Jennifer Kawwass

Dr. Kawwass is one of the best doctors I've ever seen. She is able to combine compassion and genuine care with statistics and factual information to help assist in decision making. Throughout IVF, there are SO many decisions that you have to make (freeze all or fresh transfer, PGT testing or not, etc). I am someone who needs all of the facts to make a decision. She would provide paragraph answers with all of the statistics and all of the possibilities so that you can make a decision. She was never like hard and fast "you should do this." She lets you advocate for your own health. She feeds off of whatever you give her so if you need more information she is very happy to provide it. She called me multiple times to help me go through it and basically talk me off a cliff. Cannot recommend her enough! Well worth the 5+ hour drive.

She feeds off of what you need. If you are someone who needs all of the information and all of the details, she will absolutely give that with extreme care and detail. If you just want to go with whatever her flow is and what she suggests, I would absolutely trust what she thinks the best plan would be.

We started IVF with a middle strength protocol. After the baseline appointment and I only had 11 follicles vs the 18 on my AFC, she upped the protocol to the highest strength medicine to get the most out of those follicles. We ended up collecting 18 eggs but only the 11 were mature which was exactly what she predicted would happen and warned me to expect. We did a fresh transfer because I do not have PCOS and was not expected to have OHSS. Because of that, we did not PGT test our embryos. I went back and forth on the PGT testing, but Dr. Kawwass provided a VERY detailed explanation about statistics and the efficacy of PGT testing for my age group and my diagnosis.

My insurance covered the costs up to $30k. Because of that, we got the "In-network" pricing. So in total the 1 full round of IVF was about $8k but my out of pocket max was $6k. The no insurance cost self-pay was about $15k if I remember correctly.

Dr. Kawwass' general approach is to implant 1 embryo unless you are older or have had multiple failed transfers. If you need the statistics on why, she is happy to provide the information that shows that you're not more likely to have a successful transfer just by implanting 2 tested embryos.

Dr. Kawwass was compassionate and understanding. Our situation was very odd being that I am only 27 and have been diagnosed with diminished ovarian reserve. When the blood work came back and was shockingly disappointing Dr. Kawwass called me personally after hours to talk. She answered every question with sincere thoughtfulness. Even with the odds against us we were able to get pregnant through IVF with her care. Unfortunately our son was diagnosed with Down syndrome while in utero and was stillborn at 36 weeks. This tragic outcome was no way in relation to anything done through Dr. Kawwass. When she found out our son had died she contacted us personally to send her condolences. Her professionalism and compassion sets her far above any doctor I’ve ever seen.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions because she won’t rush you or make you feel silly. Nothing is too big or too insignificant to ask and she will be 100% honest with you.

We used a low dose of antagonists because of my low egg count. I took menopour, gonal-f or ganirelix, estrogen patches and clomid although I can’t remember in which order. After egg retrieval I was on progesterone injections for 10 weeks because the egg implanted and it helps to maintain the pregnancy. At the retrieval she got 3 eggs. I had 4 mature follicles so 4 was the maximum we expected so getting 3 was a positive for us. They were transferred at the cleavage stage - day 2/3 - and like I mentioned above, one took.

Our cost was roughly between $20,000-$25,000 with retrieval, transfer and medication.

Dr. Kawwass was incredible. She always took so much time to sit down with me and discuss all my treatment options, the evidence-base around these options, and took the time to make sure I had time to ask any questions at all. I never felt like she was rushed and needed to move on. She also really took the time to get to know myself and my husband as individuals, not just as her patient, which I appreciated. One thing I really valued about her was that she really knows the medical literature and studies really well, and for someone like me that really likes that evidence, she was an amazing doctor.

Write down your questions in advance - she will go through each one of them with you and it was always really helpful to have handy during my visits with her.

Dr. Kawwass had a lot of great recommendations for me, and while many of them were minor "tweaks" in my care, it resulted in a positive outcome. After 2 clinical miscarriages (<10 weeks) and 3 chemical pregnancies (<6 weeks) I was at a loss of what to do. Dr. Kawwass ordered necessary tests and helped to explain to me my diagnoses of premature ovarian failure at age 35, as well as all the potential reasons for my miscarriages and what I could do. As a marathon runner, she cautioned me to run less (which seems obvious, but I had 4 different OBGYNs tell me that if I was running before pregnancy, I could continue to do so during pregnancy). She helped with treating subclinical hypothyroidism to get it under control, and she put me on progesterone at 3 DPO, which I think may have made a big difference for me. She also suggested trying Clomid prior to IVF with PGS testing first, as a less invasive method that may work to get pregnant. She also had recommendations for just two supplements that had shown some effectiveness (many others she said were a waste of money and did not work), so I took these two to help improve egg quality prior to the clomid cycle. The clomid worked in the first cycle! I am 12 weeks pregnant now. Dr. Kawwass was so amazing helping to calm my nerves, as I was able to come in for almost weekly ultrasounds when I was nervous about spotting or other concerns about having another miscarriage. Overall, all of these changes to my treatment have resulted in a pregnancy that I hope to carry to term.

