Nola Herlihy

I had a great experience with Dr. Herlihy! She was incredibly informative, responsive, and compassionate. I appreciated her patience with type-a self that had a million questions. I always felt confident that I was recieving great care.

To be confident that you are in great hands.

During my eval, Dr. Herlihy discovered a uterine polyp. She removed that before starting my IVF cycle roughly 1 month later. She used Follistim-F, Menopur, and started Ganirelix 6 days after starting the other medications. I was triggered with Pregnyl & Lupron on day 9, and had 19 eggs retrieved on day 12. 13 of those eggs were mature, 10 fertilized, and I had 5 embryos 1 week later. We did PGT-A testing on those embryos, and ended up with 3 genetically "normal" embryos. About 1 month after egg retrieval, we started preparing for a FET. I started oral Estrace, and then added IM progesterone on day 16. On day 21, Dr. Herlihy did the FET of a day 5 embryo.

As of July 2023, an IVF cycle for a cash pay patient was $15,000. This did not include sperm cryopreservation, anesthesia, embryo genetic testing, which was an additional $2,300. Medications for the IVF cycle were approximately $6,000. The frozen embryo transfer was $4,600, with an additional $800 of medications. We also had some co-pays, labs, and imaging done during workup that insurance covered a portion of, which resulting in approximately $1,700 out of pocket. All in all, we spent about $30,000.

The clinic had a single embryo transfer policy.

When considering a doctor, I had the choice between having 100% covered by insurance or paying out of pocket to go to RMA (with some reimbursement later) and after speaking with Dr. Herlihy about my specific case, I knew every penny spent would be worth it to have her on my side. She knew all of the contemporary science, had all of the data, and was up-to-date on the latest protocols, and that is what I valued most. Luckily, she is also incredibly compassionate - she matched my excitement during the highs and was empathetic and caring during the more difficult parts of my journey. I came to her as a cancer survivor who didn't know if she stood a chance at carrying a child and now I'm pregnant! This is due to Dr. Herlihy's patience, persistence, and creativity as it relates to problem solving.

While I feel strongly that people should advocate for themselves, I also think trusting Dr. Herlihy when she suggests something is important. She's incredibly smart and a creative problem solver.

Normal retrieval protocol, medicated FETs, but we also did a hysteroscopy that found some inflammation so did a round of doxy. Additionally I did 2 months of lupron/letrizole to treat possible endometriosis ahead of my third transfer. Additionally, I was asked to remove gluten and dairy ahead of my third transfer.

I think it was roughly $12-15k for retrieval plus meds of around $3000, and roughly $5k for transfer.

Dr. Herlihy in my opinion is the best fertility doctor I have ever met! I have went to multiple clinics trying to find a doctor that fit and I would walk out feeling helpless, like my fertility issues was just a money grab until I met Dr. Herlihy! I clicked with her automatically. I appreciated her sitting with me and determining a plan specific to me. By doing that we were able to come up with solid plans and adjust were it was needed. Her patience is top tier and her confidence made me feel confident. She was always up front with what she think would work and what wouldn't be so easy but she still allowed me to make the final decisions and she supported it. The knowledge she has is extensive and at times I would feel all hope was gone she would come up with another effective plan. To me she's an earth angel and I wouldn't want any other doctor walking this journey with me.

To be open with her and let her work her magic! It's okay to be vulnerable, her concept to understand and respect people makes it okay to speak your truth and discuss your obstacles. Know that no matter your situation she's going to be honest.

My initial treatment strategy was for me to start IVF. Dr. Herlihy felt that it would be the best option due to one of my tubes being blocked. Right before I was scheduled to start I hit a snag financially and wasn't able to proceed. Dr. Herlihy and I decided that IUI is an option determining what side could produce follicles becuase one side was blocked. She was honest with me and explained my chances to conceive with one open tube. I decided to go through with the IUI. Dr. Herlihy told me to call when I started my cycle that month and she started me on clomid. We were not getting the results that we needed so we skipped that round. The next month we started the same process with clomid and injections. We started very slow with small doses of the injections. Dr. Herlihy didn't want to go to fast and I produce a large amount of follicles. It was a extremely slow process but, we finally got my follicles to respond and we went ahead and scheduled my IUI for the day after I got a positive ovulation test. I did a trigger shot the day I had a positive ovulation. The IUI however was not successful. The next month we started the process again but with a different pill (can't remeber the name of it) and injections. We started slow and had to extend the time I had to take injections but we finally got my follicles to mature and we went ahead and scheduled my second IUI for the day after I got a positive ovulation test. I did another trigger shot the day I had a positive ovulation. The IUI however was not successful.

