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 Cook was very straight forward with us about our diagnosis, she was informative and patient when answering our questions. She was also very kind and caring when we went through difficulties. She seems like she really cares about her patients and is trustworthy...a lot of her answers really helped us decide our course of action and she’s well informed on infertility topics
They [Coastal Fertility Specialists] are organized and give you your own coordinator. They also have satellite offices so you don’t have to go to mount pleasant for everything. Their facilities are clean and well kept. Everything can be done at their Charleston office which is nice to have it all under one roof, but I could get my blood work and regular check ups in Lexington near my house.
How was your experience with Heather Cook at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Dr Cook was very straight forward with us about our diagnosis, she was informative and patient when answering our questions. She was also very kind and caring when we went through difficulties. She seems like she really cares about her patients and is trustworthy.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Heather Cook at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Ask as many questions as you can, a lot of her answers really helped us decide our course of action and she’s well informed on infertility topics
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Heather Cook at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Dr Cook was extremely informative and comforting even during the difficult parts of the process
Describe the protocols Heather Cook used in your cycles at Coastal Fertility Specialists and their degree of success.
Because of our specific situation she recommended IVF and not IUI. We did a frozen transfer to give my body a break before transferring which I liked. I had a lot of fear around the progesterone shots, so she let me do suppositories which I chose to do the first time around. I also had my eggs retrieved a few days early because of how I was progressing. We chose to fertilize all 13 eggs per her recommendation to get closer to the number of embryos we hoped to have, which I’m glad we did.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Coastal Fertility Specialists. (Assigned nurse: Jamie Segroves)
Jamie is literally the best person ever. I became friends with her outside of our fertility clinic. She was so comforting and answered all our questions. She always was available and emailed me back right away. And she even face timed me to do my first progesterone shot so we knew we were doing it right!
Describe your experience with Coastal Fertility Specialists.
They are organized and give you your own coordinator. They also have satellite offices so you don’t have to go to mount pleasant for everything. Their facilities are clean and well kept. Everything can be done at their Charleston office which is nice to have it all under one roof, but I could get my blood work and regular check ups in Lexington near my house.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Heather Cook at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
$14,000 egg retrieval
$5,000 embryo transfer
$500 HSG
$2,000 hysteroscopy
Describe Heather Cook's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
Because of my age we were recommended to only transfer one embryo
What specific things went wrong at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Failed to consider drug intolerance
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
I had a reaction to progesterone, which is super rare and doesn’t usually happen. But it turns out I have an autoimmune problem related to progesterone.
Dr. Schnorr is kind of like a car salesman; he speaks quickly and doesn't spend too much time covering information that he deems irrelevant to the case he's presenting at that time...I think Dr. Schnorr would be a great doctor for someone who has known infertility or is seeking IVF, for us being a supposed non-medicated IUI he seemed uninterested.
The Lexington [Coastal Fertility Specialists] clinic is very clean and despite being small it has sufficient seating arrangements. Everyone kind of works together and would take you from each room to wherever you needed to go next. For people who have already been diagnosed with infertility whether by a known cause or unknown, I think this office will be more welcoming and have more involved care. For someone with less intensive treatment plans....well, I'm switching treatment plans and leaving this one.
How was your experience with John Schnorr at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Dr. Schnorr is kind of like a car salesman; he speaks quickly and doesn't spend too much time covering information that he deems irrelevant to the case he's presenting at that time. I brought up my concern about possibly having PCOS or something else which would be the cause of my irregular cycles and he essentially said nothing points to that at all and I am prime fertility health. My cycles vary from 30-50 days in length and I'm not sure I am even ovulating some cycles as the ovulation predictor kits are coming up positive multiple times a cycle or sometimes not at all. These concerns were brushed off and I was told theres no reason to discuss fertility/ovulation induction medications because there doesn't seem to be a need for them right now because my lab work is fine and my Antral Follicle Count was within normal limits.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of John Schnorr at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Be very direct with your concerns. I have moderate-to-severe social anxiety so when I am in new places I stumble on my words and have a hard time getting them out, because of that I don't think I was able to accurately express my intense worry about not ovulating which put a disconnect in our communication. I think Dr. Schnorr would be a great doctor for someone who has known infertility or is seeking IVF, for us being a supposed non-medicated IUI he seemed uninterested.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with John Schnorr at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
I really believe that because I am young, have given birth once before, and already had everything lined up for my treatment (my wife and I already have banked donor sperm, we had already tried an at home insemination with no positive result, etc), the clinic seemed uninterested in our case. I don't need a physician coddling me but my concerns were sort of scoffed at, at least I felt like they were, and I was just told there was no reason to suggest I would have any issues getting pregnant.
Describe the protocols John Schnorr used in your cycles at Coastal Fertility Specialists and their degree of success.
Dr. Schnorr refused to discuss medications for my treatment and stated they were not warranted at this time. I would have been content with that answer if he could have offered suggestions at to why my OPKs were unreliable and why my cycles are so wildly unpredictable.
How competent was John Schnorr at LGBTQ+ care?
Yes, they've obviously worked with LGBTQ clients before and understood the process of banking sperm in addition to offering suggestions on having IUI performed at the lexington branch which would require me to ship the sperm and bring it to the office on my own or I could ship it to the Mt. Pleasant office where they are able to bank the sperm there until it's needed.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Coastal Fertility Specialists. (Assigned nurse: Cherub Hutto)
Cherub is very friendly and responds to emails quick. That's about the extent of any praise I would give her. My wife and I are a lesbian couple and while I understand a lot of people are likely going through the motions of many emotions during their visits in an infertility clinic (due to news of infertility, failed cycles, not knowing what to expect because this wasn't in the plan, etc.) that wasn't the case for us. It's never been a shock to us that getting pregnant would require the help of donor sperm and potentially a fertility doctor so it's been in the plan for us throughout our entire relationship. We have researched IUI and at home inseminations extensively so really we just needed someone to 1. do the procedure and 2. give some insight on my irregular cycles. Cherub pressed us multiple times in our first visit regarding whether or not we had questions then made way too many attempts at small talk after we both stated "no, we're good." Despite the multiple checks to see if we had any further questions, Cherub has rarely directly answered a question I've sent her by email. She is prompt to respond but incredibly short in her emails which is a total contrast to how she is in person. She never lets you know that she has received paperwork/labs that you've had faxed over from different facilities and I asked multiple times about the results of a lab that she said she would touch base with dr. schnorr about to which she never responded even to say "that result is fine"
The biggest source of my emails is the fact that OPKs are *not* reliable for us and the results are not accurate which is discouraging and scary given the fact that we have been told that's what we need to rely on for our IUI (which isn't cheap or covered by our insurance at all). Cherub responds each time to try a different brand or just change the timing of when I check even though in the beginning she told me that I need to stop testing multiple times a day and just stick to the initial time (before 10am) and keep to that. She's now recanted that and stated I need to start checking before 7 am. Pretty much useless emails and a waste of my time.
Describe your experience with Coastal Fertility Specialists.
The Lexington clinic is very clean and despite being small it has sufficient seating arrangements. Everyone kind of works together and would take you from each room to wherever you needed to go next. For people who have already been diagnosed with infertility whether by a known cause or unknown, I think this office will be more welcoming and have more involved care. For someone with less intensive treatment plans....well, I'm switching treatment plans and leaving this one.
Describe the costs associated with your care under John Schnorr at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
Because we are using donor sperm with my own egg, we were required to get basic prenatal labs (cycle day 3 blood work) in addition to a lot of labs to check for STDs, chicken pox immunity, hepatitis panels, etc. as well as told we would have to do an HSG prior to IUI. Because of my irregular cycles/ovulation, we were given the option to bank our sperm at the Mt. Pleasant office.
The HSG cost $890
initial visit for consultation, ultrasound, blood work cost ~800 dollars, a little bit less but not by much. About 350 of that was blood work.
The remaining blood work I needed after the labs I had completed at the consultation totaled out to be 790 dollars but I went to my primary care physician and had them ordered there by different coding so it would be covered by my insurance.
a non-medicated cycle of IUI = $600 dollars.
banking sperm = $500/year, paid in two payments of $250
What specific things went wrong at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Failed to call with results
Failed to send your chart to another clinic
Provided conflicting information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
There was just a lack of communication for when we are not actively in office. Many questions were not answered yet we were constantly pressured to "let them know" if we had any questions.
[Dr. Michael Slowey] called me personally multiple times and was always very concerned with my comfort during procedures and very patient answering literal pages of questions that I would bring to appointments...He was very thorough in clarifying our goals, understanding our concerns, and updating care plan and interventions to meet our needs...He was also very good at presenting the facts and our difficult prognosis with compassion
Heather [nurse at Coastal Fertility Specialists] was always so calm and positive, I can’t tell you how many times she let me cry in her office before I had to go back to work. She always remembered to call me on days off or email me on days I worked and was great at updates...They forgot to tell me I could get a period during stimulations which caused a bit of a panic for me...The clinic is very comfy and mellow environment but the Charleston clinic that does the procedures really dropped the ball, they had me mistaken for someone else and said my husband needed to give a sample and I panicked thinking they had lost our only frozen sample
How was your experience with Michael Slowey at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
He was very thorough in clarifying our goals, understanding our concerns, and updating care plan and interventions to meet our needs. He was very available both phone and email and staff called me multiple times just to check in on me. He was also very good at presenting the facts and our difficult prognosis with compassion
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Michael Slowey at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions, he’s very kind and thorough and wants to make sure you feel comfortable with your decisions and plan
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Michael Slowey at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
My dr called me personally multiple times and was always very concerned with my comfort during procedures and very patient answering literal pages of questions that I would bring to appointments
Describe the protocols Michael Slowey used in your cycles at Coastal Fertility Specialists and their degree of success.