My insurance covered the majority of my treatment.

Dr. Kawwass is against multiple embryo transfer because of the severe complications and health risks that multiple embryos can cause both mother and babies. I agree with this policy after she explained it to me. Though having twins sounded amazing at first after struggling with fertility, given all the current worries I have just at 12 weeks and knowing how much MORE I would worry about all the health risks of multiples, I completely understand this viewpoint as it is founded in evidence-based and scientific research.

I could not have asked for a better doctor than Dr. Kawwass. After coming from another clinic where the doctors were unavailable, did not explain the process, and I was left in the dark, Dr. Kawwass was a light at the end of a dark tunnel. She was caring, supportive, explained the process in detail, and was very prompt to respond to any questions or concerns I had. The infertility journey is a stressful one, and knowing Dr. Kawwass was advocating for me and on my team made the journey a lot less stressful. She is the absolutely best doctor and human!

You want her to be your physician!

All rounds I used varying amounts of Clomid, Follistem, Menopur, Ganirelix, Pregnyl, and Gonal. In the 4 and 5th round I also added Omnitrope. The 5th round where I did low dose and added Omnitrope was my successful round and I am 9 weeks and 4 days pregnant with a fresh transfer embryo. I believe the omnitrope made a difference. All rounds, except for one round were low dose protocols. The one high dose round I went to my retrieval and had no eggs in my follicles.

I was referred to Dr. Kawwass by a nurse who had worked in the local fertility community for 20+ years. Dr. Kawwass got me in for a consult very quickly! I explained my journey - diagnosed with Premature Ovarian Failure and Diminished Ovarian Reserve at 28 Years Old; 4 retrievals, 2 transfers, 2 misscarriages, 1 failed transfer, and more heartbreak than I could ever imagine - She helped me make the difficult decision to turn to egg donation rather than continuing to try to retrieve my own eggs. When we decided that my younger sister would be my donor, she went above and beyond to help us find an out of state doctor (her friend from med school) who monitored my sisters retrieval until it was time for her to travel from Virginia to Atlanta for her egg retrieval. We were fortunate enough to retrieve many eggs and got 8 embryos! My first transfer resulted in a healthy, happy little boy! My second transfer, just under two years later, resulted in a perfect little brother! We could not be more overjoyed!! Dr. Kawwass is truly a gift to our family and the fertility community. She changed my life and I am eternally grateful!!

Egg Retrieval ~$6,000 Embryo Transfer ~$4,000 Embryo Storage ~$500/year Medication Additional

Since we used an egg donor and the embryos were most likely very healthy, Dr. Kawwass felt very strongly that we transfer only one embryo.

I can't say enough positive things about Dr. Kawwass to do her justice. I trust her opinion, value her honesty, and recommend her to anyone that is looking for assistance. When we first met with Dr. Kawwass she let us know that she had seen a variety of outcomes for people in our situation and answered all of our questions to help us decide what course of action was best for our family. She supported us in our decisions and celebrated (and mourned) with us along the way. Even though we have not needed to use the eggs we retrieved, I am positive that doing the retrievals was the best decision for our family, and attribute our successful outcomes to her consultation/honesty with us and recommendation to take action to begin our family naturally as soon as we were ready. I most appreciate how genuine Dr. Kawwass is when talking with us and her ability to break down complicated topics in ways that we understand. I still have a photo of a sketch she drew to help explain our situation and potential outcomes to us and have shared it with with friends on multiple occasions.

Go see her now. Don't wait. Be honest and open with her so that she can provide you the best guidance for your situation. Dr. Kawwass can not control your outcome, but she will do everything she can to provide you with the information you need to make decisions to best support your goals.

We used the same protocol for all three of my retrieval cycles and I kept my Mirena IUD in place during all cycles as I was not yet ready to begin a family. Because I have diminished ovarian reserve we did not anticipate that we would be able to mature a large number of eggs, so we used the Estrogen Patches Clomid Antagonist IVF Protocol. We started with estrogen patches 9 days after ovulation (i think we actually only used them for the first two retrievals), once my period began I was monitored, and then instructed when to start taking 100 mg of Clomid. On day 5, I began 150 IU of Follistim Gonal-f and 75 IU of Menopur, I was monitored and then instructed to give the trigger shot (10,000 IU of HCG). On the second retrieval cycle I threw up the morning after the trigger shot. The length of my stimulation varied each cycle. I know that we did 13 days for the second cycle.

