Elizabeth Constance

From the very first consultation Dr. Constance made us feel heard and listened to. She started the visit by apologizing for our loss and telling us how terrible it is. Every visit she makes us feel comfortable and explains treatment in detail. She sat with me before a surgery and answered every question I had. She held my hand during surgery until I fell asleep. She was there the entire time after I woke up. I have never felt anything other than compassion and understanding and a general desire to help us get pregnant as much as we desire it.

She is more than willing to answer questions so come prepared with as many as you want and she will be more than willing to answer them.

After the initial consult, I had an ultrasound so Dr. Constance could view the uterus with water inside. She found scar tissue and we scheduled a hysteroscopy to remove it. I was placed on medication to help heal the uterus and we met again after the surgery and she told us she wanted to repeat the ultrasound at the start of my next cycle to make sure the uterus was looking as good as could be after surgery. She was very through and informative the entire time. Due to my pre-term labor history using injections, Dr. Constance told us from the very beginning she was adamant against the use of injectables due to the high chance I would become pregnant with multiples. We obviously didn't want another pre-term labor, and the chance of multiples goes up dramatically on injections so she opted to have us use an oral medication instead.

We were given a cost sheet at our consult appointment and told of costs our insurance would and would not cover. We were told to be prepared to pay a certain amount at our visits. We were also sent an updated cost sheet at the beginning of the year for IUI totals.

Dr. Constance was pleasant and compassionate in my few interactions with her. At the initial consultation she explained the process well and was able and willing to answer the many questions I had. Following the initial consultation, the monitoring and the actual insemination process lacked in communication as we did not communicate unless there was a serious health issue that required action prior to the IUI. Following an incident where concerns were voiced about a lack of communication between the clinical staff and MD that resulted in an IUI being performed that should have been canceled communication improved and protocols were reviewed with the staff in efforts to avoid similar events in the future, though I did not feel satisfied as I had to ultimately bear the physical and financial burden that should have been avoided. After multiple failed IUIs that showed lack of progress and revisions of treatment to improve existing problems contributing to failed cycles I have made the decision to undergo further treatment with another RE at a different clinic.

Educate yourself concerning the ultrasound and lab results that indicate when a treatment should be performed and when it should be canceled in efforts to advocate for yourself. Speak up and request communication concerning treatment schedules with the MD herself and ask detailed questions ti increase your chance for a successful cycle.

First failed IUI cycle resulted in 1 follicle and involved Femara 5mg cycle days 3-7 with ultrasound and lab monitoring + Ovidrel trigger 72 hours prior to insemination on cycle day 13; Second failed IUI cycle resulted in 1 follicle and involved Femara 5mg cycle days 3-7 with ultrasound and lab monitoring + Ovidrel trigger 72 hours prior to insemination on cycle day 14; Third failed IUI cycle resulted in ovarian hyper-stimulation with 20+ follicles requiring a very traumatizing and painful procedure to reduce the number of follicles and involved Femara 5mg cycle days 3-7, Gonal-F 75 IU cycle days 5-9 with ultrasound and lab monitoring + Ovidrel trigger 72 hours prior to insemination on cycle day 13; Fourth failed IUI cycle resulted in 3 follicles and involved Femara 5mg cycle days 3-7, Gonal-F 37.5 IU cycle days 9-11 with ultrasound and lab monitoring + Ovidrel trigger 72 hours prior to insemination on cycle day 13

Cost Per IUI Cycle: Monitoring - Ultrasounds 3-4 visits + Lab work 2 visits + IUI + procedure/sperm washing = $1500; Pharmaceuticals - Femara: $6.80 + gonal-f shots $150-350 + Ovidrel Trigger $110

N/A...There was no embryo transfer only artificial insemination