The Fertility Center of Michigan

8 doctors work here

Rated 8.5
Strongly recommend: 65%Neutral: 25%Don't recommend: 10%8.5
65% strongly recommend
261 reviews
LGBTQ+ Competent Care
LGBTQ+ Competent Care

Based on reviews from the LGBTQ+ community.

Operations
8.9
8.9
Operations

Ratings of 1 indicate that a clinic was poorly operated.

Ratings of 10 indicate that a clinic operated very well.

Scheduling
8.3
8.3
Scheduling

Ratings of 1 mean it was difficult to schedule appointments with this clinic.

Ratings of 10 mean it was easy to schedule appointments.

Billing Department
7.7
7.7
Billing Department

Ratings of 1 indicate an unsatisfactory billing department.

Ratings of 10 indicate an excellent billing department.

Nursing Team
8.8
8.8
Nursing Team

Ratings of 1 indicate an unsatisfactory nursing team.

Ratings of 10 indicate an excellent nursing team.

LGBTQ+ Care
10
10
LGBTQ+ Care

Ratings of 1 indicate an unsatisfactory LGBTQ+ care.

Ratings of 10 indicate an excellent LGBTQ+ care.

Attention to Detail
8
8
Attention to Detail

Attention to detail is on a 1 - 10 scale, and is scored based on the rate, and severity, of errors committed by the clinic according to the patients.

For example, a severe error might be failing to inform a patient of critical information, while a small error might be failing to call a patient with results.

CDC Success Rates

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.

Annual Cycles
1,165
National Avg
738
This Clinic
National Avg
00%
20%
40%
60%
<35
35-37
38-40
>40

Available Resources

Genetic counseling
Genetic counseling
Acupuncture
Acupuncture
Mental health counseling
Mental health counseling
Nutrition counseling
Nutrition counseling
Administration of shots
Administration of shots
Coordinating at-home nursing
Coordinating at-home nursing
Selling medication
Selling medication
Providing backup medication
Providing backup medication

This clinic has 4 offices

Grand Rapids
3230 Eagle Park Drive NE., Suite 100
Grand Rapids, MI 49525
Kalamazoo
317 South Drake Rd., Suite B
Kalamazoo, MI 49009
Mason
1100 S. Cedar Street, Suite 2
Mason, MI 48854
Petoskey
2810 Charlevoix Ave
Petoskey, MI 49770
Show 2 more

261 patient reviews

2024, Unsuccessful
NPS
2
NPS
2
Age 31
3 IUI
Unexplained
European
Income $100K - $199K
Nurse or HC Services
1st of 2 Docs
2 IUI With Other Docs
Doesn't Recommend
Doesn't Recommend
Unsuccessful
Both of my appointments with Dr. Shavell were less than 15 mins long...did not feel like my care was specific to me...Strengths...education and knowledge for fertility treatment...Weaknesses: assumed knowledge and competence, treating you like a number, bedside manner, lack of face to face interaction with the provider or feeling like she was part of the care planning
[AT The Fertility Center of Michigan] The ultrasound techs did not display good bedside manner...never heard anything from the clinic after completion of this bloodwork...Strengths...quick and efficient with your ultrasounds...Same with IUIs- 25-30 min in and out. Weaknesses: feeling like a number, not warm personalities, poor bedside manner
How was your experience with Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Strengths: she clearly has the education and knowledge for fertility treatment, her office is filled with degrees from prestigious institutions. Weaknesses: assumed knowledge and competence, treating you like a number, bedside manner, lack of face to face interaction with the provider or feeling like she was part of the care planning
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Ask a lot of questions, advocate for yourself, be prepared to feel like a number, but at the end of the day, if you get a baby, feeling like a number probably doesn’t bother you too much
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
I did not feel like my care was specific to me and what had or had not worked for me in the past. I had a friend who had previously been a patient under the Fertility Center and she told me the exact recommendations and treatment plan I would receive from them after my initial consultation. What my friend told me was the exact treatment protocol I receive even though her and I were seeking fertility treatment for different reasons. Both of my appointments with Dr. Shavell were less than 15 mins long. She often would defer to my husband and I on how we would like to approach things instead of getting her medical opinion on the most appropriate approach for us. The ultrasound techs did not display good bedside manner. Rarely did they introduce themselves or even explain what they were doing. They assumed knowledge and competence of the process even on my first mid cycle ultrasound. I was having to ask questions, ask which rooms I needed to go to next, etc. As someone who works in healthcare and understands what good bedside manner looks like, I truly didn’t feel like I got that with majority of the people I worked with at the fertility center, with the exception of some of the nursing staff. I never really felt like anyone was “on my team” at this center. Even something like “good luck, I hope this round works!” goes a long ways.
Describe the protocols Valerie Shavell used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.
5, 7.5, 10 mg of femara with estrogen started immediately after completion of 7.5 and 10 mg of femara and x1 cycle of 100 mg clomid with immediate start of estrogen. I didn’t mature any follicles with that cycle. The other fertility doctor from a different clinic I work with assumes that the estrogen was preventing by body from maturing the follicles and acting more like a birth control because it was started too soon. I completed 3 IUIs with ovidrel trigger shots.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
They seemed to care the most out of everyone I interacted with and were the most warm.
Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.
Strengths: the clinic is quick and efficient with your ultrasounds. You can be in and out the door in 10 mins. Same with IUIs- 25-30 min in and out. Weaknesses: feeling like a number, not warm personalities, poor bedside manner
What specific things went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
  • Failed to call with results
Describe the specific things that went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
I had more extensive hormonal testing completed to further rule out PCOS and I never heard anything from the clinic after completion of this bloodwork. When I went to my appt a month later, Dr. Shavell never brought anything up about the bloodwork so when I brought it up, she wasn’t even aware of it or that I had it done. She then looked it up in my chart and said “oh, if something had been concerning, I would have called you.” I was just unconvinced that this was the case in this situation and felt like testing that she recommended I have completed was not taken seriously.
2
Doctor
Valerie Shavell
NPS
Humanity
1 of 5
Communication
2 of 5
Frequency Seen
1 of 5
Compassion
3 of 5
2
Clinic
The Fertility Center of Michigan
Grand Rapids
NPS
Operations
3 of 5
Scheduling
4 of 5
Billing Department
2 of 5
Nursing Staff
4 of 5
Clinic Atmosphere
1 of 5
Educational Resources
4 of 5
LGBTQ+
LGBTQ+
Verified
Verified

This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.

2023, Unknown Success
NPS
8
NPS
10
Age 41
3 IUI
Donor Sperm
Income $100K - $199K
Entrepreneur
2nd of 2 Docs
2 IUI With Other Docs
IVF With Other Docs
Donor Sperm With Other Docs
LGBTQ+
Neutral
Strongly Recommends
Success w/ Doc Too early to know
Dr. Giuliani went above and beyond our expectations...was caring and empathic while answering any questions we had...took the time needed to discuss all our previous fertility experiences...After all our appointments she made sure to inform us she was always available for any questions or concerns that arise by email or by calling the office.
My significant other and I felt comfortable and respected at all times during our process with the Fertility Center [of Michigan]...successful in creating a warm, and caring environment for patients and their significant others...were always kind and compassionate. They seemed very well informed...Very caring and helpful with this process
How was your experience with Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
We felt Dr. Giuliani went above and beyond our expectations. Dr. Giuliani was our second fertility doctor that we have received treatment from. We had transferred to her clinic after a miscarriage and wanting a fresh start to move forward in a timely fashion. She was caring and empathic while answering any questions we had. She took the time needed to discuss all our previous fertility experiences. We had one miscommunication in regards to our medication protocol that was quickly addressed after we had brought it up to her staff. After all our appointments she made sure to inform us she was always available for any questions or concerns that arise by email or by calling the office.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Be specific, ask for what you need and be willing to have a conversation about it. In our situation we had had a previous pregnancy with a different Doctor, with a known protocol that had resulted in pregnancy. We would have liked to stick with that same plan. We had briefly mentioned that in our consult but when the time came to start the new medication protocol they had been modified from our original plan.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Dr Guiliani provided us with the guidance and information necessary to continue with our fertility treatment. We felt she was very empathetic, and at no time did we feel like a number, rather, we felt like a cared for patient.
Describe the protocols Emma Giuliani used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.
While we are just starting an IVF cycle and have not received specifics for this plan yet. Our IUI cycles were starting with a Femara only and 2 hybrid cycles with Femara/Menopur. She was adamant about trying the Femara only cycle on the first round to see how my body responded. Our first was 3-2.5 Femara tablets in the am for 5 days with a trigger shot after ultrasound. Followed by insemination after 36 hours. The next 2 cycles were 3-2.5 Femara tablets for 5 days in the am, 5 days of 75 menopur with trigger shot after ultra sound. Followed by insemination after 36 hours. Every cycle I had 3 mature follicles.
How competent was Emma Giuliani at LGBTQ+ care?
Yes, we felt that Dr. Giuliani was welcoming and supportive of us being an LGBTQ+ couple. She understood our main concern of being 40 years old and trying to conceive. She explained all of our options, and had back and forth dialogue regarding what she thought was our best options and how we wanted to proceed with treatment.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
They were always kind and compassionate. They seemed very well informed and were able to get answers if they did not know right away. Very caring and helpful with this process
Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.
The clinic has been successful in creating a warm, and caring environment for patients and their significant others. The practice has also successfully created a structure that provides supportive patient/provider relationships. Although experiencing mostly a positive experience with the practice, there have been a few additional stressors. For example, there have been some miscommunications with billing (bills being paid but not reflected on the account) as well as medical records department requesting another copy of lab results that they have already received and reviewed. These miscommunications are minor, but can add additional stress to an already emotionally challenged situation.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
IUI that included the procedure, ultrasounds, lab work and consultation was about $1500 per cycle. This cost did not include the cost of donor sperm or medications required for the cycle. Moving forward with IVF the cost to the fertility center is $6400, and to Ovation is about $14,000. These costs do not include required medications, ultrasounds, lab work, donor sperm or genetic testing.
Describe Emma Giuliani's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
We are just starting the IVF process and do not have this information yet.
How competent was The Fertility Center of Michigan at LGBTQ+ care?
My significant other and I felt comfortable and respected at all times during our process with the Fertility Center.
Describe your experience using 3rd party reproduction (donor eggs, donor sperm, or gestational carrier) at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
We had a meeting to explain and coordinate the process of the working with donor sperm banks. We were informed of the process, and required steps to complete prior to making a purchase. The process was simple, and we had no complications from either side.
What specific things went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
  • Failed to order appropriate test
  • Lost results
Describe the specific things that went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
My significant others lab results that were required prior to starting IUI were received, but then once we moved on to IVF the clinic was unable to find the results. When going for my full bloodwork required prior to starting IVF they missed some lab requisitions. The lab and myself were notified that they had to add on additional tests.
8
Doctor
Emma Giuliani
NPS
Humanity
4 of 5
Communication
5 of 5
Frequency Seen
2 of 5
LGBTQ+ Care
5 of 5
Trustworthiness
4 of 5
Compassion
5 of 5
Explained risks
5 of 5
Adaptability
3 of 5
10
Clinic
The Fertility Center of Michigan
Grand Rapids
NPS
Operations
5 of 5
Scheduling
5 of 5
Billing Department
4 of 5
Nursing Staff
4 of 5
LGBTQ+ Care
5 of 5
Clinic Atmosphere
6 of 5
Educational Resources
6 of 5
Verified
Verified

This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.

