best fertility clinic in D.C. or Maryland

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Consulted at CCRM and found them to be extremely arrogant and focused on bringing in money.

We liked GWU. It's cutting edge, and we liked that it's at a university and therefore research-based and nonprofit. You probably won't find a better and kinder doctor in the profession than Frankfurter.

+1 to all of this. At CCRM you are put through every last test and scan and extra this and that so they can make a buck. At GWU you'll be treated like an individual with a medical history. Frankfurter is brilliant and he will actually look at your whole file carefully and adjust each cycle.

[Anonymous]

CCRM is ridiculously expensive compared to all clinics in DC area......steer clear

[Anonymous]

I was a GW patient for nearly 2 years. I recently switched to CCRM after many failed cycles and miscarriages. Contrary to what a lot of people on here are saying, I’ve been really pleased so far with my experience at CCRM. They had me repeat only bloodwork before letting me start a fresh cycle. Both their facilities and communication are second to none. From day one, I have been treated with care and compassion and don’t feel like I’m just a number. Both my nurse and RE go above and beyond at making me feel my mental health is top priority, which I really appreciate. At the end of the day, most will say the “best” clinic was the one that got them pregnant. While I think GW, especially Dr. Frankfurter, is extremely capable, the way CCRM operates better aligns with my Type-A personality, and I’m happy I made the transition. I’m way less stressed out. In the end, I think determining “the best clinic” is rather subjective as there are many factors that go into it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was a GW patient for nearly 2 years. I recently switched to CCRM after many failed cycles and miscarriages. Contrary to what a lot of people on here are saying, I’ve been really pleased so far with my experience at CCRM. They had me repeat only bloodwork before letting me start a fresh cycle. Both their facilities and communication are second to none. From day one, I have been treated with care and compassion and don’t feel like I’m just a number. Both my nurse and RE go above and beyond at making me feel my mental health is top priority, which I really appreciate. At the end of the day, most will say the “best” clinic was the one that got them pregnant. While I think GW, especially Dr. Frankfurter, is extremely capable, the way CCRM operates better aligns with my Type-A personality, and I’m happy I made the transition. I’m way less stressed out. In the end, I think determining “the best clinic” is rather subjective as there are many factors that go into it.

What doctor do you have?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was a GW patient for nearly 2 years. I recently switched to CCRM after many failed cycles and miscarriages. Contrary to what a lot of people on here are saying, I’ve been really pleased so far with my experience at CCRM. They had me repeat only bloodwork before letting me start a fresh cycle. Both their facilities and communication are second to none. From day one, I have been treated with care and compassion and don’t feel like I’m just a number. Both my nurse and RE go above and beyond at making me feel my mental health is top priority, which I really appreciate. At the end of the day, most will say the “best” clinic was the one that got them pregnant. While I think GW, especially Dr. Frankfurter, is extremely capable, the way CCRM operates better aligns with my Type-A personality, and I’m happy I made the transition. I’m way less stressed out. In the end, I think determining “the best clinic” is rather subjective as there are many factors that go into it.

What doctor do you have?

Dr. Moragianni. She’s been amazing. Extremely respectful of my time, very accessible whenever I have questions, and it’s evident she’s given my complicated case a ton of thought to develop an individualized treatment plan just for me. She has great bedside manner – unbelievably kind and also hilarious! She just has a way about her that puts my anxiety at ease. I haven’t met Dr. Payson, but had Dr. Owen perform a procedure for me. She was also fantastic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was a GW patient for nearly 2 years. I recently switched to CCRM after many failed cycles and miscarriages. Contrary to what a lot of people on here are saying, I’ve been really pleased so far with my experience at CCRM. They had me repeat only bloodwork before letting me start a fresh cycle. Both their facilities and communication are second to none. From day one, I have been treated with care and compassion and don’t feel like I’m just a number. Both my nurse and RE go above and beyond at making me feel my mental health is top priority, which I really appreciate. At the end of the day, most will say the “best” clinic was the one that got them pregnant. While I think GW, especially Dr. Frankfurter, is extremely capable, the way CCRM operates better aligns with my Type-A personality, and I’m happy I made the transition. I’m way less stressed out. In the end, I think determining “the best clinic” is rather subjective as there are many factors that go into it.

