CCRM Marketing

[Anonymous]

Welcome to the real world PP, it's never been fair! And for all those that thought the ACA would improve things it hasn't, pretty soon all healthcare will be available only to those that can pay out of pocket.

[Anonymous]

What is up with all the mean in this thread?

[Anonymous]

I cycled at Shady Grove and CCRM, and did local monitoring at both Dominion and CFA. I found CCRM to be light years ahead of these local clinics. I do believe that the lab is superior, and CCRM is expensive in part because it has its own research operation, which enables it to operate on the leading edge of new technologies. However, I think the real difference is in plain old medical management. I actually think the doctors at Shady Grove are pretty decent. I liked Widra a lot. However, CCRM did so many little things differently from Shady Grove--more monitoring, blood tests throughout the first trimester to check progesterone levels, more individualization. All those little things can make a big difference at the margins. Also, the entire organization is very systems-driven and efficient. They track and monitor tons of patient data in almost-real time, which enables them to quickly see patterns in terms of what works and what doesn't. The only thing I've seen that could arguably inflate CCRM's numbers (though not impermissibly) is the fact Schoolcraft definitely encourages women to transfer two embryos, even after genetic testing because this does increase the odds of clinical pregnancy. That said, I did elective single embryo transfers because I was afraid to carry twins. After pushing back, even as he appeared to do my transfer, Schoolcraft did defer to my decision.

For what it's worth, after failing at Shady Grove, I had multiple successes with my own eggs in my 40s at CCRM. Yes, it cost me a life-changing amount of money, but it was so, so worth it for me.

Is it possible that CCRM had a crazy employee at one point who resorted to improper use of internet forums? Sure. Does that diminish CCRM's excellence? Not in my mind.

[Anonymous]

19:45 Thanks for this. It's a clear-eyed explanation, much needed in this forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:19:45 Thanks for this. It's a clear-eyed explanation, much needed in this forum.

sock puppet 19:45, hey there

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I cycled at Shady Grove and CCRM, and did local monitoring at both Dominion and CFA. I found CCRM to be light years ahead of these local clinics. I do believe that the lab is superior, and CCRM is expensive in part because it has its own research operation, which enables it to operate on the leading edge of new technologies. However, I think the real difference is in plain old medical management. I actually think the doctors at Shady Grove are pretty decent. I liked Widra a lot. However, CCRM did so many little things differently from Shady Grove--more monitoring, blood tests throughout the first trimester to check progesterone levels, more individualization. All those little things can make a big difference at the margins. Also, the entire organization is very systems-driven and efficient. They track and monitor tons of patient data in almost-real time, which enables them to quickly see patterns in terms of what works and what doesn't. The only thing I've seen that could arguably inflate CCRM's numbers (though not impermissibly) is the fact Schoolcraft definitely encourages women to transfer two embryos, even after genetic testing because this does increase the odds of clinical pregnancy. That said, I did elective single embryo transfers because I was afraid to carry twins. After pushing back, even as he appeared to do my transfer, Schoolcraft did defer to my decision.

For what it's worth, after failing at Shady Grove, I had multiple successes with my own eggs in my 40s at CCRM. Yes, it cost me a life-changing amount of money, but it was so, so worth it for me.

Is it possible that CCRM had a crazy employee at one point who resorted to improper use of internet forums? Sure. Does that diminish CCRM's excellence? Not in my mind.

Could you please elaborate specifically:
1) how is the lab superior? have you been there? Is there more equipment than other clinics, equipment is newer, they have more PhDs per square foot? What does superior mean exactly?
2) what were the extra test other than progesterone? How many times did you test progesterone at SGF vs CCRM? what else was included in "more monitoring" that lacked in other clinics?
3) Track/monitor data - SGF does the same as well as research which they actually publish in scientific peer reviewed journals.

Unless you can answer with specifics rather than glossy brochure general sentences, you have contributed exactly nothing to this discussion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Could you please elaborate specifically:
1) how is the lab superior? have you been there? Is there more equipment than other clinics, equipment is newer, they have more PhDs per square foot? What does superior mean exactly?
2) what were the extra test other than progesterone? How many times did you test progesterone at SGF vs CCRM? what else was included in "more monitoring" that lacked in other clinics?
3) Track/monitor data - SGF does the same as well as research which they actually publish in scientific peer reviewed journals.

Unless you can answer with specifics rather than glossy brochure general sentences, you have contributed exactly nothing to this discussion.

NP. Not keen on your tone but I'll try to answer what I can. I cycled at CCRM back in 2009, and I obviously don't have my records here handy at work. I should add that I was not successful at CCRM but would still recommend it, or another out-of-state clinic, because my experience tracks that of the other PP. It was more thorough, more tailored.

