any experience with natural cycle IVF at Dominion (or Dominion in general)?

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have experience with natural cycle IVF at Dominon Fertility or any opionions on Dominion Fertility in general?

We have Shady Grove twins and would like one more baby. We're male factor only (as far as we know) and it seems like Natural Cycle IVF
would be an option.

thanks so much!

[Anonymous]

I originally wanted to go with natural cycle (we have unexplained infertility, I am 32) and had consults at Dominion with Dr. DiMattina. I really did not like him, and in the end we switched to GW, where we will do regular IVF if the IUIs don't work. I found Dr. DiMattina to be really dismissive of me and my concerns about ICSI - when I said I was concerned about the safety of ICSI, he said "well I am the doctor and I say you have to do it". I almost burst into tears at the office. Ironically, in the end we may end up doing ICSI at GW, but at least they were willing to talk through my concerns. Also, I found the Dominion office to not be that well organized and the staff to not be that helpful. But I have read some good things about Dr. Gordon on this board - so maybe he is better. Also, I found the waiting room full of baby pics to be manipulative, but maybe since you already have kids that won't get you as upset. Good luck to you!!!

[Anonymous]

I could not DISAGREE with the PP more. Yes, Dr. Dimattina's bedside manner leaves a lot to be desired, but he is an awesome doctor in the IVF field with years of amazing success pioneering new techniques. His partner, Dr. Gordon is much more of a hand-holder if that's your thing. For me, I was looking for a doctor to say "this is what you need to do and here's how we do it." I didn't want or need all the touchy-feely stuff. FWIW, Dr. Gordon visited me every week while I was on hospital bedrest for 12 weeks.
The office staff was the most responsive, friendly and compassionate group I have seen to date. They were so organized that I always knew what to expect and when.
And best of all, I saw my doctor EVERY day. Besides blood draws, the docs did all my scans. You do not get that level of service at very many Infertility Clinics in this area.
If you need a softer personality doc, see Dr. Gordon, if you want a hard-as-nails, I get shit done and I can TOTALLY get you pregnant because I am awesome then see Dr. DiMattina.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I could not DISAGREE with the PP more. Yes, Dr. Dimattina's bedside manner leaves a lot to be desired, but he is an awesome doctor in the IVF field with years of amazing success pioneering new techniques. His partner, Dr. Gordon is much more of a hand-holder if that's your thing. For me, I was looking for a doctor to say "this is what you need to do and here's how we do it." I didn't want or need all the touchy-feely stuff. FWIW, Dr. Gordon visited me every week while I was on hospital bedrest for 12 weeks.
The office staff was the most responsive, friendly and compassionate group I have seen to date. They were so organized that I always knew what to expect and when.
And best of all, I saw my doctor EVERY day. Besides blood draws, the docs did all my scans. You do not get that level of service at very many Infertility Clinics in this area.
If you need a softer personality doc, see Dr. Gordon, if you want a hard-as-nails, I get shit done and I can TOTALLY get you pregnant because I am awesome then see Dr. DiMattina.

I love your input here. I am too seeing Dr. D for natural cycle, and although people keep talking about his bedside manner, I dealt with a different ferility doc before who may as well, just pulled my amex and had a good ole time with it, cause thats all he was after. Dr. D is very VERY straight talking, but I find it comforting as he is confident he can get me pregnant, which after all is why I went there, not to make a new friend. Finally, he has been great about answering ALL my questions regardless of how insignificant they may seem to him... I like him, and so does my hubby.

[Anonymous]

Dominion Fertility is the best place around the DC area. They have the best results. Ask them about their numbers. If success is what you want I'd go there. I've had 2 children through this practice. My main RE was Dr. John Gordon and he is THE BEST. I've heard Dr. Dimattina is a little harsh, I think it has more to do with his ego. He is the best at what he does. These 2 doctors and this practice are GREAT at what they do---getting women pregnant. Their staff is TOP notch. Nurses are kind and careful and very patient. I beleive they treat you with great respect and form a lasting relationship with you.
If you want success, you should go to Dominion. I didn't consider any other fertility clinic in the DC area, because I had so many neighbors and friends and friends of family that had sucess there--that's all it took for me.