I was able to use my insurance so that was incredibly helpful. Using my insurance, I believe the retrieval and all appointments were around $8-$10k per cycle and the medications were around $5-$7k per cycle.

n/a

I really couldn't ask for a better provider than Dr. Kawwass. She knows what she's doing, explains things clearly, and shows interest in the role that this IVF treatment is playing in our family and lives as a whole.

Just keep in mind that each provider doesn't necessarily perform the procedure that might need on the day that you need it, so you should be ready to get to know and work with other providers in the practice occasionally. Dr. Kawwass, though, regularly communicates with her colleagues. and she won't "forget" about you even if you have a procedure done with another provider.

Because we had "unexplained infertility," Dr. Kawwass first recommended that we try IUIs. She suggested doing 3 before turning to IVF. Because we couldn't make an IVF cycle happen for a few months after the third unsuccessul IUI, we did two more until we could start an egg retrieval cycle in the summer. After the egg retrieval, which was very successful given that I was 38 years old, she recommended that we test the embryos both with PGS and PGD testing. We did the former on account of our being a little older (I was 38 and my husband 41) and we did the latter to screen for a genetic condition that both of us are carriers for. We then transferred a frozen embryo and thankfully got a healthy baby boy from this first transfer. She recommended transferring only one embryo, since they had undergone the genetic testing and thus stood a better chance of implanting an developing to term. After our little boy turned two, we decided to try another transfer using one o our remaining 5 embryos. This second transfer resulted in a biochemical pregnancy that did not advance beyond the second blood test. We wanted to try again a few months later and managed to find one more funding to source to make it happen. Originally scheduled for October, Dr. Kawwass suggested that we call off the transfer about a week in advance because the lining in my uterus was not as thick as they hoped and there was some fluid between the layers. She reasoned that, since I wasn't going to be undertaking another egg retrieval cycle, we probably should be conservative in transferring the embryos. We postponed this transfer to a couple months later. That transfer at first resulted in a pregnancy. However, at the 7 week ultrasound, the fetus's heartrate was a little low and size a little small. By the ultrasound the next week, the fetus did not have a heartbeat at all. During this transfer cycle, Dr. Kawwass herself was out on medical leave, so another doctor, Dr. Marsidi performed this transfer. We met with Dr. Schirmer after the second ultrasound. They both provided excellent care and counsel. Dr. Schirmer explained that, even though we had put the embryos through PGS testing, the embryo is so small at that stage that there is much the testing cannot detect. As soon as she returned from medical leave, Dr. Kawwass reached out to me to express her concern and make herself available for any support or consultation. I have been working her on trying to resolve the bleeding that still continues from the miscarriage, about 8 weeks later. I will be going in soon for a hysteroscopy to clear the remaining tissue. We hope that we can muster the funds to try once more this summer to transfer an embryo. Since the two recent transfers have not resulted in a viable pregnancy, we have discussed whether she would be willing/would recommend transferring both of our remaining embryos. She said she would be willing in this case, though she has counseled about the significant risks o bearing twins. We still have not decided when and how many embryos to transfer.

Out of pocket $10,238 (we had grant support for the retrieval and first transfer, some grant support for the second and third transfers) $659 per IUI (x5) = 3,295 $4292 per FET (x3) = 12,876 $12,127 for retrieval (1) + hormones, parking, testing TOTAL for 5 IUIs, 1 retrieval, and 3 transfers = $28,982.66 full itemized list below Fertility costs Date Item Place Amount 2017-9 testing ERC $158.46 2017-10 hormones and other supplies Walgreens/ERC $836.70 2017-11 IUI ERC $667.04 2017-12 IUI ERC $659.00 2017-12 parking Emory Midtown $25.00 2017-7 testing ERC $272.29 2017-8 IUI hormones Walgreens Community $104.50 2018-1 IUI ERC $659.00 2018-3 IUI ERC $659.00 2018-3 IUI ERC $931.98 2018-4 parking Emory Midtown $15.00 2018-5 IUI fees ERC $265.34 2018-6 parking Emory Midtown $48.00 2018-6 retrieval ERC $12,127.00 2018-6 retrieval hormones Walgreens Community $3,350.00 2018-6 retrieval hormones Walgreens $464.48 2018-9 transfer ERC $3,750.00 2021-10 transfer hormones Walgreens Community $132.18 2021-11 parking Emory Midtown $32.00 2021-12 transfer hormones Walgreens Community $835.08 2021-5 embryo storage ERC $252.00 2021-5 FET 2 ERC $1,333.28 2021-5 transfer hormones Walgreens Community $895.01 2021-6 transfer hormones + JAX monitoring Walgreens Community $506.35 2021-9 transfer hormones Walgreens Community $664.61 2022-1 transfer hormones Walgreens Community $334.52 $28,982.66

