Help finding compassionate OB (preferably in DC)

[mhyrrbabe]

I've been trying to conceive since May 2006 - I have not been ovulating regularly since 2003, and my Georgetown OB spent less than 5 minutes explaining to me why and sent me to Shady Grove. The thing is, my blood tests at Georgetown and Shady Grove both showed normal levels for thyriod and FHS - and I can't get either my Georgetown OB or Shady Grove to talk with me about other reasons I may not be ovulating regularly. The Shady Grove doctor told me all my temperature charting and cervical fluid-checking (from TCOYF) was pointless and that I had a problem that could only be treated through hormones - (never mind I can't figure out which hormones he means...)

In the meantime, I started seeing an acupuncturist, and have had two cycles (37 days each - great for my history).

Can anyone recommend a solid OB who is sensitive to fertility/conception issues but won't ship me off immediately to a fertility clinic?

[Anonymous]

My 2 cents: I would suggest you read the books "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" and "Resolving Infertility". They both have discussion of anovulation and possible causes. Both also go in depth in explaining your entire cycle and the hormones that your body produces throughout your cycle.

[Anonymous]

OP - after two years why resistent to fertility specialists? I agree w/ PP the books are great but in my experience traditional OBs are not the best chioce if you do have to have close monitoring - albeit there may be the rare occassion.
OBs have an area of specialty which tyically extends to obstetrics and gynecology - the nuances of infertility are often not their area of expertise although most are knowledgeable. There are many cases where the diagnosis for infertility are undetermined even after going through a specialist.

As someone who waited longer than I feel I should have b/c I did not want to jump the gun, I would gather all the resources you can but if you have been trying this long and and your OB has no useful answers for you, you might want to consider a fertility clinic after you read through the books and wait a comfortable time.

If for whatever reason, (morally/financially) you are opposed to a fertility clinic I have heard positive things about the GW group -? Larson?. My DC practice is no longer doing OB patients. Good luck

[Anonymous]

Has your husband's sperm been checked? Even though it is obvious that you have problems with your cycles, his spermies could be contributing to the problem. You might as well make sure they aren't the problem before you spend thousands seeing a fertility doctor.

[Anonymous]

I futzed around with my OB on clomid for several months. As soon as I finally let him send me to a specialist I realized I should have done that some time ago. My regular OB didn't monitor me the way he should have. Not that this is necessarily typical but my specialist got me knocked up in one month. See Dr. Safa Rifka. Not necessarily the most compassionate Dr but he's serious about getting the job done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has your husband's sperm been checked? Even though it is obvious that you have problems with your cycles, his spermies could be contributing to the problem. You might as well make sure they aren't the problem before you spend thousands seeing a fertility doctor.

I agree. This is relatively inexpensive, and male factor infertility is the cause of more than 50 percent of all infertility cases. You can have it done at Shady Grove or through your husband's primary care provider.

good luck to you.

[Anonymous]

You have been TTC for almost 2 years, I really think you should go to a fertility specialist. OBs, compassionate or not, are not the proper professional to be assisting with fertility issues (one of which is irregular ovulation). You didn't describe exactly what your conversations were with Shady Grove, so I don't know if you have explored the route of seeing an RE, but I would try it again. I have had too many friends rely on their OB for ferility issues when they should have seen a specialist. One ended up having male factor problems, which was only discovered after years of trying with her OB, taking clomid, doing other tests, and no one thought to test her husband. Another spent 2 years with her OB until she finally went to an RE, who monitored her and recommended a round of Clomid with IUI, she got pregnant on first try. An RE can try to get to the heart of the matter, they may not be touchy feely and super personal, but they are in the business of getting women pregnant, where as an OB isn't specialized. Good luck to you, sending you well wishes.

[Anonymous]

Just a note re: expenses - I have had 3 insurance plans while going through RE - all actually would cover the testing so it is not necessarily an added expense for that phase.

[Anonymous]

my ob-gyn Dr Bruce Bonn (DC) specializes in infertility. I didn't have issues getting pregnant so can't speak to how he manages them specifically but he is excellent generally - very sympathetic and on top of everything. He only keeps patients through first trimester - so i just recently had to leave for rest of pregnancy but will definitely go back for regular gyn care.

[Anonymous]

I agree that after 2 years you should not feel the least bit of hesitation going to a specialist. I don't know where you live, but we went to Dr. DiMattina at Dominion Fertility in Arlington and got pregnant on our first treatment with him. He and Dr. Gordon and the entire staff were compassionate and answered every question we had and did a great job.

[Anonymous]

I love Dr Bonn. I left him for Foxhall because of insurance, but he's excellent.

[Anonymous]

I agree that you should go to a fertility specialist - I saw Dr. Sacks at Columbia Fertility (successfully so far, knock on wood - in my first trimester), who I highly recommend. I too was not ovulating properly. But, I also highly highly recommend my OB - Dr. Nancy Sanders - who diagnosed my infertility issues almost immediately after I started TTC and who is very compassionate on this stuff.

[Anonymous]

Dr. James Simon at 19th &M. Excellent and compassionate.

[Anonymous]

If you are still considerning Shady Grove, I would wholeheartedly recommend Stephen Greenhouse - he is incredibly knowledgable on infertility and paitent and kind. He works out of their Annandale and Fair Oaks offices so it may be a bit of a hike, but he is worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:my ob-gyn Dr Bruce Bonn (DC) specializes in infertility. I didn't have issues getting pregnant so can't speak to how he manages them specifically but he is excellent generally - very sympathetic and on top of everything. He only keeps patients through first trimester - so i just recently had to leave for rest of pregnancy but will definitely go back for regular gyn care.

I'm a former patient of Dr. Bonn's. I LOVED him as a gyn, but definitley would not recommend him as an infertility specialist. First of all, he doesn't do anything beyond infertility testing and Clomid, so if that doesn't work, you still have to find another doctor. Secondly, he is only in the office part-time, which doesn't work at all for infertility, when you need constant monitoring. Rather than knowing what was going on and instructing me, I had to constantly call him/his nurse and let them know what they had already done and what then needed to be done for the next cycle. It was extremely frustrating at the time that I felt like no one knew what was going on. He had me do 3 cycles of Clomid, during which, I never ovulated, then told me since Clomid didn't work I needed to move on to an infertility specialist for IVF (he advised me to skip injectibles and go straight to IVF).

Despite his referral to the GW practice, I went to Shady Grove b/c I've known so many people who were successful there. Dr. Osborn of SG did comment that the patient history chart Dr. Bonn sent over was very detailed and all of my testing was complete, so we were able to begin treatment right away. However, she said if I didn't ovulate at all on Clomid the first time, it was pointless to have tried again. Also, she advised us to try injectibles before IVF. We did and I got pg on the first cycle of injectibles. I wished I had gone straight to Shady Grove instead of putzing around with Dr. Bonn.

I've heard some people complain that SG is like a "factory." I thought Dr. Osborn was very compassionate, however, I can see how people think the practice is like that. They do have the best success rates of any fertility clinic in the area, and are considered one of the best in the nation. When you have your last appt. and "graduate" from SG to your OB 6 week pregnant, you won't care how compassionate they were.