2022 - 2023, Unsuccessful
NPS
10
NPS
10
Age 33 - 34
2 IUI
1 IVF
Endometriosis
Poor Egg Quality
European
Income $100K - $199K
Only Doc Seen
Strongly Recommends
Strongly Recommends
Unsuccessful
I really like Emma Giuliani and would recommend her to others seeking fertility treatment...she is very caring and compassionate. I feel like she genuinely cares about me and my treatment plan. She responded quickly when I would message the clinic with questions and it was relatively easy to get in for appointments with her when needed. We did not have a successful IVF cycle but I don't believe there was anything further Emma Giuliani could have done. We met with her after we received the bad news and she was very empathetic.
The [The Fertility Center of Michigan] office itself is nice and I liked that I was able to have all of my appointments including my egg retrieval surgery right there in the clinic instead of having to go to a hospital. I also like that IVF has it's own part of the clinic for meeting with the nurses. They were able to accommodate my work schedule for all of the IVF check-up appointments and I was able to have them all at 7am which was helpful.
How was your experience with Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
I really like Emma Giuliani and would recommend her to others seeking fertility treatment. Like I mentioned before, she is very caring and compassionate. I feel like she genuinely cares about me and my treatment plan. She responded quickly when I would message the clinic with questions and it was relatively easy to get in for appointments with her when needed. We did not have a successful IVF cycle but I don't believe there was anything further Emma Giuliani could have done. We met with her after we received the bad news and she was very empathetic. She made suggestions on how we could alter the course of treatment if we decide to pursue another IVF cycle and was encouraging of trying again.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
I feel like Dr. Giuliani cares about me as a person. She always asks how I am doing, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. She would offer referrals to the clinic counselor if needed and called to check on me after my egg retrieval and after we received some very hard news regarding our cycle. I genuinely feel like she cares about her patients.
Describe the protocols Emma Giuliani used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.
I took Gonal-F, Menopur, and Cetrotide during my IVF cycle. I had a Lupron trigger shot and then took Orilissa after the egg retrieval to suppress endometriosis. They retrieved 18 eggs during my egg retrieval, 12 were mature, 10 fertilized, 2 made it to blastocyst, but after PGT-A testing both embryos came back abnormal so we were unable to transfer them.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
The nursing staff were very supportive and helpful. We met with them many times during the stims process for ultrasounds and appointments. They were very helpful in demonstrating how to mix and inject the medications. The clinic also provided a thoughtful giftbag when we started stims which included a journal, encouragement cards, and other nice items. I thought it was a nice touch to offer during a really emotional and stressful time. The nursing staff was also very efficient in taking blood samples and performing the ultrasound checks. Many times I did end up having the same nurse which I liked.
Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.
I like the clinic overall. They have several offices so they have one main phone number to call and you are directed appropriately from there. I liked that they have a dedicated IVF extension to call and that they have the option to connect with a nurse after hours if needed. The office itself is nice and I liked that I was able to have all of my appointments including my egg retrieval surgery right there in the clinic instead of having to go to a hospital. I also like that IVF has it's own part of the clinic for meeting with the nurses. They were able to accommodate my work schedule for all of the IVF check-up appointments and I was able to have them all at 7am which was helpful. I also like that they use MyChart so I could message a nurse/my doctor with any questions and they are very quick to respond or they would give me a call if my question was better answered over the phone instead of through message. We received some very hard news during our cycle and one of the doctors called to check on me a few days after. The clinic also called me after I had surgery for endometriosis to see how I was recovering and if I needed anything. Overall I feel it is a quality clinic. We unfortunately did not have a success first cycle but are planning to use the clinic again when we try IVF again.
10
Doctor
Emma Giuliani
NPS
Humanity
5 of 5
Communication
4 of 5
Frequency Seen
3 of 5
Trustworthiness
5 of 5
Compassion
5 of 5
Explained risks
5 of 5
10
Clinic
The Fertility Center of Michigan
Grand Rapids
NPS
Operations
5 of 5
Scheduling
5 of 5
Billing Department
3 of 5
Nursing Staff
5 of 5
Clinic Atmosphere
5 of 5
Educational Resources
7 of 5
Verified
Verified

This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.

2021 - 2023, Successful
NPS
10
NPS
10
Age 26 - 28
Anovulation
PCOS
European
Income $50K - $99K
2nd of 2 Docs
3 IUI With Other Docs
1 IVF With Other Docs
Strongly Recommends
Strongly Recommends
Successful
Dr. Giuliani treats you with all the respect you deserve...gentle and explained the process and answered all my questions without making me feel rushed...appropriately reassuring you without giving false hope...educated me on the risks of transferring multiples and ultimately let me decide on transferring 1 or 2...We decided to transfer 2 again and I got pregnant with our twins...did not judge and expressed excitement and encouragement
The office is very clean, all the staff are welcoming and considerate...The process is explained very well and there is a lot of support for emotional and mental health...The nursing staff are very friendly, answer all your questions, and get back to you in a prompt manner when leaving a message or voicemail...I wish they would have explained this was out of their area of expertise and to ask my OBGYN.
How was your experience with Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Dr. Giuliani treats you with all the respect you deserve. She is gentle with her words when difficult situations come up in treatment and lets you get out all your worries and fears, while appropriately reassuring you without giving false hope. She is your biggest cheerleader and truly is so kind. During appointments, she is very gentle and explains every part of the process. She does not make you feel rushed and answers all your questions. She remembers details of your life so you don’t feel like another number.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
The process of IVF is so incredibly difficult whether you are trying for your first or adding another child to your family. Choosing a doctor who is understanding, nonjudgmental, and encouraging can be so hard when your own voice in your head is trying to bring you down. Having a good doctor can totally change your mindset. If you want to be with someone who will be you peace throughout your fertility journey, then I could advise to pursue Emma Guiliani as a doctor. Even if her appointments book further out, it is worth every second of the wait.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
She was always so kind. She was gentle and explained the process and answered all my questions without making me feel rushed. She remembered details of my life which made me feel cared for. She did not judge and expressed excitement and encouragement in a process which can be very difficult.
Describe the protocols Emma Giuliani used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.
I previously had one IVF success baby after transferring 2 embryos prior to meeting Dr Guiliani. When we decided to grow our family, she explained that we could transfer 2 again as before or we could transfer 1 and grow our day 3 embryos to the blastocyst stage. She gave us her professional opinion but ultimately left it up to us. We decided to transfer 2 again and I got pregnant with our twins. We now have 3 beautiful boys. We are currently in the process of adding one final baby to our family. After meeting with Dr Giuliani, she advised we transfer only one this time and grow our our remaining day 3 embryos to decide which single blastocyst to transfer. We agreed with this plan and are now only being held back by the financial aspect of this transfer. Dr Giuliani had me do another SHG test and look over my c section scar before moving forward with this process and everything is ready to go.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
The nursing staff are very friendly, answer all your questions, and get back to you in a prompt manner when leaving a message or voicemail.
Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.
The office is very clean, all the staff are welcoming and considerate. If you have children and are adding to your family by attending the fertility center, previous children are not advised to be brought to appointments. For single moms, stay at home moms, etc who do not have a childcare option, this could be an issue with scheduling appointments. The process is explained very well and there is a lot of support for emotional and mental health.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
My previous frozen transfer cost about $5,000 with the procedure, medication costs, etc. this upcoming cost for a single frozen transfer while growing my remaining embryos to the blastocyst stage will be closer to $7,000-10,000
Describe Emma Giuliani's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
Dr Giuliani educated me on the risks of transferring multiples and ultimately let me decide on transferring 1 or 2. Now that I have had a multiple birth, she recommends only transferring a single embryo as we now have 3 children. I have not had any concerns or issues with my pregnancies and she believed if we only wanted one more to complete our family, a single transfer would be best after growing them to the blastocyst stage. She explained in doing so, it would increase the risk of the embryo implanting, rather than the single day 3 embryo.
What specific things went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
  • Provided conflicting information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
When I first found out I was pregnant with my twins, I was informed that one of them could potentially have a genetic issue based on the size of my baby’s yolk sac. After being discharged and referred back to my OBGYN, we discovered this was not a concern. I unfortunately had several weeks between these appointments of worrying whether my baby was okay. I wish they would have explained this was out of their area of expertise and to ask my OBGYN. If that would have been advised, I would have saved myself less stress and anxiety.
10
Doctor
Emma Giuliani
NPS
Humanity
5 of 5
Communication
5 of 5
Frequency Seen
3 of 5
Trustworthiness
5 of 5
Compassion
5 of 5
Explained risks
5 of 5
Adaptability
5 of 5
10
Clinic
The Fertility Center of Michigan
Grand Rapids
NPS
Operations
5 of 5
Scheduling
5 of 5
Billing Department
3 of 5
Nursing Staff
5 of 5
Clinic Atmosphere
5 of 5
Educational Resources
7 of 5
Verified
Verified

This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.

2021 - 2022, Unknown Success
NPS
8
NPS
8
Age 35 - 36
3 IUI
1 IVF
Endometriosis
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
European
Income $100K - $199K
Only Doc Seen
Neutral
Neutral
Success w/ Doc Too early to know
Dr. Shavell is very good about clearly communicating all the variables that play into IVF, and remembering the specifics of my situation. She has supported me and my partner with knowledge to help us make the most informed decisions at each step of the way. I appreciate her bedside manner. The only drawback is that she has a very busy schedule and sometimes it can be difficult to get time with her - but when you do get time together she is very attentive and a good listener.
The [Fertility Center of Michigan] clinic has wonderful doctors and nurses who are knowledgeable, professional, and caring. They communicate plans clearly and have helped us navigate every step of this process. Our biggest challenge has been communication on the scheduling and billing side of things - communication should be more clear and efficient from the scheduling and billing departments.
How was your experience with Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Dr. Shavell is very good about clearly communicating all the variables that play into IVF, and remembering the specifics of my situation. She has supported me and my partner with knowledge to help us make the most informed decisions at each step of the way. I appreciate her bedside manner. The only drawback is that she has a very busy schedule and sometimes it can be difficult to get time with her - but when you do get time together she is very attentive and a good listener.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Come prepared with your own questions and research - Dr. Shavell will help guide you along the way. Work to get on her schedule early as Dr. Shavell and her entire clinic are very busy.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Dr. Shavell is a very kind doctor and person, with a very good bedside manner. However, she is also incredibly busy and the majority of interactions are with her nurses or staff.
Describe the protocols Valerie Shavell used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.
Karyotype Testing Hysteroscopy Endosee 3 IUI cycles with Femara and Ovidrel Trigger Receptive DX Test (diagnosed Silent Endo) Egg Retrieval with PGT Testing FET #1 - with Orilissa, Lupron, PIO in lead up (dealing with Silent Endo and a specific blood clotting condition)
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
The nurses at The Fertility Center are a very kind and caring bunch. Because the clinic is so busy they can occasionally be difficult to reach over the phone. I've also had to stay very engaged in my own care and conversation with the doctors to ensure details are being followed correctly and as expected.
Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.
The clinic has wonderful doctors and nurses who are knowledgeable, professional, and caring. They communicate plans clearly and have helped us navigate every step of this process. Our biggest challenge has been communication on the scheduling and billing side of things - communication should be more clear and efficient from the scheduling and billing departments.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
Our situation is unique in that we've chosen to do a fair amount of elective diagnostic testing. Over one year of working with the clinic our total costs for all testing, procedures, medications, cycle management and storage fees have totaled $33K.
What specific things went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
  • Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
  • Provided conflicting information
  • Failed to consider drug intolerance
8
Doctor
Valerie Shavell
NPS
Humanity
4 of 5
Communication
5 of 5
Frequency Seen
2 of 5
Trustworthiness
5 of 5
Compassion
5 of 5
Explained risks
5 of 5
Adaptability
4 of 5
8
Clinic
The Fertility Center of Michigan
Grand Rapids
NPS
Operations
4 of 5
Scheduling
3 of 5
Billing Department
3 of 5
Nursing Staff
4 of 5
Clinic Atmosphere
5 of 5
Educational Resources
6 of 5
Verified
Verified

This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.

