She [Dr. Carla DiGirolamo] is very straight forward with information, but also explains everything well. Interactions with her are limited. Her personality isn’t very warm, but you can still tell she does care an did compassionate about what you’re going through. She doesnt seem to be open to my suggestions sometime as I’m not a healthcare professional. She recently emailed to check on me during the pandemic which was surprising, but very nice and thoughtful!
Their [Boston IVF] online portal need a lot of help. I wish they would utilize it more to get information to their patients quicker. They are clean and organized. Their method of sign in is good if it’s looked at carefully by the nurses (I’ve been skipped before). Everyone I’ve interacted with at both locations have been very warm and helpful...No one checked in on me and how i was doing during and after each cycles result.
How was your experience with Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
She is very straight forward with information, but also explains everything well. Interactions with her are limited. Her personality isn’t very warm, but you can still tell she does care an did compassionate about what you’re going through. She doesnt seem to be open to my suggestions sometime as I’m not a healthcare professional.
She recently emailed to check on me during the pandemic which was surprising, but very nice and thoughtful!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
Don’t let your initial reaction to her personality steer you away. She does know what she is doing and she does care, even if it can seem like she doesn’t.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
I only got to speak with her twice in the last few months. No one checked in on me and how i was doing during and after each cycles result.
Describe the protocols Carla DiGirolamo used in your cycles at Boston IVF and their degree of success.
We were given a treatment plan of injections and IUI procedure.
Cd 3 start Gonal-F, ultrasound scans and bloodwork every other day, once follicles we’re mature take Ovidrel (trigger shot) then scheduled IUI. We did this twice with a negative result. We were set to try a 3rd time but the pandemic happened. The reason for 3 was insurance purposes. She said she felt confident that we would have good results.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Boston IVF. (Assigned nurse: Brynna )
She is very compassionate and takes the time to answer all questions. She also calls back in timely fashion.
Describe your experience with Boston IVF.
Their online portal need a lot of help. I wish they would utilize it more to get information to their patients quicker. They are clean and organized. Their method of sign in is good if it’s looked at carefully by the nurses (I’ve been skipped before). Everyone I’ve interacted with at both locations have been very warm and helpful.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF.
Consultation cost us $150.00 out of pocket. Each medication was $30 per refill/per drug. I haven’t received full billing amount for all cycles yet.
My husband's sperms motility was low which is why we started with IUI [with Dr. Carla DiGirolamo]...answered all of my questions and I never felt rushed. She has so much compassion and knowledge that my husband and I trust her implicitly...I have nothing but good things to say about Dr. Digirolomo. She gave me a beautiful daughter, and now my husband and I are trusting her again with an IVF cycle. She is the most compassionate woman who is solid with her knowledge of fertility treatments and all of the above. She rocks!
I never felt guilty or uncomfortable asking questions or calling back for clarification because I was never made to feel like that [at Boston IVF]...Bryna is a wonderful nurse. I absolutely love talking to her...The staff are excellent and are always very nice...Patients like the flexibility to have lab work done early but if they run into problems (paperwork not faxed) there isn't a way to reach anyone. That has happened to me more than once and it's very frustrating especially when you are having timed blood work and ultrasounds.
How was your experience with Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
I have nothing but good things to say about Dr. Digirolomo. She gave me a beautiful daughter, and now my husband and I are trusting her again with an IVF cycle. She is the most compassionate woman who is solid with her knowledge of fertility treatments and all of the above. She rocks!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
Be patient and ask lots of questions. I never felt guilty or uncomfortable asking questions or calling back for clarification because I was never made to feel like that. They want you to have the tools and knowledge to make decisions and going to Boston IVF has been the best decision for my family.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
Dr. D answered all of my questions and I never felt rushed. She has so much compassion and knowledge that my husband and I trust her implicitly.
Describe the protocols Carla DiGirolamo used in your cycles at Boston IVF and their degree of success.
I started with IUI and we were ecstatic to find out that it took on the second cycle without medication. My husband's sperms motility was low which is why we started with IUI. We waited a few years, dealt with a job loss and a stressful moment in our lives but got back on the horse so to speak. I have had a couple of setbacks and will be going to have a polyp removed to start IVF, but I couldn't be more thankful to have Dr. D and her team helping me through it.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Boston IVF. (Assigned nurse: Bryna)
Bryna is a wonderful nurse. I absolutely love talking to her.
Describe your experience with Boston IVF.
The staff are excellent and are always very nice. The two things I would recommend are to have a direct number for the team and have the main number go on before 9 am. Patients like the flexibility to have lab work done early but if they run into problems (paperwork not faxed) there isn't a way to reach anyone. That has happened to me more than once and it's very frustrating especially when you are having timed blood work and ultrasounds.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF.
We saw Carla [DiGirolamo] for a second opinion after we had 4 failed IVF ICSI treatments with our first doctor. She was completely upfront with us from the moment we walked in the door. She explained that with our male factor issue that the best possible way to have a baby was to do the out of pocket PGS testing....She chose to put me on 2mg of estrace and baby aspirin daily leading up to my retreival. I was also on crinone afterwards. I dont recall my trigger shot. My egg was frozen for PGS testing and we transferred the one good egg about a month after the tests came back.
The nice thing about the Westborough office [Boston IVF] is how small it is. There isn't a lot of people there in the AM for blood or ultrasound and this make the wait shorter. It feels a little less like a doctors office.... Everyone I worked with was excellent. After years of treatments, my veins were weak and they always had trouble getting one, but we worked through it together. They were gentle and always made sure I was doing okay.