I would say that she was very knowledgeable in helping me in my infertility journey. She diagnosed me with unexplained infertility which bothered me at first. It wasn’t on her behalf but because I just needed a reason to believe why it wasn’t happening for me. I suggested certain tests just because of other stories I heard of or other situations I saw and she was very reassuring in what tests I needed. After trying IUI and taking clomid with timed intercourse she was very hopeful for me because she said I was younger and assured me that she would help get me pregnant. We started with the IVF orientation process. I had a SIS done and had to have a polyp removed. After that , another doctor performed my egg retrieval but she made sure to message me through out the whole process. She was so happy for me that I had 29 eggs . I ended up with only 2 frozen embryos over time and she even messaged me to give me that news and sympathize with my husband and I. Once it was time for the transfer I mentioned having more than one put in and she informed me the chances of that being multiples was really high and quickly talked me out of that idea . Looking back on that, I think 🤔 most doctors probably would have just did it and I’m glad for her explaining that to me. When I received my positive pregnancy test everyone was so happy for me at the office and I felt it . My last time talking to her was for her to release me to my OBGYN and she was just so happy for me and my husband. I’m grateful for her and her knowledge. I would refer her to anyone.

Please have patience, ask as many questions and try to relax and trust the process.

With timed intercourse we were instructed to use ovulations calculators and the same when it came to IUI . I don’t really remember to the extent but I called in when there was a smiley face through ovulation. With IVF , there was alot more pressure with timing and everything. One of the nurses created a calendar and we went from there. I know there was like pills and injections for stimulation . After my egg retrieval we didn’t transfer because of overstimulation and I still had to have a polyp removed so all of this happened in December of 2019 and I had my polyp removal done in January 2020. My transfer was done in I believe July or August of 2020. My baby was born in Feb 2021 but she was due in April. She is healthy and I’m grateful for everything I went through to see, touch and hold her.

We had insurance so the cost was different but I remember having an issue with getting the wrong estimate of the total. I think there was miscommunication with adding something called the ICSI. My husband and I came into the office to explain that process to us . I ended speaking to the lady who was the head of the financial department and my issue was resolved . I paid directly with her . I don’t really remember what happened but I was very upset and even considered changing clinics with out them even knowing but issue never escalated and was handled.

I’m not sure 🤔 what this means but I do know that it was a thought that crossed my mind that I would like to have twins and it was probably because I felt like we went through so much but because my doctor was so sure of me conceiving which I did. I really think that was safe. She explained the risks of multiples and I truly trusted her judgment from that point.

Dr.Kawwass listened to all of our concerns at our first appointment. I advised her of the negative experience I had with my previous doctor's office and staff. She made me feel very comfortable and assured me that I would not be dealing with anything like that. She explained her plan for me in detail and answered all of our questions and wasted no time in getting started. She did not rush us and was very generous with her time.

Don't hesitate to ask questions. She was great at answering all of our questions and addressing our concerns.

Antagonist IVF treatment. BCP on 1st day of Menses. Baseline. labs and ultrasounds. Start Stims after period starts again. Egg retrieval. Fresh Transfer

Our insurance covered IVF. We did have to pay out of pocket for ICSI ,our out of pocket amounts and the patient amount for the medications

Single Embryo transfer was recommended as I was 29 yrs old at the time with no health issues.

Jennifer Kawwass is very kind and has good bedside manner. I felt like she genuinely cared if we were successful or not. Even when we switched doctors she wanted us to come back and see her when we started our family. What I didn’t like was that the continuity for care for me and my husband was always different. I never felt like outside of her office people really knew who I was. And it wa s always someone different responding to emails on the portal or providing the actual care.

Be prepared that she is available only for the consults and an occasional call. She isn’t available to do the procedures.

I only did IUIs. But my regimen was clomid and then 1 day of injection of Gonadotropins And then the trigger shot (Ovidril). This is the regimen that we used 2x and that resulted in the pregnancy. But they key was banking sperm ahead of time. Which they didn’t tell us was an option until we were getting ready for the 3rd IUI. It was very frustrating. And I asked about it because I had read online it was a possibility.

