very thankful that we found Dr. Milroy and was able to move forward with the right treatment. We tried 2 IUIs with injectables with Milroy even though she was open with us about the low percentage of it working. We are now waiting for IVF in June. We have had a great experience so far and I know it will continue throughout our journey.
The injectable medication for the first IUI [at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine and Fertility Care] was around $800 and the rest (procedure, blood work and ultrasounds was around $1000) I had two IUIs done. I just started IVF and the medication I just purchased was $5,142.52...the cost [for IVF] would be around $13,000...You don't have to wait on hold when trying to speak to a nurse, no lines when checking in, and they treat you like an individual. There is about 3 nurses at his clinic and each one is up to date on what is going. They also have a specific billing person who gets back to your questions ASAP.
How was your experience with Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
When we first walked into the Dr. Milroy's office my husband and I didn't expect to get the answer we received that day. We had been going to my OBGYN who was there for our first pregnancy for almost a year prior before moving on to Dr. Milroy. While visiting with Dr. Milroy she started by going over all the factors that consider you in the category for infertility.. She was very open and honest with us about my lab results and even took some updated blood work because it had been 6 months. She told us right way about the devastating news that my blood work showed I was producing eggs at a 40 year old or older. This blood work let me tell you was the SAME blood work that was taken 6 plus months prior from my OBGYN who told us that everything was ok!! I'm very thankful that we found Dr. Milroy and was able to move forward with the right treatment. We tried 2 IUIs with injectables with Milroy even though she was open with us about the low percentage of it working. We are now waiting for IVF in June. We have had a great experience so far and I know it will continue throughout our journey.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
That from day one she handwrites, draws pictures whatever it takes to explain the factors that determine your results to be in the category of infertility. She also gave me advice of some medicine to help me keep the eggs I do have left healthy. Dr. Milroy also keeps everything very positive but is also very open and honest about percentages and treatment that is BEST for YOU!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
I felt like a human because they got to know us on a personal level! When we call all we have to do is give them our name and they know exactly who we are. We can call at anytime and ask even the silliest of questions. There is no judgement they are there to support to us. So far it has been a great experience.
Describe the protocols Colleen Milroy used in your cycles at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care and their degree of success.
From my first visit up until now she recommend me take 1.5 mg of DHEA, 800 mg CoQ10, myo-inositol and a multi vitamin (to keep my eggs healthy). For my first IUI I was doing a shot at night of 75 follistim up until the point of needing the trigger shot. I was also given several ultrasounds and blood work to monitor the growth of the eggs. The same thing happened for my 2nd IUI but they increased my follistim to 100.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
They are all wonderful! When I talked earlier about being able to call and they know you by name that is who I was speaking about. I think the best part is they don't rush you at your visits either. If we have questions and concerns they are all very knowable. I leave the room feeling like my questions were answered and they make you feel like it's ok to ask questions to seek whatever answers you need.
Describe your experience with Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
You don't have to wait on hold when trying to speak to a nurse, no lines when checking in, and they treat you like an individual. There is about 3 nurses at his clinic and each one is up to date on what is going. They also have a specific billing person who gets back to your questions ASAP.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
The injectable medication for the first IUI was around $800 and the rest (procedure, blood work and ultrasounds was around $1000) I had two IUIs done. I just started IVF and the medication I just purchased was $5,142.52. I won't be doing IVF until June but they told me the cost would be around $13,000.
Describe Colleen Milroy's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
Dr. Milroy was kind and knowledgeable regarding all fertility/infertility issues and treatments. She was honest with all our questions and answered questions in a direct but gentle manner.... Diagnosis was unexplained female infertility, with a polycystic right ovary. A PCOS diagnosis was not given due to not meeting criteria for that diagnosis. The plan given to us was a first steps plan to induce ovulation with more options available if desired. Treatment plan included letrozole, trigger shots, progesterone supplement, IUI, and timed intercourse and a HSG procedure. No pregnancies were achieved with this regimen.
Everything about this clinic [Billings Clinic Reproductive Med and Fertility Care] far exceeded expectation. The care is personal and intimate. We were never treated like number and always felt like our personal information was kept private. The staff is well educated and great at helping patients understand all information given to them.... The nursing staff in this office was exceptional. They always treated us with respect and honesty. They were available via phone and always answered our many questions with detailed answers and did not ever rush our conversations. They would return after hours phone calls promptly.
How was your experience with Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Dr. Milroy was kind and knowledgeable regarding all fertility/infertility issues and treatments. She was honest with all our questions and answered questions in a direct but gentle manner. I have recommended this physician to close friends and will continue to do so.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
As with any doctor, it is important to be open and honest about everything happening in your situation. I would also encourage patients to ask a lot of questions and not feel like a burden if you need more education or help understanding.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
The care given with each visit and phone call was always personal and kind. The staff and doctor were knowledgeable of my specific situation and had good understanding of the treatments and services provided
Describe the protocols Colleen Milroy used in your cycles at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care and their degree of success.
Diagnosis was unexplained female infertility, with a polycystic right ovary. A PCOS diagnosis was not given due to not meeting criteria for that diagnosis. The plan given to us was a first steps plan to induce ovulation with more options available if desired. Treatment plan included letrozole, trigger shots, progesterone supplement, IUI, and timed intercourse and a HSG procedure. No pregnancies were achieved with this regimen. Due to a personal decision, My husband and I decided not to go forward with any other recommend treatment.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
The nursing staff in this office was exceptional. They always treated us with respect and honesty. They were available via phone and always answered our many questions with detailed answers and did not ever rush our conversations. They would return after hours phone calls promptly.
Describe your experience with Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
Everything about this clinic far exceeded expectation. The care is personal and intimate. We were never treated like number and always felt like our personal information was kept private. The staff is well educated and great at helping patients understand all information given to them.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
Some of the costs were covered by insurance, for initial visit, HSG procedure, medications. IUI was not a covered procedure, I do not recall the out of pocket costs associated.
Describe Colleen Milroy's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
Dr. Milroy was very straight forward and said that this cocktail of drug may help my egg quality but there wasn’t specific research to back it up. ... Dr. Milroy also is a big advocate for mental health and not “loosing yourself” in fertility treatments. She may make a recommendation for you to go to counseling. ... The same goes for the possibility she may ask you to loose weight. ... It felt very supported even though I was very sad about the outcome of the cycle.