2019 - 2020, Unknown Success
NPS
8
NPS
8
Age 39 - 40
4 IUI
Anovulation
PCOS
European
Income $50K - $99K
Professor
Only Doc Seen
Donor Sperm
Neutral
Neutral
Success w/ Doc Too early to know
Dr. Dodds always addresses me by my first name throughout our conversations and looks me in the eyes whenever he is speaking to me. This makes me feel as though he is engaged in the conversation and not just going through the motions. He consistently explains everything fully and answers my questions until I am satisfied with the responses. He is always sympathetic when I return for treatment, and he genuinely seems to want me to have a successful pregnancy. I really feel as if he has a vested interest in me as a person and a future parent.
I saw ~6 nurses over the course of my 4 IUIs [at The Fertility Center of Michigan]. Most of the nurses were both knowledgeable and had a caring bedside manner. However, there were 1-2 nurses that were unable to answer my questions (and would not admit that they did not know the answer) and had more of an abrupt manner...Each IUI was ~$250...A lot of the individual treatment information is provided either verbally or in hand-written notes rather than prescribed packets or post-visit documentation tied to your patient account (that you can access as a patient). This can make your treatment confusing after you leave the clinic, although nurses are always happy to clarify if you call. The second downside to this clinic is their limited hours. If you need treatment information over the weekend, you must call their emergency line, and they may not respond until Monday (holidays are even worse). In addition, if yo
How was your experience with William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Dr. Dodds is very caring and experienced. He founded the clinic, and I believe he has been a reproductive endocrinologist for approximately 30 years. In addition, he specializes in PCOS, my fertility issue. Therefore, I have a great deal of confidence in his ability to maximize my potential to be a parent. The only negative comment I have about Dr. Dodds is that I think is so knowledgeable that he sometimes forgets that I (as a patient) am not. He is always happy to clarify any confusion, but the first time he explains something, it is not always clear (e.g., certain details are missing or he mentions a term we had not previously discussed).
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
If you have any questions or need clarification, please ask. Dr. Dodds wants to ensure all his patients have a clear understanding of their treatment.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Dr. Dodds always addresses me by my first name throughout our conversations and looks me in the eyes whenever he is speaking to me. This makes me feel as though he is engaged in the conversation and not just going through the motions. He consistently explains everything fully and answers my questions until I am satisfied with the responses. He is always sympathetic when I return for treatment, and he genuinely seems to want me to have a successful pregnancy. I really feel as if he has a vested interest in me as a person and a future parent.
Describe the protocols William Dodds (retired) used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.
I did 4 IUI cycles. 3 were with Femara (5 mg for 5 days) and Estrace (vaginally) because of a thin uterine lining on ultrasound. Estrace was taken before and after IUI. For one of the cycles, I did a stepwise Femara cycle, as the first 5 days did not produce mature follicles. This resulted in the production of mature follicles after the stepwise administration. For the 4th IUI, I took Femara (5 mg for 5 days) and Gonal-F (75 IU) injections prior to IUI. For all IUIs, I did an Ovidrel injection 48 hours prior to the IUI.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
I saw ~6 nurses over the course of my 4 IUIs. Most of the nurses were both knowledgeable and had a caring bedside manner. However, there were 1-2 nurses that were unable to answer my questions (and would not admit that they did not know the answer) and had more of an abrupt manner.
Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.
The clinic has a long history and many patients, so I feel that overall, this facility has the collective experience and knowledge that makes me confident in obtaining a positive treatment outcome. However, there are aspects of this center that are quite unorganized. A lot of the individual treatment information is provided either verbally or in hand-written notes rather than prescribed packets or post-visit documentation tied to your patient account (that you can access as a patient). This can make your treatment confusing after you leave the clinic, although nurses are always happy to clarify if you call. The second downside to this clinic is their limited hours. If you need treatment information over the weekend, you must call their emergency line, and they may not respond until Monday (holidays are even worse). In addition, if you have a full-time job, you should be prepared to miss work, as all treatments are done during the business day (8:30AM-3:30PM only). Finally, the billing department is incredibly disorganized, so you should be prepared to essentially keep meticulous track of your own financial accounting.
Describe the costs associated with your care under William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
Each IUI was ~$250.
8
Doctor
William Dodds (retired)
NPS
Humanity
5 of 5
Communication
4 of 5
Frequency Seen
2 of 5
Trustworthiness
5 of 5
Compassion
5 of 5
Explained risks
4 of 5
Adaptability
4 of 5
8
Clinic
The Fertility Center of Michigan
Grand Rapids
NPS
Operations
4 of 5
Scheduling
2 of 5
Billing Department
2 of 5
Nursing Staff
4 of 5
Clinic Atmosphere
5 of 5
Educational Resources
6 of 5
Verified
Verified

This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.

2018 - 2020, Unknown Success
NPS
10
NPS
10
Age 28 - 30
12 Fertility Medications
Anovulation
Diminished Ovarian Reserve
Endometriosis
PCOS
European
Income $50K - $99K
Only Doc Seen
Strongly Recommends
Strongly Recommends
Success w/ Doc Too early to know
Dr. Dodds has a great communication style and bedside manner...He really does listen and thoughtfully answers our questions, and he's really fair about giving his opinion both from a personal and professional perspective...Do your research before going in for a consultation - not because he won't explain it, but because it'll allow you to ask better questions and have a more productive conversation about your fertility plan.
First and foremost - you will be comfortable here [at the Fertility Center of Michigan]. Their waiting area is quiet, beautiful, and comfortable...I'm obese, and never once did Dr. Dodds or his staff make me feel uncomfortable about it, or allude that my weight was the reason for my infertility...All of the nurses, billing staff, and techs are lovely, professional, organized, and thorough.
How was your experience with William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Dr. Dodds has a great communication style and bedside manner. After our first consultation, he adjusted how he spoke to us based on what we needed and expected (i.e. nice but to the point and fully explained). He always makes sure that we understand what the plan is while taking into consideration what we feel most comfortable doing and he has never tried to railroad through what we want to try something else. He really does listen and thoughtfully answers our questions, and he's really fair about giving his opinion both from a personal and professional perspective.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Do your research before going in for a consultation - not because he won't explain it, but because it'll allow you to ask better questions and have a more productive conversation about your fertility plan.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
I was definitely treated like a human and I genuinely haven't met a nicer staff. My only tiny complaint would be that we did have to remind them of some things and push to get certain files updated/added. Because of that, there were a few appointments that felt like they were just going through the motions without really looking at our file first.
Describe the protocols William Dodds (retired) used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.
My AMH is low and I have a diminished egg reserve, so my body doesn't ovulate on its own without medication. The first thing he did was get a full blood workup and sperm sample so we had all of the information available. Once it became clear what the problem was, Dr. Dodds put us on oral medication first (Clomid/Femara) at a slightly higher dose than I had previously taken from my OBGYN. We tried that for 3 cycles and increased the dosage. For the next few cycles, they had me come in for mid-cycle ultrasounds to see if my body was responding to those medications and to see where we could adjust our treatment plan to work better for me. Given my history of PCOS, they also started doing bloodwork to keep an eye on my estrogen levels in case they saw a cyst and 2 cycles were cancelled for that reason, thankfully. When it became clear that the oral medication wasn't working by itself, Dr. Dodds scheduled an HSG (after discussing it with us obviously) to make sure that my tubes were open and despite how uncomfortable the procedure itself was, it was the most mentally-pain-free experience because he and his staff told me exactly what to be ready for and how to handle it. With clear HSG results, Dodds moved us forward into 2 hybrid cycles, with both oral meds and injections. I was still only producing 1-2 good eggs per cycle so he prescribed 2 injection-only cycles on a higher dose, which were also unsuccessful. He limited those treatments because he didn't want to continue pulling 1 egg at a time from a reserve that won't last forever and I appreciate that he was very upfront with his concerns about that. He was also honest about IUI and explained that he didn't think it would serve its purpose with our situation and straight up told us it would probably be a waste of our time and money to go for that route, despite it being next up on the strategy chain. We had already come to conclusion that IVF is probably going to be the best option for us and he agreed, but knowing that our insurance wasn't covering any of our fertility treatment costs, he gave us a plethora of information on grants, saving, and full cost breakdown step by step. We are now in the saving-for-IVF part of the plan and will move forward once we are ready/clinics are open!
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
The best. There was one ultrasound technician whose methods weren't as comfortable for me, but as soon as I said something to the office manager, they put a note in my chart about it and were super understanding. All of the nurses, billing staff, and techs are lovely, professional, organized, and thorough.
Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.
First and foremost - you will be comfortable here. Their waiting area is quiet, beautiful, and comfortable. Their consultation rooms and exam rooms are all comfortable, clean, and definitely a step above your average doctor's office. I should also note that I'm obese, and never once did Dr. Dodds or his staff make me feel uncomfortable about it, or allude that my weight was the reason for my infertility. They will make you feel totally at-home and they will be patient and respectful of your nervousness, no matter how many "silly" questions you ask them.
Describe the costs associated with your care under William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
In 2019, we spent a total of $6,000 on treatments and co-pays. My oral medications were very affordable, I want to say probably less than $30 per cycle. Consultations are about $350, standard ultrasounds are around $275, a mid-cycle ultrasound + bloodwork was $315, and out-of-pocket injections were $600 per cycle through Freedom Fertility since our insurance wouldn't cover those. All other bloodwork and procedure co-pays were dependent on insurance coverage.
What specific things went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
  • Lost paperwork
Describe the specific things that went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
Our consent form for the injection cycles was initially lost, but they were really flexible about how I could get a new one sent to them (email, fax, next appointment, etc).
10
Doctor
William Dodds (retired)
NPS
Humanity
4 of 5
Communication
5 of 5
Frequency Seen
4 of 5
Trustworthiness
5 of 5
Compassion
5 of 5
Explained risks
5 of 5
Adaptability
5 of 5
10
Clinic
The Fertility Center of Michigan
Grand Rapids
NPS
Operations
5 of 5
Scheduling
5 of 5
Billing Department
5 of 5
Nursing Staff
5 of 5
Clinic Atmosphere
6 of 5
Educational Resources
7 of 5
Verified
Verified

This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.

2018 - 2020, Successful
NPS
10
NPS
10
Age 35 - 37
1 IVF
Diminished Ovarian Reserve
Male Factor
European
Income $100K - $199K
Operations
2nd of 2 Docs
3 IVF With Other Docs
Strongly Recommends
Strongly Recommends
Successful
Dr. Young treated me like a human being and not like a broken patient. He took time to ensure that I understood ad agreed with each of my treatment plan...I kept developing uterine polyps from the estrogen prime while we attempted to prepare for FET. After multiple removals I consulted with Dr. Young. We stopped estrogen and did a Femara protocol to shut down my estrogen. This worked and I was able to do a FET weeks later.
[issues with Fertility Center of Michigan] I would have to call for results, remind of tests the doctor wanted me to have, RXs were called in when I was allergic...We did a multi cycle IVF for around $12,000 add in what insurance didn't cover and it's closer to $20,000...I met nearly all nurses having been with the clinic for 2 years. Most are amazing...[Billing Dept.] sometime claiming I owed when it was part of a package
How was your experience with James Young (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Dr. Young treated me like a human being and not like a broken patient. He took time to ensure that I understood ad agreed with each of my treatment plan. When I felt frustrated he sensed it and took extra time to reassure and educate me. When a doctor is passionate and authentic about their chosen field it's obvious. And Dr. Young is one of those doctors.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of James Young (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Don't be afraid to come with questions because he will spend the time to explain and review with you.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with James Young (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Human. He took so much time to ensure I understood and agreed with the treatment plan.
Describe the protocols James Young (retired) used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.
I kept developing uterine polyps from the estrogen prime while we attempted to prepare for FET. After multiple removals I consulted with Dr. Young. We stopped estrogen and did a Femara protocol to shut down my estrogen. This worked and I was able to do a FET weeks later.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
I met nearly all nurses having been with the clinic for 2 years. Most are amazing. All are kind. Some more organized than others.
Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.
The administrative staff has some weaknesses. The billing Dept wasn't always friendly. I paid tens of thousands and it seemed they thought no was trying to skip out on paying a few hundred. Or sometime claiming I owed when it was part of a package. Their tone would become forceful. The nurses genuinely cares for me and some even reached out during the quarentine to check up on me. The office is clean and typically runs very efficently. The sonographers are also very important people at the clinic and were all amazingly kind.
Describe the costs associated with your care under James Young (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
We did a multi cycle IVF for around $12,000 add in what insurance didn't cover and it's closer to $20,000
Describe James Young (retired)'s approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
The quality of my embryos were suspect so we we froze all, each cycle, on day 2. We did not take them to day 5 prior to transfer and instead chose to transfer 2 good quality embroys.
What specific things went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
  • Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
  • Failed to call with results
  • Failed to order appropriate test
  • Provided conflicting information
  • Failed to convey critical information
  • Failed to consider drug intolerance
Describe the specific things that went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
Depending on the nurse I had during the that time, some being better than others, I would have to call for results, remind of tests the doctor wanted me to have, RXs were called in when I was allergic but overall, in the 2 years, these were few instances.
10
Doctor
James Young (retired)
NPS
Humanity
5 of 5
Communication
5 of 5
Frequency Seen
3 of 5
Trustworthiness
5 of 5
Compassion
5 of 5
Explained risks
5 of 5
Adaptability
5 of 5
10
Clinic
The Fertility Center of Michigan
Grand Rapids
NPS
Operations
5 of 5
Scheduling
4 of 5
Billing Department
3 of 5
Nursing Staff
5 of 5
Clinic Atmosphere
6 of 5
Educational Resources
7 of 5
Verified
Verified

This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.