What doctor do you have?

Dr. Moragianni. She’s been amazing. Extremely respectful of my time, very accessible whenever I have questions, and it’s evident she’s given my complicated case a ton of thought to develop an individualized treatment plan just for me. She has great bedside manner – unbelievably kind and also hilarious! She just has a way about her that puts my anxiety at ease. I haven’t met Dr. Payson, but had Dr. Owen perform a procedure for me. She was also fantastic.[i]

Yes, I have Dr. Owen and she is amazing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:CCRM is ridiculously expensive compared to all clinics in DC area......steer clear

Actually, this is not at all true. I met with almost all of them.

CCRM's prices are the same as Shady Grove and most other clinics in the area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is anecdotal, but I was with Shady Grove. I was successful on the first cycle at 43 yo. From what I’ve heard it may not be the best choice for complex cases, but the size meant flexibility, lots of complied data on what works and doesn’t work, and it was relatively inexpensive. With the military discount I was able to do the multi cycle for the price of one cycle. I didn’t need it but it relieved some of the pressure for it to work the first time.

I was fine with the lack of personalized service and handholding. Everyone was nice and very professional. Always been attentive when I called afterhours with questions or concerns.

I’m 42 years old, I’m about to start another ivf cycle with Dr Eric Widra at Shady Grove in DC. Who was your RE? Did you use your own eggs? My amh is 1.14, antral follicle count was 11, and FSH 12.8. They tried to push egg donor on me, but I declined. You give me hope!

I forgot to mention I got pregnant at 41 through ivf, but I lost my baby girl at 16 weeks due to incompetent cervix in December. I just feel now everything is doom and gloom because of my age, and elevated FSH

So, so sorry for your loss - my heart goes out to you. Why did they try to push donor eggs given that you got pregnant at 41 and have a 1.14 AMH?

Thank you for your kind words. They pushed egg donor on me because of my age, and my FSH is over 10. I feel like I’m not getting individualized patient care. I payed for a multicycle plan, so I’m not able to go anywhere else.

[Anonymous]

You just need to be very direct and state in writing that you want a consult to go over everything. Then ask for the reasoning for each thing. If you are the type to do your own research, then bring an outline and have that to discuss.

That is the only way anyone is going to get info from your doctor about how things apply - to you - given your test results and how you've responded so far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are a risky candidate - stats for a clinic DO NOT MATTER. The bigger clinics - like Shady Grove - will steer risky patients towards IUI so they don't mess up their IVF stats. Just find a doctor who works with you. Personally, I talked to all of them - almost went with Columbia - but loved GW.

Whats is GW???????

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had an uncomplicated Dx and had 2 successes (out of 3 attempts) at GW. Never ran into any issues with unresponsiveness, poor bedside manner, and nonprofit. We've been there for years and it's always felt like another family for me.

HEY MY EMAIL IS [e-mail]
WHAT IS GW?
WE ARE CURRENTLY MOVING TO MARYLAND TO FIND THE BEST FACILITY PLEASE IF ANYONE CAN HELP WITH RECOMMENDATIONS. WE ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROCESS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I left Shady Grove for CCRM, but honestly I have a pretty dismal view of the entire industry. I don't think there is a single clinic in the area that is a standout. The things that have actually improved outcomes for me have been things I researched and insisted on myself. I've made a commitment to dig through medical journals, do multiple second opinions in DC and NY and just in general be a really active participant in my treatment. The most important thing has just been an RE who I can have regular contact with (unlike SG where you never see your doctor and all communication is filtered through a nurse).

I will say this: CCRM is definitely the most thorough of the two. For example, they do PIO AND suppositories for FETs. After having had an early miscarriage where SG was barely monitoring my progesterone, I'm grateful for that. And they have me on baby aspirin and a steroid before an FET, something that a lot of other clinics do, but not SG.

