Dr. Gargiulo told me that we would be transferring a single embryo for my transfers...He explained very patiently that I needed surgery and communicated very patiently with me through the exams I had with him prior to scheduling my surgery...He was honest about what would likely be easy and what would likely be difficult with IVF based on what he knew about my medical history
When it comes to IVF, mistakes and clinical errors just cannot happen. The [Brigham & Women's Hospital] clinic made sure that everything was timed perfectly for my body and was more than willing to make last minute changes if that was in the best interest of having a successful IVF cycle. For me, this clinic's biggest strength is the people who work there. I can't say enough positive things about the doctors, nurses, and staff.
How was your experience with Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
I first saw Dr. Gargiulo when my regular OBGYN referred me to his office for suspected endometriosis. When I first met Dr. Gargiulo, I was scared and in a lot of pain. He explained very patiently that I needed surgery and communicated very patiently with me through the exams I had with him prior to scheduling my surgery. He performed my laparoscopic excision procedure and confirmed I did indeed have endometriosis (stage 3), but that the surgery had been a success and that I could always reach out to him in the future if I needed reproductive help due to the endo. When I did in fact need help years later, Dr. Gargiulo remembered me when I returned to his office and approached my care the same way he had before: with care and with hope. He was honest about what would likely be easy and what would likely be difficult with IVF based on what he knew about my medical history. It is common to have a million questions when considering IVF, and he listened and answered all of my questions, not making me feel as though I was taking up too much of his time. Dr. Gargiulo cares about his patients and wants them to be successful, and it shows in the way he interacts with his patients.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
If you have concerns or questions, definitely bring them up with Dr. Gargiulo. He listens and takes what his patients say into consideration, and is very patient while doing so.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Dr. Gargiulo and all of the staff at the Center for Reproductive care are extremely caring in nature and it showed that they took the time to become very familiar with my records. All throughout the IVF process, what my body was doing at the time was the only thing that dictated what was going to happen next; they did not try to plan my IVF cycle around their schedule. Anytime I spoke with someone in the office, either in person or on the phone, they would patiently answer all of my questions. They made me feel like my concerns were valid and that they were listening, and they would help me find a solution to my concerns.
Describe the protocols Antonio Gargiulo used in your cycles at Brigham & Women's Hospital and their degree of success.
When I began my IVF cycle, we were planning on doing a fresh transfer shortly after my egg retrieval. However, my estrogen levels were very high, so my cycle was changed to a freeze-all cycle and I triggered with Lupron only. Dr. Gargiulo let me move directly into a frozen transfer cycle a month later, and my lining was thickening very slowly. I took 3 estrogen pills in the morning and three in the evening. We kept following the protocol he had in place and waited for my lining to thicken, but unfortunately not much was happening. At one of my ultrasounds, Dr. Gargiulo came in to look at the ultrasound and check my lining levels himself (instead of reviewing the images later), and determined that we needed to cancel the transfer cycle and schedule a biopsy instead to make sure nothing was going on in my uterus that shouldn't be. The biopsy came back normal so he determined that we would use the same protocol again and as long as my lining got to where it was last time, we could try to transfer. I went into another transfer cycle the following month, and while my lining was slow to thicken again, Dr. Gargiulo allowed me to transfer with a thin lining, and the transfer was successful.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
The nursing staff at the Center for Reproductive care are honestly some of the most kind, professional, and compassionate people I have ever met. They take a sympathetic and patient approach when they need to deliver not-so-great news, and they celebrate in your successes when something positive happens. If I had to contact the center with a question or a concern, I always either had a staff member on the phone with me within minutes, or had a return phone call back to me within a half hour. They genuinely care about your concerns and questions, and are always willing to help however they can. I honestly cannot say enough good things about the nursing staff in this office.
Describe your experience with Brigham & Women's Hospital.
I was extremely impressed with how organized and professional the clinic as a whole operated. When it comes to IVF, mistakes and clinical errors just cannot happen. The clinic made sure that everything was timed perfectly for my body and was more than willing to make last minute changes if that was in the best interest of having a successful IVF cycle. For me, this clinic's biggest strength is the people who work there. I can't say enough positive things about the doctors, nurses, and staff.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
Our health insurance didn't cover any infertility-related treatment, so we paid completely out of pocket for everything. Since this is the only clinic we worked with, I don't know how cost compares with other clinics.
Describe Antonio Gargiulo's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
Dr. Gargiulo told me that we would be transferring a single embryo for my transfers. If we had two unsuccessful transfers then he would possibly look into transferring multiple embryos, but he was hesitant to do that because of the risks that come with carrying multiples.
I went to Dr. Gargulio because I wanted my tubal ligation reversed. ... I had an initial visit with Dr. Gargulio where we discussed IVF or tubal reanastemosis, with my very strong preference being the surgery. ... Dr. Gargulio was incredibly warm, kind, and extremely empathetic. Instead of pressuring me into IVF like three other doctors did, he listened to my reasons for wanting my tubal ligation reversed and ultimately agreed with and validated my choice.
This is part of the Brigham and Women's hospital in Boston. ... The staff in the day surgery center were fantastic, they are committed to excellence and clear communication, which will prevent mistakes. Outstanding facility. ... I called the billing department, they acknowledged it was an error, apologized, and told me to ignore the bill. ... Everyone I spoke to was incredibly helpful and this is something that happens with pretty much every practitioner I see with my health coverage.
How was your experience with Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
As I mentioned, Dr. Garguilo has a phenomenal bedside manner. I cannot get over how incredibly kind he is, and how positive I felt every time I left an appointment. He is very honest and encouraging and evaluated me as an individual rather than a statistic. He kept my husband involved in everything, including visits to see him in the waiting room both before and after my procedure (I had a robotic tubal reanastemosis done, not IUI, but that's not a selection on this web site). When I brought up an issue with billing, something that I did NOT feel was part of his performance but wanted him to know, he immediately took steps to have me speak with someone who could help. Dr. Gargulio is a fantastic doctor and I highly recommend him to anyone looking to have a tubal ligation reversed.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
My one piece of advice is to not bother calling anyone else - call Dr. Gargulio's office. I went through three doctors - one of whom treated me so poorly that I had given up on ever having children again - and my only regret is that I hadn't found him sooner.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Dr. Gargulio was incredibly warm, kind, and extremely empathetic. Instead of pressuring me into IVF like three other doctors did, he listened to my reasons for wanting my tubal ligation reversed and ultimately agreed with and validated my choice.
Describe the protocols Antonio Gargiulo used in your cycles at Brigham & Women's Hospital and their degree of success.
I would like to repeat that I didn't have a fertility procedure or analysis done, but this particular website doesn't allow for that. I went to Dr. Gargulio because I wanted my tubal ligation reversed. The procedure had been done by my Ob/Gyn when I was in an abusive relationship (and I felt pressured by her nurse to have it done instead of another method of birth control) and began to regret it as soon as that relationship ended. I had an initial visit with Dr. Gargulio where we discussed IVF or tubal reanastemosis, with my very strong preference being the surgery. I was given some statistical information, then came back for a pre-operative visit where risks and statistics were discussed in further depth, and I signed my consent. I then had my surgical visit, followed by a post-operative visit where I was told that I can schedule a dye test to ensure my tubes remained open at my convenience. I am still within one month of post-op, so I don't have any results aside from the overwhelming satisfaction of having my fallopian tubes intact.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
I had a different nurse at each visit. All of the nurses were very positive and up-beat, with excellent attitudes. Everyone I saw was capable and pleasant to be around.
