This is the most recent data from the CDC. The CDC cautions that it should not be used to compare doctors and clinics. This data represents the outcomes of IVF cycles when using a person's own eggs.
For more information please see our FAQs.
Where you see a “?” on the chart, a clinic has done fewer than 20 cycles in this category and age range, so the CDC says showing percentages from this small data set would be misleading and unreliable.
Dr Gunn leaves no detail unexplained. She is very thorough in giving all the facts and options for treatments. The information was overwhelming at times, but I always left with follow up literature. She is very reassuring and positive...She is good about starting with less expensive treatments first...has strong preference to single embryo transfer
The UAB clinic is in the Women and Infant Center. It shares a waiting room with OBGYN practice which could be mentally challenging to see pregnant women or women sharing happy ultrasounds with parents when you were coming in for infertility treatments. The clinic was initially tough to get an appointment with...I felt like initially I didn’t get clear answers on IUI...Once I started IVF things worked much more smoothly
How was your experience with Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Dr Gunn leaves no detail unexplained. She is very thorough in giving all the facts and options for treatments. The information was overwhelming at times, but I always left with follow up literature. She is very reassuring and positive. I am in the middle of IVF treatments with her now and will potentially need to have fibroid removal surgery. She’s encouraged me to get additional consultation for the surgery to make sure we are making the right decisions on care.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Be prepared to take notes! She goes over a lot of info in your consultations. If you’re ready financially and mentally for IVF speak up. She is good about starting with less expensive treatments first.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Dr Gunn spent considerable time with us going over treatment options and potential surgery for my fibroid. Her staff is fantastic and made me feel like a friend and not just a patient.
Describe the protocols Deidre Downs Gunn used in your cycles at University of Alabama Birmingham and their degree of success.
Initially we were prepping for an IUI cycle with clomid and Pregnyl trigger. I opted to cancel IUI after the large uterine fibroid was found in their routine transvaginal ultrasound done in my first appointment. We didn’t want to risk getting pregnant and having complications. Instead we opted for IVF with a frozen transfer. On Dr Gunn’s advice we wanted to have embryos ready on the off chance that my surgery went awry and an overy had to be removed.
For my IVF cycle I was on Lupron- 20 units, Menopur-75, and Gonal-F 225. Gonal was adjusted up to 300 for two days and then back down. I was frustrated that I refilled meds and then was taken off everything because of risks of OHSS. I now have $1,000 of meds just sitting around.
Describe your experience with your nurse at University of Alabama Birmingham. (Assigned nurse: Tabitha)
Tabitha answered every random question I had and never made me feel silly for asking. She was extremely responsive on the portal (usually within the hour). She made me feel like a friend more than a patient and put me at ease throughout the process.
Describe your experience with University of Alabama Birmingham.
The UAB clinic is in the Women and Infant Center. It shares a waiting room with OBGYN practice which could be mentally challenging to see pregnant women or women sharing happy ultrasounds with parents when you were coming in for infertility treatments. The clinic was initially tough to get an appointment with. I realized I called too close to lunch the first time. I got in on a fluke cancellation, otherwise there was an 8 month waitlist.
I felt like initially I didn’t get clear answers on IUI. I was given a lot of information in my first visit and told to call on a certain day of my cycle to set up an appointment. When I called and couldn’t remember exactly everything to book, they had me wait/call around before being able to book. I feel like there should have been patient notes to make it clear why I was calling and what to book me for. Once I started IVF things worked much more smoothly.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham.
$10,500 for IVF
Monitoring ultrasounds were separate. My insurance did not cover so they were $200 a visit.
Medications total have been about $5,000
Describe Deidre Downs Gunn's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at University of Alabama Birmingham.
She has strong preference to single embryo transfer
Dr. Gunn was present, and genuine in her responses and efforts to get to know her patients...she is both kind and knowledgeable - she will give you evidence based responses blunt, honest and sensitive. She has great bedside manner. She will listen to you, she will give you time to explain your concerns and thoroughly respond to them. She is responsive on the portal; she sent me numerous updates personally...
The team [at University of Alabama Birmingham] is wonderful; the ultrasound techs, the main lab tech, the nurses.. all really great care. They are invested in giving you the best outcome that they can. They take the time to listen and get to know you, and they are responsive and great at communicating the plan after each visit...They are all very active on the portal and will answer any questions or concerns and if they can't they will keep their word to get back to you...
How was your experience with Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Please be discerning when reading reviews; do your research and understand the care you are getting. I am a medical professional, and speaking as one I will tell you this is the best doctor you will encounter. This is for many reasons, she is both kind and knowledgeable - she will give you evidence based responses blunt, honest and sensitive. She has great bedside manner. She will listen to you, she will give you time to explain your concerns and thoroughly respond to them. She is responsive on the portal; she sent me numerous updates personally. She told me she would do things, and absolutely followed through every single time. She was gentle, she made me feel at ease, she explained exactly what she was doing every step of the way and why.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Again, discern what reviews are worth your time. While valid, some concerns are beyond the scope; meaning if a practice dismissed a patient -- there is a reason that has nothing to do with the Physician.
You can expect great care. You can expect a doctor who cares about your wellbeing, will listen to you, will explain thoroughly and communicate well.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Dr. Gunn was present, and genuine in her responses and efforts to get to know her patients. She listened thoroughly to concerns and provided evidence based responses. She engaged in conversation easily, she allowed me to take a photo with her on my transfer day, she kept promises that she made throughout the course of our IVF cycle.
Describe the protocols Deidre Downs Gunn used in your cycles at University of Alabama Birmingham and their degree of success.
We used Menopur and Gonal injections for egg retrieval. We used Apri birth control to regulate my cycle and then we used Estrace and Progesterone Injections. We retrieved 25 eggs, fertilized 15, tested 7 and had 3 healthy viable embryos. We did 1 cycle. We have an active pregnancy with 1 transfer.
Describe your experience with your nurse at University of Alabama Birmingham. (Assigned nurse: Tabitha)
The whole team is wonderful. They are all very active on the portal and will answer any questions or concerns and if they can't they will keep their word to get back to you.
Describe your experience with University of Alabama Birmingham.
The team is wonderful; the ultrasound techs, the main lab tech, the nurses.. all really great care. They are invested in giving you the best outcome that they can. They take the time to listen and get to know you, and they are responsive and great at communicating the plan after each visit.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham.
I was able to get insurance coverage; we still paid around $5000 out of pocket.
Describe Deidre Downs Gunn's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at University of Alabama Birmingham.
I had been presented with the option to be a part of a clinical trial, or take Lupron throughout my chemotherapy treatment to try and preserve my ovaries. Dr. Gunn called me one evening and stayed on the phone with me for over and hour talking me through all the details of both the clinical trial presented by my oncologist and the risks/benefits of Lupron. She didn't tell me what she thought was best, she asked what felt best for me and my life. Knowing that I was a sexual assault survivor, she was always very transparent with me about what was going to happen and how it was going to happen. The day before my egg retrieval she brought me into the office and walked me through the procedure, making sure I was comfortable with what was about to happen. She listened to my concerns every step of the way and allowed me to make data driven decisions. When I went into my egg retrieval she held my hand until I fell asleep. Dr. Gunn is the most incredible, trauma informed doctor that I have ever seen. Dr. Miss America continues to be my biggest cheerleader in my fight against cancer and I wouldn't be here today without her. Knowing that my father and my brother had passed away, she understood that it was important for me to be able to have biological children. It is only because she pushed my cancer treatment team that I was allowed to have the option to do that. She advocated for me when I needed it and I couldn't thank her more.
They [nurses at University of Alabama] would come and visit me on the floor above their office when I was receiving chemotherapy treatments and they would come and visit me when I ended up in the hospital for whatever reason. Everyone is very responsive when I have questions or concerns about my treatment and no matter what the issue is, they are non-judgmental and I feel comfortable sharing anything with them...Their surgical suite is pretty awesome and a great perk of working with Dr. Gunn. The wait times are not long at all, which is great. The only problem with the office is parking, due to the fact that it is in the Women and Infant's wing of the hospital and so you might have to walk a bit from where you parked.
How was your experience with Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham?
As stated previously:As a young woman who had just been diagnosed with breast cancer my whole was upside down and spinning. From the moment I stepped into Dr. Gunn's office she was the grounding force that I needed to calm the storm. I had been presented with the option to be a part of a clinical trial, or take Lupron throughout my chemotherapy treatment to try and preserve my ovaries. Dr. Gunn called me one evening and stayed on the phone with me for over and hour talking me through all the details of both the clinical trial presented by my oncologist and the risks/benefits of Lupron. She didn't tell me what she thought was best, she asked what felt best for me and my life. Knowing that I was a sexual assault survivor, she was always very transparent with me about what was going to happen and how it was going to happen. The day before my egg retrieval she brought me into the office and walked me through the procedure, making sure I was comfortable with what was about to happen. She listened to my concerns every step of the way and allowed me to make data driven decisions. When I went into my egg retrieval she held my hand until I fell asleep. Dr. Gunn is the most incredible, trauma informed doctor that I have ever seen. Dr. Miss America continues to be my biggest cheerleader in my fight against cancer and I wouldn't be here today without her. Knowing that my father and my brother had passed away, she understood that it was important for me to be able to have biological children. It is only because she pushed my cancer treatment team that I was allowed to have the option to do that. She advocated for me when I needed it and I couldn't thank her more.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Forget that she was Miss America - she's so much more than that. She's an incredible physician.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham?