Also, SG's billing has turned out to be an absolute nightmare. Their billing office is completely unreachable and an incorrect bill they sent me is about to go to collections. I've left voicemails, emails... and complete silence.

Finally, I'm part of a support group of women who have been doing infertility treatments for at least a year. All of them who started at SG have left. I think that's pretty good evidence that they are fine for easy cases, but not for tougher ones.

I am another patient who left Shady Grove for CCRM in Colorado, and my experience parallels that of the poster above. CCRM was much more thorough--more testing, more ultrasounds, more blood monitoring, more aggressive intervention when my progesterone dropped after the second positive pregnancy test (they called in a prescription for injectible progesterone from across the country and I got it delivered from a specialty pharmacy by a courier that day; the near-miscarriage is now a healthy eight year old). My RE there was sometimes prickly and leaned toward pessimism, but I was always able to speak directly with him instead of just to nurses. CCRM did charge a fee for each phone appointment with the RE, but it was modest compared to the overall investment. My general takeaway was that CCRM is efficiently managed and takes a kitchen sink approach to addressing every little thing that MIGHT matter at the margins. But even then, IVF is kind of a crapshoot. The key seems to be having enough money to keep rolling the dice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had an uncomplicated Dx and had 2 successes (out of 3 attempts) at GW. Never ran into any issues with unresponsiveness, poor bedside manner, and nonprofit. We've been there for years and it's always felt like another family for me.

HEY MY EMAIL IS [e-mail]
WHAT IS GW?
WE ARE CURRENTLY MOVING TO MARYLAND TO FIND THE BEST FACILITY PLEASE IF ANYONE CAN HELP WITH RECOMMENDATIONS. WE ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROCESS.

George Washington University MFA.
All of the centers in the DMV have their strengths and weaknesses.

SGF-good in a uncomplicated cases. Has a good lab. It will give up on you or push donor earlier than some of the other centers. But then again, it doesn't push you to keep trying when things are going to fail. Also, not usually willing to go out of the box.

GW- I love GW and love Dr. Frankfurter as a person. He is nice and caring. They are less motivated about profits. They are somewhat disorganized, but honestly all centers aren't great. They are willing to work with you and take harder cases. Though, they may not have as great of a lab, etc
CFA-Disorganized and potentially much lower sucess rates. However, at least Dr. Abbasi is willing to think very much out of the box.

[Anonymous]

I also recommend GW. Even though Dr. Humm is my doctor, you see all of the doctors regularly. All of them will be familiar with your case, because they go through each patient's case together, weekly.

Another thing I like about GW that isn't often mentioned here, is that is affiliated with the GW system. When I had a mc with my first IVF attempt, their office helped me schedule the D&C. With my two subsequent successful FETs, I transferred seamlessly from them to the MFM practice one floor up, no waiting for appointments at a new practice. My MFM doctor and the one who delivered my babies knew the IVF doctors and spoke to them regularly. When I had a postpartum hemorrhage with my first born, Dr. Humm was able to see all those records and it affected the protocol she used the next time. I just had a pap smear with a new OB/GYN, and he is friends with Dr. Humm- when he saw my records, he was so excited that she had helped me with my children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I also recommend GW. Even though Dr. Humm is my doctor, you see all of the doctors regularly. All of them will be familiar with your case, because they go through each patient's case together, weekly.

Another thing I like about GW that isn't often mentioned here, is that is affiliated with the GW system. When I had a mc with my first IVF attempt, their office helped me schedule the D&C. With my two subsequent successful FETs, I transferred seamlessly from them to the MFM practice one floor up, no waiting for appointments at a new practice. My MFM doctor and the one who delivered my babies knew the IVF doctors and spoke to them regularly. When I had a postpartum hemorrhage with my first born, Dr. Humm was able to see all those records and it affected the protocol she used the next time. I just had a pap smear with a new OB/GYN, and he is friends with Dr. Humm- when he saw my records, he was so excited that she had helped me with my children.

Completely u replayed yo this question but I would love to know how a postpartum hemorrhage changed your subsequent protocol. I had one with my first baby and wouldn’t have thought it had anything to do with the IVF itself.