New to the area and in need of a fertility specialist.

[Anonymous]

Another hands held high vote for Dominion and Dr. G.

LOVE him, and not just because they helped us bring our twins home...but also because of his amazing personalized care during 1) a traumatic T18 loss; 2) a #2 failed IVF; and 3) his response and support during a cycle where I had OHSS (refused to transfer b/c he didn't want OHSS to worsen and helped us navigate a FET cycle)

I firmly believe that Dominion is the best in the area.

[Anonymous]

PP I agree Dominion is by far the best in our area, I had 4 failed IUI's elsewhere and finally had success with Dr. Gordon so he definitely gets my vote.

[Anonymous]

I'd go for an intial consult with one clinic and then get all the testing done. After, take that testing to a couple clinics to hear about different approaches, etc. if you do an initial consult with various clinics before having the testing it may be a waste of time because the REs won't really know what to recommend. I think all the REs in the area will accept test results from the other clinics. Personally, I really liked Dr Widra at Shady Grove in DC. Also, if you have insurance you may want to find a clinic that participates with your insurance. If you don't have insurance, shady grove has the best deal for shared risk.

[Anonymous]

A vote for Shady Grove here!!! I have had wonderful care there through a variety of treatments, including IF surgery, multiple IVFs, m/cs, etc. Shared Risk is a great option if you qualify. If you don't qualify, then there are other affordable options. I had a little bit of coverage through my Aetna plan for my first cycle and still got the Aetna contracted rate for my cycles even after IF coverage ran out.

I like the PP suggestion to get testing done at one clinic and then have consults with other clinics as well. Feeling comfortable with your RE and treatment plan is so important given the stress of this process. I consulted with a couple of local REs and ultimately found the best fit at SG.

[Anonymous]

I am a huge supporter for Dominion. I had been at Columbia Fertility in DC. While the staff and Dr.'s at CFA are nice, I found that they are not as up to date on the newest infertility issues(ie: blood clotting issues, AMH, Natural cycle IVF etc.)

DiMattina is a straight shooter, but very smart and gets the job done. I haven't worked with Gordon, but have heard nothing but great things about him.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I don't know that I'd consider natural cycle to be "cutting edge." None of the top clinics do it (CCRM, Cornell) and there was an editorial in the major infertility journal criticizing it. That said, it may be a good option for some people, but it's not the "newest" treatment -- if anything it's an older treatment.

[Anonymous]

I think the 'cutting edge' aspect for NC-IVF is actually the fact that Dominion offers it as an option.

There are other 'cutting edge' technologies, that when used in conjunction with NC-IVF make NC more 'doable' and successful. 1) ICSI, 2) the more advanced embryo culture techniques, 3) the increased sophistication of the cycle monitoring 'processes' and egg retrieval processes to improve success rates of egg retrieval.

From a Dominion patient who wishes that they had NOT had to go through 3 standard stim IVFs to get a take home baby...and who wishes that NC-IVF could have been an option for them!

[Anonymous]

11:50 here, again...

CCRM and Cornell are probably not offering it because they aren't working with the standard 'easy' infertility patients. They really specialize in some of the more difficult cases of DOR and advanced maternal age.

But for a woman with simple tubal issues, or a woman who has had a tubal ligation, or a male patient with a sperm issue...this is a miracle cure. And to be able to go with this, instead of standard stim IVF...well...again...I can tell you it is MUCH preferred.

[Anonymous]

PP - Have you read Dominion's website about who they recommend for NC-IVF? It is for patients with high FSH, multiple failed IVF cycles, and AMA - the very patient set that CCRM and Cornell specialize in!!!!!!!! Maybe people with other issues use NC-IVF, but Dominion is definitely using it as a standard course of treatment for patients who meet the above criteria, in lieu of giving them the option to use standard IVF if they choose.

As to it being a "MUCH preferred" to standard stim IVF - speak for yourself. For me, I have all of the indicators for NC-IVF that Dominion targets (failed cycles, high FSH, AMA), yet I am not running to Dominion or even seeking NC-IVF as an option, as I have a PERSONAL preference to cycle at a clinic that specializes in those issues and uses a different approach.

[Anonymous]

If you look at all of Dominion's own stats on the number of NC-IVF cycles that get cancelled, you'll understand why a lot of women would choose to not use this approach.

[Anonymous]

To the 11:50 poster - all of the "cutting edge" things you suggest that NC-IVF offers are the very same things used in standard IVF. Do you think Dominion does any of this stuff differently for NC than standard IVF? Nope. It is the same lab and the same procedures. There is nothing "cutting edge" about NC-IVF. It is yet another treatment option available to IF patients.

[Anonymous]

Another vote for Dr. Sacks at Columbia Fertility! I'm happily pregnant with my first baby thanks to him!

[Anonymous]

As a couple with AMA, high FSH, and MFI I can say that NCIVF was a great choice for us, and we are currently pursuing that treatment for a 2nd DC.

[Anonymous]

42 and currently pregnant from NCIVF !!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP - Have you read Dominion's website about who they recommend for NC-IVF? It is for patients with high FSH, multiple failed IVF cycles, and AMA - the very patient set that CCRM and Cornell specialize in!!!!!!!! Maybe people with other issues use NC-IVF, but Dominion is definitely using it as a standard course of treatment for patients who meet the above criteria, in lieu of giving them the option to use standard IVF if they choose.

As to it being a "MUCH preferred" to standard stim IVF - speak for yourself. For me, I have all of the indicators for NC-IVF that Dominion targets (failed cycles, high FSH, AMA), yet I am not running to Dominion or even seeking NC-IVF as an option, as I have a PERSONAL preference to cycle at a clinic that specializes in those issues and uses a different approach.

This statement is silly. Are you really suggesting that Dominion does not give certain patients the option of regular IVF and instead forces them to do NC-IVF? This was not my experience at all.