My treatment involved a lot of high doses due to my low function, I took hcg, max of gonal F, and another drug that burned a lot. Frequent blood tests and ultrasound to check progress with dose adjustments every 24-48 hours, it was a very specific and personalized approach. We managed to get 15 eggs and 4 good embryos so I’m over the moon
Describe your experience with your nurse at Coastal Fertility Specialists. (Assigned nurse: Heather)
Heather was always so calm and positive, I can’t tell you how many times she let me cry in her office before I had to go back to work. She always remembered to call me on days off or email me on days I worked and was great at updates
Describe your experience with Coastal Fertility Specialists.
The clinic is very comfy and mellow environment but the Charleston clinic that does the procedures really dropped the ball, they had me mistaken for someone else and said my husband needed to give a sample and I panicked thinking they had lost our only frozen sample
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
Well oiled machine and always speedy
Describe the costs associated with your care under Michael Slowey at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
Dr Slowey was about half of what we were paying and they had a lot more options
Describe Michael Slowey's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
Not to this point yet
What specific things went wrong at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
They forgot to tell me I could get a period during stimulations which caused a bit of a panic for me
De. [Dr.] Schnorr was very detailed with us from our consultation and continued to be so at every appointment after that. ... After diagnosed hydrosalpinx Dr. Schnorr suggested IVF as our best possibility for getting pregnant. ... He did retrieval, transfer, ultrasound after positive pregnancy test and D&C. After getting pregnancy test results from the nurse, he always called to follow up the same day and discuss plans for moving forward.
Both clinic locations [Coastal Fertility Specialists] are clean and organized. Staff are always pleasant and are very compassionate. The doctors are primarily in the Charleston office so scheduling with them in the Lexington office can be a little tricky and I would not wait until the last minute to make an appointment. ... Monitoring appointments are first thing in the morning. They're is never more than one or two other people in the waiting room, if any. On 95% of my appointments I never waited more than 5 minutes to be called back.
How was your experience with John Schnorr at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
De. Schnorr was very detailed with us from our consultation and continued to be so at every appointment after that. We did not see him for monitoring appointments (he is based in Charleston, we live in Lexington). He did retrieval, transfer, ultrasound after positive pregnancy test and D&C. After getting pregnancy test results from the nurse, he always called to follow up the same day and discuss plans for moving forward.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of John Schnorr at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
He is honest in giving you information about possibility for success and makes sure you understand risks involve. He follows recommended guidelines for transfers and his goal is to get you one healthy bay at a time.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with John Schnorr at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Everyone in the clinic makes us feel very welcome. Our team knew my and my husband names and would remember personal things that came up in conversation and ask us about it at follow up appointments. Our nurse coordinator, Cherub, is amazing! I've never had a problem getting in touch with her and she always emails to check in on how we are doing. I love our clinic!
Describe the protocols John Schnorr used in your cycles at Coastal Fertility Specialists and their degree of success.
After diagnosed hydrosalpinx Dr. Schnorr suggested IVF as our best possibility for getting pregnant. We did one egg retrieval with a freeze-all. I believe this is Dr Schnorr's typical protocol in order to give your body time to recover after stinking and retrieval and get prepared for transfer. Genetic testing was not recommended for us. We transferred day 5 single embryos twice stating with the highest grades embryo (one early miscarriage, one failed). For our third transfer Dr. Schnorr recommended an endometrial scratch to help with implantation and gave us the option to transfer 2 embryos, which we did. This cycle also failed. Next, an ERA has been recommended to test receptivity and make and protocol changes as needed. This will be our next step.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Coastal Fertility Specialists. (Assigned nurse: Cherub)
From the first visit, Cherub has been incredibly helpful. She has developed a gray rapport with my husband and I and is always quick to respond to emails. She has checked in with me after every procedure and is always offering support if needed.
Describe your experience with Coastal Fertility Specialists.
Both clinic locations are clean and organized. Staff are always pleasant and are very compassionate. The doctors are primarily in the Charleston office so scheduling with them in the Lexington office can be a little tricky and I would not wait until the last minute to make an appointment. With that being said I have never not been able to get in with someone when I really needed to, even if it had to be a different doctor.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
Monitoring appointments are first thing in the morning. They're is never more than one or two other people in the waiting room, if any. On 95% of my appointments I never waited more than 5 minutes to be called back.
Describe the costs associated with your care under John Schnorr at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
I do have some insurance coverage, however we have spent approximately $15k on one stim and retrieval cycle and 3 transfers and one D&C (including all monitoring and blood work) and medications.
Describe John Schnorr's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
Dr. Schnorr highly recommends single embryo transfers unless there are extenuating circumstances. He explains all of the possible outcomes, good and bad, for transferring more than one embryo.
[Dr. Schnorr was] Very personable but he also didn’t waste your time with small talk...Knowledgeable, and kind. He predicted our numbers based on my age and diagnosis PERFECTLY. That made me feel like he had been doing this for a long time. Had to rely a lot on his staff because of my location...He will listen to you and take all the time you need to answer questions so have your questions ready!... He suggested a single embryo transfer based on my age 32. He suggest ICSI based on my husbands sperm sample. He suggested frozen transfer transplant based on his success rate.
[Coastal Fertility Specialists has] Multiple locations which is nice living in Columbia where there are not many clinics. Had to drive 1.5 hours to get to the transfer and retrieval. Other then that could do everything in Columbia. Clinic is clean and nice decor...You would see whichever doctor was in Columbia that day so you aren't always seeing Schnorr but 2/3 doctors were great and you always had the same nurse. Very helpful in scheduling around your work schedule.
How was your experience with John Schnorr at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Knowledgeable, and kind. He predicted our numbers based on my age and diagnosis PERFECTLY. That made me feel like he had been doing this for a long time. Had to rely a lot on his staff because of my location but the time sI did talk o him he was honest and to the point.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of John Schnorr at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
He will listen to you and take all the time you need to answer questions so have your questions ready!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with John Schnorr at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Very personable but he also didn’t waste your time with small talk
Describe the protocols John Schnorr used in your cycles at Coastal Fertility Specialists and their degree of success.
We were going to try IUI 2 - 3 times but after one failed cycle he was honest and said he didn't think based on husbands numbers we should do a second round. We did anyways for peace of mind and I don't have any regret. Then we did IVF. He suggested a single embryo transfer based on my age 32. He suggest ICSI based on my husbands sperm sample. He suggested frozen transfer transplant based on his success rate.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Coastal Fertility Specialists. (Assigned nurse: Cherub)
Best communicator I have ever met. She is firm and to the point but extremely efficient. I loved being able to email a nurse and get a response within 10 minutes. I have never had that with a doctors office before!
Describe your experience with Coastal Fertility Specialists.
Multiple locations which is nice living in Columbia where there are not many clinics. Had to drive 1.5 hours to get to the transfer and retrieval. Other then that could do everything in Columbia. Clinic is clean and nice decor. Its obvious that when you are paying out of pocket you are getting better treatment. You would see whichever doctor was in Columbia that day so you aren't always seeing Schnorr but 2/3 doctors were great and you always had the same nurse. Very helpful in scheduling around your work schedule.
Describe the costs associated with your care under John Schnorr at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
2k for IUI treatment and medication
14k IVF
3k IVF medication
Free consults $200 credit
Describe John Schnorr's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
He said that based on my age 32 I had a 60% chance of implantation. He thought it would be better and less risky to transfer one by one then multiples because of my high implantation chance. We knew it would be more expensive if first transfer doesn't work but we were willing to take the chance to avoid twins.
Dr. Schnorr is wonderful at educating the patient. He let me know each step of the way what to expect and why it was that way...There were times I would go in and I could tell they were so busy but he never rushes or pushed us out. When my body didn’t respond or my blood work wasn’t normal he was always the one to call and go over it with me first. After my failed transfer he personally called me to check in.
The clinic [Coastal Fertility Specialists] does a wonderful job while you’re in the office. At first before you get a nurse the front desk/financials are extremely hard to get answers from. It normally take 2-3 calls to get them on the phone...base fee for IVF was $17000 paid upfront. I then paid $5000 for meds...Whitney was alway there for questions. No matter they day or time I could reach her.
How was your experience with John Schnorr at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Dr. schnorr is wonderful at educating the patient. He let me know each step of the way what to expect and why it was that way. If I was uncomfortable with something he would go over it until I was 100% comfortable. There were times I would go in and I could tell they were so busy but he never rushes or pushed us out. When my body didn’t respond or my blood work wasn’t normal he was always the one to call and go over it with me first. After my failed transfer he personally called me to check in. He’s an amazing doctor
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of John Schnorr at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
listen to him. He knows what he is doing. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or express your concerns. He will answer them with out a doubt.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with John Schnorr at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
I never left with out feeling comfortable, good or bad news he gave it to me straight. I had a terrible experience with a previous clinic and he made sure this experience was different
Describe the protocols John Schnorr used in your cycles at Coastal Fertility Specialists and their degree of success.
Blood work for my retrieval came back low AMH & high FSH. I don’t remember the exact dosage but My body didn’t respond like we wanted. I had to up my shots to potential get more eggs. My scans were looking good. My ovaries were showing 8-10 follicles. Unfortunately we were only able to get two
Describe your experience with your nurse at Coastal Fertility Specialists. (Assigned nurse: Whitney )
Whitney was alway there for questions. No matter they day or time I could reach her. That is an amazing thing because this process can be confusing and very stressful. She was always smiling and willing to help
Describe your experience with Coastal Fertility Specialists.