Billings Clinic Fertility Clinic’s main strength is it’s size. It’s a relatively small clinic, which means you know every nurse and doctor. ... One weakness of the clinic, is it’s size as well. Because the fertility clinic is small, it only does 6 IVF cycles a year, every other month, beginning with January. ... There is a lady who gives out her direct line to duscuss the exact amounts and she can give you information if you need a loan.
How was your experience with Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Dr. Milroy is very thorough and meticioulous about the treatment plan. She is a good communicator and let’s the patients know if she sees something that may cause a problem. She was very straight forward with explaining the plan of care and how our embryos developed. Dr. Milroy is up to date on infertility research and welcomes any and all questions.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
My top advice to a new patient of Dr. Milroy’s would be to be open and ask as lots of questions. Talking to Dr. Milroy decreased my anxiety because I knew her answers were accurate and not just what the internet said. Dr. Milroy also is a big advocate for mental health and not “loosing yourself” in fertility treatments. She may make a recommendation for you to go to counseling. Don’t be offended by this suggestion, just know she wants you to be the healthiest you can be. The same goes for the possibility she may ask you to loose weight. I trust Dr. Milroy more than any other doctor I’ve ever had care from. She’s very genuine and knowledgeable. Her passion is helping couples get their miracle baby! You are in the best hands with her as your doctor. Good Luck!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
I found out on Mother’s Day that my second round of IVF had also resulted in zero embryos for transfer. Dr. Milroy had personally called me and left me an encouraging voicemail. She told me that she was thinking of me and wanted me to know there was still hope. It felt very supported even though I was very sad about the outcome of the cycle.
Describe the protocols Colleen Milroy used in your cycles at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care and their degree of success.
My first round of IVF was a standard protocol. Menopur and Follistim, with Generalix added in the last few days. My second round was Menopur, Follistim, and Lupron. I believe this was a stronger protocol. I also was asked to take DHEA 25mg three times a day, CoQ10 400mg twice a day, and Myoinositol 4gm every day for 90 days prior to my second IVF cycle to possibly improve my egg quality. Dr. Milroy was very straight forward and said that this cocktail of drug may help my egg quality but there wasn’t specific research to back it up.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
The IVF nurses are extremely compassionate and knowledgeable. Zoe and Darci were my favorite. Darci actually went through fertility treatments herself to have a baby. I talked to the nurses openly and always felt my questions and conercerns were addressed 100%. The nurses are more than just nurses, they become your friends.
Describe your experience with Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
Billings Clinic Fertility Clinic’s main strength is it’s size. It’s a relatively small clinic, which means you know every nurse and doctor. The IVF team itself is very compassionate and thorough. The IVF nurses order you meds two months in advance and do medication training early as well. They try to prevent any surprises. With it being a small clinic, you have to order in donor sperm or donor eggs as well, but the process is actually quite easy and I think you have better options because you don’t have to choose from their own database of donors. One weakness of the clinic, is it’s size as well. Because the fertility clinic is small, it only does 6 IVF cycles a year, every other month, beginning with January. Also, some of my medications came from a pharmacy in Oregon and was overnighted to me. This was a little stressful, but everything went very smoothly. One last word of advice, double check your needle size when you start administering IM shots like a trigger shot or progesterone. It wasn’t the fertility clinic’s fault, but the pharmacy kept giving me 18guage, 1 inch needless; I needed 22guage, 1.5 inch needles.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
I think the IVF costs were pretty standard. The payments for an IVF cycle is due a few weeks before your initial ultrasound and blood work. There is a lady who gives out her direct line to duscuss the exact amounts and she can give you information if you need a loan. She seemed relatively easy to get a hold of.
Describe Colleen Milroy's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
I’ve only had one, 1-5day embryo transfer. I didn’t want to take the risk of multiples, so never really asked to transfer more than one. I think Dr. Milroy would be open to transferring more than one embryo as long as the couple understood the risks associate with multiples.
She [Dr. Colleen Milroy] sympathized with that, even though she never had to go through any of this. She made this horrible, draining process so much better. Even when my eggs didn’t make it to the end (all arrested on day 6) she made me feel as if it was not my fault (even though every woman going through this knows that is EXACTLY how you feel; that it’s your fault.) She gave me a box of tissues and told me I did everything perfectly, even when I felt like I didn’t. She said she was proud of me, even when I was absolutely defeated and a wits end with myself and my failing body.
I absolutely LOVED our nurses[ at Billings Clinic]. We had Zoey and Julia (and also Darcy, but I only talked to her on the phone but she was amazing too.) Zoey and Julia took amazing care of us. I wish I could talk to them daily, that’s how close I felt with them. The gave me their personal numbers so I could text or call them with questions, I would email them CONSTANTLY. I was probably so annoying with so many questions and concerns and if I took a shot a few minutes late if I was going to be okay, etc. They were just so amazing. They both deserve awards for being such amazing nurses. Dr. Milroy, Zoey and Julia kept both my husband and I sane. And I love them so much.
How was your experience with Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Dr. Milroy was amazing. Through the entire process she made me feel “safe”. If that makes sense. Being 25 and going through this process, pretty much knowing that you have no chance of having a good outcome. But having Dr. Milroy tell me how good my eggs were responding to the meds and how great I was doing with the shots and being so informed on what I was doing, it made life so much easier. Our life was absolutely shattered when we found out I had premature ovarian failure. All I’ve ever wanted is to be a mom. I babysat all through high school/college because I love kids. Dr. Milroy understood that. She sympathized with that, even though she never had to go through any of this. She made this horrible, draining process so much better. Even when my eggs didn’t make it to the end (all arrested on day 6) she made me feel as if it was not my fault (even though every woman going through this knows that is EXACTLY how you feel; that it’s your fault.) She gave me a box of tissues and told me I did everything perfectly, even when I felt like I didn’t. She said she was proud of me, even when I was absolutely defeated and a wits end with myself and my failing body. She made me feel that I could try again, even if it wasn’t with my own eggs. She gave me all of the information without making me feel like an idiot. I knew what happened to my eggs, but she informed me anyways, in the easiest, least painful way possible. I would recommend her to anyone and everyone I could. Even though this process was something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy, I am glad I enjoyed the people who took care of me, including Dr. Milroy.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
She is a warm, caring individual, but she will tell you the information you need to hear. She told me my odds were low, but that she had faith in me because of my age. Even though I failed, she didn’t make me feel like a failure. You will enjoy her, she is amazing at what she does!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
She made me feel informed and she made it as pleasant as possible for someone being 25 with pretty much no egg reserve.
