This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
33% strongly recommend
3 reviewsEducation
Medical School
U. of Virginia
Residency
U. of Virginia
Fellowship
Cleveland Clinic
How Doctor Communicates
doctor available by email
doctor available by email
nurse available by directline
nurse available by directline
not available by personal cell phone
not available by personal cell phone
Paul Shin works in 5 offices at
Shady Grove Fertility WMA (US Fertility Network clinic)
Explore ClinicShow 3 more
3 patient reviews
Verified
Verified
2017, Successful
[Protocol with Dr. Paul Shin] Varicocele surgery and follow up sperm analyses...At the consultation, Dr. Shin listened to what we had been through and decided to perform an exam on my husband. During the exam he discovered the fertility issue - a varicocele which explained the sperm issues we saw in the analysis and is a cause of male factor infertility...My husband and I had gone through a year of infertility treatments abroad (IUI, injectable hormones with timed intercourse, 6 months of femara) with no success before we saw Dr. Shin...After so much mystery surrounding our infertility, it felt like a huge relief to have an answer!
Varicocele surgery and follow up sperm analyses [with Dr. Paul Shin at Shady Grove Fertility]...I think Shady Gove Fertility is one of the only clinics that employs a urologist! It speaks to their commitment to trying to figure out the cause the fertility issues and the best way to treat patients...At the consultation, Dr. Shin listened to what we had been through and decided to perform an exam on my husband. During the exam he discovered the fertility issue - a varicocele which explained the sperm issues we saw in the analysis and is a cause of male factor infertility...
How was your experience with Paul Shin at Shady Grove Fertility WMA (US Fertility Network clinic)?
At the consultation, Dr. Shin took my husband to room to examine him and then he came back and got me where he showed me a clearly formed varicocele that was so apparent it could be seen with the naked eye! He used an ultrasound to show us how large it was. After so much mystery surrounding our infertility, it felt like a huge relief to have an answer! Research showed us that up to 40% of males with a varicocele experience trouble conceiving. After Dr. Shin discovered the varicocele, we recommended a few options including surgery. Because we wanted multiple children and our age, we decided to pursue IVF AND also varicocele surgery with the hope that we might be able to conceive naturally in the future. He performed the surgery in August 2017. Subsequent sperm analysis showed improvement. Dr. Shin stayed in touch with us and consulted with us on the improvements. Following the surgery, we had my husband's sperm analyzed several times and it showed improvement. This was encouraging news. In May 2018, we welcomed out son who had been conceived via IVF. In May 2019, we started TTC naturally and became pregnant NATURALLY 6 months later! We are expecting our son in April 2020. We truly believe that the surgery Dr. Shin performed helped us conceive our son and are so grateful to him. He is a very easy going, compassionate individual with a great sense of humor who guided us during a difficult time and helped us achieve our dream of expanding our family.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Paul Shin at Shady Grove Fertility WMA (US Fertility Network clinic)?
If sperm analyses have shown that there are factors below normal range, please see a urologist, specifically Dr. Shin! So many times clinics only look at the woman when male factor infertility can play a role 50% of the time! Because we saw Dr. Shin we were able to tackle the fertility issue and conceive naturally!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Paul Shin at Shady Grove Fertility WMA (US Fertility Network clinic)?
My husband and I had gone through a year of infertility treatments abroad (IUI, injectable hormones with timed intercourse, 6 months of femara) with no success before we saw Dr. Shin. Some of my husband's sperm numbers in the sperm analysis, specifically morphology, were below the normal range. While the flags were apparent in terms of issues related to sperm, the doctors we saw previously did not look into my husband and what might be causing our fertility issues and said we had unexplained infertility. At the consultation, Dr. Shin listened to what we had been through and decided to perform an exam on my husband. During the exam he discovered the fertility issue - a varicocele which explained the sperm issues we saw in the analysis and is a cause of male factor infertility.
Describe the protocols Paul Shin used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility WMA (US Fertility Network clinic) and their degree of success.
Varicocele surgery and follow up sperm analyses.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility WMA (US Fertility Network clinic).
I think Shady Gove Fertility is one of the only clinics that employs a urologist! It speaks to their commitment to trying to figure out the cause the fertility issues and the best way to treat patients.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Paul Shin at Shady Grove Fertility WMA (US Fertility Network clinic).
The varicocele surgery was completely covered by insurance (Aetna).