The clinic does a wonderful job while you’re in the office. At first before you get a nurse the front desk/financials are extremely hard to get answers from. It normally take 2-3 calls to get them on the phone
Describe the costs associated with your care under John Schnorr at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
My consult was free because I was coming from another clinic. The base fee for IVF was $17000 paid upfront. I then paid $5000 for meds
Dr Cook was a very good communicator She explained all risks associated with every step of the process. She explained what the numbers meant and what we were shooting for. She remained very positive through the process even when I had had huge doubts. She personally called me several time throughout the process to see how I was doing...Ask all of the questions you can possibly think of, she takes her time answering each one.
We used gonal -f, ganarelix, human growth hormone, HCG [at Coastal Fertility Specialists]. We ended up with 14 eggs retrieved 7 of which made it to day 5...Heather [nurse] is one of the most compassionate people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. She constantly checked up on me, didn't get annoyed at my 500 emails daily and my constant phone calls...total cost for our two cycles was around $14,000
How was your experience with Heather Cook at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Dr Cook was a very good communicator She explained all risks associated with every step of the process. She explained what the numbers meant and what we were shooting for. She remained very positive through the process even when I had had huge doubts. She personally called me several time throughout the process to see how I was doing.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Heather Cook at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Ask all of the questions you can possibly think of, she takes her time answering each one.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Heather Cook at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
The office staff and Dr Cook were very compassionate and caring at every visit. They knew mine and my husbands names every time we went. They asked about our lives outside for feritlity and remembered everything we said.
Describe the protocols Heather Cook used in your cycles at Coastal Fertility Specialists and their degree of success.
We used gonal -f, ganarelix, human growth hormone, HCG. We ended up with 14 eggs retrieved 7 of which made it to day 5.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Coastal Fertility Specialists. (Assigned nurse: Heather Clayton)
Heather is one of the most compassionate people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. She constantly checked up on me, didn't get annoyed at my 500 emails daily and my constant phone calls.
Describe your experience with Coastal Fertility Specialists.
Everything runs like a well oiled machine. I cannot speak highly enough of Dawn Sadorf the financial coordinator. We were never hit with unexpected costs that she had not discussed with us. They were very upfront about the financial aspect as well as the emotional toll that this would take.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Heather Cook at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
total cost for our two cycles was around $14,000
Describe Heather Cook's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
Our Dr only does one embryo on the first transfer due to the risk of a multiples pregnancy. Our first transfer ended in miscarriage so we were given the opportunity to transfer two embryos the second time so we did.
He [Dr. Micheal Slowey] was very direct and helpful...effective. We didn’t waste time, which was important to me. I went in August for consult and was pregnant by October...First they checked my husbands sperm and once that checked out I went and got my Fallopian tubes checked...The clinic had me with different doctors though so I did not see Dr. slowey for that.
The clinic [Coastal Fertility Specialists] was very clean and professional and I felt like they knew what they were doing...We had a storm coming and instead of showing compassion about my worry that all this money and pain would all be for nothing, as I wouldn’t be able to do the iui she [the nurse] basically said tough that’s life I can’t control the weather. Even if there was nothing that could be done, her approach was terrible. It was the most vulnerable I ever felt and I would leave the meeting with her feeling sad and not hopeful. She was the only negative I take away from the clinic. Some people do jobs for too long.
How was your experience with Michael Slowey at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
He was direct and effective. We didn’t waste time, which was important to me. I went in August for consult and was pregnant by October. The clinic was very clean and professional and I felt like they knew what they were doing.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Michael Slowey at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Train your head nurse to be more empathetic.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Michael Slowey at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
He was very direct and helpful, my only complaint was the nurse I had for the entire process. She wasn’t the kindest and made me not comfortable. This was a lot of money and hope and many other feelings and she wasn’t very sensitive to that. It could of been a much better experience.
Describe the protocols Michael Slowey used in your cycles at Coastal Fertility Specialists and their degree of success.
First they checked my husbands sperm and once that checked out I went and got my Fallopian tubes checked. I did have to travel further for that procedure. The experience was good though, minus having to have a catheter put in. The clinic had me with different doctors though so I did not see Dr. slowey for that. Then I was on medication and shots. I got my blood drawn and ultrasound every 3 days to make sure my follicles were growing. Then I was instructed to use a trigger shot. There was a storm and the head nurse told me they wouldn’t be able to do my iui if the hurricane hit. That we would have to try again. So I ovulated a day early without the trigger shot and just had intercourse instead of the iui and we got lucky.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Coastal Fertility Specialists. (Assigned nurse: Heather Clayton)
She made me feel ridiculous for having concerns. We had a storm coming and instead of showing compassion about my worry that all this money and pain would all be for nothing, as I wouldn’t be able to do the iui she basically said tough that’s life I can’t control the weather. Even if there was nothing that could be done, her approach was terrible. It was the most vulnerable I ever felt and I would leave the meeting with her feeling sad and not hopeful. She was the only negative I take away from the clinic. Some people do jobs for too long.
Describe your experience with Coastal Fertility Specialists.
So wonderful, I went to both of their clinics and they are clean and professional and wonderful. The Lexington clinic is a little far out for me as well as Charleston but worth it. The waiting rooms weren’t cold and uncomfortable either .
Describe the costs associated with your care under Michael Slowey at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
I truly don’t remember it was a couple thousand and then meds were 200-300$ I was suppose to get iui which was another thousand but didn’t end up needing it.
He [Dr. Slowey] spoke rationally to me and allayed my concerns and fears. Plus, when I asked questions, he fully answered them. He was also sympathetic to my personal history.... He is a little stand-offish at times but I believe that is cultural difference; i.e., North vs. South. It is also hard to actually meet with him rather than the nurses. I believe that is due to the size and number of branch offices the practice has rather his personal doing. However, he is very compassionate and when meeting, is fully present in the moment with you as a patient.
The staff [Coastal Fertility Specialists] is very nice and personable. However, the higher medical staff is hard to meet with and are very rarely available to see on a non-appointment basis. There are so many branch offices that the doctors are spread thin and a patient does not know when or if they will see their doctor again. There is little medical support nor do I feel like I truly have a personal RE.... Cherub [nurse] is very nice, warm, and understanding on a face to face basic.
How was your experience with Michael Slowey at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
He is a little stand-offish at times but I believe that is cultural difference; i.e., North vs. South. It is also hard to actually meet with him rather than the nurses. I believe that is due to the size and number of branch offices the practice has rather his personal doing. However, he is very compassionate and when meeting, is fully present in the moment with you as a patient.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Michael Slowey at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
I would tell them to be prepared to rarely see him but trust in his plan for you, barring a major setback.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Michael Slowey at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
He spoke rationally to me and allayed my concerns and fears. Plus, when I asked questions, he fully answered them. He was also sympathetic to my personal history.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Coastal Fertility Specialists. (Assigned nurse: Cherub Hutto)
Cherub is very nice, warm, and understanding on a face to face basic. She makes you feel like you are the only patient she has. However, on an correspondence level, she is horrible. Her emails are blunt, abrupt, and at times very cold. This is a major disconnect for the emotionally vulnerable patient.
Describe your experience with Coastal Fertility Specialists.
The staff is very nice and personable. However, the higher medical staff is hard to meet with and are very rarely available to see on a non-appointment basis. There are so many branch offices that the doctors are spread thin and a patient does not know when or if they will see their doctor again. There is little medical support nor do I feel like I truly have a personal RE.
[Dr. Slowey] is very knowledgeable...He had to make a special plan for my IVF process due to anatomy issues. He always explained everything in detail and always understood my concerns...I first had to lose weight and get my A1c under control before I could proceed with IVF. Once I accomplished that we started IVF. I did 1 round of IVF with the end result of 8 frozen embryos. We did 3 transfers with a singleton every time. The third embryo transfer was successful and I am currently pregnant in my third trimester
Coastal fertility is an excellent fertility clinic. The only issue you might have is a little bit of a wait due to having lots of patients. This is expected. The clinic has a excellent embryo lab, very clean updated treatment rooms, and comfortable waiting areas. The staff is friendly and compassionate...Heather [a nurse] was excellent during our IVF treatment. She always showed compassion and helped us in any way she could
How was your experience with Michael Slowey at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Dr. Slowery is very knowledgeable and one of the best fertility doctors. He had to make a special plan for my IVF process due to anatomy issues. He always explained everything in detail and always understood my concerns.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Michael Slowey at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Listen to what Dr. Slowey says and just do all his recommendations if possible.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Michael Slowey at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Dr. Slowery took his time and always explained everything in detail.
Describe the protocols Michael Slowey used in your cycles at Coastal Fertility Specialists and their degree of success.
I first had to lose weight and get my A1c under control before I could proceed with IVF. Once I accomplished that we started IVF. I did 1 round of IVF with the end result of 8 frozen embryos. We did 3 transfers with a singleton every time. The third embryo transfer was successful and I am currently pregnant in my third trimester.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Coastal Fertility Specialists. (Assigned nurse: Heather Clayton)
Heather Clayton was excellent during our IVF treatment. She always showed compassion and helped us in any way she could.
Describe your experience with Coastal Fertility Specialists.
Coastal fertility is an excellent fertility clinic. The only issue you might have is a little bit of a wait due to having lots of patients. This is expected. The clinic has a excellent embryo lab, very clean updated treatment rooms, and comfortable waiting areas. The staff is friendly and compassionate.
Dr. Slowey explained what I needed to do and what were the stipulations and risk of IVF. He explained each step to me but I wish I would of had more one on one time with him, so that I could gain a level of comfort...He recommended a single embryo transfer...He is straight forward and gets directly to the point...
She [Coastal Fertility Specialists nurse] communicated things to me in a timely manner. She kept an open line of communication with me as well...The clinical staff was very friendly and they would assist you with any and everything that you needed. There is lots of testing to be done. Just be mentally prepared yourself to go through the steps.