Describe the protocols Colleen Milroy used in your cycles at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care and their degree of success.
Dr. Milroy saw my situation and decided we needed to go all in. She got me into the cycle that was starting next and we were in within a month. I took
6 shots a day. 3 in the morning and 3 at night. The shots were Lupron, Follistim, and Menopur. We checked in every other day with the clinic. Everything was looking amazing. My right ovary was growing like crazy, although my left ovary was not. We ended up having to do shots an extra day just to get a little extra growth on my left ovary, even though it didn’t do anything. We then went in for retrieval and got 3 eggs! We were so excited! We didn’t even think we would get one! However, my egg quality was absolutely terrible, so none of them made it. But I personally feel Dr. Milroy did everything she could for me.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care. (Assigned nurse: Zoey Hallman, Julia Lennick)
I absolutely LOVED our nurses. We had Zoey and Julia (and also Darcy, but I only talked to her on the phone but she was amazing too.) Zoey and Julia took amazing care of us. I wish I could talk to them daily, that’s how close I felt with them. The gave me their personal numbers so I could text or call them with questions, I would email them CONSTANTLY. I was probably so annoying with so many questions and concerns and if I took a shot a few minutes late if I was going to be okay, etc. They were just so amazing. They both deserve awards for being such amazing nurses. Dr. Milroy, Zoey and Julia kept both my husband and I sane. And I love them so much.
Describe your experience with Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
Honestly, for being the only IVF clinic for hundreds of miles, they do an amazing job. They are informed on all new technology, the embryologist flew in from NY, and he was AMAZING. He was so nice. I just thoroughly enjoyed the entire clinic. Even the nurses in the “surgery center” were great!
Describe the costs associated with your care under Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
We paid $9,000 for the egg retrieval and about $4500 for the medications.
Describe Colleen Milroy's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
I personally never made it to transfer, so I cannot comment on this.
On our first meeting she [Dr. Milroy] and her staff were so warm and personable. She sat down and drew out (by hand) exactly what we were going to do TOGETHER! She made us feel so comfortable and filled us full of knowledge we have been starving for the last 7 years.... She is absolutely amazing! She loves her job and her patients and it shows! She is very aware on how financially draining infertility can be and she was upfront that they are always looking for ways to help us cut down on the cost.
Billings Clinic is great, I just wished they helped more with infertility financing or some sort of payment plan. As a couple who wants a family, but has a hard time paying for multiple IVF treatments you would hope that they would be able to help you or point you in a direction that can help. We were just told to look on the internet or google it. They are always very clean and professional. They have very up to date equipment.
How was your experience with Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
She is absolutely amazing! She loves her job and her patients and it shows! She is very aware on how financially draining infertility can be and she was upfront that they are always looking for ways to help us cut down on the cost. She has made everything so far go wonderful and we are hopeful she will help us get pregnant!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Don’t plan on waiting hours, they are the most prompt office I have ever been too! She will also spend as much time as you need!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
On our first meeting she and her staff were so warm and personable. She sat down and drew out (by hand) exactly what we were going to do TOGETHER! She made us feel so comfortable and filled us full of knowledge we have been starving for the last 7 years.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
They only have 2 nurses- so they get to know you well! They are always there to call and answer your questions. No question is too small or dumb. They are happy to be there and listen.
Describe your experience with Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
Billings Clinic is great, I just wished they helped more with infertility financing or some sort of payment plan. As a couple who wants a family, but has a hard time paying for multiple IVF treatments you would hope that they would be able to help you or point you in a direction that can help. We were just told to look on the internet or google it. They are always very clean and professional. They have very up to date equipment.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
Approximately $16,000 for workup, egg retrieval and embryo makeup. $2,00-$5,000 for medications, $1,000 for initial visit, blood work and ultra sound/mach transfer.
Describe Colleen Milroy's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
Dr. Milroy is leans more on the side of eSET- it all depends on what grades your embryos get, but she would rather you have 1 healthy baby and come back in a year to get pregnant with another healthy baby.
Dr. Shomento really made efforts to personalize our experience with her from the very beginning. She asked us what our goals were, for the consult and long term, how much detail we wanted in explanations of our diagnoses and if we had any concerns with treatments.... At my initial consult I was on cycle day 12. Blood work showed I had an anovulatory cycle so Dr. Shomento ordered progesterone supplement to induce a cycle.
The Bozeman location [Billings Clinic Repro Med and Fertility Care] is the office we are most familiar with. I’d want new patients to know that the office has many resources for them, from nurses that cry with you when needed in sadness and in joy. There are individuals that will help navigate through the ins and outs of insurance so you can get as much coverage as possible for these services.
How was your experience with Stacy Shomento at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Dr Shomento was very direct and to the point in our treatment which we greatly appreciated. By the time our ttc journey had brought us to an RE we knew we wanted someone that would be blunt and tell us what we needed to hear rather than just pacify us and tell what they thought we would want to hear. She always presented information tactfully and respectfully. Finding a weakness was difficult but I guess I’d possibly say her appointments could be scheduled slightly longer but overall we had plenty of time to ask any questions we had.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Stacy Shomento at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Bring a notebook to take notes, she is very thorough with her answers and I liked writing her answers down to be able to look back on it later.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Stacy Shomento at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Dr. Shomento really made efforts to personalize our experience with her from the very beginning. She asked us what our goals were, for the consult and long term, how much detail we wanted in explanations of our diagnoses and if we had any concerns with treatments. We never felt like “just another uterus”, we really felt like she invested herself making sure we had quality care.
Describe the protocols Stacy Shomento used in your cycles at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care and their degree of success.
At my initial consult I was on cycle day 12. Blood work showed I had an anovulatory cycle so Dr. Shomento ordered progesterone supplement to induce a cycle. I had one cycle of letrozole 5 mg cycle days 3-7 and I ovulated but did not conceive. Th next cycle I had letrozole 5 mg cd 3-7, dexamethasone 2mg cd 3-14. I had a midcycle ultrasound on cd 12 and also had a trigger injection that same day. 24 hours later I had an IUI procedure using my husbands semen. Dr. Shomento had previously ordered a semen analysis on him and all of his results were within normal healthy levels.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care. (Assigned nurse: Jess)
Jess was personable and easy going. She immediately helped us feel at ease and made sure we had all the information we needed before we left. She taught me how to inject myself with medications for the trigger shot. Any time I needed to call and leave a message, Jess always returned my call as soon as possible, even staying after office hours some times to return calls.
