Catherine Ryan (OB/GYN)

Dr. Ryan is involved, thorough, and genuinely wants to help her patients conceive a healthy baby. She talks a little fast so make sure you are paying attention or bring another person with you to the appointment so you don’t miss anything. But although she talks fast, she is more than happy to repeat what she said and answer all of your questions.

As with every doctor, be prepared. Conduct your own research ahead of time so you can ask appropriate and insightful questions during your first appointment. Bring a pen and paper along so you can take notes. Trust that she knows what she's doing and if she needs to revert back a few steps to obtain a baseline, know that is extremely important and trust it will be beneficial for your future planning with trying to conceive.

Although I was already seen by a MD in Obstetrics & Gynecology in a Women’s Health Department elsewhere, Dr. Ryan requested I return back to square one. This was really frustrating to hear but I understood. She tested my Progesterone without Letrozole and my results were 12 ng/mL (so this showed I was ovulating on my own and I probably didn’t need to be on Letrozole with my previous doctor for 3 cycles). She then mentioned my previous ultrasound stated I had a polyp towards the opening of my uterus but not enough information was gathered so she requested a second one. My first experience involved me and the ultrasound technician but at Gundersen Dr. Ryan, the nurse, and the ultrasound technician were in the room so I felt like she was able to see everything she needed to in order to get me the answers I needed. Shortly after, I had a hysteroscopy to remove the endometrial polyp and she thoroughly explained the procedure, provided me a visual of where my polyp was located, and even provided me pictures of the polyp after my procedure and she again explained what she saw and what she did. She also stopped by my room before the hysteroscopy and made sure I didn’t have any questions or concerns. After the procedure she advised us to try naturally for 3 months and in not successful, we would move onto to IUI. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has stopped us in our tracks so we are anxiously waiting to move forward.

My hysteroscopy was $12,000 but with my insurance (BCBS of MN) the amount I paid was $1,159. I paid around $700 for my ultrasound (don't recall how much the amount was without insurance). Letrozole was around $10 for 5 pills.

After not getting very far with our first doctor, we sought out another opinion. That is when we found Dr. Ryan. Within the first appointment she had me diagnosed, and a plan for treatments. I had surgery, and everything moved forward fairly quickly. Every time it didn't seem to work, she adjusted the treatment/s. She's very intelligent, and had the answers to all my questions after and during every single one of my appointments. You can tell that she does her homework, and that she's been doing this for a while. I don't really have anything negative to say. We aren't pregnant yet, but she has tried her hardest to help us. Our next steps are IVF, and the clinic where we see her at does not perform this anymore. I'm actually disappointed that I wouldn't have her as my doctor anymore.

Don't be afraid to ask questions. Even if you have to call because you couldn't remember while at the doctor's appointment.

Dr. Ryan started me out on letrozole at first because she stated that this drug had less side effects and was most helpful. I tried it for about six months, and I did not get the response that I should have. Then she switched me to clomid. I experienced quite a few negative side effects from this. Dr. Ryan was very thorough and try to additional medications to try and help, and I did respond well to the clomid.

Endometriosis surgery was about $45,000 before insurance. I think ultrasounds were $100-200 to check for mature eggs. IUI was $515 each time and went up to $565 in 2019. This did not include medications. Dr. Ryan always gave me information so I could shop around for medications and find the cheapest one in my area. She also made sure we knew the cheapest form of the shots I was ordering from a different company across the United States.

I used shots to induce ovulation for IUI. I misunderstood the question way back in the survey.

Dr. Ryan is very personable. She explains things so we can understand them, and keeps increasing our dosage of Letrozole as needed. She's compassionate, but realistic. She didnt want us to try for our 3rd IUI over the holidays due to it being so emotional as well as the scheduling can be difficult. It was the mental break I needed to be able to want to continue. We are on year 3 of trying.

Have your questions ready, and be ready to listen. She has a vast range of knowledge.

Dr. Ryan first started with a consult, then recommened an HCG ultra sound. This is where she got the idea I might have endometriosis, along with other symptoms I had described. After my endo surgery, she had us try naturally for 1 month, to which we had no success. The next cycle, she started me on Letrozole. After taking the pills cycle day 3-7, I would then go in around day 10 for an ultrasound to check my folical size. After a few failed attempts with meds only, we decided to try IUI with HCG. We have completed 2, and are on track for our 3 in the upcoming month.

The IUI with meds and the procedure would cost around $800 a time. Otherwise I dont remeber the cost per visit, as we met my deductible with the Endo surgery..

She is very intelligent, and always explains things in detail, to ensure i understand the process or my situation. She is very kind and considerate as well. I think she is a wonderful doctor, but definitely has too much on her plate being the only female fertility doctor in the area. Therefore, she doesn’t get to focus on individuals care as much as I would prefer.

She is the only fertility doctor in the area and does not do IVF treatments, other than that she is very intelligent and has helped my spouse and I get a lot of answers.

My first few cycles I used letrozole, with other supplemental medication, including estradiol, prometrium and a trigger shot. Not all cycles was I able to do an insemination, due to my follicle sizes. With this regimen they do one ultrasound and no blood work. My husband and I had to ask for additional testing. I will now be switching to follistim injections with my next cycle, so medications and treatment regimen will change.

Diagnostic care covered by insurance, all other costs are out of pocket.

Dr. Ryan is very thorough in each of her visits. I feel that we get at least 30 minutes with her each time we are there. She is very caring and understanding of what we are going through. Sometimes I feel like we could speed up the steps we're taking (i.e. upping medication more quickly, etc), but she ultimately knows what's best. She performed my endometriosis surgery and was very caring throughout the hospital visit.