As a young woman who had just been diagnosed with breast cancer my whole was upside down and spinning. From the moment I stepped into Dr. Gunn's office she was the grounding force that I needed to calm the storm. I had been presented with the option to be a part of a clinical trial, or take Lupron throughout my chemotherapy treatment to try and preserve my ovaries. Dr. Gunn called me one evening and stayed on the phone with me for over and hour talking me through all the details of both the clinical trial presented by my oncologist and the risks/benefits of Lupron. She didn't tell me what she thought was best, she asked what felt best for me and my life. The day before my egg retrieval she brought me into the office and walked me through the procedure, making sure I was comfortable with what was about to happen. She listened to my concerns every step of the way and allowed me to make data driven decisions. When I went into my egg retrieval she held my hand until I fell asleep. Dr. Gunn is the most incredible, trauma informed doctor that I have ever seen.
Describe the protocols Deidre Downs Gunn used in your cycles at University of Alabama Birmingham and their degree of success.
As I was in the midst of trying to rush an egg retrieval cycle before I started chemotherapy, I honestly cannot remember what protocol I was given. I do know that is produced wonderful results and that 22 eggs were retrieved from one cycle.
Describe your experience with your nurse at University of Alabama Birmingham. (Assigned nurse: Tabitha Vigee)
All of the fellows, residents, and nurses that work in Dr. Gunn's office were and are incredible people. Everyone remembers my name and small details about my life that I would not expect them to remember. They are genuinely invested in my life and I consider every single one of them part of my circle of support. They would come and visit me on the floor above their office when I was receiving chemotherapy treatments and they would come and visit me when I ended up in the hospital for whatever reason. Everyone is very responsive when I have questions or concerns about my treatment and no matter what the issue is, they are non-judgmental and I feel comfortable sharing anything with them.
Describe your experience with University of Alabama Birmingham.
Their surgical suite is pretty awesome and a great perk of working with Dr. Gunn. The wait times are not long at all, which is great. The only problem with the office is parking, due to the fact that it is in the Women and Infant's wing of the hospital and so you might have to walk a bit from where you parked.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham.
A large part of my treatment costs were covered by the LiveStrong Fertility Preservation Foundation. So this isn't really applicable to me.
Describe Deidre Downs Gunn's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at University of Alabama Birmingham.
When I communicated directly with Dr. Gunn either in person or on the phone she was extremely kind, compassionate, and she listened to all my concerns and took that into consideration for determining my course of treatment...since I was not an IVF patient I do feel as this limited my direct contact with her. She was able to quickly review and accurately assess my problem and form a plan after I had spent months another physician. She explained things very well in a way I could understand...She gives out her personal cell phone number and I texted her a few times with questions and she always responded. I often had to correspond with her fellows or nurse practitioner. Nurse practitioner was fine and kind, but the fellows at times were difficult to deal with. I feel as if the fellows missed a few things along the way (ex. calling in medicine and making sure we had sufficient quantity of injections on hand) and didn't fully explain to me what the plan was. Sometimes I felt that I had to blindly trust their judgement.
I often had to correspond with her fellows or nurse practitioner [at University of Alabama]. Nurse practitioner was fine and kind, but the fellows at times were difficult to deal with. I feel as if the fellows missed a few things along the way (ex. calling in medicine and making sure we had sufficient quantity of injections on hand) and didn't fully explain to me what the plan was. Sometimes I felt that I had to blindly trust their judgement...The portal is how patients communicate with nurses...Ultrasounds start early in the day so I tried to get the earliest appointment time they had and was able to get my imaging and labs done and get to work by 8am at a different hospital. Then the team would review the results and portal me the plan in the afternoon. Parking is difficult so make sure you allow an extra ~20 minutes for that. Ultrasound techs were great and ultrasounds went smoothly as long as a fellow wasn't doing my ultrasound.
How was your experience with Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Dr. Gunn was fantastic when we had one on time, but since I was not an IVF patient I do feel as this limited my direct contact with her. She was able to quickly review and accurately assess my problem and form a plan after I had spent months another physician. She explained things very well in a way I could understand.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Do not expect to meet directly with Dr. Gunn often especially if you are not an IVF patient. Dr. Gunn is fantastic when you work directly with her. She gives out her personal cell phone number and I texted her a few times with questions and she always responded. I often had to correspond with her fellows or nurse practitioner. Nurse practitioner was fine and kind, but the fellows at times were difficult to deal with. I feel as if the fellows missed a few things along the way (ex. calling in medicine and making sure we had sufficient quantity of injections on hand) and didn't fully explain to me what the plan was. Sometimes I felt that I had to blindly trust their judgement.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham?
When I communicated directly with Dr. Gunn either in person or on the phone she was extremely kind, compassionate, and she listened to all my concerns and took that into consideration for determining my course of treatment.
Describe the protocols Deidre Downs Gunn used in your cycles at University of Alabama Birmingham and their degree of success.
MENOPUR INJECTIONS
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at University of Alabama Birmingham.
The portal is how patients communicate with nurses. My favorite nurse left right after Christmas. She was awesome and had excellent communication skills in her portal messages and happily answered all my questions. After she left the other nurses answered my questions, but they were not as clear as the first nurse.
Describe your experience with University of Alabama Birmingham.
Ultrasounds start early in the day so I tried to get the earliest appointment time they had and was able to get my imaging and labs done and get to work by 8am at a different hospital. Then the team would review the results and portal me the plan in the afternoon. Parking is difficult so make sure you allow an extra ~20 minutes for that. Ultrasound techs were great and ultrasounds went smoothly as long as a fellow wasn't doing my ultrasound.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham.
Insurance covered everything. I only paid copays. Dr. Gunn was very upfront about costs and made sure to take financial information into consideration for treatment options.
What specific things went wrong at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Failed to inform you of changes in protocol
Provided conflicting information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at University of Alabama Birmingham.
I was on the gonadotropin protocol. I did a total of 3 trigger shots and with the 3rd trigger shot I was told by the fellow that we would start progesterone 72 hours later. I questioned this and asked why we didn't do this with the prior two trigger shots (both under the gonadotrophin protocol). The fellow did not have a good explanation. I texted Dr. Gunn to confirm that starting progesterone was appropriate and she said it was and she had her nurse portal me a copy of the gonadotrophin protocol which no one had given to me or mentioned before.
I went to Dr. Gunn to get my eggs/embryos frozen due to medical condition that requires me to be on chemotherapeutic medication. I never once got to see Dr. Gunn nor did she respond to my MULTIPLE messages in which I had concerns and questions. I saw her medical student/resident, Dr. Chang once during an ultrasound over a weekend in which she told me she was only there to fill in. At no point was I ever told Dr. Chang was overtaking my entire case...I thought it was strange I could never reach my "actual" doctor, Dr. Gunn. During one of my ultrasounds, it was so painful I burst into tears as the Tech struggled to FORCE the probe in.
I had a failed retrieval [at the University of Alabama Birmingham]. I was able to create one 4BC embryo but that was all out of 8 mature eggs. I had questions regarding this (as any normal person would) and I also was confused as to why it may have happened given my AMH was greater than 2.0 (I think it was 2.8) and all of my other labs were normal as well. I had no prior history of infertility and this was just very unusual. The medical student, Dr. Chang initially told me that she too thought it was odd and it seemed like my ovaries did not respond to the medications initially. She was the one who called me with the devastating news on day 2 (after I paged to get some sort of update since I hadn't heard from anyone). I would have thought Dr. Gunn would have made such a call or at least checked in on me.
How was your experience with Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham?
I went to Dr. Gunn to get my eggs/embryos frozen due to medical condition that requires me to be on chemotherapeutic medication. I never once got to see Dr. Gunn nor did she respond to my MULTIPLE messages in which I had concerns and questions. I saw her medical student/resident, Dr. Chang once during an ultrasound over a weekend in which she told me she was only there to fill in. At no point was I ever told Dr. Chang was overtaking my entire case. While she was very kind and responded to all of my messages, I thought it was strange I could never reach my "actual" doctor, Dr. Gunn. During one of my ultrasounds, it was so painful I burst into tears as the Tech struggled to FORCE the probe in. I emailed Dr. Gunn and notified her I left the office crying and was still in such pain a day later and felt swollen. The nurse responded to let me know that at least it'll be over soon as my retrieval was coming up and she would also let one of the doctor's know. Needless to say Dr. Gunn NEVER reached out or addressed the situation. To make a very long story short I had a failed retrieval. I was able to create one 4BC embryo but that was all out of 8 mature eggs. I had questions regarding this (as any normal person would) and I also was confused as to why it may have happened given my AMH was greater than 2.0 (I think it was 2.8) and all of my other labs were normal as well. I had no prior history of infertility and this was just very unusual. The medical student, Dr. Chang initially told me that she too thought it was odd and it seemed like my ovaries did not respond to the medications initially. She was the one who called me with the devastating news on day 2 (after I paged to get some sort of update since I hadn't heard from anyone). I would have thought Dr. Gunn would have made such a call or at least checked in on me. On day 6 a regular nurse called and left me a voicemail later that evening since I missed the call. I had to call back Monday to get the dang final results myself which was absolutely ridiculous. Dr. Gunn was on-call that weekend and just she still did not reach out or at least give me the final day 6 results. I had to wait until day 9 to find out only one had made it. I arranged a meeting with a Patient Advocate to get answers (about 3 weeks after my retrieval!) I met with Dr. Gunn and Dr. Chang and Dr. Chang seemed to be the one instructed to answer the questions. I started to get the feel Dr. Gunn DID NOT do my retrieval and in fact, Dr. Chang had done everything herself and perhaps I was her first "real case". It all made sense why I was in more contact with Dr. Chang and why during the surgery, it was Dr. Chang adjusting the bed and getting me in the right position before they promptly put me to sleep (Dr. Gunn was nowhere to be found in the room before I was put to sleep). I was unaware and nor was it ever disclosed to me that a medical student/resident would be performing my procedure. I am not saying she did anything wrong, however, my consent was NOT given nor even asked. Anyway in the meeting I was told that I just simply had "poor egg quality" with no further explanation. Dr. Gunn said if I did it again she wouldn't change a single thing and would expect the exact same results (well duh, if you don't change anything what else would you expect)? I told her I appreciated her taking the time to finally meet with me and I was very disappointed with the lack of communication. She vowed to do better and was "sorry I felt that way" (you know one of those fake apologizes where you blame the other person for their own feelings). I decided I would proceed with another cycle since she did seem like she would try harder to communicate. Six days after our meeting, I was contacted by a Nurse Director saying that they had met and Dr. Gunn had decided she is "unable to meet my expectations" and am discontinuing me as a patient. And that they would make all arrangements to find me a new clinic. I was just baffled and asked when did this take place and why would having open communication as my expectation be something she's unable to meet? I asked is that unreasonable to expect your own Doctor to respond to messages and communicate?? She said it was not unreasonable. So I asked then how is it that Dr. Gunn has come to the conclusion that she's unable to meet that expectation?? I could not believe what I was hearing or what was going on. That was in July 2019 and as of now Jan. 2020 I have had no contact or further explanation. Two months after that phone call I received a certified letter from Dr. Gunn that was informing me that she was discontinuing me and could see me up until August 20th for emergencies only. This letter was sent and delivered in SEPTEMBER!! It was intentionally held. My other doctors are shocked and cannot understand why she would treat me this way all because I asked normal questions regarding my retrieval.