Describe your experience with Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
The Bozeman location is the office we are most familiar with. I’d want new patients to know that the office has many resources for them, from nurses that cry with you when needed in sadness and in joy. There are individuals that will help navigate through the ins and outs of insurance so you can get as much coverage as possible for these services. The staff is phenomenal. The Billings location needs better signage to help patients locate the offices.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Stacy Shomento at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
Our insurance only covered infertility diagnostic appointments, not actual treatment. I believe we paid approximately $2,000 in costs including hsg, lab work, medications, ultrasounds, IUI and semen prep.
Dr. Milroy has the heart of an educator, she made sure we knew exactly what she wanted us to know...makes you feel comfortable and she really cares and loves that we ask questions. We were given really bad news, but she delivered it in a very caring and educational way. When we see her, she makes us feel like we are the most important thing at that time...My wife was going through very early menopause and the first treatment was to get back on to birth control so as to start feeling normal again...
Everyone [at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care] seems very nice and organized. The place is very clean and it was relatively easy to navigate...The nurses were really good at drawing blood, answering questions, and sharing results. They were very kind and caring...Dr. Milroy has the heart of an educator...she loves see couples coming in with lists of questions...loves her job and loves helping couples have a family.
How was your experience with Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Dr. Milroy has the heart of an educator, she made sure we knew exactly what she wanted us to know. She took pen to paper and drew what things looked like and explained why things are the way they are. It is very easy to see that Colleen loves her job and loves helping couples have a family.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Don’t be afraid to ask as many questions that you may have, she loves see couples coming in with lists of questions.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
She is an amazing doctor. She makes you feel comfortable and she really cares and loves that we ask questions. We were given really bad news, but she delivered it in a very caring and educational way. When we see her, she makes us feel like we are the most important thing at that time.
Describe the protocols Colleen Milroy used in your cycles at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care and their degree of success.
My wife was going through very early menopause and the first treatment was to get back on to birth control so as to start feeling normal again. The treatment was a success, my wife is feeling better and has stopped getting hot flashes.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
The nurses were really good at drawing blood, answering questions, and sharing results. They were very kind and caring.
Describe your experience with Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
My wife and I are still kind of new patients our selves and we really don’t know everything there is to know yet about this clinic. So far everything has gone very well. Everyone seems very nice and organized. The place is very clean and it was relatively easy to navigate.
Describe Colleen Milroy's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
[Dr. Colleen Milroy] Explained everything very detailed and specific to our situation. Spent ample time and answered questions as they arose. Explained all circumstances even risks associated. Follow up and course of treatment always explained. Felt she truly cared and was ingested in good outcome.... 1st cycle lower doses of meds which ended up changing for second round after failed IVF. After IUI she made quick decision to move onto IVF making it easier to do trusting her with next steps. She knew my limits as a patient and adjusted after first round explaining rationalle..was truthful when things didn't go as planned but always had a plan to move forward.
Feel I know them [the nursing staff at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine and Fertility Care] better than Dr. Always available, empathetic, knowledgeable and on top of things... Willing to come in on weekends, clean, comfortable, easy check in, all staff nice and helpful Wish it wasnt 2 hour drive but willing to make travel work, ease and flexible scheduling payments easily made and delivered, questions always answered
How was your experience with Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Explained everything very detailed and specific to our situation. Spent ample time and answered questions as they arose. Explained all circumstances even risks associated. Follow up and course of treatment always explained. Felt she truly cared and was ingested in good outcome.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Don't be hesitant to ask questions, she allows you to be in charge of your own decisions but educates you along the way.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Great follow up, kind, empathetic, truthful
Describe the protocols Colleen Milroy used in your cycles at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care and their degree of success.
1st cycle lower doses of meds which ended up changing for second round after failed IVF. After IUI she made quick decision to move onto IVF making it easier to do trusting her with next steps. She knew my limits as a patient and adjusted after first round explaining rationalle..was truthful when things didn't go as planned but always had a plan to move forward.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care. (Assigned nurse: Zoey, Julia )
Feel I know them better than Dr. Always available, empathetic, knowledgeable and on top of things
Describe your experience with Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
Willing to come in on weekends, clean, comfortable, easy check in, all staff nice and helpful
Wish it wasnt 2 hour drive but willing to make travel work, ease and flexible scheduling payments easily made and delivered, questions always answered
Describe the costs associated with your care under Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
Describe Colleen Milroy's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
She only does single and feels there are too many risks associated with multiples
Stacy Shomento was genuine and caring every time I’ve seen her. She explained things clearly and always answered my questions. She made sure I had her contact information Incase if emergency or any questions after hours. I definitely felt like I was her number one priority...She strongly advised us to use only one embryo. Based off of my age and egg quality
[Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care] Very well organized and informative they always made sure we were ready for the next step of the process...They [nurses] were always caring kind and helpful also easy to get a hold of with any questions that I had...$13,000 for the IVF cycle $4,500 for medication
How was your experience with Stacy Shomento at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Stacy Shomento was genuine and caring every time I’ve seen her. She explained things clearly and always answered my questions. She made sure I had her contact information Incase if emergency or any questions after hours. I definitely felt like I was her number one priority.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Stacy Shomento at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
To ask as many questions as possible at each visit. Become as familiar with the process as possible.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Stacy Shomento at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Stacy treated me like her number one priority and explained things clearly to me every step of the process.
Describe the protocols Stacy Shomento used in your cycles at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care and their degree of success.
The dosage she used was based on my age and infertility diagnosis as well as my loss of one ovary. After a failed transfer we then did an ERA which came back receptive
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
They were always caring kind and helpful also easy to get a hold of with any questions that I had
Describe your experience with Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
Very well organized and informative they always made sure we were ready for the next step of the process. The whole staff has been extremely Caring and kind. There’s nothing I can say that I was dissipointed in.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Stacy Shomento at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
$13,000 for the IVF cycle
$4,500 for medication
Describe Stacy Shomento's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
She strongly advised us to use only one embryo. Based off of my age and egg quality
I loved seeing Dr. Milroy. She was great at explaining the details and being straightforward and honest with the procedures. She allowed me to have a say in my course of treatment. I was taking supplements that I preferred over the traditional medication and she was okay with that since my bloodwork was good. She listened to me and helped makes sure I really understood everything.... To start we did femara to help egg development and then I would get an ultrasound on day 12.