2018 - 2019, Unknown Success
NPS
7
NPS
7
Age 36 - 37
4 IUI
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
Unexplained
Income $100K - $199K
Sales Representative
Only Doc Seen
Fertility Medications With Other Docs
Neutral
Neutral
Success w/ Doc Too early to know
Dr. Shavell is so empathetic she almost comes off as meek in the consult room, which might be good for some people, but I prefer a doctor to be blunt and tell me like it is. She did perform surgery when I had an ectopic pregnancy and she's much more to the point in the operating room so I was happy with that and she did a great job...The third IUI was positive, but resulted in an ectopic pregnancy found at the 6 week ultrasound. Dr. Shavell recommended methotrexate to terminate the pregnancy. That was followed by two weeks of Beta HCG blood tests every few days and my numbers weren't going down. She recommended a second dose of methotrexate over surgery and that was also ineffective. Two weeks later I fi
you're always seeing someone different [at The Fertility Center of Michigan] so there's bound to be conflicting information...We paid around $35K in 2019 for 1 IUI, 1 egg retrieval + fresh transfer, 2 FET's, meds, labs, etc., etc... think they do a good job for the most part. The reception staff is very sweet. The medical assistants, ultrasound techs, etc. are really compassionate and willing to do whatever they can to help you out. The one thing I would change if I could, is being able to see my primary doctor/nurse for every appointment/procedure. They are so busy that you basically just see whoever is available. Which makes sense since fertility is such a time sensitive thing and comes down to the day you're ovulating so they can't always be available for you, but another doctor/nurse always is.
How was your experience with Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Dr. Shavell is so empathetic she almost comes off as meek in the consult room, which might be good for some people, but I prefer a doctor to be blunt and tell me like it is. She did perform surgery when I had an ectopic pregnancy and she's much more to the point in the operating room so I was happy with that and she did a great job.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
I would suggest going into an appointment prepared with lots of questions to ask. I've done a lot of my own research and make lists of things I want to ask her about.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Dr. Shavell is empathetic and really spends the time to help my husband and I by explaining everything and letting us ask a ton of questions.
Describe the protocols Valerie Shavell used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.
I've done 4 IUI's under Dr. Shavell's primary care. At the Fertility Center you basically see whichever doctor or nurse is available during your procedures though so a lot of these protocols were assigned by other providers. Each IUI cycle started with Clomid cycle days 3-5, midcycle ultrasound ~day 10-12, IUI ~day 13-15. The first two were negative. The third IUI was positive, but resulted in an ectopic pregnancy found at the 6 week ultrasound. Dr. Shavell recommended methotrexate to terminate the pregnancy. That was followed by two weeks of Beta HCG blood tests every few days and my numbers weren't going down. She recommended a second dose of methotrexate over surgery and that was also ineffective. Two weeks later I finally had surgery to remove the ectopic pregnancy and my fallopian tube. After methotrexate you have to wait 3 months to conceive so we did a 4th and final IUI that was negative. At that point we jumped into IVF and prepping for egg retrieval. I can't remember the protocol, but it involved Menopur and Ganirelix, etc. The ER was very successful with 18 eggs retrieved, 17 mature and fertilized, 14 made it to day 3. We did a 3 day fresh transfer with 2 embryos and froze the remaining 12. The result was negative. We waited a month or so and then began to prep for frozen embryo transfer. It was a long lupron protocol. We transferred 2 embryos, which resulted in miscarriage at ~5.5 weeks. We waited another month and began the same long lupron protocol again. We decided to thaw all frozen 10 embryos to grow them out to blastocyst with the goal of weeding out some that may be weaker. They all survived thaw and made it to blast. We transferred 2 and refroze the remaining 8. This cycle ended in a chemical pregnancy. We were getting ready to do some additional testing (hysteroscopy to check for fibroids, etc. and chromosome mapping) before moving forward with the next cycle, but everything is now on hold due to Covid-19. We will also do an ERA cycle prior to the next FET.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
They are wonderful and compassionate in their communication.
Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.
I think they do a good job for the most part. The reception staff is very sweet. The medical assistants, ultrasound techs, etc. are really compassionate and willing to do whatever they can to help you out. The one thing I would change if I could, is being able to see my primary doctor/nurse for every appointment/procedure. They are so busy that you basically just see whoever is available. Which makes sense since fertility is such a time sensitive thing and comes down to the day you're ovulating so they can't always be available for you, but another doctor/nurse always is.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
I would estimate that each IUI costs around $1500 including drugs, ultrasounds, and procedure. They don't bill insurance for the male portion, but they've billed my insurance for everything else and majority of it has been covered by Blue Care Network. We've paid 100% out of pocket for IVF as our insurance does not cover. We paid around $35K in 2019 for 1 IUI, 1 egg retrieval + fresh transfer, 2 FET's, meds, labs, etc., etc.
Describe Valerie Shavell's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
Dr. Shavell has had no problem transferring two embryos each time, but has made sure to ask that we are ok with the higher chance of having multiples.
What specific things went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
  • Provided conflicting information
  • Failed to consider drug intolerance
Describe the specific things that went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
Like I stated before in the weaknesses, you're always seeing someone different so there's bound to be conflicting information. I always take the information given and then if I feel like I need a second opinion I'll call and speak with a different nurse/doctor over the phone to get their opinion/confirm what I was told/was recommended to me. I had one IUI cycle cancelled due to intolerance of drugs prescribed. I took the Clomid as instructed and the doctor also put me on Estradiol to help give my lining a boost. Apparently Estradiol can basically cancel out the clomid in some women so my follicles stopped progressing that cycle. After four rounds of clomid, I've now been told that clomid can actually cause a thin lining, which was my issue, so they switched to Femera for the last two cycles and that really helped thicken my lining.
7
Doctor
Valerie Shavell
NPS
Humanity
4 of 5
Communication
4 of 5
Frequency Seen
3 of 5
Trustworthiness
4 of 5
Compassion
5 of 5
Explained risks
5 of 5
Adaptability
4 of 5
7
Clinic
The Fertility Center of Michigan
Grand Rapids
NPS
Operations
4 of 5
Scheduling
3 of 5
Billing Department
4 of 5
Nursing Staff
4 of 5
Clinic Atmosphere
4 of 5
Educational Resources
6 of 5
Verified
Verified

This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.

2018 - 2019, Unsuccessful
NPS
7
NPS
7
Age 31 - 32
2 IUI
Unexplained
European
Nurse or HC Services
Only Doc Seen
Neutral
Neutral
Unsuccessful
I've only ever seen Dr. Shavell twice in two years, during consults. She's very sweet, but she has nurses perform IUI procedures (and not very well), a different doctor performed my HSG and any time I place a call or send a message to her directly it's always a nurse that responds...We were diagnosed with unexplained infertility though and given a packet of pre-determined steps with none ever working for us. Our care is really left in the hands of nurses, we never hear from the doctor or see her during/after procedures and ultrasounds unless we want to pay out of pocket for another consult.
All [the nurses at The Fertility Center of Michigan] are kind. Very disappointed they are the ones that perform the IUI though. Had two different nurses and neither really inspired confidence, they knew what to do just didn't seem to have much skill in it. Neither IUI worked and it was $1,400 down the drain...Terrible business hours for anyone that works a regular job and is expected to drive back and forth multiple times a month in the middle of the day for ultrasounds. The staff there also seems to forget everything is being paid out of pocket by most of us and every time we come we're charged hundreds of dollars, and are disapproving when trying to minimize appointments. The front registration staff are phenomenal.
How was your experience with Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Dr. Shavell is very nice and soft spoken, easy to talk to. We were diagnosed with unexplained infertility though and given a packet of pre-determined steps with none ever working for us. Our care is really left in the hands of nurses, we never hear from the doctor or see her during/after procedures and ultrasounds unless we want to pay out of pocket for another consult.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
You're just one of many. She is kind and knowledgeable but don't plan for her to actually be involved in your care unless you're doing IVF.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
I've only ever seen Dr. Shavell twice in two years, during consults. She's very sweet, but she has nurses perform IUI procedures (and not very well), a different doctor performed my HSG and any time I place a call or send a message to her directly it's always a nurse that responds.
Describe the protocols Valerie Shavell used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.
HSG that came back normal, 3 rounds of clomid, 4 rounds of Femara in attempt to see if any of these things would produce more follicles to increase chances of pregnancy. I was already ovulating on my own and ended up with multiple follicles twice. Also went on estrogen and progesterone to thicken lining when Femara thinned it. No success from any treatments.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
All are kind. Very disappointed they are the ones that perform the IUI though. Had two different nurses and neither really inspired confidence, they knew what to do just didn't seem to have much skill in it. Neither IUI worked and it was $1,400 down the drain.
Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.
Terrible business hours for anyone that works a regular job and is expected to drive back and forth multiple times a month in the middle of the day for ultrasounds. The staff there also seems to forget everything is being paid out of pocket by most of us and every time we come we're charged hundreds of dollars, and are disapproving when trying to minimize appointments. The front registration staff are phenomenal.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
Expensive, my insurance doesn't cover most of it. Ultrasounds are frequent and usually cost $175-250 depending on limited or complete (although even when charging for complete ultrasound the cervix isn't evaluated and a VERY fast sweep of the uterus is performed that's not very diagnostic). IUIs were around 700 each time, the HSG was probably closer to 1000 but I can't remember the exact numbers for sure. Consults are over 100, and then another 50 every time I talk to a nurse in the clinic after ultrasounds.
Describe Valerie Shavell's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
Not to that point yet
7
Doctor
Valerie Shavell
NPS
Humanity
2 of 5
Communication
4 of 5
Frequency Seen
1 of 5
Trustworthiness
5 of 5
Compassion
4 of 5
Explained risks
5 of 5
Adaptability
5 of 5
7
Clinic
The Fertility Center of Michigan
Grand Rapids
NPS
Operations
4 of 5
Scheduling
1 of 5
Billing Department
4 of 5
Nursing Staff
3 of 5
Clinic Atmosphere
4 of 5
Educational Resources
7 of 5
Verified
Verified

This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.

2023, Unknown Success
NPS
10
NPS
7
Age 35
4 IUI
2 IVF
Diminished Ovarian Reserve
Poor Egg Quality
Tubal Blockage
Unexplained
European
Income $200K - $499K
Writer
Only Doc Seen
Strongly Recommends
Neutral
Success w/ Doc Too early to know
While you do not see the doctor much at this clinic and most everything is managed by the nursing staff, Dr. Giuliani has been accessible and responsive when needed. ..She also changed her schedule to be the one doing my retrieval, and knew I was very nervous...She is so kind and warm, and for me who has an extreme fear of medical environments, made this process bearable. She answers all of my questions, is open to ideas, calls personally when needed, and I can tell truly wants our success
I would say the clinic [at The Fertility Center of Michigan] is average. I would not stay at this clinic if it were not for my doctor (and convenience). They overall are fine/average. Facilities are getting somewhat dated, though are fine. I think they could do a lot to increase their patient privacy (e.g., check in location and process; blood draw area; sound proofing). My biggest issues have been with billing
How was your experience with Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
While you do not see the doctor much at this clinic and most everything is managed by the nursing staff, Dr. Giuliani has been accessible and responsive when needed. She is so kind and warm, and for me who has an extreme fear of medical environments, made this process bearable. She answers all of my questions, is open to ideas, calls personally when needed, and I can tell truly wants our success.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Don't be afraid to proactively ask all of your questions (and have a list beforehand) and advocate for yourself.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Dr. Giuliani is so kind, caring, relatable, and accommodating. She has even called me a few times to reassure me or to explain something further. She also changed her schedule to be the one doing my retrieval, and knew I was very nervous. She is the singular reason why I am remaining at this clinic.
Describe the protocols Emma Giuliani used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.
The first cycle I was on a standard protocol with birth control priming, 75 IU Menopur, 150 Gonal-F that was upped to 300 Gonal-F about halfway through, and then Ganirelix after 5 days of stims. We stimmed for 10 days. I had a lead follicle and they only retrieved 3 eggs (none got to blast). The second cycle, we did estrogen and then added progesterone for priming to try and avoid a lead follicle. Also, due to poor response the first time, we upped dosages to 150 IU Menopur, 300 Gonal-F, and also added 24 IUs Omnitrope during stims (first 10 days) and Dexamethasone -- both trying to improve egg quality. We retrieved 9 eggs, 8 mature, 7 fertilized, 1 blast (currently in PGT testing). We are starting priming for cycle 3, with predicted same protocol as cycle 2.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
I do wish I had one primary nurse, but it rotates between all of them with whomever is available. I would say I've had a mixed bag, with some of them being much more detailed, compassionate, and/or responsive than others. No big issues, though I did have to catch a couple of things personally that have been missed over the months. Some are more willing to answer all of the questions and spend more time with you than others. Overall, a good experience.
Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.
Outside of Dr. Giuliani and the PAs and some of the nurses, I would say the clinic is average. I would not stay at this clinic if it were not for my doctor (and convenience). They overall are fine/average. Facilities are getting somewhat dated, though are fine. I think they could do a lot to increase their patient privacy (e.g., check in location and process; blood draw area; sound proofing). My biggest issues have been with billing (you have to keep track of every line item and be on top of them!) and with their lab getting outsourced this past year. I'm not confident in their lab and they have a complete lack of transparency, too. That would be the biggest question of staying at this clinic for me.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
IUIs were about $1000 each between the sperm prep and the insemination. IVF was about $25,000 per retrieval cycle including about $6300 for the clinic, $13,000+ for the lab (including ICSI and PGT biopsy), $500 mobile anesthesia, $3500-$5800 meds (third party), ~$200/ultrasound, $475++ for PGT shipping and testing (depending on number of embryos tested). We have not gotten to the transfer stage yet.
Describe Emma Giuliani's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
We have not gotten to embryo transfer yet, but they will recommend one tested embryo at a time.
What specific things went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
  • Lost paperwork
Describe the specific things that went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
They got mixed up on my dosages, they did not send copies of a couple of bills or the presentation on genetic testing information, and they had said they would. One time they sent my prescriptions to the wrong pharmacy and I had to call and get it switched over. Their lab (which was bought out last year) has a complete lack of transparency in their billing and communication processes.
10
Doctor
Emma Giuliani
NPS
Humanity
5 of 5
Communication
5 of 5
Frequency Seen
3 of 5
Trustworthiness
5 of 5
Compassion
5 of 5
Explained risks
3 of 5
Adaptability
4 of 5
7
Clinic
The Fertility Center of Michigan
Grand Rapids
NPS
Operations
3 of 5
Scheduling
4 of 5
Billing Department
2 of 5
Nursing Staff
4 of 5
Clinic Atmosphere
4 of 5
Educational Resources
6 of 5
Verified
Verified

This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.

