I was started on stims...discussed [with Dr. Tendai Chiware] potentially cancelling before I used all of my meds, but was told growth was moving along so I decided to continue...my round was cancelled...was pretty apparently that the follicles were way to big - 5 of the 8 were well over the recommended 22 mm...Day 11: Novarel trigger, 10,000
biggest let down of the [Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine] is that the Brooklyn Surgery Center, which they use for retrievals, is not open on the weekends...The medical assistant, nursing and sonography staff at Genesis were fantastic...did entirely use up my medication maximum on a cancelled cycle.
How was your experience with Tendai Chiware at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine?
I saw Dr. Chiware a couple of times before deciding on going with the clinic, due to its proximity to my residence and its designation as a center of excellence. I was asked to have a hysteroscopy, even though I had no intention of immediately using my embryos (if any were made), and told it was requied for insurance. This was very uncomfortable. I was started on stims, and concerned about the growth of my follicles and that there weren't very many, and discussed potentially cancelling before I used all of my meds, but was told growth was moving along so I decided to continue. Then, my round was cancelled, due to my ovulating over the weekend, when the clinic was not open. This means I used all of my medications, underwent 12 days of stims, monitoring, had 8 fully grown follicles, and ended up with nothing. Two days prior to my scheduled retrieval, at the time of my trigger, it was pretty apparently that the follicles were way to big - 5 of the 8 were well over the recommended 22 mm (28, 25, 25, 26 and 24). I feel that the surgery center being closed on the weekend fully contributed to this, but, I'm not sure why the call to conduct the retrieval wasn't made sooner. I believe the larger follicles were disregarded due to the slower growing follicles, even though the larger follicles were more in number than the smaller.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Tendai Chiware at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine?
Advocate for yourself.
Describe the protocols Tendai Chiware used in your cycles at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine and their degree of success.
Day 1 - 4 of stims: 100 mg of Clomid, 150 mg of Follistim, 150 mg of Menopure
Day 5: 100 mg of Clomid, 100 mg of Follistim, 150 Menopur, 250 mg of Ganirelix
Day 6 - 8: 100 mg of Follistim, 150 Menopur, 250 mg of Ganirelix
Day 9 - 10: 100 mg of Follistim, 150 Menopur, 250 mg of Ganirelix
Day 11: Novarel trigger, 10,000
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine.
The medical assistant, nursing and sonography staff at Genesis were fantastic.
Describe your experience with Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine.
The biggest let down of the clinic is that the Brooklyn Surgery Center, which they use for retrievals, is not open on the weekends. You absolutely cannot control the way the body responds when it's further along in the cycle, and it sets up non-optimal results many times as the best time to retrieve could very easily be a weekend, which is 28% of the week.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Tendai Chiware at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine.
My round was covered by insurance, though I did entirely use up my medication maximum on a cancelled cycle.
Describe Tendai Chiware's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine.
Dr. Chiware is a kind, compassionate human...understood the challenges I have faced with Infertility from the very beginning of my journey, listens intently, and provides her medical insight with thought and care. I have never felt like a number while under her medical care...guided me through it with her knowledge and caring bedside manner...end result was 10 follicles...I have not yet transferred any embryos. They are in a frozen state.
Genesis has multiple clinics, and when going in for monitoring there is only one location that is open on the weekend...nursing staff at Genesis Reproductive Fertility and Medicine are all knowledgeable and helpful. They call after monitoring and provide next steps and answer any questions you may have. They answer within the scope of their knowledge, and forward any messages to the doctor if need be. They are absolutely wonderful IVF nurses.
How was your experience with Tendai Chiware at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine?
My experience as a patient is that this has been an emotional and physically taxing experience for me. Not only that, I started the consultation process years ago, and have been through a lot to get to the point of doing IVF treatment. There are times I have experienced uncertainty and intense worry, over the quality of my eggs for example, and how my body would respond to IVF medications. Dr. Chiware has been my guiding light through it all
She blends professionalism with her caring nature so it makes my experience more tolerable.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Tendai Chiware at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine?