How was your experience with Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
We saw Carla for a second opinion after we had 4 failed IVF ICSI treatments with our first doctor. She was completely upfront with us from the moment we walked in the door. She explained that with our male factor issue that the best possible way to have a baby was to do the out of pocket PGS testing. We agreed and we finally have our miracle baby! Carla was amazing, she explained everything to us and answered every question we had along the way.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
Ask all the questions you want to know, she will be honest and explain them to you.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
She was honest with us and made us feel like we were there to create a human life and not just a patient of hers. She was kind, and always happy to see us, especially when she told us the results of our PGS results.
Describe the protocols Carla DiGirolamo used in your cycles at Boston IVF and their degree of success.
She chose to put me on 2mg of estrace and baby aspirin daily leading up to my retreival. I was also on crinone afterwards. I dont recall my trigger shot. My egg was frozen for PGS testing and we transferred the one good egg about a month after the tests came back.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Boston IVF.
Everyone I worked with was excellent. After years of treatments, my veins were weak and they always had trouble getting one, but we worked through it together. They were gentle and always made sure I was doing okay.
Describe your experience with Boston IVF.
The nice thing about the Westborough office is how small it is. There isn't a lot of people there in the AM for blood or ultrasound and this make the wait shorter. It feels a little less like a doctors office.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Boston IVF.
As stated in a previous response, monitoring was easy here. The clinic is small so the wait was usually short. The nurses were kind and never seemed to feel rushed.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF.
We were lucky enough to have insurance pay for most of our treatments. So I don't recall the numbers.
Describe Carla DiGirolamo's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Boston IVF.
We didn't have a choice. I only had one egg survive.
Dr. DiGirolamo was very informative, straightforward, and matter of fact. She was compassionate and empathized with us, but focused discussions on the treatment. My husband likes numbers, facts, statistics, and focusing on the problem at hand while I prefer doctors who are friendly and make me feel like I matter. Despite these differences in preference, my husband and I both really liked Dr. DiGirolamo. She frequently let my husband and I discuss our options while she just listened quietly. She wouldn't interrupt us unless we asked her a question or she had relevant information to add. Also, she never tried to push us toward one treatment or option. She simply gave us the facts and let us make our own decision.
A strength of the clinic [Boston IVF] is that it seemed to be pretty state of the art and technically advanced (although I don't know how it actually compares to others). The clinic also felt professional and like a well-oiled machine (which can be a pro and a con)...There were maybe 2 or 3 people on the nursing staff that I dealt with frequently and then another 3 to 6 people I dealt with just once or twice. It was hard to keep them all straight. They were generally friendly and informative. My only way to contact them was by phone and they didn't always pick up, so that was annoying
How was your experience with Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
Dr. DiGirolamo was very informative, straightforward, and matter of fact. She was compassionate and empathized with us, but focused discussions on the treatment. My husband likes numbers, facts, statistics, and focusing on the problem at hand while I prefer doctors who are friendly and make me feel like I matter. Despite these differences in preference, my husband and I both really liked Dr. DiGirolamo.
She frequently let my husband and I discuss our options while she just listened quietly. She wouldn't interrupt us unless we asked her a question or she had relevant information to add. Also, she never tried to push us toward one treatment or option. She simply gave us the facts and let us make our own decision.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
Make sure you write down your questions beforehand and ask everything you want to know more about. Sometimes she seems a bit rushed, but she will always take time to answer all of your questions and explain anything you don't understand.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
The doctor gave us the information we needed to make decisions and was not judgmental. She empathized and answered all of our questions. She did seem a tiny bit rushed at times.
Describe the protocols Carla DiGirolamo used in your cycles at Boston IVF and their degree of success.
I did 2 rounds of IVF. The first cycle I used birth control pills for a month and then I think I did Lupron and Gonal-F injections once a day. The first cycle, many of the eggs retrieved were immature. Only a few embryos made it to Day 3 and we got a negative pregnancy test. Because of the low number of mature eggs, she changed my protocol for the second cycle.
The second cycle I did not use birth control pills (she said it would suppress me too much). I forget what meds I used. During the stimulation period I had to do a micro-dose injection twice a day (Lupron?) and another injection (Gonal-F) once a day. I also had to wait a few hours longer between my trigger and retrieval than the first time, to let my eggs fully mature. I am now 14-weeks pregnant with a single baby.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Boston IVF.
There were maybe 2 or 3 people on the nursing staff that I dealt with frequently and then another 3 to 6 people I dealt with just once or twice. It was hard to keep them all straight. They were generally friendly and informative. My only way to contact them was by phone and they didn't always pick up, so that was annoying, especially since infertility patients often have questions and are worried about everything. When I got a call about the test results (the negative and later the positive pregnancy test), the nurse who called with the news seemed genuinely disappointed/excited for me.
Describe your experience with Boston IVF.
I think the clinic recently changed ownership and their policies and procedures have changed for the worse. I had 2 IVF cycles (2 retrievals, 2 transfers), one in late 2016 and the other in early 2017.
The first retrieval/transfer felt much more patient friendly than the second one. For the second retrieval, I felt much more like I was a number and they were trying to rush me out of there. An example is the first time they let me stay as long as I needed to recover and made sure I could pee before I left. The second time they got me out the door soon afterwards.
The first time they had snacks in the waiting room and let me eat and drink as much as I wanted during recovery. The second time they still gave me a snack, but it was much more limited. They also used to have water and snacks in the waiting room for transfers and retrievals, but they didn't the second time I went. There wasn't even a pitcher of water in the waiting room anymore (which seemed silly since you're supposed to drink lots of water before a transfer).