My post-op nurse, Sparkle, was fantastic (for what little I remember from my post-operative haze). I have nothing but good things to say regarding any of the nurses.
Describe your experience with Brigham & Women's Hospital.
This is part of the Brigham and Women's hospital in Boston. I can't think of a single weakness of the facility that isn't tied into my personal preferences. The staff in the day surgery center were fantastic, they are committed to excellence and clear communication, which will prevent mistakes. Outstanding facility.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
There was a one time bill of (approximately) $8,500, which would include a refund if I did not require an overnight stay. This included my consultation, pre and post op appointments, the surgery, and a hystogram (dye test) following the surgery.
Describe Antonio Gargiulo's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
This is not applicable to my situation. My doctor's approach of using a robot to perform my tubal ligation reversal laprascopically made my recovery time quick and easy, with a much lower risk of complications and infection.
What specific things went wrong at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Provided conflicting information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
Only two things went wrong at this clinic, one of which was a simple error that had no negative outcome on my treatment and one that was resolved expediently.
The first was a simple clerical error, the wrong doctor was put on my appointment sheet for my upcoming appointments. I called to verify that I was seeing Dr. Gargulio, and if I was not to please call me. There was no affect on my treatment or care.
The second is because I have a unique insurance situation, which many places do not know how to handle. I received a bill less than a week from my surgery, which stated my information had been processed through my insurance and this was my responsibility. I called the billing department, they acknowledged it was an error, apologized, and told me to ignore the bill. I mentioned this to Dr. Gargulio, who had me speak to his billing manager (I forget her exact title), who then checked into it for me herself, apologized for the error, and let me know that it was being taken care of. Everyone I spoke to was incredibly helpful and this is something that happens with pretty much every practitioner I see with my health coverage.
[Dr. Antonio Gargiulo] was the first physician to say I don't need IVF and that IVF wouldn't fix my recurrent loss issues...immunological and from my endometriosis...never pressured me to have surgery to remove it...also says please ignore AMH, even though my AMH is 0.49...worked with the immunologist
Brigham is the best. They are not exchanged on the stock exchange...are not pushing care plans to get their numbers up like CCRM and BIVF...the first place I was treated as an actual patient...first place I was acknowledged for having endometriosis...forgetful at times but very wonderful in calling you back
How was your experience with Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
He was the first physician to say I don't need IVF and that IVF wouldn't fix my recurrent loss issues. My issue was clearly immunological and from my endometriosis. He was also the first doctor to do a physical exam on me and order MRIs and ultrasounds to look at my endometriosis. He also never pressured me to have surgery to remove it, but said if your symptoms are bad we can remove it. He referred me to his personal friend Dr. Vidali in NYC to review my case for RPL and they agreed my issue was immunology and that would not be fixed with IVF. He worked with the immunologist and wrote for letrazole and filled an prescriptions I needed based on the care plan the RI had made. As a result I could conceive on my own and have 2 healthy babies. He also says please ignore AMH, even though my AMH is 0.49. He said you are fertile, you have proved that. You can carry your own pregnancies and conceive on your own.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Be patient with waiting to see him. HE IS WORTH THE WAIT
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
He is an incredible human being and was the first doctor to treat me as a patient who was sick, rather than a client he was trying to get a sale from. He called me late at night many times from his cell phone, he apologized if he was running late and never judged me for wanting more children despite my poor prognosis.
Describe the protocols Antonio Gargiulo used in your cycles at Brigham & Women's Hospital and their degree of success.
He felt immunology was my issue. He sent me to his friend Dr. Vidali and I was cared for by him and then Dr. Derbala virtually for my immune issues. He ordered me letrazole and progesterone and anything else I needed per the care plan of the RI, if I couldn't get it from the RI. He also performed my endo excision.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Brigham & Women's Hospital. (Assigned nurse: lisa )
forgetful at times but very wonderful in calling you back if you need something. SO so wonderful
Describe your experience with Brigham & Women's Hospital.
Brigham is the best. They are not exchanged on the stock exchange. They are not pushing care plans to get their numbers up like CCRM and BIVF. This was the first place I was treated as an actual patient. It was also the first place I was acknowledged for having endometriosis and had the appropriate workup done.
What specific things went wrong at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Lost paperwork
Failed to send your chart to another clinic
Provided conflicting information
Failed to convey critical information
Scheduled the wrong procedure
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
I was going to do IVF at one point and one nurse, not lisa, was horrible. She forgot to call me and tell me my schedule. But the managers handled the case very well.
Dr. Gargiulo only ever recommended transferring one embryo at a time in order to have a healthy pregnancy with the least amount of risks and one healthy baby...[he] is a warm, kind and friendly doctor. He makes you feel comfortable enough to ask questions and does his best to answer them in a very factual and informed way. He is very knowledgeable and uses research and statistics to help you gain understanding. During procedures he is patient, kind and gentle, explaining the process every step of the way...
The nursing staff at [Brigham & Women's Hospital] were absolutely amazing. They were all so kind, helpful and guided me every step of the way...One weakness is that Dr. Gargiulo is only at this location on Thursdays, so you don’t see him often...While the office is only open on weekdays from 7-3pm, they always have a nurse on call after hours and on the weekends. They even worked my cycle appointment around the weather so I didn’t have to travel 30 minutes to them during a snow storm
How was your experience with Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Dr. Gargiulo is a warm, kind and friendly doctor. He makes you feel comfortable enough to ask questions and does his best to answer them in a very factual and informed way. He is very knowledgeable and uses research and statistics to help you gain understanding. During procedures he is patient, kind and gentle, explaining the process every step of the way. Dr. Gargiulo seems to be very skilled in IVF as well as endometriosis.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Advocate for yourself, don’t be afraid to speak up and ask questions - he is very receptive to that.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Dr. Gargiulo is a very kind man who seems to genuinely care about his patients. At our first consultation he really got to know my husband and I, asking how we met and how long we’d been together. He never passed judgment on any of our medical history or lifestyle choices. Despite not getting any viable embryos during the first round, Dr. Gargiulo remained positive and hopeful that we will have a baby someday. This hope has kept us going through this process.
Describe the protocols Antonio Gargiulo used in your cycles at Brigham & Women's Hospital and their degree of success.
Dr. Gargiulo had me call on the first day of my cycle. On day two I started 5 days of birth control. I was told this is to make sure only a certain number of people are cycling at the same time. I was then put on the antagonist protocol. I was put on a high dose on meds. I was told this was because I wanted to test my embryos, so Dr. Gargiulo wanted to get as many eggs as possible. Unfortunately I was a low responder to the meds and only had 7 follicles (only 4 of those mature) on egg retrieval day. They were able to retrieve four eggs. We used natural fertilization due to no male factor. Only two eggs fertilized (one didn’t fertilize at all and one fertilized abnormally). The two fertilized eggs made it to blast and were sent for testing. Unfortunately they both came back as abnormal and were not viable for transfer.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
The nursing staff at CRC were absolutely amazing. They were all so kind, helpful and guided me every step of the way. They seemed to really care about me, were excited for me, and remained hopeful and optimistic. I couldn’t have gone through this process without them.
