15:25: even if your consult was with Gindoff, it was possible dr f would have done your procedures. They switched, but dr f always did more that I noticed. Go where you are comfortable but I wouldn't let which doc you saw first matter...dr g was our consult, but after having dr f do my procedure, I was very pleased and liked him way more

CFA in general is pretty bad with billing but I wouldn't make that the determining factor in my decision. Agree with PPs that Dr. Abbasi is very thorough--much more so than the doctors at SG, who don't seem to want to work with any case that's at all out of the ordinary.

Is the CFA Bethesda office also bad with respect the billing dept? I was a GW patient and Brian was the best ever. I was there before I moved on to IVF. I did my first IVF at SGF and am now contemplating whether to move to CFA. I hadn't really considered going back to GW given all the changes they have recently had there plus my doc was Gindoff and he is no longer there anyway. However knowing how stressful IVF is, I'd hate to walk into a mess on the finance front since I am using insurance and if CFA Bethesda is as bad as you all are saying maybe I should reconsider???

Catherine?
I liked her, but I have a very strong personality and we got along. I don't really gel with the sweetie pie nurses who say everything is roses and cupcakes (because lets face it, they aren't). I can definitely see someone not liking her personality...but she's a great fertility nurse. Knowledgable and hardworking.

Anonymous wrote:There is a Nurse at GW who is the pits her name is Cat everyone else is great

Wow, you and I are the only ones who think this of her. I totally agree with you thought. But every time I post my misgivings about her, everybody else leaps all over me and claims she is sweet as pie.

I went to Abassi at CFA and had no success. Moved on to GW. They seemed really good at dealing with AMA. I got pregnant on my first cycle with GW. Dr. Frankfurter was fantastic. He even called me on Thanksgiving (three days after my transfer) to see how I was doing. He was always available via email to answer my questions and was quick to reply. When I finally delivered my baby he sent flowers. Sure, the flowers weren't necessary, but it certainly felt that I was more than just another patient.

GW OB and GW Fertility are totally separate outfits. Different admin staffs, different docs, different nurses. I've gone to both. It's night and day.

I met with Dr Abbasi this morning. She is thorough indeed. I have 6 IVFs under my belt, 2 with SG. SG is way too pushy with their DE program. I wish I had met with Dr Abbasi sooner.

Never been to GW.

One more + for Dr Abbasi is that she works with immune issues while SG and most other REs do not have a clue. I did two cycles with Braverman and am looking for local alternatives. Again. wish I had met her sooner. I want to find out more about the DE program at CFA. SG will not treat my immune issues if I did DE with them and that makes me feel uncomfortable.

GW fertility and GW OB are very different. Fertility staff are on top of things - financial people are amazing, and one less stresser is great. Most nurses are great and the care is very individualized. I love me GW OB but the standards, and needs, are different between the two departments.
Tip for GW OB...M St. Waaaay better

Very bad experience at SG. Excellent experience with CFA. We worked with Dr. Sacks. He is great. We now have twins. A friend was at GW. She gave them mixed reviews, although she was successful. I went to an OB at GW, and based on that experience I would stay away. (Always waiting for appts, support staff is terrible).

I had a great experience at GW with Dr. F. Got pregnant on my first IVF after two failures at SG. Going back for #2 now.

Nurses there were great too and finance is on top of it.

I have moved on to adoption, but I recommend Abbasi- I was at CFA for years. Did not like GW. Never been to SG.

I'm in a similar situation except I have been to all three (SG; GWU; and CFA) and have been treated at two (SG and GW). Regarding GW: Gindoff was my doctor. I did six natural (with HCG trigger) ultrasound monitored After the sixth cycle - he said we need to move on to IVF as something else is going on. he was adamant that given my stats (lining; follie size; and hormone profile) - clomid was not an option for me. Interestingly he never mentioned injects. Advantages of GW is that monitoring is pretty efficient and their finance dept (Brian) is absolutely amazing!

So with that I went to SG - and did one clomid +FSH TI cycle. Results were for the most part exactly the same as my natual cycle except with no CM. So I was done. Decided to do an IVF cycle with them given their success rates (plus GW was in a state of flux as Gindoff had just left). Cycle was a BFN - although again - everything was perfect (embryo fert; blast development etc.)

So now I am on break and actually just went to see Abbasi. first I will say I really liked her. She is thorough! And her disposition is awesome. She said that at CFA - your doc does all of your treatment and makes all of your treatment decisions throughout your cycle. I went to speak with her about immune issues. Until we figure out if immune testing will be covered, she has ordered a series of tests (Thrombophilia panel; cardiolipin etc.). She said based on those test results we will determine the course of action.

So here I am. Trying to decide what to do for my next cycle (IVF in August). Debating between SG or Abbassi. I may do one more SG cycle but if that doesn't work then will definitely move on to Abbasi. The only thing is that I have heard their finance team is not that strong.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Columbia was awesome, especially Dr. ABASSSI and nursing staff. I am a mom of 3 year old triplets .

Wouldn't most doctors consider this an IVF failure?

I'd prefer the IVF "failure" of triplets to my big, fat 2 IVF failures of empty arms & empty bank account!

Why not just have an appointment at both and see which you're more comfortable with?

I had success with GW and loved my nurse and Dr F. But I also know someone who had success at Columbia and we were similar cases. Everyone is different and you're likely to trust your gut reaction to the appointment. So if you have the time to go with that, why not?