[Anonymous]

I've been a patient at both Shady Grove and Dominion (Dr. D). Shady Grove is such a factory compared to Dominion. And they don't yet have a natural cycle option. If you can do IVF without all those risky hormones, why not give it a shot?

Having said that, I remember reading an old post on this forum where someone said that Dominion transferred 6 embryos. If that is true (and maybe I misunderstood), then they shouldn't be in business. There's never any excuse to take that kind of risk.

[Anonymous]

Dr. Gordon rocks! He is definitely a hand holder and held my hand when I needed him to.

[Anonymous]

I am the poster who stated that I had 6 embryo's transferred with Dominion and none took. I was 41 years old at the time, and already had one failed IUI and one failed IVF. The first IVF only resulted in 2 3-day embryo's. The second IVF ended it 11 5-day blasts. Dr D and I discussed the fact that he has not had a woman over the age of 40 have more than twins in the past 5 years, even if he transferred more than 3. This, of course, is due to my age and the fact the odds were against me. That said, was I nervous, hell yes! But I realized that hopefully one or two would stick but none did. None of my extra 5-days made it to freezing.

I believe Octo-mom had all of her eggs fertilized when she was much younger than 30 and had been frozen waiting to be used. From what I've read on SART and other sites there should not be more than 3 transferred on patients younger than 35.

I did trust Dr. D and I would trust him again. He is very straightforward and doesn't coddle you. I've thought about going back but finances have prevented me at this time. I may consult with him to see about natural cycle IVF though.

Best of luck to you. You won't know what you think until you have a consult and hear what the RE has to say.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have an update on Dominion's natural cycle requirements (age and FSH)? I read that they had changed them, but don't know if that's true.

[Anonymous]

I actually just met with Dr. Dimattina a few weeks ago and we discussed his "New Hope" natural cycle IVF. The new requirements are listed below and I found them through his "Thinking Outside the Box" post on facebook. http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=52491304510&ref=mf

Candidates for the Dominion Fertility New Hope IVF Program:

Age: Less than 60 years old and in good health
Menses: Must have regular menstrual cycles
Day 3 FSH: Not restricted
Previous IVF: Patients may have previously failed IVF or have been told that they are not now a candidate for stimulated IVF with their own eggs.

I have been through 3 IVFs and if our FET cycle does not produce a BFP I think the natural IVF cycle will be our last shot before adoption or DE.

[Anonymous]

Kind of random, but since most of you have gone to Dominion...do you know if they take cervical cancer survivors? I'm a year and half out of my surgery and both my OB/GYN and oncologist believe I may need assistance getting pregnant, but I'm no longer someone who can risk a multiple birth. I really liked the sound of the natural IVF. Just wondering...I'm going to try to set up an appointment with them, but thought I'd ask you all first. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

PP - thanks for the link to the Dominion New Hope program. I'm not sure I'd want to pay $4000 (plus meds) for a 5% chance of success, but I guess its nice that the option is available for those who would!

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure if Dominion's post was stating that everyone who does this has only a 5% chance of succeeding. I think it indicated the two people who tried and had chemical pregnancy's both had their own issues and had a 5% chance.

Anyway, does anyone know if the $4,000 cost includes ICSI or Assisted Hatching. AH is pretty standard for women over 40, and ISCI is determined by the RE. If it doesn't include either, you are looking at another few thousand dollars here.

[Anonymous]

The $4000 does include ICSI. Because they only get one egg, they automatically ICSI it to maximize fertilization. I believe AH would be extra.

(We had a consult about natural cycle last month).

[Anonymous]

thanks for the info about the ISCI. I think I'm going to make a consult to see about Natural Cycle too.