To listen as she guides you through what she thinks is an appropriate process for your situation.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Tendai Chiware at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine?
Dr. Chiware is a kind, compassionate human herself which is why I felt comfortable to proceed with IVF and all that is entailed under her professional care. Dr. Chiware has understood the challenges I have faced with Infertility from the very beginning of my journey, listens intently, and provides her medical insight with thought and care. I have never felt like a number while under her medical care. I was very nervous about the IVF process and she guided me through it with her knowledge and caring bedside manner.
Describe the protocols Tendai Chiware used in your cycles at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine and their degree of success.
After consistent blood work and ultrasounds after my period started, Dr. Chiware instructed me to begin taking the fertility medications. I officially began taking the medication on day 2 of my cycle. These were Gonal F, Menopur, Cetrotide, and finally a trigger shot at the end (Ovidrel). These medications were used with specific dosages over 13 days and administered at night time (9pm each night). Toward the end of the cycle, Dr. Chiware slightly reduced the dosage of Gonal F to avoid hyperstimulation of the ovaries. The end result was 10 follicles. During the process I was going for monitoring every other day.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine.
The nursing staff at Genesis Reproductive Fertility and Medicine are all knowledgeable and helpful. They call after monitoring and provide next steps and answer any questions you may have. They answer within the scope of their knowledge, and forward any messages to the doctor if need be. They are absolutely wonderful IVF nurses.
Describe your experience with Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine.
Genesis has multiple clinics, and when going in for monitoring there is only one location that is open on the weekend. That is the Bay Parkway location which is a little far commuting wise. I would say that's the only weakness that impeded me because if your cycle requires weekend monitoring, you are required to go to Bay Parkway for the blood work and/or ultrasound. I live in Queens and do not drive so the commute was difficult amidst the physical experiences I was going through (on period, feeling swollen).
Describe the costs associated with your care under Tendai Chiware at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine.
My care has been partially covered by insurance (approvals and tests are needed for the claim) and I cover the rest out of pocket. It's been expensive as was expected. PGT-A testing and biopsy was not covered by my insurance and its cost over $5000 so far along with copays n
Describe Tendai Chiware's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine.
I have not yet transferred any embryos. They are in a frozen state.
Dr. Chiware is by far the most caring, patient and understanding doctor we've encountered in our lives, and she's beyond generous with her time...As a lesbian couple, we felt respected from start to finish in our every interaction with Dr. Chiware and with Genesis...wasn't afraid to think outside the box when it came to supplementary medications...She wants you to succeed, and won't blindly reassure you that what you're doing is enough...
The nurses [at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine] were uniformly attentive, compassionate and patient. They returned our calls quickly and were generous with their time in answering all of our questions. We never felt rushed off the phone. They never made us feel that our concerns were trivial, and despite the fact that there seem to have been many nurses on staff, there were never any miscommunications about my protocol...When we got our good news, all the nurses called us together and congratulated us--it was really a beautiful moment.
How was your experience with Tendai Chiware at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine?
I've always been a difficult patient--low pain tolerance, apt to pass out, squeamish. Dr. Chiware was the perfect person to ease my anxiety, and is so gentle in both word and deed that we wouldn't be surprised if she simply willed our now-fetus into existence. This is the opposite of our previous experience at a larger, more well-known fertility clinic where we felt overlooked and later learned that indeed some of the stats of our case weren't being fully monitored. Once we switched to Genesis, Dr. Chiware created such a comfortable atmosphere for us that we felt we'd known her from a previous life. We owe the growth of our family to her, and can never repay her for her unyielding devotion to our commitment to get pregnant. We literally miss her now that we've graduated from Genesis.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Tendai Chiware at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine?
Get ready to never be able to let her go! We would've loved it if she could be our OB. Also, don't be afraid to push the envelope--if you are so unfortunate as to have a failed IUI or a failed embryo transfer, ask Dr. Chiware how you can supplement or change your treatment for the next cycle. She wants you to succeed, and won't blindly reassure you that what you're doing is enough.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Tendai Chiware at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine?
