GW for second opinion-worth it?

[Anonymous]

Hello I am looking for a local (DC) second opinion, currently at SG. AMA, DOR. Is GW worth it for a second opinion? I have heard good and bad things about them and Frankfurter. I looked at their SART stats and they have such low numbers because they don't have that many patients. Which could be a good thing (not a factory like SG), or a bad thing (not much experience bc they don't do as many procedures). i've heard the embryology lab is just as important as your RE, and I'm also wondering about GW's lab since they just don't deal with as many patients. Can anyone offer any advice or insight here? I know I may eventually have to go out of state but I was wondering if it was worth it to get a second opinion locally. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello I am looking for a local (DC) second opinion, currently at SG. AMA, DOR. Is GW worth it for a second opinion? I have heard good and bad things about them and Frankfurter. I looked at their SART stats and they have such low numbers because they don't have that many patients. Which could be a good thing (not a factory like SG), or a bad thing (not much experience bc they don't do as many procedures). i've heard the embryology lab is just as important as your RE, and I'm also wondering about GW's lab since they just don't deal with as many patients. Can anyone offer any advice or insight here? I know I may eventually have to go out of state but I was wondering if it was worth it to get a second opinion locally. Thank you!

I'm just going through this for the first time, so I don't have a lot of experience, but I am a patient of Dr. Frankfurter and I like him very much. He is a thoughtful and thorough physician, and will treat you like a human being. You will have to wait a few months for an appointment, though. As for the lab, I only have my own experience to share: 3/4 of my retrieved eggs fertilized and 2/3 of those made it to day 5/6 for biopsy. So I think they were taking good care of my embryos. Unfortunately my eggs turned out to be shit, but that's not GW's fault. Again, I'm a first-timer, but I think Dr. Frankfurter's is one of the most qualified opinions available in this area. (I understand the other doctors in the practice - Dr. Humm and Dr. Lalwani (?) are also very good. You might have an easier time getting in with one of them.)

[Anonymous]

PP, what is your diagnosis/age if you don't mind me asking? And what did GW/Frankfurter suggest for protocol after none of your embryos implanted? Wondering if he's responsive and adjusting the protocol to your situation? I feel like my current RE made tweaks to my dosages but essentially has kept trying the same protocol repeatedly. Looking for a fresh perspective and someone who will think outside of the box and be up on the latest methods. And not give me the DE talk after 1 IVF.

[Anonymous]

Op - if you are looking for an RE who will think outside the box, mix things up, and isn't afraid to try new things, I absolutely think it's worth getting a second opinion from GW. One of the reasons their numbers are low is because they take on complex cases without blinking an eye and will really try to help you.

[Anonymous]

Yes! I regretted that I waited 2 years for a 2nd opinion. I also was at SG. The normal protocols failed and I developed lining issues after a D&C. SG told me I now needed DE & Surrogacy.

I went to a different practice (CFA ) and doctor gave me a totally different protocal. Voila! healthy embryos. The advice was also to wait a cycle then transfer as a FET to give my lining a chance.

MENTS

I got a BFP.
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SG isn't good with "out of the box" - it's fine for some people, if you are more complicated they immediately push DE. (Money maker, better stats...).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP, what is your diagnosis/age if you don't mind me asking? And what did GW/Frankfurter suggest for protocol after none of your embryos implanted? Wondering if he's responsive and adjusting the protocol to your situation? I feel like my current RE made tweaks to my dosages but essentially has kept trying the same protocol repeatedly. Looking for a fresh perspective and someone who will think outside of the box and be up on the latest methods. And not give me the DE talk after 1 IVF.

I am about 40. We have not transferred any embryos yet. I was a good responder in my first cycle, made a nice number of embryos, and hopes were high until PGS showed that all but one of them had chromosomal defects. I asked if we should try again and the doctor said it was very reasonable to do so. I think, in my case, it was not a matter of protocol, but just age. He is very responsive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP, what is your diagnosis/age if you don't mind me asking? And what did GW/Frankfurter suggest for protocol after none of your embryos implanted? Wondering if he's responsive and adjusting the protocol to your situation? I feel like my current RE made tweaks to my dosages but essentially has kept trying the same protocol repeatedly. Looking for a fresh perspective and someone who will think outside of the box and be up on the latest methods. And not give me the DE talk after 1 IVF.

I am about 40. We have not transferred any embryos yet. I was a good responder in my first cycle, made a nice number of embryos, and hopes were high until PGS showed that all but one of them had chromosomal defects. I asked if we should try again and the doctor said it was very reasonable to do so. I think, in my case, it was not a matter of protocol, but just age. He is very responsive.

Meant to say, my diagnosis before was unexplained; I had lost a few natural pregnancies for various reasons and then couldn't conceive anymore. Now I guess it's poor egg quality. But my doctor did not immediately jump to donor egg.

[Anonymous]

I would try Dr. Frankfurter. Call ASAP to try to get an appointment. He's a 2-3 month wait for the initial consult. He's very thoughtful and will truly take your case into consideration at every turn. It's almost like he takes personal pride in seeing his patients succeed. I was his patient and am now 11 weeks!

[Anonymous]

This is OP. Thank you so much to everyone for your feedback. I called GW and set up an appt with Frankfurter today- it's not until the end of August! But at least I'm on the calendar now. Thanks!