I was never assisted in finding a new clinic and had to do all the leg work myself. I found a FANTASTIC clinic that has worked miracles with me. My new doctor at Brookwood has been absolutely amazing and the compassion she has shown me is just unspeakable. UAB's Dr. Gunn slapped in my medical record "female infertility". However, my new Dr. Houserman took the time to discuss a different plan, medication dosages etc to get to the bottom of the mystery. She said she would not label me with "poor egg quality" after one single retrieval since I was able to create one embryo at UAB and there are multiple factors that could have caused my results. In the end, I now have 5 (FIVE!!) GOOD QUALITY embryos (4BBs and 5ABs) at Brookwood after changing the donor I'd used. We still aren't exactly sure what happened but changing the donor and trigger shot (we used Lupron) resulted in these 5 embryos. It also could have been my chemotherapeutic medication still in my system longer than anticipated since I had been on it for over 20yrs.
I am still scarred from my experience at UAB and still even cry when I think about how I was treated and so abruptly dismissed out of the clinic for simply asking questions. I am so blessed to have been directed to Dr. Houserman and her team. Dr. Houserman HERSELF called me twice following my retrieval. She never gave up and did not label me something without trying all alternative. She is indeed such a wonderful, kind, understanding person to work with and I am forever grateful. I don't know what will come of my embryos once I am ready to use them but I am thankful that I have them.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Do not expect to EVER hear from her. If you send a direct message to Dr. Gunn do not ever expect a response. EVER. If anything a nurse will respond without fully answering your specific question. If she isn't sure why something didn't work according to plan, then it's YOUR FAULT. She will under not circumstances dig further and see what happened. If you ask questions, be prepared to be sent packing. I was kicked out of her clinic because I asked follow up questions about my procedure after it had failed unexpectedly.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham?
I NEVER saw Dr. Gunn. I saw her for a consultation 8 months prior to proceeding with treatment and when I requested to see her again the nurses initially told me that they could answer whatever questions I have. I told them surely I can't be expected to start a procedure without a clear understanding and detailed plan having seen the doctor only once nearly a year prior. I had special circumstances (undergoing chemotherapeutic medication) that needed priority care yet I was just treated like cattle.
Describe the protocols Deidre Downs Gunn used in your cycles at University of Alabama Birmingham and their degree of success.
Dr. Gunn seemed to use the exact same dosage of medication for all patients. Once drug fits all method. There was no separate evaluation or anything that indicated otherwise. After my failed retrieval, she said that she wouldn't change a single thing and just said I have poor egg quality and called it a day.
Describe your experience with your nurse at University of Alabama Birmingham. (Assigned nurse: Tabitha Marie Vigee)
The IVF nurse, Tabitha was usually very good at responded to messages. In fact, that's all she would respond to. If you tired to call, you would never get through. She was the ONLY nurse that I was aware of. I never saw a single other nurse the entire time. The clinic was severely understaffed and overworked. If I emailed Dr. Gunn directly, Tabitha responded. If I emailed Tabitha a concern that I wanted passed on to Dr. Gunn, she would answer the parts she could and then ignore the rest of my question or concern and it would never be answered. Seemed very impatient at times and very insensitive.
Describe your experience with University of Alabama Birmingham.
The clinic is very clean. However, if you want to actually be a part of your own plan and on the same page as the doctor, don't kid yourself. Go to another clinic. Do NOT expect any explanations on how things may have turned out the way they did or what perhaps the doctor might do differently next time. With my failed procedure bet your bottom dollar they kept every single PENNY that I paid and promptly kicked me out for asking questions.
Now if you want to just get things over with and call it a day and never hear from them again, this is the place for you!
Describe the costs associated with your care under Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham.
I qualified for Live Strong, a cancer foundation that covers the cost of medication for patients that have undergone chemotherapy. So my costs where cut down significantly. Any patient that qualifies has a set rate that they pay for their procedure determined by that clinic. I think my payment was $6000. However, they clinic was not shy (as well as the IVF nurse) about mentioning how they don't get any additional payments and seemed a bit bitter about it. I was told I must pay in full upfront or they would not proceed. I have heard other patients were offered payment plans and "worked with" however that was NOT my experience.
Describe Deidre Downs Gunn's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at University of Alabama Birmingham.
She is strictly a single embryo transfer no matter what. Regardless of your history or the "quality" of the embryo. She will not transfer more than one under no circumstances.
What specific things went wrong at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Failed to call with results
Failed to send your chart to another clinic
Failed to inform you of changes in protocol
Provided conflicting information
Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at University of Alabama Birmingham.
After I was abruptly dismissed, the clinic never made the promised arrangements with another clinic for me. They sent over my partial file. And currently they still have my one embryo that they promised they would send to any clinic of my choosing free of charge.
Between the 1st and 2nd cycles [with Dr. Deidre Gunn] we did change up the protocol (less lupron maybe?) and we did a freeze all for genetic testing, because all of my cycles had good numbers for fertilization, but with my advanced maternal age, felt like it was the egg quality that was the issue...is a thoughtful and knowledgeable doctor. She shared information with me by using facts and research and was direct with the process and next steps and options at every stage, but at the same time was compassionate and made me feel like she cared about my success as much as I did. I always felt like I was under the best of care with her and the team at UAB.
It was about $15k for each cycle [at University of Alabama Birmingham] w/ icsi, plus meds, and then $2-3K for pgs testing... I felt like the clinic was great. The whole staff got along, I got to know everyone from the women at the check in desk, to the women who drew my blood, to the embryologist and my doctors and nurses. It's a really great practice and I'm glad I chose to go there even if it wasn't the closest clinic to me...Dr Gunn, and the attending doctors and the nurses knew me by name, they sat with me when sharing good or bad news, never made me feel rushed, never made me feel like my questions or emotions were too much or an inconvenience to them.
Doctor Nps
How was your experience with Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Dr Gunn is a thoughtful and knowledgeable doctor. She shared information with me by using facts and research and was direct with the process and next steps and options at every stage, but at the same time was compassionate and made me feel like she cared about my success as much as I did. I always felt like I was under the best of care with her and the team at UAB.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham?
VIsit or meet with her as soon as you can (b/c I know you wanted to be pregnant already) and trust that whatever she's recommending is what's best for you and your specific situation. She won't throw tests or options out just because. She's considering all the options out there, but presenting what's best for you. Trust her.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Dr Gunn, and the attending doctors and the nurses knew me by name, they sat with me when sharing good or bad news, never made me feel rushed, never made me feel like my questions or emotions were too much or an inconvenience to them.
Describe the protocols Deidre Downs Gunn used in your cycles at University of Alabama Birmingham and their degree of success.
Not going to lie, the details are a little fuzzy! I remember using Gonal f, menopur, estradiol, lupron, pregnyl. Taking low dose aspirin. Between the 1st and 2nd cycles we did change up the protocol (less lupron maybe?) and we did a freeze all for genetic testing, because all of my cycles had good numbers for fertilization, but with my advanced maternal age, felt like it was the egg quality that was the issue. My first IVF cycle, I had 8 retrieved, my 2nd had 15 retrieved and my third we had 16! For my 2nd and 3rd I cut out sugar for the 30 days before the meds started but that was not because Dr. Gunn told me too.
Describe your experience with your nurse at University of Alabama Birmingham. (Assigned nurse: Tabitha)
Tabitha was helpful, always followed up, knew me by name when she saw me, and absolutely cared. The one thing that could have been better was that Laura, the nurse I had before, had done IVF herself, so there was just an extra level of compassion and understanding that you can't just teach to someone.
Describe your experience with University of Alabama Birmingham.
I never parked in the public parking lot, but instead in the parking lot by the doors of the clinic. They could punch it so it was cheaper and I felt like it was worth the $2. I felt like the clinic was great. The whole staff got along, I got to know everyone from the women at the check in desk, to the women who drew my blood, to the embryologist and my doctors and nurses. It's a really great practice and I'm glad I chose to go there even if it wasn't the closest clinic to me.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham.
It was about $15k for each cycle w/ icsi, plus meds, and then $2-3K for pgs testing.
Dr Blackwell always answered my questions,even if there were tons and put my mind at ease. Even when I have questions at an appointment that wasn’t scheduled to see him; he always popped in and answered them. He gave me realistic expectations and was there every step of the way. ... He will only do 3-4 IUIs before referring to IVF. ... The first scan measured smaller follicles than he would have liked so the next month we added ovidrel.