Describe your experience with Brigham & Women's Hospital.
I highly recommend CRC. They are in a very convenient location for me living in the seacoast, NH area. They have great communication, everyone is so kind, and they are easy to reach. While the office is only open on weekdays from 7-3pm, they always have a nurse on call after hours and on the weekends. They even worked my cycle appointment around the weather so I didn’t have to travel 30 minutes to them during a snow storm. One weakness is that Dr. Gargiulo is only at this location on Thursdays, so you don’t see him often, but I felt completely supported and taken care of by the nurses. I would let a new patient know that they should advocate for themselves, call with questions, the staff at this office are always there to help if you feel you aren’t getting the answers you need or you have questions.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
My insurance covers IVF under a state mandate after the deductible has been met. I have a $5000 deductible. Embryo testing is not covered and costs $2500 plus an additional cost to ship the embryos and test each one. To test my two embryos it cost $3000 total.
Describe Antonio Gargiulo's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
Dr. Gargiulo only ever recommended transferring one embryo at a time in order to have a healthy pregnancy with the least amount of risks and one healthy baby.
Dr. Gargiulo was extremely trustworthy and respectful when treating my stage IV endometriosis... is honest with his thoughts process for diagnosis. He is also very talented and precise during surgery, as he was able to save both my ovaries and fallopian tubes. I really like his conservative approach to treatment, where he aims to leave all fertility options open to the patient.
The nursing staff [at Brigham & Women's Hospital] was extremely compassionate and knowledgable...They also followup in a very timely manner when I'd call off-hours or during lunch...The clinic is in a very convenient location in Stratham, NH...Physically, it's not a huge hospital clinic, but it's modern, clean, and appropriately sized/staffed....
How was your experience with Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Dr. Gargiulo was extremely trustworthy and respectful when treating my stage IV endometriosis. He doesn't dumb things down, make things seem better or worse than they are, and is honest with his thoughts process for diagnosis. He is also very talented and precise during surgery, as he was able to save both my ovaries and fallopian tubes. I really like his conservative approach to treatment, where he aims to leave all fertility options open to the patient.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Definitely ask all the questions you need. Dr. Gargiulo is extremely knowledgable and if he doesn't know something, he will know how to find out.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Asked important personal and detailed questions on my family planning timeline and had a lot of empathy and patience when answering my own questions.
Describe the protocols Antonio Gargiulo used in your cycles at Brigham & Women's Hospital and their degree of success.
Dr. Garguilo first had me do a 3D ultrasound down in Boston as the first step to follow up on an ovarian cyst (later to be confirmed as endometrioma), a polyp, and fibroids as diagnosed by my previous OB-GYN.
Dr. Garguilo had me get an MRI to check for adenomyosis, which is very hard to detect on ultrasound. With previous OB-GYNs, my adenomyosis was misdiagnosed as fibroids, but Dr. Garguilo has ample experience to note a subtle difference and then went and confirmed via MRI. Knowing that I have adeno is useful for the surgery.
He also had me get bloodwork for cancer markers (CA-125 and HE-4), because this would affect how to operate on my 6.3cm ovarian cyst. Most doctors don't look at HE-4, but it's a very important and useful tool. If I had cancer, and he spilled my ovarian cyst contents, the results could have been disastrous.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
The nursing staff was extremely compassionate and knowledgable. I was particularly nervous about getting an MRI with contrast, as well as having a late morning surgery (as opposed to early morning) since I needed to do a bowel prep the day before. The nurses helped calm me down, told me about their own personal experiences with similar issues, and were very sweet.
They also followup in a very timely manner when I'd call off-hours or during lunch.
Describe your experience with Brigham & Women's Hospital.
The clinic is in a very convenient location in Stratham, NH. I'm very thankful that I didn't have to drive down to Boston as Dr. Gargiulo works out of the Stratham office Tuesdays and Thursdays. Physically, it's not a huge hospital clinic, but it's modern, clean, and appropriately sized/staffed.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
MRI came out to $200 after insurance. Each office visit was $20 after insurance.
I was referred to Dr. Gargiulo with a tough diagnosis. ... At our second appointment we were told that I had an undiagnosed thyroid antibody that attacked my reproductive system. Dr. Gargiulo understood our deep desire to try anything we could. ... After 2 failed cycles Dr. Gargiulo recommended to use Donor eggs. Even through this entire time he was understanding and warm with his approach even with such devastating news. After 2 additional second opinions in Boston from other top IVF providers; we have started the Donor egg process. Both of the second opinions agreed completely with Dr. Gargiulos approach
Strengths: - Great Location - Clean - Staff was wonderful - Early morning hours - Always accommodating - A nurse is always on call - It is a satellite location for Brigham and Womens. This is wonderful to not have to drive to Boston for monitoring visits Weaknesses - Not a deal breaker but they close at 3:30p ... They [nursing staff] were all there after each failed cycle and were willing to help us with any resources they needed. We never felt rush at any appointment or never felt like a bother calling with the simplest question.
How was your experience with Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
He was warm and compassionate. He understood our deep desire to have a child and was willing to think outside the box which we appreciated as standard approaches were not going to work; which we knew from the first appointment. He never had to look back at my notes to reference previous cycles, he always seemed so well prepared for our visits and did not spend our time flipping through a chart. He is one of the best physicians I have ever met and I work for the best hospital in Boston.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Understand that as much as you want a positive outcome it is not always possible. You have to go in with an open mind and remember that Dr. Gargiulo will do anything possible to give you the best possible outcome.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Dr. Gargiulo was wonderful from the first appointment we had with him. He treated us with compassion and was delicate regarding our gloomy outlook of having a natural child. He always took the time to ask us how we were both doing and always made time for our phone calls or routinely stayed later to make sure there was an appointment. Even with our tough diagnosis we have trusted him every step of the way. His nursing staff were also wonderful, they always made us feel welcomed and took the time to explain the next steps.
Describe the protocols Antonio Gargiulo used in your cycles at Brigham & Women's Hospital and their degree of success.
I was referred to Dr. Gargiulo with a tough diagnosis. During the first appointment he was very frank with my husband and myself to explain the low percentage of having a child with my own eggs. After the first appointment he recommended a large volume of tests to understand why I had diminished ovarian reserve at such a young age. At our second appointment we were told that I had an undiagnosed thyroid antibody that attacked my reproductive system.
Dr. Gargiulo understood our deep desire to try anything we could. We started an IVF cycle immediately with the highest dose of medications he could give me. We got to cycle day 24 and my eggs died on their own without maturing. Four months later we tried a different IVF cycle; Lupron Microflare and this cycle only got to day 7 and my hormones were unchanged.