How was your experience with Michael Slowey at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Dr. Slowey explained what I needed to do and what were the stipulations and risk of IVF. He explained each step to me but I wish I would of had more one on one time with him, so that I could gain a level of comfort.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Michael Slowey at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
He is straight forward and gets directly to the point.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Michael Slowey at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
I felt like a human because i learned about my condition. I felt like a number because of the cost.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Coastal Fertility Specialists. (Assigned nurse: Jamie)
Jamie was good. She communicated things to me in a timely manner. She kept an open line of communication with me as well.
Describe your experience with Coastal Fertility Specialists.
The clinical staff was very friendly and they would assist you with any and everything that you needed. There is lots of testing to be done. Just be mentally prepared yourself to go through the steps.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Michael Slowey at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
The cost was way more than i expected especially with the understanding that it was supposed to be covered by insurance
Describe Michael Slowey's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
I really liked Dr. Cook. She was caring and compassionate, and patient when answering my many questions. I did not have any successful cycles, but I don't think that had anything to do with her. I will probably go back to her once my finances bounce back a little bit.... Coastal fertility clinic has a very organized, professional, and compassionate team, from doctors and nurses to the administration staff. They remembered our names and treated us like old friends every time we came in.
Coastal fertility clinic has a very organized, professional, and compassionate team, from doctors and nurses to the administration staff. They remembered our names and treated us like old friends every time we came in. It helped to make the disappointment in needing to be there a more comfortable experience.... I really liked Dr. Cook. She was caring and compassionate, and patient when answering my many questions. I did not have any successful cycles, but I don't think that had anything to do with her. I will probably go back to her once my finances bounce back a little bit.
How was your experience with Heather Cook at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
I really liked Dr. Cook. She was caring and compassionate, and patient when answering my many questions. I did not have any successful cycles, but I don't think that had anything to do with her. I will probably go back to her once my finances bounce back a little bit.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Heather Cook at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Know what you want going in.
Describe your experience with Coastal Fertility Specialists.
Coastal fertility clinic has a very organized, professional, and compassionate team, from doctors and nurses to the administration staff. They remembered our names and treated us like old friends every time we came in. It helped to make the disappointment in needing to be there a more comfortable experience.
Dr. Slowey is very knowledgeable and kind. He always made sure we had everything we needed. He made sure I was comfortable during procedures. He answered any questions we had. He never made us wait at our appointments. ... We started with IUI cycles with gonal-f. After my ectopic pregnancy, he recommended we have our tubes rechecked and from there we went straight to IVF using gonal-f and a couple of other meds that I can’t remember the names of.
The entire staff at Coastal Fertility is amazing. They all know your name and your husbands name. My nurse was always so nice and informative giving us demonstrations on how to use the medications and injections. The other nurses always helped out too with blood draws and ultrasounds. ... I did have to re-sign one of my consent forms because they had lost or accidentally shredded the first one. I also had a medication that was last minute getting called in because of a communication error.
How was your experience with Michael Slowey at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Dr. Slowey is very knowledgeable and kind. He always made sure we had everything we needed. He made sure I was comfortable during procedures. He answered any questions we had. He never made us wait at our appointments.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Michael Slowey at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Michael Slowey at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
He always made sure I was comfortable during procedure and made sure my husband and I had all our questions answered.
Describe the protocols Michael Slowey used in your cycles at Coastal Fertility Specialists and their degree of success.
We started with IUI cycles with gonal-f. After my ectopic pregnancy, he recommended we have our tubes rechecked and from there we went straight to IVF using gonal-f and a couple of other meds that I can’t remember the names of. He had to increase our doses which worked very well to produce plenty of eggs. We also did a frozen cycle. We used Progesterone and estrogen. It was a successful cycle.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Coastal Fertility Specialists. (Assigned nurse: Cherub Hutto)
The entire staff at Coastal Fertility is amazing. They all know your name and your husbands name. My nurse was always so nice and informative giving us demonstrations on how to use the medications and injections. The other nurses always helped out too with blood draws and ultrasounds.
Describe your experience with Coastal Fertility Specialists.
The clinic is fairly easy to find although the Lexington office is a bit on the small side. It is a clean facility with clean equipment. I do think they could use new ultrasound machines. The office in Mt Pleasant is really nice and big and is also easy to find.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Michael Slowey at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
I just remember each IUI cycle was around 2000 and the IVF was around 10,000 in total
Describe Michael Slowey's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
He recommended that we only transfer one embryo as we are young and have no obvious issues other than unexplained infertility. We were in agreement with him as we didn’t want to chance the possibility of triplets.
What specific things went wrong at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Lost paperwork
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
I did have to re-sign one of my consent forms because they had lost or accidentally shredded the first one. I also had a medication that was last minute getting called in because of a communication error.
Dr. Schnorr now feels like a friend. He was honest and determined from the beginning. He always showed great bedside manner and made us feel comfortable. He was willing to make suggestions and recommendations when promoted and provided excellent care and treatment. ... He gave me a new protocol for round 2 ... I felt like I was treated with car specialized for me.
Coastal is clean and warm. Their bedside manner is excellent. They are organized and have a thurough plan for your treatment. They are sympathetic with your struggles and celebratory with your wins. They treated me like they would a family member. ... I cried when my treatment ended because this team took such good care of me. In fact, I still keep in touch with Heather and Ashley. They answered all my calls, emails, and questions, even when I asked an excessive amount. They were always willing to help me. ...
How was your experience with John Schnorr at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Dr. Schnorr now feels like a friend. He was honest and determined from the beginning. He always showed great bedside manner and made us feel comfortable. He was willing to make suggestions and recommendations when promoted and provided excellent care and treatment.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of John Schnorr at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Ask questions! Ask advice. Ask his opinion. He will be honest.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with John Schnorr at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
I felt like I was treated with car specialized for me. I received several personal phone calls at home from Dr. Schnorr himself.
Describe the protocols John Schnorr used in your cycles at Coastal Fertility Specialists and their degree of success.
Our first round of IVF failed. We only had one embryo. He said 95% of patients respond well to that particular “recipe” of medication, and I happen to be in the 5% that doesn’t. He gave me a
new protocol for round 2, and we got 7 embryos, all of better quality than the one from the first cycle. We transferred the best one and got pregnant!
Describe your experience with your nurse at Coastal Fertility Specialists. (Assigned nurse: Heather Clayton)
Heather and Ashley and everyone at Coastal were amazing. I cried when my treatment ended because this team took such good care of me. In fact, I still keep in touch with Heather and Ashley. They answered all my calls, emails, and questions, even when I asked an excessive amount. They were always willing to help me.
Describe your experience with Coastal Fertility Specialists.
Coastal is clean and warm. Their bedside manner is excellent. They are organized and have a thurough plan for your treatment. They are sympathetic with your struggles and celebratory with your wins. They treated me like they would a family member. I felt like I was in the best care in the US.
Describe the costs associated with your care under John Schnorr at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
We had insurance, and it covered our IUIs. i believe they were $1500 each (not sure if that included meds). IVF was about 18k I think.
Describe John Schnorr's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
I really wanted to transfer 2 embryos, and he told me the risks involved for me personally and my health history. He said it was my choice, but after seeing his rationale, we chose to do 1 embryo.
Dr. Schnorr was very patient and through in explaining all the options. He answered all of our questions. I never felt rushed and he made us feel like we mattered to him as patients. When the IUI and IVF treatments were unsuccessful, he called me personally to ask how I was doing and discuss our options. I appreciated the time he took to reach out to me. ... Yeh next month I had another 5 day FET and it resulted in pregnancy and a healthy baby
Strenghts: they [Coastal Fertility Specialists] are very knowledgeable about treatments and options. They are through in all procedures and explainations of procedures. ... The nursing staff was amazing! They updated me every step of the way. They were so compassionate and caring. They checked on me and encourage me. I couldn’t ask for any better people ...
How was your experience with John Schnorr at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Dr. Schnorr was very patient and through in explaining all the options. He answered all of our questions. I never felt rushed and he made us feel like we mattered to him as patients. When the IUI and IVF treatments were unsuccessful, he called me personally to ask how I was doing and discuss our options. I appreciated the time he took to reach out to me.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of John Schnorr at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
I would suggest to listen to his advice and trust in his judgement
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with John Schnorr at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
He took the time to sit and talk with us. He gave us all the options and explained everything in detail
Describe the protocols John Schnorr used in your cycles at Coastal Fertility Specialists and their degree of success.
We began with IUI. I am not sure of the medication I was on at the time. I was taking injections to stimulate ovulation and egg growth. We began with this because I felt more comfortable with this procedure for personal reasons. After these attempts were unsuccessful we moved to IVF. Dr Schnorr explained that the Endometriosis was likely causing the IUI to fail and that IVF would bypass this problem. We then moved to IVF. I took injections to stimulate egg growth. I had an egg retrieval and 5 embryos were created as a result. The eggs were frozen. I had a 5 day frozen embryo transfer that was no successful. Yeh next month I had another 5 day FET and it resulted in pregnancy and a healthy baby
Describe your experience with your nurse at Coastal Fertility Specialists. (Assigned nurse: Cherub Hutto)
The nursing staff was amazing! They updated me every step of the way. They were so compassionate and caring. They checked on me and encourage me. I couldn’t ask for any better people
Describe your experience with Coastal Fertility Specialists.
Strenghts: they are very knowledgeable about treatments and options. They are through in all procedures and explainations of procedures.
Weakness: This clinic and staff are amazing. We had no complaints
Describe the costs associated with your care under John Schnorr at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
Out of pocket we paid around $20,000
Describe John Schnorr's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
Dr Schnorr prefers to do single embryo transfer because of the risk factors with multiples
We were very pleased with Dr. slowly. He made it a point to explain everything that he expected and possible issues that could arise ... Dr. Slowey ordered a hysteroscopy to check for a blocked tube. I was diagnosed with pcos, a blocked tube, and endometriosis. I had a salpingectomy per dr sloweys suggestion. Once healed dr slowey started me on gonal injections.