Strengths: Quick to respond ... Clean Online portal was always updated ... Explained every visit/procedure thoroughly ... ... My opinion mattered ... Check in was easy Weakness: Appointment sometimes took a while Didn’t see the actual doctor much but I understand ... The nursing staff [UAB] was always amazing. They really made me feel like I mattered and answered any questions I had.
How was your experience with Richard (Dick) Blackwell at University of Alabama Birmingham?
He was very responsive to any questions I had and set out a realistic time frame and expectations. The onlt thing that bothered me a little was not seeing him as often as I liked but he would pop in if I ever needed questions answered. I will say that he always made an effort to schedule as many things in one day as possible and get medications to me quickly since I travel 90 minutes one way so I appreciated that.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Richard (Dick) Blackwell at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Pray
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Richard (Dick) Blackwell at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Dr Blackwell always answered my questions,even if there were tons and put my mind at ease. Even when I have questions at an appointment that wasn’t scheduled to see him; he always popped in and answered them. He gave me realistic expectations and was there every step of the way.
Describe the protocols Richard (Dick) Blackwell used in your cycles at University of Alabama Birmingham and their degree of success.
I started out with just taking letrozole I believe (after the initial bloodwork and consult of course) and measuring follicles around day 11-12. After no pregnancy; he quickly resorted to IUI so we continued with the follicle measuring,letrozole,and added Gonal-f. The first scan measured smaller follicles than he would have liked so the next month we added ovidrel. We continue this until i decided to take a break in October. It became a lot financially and emotionally. He will only do 3-4 IUIs before referring to IVF.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at University of Alabama Birmingham.
The nursing staff was always amazing. They really made me feel like I mattered and answered any questions I had.
Describe your experience with University of Alabama Birmingham.
Strengths:
Quick to respond
Explained every visit/procedure thoroughly
Clean
Online portal was always updated
Check in was easy
My opinion mattered
Weakness:
Appointment sometimes took a while
Didn’t see the actual doctor much but I understand
Describe the costs associated with your care under Richard (Dick) Blackwell at University of Alabama Birmingham.
Co-pays and some lab work that was covered
Describe Richard (Dick) Blackwell's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at University of Alabama Birmingham.
The only downside to Dr Gunn is that I feel like I never see her. I don’t feel like she is checking in on me without my prompting. ... Dr Gunn she suggested IUI w/ meds because of my age, 37 ... She is an advocate for LGBT reproduction ... Dr Gunn was very patient and caring. ... I feel she cares very much for her patients. I appreciate her open and honest dialogue. ...
Clinic [U of AL at Birmingham] is great. Parking is awful. Staff is wonderful. I hate the computer check-in system. I like to talk to someone upon arriving. Clinic is clean and well organized. The clinic usually runs in time, only having to wait longer then expected a few times. ... Each ultrasound is $150. Clomid ~$20 Trigger shot ~$100. IUI $300 ... The nursing staff was great. All seemed very caring and invested. A few occasions they were tired or less friendly, but that’s to be expected.
How was your experience with Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham?
I really like Dr Gunn, I feel she is passionate about what she does and truly in her field for all the right reasons. She is an advocate for LGBT reproduction - which I think is amazing. I’m not LGBT, but I like that she helps many people with fertility. Dr Gunn is caring and listens. I think she is very well trained and trustworthy. The only downside to Dr Gunn is that I feel like I never see her. I don’t feel like she is checking in on me without my prompting. As anyone who goes through infertility knows, this journey can be isolating and mentally taxing. I went through so low points and wanted Dr Gunn to reach out. I went through two clomid cycles with times intercourse and had to take a break because - then I started back with an IUI cycle. Those three cycles have taken my almost 8 months to complete and would really like a meeting/phone call/ follow-up after each cycle or two to access the results and discuss next steps. Knowing more about the process I know this isn’t really possibly at her level - but perhaps a care team staff member could reach out? It’s just hard and lonely and I wish I’d had a little more hand holding after each negative pregnancy test. I do really like Dr Gunn, this is my only negative assessment of her and the care team. I would recommend her and know my expectations have made me be a little more proactive in my health care.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Ask lots of questions and don’t hesitate to reach out. It’s a lonely journey.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Dr Gunn was very patient and caring. She gave me her personal cell phone number to call if I had emergency questions or problems. The doctor’s office uses an online portal (email) to communicate and Dr Gunn (or staff) is always responsive. I feel she cares very much for her patients. I appreciate her open and honest dialogue.
Describe the protocols Deidre Downs Gunn used in your cycles at University of Alabama Birmingham and their degree of success.
First meeting with Dr Gunn she suggested IUI w/ meds because of my age, 37, and we had been married 9 years and had tried 2 years to conceive naturally. I wasn’t ready to jump in to IUI, so I asked if we could start with clomid and times intercourse. She said absolutely and we did two rounds of timed intercourse with meds. I had to take time off between cycles due to cysts and mild depression caused by meds. After 2 failed cycles of meds and timed intercourse, I informed the staff I was ready to move to IUI, which is where we currently are.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at University of Alabama Birmingham.
The nursing staff was great. All seemed very caring and invested. A few occasions they were tired or less friendly, but that’s to be expected.
Describe your experience with University of Alabama Birmingham.
Clinic is great. Parking is awful. Staff is wonderful. I hate the computer check-in system. I like to talk to someone upon arriving. Clinic is clean and well organized. The clinic usually runs in time, only having to wait longer then expected a few times. Since I’ve gone so much I’ve learned to bring a book. Due to my cycle I had to receive treatment on a Sunday of a holiday weekend. The clinic was great to be open understanding the importance of timing these things.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham.
Consultation was covered under insurance. Each ultrasound is $150. Clomid ~$20 Trigger shot ~$100. IUI $300
Describe Deidre Downs Gunn's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at University of Alabama Birmingham.
Dr. Gunn walked me through everything we were doing, why we were doing it, and the expectations/risks with each approach. I appreciate that she takes the time to meet with patients so often instead of a few times a year like some other practices. She is very involved which made me feel even more like she was making great decisions for us along the way.... Dr. Gunn directly called me to talk through the changes she was making to our plan and how we would closely monitor everything.
[UAB is] Very organized set up, sometimes a little bit longer wait, but honestly I never minded because when they are meeting with you they don't rush you in and out the door, and I know that's the way they are treating another patient and likely why there is a delay.... Our clinic feels very strongly about only transferring one embryo, unless there is a outlying reason to transfer 2. The way the pricing is set up, it is much more cost effective because you pay per transfer. So it is much easier to only put 1 when you can pay per time instead of only getting 3 transfers as a part of a package or something (where you may feel more pressed to transfer more to increase chances).
How was your experience with Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Dr. Gunn walked me through everything we were doing, why we were doing it, and the expectations/risks with each approach. I appreciate that she takes the time to meet with patients so often instead of a few times a year like some other practices. She is very involved which made me feel even more like she was making great decisions for us along the way.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham?
She will explain things, but bring questions with you. She is so kind and happy to answer ALL of them. I never felt silly asking about things I didn't fully understand. She is a great communicator.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Dr. Gunn and Dr. Von Hoffe always took the time to explain things and answer my questions. I never felt like they were trying to rush to the next appointment and I always left feeling like all of my questions were answered.
Describe the protocols Deidre Downs Gunn used in your cycles at University of Alabama Birmingham and their degree of success.
I started with Dr. Gunn after moving from another clinic. I explained I wanted to be more aggressive with treatments as I had previously done 5 nights of 5.0 mg of Letrozole and 150 of Follistim for 3 nights. I was only getting 1 mature egg each cycle and had been doing this combo for several months. She reviewed my charts and agreed we could try this approach to increase the doses. My doses were upped to 7.5 mg of Letrozole and 175 of Follistim. Unfortunately I responded too well and had 7-9 eggs mature that cycle and we had to cancel. We returned to the lower dose and tried it combined with an IUI. Negative pregnancy test. Did the same again and had 2 eggs mature that cycle, another IUI, but another negative pregnancy test. It was at this time that we discussed IVF. Our first attempt was cancelled before medications were started because my estrogen levels were too high. Our second attempt, my levels were high again but we tried to move forward and monitor closely. Dr. Gunn directly called me to talk through the changes she was making to our plan and how we would closely monitor everything. She did exactly that, but unfortunately not enough eggs matured to the right size, and she decided to cancel the retrieval. This decision was hard but instead of just taking our money and trying for the retrieval, she recognized it wouldn't be a very successful retrieval and would be better to cancel and start over later. We are currently in the wait to try our 3rd attempt.
Describe your experience with your nurse at University of Alabama Birmingham. (Assigned nurse: Tabitha)
Once you start the IVF process, you will work with the IVF coordinator, which allows you one point person for all of your questions, concerns, scheduling, etc. She was quick to respond and always passed along questions to the doctor when they needed to be escalated.
Describe your experience with University of Alabama Birmingham.
Very organized set up, sometimes a little bit longer wait, but honestly I never minded because when they are meeting with you they don't rush you in and out the door, and I know that's the way they are treating another patient and likely why there is a delay.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham.
Unfortunately my insurance does not cover any appointments so these were out of pocket expenses for me personally. However, they have never demanded that we pay the full balance and we have made small payments each month towards our bill. The IVF costs are pretty comparable to other clinics in the area, however, the way they have it set up takes a lot of stress off the process. You pay for retrieval costs, and can add in ICSI or Genetic Testing, then you pay per transfer. Another clinic I worked with packaged it all together and you only had 1, 2, or 3 chances and total costs reflected. So if you had a ton of embryos left, but had used up your number of transfers, you owed even more money. UAB approaches the retrieval process with the mindset that they hope you will only ever do 1 retrieval to build your entire family. Instead of retrieving each time you are ready to try for another child.
Describe Deidre Downs Gunn's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at University of Alabama Birmingham.