After 2 failed cycles Dr. Gargiulo recommended to use Donor eggs. Even through this entire time he was understanding and warm with his approach even with such devastating news. After 2 additional second opinions in Boston from other top IVF providers; we have started the Donor egg process. Both of the second opinions agreed completely with Dr. Gargiulos approach
Describe your experience with your nurse at Brigham & Women's Hospital. (Assigned nurse: Marcia )
Wonderful! The entire staff was wonderful, not just Marcia. They were always on top of what my next steps where. They were all there after each failed cycle and were willing to help us with any resources they needed. We never felt rush at any appointment or never felt like a bother calling with the simplest question.
Describe your experience with Brigham & Women's Hospital.
Strengths:
- Great Location
- Clean
- Staff was wonderful
- Early morning hours
- Always accommodating
- A nurse is always on call
- It is a satellite location for Brigham and Womens. This is wonderful to not have to drive to Boston for monitoring visits
Weaknesses
- Not a deal breaker but they close at 3:30p
Describe the costs associated with your care under Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
Copays for Office Visits and Failed IVF procedures.
Describe Antonio Gargiulo's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
Dr. Gargiulo based the embryo transfer on the patients age and diagnosis. On our first cycle he suggested only 1 embryo transfer. With our second IVF cycle he was going to recommend to the insurance company a 2 embryo transfer due to the rapid decline in my ovarian reserve. We never got to the embryo transfer state though for either cycle.
My uterus was riddled with fibroids, three of which were the size of a small fist; unlike my regular gynecologist, he [Dr. Gargiulo] never suggested a hysterectomy. His entire focus was to preserve my uterus...He took the time to remove more tumors than originally planned and, when he discovered adhesions holding my ovaries and fallopian tubes to the pelvic wall, removed them. He accelerated my post-op appointment by a few days
Dr. Gargiulo's surgical coordinator [Brigham & Women's Hospital] is outstanding. I live in Virginia, which presented challenges to obtaining care in Boston. The surgical coordinator accommodated my situation flawlessly. She planned all of my pre-op appointments across the hospital for a single afternoon... All but one of the nurses were compassionate and patient, even when I was admittedly cranky and brusque.... All appointments, surgery and medicine were covered by my insurance
How was your experience with Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Dr. Gargiulo had performed a myomectomy for one of my friends several years earlier. When I was diagnosed with multiple fibroids, she asked him whether he would consider consulting with me long distance (I reside in Virginia). He immediately said yes and provided his email address. We discussed my case via email and he ordered an MRI, which I obtained locally. He requested that I send a disc with the images so that he could evaluate my condition himself, rather than relying on the radiologist's report. He provided an assessment and recommendation (all remotely at no cost) but didn't pressure me to travel to Boston or make a decision. After nine months' hesitation, I opted to move forward with surgery (laparoscopic robotic myomectomy). Dr. Gargiulo never criticized or commented on the delay, other than ordering a new MRI to ensure that he fully understood the fibroids current state. He and his staff quickly arranged both a half-day of pre-op appointments across the hospital (so that I would only have to be in Boston for one day) and a surgery date. When I finally met Dr. Gargiulo in person, he was welcoming, kind and cheerful. He walked me through the MRI images and thoroughly explained what the surgery would entail and possible additional elective procedures (but with no pressure to authorize them). My uterus was riddled with fibroids, three of which were the size of a small fist; unlike my regular gynecologist, he never suggested a hysterectomy. His entire focus was to preserve my uterus, even though at my age a spontaneous pregnancy is extremely unlikely. On the day of surgery, he stopped in to chat during my prep (he hadn't even changed into scrubs yet), spoke with my mother immediately after surgery, and came back once I was reasonably coherent. He took the time to remove more tumors than originally planned and, when he discovered adhesions holding my ovaries and fallopian tubes to the pelvic wall, removed them. He accelerated my post-op appointment by a few days so that I could return to Virginia more quickly (though I am certain he would have requested I stay had I not been healing well). During that appointment, he went over all of my surgery's details, offered images of the procedure and discussed potential pregnancy options. At all times, he was kind, thorough, patient and positive. He never condescended or tried to rush me; he never tried to badger me into making a particular choice.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Don't hesitate to ask questions via email or in person. He will answer all of them completely and in a timely fashion.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
I live in Virginia. A friend in Boston recommended Dr. Gargiulo to me. He and his staff went out of their way to accommodate me as an out-of-state patient. Dr. Gargiulo and each member of his staff and surgical team were kind, thoughtful and thoroughly familiar with my personal circumstances, while being both extremely efficient and flexible. I dithered regarding surgery for nine months, with no pressure from Dr. Gargiulo. Once I made up my mind, he and his staff went into fifth gear to make it happen on the timeline that best suited my personal (long-distance) circumstances.
Describe the protocols Antonio Gargiulo used in your cycles at Brigham & Women's Hospital and their degree of success.
I only pursued removal of fibroid tumors. Dr. Gargiulo wanted a current MRI to ensure that he fully understood the landscape before arriving in the O.R. Because I had delayed making a decision for almost nine months, that meant getting a second set of images. I have good insurance so it wasn't an issue. He predicted he would remove the three largest tumors but ended up taking out seven, which together weighed almost a pound and were five times the size of my uterus. My menstrual cycle is no longer debilitating; my abdomen has returned to being flat; and I've lost about 8 lbs (taking my rather old body back to what I weighed 25 years ago!). If I choose to become pregnant, Dr. Gargiulo strongly recommended I deliver via C-section.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
All but one of the nurses were compassionate and patient, even when I was admittedly cranky and brusque. My bladder didn't "wake up" properly after surgery. The post-op nurses stayed well into the early evening to give my body time to right itself, and tried every trick to get my bladder functioning. Unfortunately, nothing worked so, in order to be released from the hospital rather than staying overnight, I had to agree to retaining the catheter. By the next afternoon when I returned to Dr. Gargiulo's clinic to see whether the catheter could be removed, I was not the most pleasant person. (Whatever anyone else says, I can affirm that a catheter is really uncomfortable!) The nurses and the P.A. were nonetheless kind and calm. They acknowledged my discomfort -- which one post-op nurse had downplayed, really ticking me off. I greatly appreciated their willingness to recognize that the catheter was causing pain, and the true sympathy they showed. That type of care makes all the difference.
Describe your experience with Brigham & Women's Hospital.
Dr. Gargiulo's surgical coordinator is outstanding. I live in Virginia, which presented challenges to obtaining care in Boston. The surgical coordinator accommodated my situation flawlessly. She planned all of my pre-op appointments across the hospital for a single afternoon (I could have flown home that evening had I wanted to); and provided a surgery date during the winter holiday season that ensured Dr. Gargiulo could do my post-op check-up at the 10-day mark, allowing me to return to Virginia and trim expenses (we stayed in an Air BnB about a half-mile from BWH). The surgical coordinator was very responsive by both phone and email. I didn't see any clinic weaknesses but I likely had less interaction than patients with more complex fertility issues.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
All appointments, surgery and medicine were covered by my insurance with relatively small co-pays (combined, less than $600). I did notice on a co-pay statement that the stated non-negotiated cost for the laparoscopic robotic myomectomy was $61,000.
