Help me choose fertility practice

[Anonymous]

I have an initial visit with Shady Grove planned but curious on other options?


I don’t want a long commute, I live in DC.

How do Dominion or Columbia compare?


Do we get to choose a doctor at all of these places or do we just rotate based on appt times?

[Anonymous]

I live in DC and found GW most convenient/easy to get to but I think they might be down to a single doctor at the moment (and it’s the one I didn’t like) and their scheduling system is abysmal so YMMV.

[Anonymous]

What are the parking situation like at these places? The thought of doing so much monitoring sounds annoying with parking fees. Obviously fertility treatments are expensive but this just adds to it.

[Anonymous]

Monitoring at dominion was easy. It’s so early in the morning I just parked on the street and fed the meter.

[Anonymous]

To answer your last question, generally, one doctor directs your treatment, but your monitoring and procedures are done by whomever is rotating that day. At GW, the doctors did the monitoring; I think it’s techs at Shady Grove (but I was never a patient there).

When I was at GW, I took the metro or (during COVID), my husband drove me to monitoring appointments—they are very early in the morning—and just waited in the car.

I eventually went to NYC for later cycles, which is the opposite of convenient, but after a certain investment of time, emotional energy, and money, my focus was on getting the best treatment for my needs.

[Anonymous]

It might help to know what specific infertility issue you are trying to over overcome?

For example, has he been tested? This is a cheap, fast, easy way to rule out any issues he may have. Next come all the tests you need to undergo.

The clinic you choose for testing does not need to be the one you choose for treatment; you can switch.

[Anonymous]

This is OP. I don’t know yet, I’ve been pregnant and gave birth before. Had one miscarriage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have an initial visit with Shady Grove planned but curious on other options?


I don’t want a long commute, I live in DC.

How do Dominion or Columbia compare?


Do we get to choose a doctor at all of these places or do we just rotate based on appt times?

At columbia fertility you meet with your own dr for each ultrasound, iui, egg retrieval, etc. I know that is not true at SGF (often just a tech or nurse does the monitoring). not sure how it works at Dominion. I go to CFA but was considering switching so joined the fb groups for SGF and Dominion and realized they all have problems so didn't switch but I found it helpful to read everyone's complaints so you can choose what type of problem you most want to deal with

[Anonymous]

I go to CFA. I think it is a factory. The staff is terrible, billing is a mess, and the nurses lack empathy. I love my doctor there, but wished they had a nicer staff.

[Anonymous]

Shady grove was awful for me. Ended up at CFA and had 3 kids. The billing department is rude and pushy but I found the drs great and actually found the overall practice to be fairly organized. I had heard horror stories so tried to be proactive as in would shoot my nurse an email if it was getting towards the end of the day and I was expecting instructions, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I go to CFA. I think it is a factory. The staff is terrible, billing is a mess, and the nurses lack empathy. I love my doctor there, but wished they had a nicer staff.

I agree with all of the above- to the point where I scheduled a consult at SGF. You have to be very on top of your own treatment, and more demanding then I like to be. They often fail to put my appointments in system so I show up and have no idea what I need, by cycle 4 I now know what I'm there for and can articulate it but it's stressful. They're also crappy about timing on things, they avoid scheduling any bloodwork or ultrasounds on weekends but the past 2 months that's been extra disruptive as also closed multiple days in a row for Thanksgiving, Christmas, nye and now mlk. For example I last had bloodwork Thursday and won't be able to go in again until Tuesday due to the 3 day weekend

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I go to CFA. I think it is a factory. The staff is terrible, billing is a mess, and the nurses lack empathy. I love my doctor there, but wished they had a nicer staff.

I agree with all of the above- to the point where I scheduled a consult at SGF. You have to be very on top of your own treatment, and more demanding then I like to be. They often fail to put my appointments in system so I show up and have no idea what I need, by cycle 4 I now know what I'm there for and can articulate it but it's stressful. They're also crappy about timing on things, they avoid scheduling any bloodwork or ultrasounds on weekends but the past 2 months that's been extra disruptive as also closed multiple days in a row for Thanksgiving, Christmas, nye and now mlk. For example I last had bloodwork Thursday and won't be able to go in again until Tuesday due to the 3 day weekend

Agree with PP point. The nurses are so unwelcoming especially during this hard and stressful time. I would never forget the transfer. The nurse was barely wearing her mask and was so rude. To think they would be a bit nicer since you can't have your partners there.

[Anonymous]

ugh yes the staff are awful with masking-- the phlebotomist the other day (not the normal great one) had her mask down and then wiped her nose with her hand right before taking my blood-- didn't want to say anything in the moment as didn't want to anger anyone with a needle entering my skin but since then for appointments where I just have bloodwork without an ultrasound I've been going to labcorp instead as they're much more covid cautious.

the nurses are cold and don't give much information-- don't remember anyone saying sorry once when I experienced a miscarriage

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are the parking situation like at these places? The thought of doing so much monitoring sounds annoying with parking fees. Obviously fertility treatments are expensive but this just adds to it.

When I went to monitoring appointments at CFA, I used to park in the Trader Joe's garage and do a little grocery shopping there after my appointment. Not sure if Trader Joe's would approve, but no one ever said anything to me or towed my car. YMMV.

[Anonymous]

Sigh to CFA. I am praying my transfer works so I don't have to deal with the nurses. It makes me sad that they are so mean. Terrible staff.