CCRM has you go out for a full one-day work-up where they do a ridiculous amount of testing. The only ones I recall off the top of my head that they did that SGF didn't do were AMH, MTHFR and uterine doppler to test for blood flow. My blood flow was showing on the weak side, possibly due to prior uterine surgery, for which they recommend a particular acupuncture protocol. Since my blood flow was borderline, I was told I could do it or not at my discretion. I also was found to have a homozygous MTHFR mutation, which can mean that your body doesn't metabolize/process folic acid correctly. I was put on Folgard and then when finally pregnant (from a different out-of-state clinic) my homocysteine levels were tested by an MFM in case I needed further medication (Lovenox, etc.). At my other out-of-state clinic as well as CCRM, both progesterone and estradiol levels were checked with each beta, and meds adjusted if necessary, whereas they weren't checked at SGF.

As far as the lab, Dr. Schoolcraft himself gives credit to his lab and embryologists. They were the pioneers of microarray testing, weren't they? I know my other out-of-state lab (ORM, or as I like to call it CCRM lite) does the CCS (comprehensive chromosome testing) in-house whereas SGF sends it out. Other out-of-state labs are similarly doing unique things (i.e., Cornell and it's co-culture).

Finally, when I was at SGF, I was put on the microdose lupron protocol, which was developed by, wait for it, Dr. Schoolcraft at CCRM.

I don't know if this answers your questions, but hopefully it gives someone out there some food for thought.

[Anonymous]

Plot twist: OP is the rogue CCRM employee

[Anonymous]

After failed local IVFs, it is so tempting to jump on a plane and bankrupt myself at CCRM trying to bring our baby to fruition. I do believe they are the gold standard because they do more R&D arguably than any other clinic in the world. But the bill for that is fronted by its patients. And yea, they have great success rates, but a significant percentage of people still fail. Then what?

It's insane to me that I can literally jump on another plane, fly the opposite direction and buy someone else's DNA for a fraction of the cost and have better odds of bringing home a baby. A baby that is just as much mine as a biological one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After failed local IVFs, it is so tempting to jump on a plane and bankrupt myself at CCRM trying to bring our baby to fruition. I do believe they are the gold standard because they do more R&D arguably than any other clinic in the world. But the bill for that is fronted by its patients. And yea, they have great success rates, but a significant percentage of people still fail. Then what?

It's insane to me that I can literally jump on another plane, fly the opposite direction and buy someone else's DNA for a fraction of the cost and have better odds of bringing home a baby. A baby that is just as much mine as a biological one.

12:40 here. I really struggled, and am still struggling, with the financial aspect of it, as well. I spent several years and a ridiculous amount of money cycling, none of which was covered by insurance. Instead I could have flown to RBA in Georgia and for $16k (I think?) come home with a baby who'd have that extra money for college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After failed local IVFs, it is so tempting to jump on a plane and bankrupt myself at CCRM trying to bring our baby to fruition. I do believe they are the gold standard because they do more R&D arguably than any other clinic in the world. But the bill for that is fronted by its patients. And yea, they have great success rates, but a significant percentage of people still fail. Then what?

It's insane to me that I can literally jump on another plane, fly the opposite direction and buy someone else's DNA for a fraction of the cost and have better odds of bringing home a baby. A baby that is just as much mine as a biological one.

12:40 here. I really struggled, and am still struggling, with the financial aspect of it, as well. I spent several years and a ridiculous amount of money cycling, none of which was covered by insurance. Instead I could have flown to RBA in Georgia and for $16k (I think?) come home with a baby who'd have that extra money for college.

I'm really sorry you didn't have success with CCRM. Thank you for sharing your story. Being that I am from Colorado, I really considered CCRM but what I want most is to be a mom and if I cycled with CCRM and it didn't work out, then I wouldn't have money for the things you cited and more. That isn't worth it to me. Wishing you all the best!

[Anonymous]

Wait a minute -- OP posts an item with no support accuses CCRM of doing improper marketing on the internet. And stays on this thread with unusually harsh words for this forum.

OP probably works for a local clinic -- some of whom have been reputed to post here!

[Anonymous]

12:40 - You really never know. Donor eggs are supposed to be the magic bullet, but it turns out that for some people they are not. I am on my 4th DE transfer now, with light immune treatment, and hope that this one will work....

[Anonymous]

I think OP is unfortunately just a really sad woman who has had a horrible time dealing with infertility and she's taking it out on CCRM. We've all been there to one extent or another.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think OP is unfortunately just a really sad woman who has had a horrible time dealing with infertility and she's taking it out on CCRM. We've all been there to one extent or another.

Yep, totally been there. This infertility shit is the worst.