There were lots of little changes like these that felt like they were just trying to save money and made me feel like a number instead of a person. None of these things were deal breakers for me or that big of a deal, but it was disappointing to see these kinds of changes.
A strength of the clinic is that it seemed to be pretty state of the art and technically advanced (although I don't know how it actually compares to others). The clinic also felt professional and like a well-oiled machine (which can be a pro and a con).
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Boston IVF.
The monitoring appointments were conveniently scheduled in the morning, so I could go before work (I think the hours were 6-9AM).
It was kind of confusing how they scheduled the appointment times. They asked you to schedule a specific time, but then it was mostly just first come first served. It seemed like they didn't really care what time you were there during that window. For ultrasound appointments they seemed a bit more strict about the appointments and schedule. The blood work was kind of a free for all (first come first serve).
Most of the time I only had to wait a few minutes (less than 10) to do the monitoring. Two or three times I had to wait for about an hour.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF.
For each IVF cycle, the clinic charged $9000. My other costs (appointments, genetic testing, infertility testing, etc.) were a total of about $300 after my insurance coverage.
Describe Carla DiGirolamo's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Boston IVF.
My doctor did not say much of anything about this issue. I had done a great deal of research about it beforehand, on my own, and was strongly in favor of doing a single transfer. Maybe the doctor didn't discuss it with us because it was clear we understood the pros and cons. At one point my husband and I disagreed and looked to her to provide her medical advice (or to act as the tiebreaker), and she mentioned the pros and cons but said it was entirely up to us. We did decide to do a single transfer both times, but I wish she had been a bit more insistent about the importance of doing a single transfer.
What specific things went wrong at Boston IVF?
Failed to call with results
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Boston IVF.
For one cycle, they forgot to call me and tell me some important, time-critical test results. If I remember correctly, it was Day 2 and I needed to know if I was going in for a Day 3 or Day 5 transfer. No one called me all day. The paper instructions they gave me said to call a certain number if I hadn't heard anything by 6 PM. I called that number at 6:15, and an answering service person told me it was after hours and I would have to call back the next day. After arguing with the answering service person for a while, she finally let me talk to the on-call doctor. That doctor looked up my information and gave me the next instructions I needed for my treatment. The issue was resolved, but brought me to tears and added a lot of stress and anxiety to an already very stressful time.
Dr. DiGirolamo met with us a number of times at the start of each cycle to talk through the process and listen to our concerns. There were times when it was hard to get a 'straight answer', especially after failed cycles - everything seem to be generalized as egg quality or not 'viable' - but I also understand that she can't explain exactly why the cycle failed. After visits with the doctor we would meet with the nurse to go over the instructions for the start of the cycle. Once we started, we didn't see the doctor again; just talked to the nurse with instructions after U/S and bloodwork...
[IVF New England - Lex] Front desk staff is very friendly and gets to know you over your visits. The phlebotemists and Ultrasound technicians couldn't be nicer. They are all friendly and welcoming - and this is a big plus because these are the people you see throughout your cycle face to face - not the nurse and not the doctor. I feel comfortable there - more than at any other doctor's office. The same can be said about the staff for egg retrieval - very nice/friendly/compassionate with you - especially if you are nervous for each egg retrieval like I am.
How was your experience with Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
Dr DiGirolamo met with us a number of times at the start of each cycle to talk through the process and listen to our concerns. There were times when it was hard to get a 'straight answer', especially after failed cycles - everything seem to be generalized as egg quality or not 'viable' - but I also understand that she can't explain exactly why the cycle failed. After visits with the doctor we would meet with the nurse to go over the instructions for the start of the cycle. Once we started, we didn't see the doctor again; just talked to the nurse with instructions after U/S and bloodwork
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
I would give this for any doctor: the process is overwhelming and even if you think you asked everything and understood anything when walking out the door, make sure to leave the door open for follow up questions or to repeat information. Ask the doctor what is the best way to contact them or their nurses for these types of questions
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
She seemed genuine in giving us advice and telling us the process
Describe the protocols Carla DiGirolamo used in your cycles at Boston IVF and their degree of success.
strong protocol with stimulation medication to help with low reserve
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Boston IVF.
Negative: Some of the nurses would be short with you if you asked questions or when explaining your instructions - probably because they repeat themselves a number of times a day - but depending on who called you, it could be annoying. Also, they were hard to get a hold of. If I called, I never had anyone answer live...I always had to leave a voicemail and wait for a call back.
Not everything is explained in detail. I recently did a cycle where it was a freeze all due to genetic testing. They kept telling me to call when I got my period after the retrieval - but didn't indicate why. I didn't ask (so that's on me) but assumed they just needed to track it. When I got my period and called, they said I would need to go on the pill - and the reason for that was because I was still waiting for financial approval of the frozen cycle and they need to control my period. Not a big deal, but I thought it was weird that this was not explained to me previously. I think overall it boils down to - they same the same thing, more or less - to probably 20 or more patients a day - so sometimes you can tell they want to just spit out the instructions and be done.
Positive: while some of the nurses were bitchy, some were really nice, patient and tried to help. There was one time when my medication order got messed up with my insurance and the nurse worked with for a few hours trying to fix it. While I said all that 'negative' stuff, 8 times out of 10 I got a really nice nurse.
Describe your experience with Boston IVF.
Front desk staff is very friendly and gets to know you over your visits. The phlebotemists and Ultrasound technicians couldn't be nicer. They are all friendly and welcoming - and this is a big plus because these are the people you see throughout your cycle face to face - not the nurse and not the doctor. I feel comfortable there - more than at any other doctor's office. The same can be said about the staff for egg retrieval - very nice/friendly/compassionate with you - especially if you are nervous for each egg retrieval like I am.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF.