Don't be afraid to ask questions. She does provide a lot of information, but sometimes I want more, and she's willing to give it.

I was started on thyroid medication due to my levels being in the 5s. I was first prescribed 25mg, and then upped to 50, and then again upped to 75. 75 ended up being too high, so I know take 1 pill 5 days a week, and half a pill 2 days a week. I had high levels of prolactin so she has me on Cabergoline. I started at a very low dose (one half pill one day a week) and my levels check out. After my levels were in the correct range, she decided to do lap surgery. It was discovered that I had Stage 3, with scar tissue attaching my right ovary to my pelvis, making it nearly impossible for an egg to leave that ovary. After surgery, she suggested we try naturally for 6 months as all should be working correctly. After 6 months of unsuccessful natural cycles, she started my on 2.5 of Letrozole for my first IUI. The 2.5 did make a couple of additional follicles, but not mature enough to release an egg. Due to holiday timing, we had to skip the IUI and go with a natural cycle. For my second month of Letrozole, she kept me on 2.5 because she has seen low follicle outputs over the holidays. I did have 5 extra follicles, but none of them were mature enough. I did trigger with 10,000 units of Pregnyl. If this current cycle isn'y successful, she will move me to 5 of Letrozole.

Monitoring Ultrasound - $107 HCG Trigger Shot - $130 IUI - $515

Going through 7 iui’s I became more disappointed every time. Was told multiple times we would get more aggressive with the med protocol, but I feel we never became aggressive because she would say we wanna try less expensive options even though we were ok with the cost. Also was not told I had PCOS until the 6th iui failed. Each time the physician assistant would recommend a treatment course for the next iui and the time would come and Dr. Ryan would do something else that was less aggressive.

Do your own research because if you don’t things aren’t explained well at all and you need to be your own advocate with this clinic.

Started with 2.5mg of letrozole for 4 cycles with a trigger shot. After 4 failed rounds she increased it to 5mg. I still only produced one mature follicle. The 6th cycle we increased it to 7.5mg and still only had one mature follicle. The 7th cycle she added Dexamethasone which resulted in 2 follicles.

Iui was $489 now they raised it to almost $600. Monitoring ultrasound was about $134

Dr. Ryan was very blunt and she stated that I wouldn't ever regain my menstrual cycles on my own which in fact I did. She never spent individual time with me, I was always rushed in and out of appointments. She also gave my fiance and I false hope. Dr. Ryan didn't really listen to my concerns and you promised that we would get pregnant within no time.

Try to remain positive through these tough times but don't get your hopes up. Wait until you see the positive pregnancy test.

Menopur 75units daily, monitoring ultrasounds. Pregnyl trigger and iui with progesterone suppositories for the first two cycles. Third cycle add follistim to help grow follicles. So, cycle 3and 4menopur plus follistim, monitored ultrasound, pregnyl and iui and progesterone suppositories. Took time off.. Regained cycles on my own. Started letrozole 5mg per day on days 3-7.. Menopur 2 (leftovers) Pregnyl and TI - only two follicles, progesterone suppositories. 6 cycle letrozole 5mg 3-7, pregnyl, TI progesterone.. Only one follicle. 7 cycle letrozole 7.5mg, lining think, natural ovulation..

Menopur injections were over 1,200 each cycle (4). Follistim 500 for each cycle (2). Pregnyl for each cycle 139.50(7). Letrozole 12$ first two, 20 for the last. Progesterone 88-100 each cycle. In addition to these out of pocket expenses doctor bills range well over 7,000

Dr. Ryan is a very knowledgeable doctor. We started our infertility journey by seeing her first. She directed us with what steps we needed to do and was quick to give us a diagnosis. She was very thoughtful and answered all of our questions in an easy way to understand.

Her specialty is endometriosis, so I recommend her if that is your diagnosis.

Dr. Ryan treated me for endometriosis. She completed my surgery. I was super nervous because I have never had a surgery before and that would be my first. Dr. Ryan made me feel relaxed and I knew I could trust her because of her experience and expertise with endometriosis. She always knew where to go next and what to look for when we first started our infertility journey. I felt like we received a quick diagnosis and answers because of Dr. Ryan.

she is amazing always supportive in good/bad situations... She did our IUI back in June 2016 and that turned into a wonderful pregnancy and then we got pregnant in feb 2017 and ended in a miscarriage but for both she was supportive in every which way when we had our miscarriage she sent us a baby ring to remember our angel

ask as many questions as you need to she will take the time to answer every single one

unfortunately with all of the IUI's that we ended up doing I don't remember the protocols

if starting a family was not so expensive I know raising kids are not cheap by all means but getting pregnant should not cost thousands of dollars

did not do IVF as to we could not afford it

I felt incredibly safe and taken care of in Dr. Ryan's care. She was a patient listener and an expert communicator. Her soft-spoken manner was very comforting to me. I still look forward to seeing her for check-ups, even though the fertility clinic there has since closed.

I would tell her to trust her and trust the process.

Dr. Ryan removed a polyp at one point - though it hurt, she very carefully explained the entire process. This led to a positive pregnancy test.

$20K

Dr. Ryan discouraged multiple embryo transfers, and I completely understood her rationale (even though we elected to go forward with transferring 2 embryos).

Dr. Ryan is incredibly knowledgeable. She took a great deal of time sitting with me and explaining treatment options and a plan. She listened to my concerns and was very helpful in answering my questions.

Be open about your concerns. The more she knows, the better she can help you.

My first treatment included 2,000 mg of Metformin. If this doesn’t work, she will prescribe letrozole depending on my next progesterone test. I may also have surgery for endometriosis in the next few months.

Testing was expensive, but I was thankful my insurance covered a lot of it.