Dr. Gargiulo was very personable, kind, and empathetic of my situation. We spoke about my history and I was able to express my concerns surrounding infertility.Dr. Gargiulo is very knowledged and I believe he cares abut the patients outcome as well as their health...He recommended getting a laparoscopy and removing the non communicating horn to prevent future ectopic pregnancies. He made me feel confident in trusting him for next steps. We scheduled a "Laparoscopic Excision of Right Rudimentary Uterine Horn, And Fallopian Tube".
staff [at Brigham and Women's Hospital] along with him [Dr. Gargiulo] were so kind, wonderful, and accommodating from beginning to end. It was a successful procedure and I am pleased with the small and not very noticeable incisions...The clinic itself is a bit small and would run behind on appointments. Most of their staff was pleasant. The office space was a bit cramped but it was overall a great clinic. Location is a bit busy and parking was a bit challenging.
How was your experience with Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
I am a 27 year old female who lives in the DC area who was born with a unicornate uterus with a rudimentary horn. I was diagnosed when I was 22 while I was trying to get to the root of my painful cramps. I had an ectopic pregnancy when I was 23 and wanted to be proactive for future planning. My OB/GYN recommended I have a laparoscopy done to diagnose endometriosis and take a loser took at my abnormal uterus. We did extensive research in efforts to finds a specialist in the area but no luck and since my family lives in Massachusetts we began our search there. We came across a colleague of Dr. Gargiulo and after speaking to his colleague, sending my MRI, and medical records, he stated Dr. Gargiulo would be the best fit to assist. When I met Dr. Gargiulo he was very personable, kind, and empathetic of my situation. We spoke about my history and I was able to express my concerns surrounding infertility. He recommended getting a laparoscopy and removing the non communicating horn to prevent future ectopic pregnancies. He made me feel confident in trusting him for next steps. We scheduled a "Laparoscopic Excision of Right Rudimentary Uterine Horn, And Fallopian Tube". His staff along with him were so kind, wonderful, and accommodating from beginning to end. It was a successful procedure and I am pleased with the small and not very noticeable incisions.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Have questions ready to ask.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Dr. Gargiulo was very personable, kind, and empathetic of my situation. We spoke about my history and I was able to express my concerns surrounding infertility.Dr. Gargiulo is very knowledged and I believe he cares abut the patients outcome as well as their health.
Describe the protocols Antonio Gargiulo used in your cycles at Brigham & Women's Hospital and their degree of success.
We focused on preparing my uterus for fertility. I have not yet began attempting.
Describe your experience with Brigham & Women's Hospital.
The clinic itself is a bit small and would run behind on appointments. Most of their staff was pleasant. The office space was a bit cramped but it was overall a great clinic. Location is a bit busy and parking was a bit challenging.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
Dr. Gargiulo is a truly excellent doctor and I can't recommend him enough. I initially came to him years ago seeking to freeze my eggs due to a severe case of endometriosis. He helpfully guided me through the process, and I was happy to complete several successful cycles of egg freezing under his care. Years later, after meeting my husband and deciding to start a family, I returned to Dr. Gargiulo, who talked through our plans for addressing infertility from every angle.
I have complete faith in the medical expertise/care offered by the BWH Infertility/Reproductive Medicine Center.... I will continue to seek treatment for infertility and endometriosis from him [Dr. Gargiulo] and cannot think of a better place in the area in which to do this than the BWH Infertility/Reproductive Medicine Center.... When we decided to do a fresh cycle of IVF and ran into a terrible dispute with my insurance, he and his assistant went above and beyond what I would expect of anyone in that situation.
How was your experience with Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Dr. Gargiulo is a truly excellent doctor and I can't recommend him enough. I initially came to him years ago seeking to freeze my eggs due to a severe case of endometriosis. He helpfully guided me through the process, and I was happy to complete several successful cycles of egg freezing under his care. Years later, after meeting my husband and deciding to start a family, I returned to Dr. Gargiulo, who talked through our plans for addressing infertility from every angle. When we decided to do a fresh cycle of IVF and ran into a terrible dispute with my insurance, he and his assistant went above and beyond what I would expect of anyone in that situation. They were always ready to help at the shortest notice during the weeks of the dispute. We won the case, and my husband and I went on to have a successful cycle of IVF at our first attempt despite a very low number of eggs retrieved. We were thrilled! I never once doubted Dr. Gargiulo's expertise, judgment, or advice. He explains everything in great detail and treats you with respect rather than talking down to you. He answers all questions with care and attention. What stands out as well are his kindness, humor, and genuine human touch. He is a generous doctor who clearly loves helping his patients. I will continue to seek treatment for infertility and endometriosis from him and cannot think of a better place in the area in which to do this than the BWH Infertility/Reproductive Medicine Center.
Describe your experience with Brigham & Women's Hospital.
I have complete faith in the medical expertise/care offered by the BWH Infertility/Reproductive Medicine Center. That's all I have to say although this site forced me to write a response of 200 characters in length.
Dr. Gargiulo is extremely competent, smart, friendly and compassionate. He spent enough time to answer my questions and listen to my concerns. I always left my appointments with a game plan that I was confident in....At my last transfer I was at the point of exhaustion from years of trying, and was teary. He gave me a reassuring side hug and it meant so much to my husband and I that we had a doctor that cared about his patients so much.
Please don’t hesitate to come to this clinic [Brigham & Women's Hospital], they are amazing to work with. You are greeted by name and with a smile each time you walk in the door. Each nurse you work with knows your history and is very skilled at their job.... All of the nursing and clerical staff were amazing! They greeted me by name and with a smile every day. They were compassionate and very skilled at their jobs.
How was your experience with Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Dr. Gargiulo is extremely competent, smart, friendly and compassionate. He spent enough time to answer my questions and listen to my concerns. I always left my appointments with a game plan that I was confident in. I highly recommend him and his practice.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Make a list of questions and concerns that you have because there is so much that you will learn from the visits that you may forget things.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
The doctor was friendly, compassionate and very realistic about my fertility situation. At my last transfer I was at the point of exhaustion from years of trying, and was teary. He gave me a reassuring side hug and it meant so much to my husband and I that we had a doctor that cared about his patients so much. I highly recommend this practice.
Describe the protocols Antonio Gargiulo used in your cycles at Brigham & Women's Hospital and their degree of success.
I started with cycle dependent IUI, and switched to IVF when those didn’t work. The staff was very accommodating with appointment times and availability for teachings and answering questions
Describe your experience with your nurse at Brigham & Women's Hospital. (Assigned nurse: Carrie)
All of the nursing and clerical staff were amazing! They greeted me by name and with a smile every day. They were compassionate and very skilled at their jobs.
Describe your experience with Brigham & Women's Hospital.
Please don’t hesitate to come to this clinic, they are amazing to work with. You are greeted by name and with a smile each time you walk in the door. Each nurse you work with knows your history and is very skilled at their job.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
My insurance covered 100 percent of all costs, I was very fortunate.
Describe Antonio Gargiulo's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
Due to the small size of my uterus, it was recommended to me that I do a single embryo transfer to avoid complications and or having to possibly make the gut wrenching decision of aborting a multiple. They really had my best interest in mind.