The entire team [Coastal Fertility Specialists] treated me like a person. Made sure that my husband and I understood everything and were 100% involved. Even though they have seen everything 100 times they never made me feel like I was bothering them by asking. My questions ... Everything is thoroughly explained and everyone’s sole goal is to help you get pregnant! They go through the highs and lows with you and really care about what happens. I would recommend this clinic to anyone who asks.
How was your experience with Michael Slowey at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
We were very pleased with Dr. slowly. He made it a point to explain everything that he expected and possible issues that could arise. I had already been checked by my obgyn for a blocked Fallopian tube but the minute that dr slowly looked at the hysteroscopy he saw the issue. He was very caring and helpful in our journey for a baby!! Now we have a very loving, and happy son because of it.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Michael Slowey at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Ask all the questions you can he is a wealth of knowledge!!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Michael Slowey at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
The entire team treated me like a person. Made sure that my husband and I understood everything and were 100% involved. Even though they have seen everything 100 times they never made me feel like I was bothering them by asking. My questions
Describe the protocols Michael Slowey used in your cycles at Coastal Fertility Specialists and their degree of success.
We had tried for three months on our own and then I went to my obgyn for help as I had always had trouble with my period being abnormal. So he did several months of clomid and letrezole. When that didn’t work my ob refered is to dr slowey. Dr. Slowey ordered a hysteroscopy to check for a blocked tube. I was diagnosed with pcos, a blocked tube, and endometriosis. I had a salpingectomy per dr sloweys suggestion. Once healed dr slowey started me on gonal injections. My body took a large amount of medications to respond. At the end of the first cycle we did an Iui but it didn’t take. We did a second round of medications and an iui and we became pregnant with twins. We had weekly ultrasounds. Week seven we lost one of the babies. We were told that it is very common and that it nature’s way of keeping the stronger of the two babies. Dr. Slowey and his staff were so sweet to us and really tried to help us understand what happened. After that we had a very happy healthy pregnancy!!!!
Describe your experience with your nurse at Coastal Fertility Specialists. (Assigned nurse: Heather Clayton)
I loved our nurse and medical technician!!! They were everything to us!
Describe your experience with Coastal Fertility Specialists.
Everything is thoroughly explained and everyone’s sole goal is to help you get pregnant! They go through the highs and lows with you and really care about what happens. I would recommend this clinic to anyone who asks.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Michael Slowey at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
Dr Schnorr took time to explain everything, his recommendations, and really listen to our concerns ... We did a Lipton trigger for me as I have a history of hyperstimulation. ... He truly cares about his patient's successes and goes above and beyond to find a way for everyone to be able to conceive. We are so greatful for everything Dr Schnorr has done for us.
They [Coastal Fertility Specialists] are very responsive to questions and very easy to schedule appointments. The only issue some people may have are the shorter hours. They close earlier than most clinics, but since they are a satellite location it's to be expected. ... She [Nurse Heather] is invested in her patients successes and a shoulder to lean on during failure. Could not ask for a better team to assist us in our fertility journey. We love them like family.
How was your experience with John Schnorr at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Dr Schnorr is amazing! He truly cares about his patient's successes and goes above and beyond to find a way for everyone to be able to conceive. We are so greatful for everything Dr Schnorr has done for us.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of John Schnorr at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Trust his course of action
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with John Schnorr at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Dr Schnorr took time to explain everything, his recommendations, and really listen to our concerns as well as go above and beyond to assist us with a procedure insurance didnt cover thar he didn't charge us for.
Describe the protocols John Schnorr used in your cycles at Coastal Fertility Specialists and their degree of success.
We did a Lipton trigger for me as I have a history of hyperstimulation.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Coastal Fertility Specialists. (Assigned nurse: Heather Clayton)
Heather is amazing! She has been a patient so she knows what it's like to be in her patient's shoes. She is invested in her patients successes and a shoulder to lean on during failure. Could not ask for a better team to assist us in our fertility journey. We love them like family.
Describe your experience with Coastal Fertility Specialists.
Success rates are some of the highest nationally with single embryo transfers. They are very responsive to questions and very easy to schedule appointments. The only issue some people may have are the shorter hours. They close earlier than most clinics, but since they are a satellite location it's to be expected.
Describe the costs associated with your care under John Schnorr at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
3k FET
14k IVF
3k meds
Describe John Schnorr's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
Dr Slowey said he would only transfer one embryo for us. I was young (25), had never been pregnant, and didn’t have any female fertility issues...He showed compassion when things didn’t go as planned and always had a next step for us...He never made me feel like I was bothersome by asking for clarification or asking other questions. We had a few setbacks during our treatment and he always made it a point to make sure we knew it wasn’t our fault
She [Coastal Fertility Specialists nurse] always showed a great amount of compassion and trust me, I was in her office crying a lot...egg retrieval was around 10,000 which included an embryo transfer. A frozen transfer was around 2,500...They always made us feel so at ease which was huge because this was such a stressful time in our life. From the front desk girls to the nurses doing blood draws, every person genuinely cared about us and our success.
How was your experience with Michael Slowey at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Dr Slowey is a great doctor. He is blunt and honest but also shows compassion. I appreciated that he didn’t sugar coat anything and told us exactly what our chances were. He was also great about explaining every step of the process. He explained it in medical terms but also “dumbed it down” for us too. He never made me feel like I was bothersome by asking for clarification or asking other questions. We had a few setbacks during our treatment and he always made it a point to make sure we knew it wasn’t our fault. During one follow up appt my husband was visibly upset (quiet and just not himself—which dr Slowey noticed). At my next appt he asked me how he was doing with everything. It definitely made me feel good that he 1- recognized my husband wasn’t acting himself 2- remembered he was having a hard time and 3- cared enough to ask me about it.
We had success with our second frozen transfer with dr Slowey. We unfortunately don’t have any frozen embryos to try for another child but we will 100% be back to dr Slowey. We owe him everything for helping us create our baby and I’m hopeful he will help us have additional children.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Michael Slowey at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Be ready to hear the truth. Dr Slowey tells you as it is and doesn’t sugar coat. Which is not a bad thing. False hope is not a good thing so him being upfront is a huge positive.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Michael Slowey at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Dr Slowey genuinely cared about our treatment and success. He showed compassion when things didn’t go as planned and always had a next step for us
Describe the protocols Michael Slowey used in your cycles at Coastal Fertility Specialists and their degree of success.
We used the antagonist protocol. We have male factor fertility and no female issues. He believed we could get a good number of eggs from me (which we did— 20 retrieved, 18 mature). I was on the lowest dose of every medication. He said this would help us get a good amount of eggs while also reducing my risk of OHSS (I did not get this)
Describe your experience with your nurse at Coastal Fertility Specialists. (Assigned nurse: Kelly)
Nurse Kelly was amazing! She appeared slightly unorganized (maybe she just had a lot of patients) but that never impacted the care we received. She always showed a great amount of compassion and trust me, I was in her office crying a lot. She is the one who gave me the best phone call of my life when she told me my HCG numbers! She is very personable and really cares about her patients.
Describe your experience with Coastal Fertility Specialists.
The only weakness I found with the clinic is the new patient coordinator. She was very difficult to get in contact with when we were scheduling our initial consultation. Other than that, every single staff member we interacted with was amazing. They always made us feel so at ease which was huge because this was such a stressful time in our life. From the front desk girls to the nurses doing blood draws, every person genuinely cared about us and our success.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Michael Slowey at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
I believe our egg retrieval was around 10,000 which included an embryo transfer. A frozen transfer was around 2,500
Describe Michael Slowey's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
Dr Slowey said he would only transfer one embryo for us. I was young (25), had never been pregnant, and didn’t have any female fertility issues. We also didn’t have any transfer failures prior to this. He believed I could have success with a single transfer (which I did)
One thing that truly stands out about Dr. Schnorr is his dedication to his patients — he always takes time to personally call with treatment updates, and his consult visits are never rushed...[he] spent a great deal of time explaining the fundamentals of fertility and the IVF process as well as answering our many questions. As anyone who has been through fertility treatment knows, the process is an emotional roller coaster.
Both [nurses of Coastal Fertility Specialists] have been incredibly responsive to emails/calls, receptive to my concerns, and reassuring to me during my low points...Unless it is medically indicated, the physicians at Coastal will not transfer multiple embryos due to risk of maternal/fetal complications...An IVF cycle is approximately $14,000 including monitoring and a transfer.
How was your experience with John Schnorr at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Words cannot fully express my gratitude for Dr. Schnorr and the staff at Coastal Fertility Specialists in Charleston, SC. In 2017, after a year of trying to conceive and an early miscarriage, my husband and I decided to consult with an RE. Initial testing revealed our problem was twofold: a diminished ovarian reserve for me and a decreased sperm count for my husband. We were devastated to learn our chance of natural conception was approximately 5%. Dr. Schnorr spent a great deal of time explaining the fundamentals of fertility and the IVF process as well as answering our many questions. As anyone who has been through fertility treatment knows, the process is an emotional roller coaster. But Dr. Schnorr and our nurse Andrea gave us every assurance that with persistence we could have the family we’ve always dreamed of. One cycle of IVF later, I became pregnant with our son William! We felt incredibly fortunate and grateful that our first cycle was a success.
Fast forward nearly two years. We now find ourselves trying to conceive our second child but, sadly, the three remaining embryos from our first cycle did not take. Dr. Schnorr and my nurse (now Haley) called me after each transfer to deliver the disappointing news and discuss the next steps. One thing that truly stands out about Dr. Schnorr is his dedication to his patients — he always takes time to personally call with treatment updates, and his consult visits are never rushed. I have never felt like “just another number” at Coastal.