2023, Unsuccessful
NPS
1
NPS
0
Age 38
Endometriosis
Male Factor
PCOS
European
Income $200K - $499K
Nurse or HC Services
2nd of 3 Docs
Fertility Medications With Other Docs
Doesn't Recommend
Doesn't Recommend
Unsuccessful
first appointment with Dr. Shavell felt rushed and I was not given an opportunity to ask questions...second appointment did not feel rushed and she did appear to be genuine in wanting to provide my care...was planning to use an antagonist protocol for me with suppression (Orilissa) before and after egg retrieval
If you have sleep apnea do not schedule a consultation with[ [The Fertility Center of Michigan]...pressured me to provide the expensive (and non-refundable) cycle management fee before I could get all my questions answered...nursing staff were kind, but rushed...are not transparent with their billing.
How was your experience with Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
My first appointment with Dr. Shavell felt rushed and I was not given an opportunity to ask questions. My second appointment did not feel rushed and she did appear to be genuine in wanting to provide my care. Unfortunately TFC is not able to perform egg retrievals on individuals with obstructive sleep apnea as they do retrievals in their office and they do not offer an option for retrievals in a hospital setting. Despite thoroughly discussing my medical history with Dr. Shavell, I was not notified that they would not be able to perform an egg retrieval for me until after I had paid the non-refundable cycle management fee and after I had started suppression medication to prepare for a retrieval. Not only did I feel like she left me scrambling to try to find a new fertility specialist, but she also had a physician I had never even met call me to give me the news.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
I would recommend doing your research prior to even scheduling your first appointment because you will definitely need to advocate for yourself.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
I was pressed to pay a significant cycle management fee before I could receive any details about my proposed plan of care or have an opportunity to ask questions about their IVF process. They were also not transparent with their billing.
Describe the protocols Valerie Shavell used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.
She was planning to use an antagonist protocol for me with suppression (Orilissa) before and after egg retrieval. I had been calling several pharmacies to determine the most cost effective option so fortunately I had not ordered and paid for the expensive stimulation medication yet. I was instructed to start the suppression medication prior to egg retrieval and then was notified a couple days later that they would not be able to do an egg retrieval on me because of my diagnosis of sleep apnea (which we had reviewed as part of my medical history during our consultation). I am now several weeks into my suppression therapy and scrambling to establish with a new clinic so that I can continue care and move forward with an egg retrieval.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
The nursing staff were kind, but rushed. I was also not assigned a specific nurse so would talk to someone new every time I called.
Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.
If you have sleep apnea do not schedule a consultation with this clinic. They pressured me to provide the expensive (and non-refundable) cycle management fee before I could get all my questions answered. Then I was left hanging and trying to find a new provider after they told me to start my medication for an egg retrieval before calling me a few days later to notify me they would not be able to perform an egg retrieval since I have sleep apnea. Also, it felt cold that they had one of the physicians I had never even met call me to give me this devastating news. Would definitely recommend prospective patients take the time to look into other potential fertility clinics before scheduling a consultation with this one.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
I honestly still could not tell you exactly. They are not transparent with their billing. The only breakdown of cost I received was from my insurance statements, not from The Fertility Center. They have an option to talk to someone from billing to try to get an estimate for costs but different people from that department gave me different answers regarding costs for specific procedures. If you are planning on IVF, they pressure you to pay a nonrefundable cycle management fee before they provide detailed information about their protocols and costs. It honestly felt very secretive and shady.
Describe Valerie Shavell's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
She was strongly against transferring more than one embryo regardless of patient age or medical history.
What specific things went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
  • Failed to call with results
  • Lost results
  • Provided conflicting information
  • Failed to convey critical information
  • Canceled a cycle due to clinic error
Describe the specific things that went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
After pressuring me to pay the non refundable $3,000 cycle management fee and instructing me to start the suppression medication from my protocol, they called to tell me they could not do an egg retrieval for me because I have sleep apnea. I had discussed my diagnosis of sleep apnea with Dr. Shavell during my consultation so was completely caught off guard when they informed me they could not continue providing my treatment. They contract with a mobil anesthesia group to perform egg retrievals in their office. They do not offer egg retrievals in a hospital setting, and also will not perform egg retrievals without sedation. This should have been recognized before I paid a large, non-refundable fee and before I started the medication from my protocol.
1
Doctor
Valerie Shavell
NPS
Humanity
2 of 5
Communication
3 of 5
Frequency Seen
2 of 5
Trustworthiness
3 of 5
Compassion
4 of 5
Explained risks
4 of 5
Adaptability
1 of 5
0
Clinic
The Fertility Center of Michigan
Grand Rapids
NPS
Operations
2 of 5
Scheduling
2 of 5
Billing Department
1 of 5
Nursing Staff
2 of 5
Clinic Atmosphere
4 of 5
Educational Resources
4 of 5
Verified
Verified

This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.

2023, Unknown Success
NPS
8
NPS
10
Age 32
European
Income $100K - $199K
2nd of 2 Docs
3 IUI With Other Docs
Neutral
Strongly Recommends
Success w/ Doc Too early to know
Dr Giuliani is personable and really tries to do best by her patients. She has a quick response time in getting a hold of her online and you can get in for an in person consult whenever you request. She communicates well with the nurses and helped us feel validated in our loss and gave us treatment options that made sense moving forward to help us continue to grow our family...She validated my feelings and was encouraging
[The Fertility Center of Michigan] Strengths: easy to get a hold of, they return messages and calls in a timely manner Weaknesses: hours of operation can make it tricky to navigate appointment times with a typical 8-5 work schedule as they are only open 8-4pm...I have had encounters with a variety of the nurses. All of them were very kind, detail oriented in describing results and next steps, and were compassionate in our process.
How was your experience with Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Dr Giuliani is personable and really tries to do best by her patients. She has a quick response time in getting a hold of her online and you can get in for an in person consult whenever you request. She communicates well with the nurses and helped us feel validated in our loss and gave us treatment options that made sense moving forward to help us continue to grow our family.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Be very open with what you are looking for and how aggressive you want to start treatment - Dr Giuliani will support the level of treatment desired
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Dr Giuliani followed up with phone calls after becoming pregnant (which ended in a miscarriage), when the ultrasounds were not looking promising. She validated my feelings and was encouraging. She also responds quickly and personally to messages on the portal and talks options out regarding next steps in treatments.
Describe the protocols Emma Giuliani used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.
Femara with timed intercourse or IUI - she allowed my husband and I to choose IUI or timed intercourse each cycle. Femara with Gonal F injections and timed intercourse
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
I have had encounters with a variety of the nurses. All of them were very kind, detail oriented in describing results and next steps, and were compassionate in our process.
Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.
Strengths: easy to get a hold of, they return messages and calls in a timely manner Weaknesses: hours of operation can make it tricky to navigate appointment times with a typical 8-5 work schedule as they are only open 8-4pm.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
IUI all in was about 800 dollars. Femara with monitoring and times Intercourse was minimal and had insurance coverage with 50 dollars a month for a trigger shot. Femara with injections was about 200 a month plus ultrasound and blood work which insurance covered.
Describe Emma Giuliani's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
N/a
8
Doctor
Emma Giuliani
NPS
Humanity
4 of 5
Communication
5 of 5
Frequency Seen
2 of 5
Trustworthiness
5 of 5
Compassion
5 of 5
Explained risks
4 of 5
Adaptability
5 of 5
10
Clinic
The Fertility Center of Michigan
Grand Rapids
NPS
Operations
4 of 5
Scheduling
3 of 5
Billing Department
4 of 5
Nursing Staff
4 of 5
Clinic Atmosphere
5 of 5
Educational Resources
7 of 5
Verified
Verified

This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.

2022, Unknown Success
NPS
4
NPS
4
Age 34
3 Fertility Medications
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
Unexplained
European
Income $200K - $499K
3rd of 3 Docs
12 Fertility Medications With Other Docs
Doesn't Recommend
Doesn't Recommend
Success w/ Doc Too early to know
She [Dr. Mili Thakur] is seeing so many patients that it is hard to get an appointment with her. However when we have met with her she has been aggressive with our treatments, which I like...She doesn’t want to do the same treatment for too long and wants to keep moving forward so we are moving onto IUI and then IVF soon. She doesn’t usually remember my information so we spend a portion of our meetings going over that again.
Convenient location and nice office. However overall we have not had great treatment here [at The Fertility Center of Michigan - Grand Rapids] and feel like a number. Feel like we are not supported and that they just want to get you in and out...lack of consistency among nurses as one will tell you one thing and another will say something different the next day. Doctors are ok but you never really get to interact with them.
How was your experience with Mili Thakur at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
She is seeing so many patients that it is hard to get an appointment with her. However when we have met with her she has been aggressive with our treatments, which I like since we were seeing her counterpart for a year and had 3 miscarriages. She doesn’t want to do the same treatment for too long and wants to keep moving forward so we are moving onto IUI and then IVF soon. She doesn’t usually remember my information so we spend a portion of our meetings going over that again.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mili Thakur at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Sometimes she jumps all over the place with treatment options so take a notebook and take notes.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mili Thakur at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Details are never remembered and we spend a large portion of our consultations reminding her of our history. Consultations feel rushed.
Describe the protocols Mili Thakur used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.
First round timed intercourse with femara and gonal f 37.5 for 5 days then trigger. Second round timed intercourse and found cysts from previous treatment. Followed follicle count and one follicle was made without drugs. Trigger shot and negative result. Currently in third round timed intercourse. Femara and gonal f (3 days 37.5 and one day 75.5). 4 mature follicles so triggered early to hopefully avoid multiples. Waiting for test results.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
Horrible. They provide different directions depending on who you talk to. Not compassionate at all after 3 miscarriages. Never write down your information so info is missing in my chart. Never write down instructions so you need to remember or write it down yourself. Can never get a hold of a nurse over the phone.
Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.
Convenient location and nice office. However overall we have not had great treatment here and feel like a number. Feel like we are not supported and that they just want to get you in and out. I also feel like my chemical pregnancies don’t count as pregnancies in their eyes. There is a lack of consistency among nurses as one will tell you one thing and another will say something different the next day. Doctors are ok but you never really get to interact with them.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mili Thakur at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
$110 per ultrasound (usually 2-4 per cycle) plus costs of meds ($150-$400).
What specific things went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
  • Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
  • Lost paperwork
  • Failed to call with results
  • Failed to inform you of changes in protocol
  • Provided conflicting information
  • Failed to consider drug intolerance
Describe the specific things that went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
I’ve had nurses forget to call in prescriptions, ignore my concern on upping meds after I shared that I had cysts previous cycle, and given conflicting advice.
4
Doctor
Mili Thakur
NPS
Humanity
2 of 5
Communication
4 of 5
Frequency Seen
1 of 5
Trustworthiness
3 of 5
Compassion
4 of 5
Explained risks
3 of 5
Adaptability
4 of 5
4
Clinic
The Fertility Center of Michigan
Grand Rapids
NPS
Operations
2 of 5
Scheduling
3 of 5
Billing Department
2 of 5
Nursing Staff
2 of 5
Clinic Atmosphere
5 of 5
Educational Resources
4 of 5
Verified
Verified

This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.