Dr Gargiulo is an extremely experienced and competent fertility doctor, but with a warm and caring genuiness. It took us almost 3 years to have our twins, and Dr Gargiulo kept adjusting our plans as new results occurred. He is wonderful... Make sure to discuss genetic testing of embryos. Because it is not paid for by insurance, Dr Gargiulo does not recommend it universally. We had to ask to test ours, which he was more than willing to support, but if we did not ask, if could have take us much longer to have children.
The clinic [Brigham & Women's] was great: staff was friendly and competent; facility was clean; and hours for appointments was amenable to my schedule. There really were no weaknesses of this clinic. I always felt welcome and well cared for.... Marsha and Carrie were the two nurses who cared for me through the four cycles. They are amazing, smart, compassionate, and on top of everything.... The only mishaps was when they needed to draw blood for a test. The nurse collected the sample in the wrong tube. The only impact was that I had to go back the next day for another blood draw. It was inconvenient but no big deal.
How was your experience with Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Dr Gargiulo is an extremely experienced and competent fertility doctor, but with a warm and caring genuiness. It took us almost 3 years to have our twins, and Dr Gargiulo kept adjusting our plans as new results occurred. He is wonderful.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Make sure to discuss genetic testing of embryos. Because it is not paid for by insurance, Dr Gargiulo does not recommend it universally. We had to ask to test ours, which he was more than willing to support, but if we did not ask, if could have take us much longer to have children.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Dr Garguilo is a warm and caring doctor. He states facts and statistics, but in a kind and positive way.
Describe the protocols Antonio Gargiulo used in your cycles at Brigham & Women's Hospital and their degree of success.
I do not remember
Describe your experience with your nurse at Brigham & Women's Hospital. (Assigned nurse: Marsha)
Marsha and Carrie were the two nurses who cared for me through the four cycles. They are amazing, smart, compassionate, and on top of everything.
Describe your experience with Brigham & Women's Hospital.
The clinic was great: staff was friendly and competent; facility was clean; and hours for appointments was amenable to my schedule. There really were no weaknesses of this clinic. I always felt welcome and well cared for.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
Most of mine was covered by insurance with the exception of genetic testing of embryos, of which I paid about $8000 out of pocket.
Describe Antonio Gargiulo's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
His philosophy of transferring only one genetically normal embryo at a time is the right one. I willingly transferred two, which he supported, but only after 2 prior failed FETs.
What specific things went wrong at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Lost or damaged samples
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
The only mishaps was when they needed to draw blood for a test. The nurse collected the sample in the wrong tube. The only impact was that I had to go back the next day for another blood draw. It was inconvenient but no big deal.
I "saw" Dr. Gargiulo for my IVF consult this week. He made sure I was ready to discuss IVF before delving into the details then very thoroughly covered potential complications and FAQs. When I raised concern about my thyroid, he thanked me for bringing it up and discussed what we will do before starting any cycle...He said for my age (36) he would only transfer 1 egg at a time.
I haven't been there [Brigham & Women's Hospital] in person yet, but I like that fertility patients are seen at different times than pregnant women (there may be overlap but they try to separate the groups), and children aren't allowed in the office. They have a lending library of useful titles...I plan to pay $8000 for IVF cycle, $800 for egg freezing, $234 for self pay insurance -- meds were quoted $4-$5k.
How was your experience with Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
I "saw" Dr. Gargiulo for my IVF consult this week. He made sure I was ready to discuss IVF before delving into the details then very thoroughly covered potential complications and FAQs. When I raised concern about my thyroid, he thanked me for bringing it up and discussed what we will do before starting any cycle. When I asked about lifestyle/diet/supplement recommendations, he said to continue just being healthy.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Be sure to ask your questions!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
When I did my consult with him over the phone, he always stopped to ask if I had any questions.
Describe the protocols Antonio Gargiulo used in your cycles at Brigham & Women's Hospital and their degree of success.
He's prescribed a classic antagonist IVF cycle for me. This is our first cycle together after clomid/letrezole TI and 4 IUIs with clomid. Cycle to start when clinics reopen after covid.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
Marsha's been a great help. I thought insurance might cover a portion of my treatment (that's a big fat nope) but Marsha helped me put the pieces together so kindly after she explained why it would be all self pay.
Describe your experience with Brigham & Women's Hospital.
I haven't been there in person yet, but I like that fertility patients are seen at different times than pregnant women (there may be overlap but they try to separate the groups), and children aren't allowed in the office. They have a lending library of useful titles.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
I plan to pay $8000 for IVF cycle, $800 for egg freezing, $234 for self pay insurance -- meds were quoted $4-$5k.
Describe Antonio Gargiulo's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
He said for my age (36) he would only transfer 1 egg at a time.
Dr Gargiulo is extremely knowledgeable and compassionate. On my first telehealth visit with him I was anxious and expecting more bad news, but he treated me with respect and educated me about the disease and treatment and the steps to continue the IVF treatment and embryo implementation after the surgery. Dr. Gargiulo made me feel hopeful again that everything would work out a s pregnancy was still an option for me.
All my [Brigham & Women's Hospital] appointments were through tele medicine, all communication by phone and emails and she always returned calls and emails in a timely manner...They are true advocates for their patients. My nurse requested additional antiemetic medication for me so I would not feel sick during the car ride back home, she went above and beyond to make sure I had no problems after my surgery with nausea and vomiting
How was your experience with Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Dr Gargiulo is extremely knowledgeable and compassionate. On my first telehealth visit with him I was anxious and expecting more bad news, but he treated me with respect and educated me about the disease and treatment and the steps to continue the IVF treatment and embryo implementation after the surgery. Dr. Gargiulo made me feel hopeful again that everything would work out a s pregnancy was still an option for me.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
It is a long wait for initial appointment and surgery schedule but is totally worth it.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Dr Gargiulo was the only physician I spoke with that talked about fertility preservation. During my ivf treatment I learned about having fibroids and Endometrioses and how that was impacting my health and ability to get pregnant. While other doctors were fast to tell me about possible removing my ovaries Dr. Gargiulo understood what was important to me and walked me through the reality of the disease and treatment options always reassuring me that the goal was to treatment me and preserve fertility.
Describe the protocols Antonio Gargiulo used in your cycles at Brigham & Women's Hospital and their degree of success.
NA
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
Barbara was outstanding and extremely helpful. All my appointments were through tele medicine, all communication by phone and emails and she always returned calls and emails in a timely manner. I live in California and she accommodated my appointments and communications on business hours in California.
Describe your experience with Brigham & Women's Hospital.
The team at Brigham women’s hospital is outstanding. The pre and post op nurses are the best nurses I ever had. The post op nurses are extremely kind, attentive and respectful. They are true advocates for their patients. My nurse requested additional antiemetic medication for me so I would not feel sick during the car ride back home, she went above and beyond to make sure I had no problems after my surgery with nausea and vomiting. As a nurse myself I am still blown away with the experience. I will be forever grateful to my amazing post op nurse.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
100% covered by insurance
Describe Antonio Gargiulo's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
Dr Gargulio is very knowledgeable, trustworthy, and compassionate. He shared his expertise and also took into consideration, my preferences and needs as an individual. As someone who has a lot of questions and likes to understand things thoroughly, he was a great fit for me...treated me with the upmost care, respect, and compassion. As someone who had been through several failed fertility treatments and 2 previous clinics I did not like, I was somewhat skeptical. As soon as I entered his office, I knew this was going to be different...