That we are back at square one initially seemed daunting, but I know we are in the most capable hands. We have since moved out of state, but I cannot imagine working with another clinic. The staff is incredibly warm, compassionate, and supportive; each visit feels more like a reunion with friends and family than a medical appointment! Furthermore, Dr. Schnorr and his associates are committed to providing the most ethical and up-to-date treatment methods and technologies. We will gladly make the 4+ hour drive to continue our fertility journey with Coastal.
If anyone is experiencing difficulty conceiving, I would wholeheartedly recommend Dr. Schnorr and his team! To Dr. Schnorr and the rest of CFS: You have given us life’s greatest gift. As I look at my sweet little boy I’m filled with hope that, with your help, we’ll be blessed with another child soon. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of John Schnorr at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Unless it is medically indicated, the physicians at Coastal will not transfer multiple embryos due to risk of maternal/fetal complications. Many clinics will transfer multiple embryos to improve their success rate or simply to please the patients, but I think this is unethical. I respect and support Coastal's commitment to providing the most safe and ethical fertility practices. I would advise prospective patients who wanted twins/multiples to keep and open mind and research the risks involved.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with John Schnorr at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
One thing that truly stands out about Dr. Schnorr is his dedication to his patients — he always takes time to personally call with treatment updates, and his consult visits are never rushed. I have never felt like “just another number” at Coastal.
Describe the protocols John Schnorr used in your cycles at Coastal Fertility Specialists and their degree of success.
I do not remember many specifics, as my cycle took place in 2017. It began with birth control, and I remember using Gonal-F as well as a "trigger shot" as we neared the retrieval. Before my transfers, I used birth control pills followed by estrace and progesterone (injections, suppositories).
Describe your experience with your nurse at Coastal Fertility Specialists. (Assigned nurse: Andrea and Haley)
I worked with Andrea Hall during my first cycle, and am now working with Haley Pollack. Both have been incredibly responsive to emails/calls, receptive to my concerns, and reassuring to me during my low points.
The staff is incredibly warm, compassionate, and supportive; each visit feels more like a reunion with friends and family than a medical appointment!
Describe your experience with Coastal Fertility Specialists.
CFS is a well oiled machine. I have experienced short to non-existent wait times, clean facilities, friendly staff, and cutting edge treatment strategies. Coastal has also been very reassuring and accommodating with regard to COVID-19.
If I was forced to list one con, it is that my assigned billing coordinator is not always quick to respond to my calls. However, this is very minor and has not detracted from my overall experience.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
If I recall it was preferred that I come in the morning, as the physicians and nurses meet everyday during lunch to discuss treatment plans, but I know they would have been flexible if my schedule didn't allow. Coastal opens at 7 am, so I was able to complete my blood work and ultrasound before going to work. There was little to no wait.
Describe the costs associated with your care under John Schnorr at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
An IVF cycle is approximately $14,000 including monitoring and a transfer. Anesthesia for the retrieval was about $500. Embryo preservation is $400 every 6 months. Medication through Freedom Fertility Pharmacy was between $3000-4000. Coastal works with ATTAIN, a company that provides insurance plans for 2-3 cycles of IVF with money back guarantees.
Describe John Schnorr's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
As previously stated, Coastal physicians will not transfer multiple embryos unless it is medically indicated. They base this decision on ample research detailing potential risks of maternal/fetal complications in pregnancies with multiples.
[Dr. Michael Slowey] He was very upfront about the pros and cons of anything I asked and never seemed condescending or offended if I questioned why he preferred to do something a certain way...He always spent as a lot of time answering our questions and I never felt rushed either time I've had a consult with him...[he]did strongly recommend not transferring any more than two embryos since they were donor eggs from a young, healthy person.
Everyone [ at Coastal Fertility Specialists] I worked with seemed to show compassion and were willing to answer any questions I had...The financial person explained the options I had and gave me her card to email her about any questions I had. I had a discrepancy on my bill (insurance issue) and she took the bill and told me not to worry about it and that she would take care of it...both treatments (2014 and 2020) were around $30,000.
How was your experience with Michael Slowey at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
He was very upfront with what to expect from IVF and told me with my previously diagnosed diminished ovarian reserve that there really was no point in trying to use my own eggs (I was under 40 at the time). He laid out the plan that would give us the most positive results, which were successful. He did all of my pre-procedural tests and one transfer out of two (don't remember why Dr. Schnorr had to do the first one, but it wasn't a problem). I feel comfortable with him and how he explains everything, enough to go back for another round of donor egg IVF.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Michael Slowey at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Ask as many questions as possible. The process is very complicated as every cycle is different. He was very upfront about the pros and cons of anything I asked and never seemed condescending or offended if I questioned why he preferred to do something a certain way.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Michael Slowey at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
He always spent as a lot of time answering our questions and I never felt rushed either time I've had a consult with him.
Describe the protocols Michael Slowey used in your cycles at Coastal Fertility Specialists and their degree of success.
I really don't remember the protocol strategy used as it was over 5 years ago, but I did use donor eggs so I didn't have to worry about the egg retrieval process. I did become pregnant with twins on the second transfer. We did opt to transfer our last 2 embryos (mainly because we were so tired of trying and failing) and he gave us the odds of 50% of having twins. Our twins are 5 years old and healthy today!
Describe your experience with your nurse at Coastal Fertility Specialists. (Assigned nurse: Carrie Maness (1st time), Sara Boyd (2nd time))
Everyone I worked with seemed to show compassion and were willing to answer any questions I had. I have not personally had any issues with any of the nurses. Sometimes it can take a day or two to get a response back from email, but it's not been a problem.
Describe your experience with Coastal Fertility Specialists.
I feel that the people at this clinic are personable and caring. There was only one time there was a person at the front desk that seemed irritated, but I don't know what else was going on at the time so I can't attribute it to something I did. I did come in for lab work without an appointment one time (it was a fasting sample and I totally didn't think about making an appointment and just showed up) and they worked me in, though the front desk people did seem a little annoyed. The nursing staff were totally fine with it. The financial person explained the options I had and gave me her card to email her about any questions I had. I had a discrepancy on my bill (insurance issue) and she took the bill and told me not to worry about it and that she would take care of it. Apparently she did because I don't see that balance anymore on my account and it's been a couple of months.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Michael Slowey at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
both treatments (2014 and 2020) were around $30,000. The first time we chose a single donor without using the split cycle option. I believe we got 3 cycles with this option with no refund if we weren't successful (really can't remember). For 2020, we are using the split cycle option with a full refund with three cycle attempts without successfully bringing a baby home.
Describe Michael Slowey's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
Dr. Slowey did strongly recommend not transferring any more than two embryos since they were donor eggs from a young, healthy person.
It was suggested to transfer a single embyro and we did not discuss in any depth a multiple embryo transfer option. Early on Dr. Schnorr provided education on the risks of a multiple pregnancy...At times I felt like his approaches were aggressive and looking back I understand his approach but I lacked the education on infertility, treatment protocols and endometriosis to understand all of his decision making...I was extremely emotional during the consultation to begin treatment and he suggested I see a therapist implying that I was overly emotional.
We did three IUI cycles using letrazole, gonal F injections, ovidrel and prometrium [at Coastal Fertility Specialists]...I have had positive experiences with all nursing staff and especially Andrea. She has been warm, compassionate and prompt in answering questions and returning phone calls...Their anesthesiologist is not contracted and you have to pay for anesthesia up front (usually $400) but they will provide you a form for insurance reimbursement. I was told by the pharmacy that the clinic receives a special rate of gonal f pens which is lower than retail.
How was your experience with John Schnorr at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Dr. Schnorr explained things thoroughly in terms of my diagnosis and treatment. I was extremely emotional during the consultation to begin treatment and he suggested I see a therapist implying that I was overly emotional. Although I value therapy, I did not want to pursue it and it made me feel as if it was not OK for me to share the emotional impact infertility has had on me with him. At times I felt he became defensive with me when I questioned why I was doing ultrasounds and definitely when we went against his recommendation for our IVF protocol. At times my experiences with him were positive but I preferred interacting with the nursing staff.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of John Schnorr at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Do your own research so that you can be informed and clarify your own expectations. Fertility IQ has been a great resource to fill in the blanks for education the clinic leaves out or to make our own decisions on treatment protocols.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with John Schnorr at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
I have never really felt like my personality meshed well with Dr. Schnorr. It could be in part because I have some discomfort working with a male physician. I think that the rest of the staff at Coastal is excellent. At times I felt like his approaches were aggressive and looking back I understand his approach but I lacked the education on infertility, treatment protocols and endometriosis to understand all of his decision making. I often had my guard up due to perceptions that fertility clinics operate as a business and may make recommendations for patients based on revenue. On a few occasions I was called out of the waiting room due to other patients being present with the same first name and being mixed up. At one point a staff member (who I had seen 3 days prior) tried do an intake on me after I had been a patient for about a year.
Describe the protocols John Schnorr used in your cycles at Coastal Fertility Specialists and their degree of success.
We did three IUI cycles using letrazole, gonal F injections, ovidrel and prometrium. I was happy with the IUI protocols because adjustments were made each protocol that felt individualized, and we were more aggressive with gonal F each round to increase my chance of success. Although our IUI's were not successful it helped me become more comfortable with the clinic and build trust as I got to know staff and they tailored my protocol. I had friends seeing other doctor's tell me that they were disappointed their doctor had not been open to using a similar medication protocol or that they were using clomid with significantly worse side effects which gave me confidence in my treatment.