Dr. Chiware is by far the most caring, patient and understanding doctor we've encountered in our lives, and she's beyond generous with her time. We truly believe that a key reason why we're pregnant is that she stayed on top of our case and wasn't afraid to think outside the box when it came to supplementary medications. It's abundantly clear that Dr. Chiware's heart is in her work. She's also super-personable--after every phone call and appointment, we remarked to each other that we wish we could be friends with her. (That said, we're not sure if we're cool enough!)
Describe the protocols Tendai Chiware used in your cycles at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine and their degree of success.
We first did an egg retrieval using Gonal-F, Certrotide, Menopur, and an Ovidrel trigger. That yielded 15 eggs, 10 of which were mature, and all of which fertilized with ICSI. By Day 7, we had 6 remaining, which we sent off for PGT testing. 2 came back normal, 2 abnormal, and 1 low mosaic.
Since we had 5 failed IUIs at our previous clinic, we did an ERA before our first transfer and then transferred 1 of the normal embryos. The cycle consisted of Estrace pills and Progesterone injections. Unfortunately the transfer wasn't successful.
I took a few months off for acupuncture and a mental health reboot, then transferred our remaining normal embryo. For that cycle, Dr. Chiware offered to have us add Lupron, Lovenox, Prednisone and baby aspirin in addition to Estrace and Progesterone. (I'd been taking a prenatal multi and Metformin for PCOS all along.) We chose to go with all the 'extra' meds except Lovenox, whose side effects scared us.
We were fortunate that this transfer yielded a pregnancy--we're over the moon to now be 18 weeks.
How competent was Tendai Chiware at LGBTQ+ care?
As a lesbian couple, we felt respected from start to finish in our every interaction with Dr. Chiware and with Genesis. Not once did any staff member (from receptionist to lab tech to nurse to doctor) inquire about a "husband"--we just showed up to Genesis as ourselves, and considering the extreme stress of IVF, that meant the world.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine.
The nurses were uniformly attentive, compassionate and patient. They returned our calls quickly and were generous with their time in answering all of our questions. We never felt rushed off the phone. They never made us feel that our concerns were trivial, and despite the fact that there seem to have been many nurses on staff, there were never any miscommunications about my protocol. Shout-outs to Marina, Tzivia, Jen, Irene, Christina (ultrasound tech), Gail (embryology lab), and Kathy (receptionist). When we got our good news, all the nurses called us together and congratulated us--it was really a beautiful moment.
Describe your experience with Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine.
As a whole, the team at Genesis seems to really enjoy its work and genuinely care about patients. There's a family-type vibe.
During our time at Genesis, they had ongoing IT issues with their email system. We don't understand why this couldn't have been remedied more quickly.
Morning monitoring at the Forest Hills office moves like a well-oiled machine--I almost never waited more than a few minutes, and was sometimes even the only patient there. That said, beware that the hours at that site are extremely early.
There were 2 times during bad weather when the ultrasound tech (there's only 1 on staff at a time at Forest Hills) did not show up to work and patients weren't notified prior. This led to multiple patients waiting, frustrated, while I called the nurses' line. We were met with plenty of compassion and regret, but we're still not sure if Genesis has amended its morning monitoring communication system so that patients who are expected will receive alerts in the event of sudden closure. PLEASE NOTE, this issue should not reflect on Dr. Chiware whatsoever. Also, if you use Bay Parkway as your monitoring site, know that it's much more bustling, with more staff, which makes it unlikely that this would occur there.
Lastly, be aware that while Genesis has multiple locations for monitoring and consultations, procedures (ERAs, SHGs, retrievals, transfers) are only done at Bay Parkway. For us, this meant renting a car to drive to all of the above. If you're located closer to there, you're good to go.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Tendai Chiware at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine.