The clinic [Billings Clinic Reproductive Med and Fertility Care] was well organized, clean, comfortable, and everyone was very friendly. They always responded quickly to my questions and concerns and worked around my schedule and make the whole process very smooth.... Dr. Milroy was very personable and kind. She was straightforward but listened to my concerns and allowed me to have say in my treatment plan.... She was great at explaining the details and being straightforward and honest with the procedures.
How was your experience with Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
I loved seeing Dr. Milroy. She was great at explaining the details and being straightforward and honest with the procedures. She allowed me to have a say in my course of treatment. I was taking supplements that I preferred over the traditional medication and she was okay with that since my bloodwork was good. She listened to me and helped makes sure I really understood everything.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Don’t hesitate she’s great.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Dr. Milroy was very personable and kind. She was straightforward but listened to my concerns and allowed me to have say in my treatment plan.
Describe the protocols Colleen Milroy used in your cycles at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care and their degree of success.
To start we did femara to help egg development and then I would get an ultrasound on day 12. If my eggs were large enough I would give myself a trigger shot and then do timed intercourse. I also would take progesterone pills starting a few days after intercourse to help prevent miscarriage.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
They were wonderful.
Describe your experience with Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
The clinic was well organized, clean, comfortable, and everyone was very friendly. They always responded quickly to my questions and concerns and worked around my schedule and make the whole process very smooth.
Colleen [Dr. Milroy] was a cheerleader for us. Infertility is so hard. I felt like a failure not being able to conceive. She kept us going and helped us to not give up. Ultimately my partner had to carry for us to be successful...She has amazing bedside manner and a very welcoming and warm attitude...She wanted us to only transfer one embryo at a time. She allowed us to transfer 2 after the first failed cycle...We would choose her over any other provider.
We didn't have any negative experiences in the over 5 years we worked with this clinic [Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care]...Colleen [Dr. Milroy] was a cheerleader for us. Infertility is so hard. I felt like a failure not being able to conceive. She kept us going and helped us to not give up. Ultimately my partner had to carry for us to be successful...She has amazing bedside manner and a very welcoming and warm attitude
How was your experience with Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Colleen was a cheerleader for us. Infertility is so hard. I felt like a failure not being able to conceive. She kept us going and helped us to not give up. Ultimately my partner had to carry for us to be successful.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
We would choose her over any other provider.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
She has amazing bedside manner and a very welcoming and warm attitude
Describe your experience with Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
We didn't have any negative experiences in the over 5 years we worked with this clinic. The only issue we had was with CJ in the financial department. She was very rude and condescending. After talking with other people we don't feel so alone in that aspect.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
It was expensive! Our insurance didn't cover much
Describe Colleen Milroy's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
She wanted us to only transfer one embryo at a time. She allowed us to transfer 2 after the first failed cycle.
Dr Milroy is an amazing doctor. She is so easy to talk to and makes sure you understand everything she’s going over. I felt like she really cared about me and my treatments on a personal level. I was very sad the day I had to move on to an OBGYN...After my two miscarriages we continued the regular protocol with estrace and PIO injections but we added blood thinner injection and an immunosuppressant. With that I conceived my twins
My nurse Zoey [at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine and Fertility Care] was amazing. Caring compassionate and will to answer any questions I have even if they silly questions...In Montana we don’t have a lot of options for fertility treatments but Billings Clinic strives to have some of the newest technology to give everyone the best opportunity for success. Very clean polite receptionists and everyone I can in contact with
How was your experience with Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Dr Milroy is an amazing doctor. She is so easy to talk to and makes sure you understand everything she’s going over. I felt like she really cared about me and my treatments on a personal level. I was very sad the day I had to move on to an OBGYN.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Trust her she knows what she’s doing
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Dr Milroy and her staff were so caring and compassionate during my treatments
Describe the protocols Colleen Milroy used in your cycles at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care and their degree of success.
After my two miscarriages we continued the regular protocol with estrace and PIO injections but we added blood thinner injection and an immunosuppressant. With that I conceived my twins
Describe your experience with your nurse at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care. (Assigned nurse: Zoey)
My nurse Zoey was amazing. Caring compassionate and will to answer any questions I have even if they silly questions
Describe your experience with Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
In Montana we don’t have a lot of options for fertility treatments but Billings Clinic strives to have some of the newest technology to give everyone the best opportunity for success. Very clean polite receptionists and everyone I can in contact with
[Dr. Colleen Milroy] is a strong communicator and excels at explaining procedures, timelines, and expectations. She is understanding and caring. Dr. Milroy is realistic and evidence based in her outlook regarding unexplained infertility. She helped us regarding our decisions that were influenced by financial limitations and lack of insurance coverage. We continue to work with Dr. Milroy and are thankful to have her as our provider...
25,000 per IVF cycle with PGS testing [at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine and Fertility Care]...The strengths of the clinic include good access to provider and nursing team. Great communication throughout the process and ample support. Weaknesses: Unfortunately in Montana IVF cycles only occur every other month...Nursing team is excellence. Easy and efficient to communicate with the nursing team. Great level of knowledge, support, and understanding.
How was your experience with Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Dr. Milroy is a strong communicator and excels at explaining procedures, timelines, and expectations. She is understanding and caring. Dr. Milroy is realistic and evidence based in her outlook regarding unexplained infertility. She helped us regarding our decisions that were influenced by financial limitations and lack of insurance coverage. We continue to work with Dr. Milroy and are thankful to have her as our provider.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
Nursing team is excellence. Easy and efficient to communicate with the nursing team. Great level of knowledge, support, and understanding.
Describe your experience with Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
The strengths of the clinic include good access to provider and nursing team.
Great communication throughout the process and ample support.
Weaknesses: Unfortunately in Montana IVF cycles only occur every other month.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Colleen Milroy at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
I have been provided with the best possible care by Dr. Shomento..I have definitely felt like a human as compassion resonates in everything Dr. Shomento and her staff does..She comforted me after getting undesirable results from an HSG test and walked me through all of my options for next steps..She definitely makes you feel as if you are her only patient and she is giving you all of her attention despite her likely busy schedule
[Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care] is located at a hospital. It is easy to find the clinic due to posted signage..The wait time is an average of 5 and no more than 10 minutes...The nursing staff at Bozeman OB (Billings Clinic) is amazing! They are friendly, professional, caring, compassionate and willing to answer any and all questions...They return messages within hours, have a plan in place and are always up-to-date on my plan of care.