The entire nursing staff [at Brigham & Women's Hospital] is kind, compassionate and caring. It was quite hard to go in for blood, draws and monitoring early in the mornings far from home, but knowing they would greet me warmly when I got there, made all the difference...The entire clinic is clean and accessible and very patient friendly. I never once had a problem with the clinic. I appreciated the protocols they took to keep everyone safe and everything clean...
How was your experience with Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Dr Gargulio is very knowledgeable, trustworthy, and compassionate. He shared his expertise and also took into consideration, my preferences and needs as an individual. As someone who has a lot of questions and likes to understand things thoroughly, he was a great fit for me.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
You are in great hands! Trust that Dr Gargulio knows what he is talking about
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Dr Gargulio and his office staff treated me with the upmost care, respect, and compassion. As someone who had been through several failed fertility treatments and 2 previous clinics I did not like, I was somewhat skeptical. As soon as I entered his office, I knew this was going to be different.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
The entire nursing staff is kind, compassionate and caring. It was quite hard to go in for blood, draws and monitoring early in the mornings far from home, but knowing they would greet me warmly when I got there, made all the difference.
Describe your experience with Brigham & Women's Hospital.
The entire clinic is clean and accessible and very patient friendly. I never once had a problem with the clinic. I appreciated the protocols they took to keep everyone safe and everything clean. My only wish is that it was closer to my house so I didn’t have to drive as far!
Amazing talented doctor [Antonio Gargiulo] from God. From first meeting with him, then later in surgery day and on post-surgery meeting I had strong confident feeling inside of me that its best doctor whom I could trust myself and my health. I did right choice! Knowledgeable, experienced, companioned, attentive. even that human charming smile means so much to us, his patients. I highly recommend him. Dr. Gargiulo is the best!
I wish I could thank them [the nursing staff at Brigham] personally after surgery. I never met such a great team. they treat you as queen with a lot of kindness, care and attention. they explained to me each step what they were doing, we even laughed right before surgery begin.... It is clean, neat place with all necessary departments under one roof. it could be a bit complicated to find right room, so I would recommend to come earlier to your appointment in case you get lost.
How was your experience with Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Amazing talented doctor from God.
From first meeting with him, then later in surgery day and on post-surgery meeting I had strong confident feeling inside of me that its best doctor whom I could trust myself and my health. I did right choice!
Knowledgeable, experienced, companioned, attentive. even that human charming smile means so much to us, his patients.
I highly recommend him.
Dr. Gargiulo is the best!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Do not have doubts, if you chose Dr. Gargiulo, you are in safe hands!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Doctor Garqiulo is a doctor with big heart.
He listens with attention all your needs, questions. You feel comfortable next to him. I totally trust him myself for planned surgery.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
I wish I could thank them personally after surgery.
I never met such a great team. they treat you as queen with a lot of kindness, care and attention.
they explained to me each step what they were doing, we even laughed right before surgery begin.
Describe your experience with Brigham & Women's Hospital.
It is clean, neat place with all necessary departments under one roof.
it could be a bit complicated to find right room, so I would recommend to come earlier to your appointment in case you get lost.
I truly can’t say enough about Dr. Gargiulo. He and his team were amazing from start to finish. We’re so grateful that he was able to perform my surgery, and that we’re one step closer to becoming parents!...He has a very full schedule, but is worth the wait!...I had uterine fibroids that if not removed would’ve prevented pregnancy. He performed a laparoscopic myomectomy, without any issues. I have recovered well, and will hopefully be transferring two embryos this summer!
This is a great clinic [Brigham & Women's Hospital]! They care about how you’re doing physically and mentally. Ready to answer any question, I left messages on two separate occasions and received a call back within 20 minutes each time...They were wonderful. So kind and helpful, such a great nursing team!...I truly can’t say enough about Dr. Gargiulo. He and his team were amazing from start to finish...We’re so grateful t
How was your experience with Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
I truly can’t say enough about Dr. Gargiulo. He and his team were amazing from start to finish. We’re so grateful that he was able to perform my surgery, and that we’re one step closer to becoming parents!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
He has a very full schedule, but is worth the wait!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Dr. Gargiulo was so kind, patient and caring. He spent time with me and my husband at the consults before surgery, the day of, and at our post-op. During this time he thoroughly explained everything, answered our questions and gave us hope!
Describe the protocols Antonio Gargiulo used in your cycles at Brigham & Women's Hospital and their degree of success.
I had uterine fibroids that if not removed would’ve prevented pregnancy. He performed a laparoscopic myomectomy, without any issues. I have recovered well, and will hopefully be transferring two embryos this summer!
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
They were wonderful. So kind and helpful, such a great nursing team!
Describe your experience with Brigham & Women's Hospital.
This is a great clinic! They care about how you’re doing physically and mentally. Ready to answer any question, I left messages on two separate occasions and received a call back within 20 minutes each time.
Felt my concerns about high twin rate weren't taken that seriously. Felt he was overly optimistic about male-factor issues, in an effort to be reassuring. Pleasant personality. Appointments felt rushed, had to come in with a list of questions to make sure they got answered.
Chaotic hospital environment, practice often running late. Doctor was empathetic but nurses more business-like. Efficient but not very warm. Always returned calls. Cramped city offices, difficult parking and labs in labyrinthine basement.
How was your experience with Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Felt my concerns about high twin rate weren't taken that seriously. Felt he was overly optimistic about male-factor issues, in an effort to be reassuring. Pleasant personality. Appointments felt rushed, had to come in with a list of questions to make sure they got answered. Only saw him at the commencement of treatment each time.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Chaotic hospital environment, practice often running late. Doctor was empathetic but nurses more business-like. Efficient but not very warm. Always returned calls. Cramped city offices, difficult parking and labs in labyrinthine basement.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Brigham & Women's Hospital. (Assigned nurse: Susan Fischer)
Trusted her and responsive but not very warm.
Describe your experience with Brigham & Women's Hospital.
Chaotic hospital environment, practice often running late. Doctor was empathetic but nurses more business-like. Efficient but not very warm. Always returned calls. Cramped city offices, difficult parking and labs in labyrinthine basement.
[Dr. Antonio Gargiulo] was very knowledgable but also listens to the patient...changes protocol depending on the condition of the patient. I had sever endometriosis with uterine wall infiltration(Extrinsic adenomyosis) and Dr offered endometriosis focused highly personalized IVF protocols
When I started [at Brigham & Women's Hospital] in 2020, the team was very good...for second child, the team has changed and the process was not smooth like the first time...20,000$ approximately...Very knowledgable, experienced and on top of things...didn't advise for multiple embryo transfer since it was PGS tested embryo and in general the doctor prefers to do eSET
How was your experience with Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Doctor was very knowledgable but also listens to the patient. He changes protocol depending on the condition of the patient. I had sever endometriosis with uterine wall infiltration(Extrinsic adenomyosis) and Dr offered endometriosis focused highly personalized IVF protocols
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Trust him!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Doctor was very empathetic and he listens
Describe the protocols Antonio Gargiulo used in your cycles at Brigham & Women's Hospital and their degree of success.