I'm unsure as my insurance covered about 90%. I think each cycle - with a fresh transfer cost around $9000
Dr. DiGirolamo wanted to put me on birth control to regulate my cycles. I was against that, since I had been on for 18 years. Instead, she put me on an estradiol and prometrium protocol. After 5 months of that, we started IUI cycles...The dosage of Menopur started at a lower dosage to see how I responded to it, and increased as each cycle progressed. After the first two IUIs, she increased my medication dosage for the third and fourth cycles. The fourth cycle finally worked, and we are expecting a little girl later this year.
Whenever I called [IVF New England], I got the answers I needed. The billing took a while at times (more than a month), but not a deal breaker. The only challenge was during my last cycle, they were in the process of moving facilities and my doctor was moving to another location...Many of Dr. DiGirolamo's staff was great. From the nursing team, to ultrasound techs, to her administrative assistant - everyone was great.
How was your experience with Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
Dr. DiGirolamo was straight-forward and honest about our situation and options. She was not overly "warm and fuzzy" - but that was fine with me. She was willing to try a course of treatment with us that the first doctor we saw did not offer. She gave us hope.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
She is very patient! She answered all of our questions with patience and kindness. She was honest with us, and I appreciated this so much.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
She was straight-forward with our situation and treatment options. She said that while many doctors would not try IUI with us, she wanted to make sure we tried all options before having to make a more significant decision (like using donor eggs). I appreciated her candid nature and honesty.
Describe the protocols Carla DiGirolamo used in your cycles at Boston IVF and their degree of success.
At first, my FSH was very high, and my cycles were irregular. Dr. DiGirolamo wanted to put me on birth control to regulate my cycles. I was against that, since I had been on for 18 years. Instead, she put me on an estradiol and prometrium protocol. After 5 months of that, we started IUI cycles. We used injectible meds (Menopur), Ovidrel trigger shot, and Crinone gel and estrogen patches post-IUI. The dosage of Menopur started at a lower dosage to see how I responded to it, and increased as each cycle progressed. After the first two IUIs, she increased my medication dosage for the third and fourth cycles. The fourth cycle finally worked, and we are expecting a little girl later this year.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Boston IVF. (Assigned nurse: Bryna and Roisin)
Many of Dr. DiGirolamo's staff was great. From the nursing team, to ultrasound techs, to her administrative assistant - everyone was great.
Describe your experience with Boston IVF.
The clinic overall was good. Whenever I called, I got the answers I needed. The billing took a while at times (more than a month), but not a deal breaker. The only challenge was during my last cycle, they were in the process of moving facilities and my doctor was moving to another location. When my husband went to drop off his sample, he ended up having to wait quite a long time just to drop it off (30+ min). I had to go to Waltham instead of Lexington for my last appointment.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF.
I was very fortunate to have my procedures covered by my employer offered insurance policy. I only had to pay a co-pay to meet with the doctor, and for each IUI procedure. I also had prescription med coverage, so I paid the top tier co-pay for specialty meds.
Describe Carla DiGirolamo's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Boston IVF.
From the get go, Dr. DiGirolamo was very warm, honest and straight forward. She spent a lot of time with my husband and I during our initial appointments, answering all of our questions and talking through our miscarriages and test results...Dr. D was very straight forward with us and told us IVF was pretty much our only option to ensure a successful pregnancy. It took a little while longer than I expected to get everything started but once we did it was very structured and disciplined.
The nurses [at IVF New England] were amazing. They were very nice/warm/kind and thorough. They were available to me 24/7 and were always able to answer my questions...I showed up for one appointment for bloodwork and ultrasound that wasn't in the queue. They called the nurses right away and got me on the schedule.I only had to wait an extra ten minutes. Nothing really went wrong and everyone was apologetic and got me in just fine.
How was your experience with Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
From the get go, Dr. DiGirolamo was very warm, honest and straight forward. She spent a lot of time with my husband and I during our initial appointments, answering all of our questions and talking through our miscarriages and test results. For one appointment we had to bring our 3 year old son and she was very accommodating. Infertility makes anyone vulnerable and anxious and I felt comfortable with her from day 1.
Unfortunately, during my retrieval (performed by another dr) a blood vessel was nicked and I had internal bleeding in my abdomen. I went to the ER and had to be admitted into the hospital. During this time Dr. D was on vacation so another doctor called to check in on me. When Dr. D returned from vacation she called me right away even though we had an appointment scheduled for a few days later. I never felt like a number and always felt like she saw me as a person.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
Take advantage of your time with her. Be honest about your anxieties/questions/history etc.
Describe the protocols Carla DiGirolamo used in your cycles at Boston IVF and their degree of success.
My husband and I have a three year old son who was conceived very effortlessly. Once we started trying again we had two consecutive miscarriages. To me this was very very confusing. Our trouble wasn't in getting pregnant, but staying pregnant. I went into this with an open mind but also didn't think we would need to do IVF. Dr. D was very straight forward with us and told us IVF was pretty much our only option to ensure a successful pregnancy. It took a little while longer than I expected to get everything started but once we did it was very structured and disciplined.
I started with birth control to calm my ovaries, prevent clotting and regulate my cycle. From there we moved onto injectible hormones and I was doing three by the end of it. I know menopur was one but I forget the other two. The shots weren't as bad as I thought and I ended up doing them on my own in my abdomen. After the retrieval I went back on birth control after I got my period and then I started with the estradiol and baby aspirin (adult low dose aspirin) until day 15 when I started the progesterone cream.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Boston IVF.
The nurses were amazing. They were very nice/warm/kind and thorough. They were available to me 24/7 and were always able to answer my questions.
