2022 - 2024, Successful
Dr. Asmar really made me feel like he cared about me and my treatment...very easy to reach outside of appointments...best bedside manner...grounded in current scientific evidence...willing to alter treatment plans to accommodate me...explained his rationale for different protocols in the context of new research
[Washington Fertility Center] Strengths...very quickly and efficiently...felt like a member of the family...easy to communicate...saw him at most appointments, or at least the main nurse...Weaknesses: This is not a beautiful, gleaming fertility office...You do need to stay on top of your treatment protocol and follow up about things
How was your experience with Pierre Asmar at Washington Fertility Center?
Dr. Asmar really made me feel like he cared about me and my treatment. He was very easy to reach outside of appointments and would frequently reply to my emails after hours, on holidays, and when he was on vacation. He even called me on Christmas Eve after I sent him an email expressing anxiety about my HSG test!
Dr. Asmar also approaches treatment in a way that is grounded in current scientific evidence. He frequently explained his rationale for different protocols in the context of new research, and he guided me to/away from various interventions (e.g., acupuncture) based on research findings. I had a tricky issue related to stubbornly thin uterine lining, and he described staying up late looking at research articles to find different approaches to use! He was also incredibly receptive to my preferences and suggestions and was willing to alter treatment plans to accommodate me.
My only complaint about Dr. Asmar is that, in the beginning of treatment, he had a hard time remembering aspects of my history or treatment, which resulted in me needing to stay vigilant during discussions of treatment planning. This was no longer an issue after I had been going there for a while and he became more familiar with me, though.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Pierre Asmar at Washington Fertility Center?
Don't be afraid to ask questions and advocate for yourself! He will listen.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Pierre Asmar at Washington Fertility Center?
Dr. Asmar has, by far, the best bedside manner of any fertility doctor we consulted with. He is incredibly kind, warm, and upbeat, and he and his staff really made me feel like they knew and cared about me and the success of my treatment. I felt like a member of the family at the clinic and was honestly sad to "graduate" after my 9 week scan.
Describe the protocols Pierre Asmar used in your cycles at Washington Fertility Center and their degree of success.
My husband and I initiated testing and treatment at Washington Fertility after trying on our own for three months (we were impatient!). Dr. Asmar took us seriously and did not send us away to try for one year.
After testing, per my request, we did one medicated cycle (Letrozole) before moving on to three IUIs. Dr. Asmar explained that medicated cycles are not very effective but was receptive to my wishes to try one before starting more invasive treatments. Because research indicates IUIs are unlikely to be successful after three failed cycles, we then moved onto IVF.
We did one egg retrieval with ICSI, despite having no known sperm issues, because Dr. Asmar explained the current state of research on IVF with and without ICSI and let us choose (while generally recommending ICSI). Out of 21 follicles, we retrieved 16 eggs, 13 of which were mature, 11 fertilized, 10 made it to day 5 blastocysts, and 8 were PGT-A normal.
We had three cancelled transfer cycles, trying different things each cycle to thicken my lining. On the fourth cycle, my lining got thick enough and we transferred our first embryo. It worked! I'm currently 22 weeks pregnant with our daughter, and the remaining 7 embryos are frozen.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Washington Fertility Center. (Assigned nurse: Lan Nguyen)
In general, the nursing staff at Washington Fertility was wonderful. They were very kind and understanding, and I felt that they cared about me and my treatment. Lan and Manalia in particular really went above and beyond to help me feel heard and cared for, and they provided many hugs and tissues during difficult appointments.
Occasionally, things would fall through the cracks and I would need to follow up about something (e.g., medication quantities) and advocate for myself. But in general, I felt that I was in excellent hands with the nursing staff at this clinic.
Describe your experience with Washington Fertility Center.
Strengths: Everything happened very quickly and efficiently - there was no wasted time (but also no rushing). I felt like a member of the family and like everyone there was truly rooting for me to succeed. It was easy to communicate with Dr. Asmar, the nurses, and the scheduling coordinators, both during and outside of business hours, and I never felt uncomfortable asking questions or expressing treatment preferences. Dr. Asmar takes a truly evidence-based approach to treatment while also being receptive to patient preferences and concerns. I saw him at most appointments, or at least the main nurse, so I always felt connected to my treatment team.
Weaknesses: This is not a beautiful, gleaming fertility office - it can be a little off-putting when you first walk in. You do need to stay on top of your treatment protocol and follow up about things that might fall through the cracks, especially when you're first starting treatment and the staff doesn't know you as well. Occasionally you will see a staff sonographer instead of the nurse or Dr. Asmar, and some of them are not great.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Pierre Asmar at Washington Fertility Center.
Medicated cycle: $700 + $175 trigger shot
IUIs: $1600 + $175 trigger shot
IVF: $20,000 + $2500 meds
Describe Pierre Asmar's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Washington Fertility Center.
Dr. Asmar has a very strong preference for single embryo transfers over multiple embryo transfers, given the research on pregnancy outcomes and risks for singleton vs. multiple pregnancies. He explained this research to us prior to the start of IVF and we agreed.
What specific things went wrong at Washington Fertility Center?
- Provided conflicting information