Verified
Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
2013, Unsuccessful
Age 32
1 IVF
Male Factor
European
Income $50K - $99K
Writer
Only Doc Seen
Donor Sperm
Doesn't Recommend
Strongly Recommends
Unsuccessful
TESE Microdissection in an effort to retrieve mature sperm in high quantities after a diagnosis of severe oligospermia...He [Dr. Paul Shin] mentioned donor sperm three times IN SPITE of us telling him that wasn't the route forward for us at that time. And for the record, we didn't need donor sperm to conceive! Thank goodness he wasn't in charge our case (he is a urologist and our AMAZING RE was in charge) because if he were, our amazing children wouldn't exist! I worry that other REs might not stand up to Dr. Shin's self-important confidence in his believe that if cutting fails then there's no hope at all.
Wait times were ridiculous. One visit we waited for 90 minutes in the exam room. Dr. Shin also had no interest in trying to adjust to our unique infertility needs. When his first attempt to help us failed, he essentially threw his hands up in the air and told us to give up--despite our telling him that our RE had a plan to move forward!...TESE Microdissection in an effort to retrieve mature sperm in high quantities after a diagnosis of severe oligospermia.
How was your experience with Paul Shin at Shady Grove Fertility WMA (US Fertility Network clinic)?
Paul Shin has the stereotypical rock star surgeon personality. He seems to be mechanically talented as far as actual cutting is concerned, but he isn't a DOCTOR in the sense that a doctor is meant to care for his/her patients.
When Dr. Shin' s first and only attempt to help us failed (quite dramatically and surprisingly) he gave up. When we went in for our followup appointment he wasn't interested in even discussing anything but donor sperm. When we explained out RE's plan to move forward without donor sperm, he was utterly dismissive. He mentioned donor sperm three times IN SPITE of us telling him that wasn't the route forward for us at that time. And for the record, we didn't need donor sperm to conceive!
Thank goodness he wasn't in charge our case (he is a urologist and our AMAZING RE was in charge) because if he were, our amazing children wouldn't exist! I worry that other REs might not stand up to Dr. Shin's self-important confidence in his believe that if cutting fails then there's no hope at all.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Paul Shin at Shady Grove Fertility WMA (US Fertility Network clinic)?
Don't give up when he does.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Paul Shin at Shady Grove Fertility WMA (US Fertility Network clinic)?
Wait times were ridiculous. One visit we waited for 90 minutes in the exam room. Dr. Shin also had no interest in trying to adjust to our unique infertility needs. When his first attempt to help us failed, he essentially threw his hands up in the air and told us to give up--despite our telling him that our RE had a plan to move forward!
Describe the protocols Paul Shin used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility WMA (US Fertility Network clinic) and their degree of success.
TESE Microdissection in an effort to retrieve mature sperm in high quantities after a diagnosis of severe oligospermia.
Verified
Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
2019 - 2020, Unknown Success
Age 30 - 31
Male Factor
European
Income $200K - $499K
Marketer or PR
Only Doc Seen
IVF With Other Docs
Neutral
Neutral
Success w/ Doc Too early to know
Dr. Shin has been friendly and open from the first consultation. He treated my husband for varicocele through surgery. He walked us through our options for treatment and how this would effect our fertility chances moving forward. He made my husband feel comfortable and at ease...He is open, honest and willing to answer all questions. He explained the preferred course of action and what the results would be...
The clinic [Shady Grove Fertility] is large but you are treated like an individual. We've rarely felt like we are in a factory. It is just smooth and well-run for the most part. Billing has always been where we've had to follow up and clarify things with staff...Dr. Shin has been friendly and open from the first consultation. He treated my husband for varicocele through surgery. He walked us through our options for treatment and how this would effect our fertility chances moving forward. He made my husband feel comfortable and at ease..
How was your experience with Paul Shin at Shady Grove Fertility WMA (US Fertility Network clinic)?
He is open, honest and willing to answer all questions. He explained the preferred course of action and what the results would be. Given our ages, he thought that we should see the varicocele surgery through the 9 month wait period to look for improvements. We chose to move forward with IVF but in the hopes that we could conceive naturally down the line.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Paul Shin at Shady Grove Fertility WMA (US Fertility Network clinic)?
Ask all of your questions up front about the chances of success with your treatment.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Paul Shin at Shady Grove Fertility WMA (US Fertility Network clinic)?
Dr. Shin has been friendly and open from the first consultation. He treated my husband for varicocele through surgery. He walked us through our options for treatment and how this would effect our fertility chances moving forward. He made my husband feel comfortable and at ease.
Describe the protocols Paul Shin used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility WMA (US Fertility Network clinic) and their degree of success.
Varicocelectomy surgery to treat a varicocele causing low sperm count, motility, morphology, etc.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility WMA (US Fertility Network clinic).
The clinic is large but you are treated like an individual. We've rarely felt like we are in a factory. It is just smooth and well-run for the most part. Billing has always been where we've had to follow up and clarify things with staff.
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility WMA (US Fertility Network clinic)?
- Failed to order appropriate test
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