If I'm not mistaken, I think my rounds of IUI was around 4,000 each minus medication.

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Dr Herlihy is extremely caring. She is informative and responsive. She never seems rushed. She always asks you if you have questions. She is extremely gentle. All of my procedures were incredibly comfortable with minimal side effects or discomfort. She makes herself available for questions, calls you, checks in, etc. She treats you with respect, courtesy, and kindness.

Trust the process.

I decline to answer this question as asked. I felt that my treatment used the minimal effective dose to achieve the desired results, and more importantly, was evidence based rather than anecdotal or based on previous unproven guidelines.

Monitoring was easy and fit into my schedule. Scheduling was convenient. Appointments ran on time. It was never an inconvenience and I never had to schedule at a time that wasnt best for me.

Roughly $15,000

Dr Herlihy recommended 1 embryo be transferred and I trusted her recommendation.

Dr. Herlihy was AMAZING!!! I have no words that will ever fully explain her character, bedside manner, charisma, knowledge, trustworthiness, patience, care, and SOOO much more. I will return for this treatment again once it’s the right time for our next baby.

Never doubt Dr. Herlihy’s actions and be patient. Have faith in her and the entire process.

I took all the medications as explained and the results were as expected. Time is very important and following the directions is essential. If the injections need to be at 8 pm then it is our job as a patient to follow that exactly which fosters positive results overall. I would relate any abnormalities such as pains, discharges, bleeding, etc. This communication is important to ensure all symptoms are normal or abnormal in the process.

We just had to pay our max out of pocket limit with our insurance. All costs were paid to our insurance provider.

I was happy with the decision to transfer just one embryo. This choice was taken to promote a positive pregnancy result. Knowing this would be a high risk pregnancy she wanted to ensure it would be a good pregnancy with the least risks possible.

Dr. Herlihy is one of the sweetest human beings you will ever encounter in life. She is fun like a sister, trustworthy as a friend, and as professional as she can be. She is very knowledgeable and one of the smartest doctors we have ever encountered. She takes the time to explain processes, even draws it so we can better understand, and thoroughly explains the IVF process and any changes our bodies will go through. Any questions we had were answered kindly and without judgement. Even as the months passed and the clinic got busier, we never felt like we were rushed or not a top priority.

Never be afraid to walk into the consultation with a list of questions. Never feel like you are inconveniencing her. She will happily answer any and all questions.

Dr. Herlihy recommended the medications we used based on her professional opinion/experience. Initially, we were put on estrogen tablets and birth control pills. Leading up to the retrieval, the medications prescribed were menopur, gonal-f, and cetrotide. Right before the egg retrieval, we did lupron and HCG trigger shots. The results these medications produced were mature eggs for retrievals.

She was very welcoming, respectful, and knowledgeable. We were treated as if we were any other couple, not the typical pink elephant in the room.

Insurance coverage

We only ever discussed single embryo transfer. Multiples were not even part of the conversation so we have no opinions on those.

Everything was seamless. We ordered donor sperm from a 3rd party cryobank. Once the paperwork was submitted and we provided the delivery window for RMA, everything else was handled. There was nothing we had to worry about.

Always made sure I felt comfortable and understood the process. She even took time to speak with my husband on a separate occasion because he could not make the initial consultation. Checked in me throughout the process and called me personally multiple times, just to make sure I was feeling ok and doing ok with all the steps. I had a family emergency and she even took time to call/email to make sure everything was ok and if she could do anything to help.

This is such a hard decision/process, but this office and these two doctors absolutely make it better. They all work together and try their hardest to not only ensure your body is ready but your mind and heart are too. Even though she had to give you the facts, and the facts aren’t always great, she always put a positive spin on things.

My experience as a patient under Nola Herlihy was nothing short of incredible. She was so thorough and quick to explain more complex aspects of this journey in a non-condecending manner. She never made me feel as if my questions were a waste of time or dumb which I am very sensitive to due to past experiences with medical professionals. You can tell she genuinely cares about her patients.

Trust the process. You are in great hands. She is on your side and beyond dedicated to you and your journey.