2020 - 2022, Unknown Success
NPS
9
NPS
8
Age 35 - 37
1 IUI
Endometriosis
Male Factor
PCOS
Unexplained
European
Income $50K - $99K
2nd of 2 Docs
1 Fertility Medications With Other Docs
Strongly Recommends
Neutral
Success w/ Doc Too early to know
Dr Shavell seems knowledgeable and willing to help do what she can to make our treatment successful. She has been proactive with getting testing done early and listened to our concerns. We're in the beginning of our first IVF cycle with her but she was also brought in to perform my IUI when there was a complication. She made me feel at ease.
I've had mostly good experiences with the [The Fertility Center of Michigan] doctors and other staff but communication can be a bit lacking. It's not always easy to get an answer and things have not always been as organized and clearly laid out as I would have liked...The nurses I dealt with have been generally kind and helpful.
How was your experience with Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Dr Shavell seems knowledgeable and willing to help do what she can to make our treatment successful. She has been proactive with getting testing done early and listened to our concerns. We're in the beginning of our first IVF cycle with her but she was also brought in to perform my IUI when there was a complication. She made me feel at ease.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
It's okay to express your concerns and ask questions. She listened and made me feel comfortable.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Dr Shavell took time to meet with us after taking over from our previous doctor who had retired. She was warm and kind and listened to our concerns. She even recommended an additional test that no other doctor had mentioned before for symptoms that most other doctors had dismissed as normal.
Describe the protocols Valerie Shavell used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.
We're not quite to this stage yet as Dr Shavell just took over from another doctor who recently retired. But she has been proactive with getting me to start testing right away even though we're not meant to begin treatment for several months. She also recommended Receptiva testing to help determine if I may have endometriosis. I appreciated that she listened to my concerns and is addressing them before potentially experiencing a failed cycle.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
The nurses I dealt with have been generally kind and helpful.
Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.
I've had mostly good experiences with the doctors and other staff but communication can be a bit lacking. It's not always easy to get an answer and things have not always been as organized and clearly laid out as I would have liked.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
We paid an additional fee for our IUI because she needed to do an ultrasound during the procedure. We are in the early stages of IVF so I can't say for sure how that will go but tests, prep procedures, and treatments are usually due at time of service. They require to be paid in full for your IVF procedures before they will proceed.
Describe Valerie Shavell's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
We were told of the risks of multiple embryo transfers but not pushed either way. We will more than likely transfer two but we have not gotten to that point yet.
What specific things went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
  • Lost paperwork
Describe the specific things that went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
The biggest issue administratively has been they somehow forgot to bill us for cryopreserved semen samples for several months. It was not until I asked that we then got a bill in the mail for two quarters plus some they didn't have us pay at time of collection. We also were not happy with being charged for a virtual consult related to COVID when it was all information we already knew.
9
Doctor
Valerie Shavell
NPS
Humanity
5 of 5
Communication
5 of 5
Frequency Seen
3 of 5
Trustworthiness
5 of 5
Compassion
5 of 5
Explained risks
4 of 5
Adaptability
4 of 5
8
Clinic
The Fertility Center of Michigan
Grand Rapids
NPS
Operations
3 of 5
Scheduling
4 of 5
Billing Department
3 of 5
Nursing Staff
4 of 5
Clinic Atmosphere
4 of 5
Educational Resources
6 of 5
Verified
Verified

This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.

2021 - 2022, Unknown Success
NPS
9
NPS
8
Age 30 - 31
1 IUI
Male Factor
PCOS
Income $50K - $99K
Nurse or HC Services
1st of 2 Docs
10 Fertility Medications With Other Docs
Strongly Recommends
Neutral
Success w/ Doc Too early to know
Dr. Giuliani was very personable and took a thorough history from me. We have met 3 times via virtual appointments and she even called me personally after I had sent a patient portal message. [She] sent my husband to get checked out which led to us learning he had a pituitary tumor, no one else had even thought of this. Dr. Giuliani has been honest about next steps in treatment...She was also very honest that we may need to consider IVF and provided some information on that as well, since we have some male factor issues as well as PCOS.
[The Fertility Center of Michigan] is definitely a clinic that you have to keep track of your care somewhat. Meaning you should follow up with the nurses/scheduling/billing if you haven’t heard from then when you were supposed to. You do have to do some of your own benefits investigating because the billing doesn’t look into it thoroughly...There are a lot of nurses in the office and some are great and effectively communicating and others do not have much compassion. So far the nurses have all responded in a reasonable timeframe when I have called or sent patient portal messages.
How was your experience with Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Dr. Giuliani was very personable and took a thorough history from me. We have met 3 times via virtual appointments and she even called me personally after I had sent a patient portal message. Dr. Giuliani sent my husband to get checked out which led to us learning he had a pituitary tumor, no one else had even thought of this. Dr. Giuliani has been honest about next steps in treatment.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Take notes during the appointment and don’t be afraid to ask any questions.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
I felt like a human because Dr. Giuliani was personable and engaged in conversation other than just what we were meeting about such as asking about my work.
Describe the protocols Emma Giuliani used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.
Dr. Giuliani suggested we start with timed intercourse cycles with the option to add IUI at any time. We opted to do several timed intercourse cycles first. Dr. Giuliani suggest we try clomid as I had done several cycles with femara previously. She also suggested a mid cycle ultrasound and trigger shot with the timed cycle which I hadn’t done previously. When we were ready to add IUI Dr. Giuliani met with us to discuss that in further detail and answer any questions we had. She was also very honest that we may need to consider IVF and provided some information on that as well, since we have some male factor issues as well as PCOS.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
There are a lot of nurses in the office and some are great and effectively communicating and others do not have much compassion. So far the nurses have all responded in a reasonable timeframe when I have called or sent patient portal messages.
Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.
This is definitely a clinic that you have to keep track of your care somewhat. Meaning you should follow up with the nurses/scheduling/billing if you haven’t heard from then when you were supposed to. You do have to do some of your own benefits investigating because the billing doesn’t look into it thoroughly. For example they only looked up my benefits online and would not call to see if something was covered when I said it should be, I had to call on my own.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
My ultrasounds and office visits were billed to insurance, although I was not aware of the cost associated with speaking with the nurse after some of my ultrasounds so that was an extra cost. My portion of my first IUI was billed to insurance as I had asked, we did pay out of pocket for the semen was which was $375. Total cash price for each IUI is currently $800, up from $650 last year.
Describe Emma Giuliani's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
We have not reached this step in treatment.
9
Doctor
Emma Giuliani
NPS
Humanity
5 of 5
Communication
5 of 5
Frequency Seen
3 of 5
Trustworthiness
5 of 5
Compassion
5 of 5
Explained risks
5 of 5
Adaptability
4 of 5
8
Clinic
The Fertility Center of Michigan
Grand Rapids
NPS
Operations
3 of 5
Scheduling
3 of 5
Billing Department
3 of 5
Nursing Staff
4 of 5
Clinic Atmosphere
4 of 5
Educational Resources
6 of 5
Verified
Verified

This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.

2021 - 2022, Unsuccessful
NPS
5
NPS
3
Age 38 - 39
2 IVF
Diminished Ovarian Reserve
Poor Egg Quality
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
Income $100K - $199K
Only Doc Seen
Doesn't Recommend
Doesn't Recommend
Unsuccessful
I think [Dr. Emma Giuliani] is really nice, and we’ll intentioned. I think overall the clinic runs poorly with lack of communication between the departments— which probably makes it hard for her to do her job. I do find speaking on the phone with her difficult as it’s sometimes hard to understand what she’s saying. More in person meetings would be valuable. I also think we should have a set meeting after each retrieval to go over what worked and what didn’t. And what if anything we need to change.
No departments [at The Fertility Center of Michigan] communicate with one another. I am often left waiting for call backs. Confused about billing and unsure of what next steps are. And nobody ever seems to know right from left when I ask questions...Recently the nursing team ‘forgot’ To call me with my plan for the evening. Luckily I saw the doctors notes in my online chart so I was able to continue. Additionally I got scheduled for a sonohystogram which I did not need, which caused confusion with billing and nursing staff.
How was your experience with Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
I think Dr G is really nice, and we’ll intentioned. I think overall the clinic runs poorly with lack of communication between the departments— which probably makes it hard for her to do her job. I do find speaking on the phone with her difficult as it’s sometimes hard to understand what she’s saying. More in person meetings would be valuable. I also think we should have a set meeting after each retrieval to go over what worked and what didn’t. And what if anything we need to change.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Do a lot of your own research, and demand time.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
I have only had one official meeting with Dr. G which was the initial consult. She has called a few times, but only after I have requested. I don’t feel like my DOR and balanced translocation are taken into consideration for our treatment plan. I’ve been left to make tough calls like canceled with little to no guidance. Also she has never been the doctor to perform my egg retrievals.
Describe the protocols Emma Giuliani used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.
I was on the highest dose of meds she said she could prescribe. We added HGH for the second retrieval to help with embryo survival. Still waiting on results for that. Was never given much explanation for anything else really.
Describe your experience with your nurse at The Fertility Center of Michigan. (Assigned nurse: Emily)
Emily is great — and now that I’m able to meet with her in person it’s been even better. She even came back to see me after my egg retrieval which I thought was really nice.
Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.
No departments communicate with one another. I am often left waiting for call backs. Confused about billing and unsure of what next steps are. And nobody ever seems to know right from left when I ask questions.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
Close to 20K just for the three retrievals. Medicine, ultrasounds and bloodwork are all separate. When we complete our third retrieval we will have spent close to 75,000
What specific things went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
  • Failed to call with results
  • Provided conflicting information
  • Failed to convey critical information
  • Scheduled the wrong procedure
Describe the specific things that went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
Recently the nursing team ‘forgot’ To call me with my plan for the evening. Luckily I saw the doctors notes in my online chart so I was able to continue. Additionally I got scheduled for a sonohystogram which I did not need, which caused confusion with billing and nursing staff.
5
Doctor
Emma Giuliani
NPS
Humanity
2 of 5
Communication
3 of 5
Frequency Seen
1 of 5
Compassion
3 of 5
Explained risks
4 of 5
Adaptability
2 of 5
3
Clinic
The Fertility Center of Michigan
Grand Rapids
NPS
Operations
2 of 5
Scheduling
5 of 5
Billing Department
1 of 5
Nursing Staff
3 of 5
Clinic Atmosphere
3 of 5
Educational Resources
5 of 5
Verified
Verified

This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.

2021 - 2022, Unknown Success
NPS
8
NPS
10
Age 38 - 39
1 IVF
Endometriosis
Male Factor
Uterine Fibroids
European
Income $100K - $199K
Lawyer
2nd of 2 Docs
7 Fertility Medications With Other Docs
Neutral
Strongly Recommends
Success w/ Doc Too early to know
Dr. Shavell seems like a great doctor. She does seem to be very busy, but there's a lot of support staff on call to help with the treatment plan...She wanted to push for a single embryo transfer, but we asked for two given my age. We did end up with two transferred the first time...I was put on Orilissa for several months before treatment to help reduce inflammation from endometriosis and fibroids. It seemed to work.
The staff at the Fertility Center are very welcoming and have great bedside manner...The weakness of the clinic is the paperwork they give out such as the calendars are extremely unclear. The strengths are they seem to be very good at working with conditions to ensure optimal outcomes, even if it delays the IVF cycle a bit. Overall the level of care is great, particularly with the on-call nurses available to talk.
How was your experience with Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Dr. Shavell seems like a great doctor. She does seem to be very busy, but there's a lot of support staff on call to help with the treatment plan. So far I have been very happy with the outcomes of her treatment plans and in carefully adjusting them for what's going on with me.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
It takes a very long time to get an initial consult so reach out as soon as you think you may be interested.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
The staff at the Fertility Center are very welcoming and have great bedside manner.
Describe the protocols Valerie Shavell used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.
I was put on Orilissa for several months before treatment to help reduce inflammation from endometriosis and fibroids. It seemed to work.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
The nursing staff was very helpful. There are extremely confusing IVF calendars they give out, and I believe I was never instructed on what to do for one stage of my transfer, but they have a nurse on call and they always were helpful.
Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.
The weakness of the clinic is the paperwork they give out such as the calendars are extremely unclear. The strengths are they seem to be very good at working with conditions to ensure optimal outcomes, even if it delays the IVF cycle a bit. Overall the level of care is great, particularly with the on-call nurses available to talk.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Valerie Shavell at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
We have out of state insurance, so it was mostly covered. However, the costs would have been extremely prohibitive without insurance.
Describe Valerie Shavell's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
She wanted to push for a single embryo transfer, but we asked for two given my age. We did end up with two transferred the first time.
What specific things went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
  • Provided conflicting information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
Some of the paperwork was very confusing and the instructions were not always clear. Overall, this was minor.
8
Doctor
Valerie Shavell
NPS
Humanity
5 of 5
Communication
3 of 5
Frequency Seen
2 of 5
Trustworthiness
5 of 5
Compassion
3 of 5
Explained risks
5 of 5
Adaptability
4 of 5
10
Clinic
The Fertility Center of Michigan
Grand Rapids
NPS
Operations
5 of 5
Scheduling
5 of 5
Billing Department
5 of 5
Nursing Staff
5 of 5
Clinic Atmosphere
4 of 5
Educational Resources
7 of 5
Verified
Verified

This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.