It was minimal since it was just IUI and I has good insurance. I did have to follow-up repeatedly to get cost info for IVF and it only happened when we went back and had our final consultation with Dr.Kawwass - so she had set it up. The point person never responded to my personal emails or voicemails, but I know she had some family issues at that time. So I understood to some extent, but someone should have been responding on her behalf.

NA this hasn’t happened yet and is with another doctor.

Dr. Kawwass was an amazing practitioner - she was a great communicator, empathetic, and a great scientist / up to date on the latest literature. I appreciate how she combined scientific rigor with her empathetic approach to treatment. Even though I didn’t see her at every visit I trusted her team and knew she was consulted on the decisions around my care.

We started with letrozole only cycles to stimulate ovulation with timed intercourse. At the time both my husband and I were traveling for work so it was difficult for timing intercourse so we eventually moved to stimulation plus IUI. When that didn’t work for a few months I started an IVF cycle with injectables but I wasn’t producing enough eggs so we switched to an IUI. I got pregnant with my daughter on that cycle. When I went back to the clinic 2 years later to start trying again we did a clomid+menopur cycle and IUI and I got pregnant in that first cycle.

Costs were covered by insurance so only paid $40 co pay on some visits

N/a - did not do IVf

Dr. Kawwass did not perform any of our procedures, but we were aware she was consulted throughout. Our meetings with her were thorough and encouraging. When we were worried, she would always appear just to comfort us.

Know that as medical director she may not be available for the day to day, but she knows her stuff and is a great team leader to help you find the best course of treatment and hopefully positive results.

IUI 1-3: Letrozole - Ovidrel trigger Then HSG test. IUI 4 added Menopur for thin lining. IVF: reciprocal with wife's eggs. Me: gestational parent: Birth Control for 4 weeks, daily Lupron shots, estrogen patches. 2CC Progesterone injections daily from retrieval through 9 weeks. Prometrium suppositories 3x day through 12 weeks. We didn't ask why this protocol, but I had very few side effects and we were willing to try anything.

Because there were two people invovled, and we have seperate insurance, my IVF protocol was covered outside my $1500 copay. My wife's insurance did not have fertility coverage but she was given a discount. All in for 6 IUI and 1 IVF we spent just over $20,000 including donor sperm.

We only had 2 make it to Day 5, only one was transferred.

My surgical procedure was successful but the after care was not as aggressive as it could have been. Other procedures included hormones and other precautions to avoid the condition returning. Her communication style is very direct, which I appreciate, but we did not connect on any other level which made it difficult to hear one another. Later experiences improved but I always have the sense that I'm viewed as that crazy patient that didn't follow orders - even when there was no possibility of that happening financially at the time.

If you're the type of person that just wants to be told what to do - she's incredible.

Pills to bring on cycle Ultrasounds HSG and SHG Surgery to address unexplained adhesion Did not order hormone regimen or balloon cath Suggested 2 immediate rounds of IUI followed by IVF within 4 months post op

Dr. Kawwass is compassionate and enthusiastic. She makes the process seem routine and takes the scary out of it. She explains her diagnoses and treatments so that it can be easily understood and makes herself readily available to answer questions in a timely manner.

Bring your positive attitude!

All of the diagnostics for infertility were covered in full by my insurance. I was then fortunately notified by Dr. Kawwass the my IVF would be newly covered by my insurance if I could wait 3 months until the next calendar year when benefits were expanded to include IVF. With insurance coverage I paid a $1500 copay and then out of pocket for assisted hatching ($1700) for a total of $3200. My stimulation cycle medications cost an additional $500.

Dr. Kawwass is a firm believer in eSET for first timers without obvious fertility issues identified.

In 2017 I did three cycles of IVF. One fresh and two frozen. After none resulted in a pregnancy, I knew I needed a break. Two years came and went and when I returned to the clinic she remembered everything about me and my husband.

Dr Kawwass will do anything in her power to help you get the baby you have always wanted.

Egg retrieval from only one ovary because I lost on to a dermoid cyst. Three cycles, one fresh with one embryo because I was young and healthy. Two frozen cycles with two embryos because I requested. This most recent cycle we re did all of the bloodwork and diagnostic tests. My HSG showed blocked tube resulting in a diagnosis of hydrosalpinx. This was removed and we will start a frozen cycle in one month

The costs included the monitoring-bloodwork and ultrasounds, all the medications. The frozen transfers included only the transfers

Dr Kawwass is against multiple embryos at one time but placed two when asked.