Our clinic feels very strongly about only transferring one embryo, unless there is a outlying reason to transfer 2. The way the pricing is set up, it is much more cost effective because you pay per transfer. So it is much easier to only put 1 when you can pay per time instead of only getting 3 transfers as a part of a package or something (where you may feel more pressed to transfer more to increase chances).
You can tell he [Dr. Bates] cares in his own way. He’s good at explaining every step of the procedures. He takes time during every visit and never made me feel rushed. He’s realistic with his expectations and doesn’t set false hopes. I know when he had to call to tell me the first transfer was unsuccessful he was upset about it too. He is a kind man who is also working at a teaching hospital so he’s sharing his knowledge with future doctors.
The facility itself [U of Alabama] is clean and modern. The waiting room is comfortable. The parking is a challenge and how the bathrooms are in the hall by the elevator vs off of the waiting rooms is a little inconvenient. But I do like that you go to the same place for the retrieval’s and the transfers and blood work is all done in one spot.... we use a portal to email back and forth and sometimes that’s hard because one nurse will start the convo and another will pick up. So that can get confusing.
How was your experience with Gordon Wright Bates at University of Alabama Birmingham?
While he may not be a hugger. You can tell he cares in his own way. He’s good at explaining every step of the procedures. He takes time during every visit and never made me feel rushed. He’s realistic with his expectations and doesn’t set false hopes. I know when he had to call to tell me the first transfer was unsuccessful he was upset about it too. He is a kind man who is also working at a teaching hospital so he’s sharing his knowledge with future doctors.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Gordon Wright Bates at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Don’t expect him to be all warm and fuzzy. More of a factual this is how it goes sort of guy. Be prepared with questions too and he will answer every one of them and not make you feel silly for asking.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Gordon Wright Bates at University of Alabama Birmingham?
I love Dr Bates. You can tell he does this because he loves to help. His team is great. They all remember me and are always available for any questions.
Describe the protocols Gordon Wright Bates used in your cycles at University of Alabama Birmingham and their degree of success.
I used microdose lupron. Menopur and gonal f. We used icsi on both retrieval’s. And did a fresh transfer which was unsuccessful with two 5 day embryos. Our second retrieval was a freeze all and we did pgs testing. We then did a frozen transfer of the only genetically good embryo and that’s my 7 month old daughter!
Describe your experience with your nurse at University of Alabama Birmingham. (Assigned nurse: Laura, Tabitha, Kendall, Sonjola)
Love them! They care so much and are super helpful. I do wish their calendars were a bit different for my use/preference. Also, we use a portal to email back and forth and sometimes that’s hard because one nurse will start the convo and another will pick up. So that can get confusing.
Describe your experience with University of Alabama Birmingham.
The facility itself is clean and modern. The waiting room is comfortable. The parking is a challenge and how the bathrooms are in the hall by the elevator vs off of the waiting rooms is a little inconvenient. But I do like that you go to the same place for the retrieval’s and the transfers and blood work is all done in one spot. Because it’s in Birmingham just always be prepared for traffic.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Gordon Wright Bates at University of Alabama Birmingham.
There were costs for the retrieval’s. The transfers. The isci and the pgs testing. The cost of meds and pgs testing were not through Bates/UAB but part of the whole experience. It was about $18,000 per round
Describe Gordon Wright Bates's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at University of Alabama Birmingham.
I believe he prefers to transfer 1 embryo. We did two the first time because of our urging. We wanted twins.
Dr Bates is an extremely knowledgable doctor. He is also a professor at UAB and has been treating infertility for 25 years. He really knows what he is doing and isnt in the business of risking mom and baby by risking multiples. I fully trust his expertise.... I only see Dr Bates during the big dates, the fellows handle most all the busy work with Dr Bates making all the decision. All Doc and Staff are very sweet and caring.
The only downside of the clinic [UAB] is that its very hospital like... well because its at a hospital. Haha. The parking is also limited but im not big on parking in the deck across the street. The parking fee is rather expensive and adds up quickly with all the visits.... [The nurse was] Excellent. Great communication through patient portal. Attentive to needs and questions.
How was your experience with Gordon Wright Bates at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Dr Bates is an extremely knowledgable doctor. He is also a professor at UAB and has been treating infertility for 25 years. He really knows what he is doing and isnt in the business of risking mom and baby by risking multiples. I fully trust his expertise.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Gordon Wright Bates at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Do some research and come prepared with questions. Dr Bates is a very busy man so utilize your time with him wisely. The fellows are very knowledgeable as well.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Gordon Wright Bates at University of Alabama Birmingham?
I only see Dr Bates during the big dates, the fellows handle most all the busy work with Dr Bates making all the decision. All Doc and Staff are very sweet and caring.
Describe the protocols Gordon Wright Bates used in your cycles at University of Alabama Birmingham and their degree of success.
Letrozole CD 3-7
HCG trigger as directed after US
IUI 24 hours later
Repeat Above
IVF
Menopur
Follistem
Antagonist as directed
HCG trigger as directed
Retieval 36 hours later
Tranfer
Estrace 2mgx2 for 7 days + Baby Asp
Estrace 2mgx3 for 9 days + Baby Asp
Same as above add Progesterone 1ml for 1 day.
Same as above add Medrol 16 mg for 5 days.
Doxy with dinner and breakfast before transfer.
After Transfer
Progesterone 1ml, Estrace 2mgx3 and Baby Asp daily as directed
Describe your experience with your nurse at University of Alabama Birmingham. (Assigned nurse: Tabitha)
Excellent. Great communication through patient portal. Attentive to needs and questions.
Describe your experience with University of Alabama Birmingham.
The only downside of the clinic is that its very hospital like... well because its at a hospital. Haha. The parking is also limited but im not big on parking in the deck across the street. The parking fee is rather expensive and adds up quickly with all the visits.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Gordon Wright Bates at University of Alabama Birmingham.
It varied depending on Insurance coverage but complete IVF cycle is roughly 18,000us
Describe Gordon Wright Bates's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at University of Alabama Birmingham.
ESET is what they prefer unless unsuccessful on previous transfers.
Dr. Gunn was very calm and easy going. Just very even all the time. I felt like she was very competent and explained things well. ... She did things based off of evidence-based learning, which I loved. ... She was so kind and caring; called me on the weekend a few times; gave me a work 'personal cell phone number' to be able to reach her at if needed; was able to text her too. I only texted her once, but it was great to know I could contact her.
I loved being at UAB. The first year fellow at the time did a lot of my ultrasounds and was there at all my big appointments. I felt like I was so well-taken care of and loved the evidence-based treatment style. ... The ultrasound monitoring started at 7:15am. ... Gave very detailed calendars of medications. Was very easy to communicate with- emails were ALWAYS answered within an hour or two.
How was your experience with Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Dr. Gunn was very calm and easy going. Just very even all the time. I felt like she was very competent and explained things well. My husband and I are both doctors, so we were very impressed with her care. She did things based off of evidence-based learning, which I loved.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham?
You are in good hands.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham?
She was so kind and caring; called me on the weekend a few times; gave me a work 'personal cell phone number' to be able to reach her at if needed; was able to text her too. I only texted her once, but it was great to know I could contact her.
Describe the protocols Deidre Downs Gunn used in your cycles at University of Alabama Birmingham and their degree of success.
1. Three rounds of Clomid with trigger shots.
2. Two IUI's. (It was suggested we do three, but we were ready to move to IVF)
3. 1 egg retrieval cycle and 1 transfer resulting in our 24 week old in utero son!
Describe your experience with your nurse at University of Alabama Birmingham. (Assigned nurse: Tabitha)
Gave very detailed calendars of medications.
Was very easy to communicate with- emails were ALWAYS answered within an hour or two.
Friendly, kind, and compassionate.
The BEST nurses!!!
Describe your experience with University of Alabama Birmingham.
I loved being at UAB. The first year fellow at the time did a lot of my ultrasounds and was there at all my big appointments. I felt like I was so well-taken care of and loved the evidence-based treatment style.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at University of Alabama Birmingham.
The ultrasound monitoring started at 7:15am. I would always take these early appointments because I worked. I even went in on a Sunday for an ultrasound and did an IUI on a Saturday. They were very accommodating.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham.
IUI- $290 each
Stimulation and Egg Retrieval- $11,130
Embryo Transfer- $1390
Genetic Counyl Screening Bloodwork- $700
PGS testing of the embryos- $1600 for six embryos
Medications- $4200 total
Describe Deidre Downs Gunn's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at University of Alabama Birmingham.
My doctor recommended a single embryo transfer. Due to my age (31) and the quality of our embryos (very good), she would not transfer more than one embryo. She told us the goal of treatment was a single, healthy pregnancy which is better for mom and baby.
She [Dr. Gunn] is thoughtful, caring, and professional. She does a wonderful job explaining statistics, odds of success, and preparing us for outcomes. I would love if we could see her at every visit and procedure, but there have been a few ultrasounds and one IUI where we were seen by other doctors.... Letrozole was used in our first IUI cycle rather than Clomid because of its success in PCOS patients. I do not have PCOS but have many of its symptoms. I was also prescribed a trigger shot with ultrasound monitoring.
The nurses have been warm, kind, and helpful in person. But communicating via phone or Portal is hit or miss. They almost never answer the phones and have overlooked a couple of my questions in Portal messaging. Mostly communication via Portal is fine, though.... Because UAB is a university hospital, it seems that the doctors there can keep checks and balances on one another and maintain the highest standards of evidence-based care.
How was your experience with Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham?
She is thoughtful, caring, and professional. She does a wonderful job explaining statistics, odds of success, and preparing us for outcomes. I would love if we could see her at every visit and procedure, but there have been a few ultrasounds and one IUI where we were seen by other doctors.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Get "Portal" on your cell phone ASAP because you'll never be able to get through to a nurse just by trying a phone call.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham?
She provides personal, evidence-based care. However there have been a couple of miscommunication issues or things overlooked, possibly due to the large number of patients.