We started IVF with a sonohysterogram and Lupron in the luteal phase.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Coastal Fertility Specialists. (Assigned nurse: Andrea Hall)
I have had positive experiences with all nursing staff and especially Andrea. She has been warm, compassionate and prompt in answering questions and returning phone calls. She shared that she was a fertility patient in the past which is comforting to know. I enjoyed having Sharon as an ultrasound tech because she was gentle and thorough and would explain in detail what the ultrasound readings were.
Describe your experience with Coastal Fertility Specialists.
Coastal has better success rates than other clinics/RE's in the Charleston area. I would definitely recommend fertility treatment there vs. with another doctor or clinic. At times they weren't great at communicating next steps, the reason for procedures or providing thorough patient education.
Describe the costs associated with your care under John Schnorr at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
I had some insurance benefits. We paid about $2200 out of pocket for 3 IUI's which was comparable to what we were quoted. We paid a $6200 cycle fee for IVF and chose not to use insurance benefits for medication and were gives a quote of $3900 out of pocket for medication. Their anesthesiologist is not contracted and you have to pay for anesthesia up front (usually $400) but they will provide you a form for insurance reimbursement. I was told by the pharmacy that the clinic receives a special rate of gonal f pens which is lower than retail.
Describe John Schnorr's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
It was suggested to transfer a single embyro and we did not discuss in any depth a multiple embryo transfer option. Early on Dr. Schnorr provided education on the risks of a multiple pregnancy. Based on research we had done with Fertility IQ we agreed with the decision to transfer a single embryo.
IVF Retrieval - Dr. Cook Retrieved 9 eggs (which was not a number we were happy with given I had close to 19 good size follicles my last check up before transfer), 7 fertilized, 2 embryo's made it to day 5, both were frozen for a FET. We were told they were a "good grade" based off their grading system. We did not have them tested, it was not recommended to us because we were young. Waking up from surgery I was told they were unable to retrieve any eggs from my right side then proceeded to ask if we did our trigger shot at the right time.
Waking up from surgery [at Coastal Fertility Specialists] I was told they were unable to retrieve any eggs from my right side then proceeded to ask if we did our trigger shot at the right time. Which we did. I was still groggy and waking up, I personally felt like we were rushed out of there unable to ask the questions needed...My husband and I live in Columbia, SC so we were monitored in the Lexington office. The nursing staff as well as coordinators at this location are so so great. We had no issues scheduling or communicating with the Lexington office.
How was your experience with Heather Cook at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Our experience with Dr. Cook was that she is a caring doctor who does want what is best for the patient. She is very very kind and confident but communicating with her was difficult. It felt like she had a lot of patients to handle.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Heather Cook at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Make sure you try to communicate as clearly as you can. Ask every question you can imagine.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Heather Cook at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Felt somewhere in between. At first our relationship was great and she has a very kind and caring bedside manner, but when our retrieval and transfers didn’t go as planned communication was very difficult. We didn’t get many answers and it was hard to get her or my nurse on the phone for conversations. When we tried to call out of respect to explain we were switching doctors we never got a call back. That made us feel like a number.
Describe the protocols Heather Cook used in your cycles at Coastal Fertility Specialists and their degree of success.
Will do my best here it's been over a few years. Dr. Cook recommended starting with IUI, we did 3 all resulting in 0 positive pregnancy tests. Medication and protocol was tweaked each round. Here were the meds I was on during those IUI'S- Gonal-F RFF 300IU, Ovidrel 250 MCG, Progesterone 200MG (50 Cap), Letrozole 2.5 MG Tablet (5 tab). If I remember correctly medicine was increased in dosage each IUI round. (especially Gonal, my follicles were slow to grow).
IVF Retrieval - Dr. Cook Retrieved 9 eggs (which was not a number we were happy with given I had close to 19 good size follicles my last check up before transfer), 7 fertilized, 2 embryo's made it to day 5, both were frozen for a FET. We were told they were a "good grade" based off their grading system. We did not have them tested, it was not recommended to us because we were young. Waking up from surgery I was told they were unable to retrieve any eggs from my right side then proceeded to ask if we did our trigger shot at the right time. Which we did. I was still groggy and waking up, I personally felt like we were rushed out of there unable to ask the questions needed. Medicine protocol for retrieval- HCG Dilution 100 Units, Cetrotide .25 Mg inj, Gonal F REF #900 IU pen, hCG 10,000 IU dispense 1 vial (trigger), Lupron 4mg/.8 ml trigger kit (did not end up using lupron as a trigger just the hcg trigger), Estrace 1mg 180 tablets, Progestrone in oil 50mg/ml #3- 10ml vials 1ml IM as directed, Prometrium 200 mg #50 insert 1 @ bedtime (as directed).
FET #1- Dr. Cook recommended transferring one seemingly healthy day 5 embryo. This resulted in a chemical pregnancy. We were told it was more than likely it was an embryo quality issue Here was our medicine protocol- "Escalating Estrace Protocol CPET" Estrace 1MG tablet 2X/day (am &pm) for 5 days then increase to 2 1mg tablet 2x/day for 4 days then increased to 2mg tablet 3x/day (8 am, 2pm, 8pm) remain on this until otherwise told. They ended up having me do my night time dose vaginally to help thicken my lining, on 13th day begin Progesterone in Oil Injection 1CC am increased to 2x/day the following day until transfer. After Transfer I stopped PM Progesterone Injections and began prometrium one 200 mg capsule vaginally before bed.
After our FET #1 Dr. Cook recommended an "endometrial Scratch" to toughen up the lining of my uterus and make it more sticky. She informed us it is a somewhat new procedure that has been shown to help with transfers. We did that before FET #2. Dr. Cook also recommended a round of antibiotics in case there was any inflammation (ie endometriosis) also it is as I understood common to go on after a chemical pregnancy or miscarriage.
FET #2- Did not result in a positive pregnancy test. The only difference was adding antibiotic. Medicine Protocol- Started antibiotic first day for 8 days- Escalating Estrace Protocol CPET. Estrace 1MG 2X/Day for 4 days- increased to 2mg 2x/day for 4 days- increased to 2mg 3x/day remain on this until otherwise instructed. 13th day begin Progesterone in Oil Injection 1CC am increased to 2x/day the following day until transfer. After Transfer I stopped PM Progesterone Injections and began prometrium one 200 mg capsule vaginally before bed.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Coastal Fertility Specialists. (Assigned nurse: Becky Welch)
My Nurse was Becky she was also a nurse coordinator Nurse Becky was very very kind and friendly. She did make us feel like she cared about us and our outcome. We did feel like she was hard to get a hold of. I would not get phone calls returned in a timely manner (while i was in a protocol calendar). She started emailing so communication was ok for awhile, but then I would send a couple- a few emails with no response. Then we would call with no timely response ultimately have to call the front office for help. it felt as if she had too many patients or was just too busy. Dr. Cook and Becky work out of the Mt. Pleasant office. My husband and I live in Columbia, SC so we were monitored in the Lexington office. The nursing staff as well as coordinators at this location are so so great. We had no issues scheduling or communicating with the Lexington office.
Describe your experience with Coastal Fertility Specialists.
Strengths- Welcoming and professional environment. They seem to be able to get you in for your initial workup and consultation quickly. Nurse and doctors are all very friendly and welcoming making your first visits a lot easier because you feel comfortable.
Weaknesses- Communication. There seems to be issues with being able to get anyone on the phone. Which when you are in a treatment cycle can be very stressful if you have a question. In our experience it seems as if we had to call the clinic to keep them on track, ask for results, things to be faxed etc. It almost seems as if they have too many patients and not enough staff to be attentive to everyone which ultimately made us feel like just a number rather than people so we switched clinics.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Heather Cook at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
IUI- $625 (NOT including medicine)
IVF- (14,890 Total not including medicine + anesthesia) Stimulation Monitoring $5,339, Retrieval Procedure $2,270, Embryology $4,570, FET $2,165 , med apprx $6,188
Describe Heather Cook's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
I don't ever remember there being a conversation about if we even had an option. We knew it was recommended to do a FET and to transfer one embryo because of our age, but other than that there was not much of a conversation. We should have asked more questions.
What specific things went wrong at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Lost paperwork
Failed to send your chart to another clinic
Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
There was just a lot of mishandling with communication. Once we would finally get our nurse or doctor on the phone it was ok. We also had a lot of issues getting paper work and records faxed to our new clinic after we decided to switch clinics.
We did feel like they failed to convey critical information after our retrieval. It wasn't they results we wanted or the results they expected either. I was woke up from the procedure and before I could really fully wake up we were told results (they retrieved 9 eggs) but were not able to retrieve anything from the follicles on my right side. We were then asked if we did our trigger shot at the right time, which we did. We felt rushed out of there before we could really ask why or what they think happened. We never got those questions answered either, and we felt that something must have gone wrong but the issue was never addressed.
We discussed the concerns of doing two embryos but felt with my test results two was the best. He [Dr. Michael Slowey] was very good about really looking and talking through this choice...always had time to answer my questions. He never rushed us through. He was very thorough in explaining what was going on and what we would do. He was straight forward, which I liked because I wanted to know the facts and not have a false hope or vision.
I did a fresh transfer with IVF [with Coastal Fertility Specialists]. I did have to take extra days of Gonal F because my eggs didn't grow large enough as fast as expected. I did have a frozen transfer after miscarrying the first baby at 8 and half weeks. We did a D and C with Dr.Slowey. We did genetic testing and found nothing wrong there. We then prepares for a frozen transfer of my last 2 embryos...The nurses in the Lexington office were AMAZING. I remember crying on Heather's shoulder for what felt like forever when we lost our first at 8 and half weeks. She was there for every call and made sure I always knew what was going on. Ashley drew my blood and always spoke to me and remembered things specifically about me. The two made you feel like your were best friends or family.