Dr. Kawwass was a part of the end of our journey, as our journey began a few years prior to landing in her care after transferring clinics and our original doctor leaving the practice. At first we were disappointed our doctor was leaving at such a pivotal point in our care (transfer to gestational carrier); however, after meeting Dr. Kawwass we were smitten! She was so kind, professional, empathetic and informative. She really listened to our history and provided insight into our whole picture - my care, as well as our GC. I am proud to say she will continue to be our doctor throughout our fertility journey, should/when we decide to pursue another transfer in the future.

I encourage anyone seeking fertility treatment to take an active part in their journey. Ask the questions that come to mind, and digest the information given to you fully. You have a say, and can decide what treatments you do and do not wish to take part in. The doctors, especially Kawwass, will guide you in whatever direction they feel is best based on the facts presented to them, but this is a partnership, so don't be shy to speak up if you want to explore other treatment options (fresh vs. frozen, IUI vs IVF, etc.

Again, the majority of my journey was at another clinic, with Emory reviewing records and redoing a few tests they felt needed to be updated; therefore, I cannot provide a whole picture of Emory, as I came to them with frozen embryos. I originally saw a doctor which has since left Emory. That original doctor is who did my transfer, with Kawwass picking things up once we moved onto a gestational carrier. Our experience with Kawwass was magnificent. She treated our whole picture - not only our GC treatment. Dr. Kawwass took the time to review what the next moves for me as a patient would be, as well as placing our sweet embryo ever so perfectly to give us our sweet baby girl who we strived for over a 5 year journey. Obviously, the positive outcome helped, but aside from our wonderful outcome, we found Dr. Kawwass to be thorough with incredible bedside manner. She is highly intelligent and it shows in her treatment.

Luckily, I had insurance that had infertility coverage; therefore, my out of pocket costs were somewhat low - thousands, rather than tens of thousands. Now, with a gestational carrier, you must pay out of pocket, which also was only thousands rather than tens of thousands when it came to the reproductive piece given we already had frozen embryos which were transferred from another clinic.

During our care, Emory transferred two embryos for our first attempt with them (third overall) and 1 embryo when transferring to our GC.

Dr Kawwass was very thorough and communicative. She took time to make sure I understood the process and had the support I needed. I didn’t see her every visit, but she did answer all emails and checked in on me frequently. She was a great patient advocate when I went in for surgeries and procedures.

The initial visit is overwhelming, and Dr Kawwass is straightforward, so ask as many questions as you want and she’ll take the time to go through everything.

Clomid, femara and combined with metformin. IUIs as progressive treatment. Not recommended more than three, as results don’t improve. Injections as last resort given percentage of success balanced with cost vs other option.

16k for retrieval and two transfers.

Preference for single transfer.

Dr. Kawwass is compassionate, caring and sensitive to the needs of patients experiencing trouble conceiving the child they desire. She is there when you need her. She helps you get through the tough times and celebrate the victories.

Come prepared with questions, goals and objectives. She is open and honest and will answer all of your questions to the best of her ability.

Initially we tried a low dose of letrozole for ovulation induction with timed intercourse for two cycles. That did not work so we then tried letrozole with IUI. Each cycle my husband's semen count was lower and lower which led her to refer him for evaluation too. Now we are in the process of proceeding with IVF since four IUIs did not result in pregnancy.

My insurance does not cover most infertility costs so medications were not covered but ultrasounds and IUIs were. I had to pay for all medications and any other things that were part of the IVF process

Dr. Kawwass is very clear about the need for eSET and recommends it avidly throughout your care.

Dr. Kawwass and her entire staff were amazing. I had worked previously with two other doctors who either treated me like a number or their staff did. I was extremely stressed out and felt like I had to fight to get attention and the level of concern about my care that I expected. And then I met Dr. Kawwass. I can't imagine more patient-centered, positive, thoughtful, encouraging, professional care. She looked me in the eye, she followed through with questions, she was very empathetic, and her staff was all of those as well. The communication with the office (if you've been doing IVF, you know how important that is!) was fantastic, so easy, so reliable. I felt 100% safe in her care. I actually live quite far from Atlanta but ended up working with Dr. Kawwass because our donor lived close by, and I am so so glad I made that choice. Would recommend Dr. Kawwass (and her colleagues; I also worked a couple of times with Dr. Hipp) to anyone without reservation. That practice should be a model for all other fertility clinics.

Don't hesitate to connect with her! If you are at all questioning whether your current doctor is the right fit for you, meet Dr. Kawwass.