2021 - 2022, Unknown Success
NPS
10
NPS
7
Age 29 - 30
4 Fertility Medications
Male Factor
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
European
Income $50K - $99K
Nurse or HC Services
Only Doc Seen
Strongly Recommends
Neutral
Success w/ Doc Too early to know
Every interaction with Dr Giuliani has been good. She is so kind, takes the time to answer all my questions and doesn’t make me feel rushed, and overall has a positive attitude...She did a full evaluation of me and my partner. We got 2 diagnoses of septum uterus and mild male factor. I had surgical intervention, my husband was sent to a specialist (urologist). We then came up with a plan of a medicated cycle (letrozol, mid cycle ultrasound, and trigger shot). The first cycle resulted in a chemical pregnancy. We naturally conceived right after that miscarriage
Not great experiences with the staff [at The Fertility Center of Michigan] whom I communicate with on the phone and online (not sure if it’s nurses or techs). They never answer the phone, you have to wait for them to call you back and if you don’t answer then you are out of luck to communicate with them that day. I’ve had multiple people call me with the same results. I’ve had a ultrasound technician walk in and not know the ultrasound to to confirm or deny a blighted ovum when it’s clearly in my chart. I’ve had nurses tell me different things about my HCG numbers vs my doctor...
How was your experience with Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
She is always, kind, compassionate, takes her time with me, values what I have to say, and she never makes me feel stupid. (In comparison to her male counterparts at the office, it’s night and day difference).
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Don’t be afraid to ask many questions!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Every interaction with Dr Giuliani has been good. She is so kind, takes the time to answer all my questions and doesn’t make me feel rushed, and overall has a positive attitude. I love her!
Describe the protocols Emma Giuliani used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.
She did a full evaluation of me and my partner. We got 2 diagnoses of septum uterus and mild male factor. I had surgical intervention, my husband was sent to a specialist (urologist). We then came up with a plan of a medicated cycle (letrozol, mid cycle ultrasound, and trigger shot). The first cycle resulted in a chemical pregnancy. We naturally conceived right after that miscarriage, she put me on progesterone, but that ended in a blighted ovum diagnosed at our first 6w ultrasound. After D&C and genetic testing that baby was found to have a genetic anomaly. We were advised to wait at least one cycle before we try again. We did a recurrent miscarriage blood panel, every thing was fine. She added baby aspirin to my daily vitamins. We did 3 more medicated cycles with the same dosage of letrozol for me because my body always responded well. This last cycle we conceived! We are 5 weeks today so hoping for our rainbow baby. We had met with Giuliani a few weeks ago to come up with a plan if this didn’t work, we had a plan in place to move onto IUI.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
Not great experiences with the staff whom I communicate with on the phone and online (not sure if it’s nurses or techs). They never answer the phone, you have to wait for them to call you back and if you don’t answer then you are out of luck to communicate with them that day. I’ve had multiple people call me with the same results. I’ve had a ultrasound technician walk in and not know the ultrasound to to confirm or deny a blighted ovum when it’s clearly in my chart. I’ve had nurses tell me different things about my HCG numbers vs my doctor.
Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.
Strengths- now an all woman doctor team who are all amazing. Weakness- office team are not good communicators. Be your own advocate, ask all your questions, if you don’t think what the nurse is saying is correct ask them to clarify with the Doctor.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Emma Giuliani at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
Oh who knows! In 2021 we met our deductible bc of costs associated with going there but luckily our insurance covered a good amount.
Describe Emma Giuliani's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
NA
What specific things went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
  • Lost paperwork
  • Provided conflicting information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
I had a paper for work get lost when I dropped it off at the front counter. I’ve had nurses say different things about the same HCG number than my drsaid
10
Doctor
Emma Giuliani
NPS
Humanity
5 of 5
Communication
4 of 5
Frequency Seen
1 of 5
Compassion
4 of 5
Explained risks
3 of 5
Adaptability
4 of 5
7
Clinic
The Fertility Center of Michigan
Grand Rapids
NPS
Operations
4 of 5
Scheduling
2 of 5
Billing Department
3 of 5
Nursing Staff
3 of 5
Clinic Atmosphere
5 of 5
Educational Resources
5 of 5
Verified
Verified

This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.

2016 - 2021, Successful
NPS
10
NPS
10
Age 38 - 43
3 IVF
Surrogacy
Unexplained
Black or African-American
Income $50K - $99K
Nurse or HC Services
Only Doc Seen
Strongly Recommends
Strongly Recommends
Successful
Dr. Dodds always kept me aware of what was going on. He would sit and listen to me when I had questions or concerns. He even called me after hours to address any questions I had. With our 3 miscarriages and 1 failed transfer he called each time and gave his condolences and we would talk about what we would do different next time
The lady at the front desk was so nice [at The Fertility Center of Michigan]. Whenever I would come in she would address me by my name. I was there so much she remembered my name. The staff has changed since then. With my last transfer I felt kind of out of the loop with my gestational carrier. My nurse Robin was great, but it was with the other staff that did the ultrasounds and such. I hardly got any feedback from them, my gestational carrier kept me in the loop. I addressed this concern to Robin and she got it taken care of. Being the intended parent they are to keep you updated on the thongs going on.
How was your experience with William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
He was a very knowledgeable doctor and treated his patient like we were human. He would answer questions to my satisfaction, if I did not know something he was talking about he would make sure I know exactly what it meant before I left. Very caring and understanding.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
He is a great doctor and you would not be disappointed with him.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Dr. Dodds always kept me aware of what was going on. He would sit and listen to me when I had questions or concerns. He even called me after hours to address any questions I had. With our 3 miscarriages and 1 failed transfer he called each time and gave his condolences and we would talk about what we would do different next time
Describe the protocols William Dodds (retired) used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.
It's been a while since my egg retrievals. So I do not remember the specifics. I do know I would have to go in every other day to get a transvaginal ultrasound to check on the number and size of my eggs. Out first transfer we retrieved 7 and only one made it to blast. So with the second retrieval he let my eggs grow bigger hoping to get more we did, the procedure was stopped early because I was having a lot of pain and my oxygen levels were dropping. I was not under anesthesia for the first 2 retrievals. We stuck with that same protocol for my third retrieval and I had anesthesia that time and 12 were collected. At the end I had 7 that made it to blast. We did our first transfer to our gestational carrier and it ended in a miscarriage at 10.5 weeks. We did send tissue for analysis and it cam back as the fetus having trisomony 17. We did a second transfer with a different gestational carrier we transferred 2 embryo's and she miscarried at 5 weeks. Our third transfer we transferred 2 again that one ended in a miscarriage as well at 5.5 weeks. Our fourth transferred we transferred 1 and it failed.
Describe your experience with your nurse at The Fertility Center of Michigan. (Assigned nurse: Robin)
Since I was not the one carrying, Robin would call and give me updates on test and procedures with my gestational carrier. She always kept me in the loop. She would send me her medication schedule and everything I would need to know.
Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.
The lady at the front desk was so nice. Whenever I would come in she would address me by my name. I was there so much she remembered my name. The staff has changed since then. With my last transfer I felt kind of out of the loop with my gestational carrier. My nurse Robin was great, but it was with the other staff that did the ultrasounds and such. I hardly got any feedback from them, my gestational carrier kept me in the loop. I addressed this concern to Robin and she got it taken care of. Being the intended parent they are to keep you updated on the thongs going on.
Describe the costs associated with your care under William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
This is the cost I had with my last transfer. It is a frozen embryo transfer with a gestational carrier. Cycle Management fee $1700.00- that was paid to hold your spot on the calendar for your transfer Preparation of Embryos $1130.00 Embryo transfer $1115.00 If you needed assisted Hatching $665.00 we did not Internal and external screening $245.00 we did not we had already done all the screening because it was the same carrier . Abdominal ultrasound $225.00 Optional Procedure costs Embryogen $465.00 we did not have Cryopreservation of Embryo's (freezing 3 or more) $955.00 (2 or more( $545.00 Ultrasound monitoring and blood work depended on your insurance For my gestational carrier it depended on her insurance for sonohysterogram, Mock ET, and endometrial biopsy. Medications cost for IVF patient are apptoximately $3000.00- $6600.00 Medication for gestation carrier are approximately $750- $1500.00
Describe William Dodds (retired)'s approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
They prefer to transfer one. I did speak with Dr. Dodds and gave him my reasoning of wanting to transfer 2 and he agreed and let me transfer 2 embryo's. We transferred 2 embryo's twice.
What specific things went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
  • Failed to call with results
Describe the specific things that went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
With our last transfer as the intended parents I felt left out of the cycle. They did not call me a couple times with results from my carriers ultrasound. After I spoke with my nurse she made sure I was called with all results
10
Doctor
William Dodds (retired)
NPS
Humanity
5 of 5
Communication
5 of 5
Frequency Seen
4 of 5
Trustworthiness
5 of 5
Compassion
5 of 5
Explained risks
5 of 5
Adaptability
5 of 5
10
Clinic
The Fertility Center of Michigan
Grand Rapids
NPS
Operations
4 of 5
Scheduling
5 of 5
Billing Department
4 of 5
Nursing Staff
4 of 5
Clinic Atmosphere
5 of 5
Educational Resources
7 of 5
Verified
Verified

This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.

2019 - 2020, Successful
NPS
10
NPS
10
Age 36 - 37
1 IVF
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
Income $50K - $99K
2nd of 2 Docs
Strongly Recommends
Strongly Recommends
Successful
I had already seen a previous IVF doctors and specialists over our 9+ years of infertility and numerous miscarriages. Dr. Dodd went through all of those results prior to suggesting IVF...[he] was very honest but encouraging regarding the odds of a successful pregnancy. He reached out personally with results and to make sure we had any follow up questions answered that may have come up...felt pretty strongly about transferring only two
The entire staff [at The Fertility Center of Michigan] was aware of the length and losses my husband and I have been through. They were very compassionate and patient. I was never rushed through visits, phone calls or questions. There were times when Dr. Dodd had called personally to go over tests and information were professional and punctual. I always was taken back for my appointments on time if not early. The rooms were very clean and well maintained. They were flexible with scheduling and had hours that could be worked around my work schedule as well as my husbands
How was your experience with William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Our experience with Dr. Dodds was nothing but exceptional care. He took his time explaining treatment and educating us with possible issues or complications. He was very honest but encouraging regarding the odds of a successful pregnancy. He reached out personally with results and to make sure we had any follow up questions answered that may have come up. When he called to tell us we were pregnant, he was excited. He shared this victory with us. We always felt like this was as important to him as it was to us. That's what we wanted and needed in a fertility doctor.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Make a list of questions. Don't be afraid to ask a million of 'em. He will answer every one of them and keep explaing it to you until you understand every bit of your diagnosis, results or treatment. He is a very patient Doctor and will walk you through all the steps.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
The entire staff was aware of the length and losses my husband and I have been through. They were very compassionate and patient. I was never rushed through visits, phone calls or questions. There were times when Dr. Dodd had called personally to go over tests and information. When things went well he celebrated those victories with us as if they were his own. We always felt like we were a priority.
Describe the protocols William Dodds (retired) used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.
I had already seen a previous IVF doctors and specialists over our 9+ years of infertility and numerous miscarriages. Dr. Dodd went through all of those results prior to suggesting IVF. Some testing was eliminated due to an egg donation I had made over 13 years ago, prior to knowing I myself would have issues. (Both of the women that chose me as their egg donor were successful.) I had already had genetics and chromosomes checked as well. My husband had his chromosomes checked and everything came back normal. I can't really describe anything further, I had so much testing done prior by so many different doctors and specialists that Dr. Dodd had to go through it and come up with a game plan based on those. We were successful with our first round of IVF. Unfortunately I developed pre-eclampsia at 20 weeks and my placenta had back flow and my son was experiencing growth restriction. I was admitted into the hospital at that point.The maternal fetal doctor was able to hold off delivery until 23 weeks and 4 days. My son lived for 5 days, but unfortunately his lungs weren't strong enough and we lost him. We plan on discussing risks and possibly another round of IVF when the time is right.
Describe your experience with your nurse at The Fertility Center of Michigan. (Assigned nurse: Libby Walters)
Libby, as well as the entire nursing staff were amazing. There was always someone there answering the phone and they always had an answer. If they had to check with the doctor, they returned your call promptly. There was a few episodes I had with bleeding once I was pregnant and they were very patient and calming when I called upset and crying. Their calmness helped me to panic less. They never made me feel like I was a bother and were always very compassionate.
Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.
Absolutely no weaknesses. They were professional and punctual. I always was taken back for my appointments on time if not early. The rooms were very clean and well maintained. They were flexible with scheduling and had hours that could be worked around my work schedule as well as my husbands.
Describe the costs associated with your care under William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
Without medications, we spent under $9,000. There were a few extra services that we had requested to increase our chances.
Describe William Dodds (retired)'s approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
Dr Dodd felt pretty strongly about transferring only two. I've never had an issue getting pregnant, just staying pregnant so he felt like this was a safer approach than the three I requested. After hearing his reasoning, I was more than happy to just transfer two of them.
10
Doctor
William Dodds (retired)
NPS
Humanity
5 of 5
Communication
5 of 5
Frequency Seen
4 of 5
Trustworthiness
5 of 5
Compassion
5 of 5
Explained risks
5 of 5
Adaptability
5 of 5
10
Clinic
The Fertility Center of Michigan
Grand Rapids
NPS
Operations
5 of 5
Scheduling
5 of 5
Billing Department
5 of 5
Nursing Staff
5 of 5
Clinic Atmosphere
6 of 5
Educational Resources
7 of 5
Verified
Verified

This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.