How was your experience with Stacy Shomento at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
"Dr. Shomento is amazing!" This is what I hear over and over again from many women in my community prior to my first visit. Of course I was fearful and anxious. I almost felt embarrassed, like maybe I should have tried harder before seeking out treatment. Dr. Shomento made my husband and I feel immediately at ease. She effectively communicated the first steps in assessment including bloodwork and an HSG. She used pictures/diagrams to further explain how reproduction works and what potential problems might be. She referred to sperm as "the swim team" and that much needed laughter has definitely made this process somewhat less stressful and hopeless. She was friendly, trustworthy and compassionate. The HSG was still the most painful exam I have had to date. Dr. Shomento provided comfort after my exam and next steps. She even helped to provide a reason as to why I have experienced syncope associated with the start of a cycle since I was 13. She definitely makes you feel as if you are her only patient and she is giving you all of her attention despite her likely busy schedule. I could not be happier with my experience thus far and even though my journey to motherhood is far from over, I feel so much more hopeful knowing I have Dr. Shomento with me every step of the way!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Stacy Shomento at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
One piece of advice I would give to a prospective patient would be that you can finally take a deep breath because you are about to embark on a journey (hopefully a short one) with an amazing woman and doctor who has your best interest at heart. I know how long you have been holding your breath, just waiting for that positive result. It may not come in the timeframe you want but it will come.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Stacy Shomento at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
I have been provided with the best possible care by Dr. Shomento and her team of amazing nurses. I was fearful of starting this process and having to discover that I had infertility. Dr. Shomento's straightforward approach to care has provided me with information and clarity every step of the way. I have definitely felt like a human as compassion resonates in everything Dr. Shomento and her staff does. She comforted me after getting undesirable results from an HSG test and walked me through all of my options for next steps. She leads a small but mighty team who are always up-to-date on my plan of care. Dr. Shomento and her staff could not be more friendly. I am confident I will continue to be treated like a human at their clinic.
Describe the protocols Stacy Shomento used in your cycles at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care and their degree of success.
I went to an OB initially. An exam was performed to r/o abnormal Pap and STDs as well as check positioning of cervix and uterus. My husband completed a sperm analysis. I completed day 3 and day 21 labs. Labs showed that I did not ovulate that cycle. I was strarted on Provera to induce a period. Then, I was started on 50 mg Clomid, unmonitored, days 5-9. Because I did not receive a positive OPK that month, the Clomid dose was doubled to 100 for 3 more cycles, days 3-7, with no success. It was then that I was referred to Dr. Shomento in Fall 2019. Our initial consult with Dr. Shomento consisted of: ultrasound to check the ovaries and uterus as well as more bloodwork and a scheduled HSG test. My bloodwork and ultrasound were questionable for mild PCOS. The HSG revealed a blocked L tube where it attaches to the uterus. This was either due to: a previous pelvic infection or endometriosis. The treatment strategy options presented were: 1. Surgery, 2. IVF, 3. Do nothing (try naturally). I opted for surgery which involved: a laparoscopy and hysteroscopy under anesthesia in Dec 2019. I was told at my post-op that I had stage 2 endometriosis. The L tube is functional and appears normal-looking, however continues to be blocked. She opted not to remove it. My next options were: 1. IUI, 2. IVF, 3. try naturally. All three were explained in-depth, as were the success rates. Our insurance has a specific clause stating they exclude any infertility diagnoses/fertility treatments. Thus, our treatment to date has been an out-of-pocket expense. My husband and I opted for 3 cycles of IUI before re-evaluating. Our first IUI cycle consisted of 5 mg Letrozole, day 11 ultrasound to check follicles and 250mg of Ovidrel on day 11. I had 1 20mm follicle in my right ovary. Our IUI was performed on day 12. This cycle resulted in chemical pregnancy. Our second IUI cycle consisted of 7.5 mg Letrozole, day 10 ultrasound to check follicles and 250 mg of Ovidrel on day 10. I had a mature follicle in each ovary. Dr. Shomento stated that my uterine lining was thinner than desired during this IUI and we would change the plan for the next IUI to include daily injections. This cycle resulted in a negative home pregnancy tests. My third cycle began on Saturday March 14, 2020 and the clinic cancelled all elective procedures in response to COVID-19 on Monday March 16, which would have been my appointment for a day 3 baseline ultrasound to start IUI cycle 3. I am not currently taking any medications and the clinic remains closed for all elective procedures at this time.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
The nursing staff at Bozeman OB (Billings Clinic) is amazing! They are friendly, professional, caring, compassionate and willing to answer any and all questions! They return messages within hours, have a plan in place and are always up-to-date on my plan of care. I always feel as if I am being very well taken care of!
Describe your experience with Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
This clinic is located at a hospital. It is easy to find the clinic due to posted signage. While this clinic is busy due to being in a small town and seeing patient who are pregnant as well as those trying to get pregnant, it is easy to schedule an appointment within a reasonable timeframe. The office staff is friendly but discrete. They take care in maintaining confidentiality. The wait time is an average of 5 and no more than 10 minutes. The nursing staff reinforces recommendations and next steps by providing written paperwork/instructions. I am never left feeling as if I don't know what the next step is.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Stacy Shomento at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
As stated previously, our insurance does not cover infertility or treatments associated with infertility. The HSG test was an out-of-pocket expense of approximately $1200. This was the first large expense incurred. Much of our first office visit with Dr. Shomento was covered as it was billed as "irregular periods". The laparoscopy was an out of pocket expense of approximately $3000. This was a medically necessary procedure and thus covered by insurance. I have had 2 IUI cycles, each with 1 ultrasound and 1 Ovidrel trigger shot. Each ultrasound is $175 ($350.00 total) and each Ovidrel trigger shot is $200.00 ($400.00 total). The IUI procedure is approximately $380.00 ($760.00 total). We are planning at least 1 more IUI cycle prior to moving to IVF which is estimated to cost between $15,000-$20,000.
Describe Stacy Shomento's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
On my first appointment, Dr. Shomento asked me about my profession and on follow up appointments, not only did we discuss my infertility in depth but we discussed mountain biking and hiking...She is research oriented and was able to back up everything she stated with statistics. In any appointment or phone conversation she made sure I always left feeling comfortable with the plan and knowledgable regarding the situation...responds well to her patients being well informed. If you ask in-depth questions and come prepared you will get a lot out of your appointments.