As I mentioned I had a complication after my retrieval and a nurse called me pretty much daily to check in afterwards. I have only good things to say about her nursing team.
Describe your experience with Boston IVF.
Everyone was wonderful, friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF.
We are very fortunate and only had to pay for the PGS testing and medication co-payment + dr. visit co pays.
What specific things went wrong at Boston IVF?
Lost appointments
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Boston IVF.
I showed up for one appointment for bloodwork and ultrasound that wasn't in the queue. They called the nurses right away and got me on the schedule.I only had to wait an extra ten minutes. Nothing really went wrong and everyone was apologetic and got me in just fine.
We had no interaction with Dr. DiGirolamo throughout the entire process after we decided to go with her and everything was through the nurses. Dr. DiGirolamo happened to be the scheduled doctor on the day of my egg retrieval (IVF New England does rotation). She was in the waiting area where all patients were while she awaited for her first retrieval to start but did not come by to say hi or acknowledge that I was her patient (I was the 3rd or 4th one).
During my entire treatment, we only saw/spoke with Dr. Carla 3 times during the entire process. I raised concerns about the low # of follicles during the injection to the nurse [at IVF New England] since we did not have any interaction with the doctor directly; however, my med dosage was not adjusted. Prior to the treatment, there was no issue (on paper or blood result) about my egg quality as all along I was told it was a male infertility factor. I was surprised that I only had 5 eggs retrieved. I am currently pregnant and looking forward to the baby arrival. When I was confirmed that I was pregnant (through day 14 bloodwork and week 7 ultrasound), there was no personal phone call from the doctor to congratulate me.
How was your experience with Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
When we met with Dr. Carla the first time, she was very warm and explained things to us in details and made us comfortable. We were actually shopping for fertility doctor at the time and decided to go with Dr. DiGirolamo since she was able to start the process right away (and we got the appointment with her within 3 days meanwhile the original RE doctor that my OB doctor recommended did not have any appointment for 2 months). However, we had no interaction with Dr. DiGirolamo throughout the entire process after we decided to go with her and everything was through the nurses. Dr. DiGirolamo happened to be the scheduled doctor on the day of my egg retrieval (IVF New England does rotation). She was in the waiting area where all patients were while she awaited for her first retrieval to start but did not come by to say hi or acknowledge that I was her patient (I was the 3rd or 4th one).
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
Dr. DiGirolamo gets the job done. At the end, I did get pregnant and have a healthy baby. Don't expect Dr. DiGirolamo to connect with you at the personal level or spend the time to listen to your needs/concerns. Dr. DiGirolamo does have a great nurse team and they work very efficiently.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
During my entire treatment, we only saw/spoke with Dr. Carla 3 times during the entire process. I raised concerns about the low # of follicles during the injection to the nurse since we did not have any interaction with the doctor directly; however, my med dosage was not adjusted. Prior to the treatment, there was no issue (on paper or blood result) about my egg quality as all along I was told it was a male infertility factor. I was surprised that I only had 5 eggs retrieved. I am currently pregnant and looking forward to the baby arrival. When I was confirmed that I was pregnant (through day 14 bloodwork and week 7 ultrasound), there was no personal phone call from the doctor to congratulate me.
Describe the protocols Carla DiGirolamo used in your cycles at Boston IVF and their degree of success.
It was explained to me that because it was male infertility factor, I must go through IVF process with the egg retrieval and embryo implementation. I was on birth control pill (i did not understand why I was on the bcp when my period has always been very regular but did not question since I thought everyone needed to be on it as part of the process. I later asked my friend who also went through IVF treatment and she said her wasn't on the bcp), I was then on menopur and follistim on the first day of my period. On day 5 was my first ultrasound and learned that I had 2 follicles that were larger than 10mm. There was no increase in dosage through the entire process even though I had expressed my concern as the # of follicles remained low for the next few ultrasound. I was told that as long as I have at least 3 follicles that were larger than 10mm, my retrieval would not be cancelled. But I was hoping to have more eggs so that I could save some for the second baby. I am not sure if increasing would have helped with getting more follicles but it would have been nice to the doctor adjusted the treatment.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Boston IVF.
There are total of 3 nurses on the nurse team that I normally worked with. They are very friendly and do get back to me in a reasonable time whenever i left a message. They ordered the medicine timely and provided the instruction including the calendar. I did not know how to inject myself but the nurse told me to youtube as the links that they provided did not work.
Describe your experience with Boston IVF.
The clinic is very efficient. You know exactly where to go (for blood work and ultrasound). They get you in and out quickly and I hardly ever had to wait past my appointment time. The hours are very flexible. They open early in the morning and weekends which made it convenient for me since I did not need to miss any work. I would suggest them to change the process for people who brings the sperm. I remember on the day I had to bring my husband's sperm to the clinic immediately after he had surgery, there were 2 other people ahead of me in line and it took a long time for the receptionist to address their questions. Before the surgery, I specifically asked where I should bring the sperm. The nurse told me that I needed to bring the sperm to the receptionist and she would take care of it. They should have told me to bring it to the second floor where the lab is located so that I did not have to wait in line for another 15 minutes to speak with the receptionist. I was so nervous since I was told sperm would survive with 1 hour after retrieval and it took 20 minutes drive to the clinic. Even at the lab, I still had to wait for the lab technician to come out and meet me. They should improve this process.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF.
My insurance covers all the costs. All I had to pay was the co-payment for the appointments and medicine. However, I had to pay genetic testing as well as my husband's sperm storage and analysis before receiving the procedures. IVF New England would not submit claims to my insurance for these. I submitted the claims to my insurance in early 2016. Because the contract my insurance has with IVF New England, they paid IVF New England as well. Due to some kind of policies, neither party could refund me the money directly and ask other to pay me back for the money I paid to IVF New England. It's now January 2017, I still do not have the money.
