Where to go - SGF or elsewhere?

[Anonymous]

I'm searching the archives, but also wanted to see if there is any current feedback. We just passed cycle 6. DH has low testosterone and his primary just wrote him a referral for a SA and recommended Shady Grove. I see the WHC Midwives for GYN care and don't have fertility coverage currently, so will do as much preliminary testing as possible coding it as irregular periods until I can switch insurance plans in January. Should we go to SGF or try somewhere else? GWU maybe? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm searching the archives, but also wanted to see if there is any current feedback. We just passed cycle 6. DH has low testosterone and his primary just wrote him a referral for a SA and recommended Shady Grove. I see the WHC Midwives for GYN care and don't have fertility coverage currently, so will do as much preliminary testing as possible coding it as irregular periods until I can switch insurance plans in January. Should we go to SGF or try somewhere else? GWU maybe? Thanks!

You're going to get a lot of different perspectives on this forum. I had a good experience at SGFC (saw Dr. Widra) and while I was older and we had MF issues, too, was lucky to have two successful pregnancies (1st try for DC1 and 3rd try for DC2).

SGFC is convenient with multiple locations, it was covered by my insurance, and there are a lot of good docs there - I saw Widra but liked several other doctors who I met along my treatments. The nurses are okay, some definitely better than others. And, ultimately, I got pregnant and when the second time around I had trouble with my first cycle, Widra was able to try different meds/approaches that resulted in my second pregnancy. But there's not a lot of hand-holding at SGFC. Widra was great and very supportive, but he is not touchy feely.

And YMMV - I think the recommendations for other clinics come from people who either felt like SGFC didn't work for their particular infertility issue or that SGFC was too "factory like". I can understand the latter sentiment to some degree though again, ultimately have two kids thanks to them. For me, out of town travel and limited locations locally were non starters.

[Anonymous]

I had a decent experience with them, even if they are on the cautious side. I saw Dr. Nair. I'm at a different clinic now but it's because I want to try a natural cycle.

[Anonymous]

1 fresh cycle and 2 FET. Fresh cycle - DD1. 1st FET - miscarriage at 7 weeks and success with 2nd FET resulting in DS.

You will get a lot of naysayers about SGF but not from me as I have 2 babies from them and they actually diagnosed me with endometriosis.

[Anonymous]

3 babies from SG (one set of twins). I also saw Widra and echo everything PP said.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't because I felt SG was too factory-like. They were well-run, I loved my nurse and I liked my dr, but they just didn't know what to do with me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't because I felt SG was too factory-like. They were well-run, I loved my nurse and I liked my dr, but they just didn't know what to do with me.

+1 to this. Started at Shady Grove and left because it was a factory and felt like I was too complicated for them. Having a much better experience at CCRM Northern Virginia.

[Anonymous]

I went to SGF and had a very positive experience with my RE (Dr. Chang) and had 2 kids after 2 IVF cycles and one FET.

[Anonymous]

I went to SGF and I have one child and one on the way. I liked them and think that they are very efficient and are easy to access.
The downside is that it does seem like a factory. There is limited personal interaction with the Doctor. It will work really well if you have a good nurse but the second time around my nurse was not that good, always out of the office, and she messed up the scheduling for of my IUIs. This was quite upsetting. In the end if you need convenience and if they are covered by your insurance I would still go with SGF. You just have to be proactiive. I actually suggested a change to my protocol and my doctor was supportive and I got my BFP!

[Anonymous]

There will be numerous perspectives on this site. And largely the response you'll get will depend if SGF worked for you. I had a good experience as did my friend. We are both over 40 and had healthy babies because of SGF. The lab at Shady Grove is excellent and the practice is well run. In my experience the doctors are willing to experiment with protocols and they discuss your case during meetings to get a collective recommendation. But it is an institution; the good is that there is a deep bench of experience; the bad is that the waiting room can feel like a cattle call.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, all. We booked the appointment at SGF, so will give it a shot. Good to go in with reasonable expectations, so I appreciate the feedback. - OP