Alternatives to SGF

Anonymous
We just completed our first cycle with SGF and I'm not thrilled with them so I'm looking for alternatives. I have PCOS and respond well to Clomid and Femara.

Does anyone know of any good groups or doctors that I should look in to?
Anonymous
People here like Dominion and Georgetown. I used Shady Grove, so no experience other than them. Can I ask what you did not like?
Anonymous
We had a horrible experience with SGF. We ended up switching to VCRM and had a very good experience with good results.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:We had a horrible experience with SGF. We ended up switching to VCRM and had a very good experience with good results.


This is a more detailed version of our experience. From 2/24/12 at 17:04
http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/218986.page
Anonymous
OP Here: We haven't had a horrible experience by any stretch with SG but I'm frustrated by the lack of information/education they provided throughout the process. I don't want this thread to turn into a "why I don't like SGF" because that's certainly not the case. It just became apparent that I was being pushed through the system with little to no education on what was happening or why unless I asked the question multiple times.

And because I have PCOS, it's only a matter of getting me to ovulate. Because they do things the way they do them with no flexibility, I have to pay $1800 just to ovulate.

So those two things combined lead me to want to see what else is out there that might be a better fit.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:OP Here: We haven't had a horrible experience by any stretch with SG but I'm frustrated by the lack of information/education they provided throughout the process. I don't want this thread to turn into a "why I don't like SGF" because that's certainly not the case. It just became apparent that I was being pushed through the system with little to no education on what was happening or why unless I asked the question multiple times.

And because I have PCOS, it's only a matter of getting me to ovulate. Because they do things the way they do them with no flexibility, I have to pay $1800 just to ovulate.

So those two things combined lead me to want to see what else is out there that might be a better fit.


SG has a pretty cookie cutter approach. And that works for most women - enough that if you need something changed in your protocol, you really have to advocate for yourself. My wife worked with them a few years ago, but we moved on to Cornell.
Anonymous
I had PCOS and also started out with SGF.
I now have a beautiful child thanks to DF.

I was one and done with SG-they are awful.
Anonymous
If all you need is Clomid or Femara and a trigger shot, call around to ask about pricing at other places. It will depend on your insurance. I switched from SG to CFA. Letrozole (Femara) and a trigger shot at CFA ran me about $115. I also had an IUI for $500. Those were the only out of pocket costs as my insurance (federal BCBS) paid for monitoring.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:If all you need is Clomid or Femara and a trigger shot, call around to ask about pricing at other places. It will depend on your insurance. I switched from SG to CFA. Letrozole (Femara) and a trigger shot at CFA ran me about $115. I also had an IUI for $500. Those were the only out of pocket costs as my insurance (federal BCBS) paid for monitoring.


I wish this was the case for me. My insurance covers nothing so it's less about medication cost than it is about all the monitoring.

I think a earlier poster nailed my feelings on the head: SGF is a cookie cutter approach w/very little customization from patient to patient. That's my struggle. Not sure if others have felt the same about all fertility clinics?
Anonymous
I'm at GW and love it.
Anonymous
GW! I worked with Dr. Frankfurter and have a beautiful 18 month old. I am also gearing up for an FET.

I truly love him and everyone at that practice. I have heard great things about Dr. Humm as well and loved her during monitoring.

Dr. Frankfurter can be a very long wait to get in and see, so I would try to get on his schedule ASAP while you work out transferring over your information. I could not recommend him more!
Anonymous
I completely understand the sentiment. I switched from Dominion to SG after two cycles and remember thinking that I was really happy to have started at Dominion b/c SG would have been overwhelming and I think I would have been unhappy. I am now happy at SG - the protocol worked better for me and I have enough background to feel comfortable asking questions and pressing on issues of concern. I'm not at all knocking Dominion - I've done several consults and each had a different recommendation about how to proceed, but I ended up feeling comfortable with the protocol SG recommended at my consult with them and it turned out better than my prior 2 cycles, although still not successful (I'm over 40, so the odds aren't in my favor).
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:GW! I worked with Dr. Frankfurter and have a beautiful 18 month old. I am also gearing up for an FET.

I truly love him and everyone at that practice. I have heard great things about Dr. Humm as well and loved her during monitoring.

Dr. Frankfurter can be a very long wait to get in and see, so I would try to get on his schedule ASAP while you work out transferring over your information. I could not recommend him more!


Agree with all of this. But if you want to start sooner, I'd just get on Humm or Lawani's schedule. All three of them meet each week to discuss cases and decide on treatment options. They are all great to work with.
Anonymous
PCOS here too and I had to use SGF because lack of sperm.

You just need clomid to ovulate - you can get your OBGYN to do that for you.

$5 script with insurance

Take it on the 5th day of your period.

Use the ovulation kit - have sex when you see the smiley face for three days.

With PCOS you should be preggo within 6 months and if not then go to another fertility clinic.

SGF treats their patients like crap. So many women tolerate it because they are "desperate" - no woman needs to be treated that way.

Anonymous
I also did my first cycle with Shady Grove and was disappointed with the process and their prescribed protocol.
I switched to Dr.Abbasi at Columbia Fertility and my first cycle with her was successful. This was 4 years ago.
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