She [Dr. Carla DiGirolamo] was informative, knowledgeable and easy to understand. In the end I have my sweet son. However she misdiagnosed an infection as a cyst. The result of which lead to a long period of extreme pain while I saw doctor after doctor trying to find the cause before finally resulting in the loss of my left ovary and Fallopian tube. Not to mention the months and months wasted while she waited to see if the "cyst" would go away on it's own. Strongly feel as though I went to them to get pregnant. They triggered an infection during one of their infertility diagnostic tests, then let that infection get to the point that I lost half my reproductive organs. Not a good feeling!
I had no issues with the monitoring appointments [at Fertility Centers of NE]. They start very early in the morning so that helps with getting in and out and then to work on time. However it makes it hard if you're trying for a second child and live a distance away to make it all work.... Be careful not to get lost in their system. You must stay on top of them and make sure you're getting what they recommend. Plan to call multiple times to follow up. Expect them to schedule appointments just to make further appointments with what seems like something they could have told you on a 2 minute phone conversation.
How was your experience with Carla DiGirolamo at Fertility Centers of New England?
She was informative, knowledgeable and easy to understand. In the end I have my sweet son. However she misdiagnosed an infection as a cyst. The result of which lead to a long period of extreme pain while I saw doctor after doctor trying to find the cause before finally resulting in the loss of my left ovary and Fallopian tube. Not to mention the months and months wasted while she waited to see if the "cyst" would go away on it's own. Strongly feel as though I went to them to get pregnant. They triggered an infection during one of their infertility diagnostic tests, then let that infection get to the point that I lost half my reproductive organs. Not a good feeling!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Carla DiGirolamo at Fertility Centers of New England?
Be careful not to get lost in their system. You must stay on top of them and make sure you're getting what they recommend. Plan to call multiple times to follow up. Expect them to schedule appointments just to make further appointments with what seems like something they could have told you on a 2 minute phone conversation.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Carla DiGirolamo at Fertility Centers of New England?
I felt "lost in the system" and like my issues had "slipped through the cracks" on more than one occasion. Major mistakes were made.
Describe the protocols Carla DiGirolamo used in your cycles at Fertility Centers of New England and their degree of success.
Can't remember the specifics. It was shots in the tummy, shots in the rear, estrogen patches, progesterone ...
On my frozen embryo transfer, the first attempt was postponed because of early ovulation, started 20 units lupron & 1 baby asprin every night for 10 days. Day 9 was told estrogen level was low, added pill insertion to meds. Then it was 2 estridoil pills morning, noon & night and then 1ML shot of Progesterone at night starting on embryo transfer day and continuing through the first 10 weeks of pregnancy.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Fertility Centers of New England.
The nursing staff were all nice. No issues.
Describe your experience with Fertility Centers of New England.
I got lost in their system. Their seemed to be a breakdown between their billing dept and insurance company and the doctor. Resulting in me waiting UNNECESSARILY for I think it was about 6-8 months for my birthday to begin treatment, per Emily in their billing dept. only for the Doctor to tell me that was a mistake on the billing persons part and we could have started sooner.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Fertility Centers of New England.
I had no issues with the monitoring appointments. They start very early in the morning so that helps with getting in and out and then to work on time. However it makes it hard if you're trying for a second child and live a distance away to make it all work.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Carla DiGirolamo at Fertility Centers of New England.
Very reasonable as my health insurance covered the treatment aside from co-pays.
Describe Carla DiGirolamo's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility Centers of New England.
I think she leans towards transferring one, though it probably depends on the patient and situation. She was informative about the risks associated with multiples.
What specific things went wrong at Fertility Centers of New England?
Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Lost paperwork
Lost appointments
Failed to call with results
Failed to order appropriate test
Lost results
Provided conflicting information
Failed to convey critical information
Canceled a cycle due to clinic error
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Fertility Centers of New England.
I already covered most of the major issues in previous comments. I don't care to re-write everything
Wished she did the following: 1. Cared more about me as a patient. 2. Shown that she cared by responding to phone calls instead of making patients wait for an office visit. 3. Listened to what patients have researched and used that information to help put it into practice...I felt I was treated like a number because anytime that I wanted to speak with Dr. DiGirolamo, I had to go in for an office visit. After failed IVFs cycles with Dr. DiGirolamo, I did a lot of research on my own and had suggested using the information I found. She was not open to it. With this same information, I worked with another doctor at New England IVF and was successful on the first try.
There are some great doctors at New England IVF. Do your research on who you'd like to work with because it does make a difference. It is an emotional time and you'll need the support...Strength: Very well organized, the doctors and nurses are specialized in their areas. They do respect your privacy. Weakness: Hard to reach doctor directly. Had to go through the nurses and can take a couple of days before doctor contacted you back. However, this may be doctor specific.
How was your experience with Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
Wished she did the following:
1. Cared more about me as a patient.
2. Shown that she cared by responding to phone calls instead of making patients wait for an office visit.
3. Listened to what patients have researched and used that information to help put it into practice.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
There are other doctors at New England IVF.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
I felt I was treated like a number because anytime that I wanted to speak with Dr. DiGirolamo, I had to go in for an office visit.
After failed IVFs cycles with Dr. DiGirolamo, I did a lot of research on my own and had suggested using the information I found. She was not open to it. With this same information, I worked with another doctor at New England IVF and was successful on the first try.