3 embryo transfers with donor egg. So sorry that I have forgotten my protocols, but Dr. Kawwass did make adjustments, and I think I don't remember the protocols because I trusted her judgment (not the case with my previous doctors).

$35K?

I believe the clinic recommends single embryo transfer.

I have only been a patient with Dr. Kawwass for a brief time, but already I have seen the excellent care she provides to her patients. She goes above and beyond for her patients and takes the time to meet with each patient and review any questions or concerns. She is extremely knowledgeable and informative regarding all parts of the process of fertility treatment.

She is always open to answering all questions so do not hold back anything.

I have not gone through my treatment plan with Dr. Kawwass yet as it will not start until January, but Dr. Kawwass is definitely providing a more individualized approach to my IVY cycle than my previous doctor. She has tailored my treatment based on my previous results. She will be increasing the dosage of my stimulation as well as performing a sonohysterogram prior to the IVF cycle.

About $10,000 for an IVF cycle, not including medications.

Dr. Kawwass recommends eSET (at least in my case) for the best possible outcome and to avoid complications that twins my cause.

I loved ERC!!! Dr. Kawwass is very knowledgeable, informative, positive, and involved throughout the process. She takes the time to answer all of your questions, and is very upfront. We went through 3 stim cycles and after the second failed she even contacted me over the weekend to see how I was doing and to give recommendations for the next cycle – which was successful! I appreciate the fact that each stim cycle was different in terms of the medication protocol that was used. I could tell the team was reviewing my chart and making adjustments based on how my body responded each time. (The last reproductive center my husband and I were at kept using the same methods each time, and didn’t bother to alter anything even though we weren’t getting any results. It made us feel like they just wanted to keep our hopes up and take our money.)

Don't expect to see her every visit; however, you're in great hands with the other staff members who will be providing you with your primary care for that particular visit, i.e. sonographers and phlebotomists. If you happen to have more questions, they're great about asking you if you'd like to speak with a Nurse before you leave. She goes into great detail about your plan of action and how the overall process works during your intake appointment. You're in great hands with Dr. Kawwass.

1st Stim Cycle - 75 iu Menopur 2x's/day, 450 units Follistim 1x/day - Produced 4 eggs, 0 fertilized, 2nd Stim Cycle - 75 iu Menopur 2x's/day, 450 units Follistim 1x/day, and Lupron - Did not produce eggs large enough for retrieval 3rd Stim Cycle - Clomid, menopur, 150 units follistim, Cetrotide - Produced 9 eggs, 7 fertilized, 4 embryos

Monitoring appointments were scheduled during the morning hours so they could contact you that afternoon about your status and when you should begin taking other meds or do your trigger shot. You simply checked in and you were buzzed back within 5 or so minutes for your ultrasound. The only time the wait was longer than usual was when the computer system was on the fritz. Other than that, the staff was always efficient.

ERC offers various financial packages. It depends on how many transfers and cycles you'd like to purchase.

The process explained to us was if we did a day 5 transfer, they'd transfer 1 embryo. If we did a day 3 transfer, they'd transfer 2 embryos. We were given the option to do a day 3 or 5 transfer.

Very knowledgeable and passionate. I felt very comfortable and confident working with her. She communicated well and did a great job explaining the details of the procedures and processes that we underwent.

Ask any and all questions that you have. She'll answer them and put you at ease.

Dr. Kawwass prescribed a high dose protocol for egg stimulation including Menopur and Gonal F. Since we were diagnosed with unexplained infertility, she recommended that we do ICSI. My progesterone started to increase earlier than anticipated, so our retrieval was scheduled a few days earlier than anticipated. 10 eggs were retrieved, 5 were mature and only 2 fertilized. Due to only having 2 embryos, Dr. Kawwass recommended a day 2 transfer of both embryos. The Embryologist discussed the options of transferring 1 vs. 2 embryos the morning of the transfer. We decided to only transfer one and allow the other to mature to day 5 (which it did!) before freezing. After the transfer I used Estradiol patches and Progesterone shots. This IVF round was successful and I now have a 4 week old healthy baby boy!

I am fortunate to have some insurance coverage for infertility and IVF services. We used the maximum amount of that benefit (I think it was $10,000). After insurance I believe we payed Emory about $13,000 plus $7,000 for medication.

Dr. Kawwass recommended we transfer both embryos since we only had 2 to increase our chances. The Embryologist discussed our options with us the morning of the transfer. My husband and I decided to only transfer one embryo and we are confident that was the correct decision for us.

