Dr. Abbasi is my RE and the only RE in the area who believes in and will test you for immunology issues. By immune issues I mean TNF, NK and the full APS panel, plus she believes in other immune factors like HLA matching. Her office is the only one as well that will help you get IVIG and intralipids if you want to use it as part of your cycle. She will work with immune protocols from the Beer Center in CA and Dr. Braverman in NY.

She does not have the best bedside manner I agree, and with some of us RPL patients I feel like it would be nice. OTOH she's there to help you get and stay pregnant, not hold your hand. She was quick to push IVF on us when we could get pregnant easily on our own. She was good about not pushing me into a decision right away though so I was able to look at other options. I'm now almost 21w and she was part of the team that helped me get here and we did not need ART to do it.

I love Crystal, but their office isn't so great and their computers are always down (in Bethesda).

I'm a repeat patient of Dr. Abbasi's and think she is great. I met her at a Choice Mom's event as well and conceived my now 22 month old on my 3rd IUI.

I've since been trying for a sibling, and thus far have not been successful. Recently completed my first IVF and was disappointed in the results- but not her handling of my case. She's been very thoughtful in communicating, and has always responded to my emails and telephone calls very promptly. I often bring my toddler with me and she is very patient with his antics.

More recently I referred two other IF patients to her, also AMA and faced with secondary infertility. She's been willing to look at innovative approaches to their protocols. In comparison with other approaches at local clinics, I don't think you could find a better RE.

Anonymous wrote:I am a patient of Dr. Abbasi. I am 41 years old. I am curious to know what protocols worked for ladies over 40? I have no known condition except for my age. Thanks!

It really depends on how you respond to the meds. I have had 3 succesful IUIs out of 5 (alhough 2 ended in miscarriage) and then 1 successful IVF, but that ended in miscarriage also. I am an ok responder, considering my age - just not staying pregnant. We tested one miscarriage and it came back normal, meaning no genetic abnormalities. But, that doesn't mean the other miscarriages were normal, My only issue is age, too and I completely feel that my miscarriages are age related. But, I have hope that it will happen for me and feel fortunate that I can get pregnant in my 40's.

There is a lot of Abbasi bashing - but I think she knows what she is doing. She is very abrupt, can come off as very condescending, and I wish she discussed things with me more, but in the end none of that makes a difference, esp. for someone like me that doesn't have any bigger issues that require more sophisticated protocols. Plus, her Behtesda office is close to me and that makes a huge difference when you have to keep going in for monitoring. The odds are against us btu I am giving it one more shot! I wish you the best.

I am a patient of Dr. Abbasi. I am 41 years old. I am curious to know what protocols worked for ladies over 40? I have no known condition except for my age. Thanks!

ITA with the PP -- I have PCOS and, at the time of TTC, also had stage IV endometriosis and other assorted issues. Dr. Abassi told me the truth, treated me like an intelligent person and, ultimately, helped me to have my two children.

Dr. Abassi is an ultimate professional and one of the best in the business. If you want to get pregnant, use her as your doctor. Like others have said, she's direct and tells you like it is. And when I miscarried on my first attempt, she was extremely kind and supportive. If you want to talk about cold and calculating - go to Shady Grove Fertility in Bethesda. They have a "baby factory" approach and dismiss complaints about it saying, "It won't matter once you are holding your baby." Well, it does matter all along and we've been extremely please with Dr. Abassi at both her ability to produce results and her bedside manner. I have a beautiful one-year-old son because of her and am about to continue my family.

I am currently a patient of Dr. Sacks and I really like him and think he's a friendly guy, BUT he is too quick to chat about off-topic subjects (the last concert he attended, stuff like that) before he is sure that you have had all of your questions answered. Meanwhile, I met Dr. Abbasi at a seminar for Choice Moms and I thought she was great -- yes, she was straightforward and direct, but that is exactly what I want. I don't care about her musical tastes -- I want to know what she thinks of my situation and what her recommendation is. She seemed a bit surprised that Sacks hadn't explained a few things to me. Bottom line: I just did my second round of IUI with Sacks, but if it's not successful, I am going to switch to Abbasi for IVF.

Anonymous wrote:
I don't think CFA uses vitrification to freeze embryos, which can be crucial for some people who don't produce high quality embryos. Greater chance of embryos surviving thaw if vitrification is used.

CFA freezes all day 5 embryos using vitrification and has for at least the last four years. Soon, if not already, they will be freezing day 3 embryos that way as well.

I have found that success with CFA depends on which doctor you have and what your particular situation is.

Our infertility issues were very straight forward and CFA did not come through for me. I did 2 IVFS with them. However, I'll always wonder if Sacks or Abbasi was my doctor if the outcome would have been different. Rifka is most definitely old school, but very nice. His protocols seem to work 60% of time and he's at the end of his career, made his money, drives his bentley to work, I don't think he's that interested in new technologies or protocols. Rifka is great, but if you fail once with him, go get a second opinion elsewhere.

I went to an out of state clinic and got pregnant on my first IVF attempt and have 5 embryos in the freezer. I never had more than 3 to freeze at CFA and only 1 survived the thaw when I did do a FET.

I don't think CFA uses vitrification to freeze embryos, which can be crucial for some people who don't produce high quality embryos. Greater chance of embryos surviving thaw if vitrification is used. Also, CFA doesn't offer IMSI or PICSI, which are also crucial for those with sperm issues.

CFA's lab does do assisted hatching. They did it with us.

I'm another first round IVF success with Dr. Sacks at 40+! I tried elsewhere for 7 months before I had success with CFA. Please don't buy into the nonsense that the lab is outdated. Each case is individual. Go with the doctor you like!

Anonymous wrote:One very important thing no one here has mentioned is that LAB quality is extremely important... more important than the doctors or bedside manners or protocols which all doctors in the US have access to. I think CFA has a mediocre lab -- small, not equipped to do more complicated procedures (one example -- assisted hatching in non-frozen embryos which all other labs in DC and NY and CO do). If you're not a complicated case, or you are young, I think they'll be fine but otherwise I'd say go elsewhere. BTW -- I loved Rifka too but I think he's a bit old school. Charming but old school. Good luck!

A complicated case is not the same as doing some of the more complicated procedures. Signed a patient rejected by Shady Grove who had first round success with Dr. Sacks. High FSHer, advanced maternal age.

One very important thing no one here has mentioned is that LAB quality is extremely important... more important than the doctors or bedside manners or protocols which all doctors in the US have access to. I think CFA has a mediocre lab -- small, not equipped to do more complicated procedures (one example -- assisted hatching in non-frozen embryos which all other labs in DC and NY and CO do). If you're not a complicated case, or you are young, I think they'll be fine but otherwise I'd say go elsewhere. BTW -- I loved Rifka too but I think he's a bit old school. Charming but old school. Good luck!

I had same experience as 11:32---I really like Abbasi. But I can see where some might find her abrupt. I do a lot of reading/research on my own and am very pro-active about asking questions. She has always been patient and responsive.

I'm surprised too. That was one of the first tests Sacks said we should do.