Describe the protocols Deidre Downs Gunn used in your cycles at University of Alabama Birmingham and their degree of success.
Letrozole was used in our first IUI cycle rather than Clomid because of its success in PCOS patients. I do not have PCOS but have many of its symptoms. I was also prescribed a trigger shot with ultrasound monitoring. This combo resulted in a pregnancy, the first in five years of trying. Unfortunately it ended in miscarriage. Dr. Gunn has since discovered polyps in my uterus and done a polypectomy to remove them. We had one IUI after the miscarriage and before the discovery of the polyps, but it was not successful.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at University of Alabama Birmingham.
The nurses have been warm, kind, and helpful in person. But communicating via phone or Portal is hit or miss. They almost never answer the phones and have overlooked a couple of my questions in Portal messaging. Mostly communication via Portal is fine, though.
Describe your experience with University of Alabama Birmingham.
Because UAB is a university hospital, it seems that the doctors there can keep checks and balances on one another and maintain the highest standards of evidence-based care. I notice a huge positive difference in this aspect when we switched from our old fertility specialist.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham.
So far we have done 2 IUI cycles at $295 each, and each also had a trigger shot of $100. We also paid $100 for polypectomy. We have paid maybe $200 in other fees like co-pays, parking, and small account balances.
Describe Deidre Downs Gunn's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at University of Alabama Birmingham.
N/A
What specific things went wrong at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Failed to order appropriate test
Lost or damaged samples
Describe the specific things that went wrong at University of Alabama Birmingham.
During our first IUI there, an employee lost nearly all of my husband's semen sample. My husband repeated collection, but the final count was still not great. We got pregnant that cycle anyway. It ended in loss weeks later. I had issues early on with trying to get a full thyroid panel run because the nurse messaging me kept overlooking my questions. I also had a prescription called in incorrectly by a fellow doctor, for only half the dose it should have been.
[Dr. Bouknight has] By far the best bedside manor I have ever experienced...an amazing doctor and person! She always listens to our concerns and our ideas regarding our treatment. Also due to our commute (4 hours to clinic), she always adjusted her schedule/our appointments to accommodate...The best way to communicate is through the patient portal. She will always answer within a few hours or the following day.
The nurse [at University of Alabama] was always very kid and understanding. She always returned my calls or emails promptly and sent out all prescriptions on time...Their team is truly amazing and I say team because that is what they are. The few times I had to see a different doctor they were always up to speed with my treatment plan and our family's obstacles. It was very comforting to know everyone cared from receptionists, lab analysts, doctors and nurses.
How was your experience with Janet Bouknight at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Dr. Bouknight is an amazing doctor and person! She always listens to our concerns and our ideas regarding our treatment. Also due to our commute (4 hours to clinic), she always adjusted her schedule/our appointments to accommodate. By far the best bedside manor I have ever experienced. She truly care.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Janet Bouknight at University of Alabama Birmingham?
The best way to communicate is through the patient portal. She will always answer within a few hours or the following day.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Janet Bouknight at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Dr. Bouknight is extremely compassionate. She is always willing to listen and answer any question I had. She was very understanding of our circumstances (travel distance, money, etc) and always worked with us. She always heard us out and let us be involved in our treatment.
Describe the protocols Janet Bouknight used in your cycles at University of Alabama Birmingham and their degree of success.
My husband and I are considered unexplained infertility. We started treatments with clomid and timed intercourse. Which resulted in negative pregnancy tests. From there we moved onto clomid with IUIs (3). All resulted in negative pregnancy tests. Finally we tried injections with timed intercourse through ultrasound monitoring. This proved to be unsuccessful also. In June 2017, we will complete our first IVF cycle.
Describe your experience with your nurse at University of Alabama Birmingham.
The nurse was always very kid and understanding. She always returned my calls or emails promptly and sent out all prescriptions on time.
Describe your experience with University of Alabama Birmingham.
Their team is truly amazing and I say team because that is what they are. The few times I had to see a different doctor they were always up to speed with my treatment plan and our family's obstacles. It was very comforting to know everyone cared from receptionists, lab analysts, doctors and nurses.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Janet Bouknight at University of Alabama Birmingham.
Up until this point we have paid our regular co-pays ($12 each), medication costs, and IUI costs ($300 each). This summer will will have to pay for a full cycle of IVF with medications out of pocket ($17,000 roughly).
I was under the care of a fellow, Diedre Gunn, practicing under Dr. Bates. Both doctors were always very thorough, honest, kind and available to questions through every surgery, test, diagnosis and procedure.... I worked with Dr. Bates less in person, but he was present for surgical procedure as Dr. Gunn was at that time completing her REI fellowship.... We did a laparoscopy with removal of endometriosis, tested for tubal blockage, and removed several uterine polyps.
The biggest difficulty is parking downtown. Otherwise the clinic [University of Alabama Birmingham] is very nice and the clink staff/ most of the nurses were very kind and helpful.... I just had difficulty with one nurse not showing much compassion. Especially when we missed ovulation on a medicated cycle intended to be an IUI cycle.... we have considered looking at other clinics. I appreciate the relationship I have built with my doctor however and would still recommend to a friend.
How was your experience with Gordon Wright Bates at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Dr. Diedre Gunn and Dr. Bates both had very kind and open bedside manners. I worked with Dr. Bates less in person, but he was present for surgical procedure as Dr. Gunn was at that time completing her REI fellowship.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Gordon Wright Bates at University of Alabama Birmingham?
I was under the care of a fellow, Diedre Gunn, practicing under Dr. Bates. Both doctors were always very thorough, honest, kind and available to questions through every surgery, test, diagnosis and procedure.
Describe the protocols Gordon Wright Bates used in your cycles at University of Alabama Birmingham and their degree of success.
We did a laparoscopy with removal of endometriosis, tested for tubal blockage, and removed several uterine polyps. I took Letrozale for a couple of cycles with timed intercourse then we moved on to IUIs with Letrozale then IUI with Letrozale and trigger shot. Due to MFI we were given the option to try 2 more IUIs or move on to IVF
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at University of Alabama Birmingham.
I just had difficulty with one nurse not showing much compassion. Especially when we missed ovulation on a medicated cycle intended to be an IUI cycle.
Describe your experience with University of Alabama Birmingham.
The biggest difficulty is parking downtown. Otherwise the clinic is very nice and the clink staff/ most of the nurses were very kind and helpful. We didn't have an option based on our insurance provider of picking another clinic, so at times I did feel stuck. However once we figured out that insurance wouldn't cover any treatments unless they were billed under endometriosis treatment not fertility treatment we have considered looking at other clinics. I appreciate the relationship I have built with my doctor however and would still recommend to a friend. We might get a second opinion before moving forward.
[Dr. Bouknight] Strengths- sweet person, genuinely wants what's best for you, will do everything she can to get you pregnant, excellent listener weaknesses- sometimes is hard to read, isn't the "warmest" at first but will open up more the more you work with her, doesn't always call with results or get back to you when she says she will (very frustrating especially during a IVF cycle)...Make sure you feel confident in talking to her, staying on top of your own treatments and goals, standing up for yourself and calling/bugging the clinic when you want something done.
most of the time short wait time [at U of AL], excellent hours available before work hours (before 8am), easy to work with and accommodating. Clean and nice clinic too...Was not informed on a certain day during the IVF cycle how many embryos survived. We were anxiously awaiting this info and had to call and leave 3 messages before the fellow responded...Worked with [nurse] Laura most of the time. She gets things done on time (calls prescriptions, etc) but sometimes seems like she's got too much going on. Doesn't always call back same day. The portal seems to be the best way to communicate with anyone there on the team.
How was your experience with Janet Bouknight at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Strengths- sweet person, genuinely wants what's best for you, will do everything she can to get you pregnant, excellent listener
weaknesses- sometimes is hard to read, isn't the "warmest" at first but will open up more the more you work with her, doesn't always call with results or get back to you when she says she will (very frustrating especially during a IVF cycle)
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Janet Bouknight at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Make sure you feel confident in talking to her, staying on top of your own treatments and goals, standing up for yourself and calling/bugging the clinic when you want something done. If you don't feel like you can do that, I'd find another clinic.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Janet Bouknight at University of Alabama Birmingham?
At times I felt like I got lost in the shuffle. I would say definitely be an advocate for yourself and stay on top of your treatment schedule.
Describe your experience with your nurse at University of Alabama Birmingham. (Assigned nurse: Laura)
Worked with Laura most of the time. She gets things done on time (calls prescriptions, etc) but sometimes seems like she's got too much going on. Doesn't always call back same day. The portal seems to be the best way to communicate with anyone there on the team.
Describe your experience with University of Alabama Birmingham.
most of the time short wait time, excellent hours available before work hours (before 8am), easy to work with and accommodating. Clean and nice clinic too.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at University of Alabama Birmingham.
monitoring appointments were super quick and easy to schedule. definitely a plus!
Describe the costs associated with your care under Janet Bouknight at University of Alabama Birmingham.
I want to say IVF was around 12-15K for all the meds and retrieval cycle w/ ICSI, IUIs were a couple hundred $, and frozen transfers were around 2500 + medication.
What specific things went wrong at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Failed to call with results
Describe the specific things that went wrong at University of Alabama Birmingham.
Was not informed on a certain day during the IVF cycle how many embryos survived. We were anxiously awaiting this info and had to call and leave 3 messages before the fellow responded.
She [Dr. Deidre Downs Gunn] was very kind and compassionate when talking to us and delivered hard news gently. She fully explained risks/benefits of tests and procedures before we did them. I felt she appreciated my questions and concerns rather than being irritated...She was very attentive the entire time she was with us and answered all of my questions. She didn’t seem rushed or like she had other things to do or places to be.