It is important to know that IVF cycles [at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine and Fertility Care] occur about every 6 weeks. Therefore, at times you might need to wait to do an egg retrieval or transfer. They fly embryologists into MT and therefore all cycles are medicated...[staff] always met me and my partner where we were at and always went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable and well informed. 100% a person and never a number...[nurses are] Warm, caring, compassionate, and knowledgable. Anicee and Tanna could not be any better. They are excellent communicators and are super responsive. If they do not know an answer to something they always check with the doctors and get back to you ASAP.
How was your experience with Stacy Shomento at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
I believe knowledge is power. I came to my initial consult with Dr. Shomento well informed regarding my infertility journey. I also consider myself a very direct individual. That being said, Dr. Shomento is also a direct (a warm supportive type of directness) and well informed (obviously more than me in RE :) individual. That being said, our personalities fit very well. Dr. Shomento is a straight shooter and you never question where you stand in regards to success of treatment and possible barriers.
I showed up to my initial consult with a full fertility work up, HSG, and 6 months of Clomid/Letrozole/IUI's with my OBGYN. In my initial consult, Dr. Shomento had a well thought out plan and was so thorough she answered 90% of my questions before I could ask them. She is research oriented and was able to back up everything she stated with statistics. In any appointment or phone conversation she made sure I always left feeling comfortable with the plan and knowledgable regarding the situation.
Overall, Dr. Shomento always made me feel comfortable and knowledgable regarding my treatment. Daily questions and updates were done with the nurses but anything big and/or difficult to discuss was always done with Dr. Shomento.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Stacy Shomento at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Infertility is strenuous both physically and emotionally. In regards to any RE make sure you pick one that is up to date on current research but also one that you connect with and feel comfortable being yourself around. For me that worked with Dr. Shomento. She is kind and compassionate and responds well to her patients being well informed. If you ask in-depth questions and come prepared you will get a lot out of your appointments.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Stacy Shomento at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Dr. Shomento, Anicee, Tanna, and Christina are a loving and supportive group of individuals. On my first appointment, Dr. Shomento asked me about my profession and on follow up appointments, not only did we discuss my infertility in depth but we discussed mountain biking and hiking .Furthermore, Anicee and Tanna were super responsive and returned emails or telephone calls within hours. While Christina shared a personal story of her and Dr. Shomento, to make me feel at ease and validated after I went through a rough procedure. Once, I was pregnant and released from Dr. Shomento's office I was told to PLEASE text bump pictures and baby pictures to Dr. Shomento and Christina's cell phones as the excitement for me was truly shared by all! Overall, these women always met me and my partner where we were at and always went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable and well informed. 100% a person and never a number.
Describe the protocols Stacy Shomento used in your cycles at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care and their degree of success.
I did one round of IVF with Dr. Shomento. Egg retrieval was the antagonist protocol. At first my eggs were not developing as quickly as they would have liked so Dr. Shomento increased my medication and things corrected. Dr. Shomento noted no need to do PGS testing (due to my age) but I'm paranoid so I did it anyway. Dr. Shomento was right and all embryo's were genetically normal. I also opted to do Endometrial Receptivity test, and was pre-receptive and was recommended to do one more day of medication before my frozen embryo transfer. FET was recommended due to success rates increase and PGS testing. A saline sonogram was also completed. I live in Wyoming and therefore, many of the monitoring and saline sonogram was done by my OBGYN in coordination with Dr. Shomento. Dr. Shomento's flexibility in working with my OBGYN was helpful in reducing travel. Due to the quality of my embryo as well as age I was recommended to transfer one embryo, which took and I am now pregnant.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
Warm, caring, compassionate, and knowledgable. Anicee and Tanna could not be any better. They are excellent communicators and are super responsive. If they do not know an answer to something they always check with the doctors and get back to you ASAP.
Describe your experience with Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
Strengths: knowledgable, caring, compassionate, and real people.
Weaknesses: I traveled for IVF and did not always have all my appointments in Dr. Shomento's office. Some of my appointments were with my OBGYN and I relied on phone conversations with Dr. Shomento or the nurses for updates. On a few occassions miscommunications occurred which could have altered what I wanted such as PGS testing versus no PGS testing. However, in the end such things were always caught and quickly corrected. I'm not sure how such things could have been avoided but due to the constant contact with nurses/doctors during IVF things always seemed to work out.
It is important to know that IVF cycles occur about every 6 weeks. Therefore, at times you might need to wait to do an egg retrieval or transfer. They fly embryologists into MT and therefore all cycles are medicated. I was upset about this at first but in the end with everything I opted to do it would have likely taken 5 months to complete the IVF process anywhere.....
Describe the costs associated with your care under Stacy Shomento at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
$15,000.00 for IVF cycle (egg-retrieval, monitoring, and transfer)
$6,500 (Medication)
$1,375.00 (PGS testing)
$600.00 (ERA Biopsy)
$1000.00 (outside OBGYN appointments for monitoring etc) (such appointments are not necessary and covered under IVF cycle if you live in MT)
Describe Stacy Shomento's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
In my opinion, Dr. Somento's statement of "one happy healthy baby"... is a great thought process. More babies = more stress on the mother, marriage, and finances. If it works for you to have eSET then overall its the safest option, in my opinion.
Dr. Shomento was wonderful to meet with. She really took her tie with me, was very thorough, and had a warm caring personality. She also listened, was patient, and allowed me to ask all my written down questions about the lab stats, which I got from Fertility IQ. She was honest and forthcoming with her opinion of me and treatments she'd recommend, and the reasons why. It was not what I wanted to hear, but she delivered it in a direct, but respectful and kind way.
The Lab [Billings Clinic Reproductive Med and Fertility Care] seems more mixed. They had a great fertilization rate, used desktop incubators, and seemed to be doing everything right. However when I asked about how many eggs reach the blastocyst stage she said only 35% of eggs get to there, and more specifically 50% of day 3's get to day 5. That seems pretty low.... The way they billed the appointment for a visit and ultrasound, insurance didn't cover much, and My bill is around $591. I have been to other doctors, done the exact same things, and only had to pay a copay. I'm requesting they re-evaluate the appointment and see if they can code it differently for more coverage, but have not heard back.
