Verified
Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
2021 - 2022, Unknown Success
Dr. Amrane did a pretty good job of explaining my specific situation and laying out possible treatments, etc. I only saw her in a couple of virtual visits (and in person once during the initial consultation, which was for egg freezing). She answered my questions and was understanding about what I was trying to accomplish. She wished me luck during the IUIs and was sympathetic when I didn't get pregnant. On the down side, she focused a lot on "what can go wrong" and it definitely gave me more stress instead of being reassured. I think she doesn't have enough experience in dealing with anxious patients.
Right now, my main complaint with the [Shady Grove Fertility] clinic is that it's very difficult to get a full picture/layout of how much different treatment scenarios will ultimately cost you. So I haven't been happy with the financial situation for my IVF, so far... Overall, the clinic is very organized, staff is very nice and professional. Yes, you will probably "feel like a number," but it's Shady Grove and it's a busy clinic... If you make peace with feeling like a number, it's not that bad... Most of the nursing staff was also very good.
How was your experience with Selma Amrane at Shady Grove Fertility BMA?
Dr. Amrane did a pretty good job of explaining my specific situation and laying out possible treatments, etc. I only saw her in a couple of virtual visits (and in person once during the initial consultation, which was for egg freezing). She answered my questions and was understanding about what I was trying to accomplish. She wished me luck during the IUIs and was sympathetic when I didn't get pregnant. On the down side, she focused a lot on "what can go wrong" and it definitely gave me more stress instead of being reassured. I think she doesn't have enough experience in dealing with anxious patients.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Selma Amrane at Shady Grove Fertility BMA?
Don't look for a super-warm bedside manner. Ask specific questions to get specific information.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Selma Amrane at Shady Grove Fertility BMA?
For my initial consultation, Dr. Amrane (and nurses) really stressed me out and it definitely felt like I was more of a number. I had a blood pressure spike and no one really reassured me about it - and it was only a consultation! I don't think there was enough explanation/caring about just how complex, time-sensitive and demanding the process really is... For my virtual meetings with Dr. Amrane, she was ok/relatively nice, but her demeanor was still sort of "stress-inducing."
Describe the protocols Selma Amrane used in your cycles at Shady Grove Fertility BMA and their degree of success.
I did four IUIs; the first was a natural cycle, because I was hoping to avoid chemicals, etc. She was very willing to try different things (i.e., a natural cycle) and said it's worth a shot. When the first 2 IUIs were unsuccessful, she said I should consider moving on to IVF. She did note my lower ovarian reserve, and I think that was a big reason for her suggestion. I used clomid for one cycle (which didn't end up going all the way to an IUI, because I got sick), and letrozole for another cycle. I was switched to letrozole because I may have had visual side effects from clomid, so they wanted to be on the safe side. For the IVF, I had menopur and gonal-f, and ultimately cetrotide; also, Dr. Amrane had me do a final boost of those meds before the trigger shot. I wasn't told the rationale for that... but currently I'm waiting to see how many of my fertilized eggs turn to blastocysts. I had 3 eggs fertilize.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Shady Grove Fertility BMA. (Assigned nurse: Beth Goode)
Beth Goode was awesome! One of the best health care providers I've ever had. She is always very organized, knowledgeable, calm, professional, understanding, takes LOTS of time to answer any questions I have... She was good at reassuring me when I worried about things and good at giving a very thorough perspective on everything. Most of the nursing staff was also very good.
Describe your experience with Shady Grove Fertility BMA.
Right now, my main complaint with the clinic is that it's very difficult to get a full picture/layout of how much different treatment scenarios will ultimately cost you. So I haven't been happy with the financial situation for my IVF, so far...
Overall, the clinic is very organized, staff is very nice and professional. Yes, you will probably "feel like a number," but it's Shady Grove and it's a busy clinic... If you make peace with feeling like a number, it's not that bad. For a new patient, however, it is honestly an extremely stressful experience, because they don't seem to take into account the level of complexity and anxiety that the whole fertility situation creates. I was told during my consultation that my blood pressure was high enough that I could go to the ER - friggin' ridiculous! So, I understand that the nursing staff are primarily gynecologists, not cardiologists, etc, but hopefully new patients can take a lot of their comments and suggestions with a grain of salt, because outside of the fertility stuff, they don't necessarily know what they're talking about. Shady Grove is clearly *extremely* focused on avoiding any type of liability, so they warn you about every possible little thing, presumably so they don't get sued. So I just wouldn't listen to all the risks and everything like that that they tell you.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Selma Amrane at Shady Grove Fertility BMA.
I think IUI was approximately $1,500 a cycle. (I paid out of pocket at the time.)
Ovidrel was $68.
My IVF charges are still being processed, but... I was so far billed about $6,500 by Shady Grove (which includes about $3,600 for PGT testing). This does NOT include an embryo transfer - but allegedly does include the cost covered by insurance. I have also been charged, at this point, roughly $6,000 just for medications. But everything is still going through insurance, so I'm not sure how this will all shake out.
Describe Selma Amrane's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Shady Grove Fertility BMA.
Haven't gotten that far
What specific things went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility BMA?
- Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Shady Grove Fertility BMA.
Like I said earlier, I really wasn't given a comprehensive overview of the financial picture for IVF treatment. I wasn't told that if I did PGT testing, I couldn't do a fresh embryo transfer, which would add like at least $6,000 to the treatment (I thought embryo transfers cost closer to $3,400). No one also told me how much IVF meds cost, like even a ballpark estimate. I realize I could have done more of my own research ahead of time, but the way the clinic downplayed the cost of the meds, etc, I just wasn't that focused on it. So that's the main thing I wasn't happy with.