Retrieval, including 1st transfer: $12,225
Surgery Center fee (for retrieval): $1000
2nd transfer: $2800
PGT for 6 embryos (sent to Igenomix, a partner of Genesis): $1250
ERA: $700, but this will depend upon your insurance
Sperm storage (6 months): $300, $50/mo refunded for any unused months
Embryo storage: can't recall
Monitoring: free on my insurance
Copays for seeing Dr. Chiware: $40 copay on my insurance
SHG: can't recall ;(
Ultrasounds: $80 copay on my insurance
IVF meds: would've been about $5000 had we not found ways to, err, circumvent some of the traditional purchasing avenues
Trips to 7-11, across the street from morning monitoring: PRICELESS
Keep in mind, these numbers aren't inclusive of everything, and certainly could vary widely depending upon whether you have fertility coverage.
Describe Tendai Chiware's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine.
She suggested that since our 2 normal embryos were both highly graded, we avoid transferring both at once in case they yielded quadruplets or triplets. We are infinitely grateful for this advice--since our first cycle failed, if we'd used both embryos on it, there's a strong possibility we could've lost both. It was out of the question financially for us to do another retrieval.
How competent was Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine at LGBTQ+ care?
As mentioned in another section, Genesis was the cream of the crop when it comes to LGBTQ competency. We were accepted as married lesbians from the get-go, and even more impressively, various staff members managed to remember that I (the patient) am married to another woman, and they'd ask how my wife was doing.
Describe your experience using 3rd party reproduction (donor eggs, donor sperm, or gestational carrier) at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine.
Gail was the one responsible for coordinating the move of our donor sperm from our first clinic to Genesis. The process was overwhelming on our first clinic's end, but Gail reassured us throughout, and met us with warmth and excitement when we finally dragged that ugly beige tank out of the elevator at Genesis. Our first clinic put up lots of red tape when it came to taking our sperm to another place; Gail was having none of that. ;)
She [Dr. Chiware] was extremely knowledgeable and professional. She took the time to explain each step and ask me to decide on how to proceed every time we made a decision. She was also very skilled. The ER was uneventful. She also conducted my uterine biopsy and the embryo transfer procedure...A long antagonist high dose gonal and menopour. The other protocol was the short antagonist with high gonal 300 and menpour 300...
The nurses [at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine] were great and always available...very compassionate when I had losses or my protocol failed. They also took care of any issues and were able to reach the doctors for changes in prescription or treatment path right away...STRENGTH Parking on-site, plenty of waiting area, and clean. polite and professional. Weakness crowded. There were always too many people there which provided little privacy. They are run like a doctor's office.
How was your experience with Tendai Chiware at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine?
She was extremely knowledgeable and professional. She took the time to explain each step and ask me to decide on how to proceed every time we made a decision. She was also very skilled. The ER was uneventful. She also conducted my uterine biopsy and the embryo transfer procedure.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Tendai Chiware at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine?
Be ready to work with their schedule in terms of when retrieval happens.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Tendai Chiware at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine?
I had a great experience at Genesis. There was originally a learning curve, but we eventually got along g great. The clinic is cleaned and the staff is friendly. I had several procedures to get to egg retrieval, but everything went well and I was informed of every step and consulted at every decision making. I had better results in terms of the number of eggs retrieved and the number of embryos. I also became pregnant but miscarried. Their prices are also pretty reseable.
Describe the protocols Tendai Chiware used in your cycles at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine and their degree of success.
A long antagonist high dose gonal and menopour. The other protocol was the short antagonist with high gonal 300 and menpour 300.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine. (Assigned nurse: Toby, Estephanie)
The nurses were great and always available. They made me feel as if they were invested in my family-making goals and were very compassionate when I had losses or my protocol failed. They also took care of any issues and were able to reach the doctors for changes in prescription or treatment path right away.
Describe your experience with Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine.
STRENGTH Parking on-site, plenty of waiting area, and clean. polite and professional. Weakness crowded. There were always too many people there which provided little privacy. They are run like a doctor's office.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Tendai Chiware at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine.
$1500 plus meds. It was covered by insurance. Without insurance it was $9960
Describe Tendai Chiware's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine.
They allow multiple embryo transfer, but only day 5.
What specific things went wrong at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine?
Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Provided conflicting information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine.
My prescription for progesterone was not sent to a local pharmacy so I had to wait additional days to start progesterone. I would always wonder if this affected the outcome of my procedure.