Dr. Nola Herlighly is such a wonderful human and incredible doctor. She goes out of her way to ensure I am supported the entire cycle. For instance, she personally performs every ultrasound and always takes the time to explain what she is seeing (vs getting a write up via the nurse emailed at the end of the day like other clinics). She'll even stop by and say hi when I'm just at the office for bloodwork check-ups. On retrieval day, her comforting demeanor makes me feels like I have a best friend and sister with me before getting put under anesthesia. I always feel so safe in the hands of Dr. Herlighy.We're still working through my diagnosis and I am confident I will be a mom with her as my doctor.

If you're looking for a trustworthy, warm and individualized experience then I would highly recommend meeting Dr. Herlighy to discuss your options. She has a wonderful, friendly demeanor and is very knowledgable and direct.

Mini IVF

$15-20k

Dr Herlihy is curious and warm, she is always available to address any concerns/questions and is very patient. She is also very encouraging throughout the process, she displays the facts and breaks them down for you as a patient to understand but is very emphatic of your individual journey.

Visit her soon.

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visits and tests mainly

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Dr. Herlily was phenomenal throughout our IVF process. From our very first consultation, we felt genuinely cared for and supported. Her empathetic approach and willingness to answer all of our questions helped us feel more at ease during a time that could have been very stressful. As this was our first experience with IVF, we didn't have other doctors to compare her with, but we are incredibly happy with our choice. Dr. Herlily and her team were always professional, yet they made us feel like more than just patients. She took the time to explain each step of the process in detail, ensuring that we were fully informed and comfortable with every decision. Dr. Herlily's dedication to our success was evident in every interaction we had with her. She was always available to address any concerns we had, and her encouragement helped us remain hopeful and positive. Her expertise and compassionate care were instrumental in making this journey as smooth as possible for us.

One piece of advice I would give a prospective patient of Dr. Nola Herlihy is to openly communicate and ask as many questions as you need. Dr. Herlihy is incredibly approachable and dedicated to ensuring her patients feel informed and supported throughout the IVF process. Don't hesitate to express your concerns or seek clarification on any aspect of the treatment. This will help you feel more comfortable and confident in your journey, and it will enable Dr. Herlihy to provide the best possible care tailored to your needs.

We were clear on why eSET was selected as the approach. We were given a document explaining the rationale which we found sufficient.

Absolutely amazing person. Very thorough in explaining the process every step of the way. As a physician myself, I needed every detail to commit to any procedure I was going to pursue. Whether it was by phone or messaging, I could always get a hold of her and get answers to my questions. She also did her best to accommodate my timings in her very busy schedule. I felt very cared for and supported throughout the process.

Trust her judgement and her process.

My natural cycle IUI only had regular blood and US monitoring with a single trigger shot injection and one IUI.

Costs were high but mostly covered by insurance so not a problem. The clinic even paid for parking to make the numerous visits to the clinic reasonable.

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Dr. Herlihy is very welcoming and friendly. She has shown to be empathetic, trustworthy, and compassionate. Dr. Herlihy has been open and honest with me from day one. Dr. Herlihy has been very supportive through our toughest journey. She has been a light in a very dark time for our family and I am blessed to be a patient of hers.

From one patient to another, stay with her, she’s worth it.

We tried IUI first and I ended up ovulating early and it was cancelled. I decided then to go straight to IVF. I was on medication for 12 days prior to my egg retrieval. The list of medications for my egg retrieval are listed below. Follistim 900 Pregnyl Ganirelix Menopur Lupron I ended up having 13 eggs retrieved. After, I ended up having 6 genetically healthy embryos. I had my first transfer at the end of August that ended in a miscarriage. To prepare for that transfer I was on both estrogen and progesterone. I am currently on medications and preparing for my second embryo transfer at the end of November.

Medications for IVF Round 1 Total: $6212.60 IVF Bundle Total: $15,000.00 IUI Total: $2500.00 Anesthesia Total: $600.00 Embryo testing $300.00 each embryo Total: $2400.00 Transfer process Total: $4600.00 Transfer meds Round 1 Total: $48 Appointments post transfer Total: $2575 HCG Blood Test Total: $90 Medications for Second Transfer Total: $30 Second transfer total Total: $3,000

At RMA Houston, they only transfer one embryo at a time for safety reasons.

Dr. Herlihy is knowledgeable, friendly, and compassionate. I felt welcomed and heard upon my first consultation. I left with a good understanding of what to occur/expect next. I did not feel pressured/swayed, rather empowered to make a decision about treatment. I feel completely at ease and well cared for in her hands. She clearly communicates fact while providing optimism for treatment. Her personal touch included handing me flowers immediately after egg retrieval.

