Will Dr. Sacks give you the low down?

[Anonymous]

I did 3 consults as I decide where to pursue IVF. I'm AMA and the other 2 REs brought up it up, Dr. Sacks didn't. I really liked his bedside manner, though. My concern, however, is that he won't give it to me straight and that's important. Can anyone give insight? Does it take prodding to get him to bring up difficult issues? TIA.

[Anonymous]

It does take some prodding. You have to be proactive with him, but he will answer any question you have, and he does take time to explain things. If you ask him point blank about an issue, he will answer you. He believes in being conservative with his treatment at first, but he will listen to you and will ultimately do what you want. I liked that he didn't push the expensive treatment right from the start, but I found that I had to be the one to tell him that I was ready to be more aggressive. I liked that he was responsive to all my questions and would call me back or email me me promptly. Bottom line, you may need to prod him a bit to give you the straight low down, but he will if you ask him to.

[Anonymous]

I am AMA and have consulted with 4 REs, inlcuding Dr. Sacks, and cycled with 2. My age has come up directly and indirectly with each RE, either as a straight up fact or as part of the odds I have been given. I do recollect Sacks being forthright with my odds (2 REs never mentioned odds and I hadn't consulted with the third), which took into account my age. I didn't get the sense that he sugarcoats anything, but I do know that he is more inclined to treat high FSH and AMA patients than many other docs. Maybe he sees AMA and FSH levels as less of an issue than the other REs you consulted with, which is why he didn't mention it.

[Anonymous]

I don't have AMA issues, but I am seeing Dr. Sacks for other "tricky" issues. He was more optimistic in his bedside manner than other doctors, but I really value that. As other posters have mentioned, he didn't avoid questions or issues, but he was less aggressive for his initial approach and just immensely more pleasant and flexible. At one point, I asked him about his philosophy and why he was more flexible/optimistic with treatments than other doctors. He spent a long time talking about how he views treatment as "dealing with the cards you are dealt" and not changing the cards themselves when they can't be changed...in other words, he just gets to the bottom line without focusong as much on all of the other stuff that I personally think depresses us and can't really be changed.

[Anonymous]

If Dr. Sacks doesn't work out, you can always try Dominion. Every conversation I had with them seemed to start with "someone your age". I'm 41.

[Anonymous]

I'm AMA and have been to 5 clinics. All talked about my age. I'm using Dr. Sacks b/c he is realistic, doesn't offer false hope, and has the best attitude -- I have factors against me, I have factors in my favor, etc. He seems more relaxed than the others, less concerned about his own stats, and more concerned about my hope: having a baby. He gave me the best discussion of my odds (I did press, but then, I press everyone) and didn't push me. My problem w/ Dominion, and at least one other, is that it's donor egg or nothing (and yes, I did have a clinic I didn't visit tell me that it was DE or nothing, notwithstanding that I had a child, naturally, at 42). Dr. Sacks is also the only one who explained some of the issues w/ my insurance - why they would cover some things, not others, etc. FWIW: visit a bunch of clinics, if you're doubtful, and ask a lot of questions. I do the anal thing of writing them all down and bringing them w/ me. I also ask the nurses / staff questions too (sometimes the same one). My final 2 cents, as it's late and I'm rambling away: fertiliy clinics are 1/2 medicine and 1/2 business. It's somewhat a disease/treatment center, somewhat a 'here's how we make money'. You decide what you want to fund, and if you're not getting full information, or feel pressured, then take your dreams elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

PP, not to hijack this thread but I was wondering if you had any miscarriages before you conceived naturally at 42. I've been able to get pregnant three timeson my own since turning 40 (I'm 41 now) but they all ended up being early miscarriages. I delivered a healthy baby at 39 without the use of fertility treatments.

[Anonymous]

I haven't worked with Dr. Sacks, but I have a number of friends who have used him. My sense is that he tends to be more optimistic than other REs, which I think is good thing during times when you need to feel like everyone at your clinic is on your side, and not so good if you don't ask the hard questions and allow yourself to have some false hope.

[Anonymous]

I'm 22:22, pg at 42. No, no miscarriages. Sorry, no advice to share but best of luck to you.