I had severe endometriosis with uterine wall infiltration (Extrinsic adenomyosis). My egg retrieval went well but because of my endometriosis I had sever pain during ovulation induction period. But doctor helped me to manage the pain by giving proper medication without stopping the cycle. I got 14 eggs out of which I got 13 embroyos and we did Freeze protocol because I went on lupron for 3 months after retrieval to treat endometriosis. My first transfer ended up in chemical pregnancy, Doctor advised to for a 2nd transfer immediately which also resulted in chemical. So now, Doctor asked us to do PGS testing for the remaining 11 embryos meanwhile asked me to go on lupron suppression. After PGS we got only 4 embryos , so went ahead with the 3rd IVF and one PGS tested embroyo, personally I had very little hope but I trusted the process and went ahead. I had a positive pregnancy test this time and the whole pregnancy was uncomplicated and I delivered a beautiful baby boy.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Brigham & Women's Hospital. (Assigned nurse: Marcia Sinclair)
Very knowledgable, experienced and on top of things
Describe your experience with Brigham & Women's Hospital.
When I started in 2020, the team was very good. But when I went in for second child, the team has changed and the process was not smooth like the first time. I wish the team is retained, esp Marcia and other nurses
Describe the costs associated with your care under Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
20,000$ approximately
Describe Antonio Gargiulo's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
Doctor didn't advise for multiple embryo transfer since it was PGS tested embryo and in general the doctor prefers to do eSET
What specific things went wrong at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Lost appointments
Failed to inform you of changes in protocol
Provided conflicting information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
It was not the first time, but only second time when there were lot of new members in the team
I'm 22 years old and have had one of my ovaries removed due to ovarian cysts and recently had reoccurring cysts on my other ovary...I was told that my previous doctor may not have used the best method to remove an ovarian cyst...[Dr. Gargiulo] informed me about a very similar surgery with small incisions, but using robotics instead of heat. He told me that his method entailed using a plastic bag to surround the ovary when removing the cyst so that the ovarian tissue wouldn't be harmed any more than it already was. He used robotics to do this because they are extremely accurate and proven to be successful.
The nursing staff [at Brigham & Women's] was very friendly. It's a difficult environment to work in and they were always upbeat and respectful of the patients coming through the door...The clinic is awesome. It's in a great location in the hospital and all of the staff is very friendly. The last time I left without important paperwork because I asked the person at the front and they had said that I could leave. I wish they had double checked and communicated with the nurse staff that had just seen me. This was the only hiccup I eve had there.
How was your experience with Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
I'm 22 years old and have had one of my ovaries removed due to ovarian cysts and recently had reoccurring cysts on my other ovary. My past surgery was with another doctor, but this time around my sister (with infertility and PCOS) insisted that I switch to her doctor, Dr. Gargiulo. I was so glad I did. He explained everything at a level that I could understand and made me realize how important it was to take care of this problem now, before I get older. He has special characteristics that no other doctors have. He was always running a bit behind because he refuses to cut time with any patients and likes to spend more time with everyone. He also uses a robotic technique to remove ovarian cysts instead of a laparoscopic technique, which uses heat that could damage ovarian tissue. His methods are much safer and exact than applying heat to the ovary because he essentially uses a plastic bag to enclose the ovary to protect it while removing the cyst. This method is newer, so women are sometimes hesitant to use it, but I had a wonderful experience with it and with Dr. Gargiulo because I truly felt that he had my best interest in mind. By using newer methods, he was able to keep me safe and to save my ovarian reserve, which I'll forever be grateful for!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
If he is running behind schedule don't jump to conclusions, because it's probably a good thing! He spends more time with patients, compared to other doctors I've seen, because he is personable and truly cares about you and your health. He goes the extra mile, so just be patient in that waiting room, because you'll have your turn and it's most definitely worth the wait.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Dr. Gargiulo is the best doctor that I have seen. He was referred by my sister who has infertility and treated me just as well as he treated her. He goes the extra mile, unlike other doctors. He is personable and makes you feel that your situation matters and that he'll do everything in his power to help you. I felt extremely safe in his care and would refer any of my loved ones to his care.
Describe the protocols Antonio Gargiulo used in your cycles at Brigham & Women's Hospital and their degree of success.
I had a large cyst removed in the past, which caused the removal of my ovary as well. When other cysts started to occur on my only existing ovary, I started to see Dr. G.. Though she is a very successful surgeon, I was told that my previous doctor may not have used the best method to remove an ovarian cyst. She specialized more in OBGYN, so she wasn't as familiar with the fertility outcomes as Dr. G. is. The previous surgery was done laparoscopically, which meant that heat was applied to remove the cyst. However, in the long run, heat can damage the ovarian tissue, which can cause the ovary quality and activity to lessen. Dr. G. informed me about a very similar surgery with small incisions, but using robotics instead of heat. He told me that his method entailed using a plastic bag to surround the ovary when removing the cyst so that the ovarian tissue wouldn't be harmed any more than it already was. He used robotics to do this because they are extremely accurate and proven to be successful. He predicted that doing the surgery this way instead would leave my ovary with much better chances of being unharmed. The surgery went exactly as expected and the ovary was not harmed in the process. The recovery was also exactly what he had told me it would be, there were no surprises. He has also suggested for me to see him in a year to consult about freezing more eggs due to a lower ovarian reserve. He used the data to produce exact results and informed me of the statistical chances that I will conceive a baby from the number of eggs I currently have frozen. Due to the lower percentage, I have decided to go ahead and freeze more in a year. I was very, very happy with the results and care that I received from Dr. G and would recommend anyone to him! He presented me with every detail. I would definitely recommend his methods of surgery due to the low risk and positive results that come along them.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
The nursing staff was very friendly. It's a difficult environment to work in and they were always upbeat and respectful of the patients coming through the door.
Describe your experience with Brigham & Women's Hospital.
The clinic is awesome. It's in a great location in the hospital and all of the staff is very friendly. The last time I left without important paperwork because I asked the person at the front and they had said that I could leave. I wish they had double checked and communicated with the nurse staff that had just seen me. This was the only hiccup I eve had there.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Antonio Gargiulo at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
I had a $40 copay each time I saw him because my insurance issues that for specialists. I'm still waiting for the bill for the surgery, however, I was told by my insurance company that they should cover a lot of it.
What specific things went wrong at Brigham & Women's Hospital?
Provided conflicting information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Brigham & Women's Hospital.
I left without important paperwork, so as I was driving away, the nurse called me to let me know and informed me that they would mail it to me instead. Before leaving, I had explained to the front desk personnel my confusion and asked if I was finished. She explained that I would leave and that any information would be posted on the portal. In hindsight, I wish she had double checked with the nursing staff to make sure that I was finished with my visit. However, I could have asked any one of them, so I think it was a miscommunication.