I had a cyst on one ovary and we tried “medically managing” for a non-invasive treatment option first. When that did not work, the cyst was drained via anesthetic procedure, similar to egg retrieval procedure. For IVF, I used Menopur and Gonal F, then Cetrotide. Triggered with Novarel and Leupron.

Dr. Herlihy will only transfer one embryo at a time, as a safety measure, since single embryo transfers can still result in multiples.

Dr. Herlihy was so incredible. She was very informative during the initial appointment and in the following visits, she explained everything in easy to understand terms. I felt like she truly cared about my fertility success and was patient when I had to focus on other things for a while. She called to follow up on me personally after surgery and continued to see me in following appointments. I felt comfortable being treated by her.

Be honest with any issues you may have and feel free to express any concerns or hesitations about treatment/procedure.

I went through general fertility testing. I had my labs checked as well as my fallopian tubes and a sonohysterogram. My partner and I both had genetic testing done. My partner had a sperm analysis done. Ultimately, my exams showed I needed to get a polyp removed from my uterus. Dr. Herlihy stated my polyp was quite large and needed to be removed in order to help with pregnancy.

I believe two of my exams were $600 each. The sperm analysis was about $150. I am unsure of my other costs at the moment

Dr. Herlihy is honest and straightforward. She truly wants the best for her patients. She cares deeply about her patients' experience at the clinic and wants it to be as comfortable and respectful as possible. She is truly compassionate. I burst into tears in the operating room during my first egg retrieval and she held my hand and comforted me until the anesthesia kicked in. She was genuinely excited for me when the number of eggs retrieved was higher than expected. During my second egg retrieval she called me at almost 9 at night to check in on the outcome of my trigger shot the night before. Her personal care and kindness is refreshing and is one of the main reasons I chose RMA.

She can be all business, but her business is taking care of you. When it really matters, she is going to be there for you.

I take a drug that increases my risk for blood clots. Fertility drugs can also increase the risk for blood clots. Dr. Herlihy designed a protocol that allowed me to stay on this drug, while also taking the fertility drugs needed for my egg retrieval.

Oocyte Cryopreservation with all monitoring appointments - $7800 (self pay) Anesthesia for egg retrieval - $600 (self pay) Fertility drugs from Alto pharmacy - $4500 (greatly depends on insurance coverage)

Dr. Herlihy is very knowledgeable and empathetic. She didn’t rush or try and move on to the next patient too quickly. She answered all my questions and responded to my portal messages in a timely manner. She is thorough and organized. With something as personal as egg freezing, it was important to me to find a doctor who could guide me in the right direction without pressuring me one way or another. She didn’t make me question my decision whatsoever. I have already recommended her to some of my closest friends and can’t commend her enough for helping me through this process. I am so thankful to have her as my fertility doctor and have faith that she will assist me in the future should I need further fertility treatment.

Ask questions. She’s so well informed and knowledgeable.

She adjusted my gonal appropriately when my estrogen was rising quickly. She was meticulous with labs and perfectly timed my retrieval.

Billed my fertility insurance appropriately

My husband and I had been TTC for about 6 months when I received the recommendation from my obstetrician care for RMA of Houston. They are a fully in house, women led and run organization. On our first visit, Dr. Herlihy was very interested to understand our history and our fertility goals. She explained (with pictures!) what we might be experiencing, what the next steps were to analyze our status, and what the different options were. She was clear and concise. During every visit I met with Dr. Herlihy for either a procedure or an exam. She was very kind and receptive and always explained what she was doing. Overall - highly recommend!!

She is great. Definitely her objective is to help you meet your fertility goals, so it’s important to know what those are. She will lay out the options clearly along with the risk and then it’s up to you to decide how to move forward.

We ended up having a spontaneous pregnancy, but had that not occurred, our next step was IUI

I was only responsible for the co-payments for any in office visits. I was out of network for the genetic testing, so I opted for the out of pocket fee ($250) versus going through insurance. If we went ahead with IUI, I would have been responsible for my out of pocket maximum through insurance since I had fertility coverage

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Dr Herlihy is a great communicator. She is honest and gets straight to the point. You always know the good with the bad and she explains all the risks involved as well. She makes you feel very comfortable and is always open to answer questions/concerns during and after visits.

Dr Herlihy is great at explaining all the pros and cons of all treatments and risks involved.