Describe the protocols Carla DiGirolamo used in your cycles at Boston IVF and their degree of success.
Three different protocols. Mainly to stimulate to obtain the most amount of eggs that can be retrieved.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Boston IVF.
The nurses were very organized and supportive. They showed compassion and tried to answer your questions.
Describe your experience with Boston IVF.
Strength: Very well organized, the doctors and nurses are specialized in their areas. They do respect your privacy.
Weakness: Hard to reach doctor directly. Had to go through the nurses and can take a couple of days before doctor contacted you back. However, this may be doctor specific.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF.
Each IVF cycle was around $20K.
What specific things went wrong at Boston IVF?
Provided conflicting information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Boston IVF.
There are some great doctors at New England IVF. Do your research on who you'd like to work with because it does make a difference. It is an emotional time and you'll need the support.
Dr. DiGirolamo is a good communicator who offers helpful explanations and spoke to me at my level (I am a healthcare provider). She took the time to explain the issues I was facing and her recommendations for a plan...I felt listened to and that my specific concerns and questions were addressed....I only recently underwent testing to determine my ovarian reserve, hormone levels, etc. I have only had one cycle of IUI so far.
The clinic [Boston IVF] seems very organized and communicates very well and effectively with patients. I always get a person on the phone when I call, L and when I’ve had to leave messages I get called back quickly. Their website is a little bit confusing, but nothing unmanageable...The nurses were friendly, warm, organized, and informative...I felt listened to and that my specific concerns and questions were addressed.
How was your experience with Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
Dr. DiGirolamo is a good communicator who offers helpful explanations and spoke to me at my level (I am a healthcare provider). She took the time to explain the issues I was facing and her recommendations for a plan. I am still undergoing treatment.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
Write down all of your questions in advance so you remember everything you want to ask her.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
I felt listened to and that my specific concerns and questions were addressed.
Describe the protocols Carla DiGirolamo used in your cycles at Boston IVF and their degree of success.
I only recently underwent testing to determine my ovarian reserve, hormone levels, etc. I have only had one cycle of IUI so far.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Boston IVF.
The nurses were friendly, warm, organized, and informative.
Describe your experience with Boston IVF.
The clinic seems very organized and communicates very well and effectively with patients. I always get a person on the phone when I call, L and when I’ve had to leave messages I get called back quickly. Their website is a little bit confusing, but nothing unmanageable.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF.
The costs were covered by insurance after I met my deductible. The cost seemed reasonable compared to other fertility clinics.
Describe Carla DiGirolamo's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Boston IVF.
The doctor [Dr. DiGirolamo] took time to answer all my questions, and the nursing staff did too. Most of the interaction through the cycle is with the nursing team, so that's important. Although, it does feel a little weird not interfacing with the doctor more.
The doctor [Dr. DiGirolamo] took time to answer all my questions, and the nursing staff did too. Most of the interaction through the cycle is with the nursing team, so that's important. Although, it does feel a little weird not interfacing with the doctor more.
How was your experience with Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
She is very professional and knowledgable. She is nice, but a little more on the business end of the scale than the nurturing end. She takes time to answer questions and go through the details of procedures and potential outcomes. After a setback, she asked about how I was feeling emotionally before moving on to what's next.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
Go in with questions written down beforehand. And don't be afraid to ask more while you're there.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
I felt pretty well taken care of. The doctor took time to answer all my questions, and the nursing staff did too. Most of the interaction through the cycle is with the nursing team, so that's important. Although, it does feel a little weird not interfacing with the doctor more.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Boston IVF.
The nuring staff is in "teams" so there are a few different nurses you'll interact with over the course of treatment. They are all nice and knowledgable. Never had an issue with un-returned calls from the nursing team.
What specific things went wrong at Boston IVF?
Lost appointments
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Boston IVF.
I scheduled an appointment with my doctor, and when I checked in, they had the appointment scheduled for a different location (which I had never been to). I was still able to see the doctor, not sure how they did it, but with a little extra wait that day it was resolved.
She [Dr. DiGirolamo] was very direct but always positive and reassuring. Took as long as we needed in each appointment to discuss the details of my treatment and our feelings... Even though she was wonderful you always need to be involved with the process and ask questions.
I was not treated like just another patient [at IVF New England] and I always spoke to someone about my care. I have friends who would have to log into a system to learn about their doses and next steps. I always spoke directly to a nurse. How kind and understanding they[ the nurses] were.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
Even though she was wonderful you always need to be involved with the process and ask questions.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
She was very direct but always positive and reassuring. Took as long as we needed in each appointment to discuss the details of my treatment and our feelings.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Boston IVF.
How kind and understanding they were. I was not treated like just another patient and I always spoke to someone about my care. I have friends who would have to log into a system to learn about their doses and next steps. I always spoke directly to a nurse.
Our meeting was good. She [Dr. Carla DiGirolamo] was blunt but nice about our prospects and what to expect during the entire process and what we needed to do to increase our chances. We were lucky and got pregnant via our one and only embryo...she was always up front with what to expect and responsive With good bedside manner...I requested multiple transfer and she denied me saying it was too risky to have more then two.
Try to get the email of your [Boston IVF] nurse because my experience trying to get a hold of someone via phone was very hard. The phones never worked when I called. I had a lot of trouble booking my blood tests etc around my work schedule so if possible to book ahead do so...I felt very comfortable with her [Dr. Carla DiGirolamo] and her team, she was always up front with what to expect and responsive With good bedside manner
How was your experience with Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
Our meeting was good. She was blunt but nice about our prospects and what to expect during the entire process and what we needed to do to increase our chances. We were lucky and got pregnant via our one and only embryo
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
Keep an open mind and try to stay positive
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
I felt very comfortable with her and her team, she was always up front with what to expect and responsive
With good bedside manner
Describe the protocols Carla DiGirolamo used in your cycles at Boston IVF and their degree of success.