How was your experience with Michael Slowey at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Dr. Slowey is incredibly knowledgeable and very thorough. He does talk quickly sometimes but will slow down when you ask. He never made me feel like I was bothering him asking questions or wanting to know more. He would talk me through everything he was doing or seeing. He explained every step of the way. He is straight forward and would try to be very compassionate but sometimes his straightforwardness could get in the way. I would definitely go back to Dr.Slowey. Even today after having my girl he is so happy to see us visit the clinic and talks about how things are going.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Michael Slowey at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
If you need someone to hold your hand and talk sweet and soft to you this is not the doctor. If you want someone who is going to talk to give you the facts and be straightforward this is the doctor for you. Also never be afraid to ask questions! You are not bothering anyone when you do!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Michael Slowey at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Dr. Slowey always had time to answer my questions. He never rushed us through. He was very thorough in explaining what was going on and what we would do. He was straight forward, which I liked because I wanted to know the facts and not have a false hope or vision.
Describe the protocols Michael Slowey used in your cycles at Coastal Fertility Specialists and their degree of success.
I did a fresh transfer with IVF. I did have to take extra days of Gonal F because my eggs didn't grow large enough as fast as expected. I did have a frozen transfer after miscarrying the first baby at 8 and half weeks. We did a D and C with Dr.Slowey. We did genetic testing and found nothing wrong there. We then prepares for a frozen transfer of my last 2 embryos. I had a live, full term birth in May 2017. Dr. Slowey did say that if I chose to do IVF again he would change some of my protocol because of my lack of response to the medicine during this round. He didn't elaborate on that at the time of the visit. We have not been able to go back to do another round due to money.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Coastal Fertility Specialists. (Assigned nurse: Heather)
The nurses in the Lexington office were AMAZING. I remember crying on Heather's shoulder for what felt like forever when we lost our first at 8 and half weeks. She was there for every call and made sure I always knew what was going on. Ashley drew my blood and always spoke to me and remembered things specifically about me. The two made you feel like your were best friends or family.
Describe your experience with Coastal Fertility Specialists.
My clinic was great. They were slightly expensive but about average for South Carolina. They had an office here that could do a lot of the procedures except the retrieval and D and C. That had to be done in Mt.Pleasant. the only downfall is they are very large so sometimes it was tough to get in with a doctor to get started but once you were in it was easy.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Michael Slowey at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
For my first consultation I believe the testing and all was around 200 dollars but insurance covered many of the blood tests. The IVF was 12,500. I spent 9500 for medicine. I had 800 in two procedures I had to be put under anesthesia but received some.of that back from insurance. My D and C was covered by insurance. The frozen transfer was 3000 but I was given medicine so I didn't not have to pay for those and I had a little left for insurance for that. All in all after 15000 in insurance we paid just under 18000 for everything, 2 transfers, all testing, monitoring, genetic testing and the D and C.
Describe Michael Slowey's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
We discussed the concerns of doing two embryos but felt with my test results two was the best. He was very good about really looking and talking through this choice.
Dr McLaughlin seemed bothered to answer basic questions...rushed to avoid discussing details...maintained a certain level of authority and easily felt challenged...was cold, calculated, and aggressive at times...threatened to dismiss me when I got a second opinion...surgical performance was extremely poor and left me with trauma....She ended up eventually dismissing me as a patient
[Coastal Fertility Specialists] is extremely financially driven, choosing to put patients at unnecessary risk by doing procedures in office that should be done in a hospital setting...Lauren was a good communicator but ultimately failed to demonstrate an adequate level of compassion...could improve making images/results available to patients through an online portal...do a good job of calling with information
How was your experience with Jessica McLaughlin at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
I’ve seen a lot of doctors, and I’ve never had such a terrible experience. Dr McLaughlin was cold, calculated, and aggressive at times. I would never recommend that someone choose her for such a personal and sensitive treatment like fertility-related care. She threatened to dismiss me when I got a second opinion because her ego was bruised. She ended up eventually dismissing me as a patient due to me getting a second opinion even though the second opinion didn’t change my chosen treatment plan whatsoever- she just didn’t like the fact that I was doing my own research. Her surgical performance was extremely poor and left me with trauma.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Jessica McLaughlin at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
I would strongly advise that you seek care with another doctor and another practice altogether. Choosing the right doctor for fertility related care can make or break your experience- you cannot afford to choose the wrong doctor.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Jessica McLaughlin at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Dr McLaughlin seemed bothered to answer basic questions and always rushed to avoid discussing details. She maintained a certain level of authority and easily felt challenged.
Describe the protocols Jessica McLaughlin used in your cycles at Coastal Fertility Specialists and their degree of success.
Saline sono + hysteroscopic resection of a uterine septum. Balloon and HRT were not used for healing and this oversight resulted in a significant hemorrhage and trauma to the uterus. I became anemic following this blunder.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Coastal Fertility Specialists. (Assigned nurse: Lauren Reese )
Lauren was a good communicator but ultimately failed to demonstrate an adequate level of compassion when things became uncomfortable for her.
Describe your experience with Coastal Fertility Specialists.
This clinic is extremely financially driven, choosing to put patients at unnecessary risk by doing procedures in office that should be done in a hospital setting in order to pocket additional funds by bypassing insurance.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Jessica McLaughlin at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
I had to pay out of pocket for my procedure even though I met my deductible and OOP max because they don’t bill insurance for their in office operating room. Very disappointing. They strongly push against hospital procedures even when medically necessary.
What specific things went wrong at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Failed to call with results
Failed to order appropriate test
Failed to send your chart to another clinic
Failed to inform you of changes in protocol
Lost results
Provided conflicting information
Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
Overall, the clinic could improve making images/results available to patients through an online portal. They do a good job of calling with information, but it would be nice to access information somewhere else. Ultimately, I feel as if the practice lacks a certain level of empathy and professionalism. I trusted them with my care 100% and they showed me that they never cared about my family or my ability to achieve a positive outcome. My life is forever changed by their frivolity, and I don’t think they really understand the gravity of their decisions.
Dr Schnorr was compassionate and caring but we did get a little frustrated with his techniques. He was very apprehensive about making changes in protocols even though ours continued to fail...Dr Schnorr would take the time to meet with us after each failure for a discussion. While although we did not always see eye to eye he did genuinely seem to care...When we presented questions to Dr Schnorr about making changes he became stern and resistant to the point of suggesting we change physicians
The clinic [at Coastal Fertility Specialists] is very nice, clean, and inviting. Most of the staff is very pleasant and nice to work with. The wait is typically short for each visit. Financial assistance and guidance at the clinic is not very helpful, as they seem quite under-informed about this process...the financial department had mistakenly allowed us to do 2 transfers that were not covered by insurance and expected us to pay for them before moving forward!
How was your experience with John Schnorr at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
My husband and I had high hopes when we began seeing Dr Schnorr. Our first retrieval revealed great numbers, which we never achieved at our previous clinic. Slowly our hope dwindled after each unsuccessful transfer. Failure after failure and test after test revealed no explanation to our fertility struggles. Dr Schnorr was compassionate and caring but we did get a little frustrated with his techniques. He was very apprehensive about making changes in protocols even though ours continued to fail. This is very similar to our previous physician as well, which is one of the main reasons we left that clinic. When we presented questions to Dr Schnorr about making changes he became stern and resistant to the point of suggesting we change physicians. This whole process is very frustrating and to have a physician seemly uninterested in a patients concerns and disregard for advocating for oneself has been truly devastating. We have been through so much and still have no children of our own, yet at times feel like Dr Schnorr does not care about us as people anymore. Dr Schnorr has agreed to do one last transfer with us, but other obstacles within their clinic continue to prevent this. We feel quite lost and unheard.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of John Schnorr at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Always advocate for yourself regardless of his response. You know your body better than anyone so be prepared to fight for what is right for you!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with John Schnorr at Coastal Fertility Specialists?
Dr Schnorr would take the time to meet with us after each failure for a discussion. While although we did not always see eye to eye he did genuinely seem to care.
Describe the protocols John Schnorr used in your cycles at Coastal Fertility Specialists and their degree of success.
We did an antagonist protocol both times. Our protocol consisted of low dose hcg, gonal, cetritide, and a lupron trigger. We had great results with both retrievals resulting in a total of 9 normal embryos between the two retrievals.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Coastal Fertility Specialists. (Assigned nurse: Whitney Gary)
Whitney was great about returning phone calls and providing feedback in a timely manner. However, Whitney was very condescending and belittled her patients with every interaction. We never felt as though she was OUR coordinator because she did not do anything to help us personally through this journey. Would simply give information the doctor provided her and nothing more.
Describe your experience with Coastal Fertility Specialists.
The clinic is very nice, clean, and inviting. Most of the staff is very pleasant and nice to work with. The wait is typically short for each visit. Financial assistance and guidance at the clinic is not very helpful, as they seem quite under-informed about this process. Be your own self advocate and ask many questions.
Describe the costs associated with your care under John Schnorr at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
I had minimal fertility coverage through my work. However, I still accrued an extensive bill. The financial advisor gave very little advice. Once my coverage was exhausted I had to cancel all future appointments because we could not afford to move forward. NOBODY in the office offered any advice or help. After a year of saving we were ready to move forward. However, the financial department had mistakenly allowed us to do 2 transfers that were not covered by insurance and expected us to pay for them before moving forward! After calling and leaving many messages we still have not heard back from the financial department and now have no way of moving forward. Even with insurance coverage we still ended up paying well over $10000. For the 2 transfers that were not covered they are charging us $6500. The process is very expensive, but this does not seem to concern the clinic.
Describe John Schnorr's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Coastal Fertility Specialists.
Dr Schnorr REFUSED to do multiple embryo transfers. Which with the risks explained is understandable but every patient is different and could require different approaches.