Dr. Kawwass is amazing. It is clear she really loves what she does. She never rushed us and was sure to answer every question we had. She (and all the fellows) explain EVERYTHING so clearly. At all times you know exactly what they are doing, how and why they are doing it. It makes all of those invasive procedures feel better because you understand what is going on. Also, I love how knowledgeable Dr. Kawwass is in current fertility studies. The best way I can describe the kind of doctor she is, is by telling you about our failed transfer. This was our 2nd failed attempt, but first with her. The nurse from Emory called to give me the news as soon as the results came in, and told me Dr. Kawwass would call the next week (it was Friday). However, I got a call from Dr. Kawwass just to express her condolences and "send me a hug". This meant so much to me, I could tell she was truly upset by the result as well. She is so smart and compassionate if anyone is going to get me to the best end result, I believe it will be her.

The doctors, and fellows are fabulous; however, you have to be on top of ordering you medicine on time. This may be more of an issue for me as I am an out of state patient and have to do outside monitoring. At my previous clinic my nurses were on top of the medication, showed you how to take it, and knew exactly where to order it. At Emory, I have to tell the nurses when I need the prescription increased and where to put the orders. With all that being said, I believe it is worth it to have the knowledge of the Emory doctors. One thing I love is all the doctors have a meeting to discuss your case, so you have the opinions of multiple doctors, not just one.

For my IVF I was on the highest does of Gonal F (450 IU) and Menopur (150 IU). I ended up stimulating for 12 days, and we used Ganirelix for 5. This produced 12 follicles (almost twice the amount of my first IVF) and we got 9 eggs. Out of the 9 eggs, we got 7 embryos. After the retrieval, I began 2 estrogen patches (changed every other day) and 1mL Progesterone shot. We ended up transferring 2 fresh embryos on day 3, and freezing 4 embryos (one embryo did not make it to day 3). We decided to do this since there is so much attrition between day 3 and 5, and we really wanted some to freeze. We are now preparing for a Frozen transfer. All my meds have been increased. I will be building up to 4 estrogen patches before the transfer. We will also do 3 days of Ganirelix. After the transfer, we will continue the estrogen patches, 2mL Progesterone shot, and 3 progesterone tablets. Hopefully we will get a good result this time. This will be our first frozen transfer.

I have good insurance, so my monitoring and medicine was covered. We purchased a plan through Emory that included IVF and 1 FET. This was approximately $14k. We also did ICSI ($1.5k) and Assisted Embryo Hatching ($1.5). My meds were just a $300 co-pay.

Dr. Kawwass, like most doctors, opts for a single embryo transfer. The only reason we did two was my previous two embryo transfer failed, and the fact we did a day 3 versus day 5 transfer. We will be unfreezing 2 embryos for the frozen transfer in case one does not make it.

I cannot say enough about how much my husband and I have enjoyed working with Dr. Kawwass. She always took the time to explain to us our treatment options and probability of success. We were always seen on time for our appointments, which is important if you have a busy work schedule. She is readily reachable via the patient portal, a phone call to the clinic, and through her nurse.

Trust her! She is up to date on the IVF literature and incredibly smart. She will not suggest something unless she thinks there is a reason to do so.

We had a hard time getting the lining of my uterus thick enough for transfer. We tried different estrogen combinations to thicken up my lining. I liked that the clinic adjusted my medications when I was not having success with the original protocol.

Approximately 27K for a fresh donor egg cycle plus 1 FET cycle. 27K included the contact I purchased through ARC and the donor's medication

Dr. Kawwass was amazingly supportive and gave me her direct email address and phone number to use if I ever needed it. I did on occasion and she was always available to make the process easier on me. She wants you to succeed and is open to trying new approaches as treatments progress.

Jennifer Kawwass, and other Emory Reproductive Center doctors, seem conservative with their protocol for deciding how many embryos to transfer. I don't know this from personal experience, but have heard from friends of similar age and medical issues that there was more risk for multiples taken on during their treatments. I was only allowed to transfer two day 5 embryos after my second retrieval and two failed transfers. I have multiple friends who did two day 5 embryos (some even PGS screened) on their first retrieval and transfer.

I did two retrievals with the same approach. Both utilized Lupron to suppress my ovaries and I stimulated egg production with Follistim AQ and Menopur. This worked very well and I had an excellent response both times. I was very, very happy with the egg retrieval outcome specifically, which created about 20 each time. At a different clinic (GRS) where I also did a retrieval, I had a different protocol that was much less successful. The unsuccessful protocol was Cetrotide to suppress ovaries with Menopur and Bravelle to stimulate egg production. On this protocol I grew a lead follicle that kept the others from maturing. I only got six eggs from that retrieval.