IVF Money Back Guarantee

[Anonymous]

Do you know of any fertility clinics that offer this?

[Anonymous]

Shady Grove offers a Shared Risk/Shared Meds program for those who qualify. You will find out all the information you need to know on their Web site.

[Anonymous]

I was in the shared risd with meds program at SG - it was great. I did three cyles there, all BFNs. I then got my money back (no questions asked, they mailed me a check in a couple weeks) and could use that money for a cycle at Cornell. I know GW has a "shared risk" program too, but they also have pre-cycle fees in addition to the cost of shared risk. Knowing that I could get my money back made the IVF process less stressful.

[Anonymous]

PP, It sounds like shared risk was a good deal for you, however only the best candidates qualify so many do not have this option. My husband and I opted for it and we got pregnant on the first cycle so we really overpaid. It's so hard to make the decision, but most clinics in our area offer this plan.

[Anonymous]

Question for poster 16:46...why were all 3 of your cycles under the Shared Risk w Meds program a BFN? I'm curious because SG usually accepts those with perceived good success rates (young age and good health) into the program. I guess I'm a little naive to think that most couples who utilize the Shared Risk program end up getting pregnant eventually. Do you mind sharing your story? TIA!
PS - I'm about to start my first round of IVF via SG's Shared Risk program and am freaking out whenever I hear BFN stories!

[Anonymous]

I am poster 16:46 and I started out in the regular shared risk program in May 2009 (there was no shared risk with meds yet). I looked like a great risk on paper -- age 32, FSH 9.3, AFC 17. In my first cycle I was put on long lupron and became over-supressed. Cycle was almost cancelled but I ended up with 7 eggs. I did a day 3 eSET and got a BFN. Second cycle we used anagonist (sp?) protocol to avoid lupron. THat cycle did not go much better -- 9 eggs, one embryo was left for a day 3 transfer. BFN. BEtween my 2nd and 3rd cycles, SG started the shared risk with meds program and I was the first to sign up. I had been spending $5,000/cycle on drugs and it was killing me. At this point we also started to research other clinics (CCRM and Cornell) and got the ball rolling to make an appt at Cornell. It took over two months to get an appt at Cornell so in the meantime we did a 3rd cycle at SG using Lupron stop. That cycle was a disaster -- 13 eggs but only 2 fertilized and 1 made it to day 3 -- BFN.

We then got our $$$$ back and switched to Cornell. Cycle there was like a dream. I was on EPP, responded well, had 13 eggs, 8 fertilized and 2 beautiful 8 cell embryos transfered. I got a BFP last week.

So that is my crazy story. That said, I do think what happened to me is somewhat rare. Usually younger women respond well and SG can get them pregnant. The way that Dr Frankfurter at GW explained shared risk to me is that it's like gambling -- the house always wins. On average, SG makes money off the program b/c most of the women get pregnant within two cycles. But if you end up being one of the unlucky ones, being in shared risk will be a godsend.

[Anonymous]

Poster 9:46 here....Thank you so much poster 16:46 for taking the time to share your story. You have no idea how much it has helped me! I am so thrilled that you finally got your BFP! And I agree that the shared risk with meds option is a Godsend. I don't know what we would do without it. Hopefully I'll end up overpaying SG by A LOT! I'm the same age as you with similar FSH and AFC so when I hear stories like yours, I get a little worried that I'll have tough time myself. But you have been so encouraging and I appreciate your candidness.
PS - What does EPP stand for? In case I need to be on the same thing!

[Anonymous]

Poster 16:46 here again. EPP is the estrogen priming protocol. I think Cornell developed thisprotocol, but G does use it on poor responders. My RE at SG did not want to use it on me because it only used it on women who produced very few eggs, which was not really my problem.

And yes, I would gladly have overpaid and gotten a BFP with my first cycle instead of having to go through 4 cycles!!!!

Good luck to you!!!!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Additional comment on EPP at SG. They do try and use other protocols before using EPP, as they consider it a protocol for poor responders. I am a decent responder and had to get BFNs on other protocols before my RE at SG would use it for me. It is very, very rarely the first protocol they recommend or the first they will let you try.

[Anonymous]

I have High FSH = 13 and am 33 years old. I have done 3 IVF's, had 2 BFP's but 2 early miscarriages. I am not really a poor responder as I have gotten around 5-7 eggs from previous IVF cycles. I am wondering if EPP is the protocol I should try next? Does anyone know if Dominion Fertility uses this protocol?

[Anonymous]

To the OP--I also did the Shared Risk/Shared Meds program at Shady Grove. It was a very positive experience. I wasn't super young either--I qualified when I had justed turned 37 and a previous BFN at another clinic (alhtough all my tests were normal). The first fresh cycle failed (chemical pregnancy) but now I'm pregnant with twins from the FET from that cycle. I couldn't be happier! I overpaid but believe me, the overpayment is worth it since I didn't have to stress about every penny that I was spending for office visits and meds since I already had put the money done and had a whole 6 FRESH cycles (AND the meds) ahead. I would do it again--as it really took the stress out of the financial part for me since I knew we'd get our money back if it didn't work. Good luck

[Anonymous]

I got pregnant from my first Shared Risk cycle at Shady Grove after 3 BFN's on IUI's / Endometriosis and nearly 2 yrs TTC. I am very happy that I had the shared risk plan even though I got pregnant on my first try. I know a PP mentioned that she "overpaid" but I don't feel as though I overpaid because I got pregnant on my first try. It was the best insurance policy I ever had.

[Anonymous]

We were at Columbia Fertility and were about to switch to Shady Grove for shared risk. Columbia did a shared risk for us - they don't widely advertise it. We had an early miscarriage/chemical pregnancy with the first cycle, a BFN with the frozen embies left over, and then a BFP with my twin boys - now almost 3 years old. It took so much stress out of it. My husband would say, "hey, we've got 5 more tries - it's going to work."

[Anonymous]

I'm in the middle of my first IVF with SG. At first we were going to gamble and not sign up for Shared Risk, but we ended up doing it once I really sat and thought about how much more stressful the first three months of any eventual pregnancy might be.... Any miscarriage (at 37, pretty possible) could mean we'd have to start over and the next cycle would be even more stressful. While the jury is still out as to how many cycles we'll need, Shared Risk is, for now, letting me sleep better at night. Sure, our kids won't be able to go to college but who cares about these details......

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm in the middle of my first IVF with SG. At first we were going to gamble and not sign up for Shared Risk, but we ended up doing it once I really sat and thought about how much more stressful the first three months of any eventual pregnancy might be.... Any miscarriage (at 37, pretty possible) could mean we'd have to start over and the next cycle would be even more stressful. While the jury is still out as to how many cycles we'll need, Shared Risk is, for now, letting me sleep better at night. Sure, our kids won't be able to go to college but who cares about these details......

LOL. I joke with DH about this all the time. I'm the above poster who was successful with the SG Shared Risk cycle #1 and we tell DD that she better be smart and get good grades in school b/c we spent her college money conceiving her. Of course she's only 4 months old so I won't tell her that when she's old enough to understand ... well, maybe. Ha.