Icsi for injecting sperm into my eggs
We used estrogen and progesterone medications and a shot to trigger ovulation
Describe your experience with your nurse at Boston IVF. (Assigned nurse: Bryna R)
It was very difficult to get a hold of them via the phone however they were very responsive via email. They were nice and always accommodating
Describe your experience with Boston IVF.
Try to get the email of your nurse because my experience trying to get a hold of someone via phone was very hard. The phones never worked when I called. I had a lot of trouble booking my blood tests etc around my work schedule so if possible to book ahead do so
Describe the costs associated with your care under Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF.
Mostly covered by insurance
Describe Carla DiGirolamo's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Boston IVF.
I requested multiple transfer and she denied me saying it was too risky to have more then two. In the end we only had one embryo anyways so it wasn’t even an option if I did try to push it
Dr Carla [DiGirolamo] is empathetic and compassionate...she is never rushed, tries to understand the problem, work on the diagnosis, and make sure all treatments/risks are fully explained. While she presents options as a doctor, she also gives a good balance of helping us select options we prefer
Strengths: Boston IVF Waltham and Westborough offices are both great clinics with some wonderful doctors and nurses. They are very organized such that wait times are minimal too. Weaknesses: Yet to begin treatment, so can't say yet
How was your experience with Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
Dr Carla is empathetic and compassionate. It has been a pleasure working with her as she is never rushed, tries to understand the problem, work on the diagnosis, and make sure all treatments/risks are fully explained. While she presents options as a doctor, she also gives a good balance of helping us select options we prefer (instead of doctors not giving us enough information and expecting patients to decide on their own).
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
Go for it!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
Dr Carla was patient, empathetic and open to hearing about all previous treatments/alternate treatments as well. She was never rushed, and made sure I and my spouse had all my questions covered. She also made sure to get into as much detail as we'd like to understand treatments. Look forward to the actual treatment and result with her when we get to it!
Describe the protocols Carla DiGirolamo used in your cycles at Boston IVF and their degree of success.
Yet to begin any treatment
Describe your experience with your nurse at Boston IVF. (Assigned nurse: Shelby Sparby)
Shelby has been the most compassionate and helpful through the entire experience
Describe your experience with Boston IVF.
Strengths:
Boston IVF Waltham and Westborough offices are both great clinics with some wonderful doctors and nurses. They are very organized such that wait times are minimal too.
Weaknesses:
Yet to begin treatment, so can't say yet
Describe the costs associated with your care under Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF.
Office/outpatient visit $443
Describe Carla DiGirolamo's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Boston IVF.
She [Dr. Carla DiGirolamo] took time to answer all my questions and was able to explain everything in a way that I understood...She was very open to answering any questions that I had so I made sure to think of as much as I could before hand...She took time to answer all my questions and was able to explain everything in a way that I understood...I have not started treatment yet but she has suggested an unmedicated IUI.
[staff of Boston IVF] Everyone that I have come into contact in person or on the phone has been very kind and patient. They are able to explain any questions that I have had and don't rush through it...Come prepared with any questions you may have. She [Dr. DiGirolamo] was very open to answering any questions that I had so I made sure to think of as much as I could before hand.
How was your experience with Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
She took time to answer all my questions and was able to explain everything in a way that I understood. She also was not at all judgmental (something I was afraid of going into the first appointment).
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
Come prepared with any questions you may have. She was very open to answering any questions that I had so I made sure to think of as much as I could before hand.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
She was honest and I did not feel rushed in appointments. She took time to explain everything.
Describe the protocols Carla DiGirolamo used in your cycles at Boston IVF and their degree of success.
I have not started treatment yet but she has suggested an unmedicated IUI.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Boston IVF.
The nurses were amazing. The were kind and the woman who took my blood was the best I have ever had. No bruise left which never has happened before.
Describe your experience with Boston IVF.
Everyone that I have come into contact in person or on the phone has been very kind and patient. They are able to explain any questions that I have had and don't rush through it. Everyone seems to really care.
Dr. Digirolamo created a warm and welcoming environment, which help with the stress of not knowing what to expect, durning the consultation. She was compassionate and empathy to my needs, addressing my concerns and answering all questions. She is very knowledgeable and explained everything in detail regarding what I would be experiencing, testing, medicine, cost of the procedure and potential outcomes.
Nursing staff [at Boston IVF- Waltham] was very professional, efficient, knowledgeable and follow up with you regarding up coming appointments and procedures.... Everyone listen to concerns and answer my questions with compassion and empathy. They explain the truth regarding my situation, with solution and options. My doctor was very knowledgeable as well as her team and the follow up was excellent.
How was your experience with Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
Dr. Digirolamo created a warm and welcoming environment, which help with the stress of not knowing what to expect, durning the consultation. She was compassionate and empathy to my needs, addressing my concerns and answering all questions. She is very knowledgeable and explained everything in detail regarding what I would be experiencing, testing, medicine, cost of the procedure and potential outcomes.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
Come prepared to ask as many questions as you want. Do not hold back, she will ensure you leave knowing and feeling more comfortable.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Carla DiGirolamo at Boston IVF?
Everyone listen to concerns and answer my questions with compassion and empathy. They explain the truth regarding my situation, with solution and options. My doctor was very knowledgeable as well as her team and the follow up was excellent.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Boston IVF.
Nursing staff was very professional, efficient, knowledgeable and follow up with you regarding up coming appointments and procedures.