She made us feel relaxed and reassured that we were in capable hands by being genuine and sincere. Whenever my partner and I meet with Dr. Chiware, we never feel rushed or disappointed. She takes her time to make sure we completely understand the treatment plan by going through charts and records; making sure to explain any risks involved and answering any questions that we may have about anything. We feel 100% confident in Dr. Chiware as our fertility doctor.
I love that there are so many offices [Genesis Fertility & Reproductive Medicine] with various office hours for monitoring, which helped my stress level about being late for work. The clinic is great with returning phone calls. The billing department was thorough with going through the costs of the cycle. However, they were not thorough with collecting the payment. I did not know when I was supposed to pay and it wasn't until the day of my egg retrieval that I approached them about payment.
How was your experience with Tendai Chiware at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine?
I first visited Dr. Chiware two months after deciding to stop seeing my previous fertility doctor. At that point, my partner and I were skeptical about fertility clinics and their motives. However, from the moment we walked into Dr. Chiware's office, my feelings of doubt were abated. She made us feel relaxed and reassured that we were in capable hands by being genuine and sincere.
Whenever my partner and I meet with Dr. Chiware, we never feel rushed or disappointed. She takes her time to make sure we completely understand the treatment plan by going through charts and records; making sure to explain any risks involved and answering any questions that we may have about anything. We feel 100% confident in Dr. Chiware as our fertility doctor.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Tendai Chiware at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine?
I would advise a prospective patient of Tendai Chiware, M.D. is to stay the course, and trust the process. She knows what she is doing.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Tendai Chiware at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine?
Dr. Chiware treated me and my partner exceptionally well. She and the clinic made us feel extremely comfortable from the moment we walked into the office. As an unmarried, lesbian woman over the age of 40, I didn't feel judged or pressured to make any decisions. Dr. Chiware, was thorough and transparent while being warm and sincere.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine.
The nursing staff were efficient, warm, and caring.
Describe your experience with Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine.
I love that there are so many offices with various office hours for monitoring, which helped my stress level about being late for work. The clinic is great with returning phone calls. The billing department was thorough with going through the costs of the cycle. However, they were not thorough with collecting the payment. I did not know when I was supposed to pay and it wasn't until the day of my egg retrieval that I approached them about payment.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine.
Genesis has multiple locations across the city and Long Island with varying office hours which makes it convenient for work schedules. I only went to locations in Queens and Long Island and I was seen right away.
She [Dr.Tendai Chiware] took the time to review my history and adjust my medications to try to increase my chances...spends time to ensure all of my questions are answered and I get the care that I need...I’ve only met with her in person once because she took over for my previous doctor when he moved out of state...She is alway very responsive via email
The whole nursing staff [of Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine] is friendly and compassionate. They are the people that helped me stay positive and continue to return for treatment...[cost] Between $775-$2000...everyone is really personable and there are a couple of satellite locations for monitoring which makes things flexible...
How was your experience with Tendai Chiware at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine?
I’ve only met with her in person once because she took over for my previous doctor when he moved out of state, but she did a good job at making me feel welcomed and in good care. She took the time to review my history and adjust my medications to try to increase my chances. She is alway very responsive via email.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Tendai Chiware at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine?
Be patient and trust the doctor’s advice and course of action.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Tendai Chiware at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine?
I felt like a human unlike some of the other facilities I’ve been to. Everyone at Genesis is friendly and caring. The doctor definitely spends time to ensure all of my questions are answered and I get the care that I need. I believe the doctor followed the right steps to help me conceive even though I have not been successful
Describe your experience with your nurse at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine. (Assigned nurse: No, but Nurse Brittany is amazing)
The whole nursing staff is friendly and compassionate. They are the people that helped me stay positive and continue to return for treatment
Describe your experience with Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine.
The strengths are everyone is really personable and there are a couple of satellite locations for monitoring which makes things flexible. They are also open 7 days a week even on holidays. This is a big plus because I’ve had to skip treatments at my previous facility because of my ovulation falling on a holiday.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Tendai Chiware at Genesis Fertility and Reproductive Medicine.
