GW MFA or CFA for IVF?
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Anonymous
| How did you all decide where to pursue IVF? I'm older and have correspondingly borderline numbers. The doctor at CFA (Butler) was laid back and inspired confidence. The doctor at GW MFA (Hum) was much more pessimistic and didn't make me feel like I could succeed. However, GW MFA is less expensive (by about $3000). I can't decide which office to go with. I know the numbers are what they are and sugar-coating won't change that. But I also think a positive outlook and hopeful attitude is helpful, too. But given that this is somewhat of a longshot, should I go with the less expensive clinic? At the end of the day, does it really matter which clinic I go with? Aren't they both capable and experienced? Help! |
Anonymous
| Do a search for Butler on this forum. First of all, he is not even board certified in Reproductive Endocrinology. Second, I as a gyn patient of his and after a few years of ok experience things went downhill in a significant way. I had to chase him for test results, he would talk to me without reviewing the chart and I had to remind him that I never had XYZ, it's the first time it turned up, stuff like that. The billing at the DC location is horrible too. If you decide on CFA definitely pick either Sacks or Abbasi. |
Anonymous
I appreciate your response, but Butler got my friend pregnant against all odds. I previously met with Sacks and found him to be smug and insulting. I realize this is probably a personal choice, but I'm struggling with the calculus of $ versus emotional factor. Butler makes me feel confident (likely colored by my friend's success), but MFA seems more precise and is less expensive. But MFA doesn't inspire success for me. |
Anonymous
| Could you talk to another doctor at GW? I worked with Dr. Frankfurter and really liked him. He has been around for a long time. May be worth a second opinion. |
Anonymous
| Going into my 4th OOP IVF cycle and I'd say go for the doctor/clinic you feel will give you the best emotional support, if it's between that and money and you feel confident that the technical care you'll get would be equivalent either place. $3K is pretty much a drop in the bucket compared to the overall cost of fertility treatments whereas the emotional factor is something that will only increase in importance IME as things drag on (although I hope for you, you get your BFP first round!). And I say this as someone who is not wealthy by any means, even by non-DCUM standards. Good luck to you, OP! |
Anonymous
I am the quoted PP. You can try Abbasi or Frankfurter at GW too, just for consults. At the end of the day, I would also take a hard look at success rates on SART.org for your age category. |
Anonymous
| Thanks, everyone! |
Anonymous
| Loved Hum. She was realistic, kind and thoughtful. I think GW consults with the whole team, so even if I used Dr. Hum, I'm pretty sure Dr. Frankfurter was involved too. |
Anonymous
| Dr. Frankfurter is truly amazing and I loved GW. I worked with Dr. Hum too during monitoring etc and think she is wonderful. If she was being "negative" it was because she was being realistic. |
Anonymous
|
Go for the clinic that will get the job done. Find the one that has the highest stats in your age group, and go there. (Barring special circumstances, like immune issues or endometriosis, where you want to seek out a specialty clinic.)
Do not worry about someone who makes you feel good. Go immediately to a place that can actually help you get pregnant. And the best way to figure that out is to look at the SART numbers. |
Anonymous
|
I am a current patient at CFA (Abbasi) though not for IVF -- for immune monitoring during pregnancy, which was accomplished via IUI with them. I find myself constantly remarking to my husband that I'm so glad I'm not doing IVF with them. It's like they're barely on the ball with the monitoring, which is bloodwork every couple of weeks and that's it, nothing too challenging. I have to chase them down every time for the results. I mean multiple calls to get the results that they are supposed to call me about! Half the time the results are in but the doctor doesn't read them for days. And this is while they are telling me how crucial it is to get the results quickly so we can make adjustments to my meds protocol if needed. It's very frustrating. Oh yes, and a couple times I came to the office for scheduled bloodwork only to be told they couldn't do it because the lab was closed. Why couldn't they have told me this by phone before I made the trek out there? It just feels very shoddy.
That said -- it's worked for me so I can't really complain about the results -- but it's way, way more hands on than I expected based on my prior experience with Shady Grove. On the other hand I did not have success with Shady Grove. And I have no idea what GW is like. But if you're with CFA, prepare to be extremely proactive, down to reminding them about tests they suggested, reminding/correcting them regarding your diagnosis, monitoring your own results (I had to point out that my TSH level was falling dramatically), following up on everything, etc. If you are ok with this, then go for it. I would not choose any differently since it's working for me. I just wish the process inspired more confidence. |
Anonymous
+1. You should want someone who's going to give you realistic expectations so you aren't completely let down at the end of the day. The doctors base your success rate off of proven data. Good luck! |
Anonymous
|
I liked GW because they are a non-profit and university. I felt I was getting research-based answers from them, very thorough, to all my questions.
Dr. Frankfurter was my RE. He's so wonderful... definitely a bit conservative, but that served us well in the end. Maybe meet with him and see what you think. Why was Dr. Hum pessimistic, btw? |
Anonymous
| I love GW. |
Anonymous
+1 to GW and Dr. Frankfurter. I also saw Dr. Humm for lots of monitoring and loved her. she was so patient and detailed in the monitoring appointments (much more than Dr Frankfurter or the other doctor). Whichever Dr you get, they discuss all patients every week, so you get their experience as a group. It took me a while, started at 37 and finally had my baby at the end of 39. Had multiple cycles, and Dr Frankfurter was willing to try different strategies to find the one that worked for me. He didn't color my view, was clear about percentages and so on, and I appreciated that. Personally I left Shady Grove (before even the first cycle) bc my Dr there (Dr Saffan at Annandale) was too positive for me, saying 'it will get done, we're going to get you a baby', I felt he was a bit maybe superficial. I had a couple of issues and I knew I wasn't an easy case. I picked Dr Frankfurter bc he has a reputation of not shying away from difficult cases. Shady Grove (at the time at least) had the reputation of a well oiled machine, working great if your case it's easy, but not so flexible with the protocols. I felt that the environment was positive at GW, even if the percentages were not great and they were clear about it. I don't have experience with CFA so I can't comment on that. Best of lucks OP! Whatever you decide I wish you the best. |