How was your experience with Stacy Shomento at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Dr. Shomento was great. I felt she was caring, kind, a good listener, she was thorough in helping me understand my situation, and was respectful as well. I really liked her, and if the decision for where to do IVF was purely based on the doctor, and their likability, I would hands down go to her!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Stacy Shomento at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Do your research ahead of time and come with questions. Expect to spend a good amount of time with Dr. Shomento, who will be straight forward and thorough, and take time answering your questions.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Stacy Shomento at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Dr. Shomento was wonderful to meet with. She really took her tie with me, was very thorough, and had a warm caring personality. She also listened, was patient, and allowed me to ask all my written down questions about the lab stats, which I got from Fertility IQ. She was honest and forthcoming with her opinion of me and treatments she'd recommend, and the reasons why. It was not what I wanted to hear, but she delivered it in a direct, but respectful and kind way.
Describe the protocols Stacy Shomento used in your cycles at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care and their degree of success.
I saw Dr. Shomento for a consultation. She walked me through my numbers and odds of getting pregnant naturally (not good) as well as with treatment. With only one tube, an ectopic pregnancy in my past, a low ovarian reserve, and low follicle count, she pretty much jumped right into recommending IVF as my best option to have success in becoming pregnant. She was also blunt about the odds of likely only getting one egg out of one IVF round, based on only having 7 follicles, but felt very confident that if we did get one, it should implant successfully.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care. (Assigned nurse: Julia)
I only met with the nurse once, briefly, and have spoken ver the phone with her a couple times, She's super nice, makes you feel like you're a friend, and makes you feel like she's there for you.
Describe your experience with Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
Dr. Shomento and her nurse seemed excellent. They were likable, patient, good listeners, experienced, etc. The Lab seems more mixed. They had a great fertilization rate, used desktop incubators, and seemed to be doing everything right. However when I asked about how many eggs reach the blastocyst stage she said only 35% of eggs get to there, and more specifically 50% of day 3's get to day 5. That seems pretty low.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Stacy Shomento at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
The way they billed the appointment for a visit and ultrasound, insurance didn't cover much, and My bill is around $591. I have been to other doctors, done the exact same things, and only had to pay a copay. I'm requesting they re-evaluate the appointment and see if they can code it differently for more coverage, but have not heard back.
Describe Stacy Shomento's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
She suggested only doing one embryo transfer with me, which makes sense, since I am young and have a healthy uterus, and would rather not end up with twins.
She [Dr. Shomento] made me feel at ease from the very beginning by being so personable and relaxed...Due to PCOS I was on a fairly low dose protocol. For my egg retrieval I was on Ganirelix in the morning...menopur in the evening daily...and follistim in the evening daily...Dr. Shomento or one of the nurses called me every day after my appointments to update doses based on blood draws and ultrasound findings...
She [nurse at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care] always called me back when I left voicemails about stupid questions and made sure that I got all my answers. She did our shot training and was great about going through each step with the physical materials in front of her so that I could really see how to do everything...She responded to all of my emails as quickly and thoroughly as possible and made sure that I had all of my paperwork that I would need and knew what my next steps were...egg retrieval and monitoring were a flat rate $10,000...Embryo transfers were $3,500. Embryo transfer meds were about $1,000 per month....
How was your experience with Stacy Shomento at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
The first time that I met her, we went over my history and reviewed my most recents tests, particularly the HSG that caused me to be referred to her. She went over all of the options, the potential outcomes of each option, and always had amazing analogies to help me visualize and really understand all of the information. She made me feel at ease from the very beginning by being so personable and relaxed. She spoke to me like a human and reassured me in all of my decisions
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Stacy Shomento at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Give her a shot! She’s absolutely amazing. This field is so difficult but she navigates it with expertise, even among the difficult decisions and outcomes.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Stacy Shomento at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?
Dr. Shomento always spoke to me like we knew each other personally. So much of this process is routine for everyone in the office but they are all amazing and I didn’t feel like they were just checking off the to-do list. When we did have to talk statistics, they were always relevant to my own situation and she explained how they could apply to me and never once made me feel like just a number.
Describe the protocols Stacy Shomento used in your cycles at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care and their degree of success.
Due to PCOS I was on a fairly low dose protocol. For my egg retrieval I was on Ganirelix in the morning (3 days at the beginning to suppress my ovaries, then started again towards the end of stims to keep me from over stimulating at the last minute - total of 8 doses - these come as pre-filled syringes), menopur in the evening daily (started at 75?mL and then increased to 150mL around days 6-8, then back down to 75. It was 1 vial and then up to 2 vials) and follistim in the evening daily (varying 100-150). Dr. Shomento or one of the nurses called me every day after my appointments to update doses based on blood draws and ultrasound findings. For trigger I did Novarel as an IM injection and Lupron subcutaneously. For post-retrieval I was on oral meds - Cabergoline (I think to help with OHSS risk) and antibiotics. Resulted in 26 eggs retrieved and no signs of OHSS.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
Anicee is AMAZING. She always called me back when I left voicemails about stupid questions and made sure that I got all my answers. She did our shot training and was great about going through each step with the physical materials in front of her so that I could really see how to do everything. She gave me the confidence that I needed to prepare and mix all of my injections. She responded to all of my emails as quickly and thoroughly as possible and made sure that I had all of my paperwork that I would need and knew what my next steps were.
Describe your experience with Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
The only difficulty I ran into was with insurance. I changed insurances prior to having a laparoscopy and I gave my new information to the IVF coordinator that you go through to pay all the IVF fees. Somehow my information wasn’t communicated from her to the general Billings Clinic database, to Bozeman Health surgical center. Because of that, a preauthorization was never submitted so I was lucky that I called my insurance a few days before to check on it. I finally got the pre-auth number only hours before my surgery was scheduled and when I showed up to the surgery center they still didn’t have my insurance info. We got it figured out but it was an unnecessary headache.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Stacy Shomento at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
Overall, my stimulation meds cost $2,700 AFTER insurance and medication discounts available.
The egg retrieval and monitoring were a flat rate $10,000 since most insurances don’t cover it.
Embryo transfers were $3,500.
Embryo transfer meds were about $1,000 per month. I didn’t account for the extra cost of meds when the transfer works so I didn’t think about two extra months of paying for medications.
Describe Stacy Shomento's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care.
We only transferred one embryo due to my age and diagnosis. There wasn’t any reason to believe that one embryo wouldn’t be sufficient.
What specific things went wrong at Billings Clinic Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Care?