All the staff that I encountered [at University of Alabama Birminghma] was caring and compassionate as well as knowledgeable. Overall I had very short wait times, they value your time and don’t make you wait if they can help it. Ask for directions within the clinic because it can get confusing. They could use better signage...[nurse] Tabitha has always been very responsive to messages in the patient portal. I usually wait less than 2 hours for a response. She thoroughly explains things and answers my questions and concerns.
How was your experience with Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham?
She was very kind and compassionate when talking to us and delivered hard news gently. She fully explained risks/benefits of tests and procedures before we did them. I felt she appreciated my questions and concerns rather than being irritated.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Write down questions before your visit and bring something to take notes so you can reference them later.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham?
She was very attentive the entire time she was with us and answered all of my questions. She didn’t seem rushed or like she had other things to do or places to be.
Describe the protocols Deidre Downs Gunn used in your cycles at University of Alabama Birmingham and their degree of success.
Antagonist protocol with a Lupron trigger and Frozen Embryo Transfer is our current plan.
Describe your experience with your nurse at University of Alabama Birmingham. (Assigned nurse: Tabitha)
Tabitha has always been very responsive to messages in the patient portal. I usually wait less than 2 hours for a response. She thoroughly explains things and answers my questions and concerns.
Describe your experience with University of Alabama Birmingham.
All the staff that I encountered was caring and compassionate as well as knowledgeable. Overall I had very short wait times, they value your time and don’t make you wait if they can help it. Ask for directions within the clinic because it can get confusing. They could use better signage.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham.
Egg retrieval is around $11000-12000
Describe Deidre Downs Gunn's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at University of Alabama Birmingham.
Dr. Gunn suggested single embryo transfer for us. She said with my age and history she doesn’t see a need to try transferring 2 embryos especially since I do not prefer to have twins.
Dr. Campbell is knowledgeable and personable. But above all, out of all the doctors I have seen she gave me something money can’t buy… She gave me HOPE! And for that I will always be grateful . She said don’t worry we will get there. You got this. It’s encouraging when the doctor gives you encouraging feedback...I particularly liked about Dr. Campbell is she didn’t waste time with my treatments
UAB REI is the BEST infertility clinic in Alabama! Hands down! Everyone there is very knowledgeable. From the doctor to the nurse, to the financial counselors. Everyone is there to do their job and you can tell they care deeply for you as a patient...Very on top of communication in the portal. They [nursing staff at UAB] also called me when they needed to. They also discovered my hypertension...Ivf round 1 $11,130 this does not include meds.
How was your experience with Sukhkamal Campbell at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Dr. Campbell is knowledgeable and personable. But above all, out of all the doctors I have seen she gave me something money can’t buy…
She gave me HOPE! And for that I will always be grateful . She said don’t worry we will get there. You got this. It’s encouraging when the doctor gives you encouraging feedback.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Sukhkamal Campbell at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Go see her…
Now!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Sukhkamal Campbell at University of Alabama Birmingham?
I was never rushed. She made me feel
Like I was talking to a good friend of mine and not a doctor. She made sure I understood everything. All of my questions were answered.
Describe the protocols Sukhkamal Campbell used in your cycles at University of Alabama Birmingham and their degree of success.
So one thing I particularly liked about Dr. Campbell is she didn’t waste time with my treatments. She wanted to
3 cycles of Clomid and leterzole to see if I would produced follicles. She stairstepped Leterzole and that helped me produce follicles. No other doctor even tried this with me. I didn’t get pregnant but it got us closer to the root of the problem. She knew that IVF would be the best choice for us, so here we are!
Describe your experience with your nurse at University of Alabama Birmingham. (Assigned nurse: Tabitha Vigee)
Very on top of communication in the portal. They also called me when they needed to. They also discovered my hypertension.
Describe your experience with University of Alabama Birmingham.
UAB REI is the BEST infertility clinic in Alabama! Hands down! Everyone there is very knowledgeable. From the doctor to the nurse, to the financial counselors. Everyone is there to do their job and you can tell they care deeply for you as a patient.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Sukhkamal Campbell at University of Alabama Birmingham.
Ivf round 1 $11,130 this does not include meds.
Describe Sukhkamal Campbell's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at University of Alabama Birmingham.
2 embryos will be transferred in the upcoming cycle.
He [Dr. Blackwell] was kind, explained things honestly, which I appreciated....he set things in motion fast. My mom went with me and thought he was hilarious. She’s always thought I might have endometriosis. He said I didn’t.... He used letrozole instead of clomid, because he said that clomid can cause problems (I honestly don’t remember what those were but made sense to me). We did sperm analysis, then track cycles, then iui, then if that didn’t work the last step would be ivf.
They [U of Alabama] are helpful answering questions but you have to ask. The nurse practitioner, Courtney, was much warmer after I got to know her. At first, not so much.... They were fast to get meds called in and answered questions quickly. But sometimes I had to ask because questions weren’t anticipated and things weren’t explained before hand... Pills were pretty cheap, like $5. We paid $60 the sperm analysis and $120 for each ovidrel shot.
How was your experience with Richard (Dick) Blackwell at University of Alabama Birmingham?
He doesn’t do procedures anymore, because he’s getting up there in age. But he was honest, and even told me i should have already had my husband checked because he’s older than me! And he set things in motion fast. My mom went with me and thought he was hilarious. She’s always thought I might have endometriosis. He said I didn’t. He told me what to expect, and so far it’s tracked along with that.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Richard (Dick) Blackwell at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Write down your questions!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Richard (Dick) Blackwell at University of Alabama Birmingham?
He was kind, explained things honestly, which I appreciated.
Describe the protocols Richard (Dick) Blackwell used in your cycles at University of Alabama Birmingham and their degree of success.
He used letrozole instead of clomid, because he said that clomid can cause problems (I honestly don’t remember what those were but made sense to me). We did sperm analysis, then track cycles, then iui, then if that didn’t work the last step would be ivf. Nothing has worked yet, but we haven’t tried ivf yet.
Describe your experience with your nurse at University of Alabama Birmingham. (Assigned nurse: Nurse practitioner- )
They were fast to get meds called in and answered questions quickly. But sometimes I had to ask because questions weren’t anticipated and things weren’t explained before hand
Describe your experience with University of Alabama Birmingham.
Know that you need to ask the questions to find out what to expect. They are helpful answering questions but you have to ask. The nurse practitioner, Courtney, was much warmer after I got to know her. At first, not so much.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Richard (Dick) Blackwell at University of Alabama Birmingham.
My insurance covered the first visit. And ultrasounds. Pills were pretty cheap, like $5. We paid $60 the sperm analysis and $120 for each ovidrel shot. Also, iui was $295
Describe Richard (Dick) Blackwell's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at University of Alabama Birmingham.
I can’t comment. This never came up. Although because of my age, I believe we would transfer at least 2
She [Dr. Gunn] is very understanding and compassionate but is able to give realistic expectations. She takes all of your concerns into consideration and develops a personalized course of treatment for you. I did not see her every visit but sometime saw fellows or nurse practitioners but if I ever needed to speak with her directly she was always available. ... She used an algorithm based on my age and health but most of the time recommends 1 embryo
The initial consult was a long wait but every other appointment was a quick wait. They [U of AL Birmingham] were easy to get appointments with and easy to communicate with 24/ 7. ... The IVF coordinator was very friendly but sometimes seems less organized than I would have preferred. Ultimately she had everything under control and I learned to trust her. ... Everyone knew who I was and spent time explaining things and answering my questions.
How was your experience with Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham?
She is very understanding and compassionate but is able to give realistic expectations. She takes all of your concerns into consideration and develops a personalized course of treatment for you. I did not see her every visit but sometime saw fellows or nurse practitioners but if I ever needed to speak with her directly she was always available.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Everyone knew who I was and spent time explaining things and answering my questions.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at University of Alabama Birmingham.
Overall everyone was great and easy to communicate with. The IVF coordinator was very friendly but sometimes seems less organized than I would have preferred. Ultimately she had everything under control and I learned to trust her.
Describe your experience with University of Alabama Birmingham.
They practice according to the latest research and with the most up to date technology. The initial consult was a long wait but every other appointment was a quick wait. They were easy to get appointments with and easy to communicate with 24/ 7.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham.
We spend around 20,000 for testing, 3 IUIs with clomid and 1 rounds of IVF.
Describe Deidre Downs Gunn's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at University of Alabama Birmingham.
She used an algorithm based on my age and health but most of the time recommends 1 embryo for most of her patients. Pros and cons were discussed with me and she would have honored my wish if I chose to transfer 2.
What specific things went wrong at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Lost appointments
Describe the specific things that went wrong at University of Alabama Birmingham.
1 time they asked me to come in for a follow up but forgot to put it on the schedule. Another time they forgot to ask me to come in but put me on the schedule. Both times were quickly remedied and they apologized for the inconvenience.
Dr McLean is very compassionate. She really cares about her patients and is always willing to listen. I felt like she lets me have an active role in the treatment. She is always open to hear about the research I have made on my own and tries to adjust protocols including my thoughts. She always answers all the e-mails I write to the UAB portal within the same day....I had one unsuccessful IUI with Dr McLean and two Ivf's. Since I have diminished ovarian reserve I don't have many eggs. However I responded quite well to Dr McLeans protocol ( antagonist, 300 Gonal F, 150 Menopur) They were able to freeze 4 embryos and they all came back pgs normal. I am currently waiting for my first transfer.
This team [at University of Alabama Birmingham] is really great! The doctors seem to be up to date with all the treatment options. They also have a really good lab and Embriologyst ( Dr. Edmonds)...[Nurse] Laura was always very kind and understanding. She is very organized, always responded my messages within the same day, sended out prescriptions in time....I had one unsuccessful IUI with Dr McLean and two Ivf's. Since I have diminished ovarian reserve I don't have many eggs. However I responded quite well to Dr McLeans protocol ( antagonist, 300 Gonal F, 150 Menopur) They were able to freeze 4 embryos and they all came back pgs normal. I am currently waiting for my first transfer.