2015 - 2020, Successful
NPS
9
NPS
10
Age 31 - 36
4 IUI
1 IVF
Male Factor
Unexplained
European
Income $50K - $99K
Teacher
2nd of 3 Docs
Egg Freezing With Other Docs
Strongly Recommends
Strongly Recommends
Successful
Dr. Young is very dry, so if you need a touchy feely person, he is not the doctor for you. However, I like that personality, and I appreciated how matter of fact he was. While he didn't sugar coat anything, I felt he cared about me as a person and the heartbreak I was going through...I feel he always did what was best for us but allowed us to make the decisions...He truly cares about his patients.
The only weakness [at The Fertility Center of Michigan] is the hours. It would be nice if they were open later in the evening for ultrasounds and consultations. Everyone in the office is extremely personable, compassionate, and helpful. The Billing department has the best "customer service" I have ever received! They are so helpful when dealing with insurance companies and trying to pay for expensive procedures.
How was your experience with James Young (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Dr. Young is very dry, so if you need a touchy feely person, he is not the doctor for you. However, I like that personality, and I appreciated how matter of fact he was. While he didn't sugar coat anything, I felt he cared about me as a person and the heartbreak I was going through.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of James Young (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
He truly cares about his patients.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with James Young (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
I never felt rushed. Dr. Young always answered all of my questions, and when I would have a negative result, he personally called me to express how sorry he was at the result.
Describe the protocols James Young (retired) used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.
Oh man, what didn't we do? Dr. Young was always very upfront with the results and didn't sugar coat anything. After two failed IUIs, he ordered more testing for the sperm. Instead of allowing us to continue with IUIs, even though there was a chance, he recommended IVF as the best option. I feel he always did what was best for us but allowed us to make the decisions.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
The nurses at the center are fantastic. When going through IVF, you get to know them well. The whole staff deeply care about their patients and want to make the experience has painless as possible. I know giving negative results isn't easy, but they do it with compassion and empathy.
Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.
The only weakness is the hours. It would be nice if they were open later in the evening for ultrasounds and consultations. Everyone in the office is extremely personable, compassionate, and helpful. The Billing department has the best "customer service" I have ever received! They are so helpful when dealing with insurance companies and trying to pay for expensive procedures.
Describe the costs associated with your care under James Young (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
We were lucky and during our first procedure our insurance covered 50% of procedures. However, even with that, I'm certain we have spent over $20,000 over the course of our treatment.
9
Doctor
James Young (retired)
NPS
Humanity
5 of 5
Communication
5 of 5
Frequency Seen
4 of 5
Trustworthiness
5 of 5
Compassion
4 of 5
Explained risks
5 of 5
Adaptability
4 of 5
10
Clinic
The Fertility Center of Michigan
Grand Rapids
NPS
Operations
5 of 5
Scheduling
4 of 5
Billing Department
5 of 5
Nursing Staff
5 of 5
Clinic Atmosphere
5 of 5
Educational Resources
7 of 5
Verified
Verified

This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.

2018 - 2020, Unsuccessful
NPS
9
NPS
9
Age 33 - 35
5 IUI
2 IVF
Poor Egg Quality
Unexplained
European
Income $50K - $99K
Teacher
1st of 3 Docs
Strongly Recommends
Strongly Recommends
Unsuccessful
Dodds was wonderful in explaining the procedures that I would undergo. He was friendly and relate able. It seemed like he truly cared about us and our goals. Despite non of my cycles working, he changed plans each to hopefully give us a better outcome...First we completed a few rounds of clomid resulting in negatives tests. Then we moved to IUI's. We completed 3 IUI's on femara and ovidrel and one on Gonal-F.
The main office manager [at Fertility Center of Michigan] always remembered my name, which I really appreciated. The billing team was easy to work with when I had insurance issues and my IVF nurses were very helpful...Because of my age (35) two embryo transfers were recommended. Those that were younger than I, a single embryo transfer was recommended.
How was your experience with William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Dodds was wonderful in explaining the procedures that I would undergo. He was friendly and relate able. It seemed like he truly cared about us and our goals. Despite non of my cycles working, he changed plans each to hopefully give us a better outcome.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
He was my favorite out of all the doctors there.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
It seemed like he cared about me and my husband.
Describe the protocols William Dodds (retired) used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.
First we completed a few rounds of clomid resulting in negatives tests. Then we moved to IUI's. We completed 3 IUI's on femara and ovidrel and one on Gonal-F. I took a few months off after that. Next, we completed 2 egg retrievals. 1 egg retrieval resulted in 5 eggs, and 2 embryos sadly they didn't make it past day 2. That cycle included a prime of birth control and then increasing dosages of Gonal-F, Menopur and Cetrotide. The second egg retrieval was a mini dose IVF which included a prime of femara and low dosages of Gonal-F, Menopur and Cetrotide. On the day of the egg retrieval, I ovulated 5 hours before my retrieval. We did an IUI that morning. All resulted in negative pregnancy tests. Currently we are doing a couple rounds of Femara while clinics are closed.
Describe your experience with your nurse at The Fertility Center of Michigan. (Assigned nurse: Libby)
The nursing and support staff were great! They made me feel at easy and were always available if I had any questions.
Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.
It is very clean and warm feeling. The main office manager always remembered my name, which I really appreciated. The billing team was easy to work with when I had insurance issues and my IVF nurses were very helpful.
Describe the costs associated with your care under William Dodds (retired) at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
Our first cycle was around 15K, but alot of that were medications. Since our 1 round never made it to a transfer, we were refunded the amount a transfer would cost. Our next IVF round was $3500.
Describe William Dodds (retired)'s approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
Because of my age (35) two embryo transfers were recommended. Those that were younger than I, a single embryo transfer was recommended.
9
Doctor
William Dodds (retired)
NPS
Humanity
5 of 5
Communication
4 of 5
Frequency Seen
1 of 5
Trustworthiness
4 of 5
Compassion
4 of 5
Explained risks
4 of 5
Adaptability
4 of 5
9
Clinic
The Fertility Center of Michigan
Grand Rapids
NPS
Operations
5 of 5
Scheduling
5 of 5
Billing Department
4 of 5
Nursing Staff
5 of 5
Clinic Atmosphere
5 of 5
Educational Resources
7 of 5
Verified
Verified

This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.

2019 - 2020, Unknown Success
NPS
10
NPS
10
Age 34 - 35
2 IUI
European
Income $200K - $499K
Doctor
Only Doc Seen
Strongly Recommends
Strongly Recommends
Success w/ Doc Not sure
[Dr. Mili Thakur] is always available for consultation and answers all questions/messages in a timely manner. I feel she is very trustworthy. I feel that I am in good hands with her as my doctor...Started with 2 rounds of IUI...My husband had cancer and chemo treatments so we only had 1 vial of his sperm...now I am going through treatment for IVF...She prefers single transfer
Everyone at [The Fertility Center of Michigan] is professional and courteous. Sometimes it is hard to make appointments because you usually have to leave a message and wait for someone to call you back...my husband was trying to schedule to leave sworn before his chemotherapy started. Because he was unable to schedule (he left multiple messages and didn’t hear back for a while) he was only able to donate one time...$2000 to be scheduled for IVF
How was your experience with Mili Thakur at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Knowledgeable and compassionate. She is always available for consultation and answers all questions/messages in a timely manner. I feel she is very trustworthy. I feel that I am in good hands with her as my doctor.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mili Thakur at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Don’t be worried to call and make consultation appointment.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mili Thakur at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
She has wonderful bedside manner and is very thorough in her explanations and expectations.
Describe the protocols Mili Thakur used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.
Started with 2 rounds of IUI because it is less invasive. My husband had cancer and chemo treatments so we only had 1 vial of his sperm. Those did not result in pregnancy so now I am going through treatment for IVF. I started injections for egg retrieval but I had a dominant follicle so we ended the infections, I went on hormone therapy and we will begin again as soon as we can (based on COVID)
Describe your experience with your nurse at The Fertility Center of Michigan. (Assigned nurse: Sarah)
They seem organized, always able to answer questions and inform me of next steps.
Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.
Clean and organized. Everyone at the clinic is professional and courteous. Sometimes it is hard to make appointments because you usually have to leave a message and wait for someone to call you back. This was frustrating at the beginning of our process because my husband was trying to schedule to leave sworn before his chemotherapy started. Because he was unable to schedule (he left multiple messages and didn’t hear back for a while) he was only able to donate one time. This means that we have very limited sperm to work with.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mili Thakur at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
$2000 to be scheduled for IVF. Most of my other costs are covered by my insurance.
Describe Mili Thakur's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
She prefers single transfer.
10
Doctor
Mili Thakur
NPS
Humanity
5 of 5
Communication
5 of 5
Frequency Seen
3 of 5
Trustworthiness
5 of 5
Compassion
5 of 5
Explained risks
5 of 5
Adaptability
5 of 5
10
Clinic
The Fertility Center of Michigan
Grand Rapids
NPS
Operations
4 of 5
Scheduling
3 of 5
Billing Department
4 of 5
Nursing Staff
5 of 5
Clinic Atmosphere
5 of 5
Educational Resources
7 of 5
Verified
Verified

This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.

2018 - 2020, Unknown Success
NPS
8
NPS
9
Age 32 - 34
1 IVF
PCOS
European
Income $100K - $199K
2nd of 2 Docs
4 IUI With Other Docs
Neutral
Strongly Recommends
Success w/ Doc Too early to know
Dr. Thakur is very kind, gentle and confident. When our first transfer was unsuccessful she very thoughtfully came up with a new treatment plan that made sense for my condition. She reached out after our second transfer to extend her sympathy and already had an idea of what our next steps would be. She’s never forced us into procedures we weren’t comfortable with and always takes the time to listen and answer our questions
I am overall happy with The Fertility Center. I go to one of their remote offices and so I do feel like I am forgotten a little or have to overcompensate to make sure that my appointments are scheduled in the correct office, I also am at the mercy of their schedule, and if I need a last minute appointment is is harder to get in at a time that is flexible with my work schedule..
How was your experience with Mili Thakur at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Dr. Thakur is very kind, gentle and confident. When our first transfer was unsuccessful she very thoughtfully came up with a new treatment plan that made sense for my condition. She reached out after our second transfer to extend her sympathy and already had an idea of what our next steps would be. She’s never forced us into procedures we weren’t comfortable with and always takes the time to listen and answer our questions. She is concerned with my wellbeing as a whole, not just my fertility.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mili Thakur at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Ask lots of questions, do your own research so you know what she is talking about, but know that is she very smart and capable and you are in great hands.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mili Thakur at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
Dr. Thakur has always treated me with kindness and respect. She remembers details about our lives and always takes the time to answer all our questions.
Describe the protocols Mili Thakur used in your cycles at The Fertility Center of Michigan and their degree of success.
For our first transfer we did a long lupron protocol with PIO. For my second transfer, we did a Femara cycle with progesterone suppositories as I have PCOS and I responded very well. Unfortunately, both were not successful.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
Overall the nurses are very helpful and responsive. They do their best to make sure you are not waiting on them, some things, like insurance authorizations are out of their control. I did not have any issues with them being rude. Because I went to the remote office I did not interact with them face to face very often so I haven’t developed a strong relationship with any of them.
Describe your experience with The Fertility Center of Michigan.
I am overall happy with The Fertility Center. I go to one of their remote offices and so I do feel like I am forgotten a little or have to overcompensate to make sure that my appointments are scheduled in the correct office, I also am at the mercy of their schedule, and if I need a last minute appointment is is harder to get in at a time that is flexible with my work schedule. I have had only minor issues with billing (my husband and I are separate accounts so money can get applied to the wrong account). I do not have any major issues with the clinic, but I also have not received outstanding service, just a what I expect.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mili Thakur at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
For IUIs the out of pocket cost for the procedure is about $600. IVF for a retrieval and transfer is about $10,000, a FET is about $4,000.
Describe Mili Thakur's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
Because we got a large number of embryos, she recommended one embryo at a time. We did not want to transfer more then one.
What specific things went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan?
  • Failed to call with results
Describe the specific things that went wrong at The Fertility Center of Michigan.
I was scheduled for the wrong office for an appointment before an IUI, which then had to be cancelled. Also, I didn’t get a call back with blood results until the next day - this is also due to the fact that I go to a remote office as the bloodwork is done by a third party.
8
Doctor
Mili Thakur
NPS
Humanity
5 of 5
Communication
5 of 5
Frequency Seen
3 of 5
Trustworthiness
5 of 5
Compassion
5 of 5
Explained risks
5 of 5
Adaptability
5 of 5
9
Clinic
The Fertility Center of Michigan
Grand Rapids
NPS
Operations
4 of 5
Scheduling
4 of 5
Billing Department
4 of 5
Nursing Staff
4 of 5
Clinic Atmosphere
5 of 5
Educational Resources
7 of 5

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