How was your experience with Mamie McLean at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Dr McLean is very compassionate. She really cares about her patients and is always willing to listen. I felt like she lets me have an active role in the treatment. She is always open to hear about the research I have made on my own and tries to adjust protocols including my thoughts. She always answers all the e-mails I write to the UAB portal within the same day.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mamie McLean at University of Alabama Birmingham?
You can totally trust this doctor. The best way to communicate with her is via the patient portal.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mamie McLean at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Dr McLean was always very understanding and supportive. She always listens, is open to try new things and gets in touch with you immediately if you have any questions
Describe the protocols Mamie McLean used in your cycles at University of Alabama Birmingham and their degree of success.
I had one unsuccessful IUI with Dr McLean and two Ivf's. Since I have diminished ovarian reserve I don't have many eggs. However I responded quite well to Dr McLeans protocol ( antagonist, 300 Gonal F, 150 Menopur) They were able to freeze 4 embryos and they all came back pgs normal. I am currently waiting for my first transfer.
Describe your experience with your nurse at University of Alabama Birmingham. (Assigned nurse: Laura)
Laura was always very kind and understanding. She is very organized, always responded my messages within the same day, sended out prescriptions in time.
Describe your experience with University of Alabama Birmingham.
This team is really great! The doctors seem to be up to date with all the tratment options. They also habe a really good lab and Embriologyst ( Dr. Edmonds)
[Dr. Deidre Gunn] was knowledgeable, friendly, but straightforward and matter-of-fact. She did not beat around the bush or try to give us false hope. She answered our questions and gave us the information we needed, even if it wasn’t what we wanted to hear...First cycle was 100mg Clomid with HCG trigger shot; second cycle was 150mg Clomid with HCG trigger shot.
With different CRNPs, fellows, and residents all taking part in your care [at University of Alabama Birmingham], sometimes the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing. Sometimes they don’t fully explain why they’re doing something because they assume you’ve been through it before and already know.
How was your experience with Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Dr. Gunn was knowledgeable, friendly, but straightforward and matter-of-fact. She did not beat around the bush or try to give us false hope. She answered our questions and gave us the information we needed, even if it wasn’t what we wanted to hear.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Only go to her if you want the truth and not false hope.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Dr. Gunn was empathetic but straightforward.
Describe the protocols Deidre Downs Gunn used in your cycles at University of Alabama Birmingham and their degree of success.
First cycle was 100mg Clomid with HCG trigger shot; second cycle was 150mg Clomid with HCG trigger shot.
Describe your experience with your nurse at University of Alabama Birmingham. (Assigned nurse: Courtney Gunn)
NP was good, sometimes fellows and residents were not great.
Describe your experience with University of Alabama Birmingham.
Keep on top of your treatment plan and ask lots of questions. With different CRNPs, fellows, and residents all taking part in your care, sometimes the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing. Sometimes they don’t fully explain why they’re doing something because they assume you’ve been through it before and already know.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Deidre Downs Gunn at University of Alabama Birmingham.
$249 for IUI, $100 each for ultrasound monitoring, approximately $23k total for IVF with my own frozen eggs.
Describe Deidre Downs Gunn's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at University of Alabama Birmingham.
At our first consultation, Dr. McLean spent an hour with us answering our questions.... We used ICSI because of male factor infertility and the fact the sperm had to be retrieved. Although it was male factor, I got thoroughly checked out too. I think I ended up being on a low dose of meds. We had ~20 eggs retrieved, 8 fertilized and 3 embryos made it. 1 successfully transferred and 2 frozen. She said we had a low number of embryos from 20 eggs because of male factor.
I could not have had a better experience with Dr. McLean [at Univ of Al at Birmingham]. I think what made it so great was communication. I could send her a question through the portal and get an immediate answer. In person, she never made me feel rushed. Her answers to my questions were always honest and we'll thought out.... [The nurse] always communicated quickly and answered all my questions.
How was your experience with Mamie McLean at University of Alabama Birmingham?
I could not have had a better experience with Dr. McLean. I think what made it so great was communication. I could send her a question through the portal and get an immediate answer. In person, she never made me feel rushed. Her answers to my questions were always honest and we'll thought out.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Mamie McLean at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Definitely use her!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Mamie McLean at University of Alabama Birmingham?
At our first consultation, Dr. McLean spent an hour with us answering our questions. She made us feel at ease. During the process, the time she spent with me and the way she listened often made me feel like I was her only patient.
Describe the protocols Mamie McLean used in your cycles at University of Alabama Birmingham and their degree of success.
We used ICSI because of male factor infertility and the fact the sperm had to be retrieved. Although it was male factor, I got thoroughly checked out too. I think I ended up being on a low dose of meds. We had ~20 eggs retrieved, 8 fertilized and 3 embryos made it. 1 successfully transferred and 2 frozen. She said we had a low number of embryos from 20 eggs because of male factor.
Describe your experience with your nurse at University of Alabama Birmingham. (Assigned nurse: Laura)
Always communicated quickly and answered all my questions.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Mamie McLean at University of Alabama Birmingham.
I fortunately had insurance that covered but without it would have been about 10k.
Describe Mamie McLean's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at University of Alabama Birmingham.
She gave us the option but was honest that in our case eSet was probably the best choice.
Dr. [Wright] Bates as well as Dr. Bouknight and Dr. McLean [at University of Alabama Birmingham] were very compassionate. They all were always on the same page with each other and you could tell they each knew our case. They work as a team to make the best decisions for us. Very personable and relatable. Dr. Bates and Dr. Bouknight both openly share their infertility struggles and can relate....Birth control, Lupron, 125 Gonal F, 75 Menopur, HCG trigger, aspirin, prometrium progesterone, Valium day of transfer.
Dr. [Wright] Bates as well as Dr. Bouknight and Dr. McLean [at University of Alabama Birmingham] were very compassionate. They all were always on the same page with each other and you could tell they each knew our case. They work as a team to make the best decisions for us. Very personable and relatable. Dr. Bates and Dr. Bouknight both openly share their infertility struggles and can relate....Birth control, Lupron, 125 Gonal F, 75 Menopur, HCG trigger, aspirin, prometrium progesterone, Valium day of transfer.
How was your experience with Gordon Wright Bates at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Dr. Bates as well as Dr. Bouknight and Dr. McLean were very compassionate. They all were always on the same page with each other and you could tell they each knew our case. They work as a team to make the best decisions for us. Very personable and relatable. Dr. Bates and Dr. Bouknight both openly share their infertility struggles and can relate.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Gordon Wright Bates at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Go see them!!! Ask a lot of questions because they will all answer them. Tell them your fears/concerns. They are there to help you and want to get to know you so let them.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Gordon Wright Bates at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Dr. Bates and his staff remembered conversations from previous appointments and knew all details of our history.
Describe the protocols Gordon Wright Bates used in your cycles at University of Alabama Birmingham and their degree of success.
Birth control, Lupron, 125 Gonal F, 75 Menopur, HCG trigger, aspirin, prometrium progesterone, Valium day of transfer.
Describe your experience with your nurse at University of Alabama Birmingham. (Assigned nurse: Laura)
Laura is amazing!!! She has such a heart for couples with infertility. She has experience with it herself and this helps her relate. She returns calls within a very short period of time. The key to a good IVF experience is the nurse and with Laura you will not be disappointed!!!!
Describe your experience with University of Alabama Birmingham.
Nothing. New nice clinic. Very short waits normally.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Gordon Wright Bates at University of Alabama Birmingham.
IVF without insurance plus meds, ICSI, and freezing was about $18k
He [Dr. Bates] was very knowledgeable. I didn't see him very often unless it was something big like retrieval or transfer but his fellow doctors were kind and caring...I was on gonal-f and another med for my egg retrieval. I was on a lower dose then my friends. I ended up with the same amount of eggs both retrievals...I would have preferred to have my progesterone and estrogen tested with each beta as I miscarried early and I wonder if those levels were off and if that is what caused it
She [nurse at Univerisity of Alabama] was quick to respond and responded with answers to your questions. She was well informed...No one called with my PGS results after my first transfer...I would have preferred to have my progesterone and estrogen tested with each beta as I miscarried early and I wonder if those levels were off and if that is what caused it
How was your experience with Gordon Wright Bates at University of Alabama Birmingham?
He was very knowledgeable. I didn't see him very often unless it was something big like retrieval or transfer but his fellow doctors were kind and caring. He was knowledgeable and provided information when requested
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Gordon Wright Bates at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Come with a lot of questions and a pad and a piece of paper to take notes
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Gordon Wright Bates at University of Alabama Birmingham?
He was kind when I saw him
Describe the protocols Gordon Wright Bates used in your cycles at University of Alabama Birmingham and their degree of success.
I was on gonal-f and another med for my egg retrieval. I was on a lower dose then my friends. I ended up with the same amount of eggs both retrievals.
Describe your experience with your nurse at University of Alabama Birmingham. (Assigned nurse: Laura)
She was quick to respond and responded with answers to your questions. She was well informed
Describe your experience with University of Alabama Birmingham.
I would have preferred to have my progesterone and estrogen tested with each beta as I miscarried early and I wonder if those levels were off and if that is what caused it
Describe the costs associated with your care under Gordon Wright Bates at University of Alabama Birmingham.
Testing, procedure cost
Describe Gordon Wright Bates's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at University of Alabama Birmingham.
Because of the quality of my embryos, the doctor suggested that I transfer one. We wanted to transfer 2 embryos
What specific things went wrong at University of Alabama Birmingham?
Failed to call with results
Describe the specific things that went wrong at University of Alabama Birmingham.
No one called with my PGS results after my first transfer