I went to Cornell and thought they were way too much like factory. Felt they paid a lot of attention to my protocol up front but then forgot me after I got started. Everyone was fairly nice... But they missed some key aspects of my stimmimg that made me miss my chance. I was completely frustrated at my experience there. I had Spandorfer. Maybe Davis is better. But with AMA and DOR, they switched me to estrogen antagonist ( or something) and I finally made a ton of eggs. Then they Didn't do ICSI on any and none fertilized. Why didn't they suggest or consult and discuss with me maybe doing half??? I felt like they followed their " phone script" and missed the individual review on me and that was my last shot.
I would go to CCRM but at the end of day, u gotta be on them about everything and be Your own best advocate. All the big shops are like factories.
I got pregnant with Levens and had great experience. I did end up doing donor egg. Never ever thought I would even consider it. I think with enough time might have had success at CCRM, but couldn't go thru it anymore.
Anyhow-- if u have chance at own eggs and 42 or less, try it. But donor At shady Grove was good experience.

Anonymous wrote:Ok I'm leaving Shady Grove and going for a second opinion. I'm 39 with normal AMH and all other numbers but Dr Levens says I behave like I have DOR. Husband has slightly low morphology. 3 IUIs, 1 cancelled IVF, 1 IVF retrieval with 4 eggs but no embryos. Just started supplements waiting for next cycle. Dr says we can try again in 6-8 weeks and do a low stimulation protocol but if that doesn't work, time to move on to DE. In my situation would you recommend Cornell, CCRM, or SIRM for a second opinion? CCRM definitely has the best stats but it's a long way to go. Thank you so much!

I pretty much had the same experience as you at SG, except my husband has very poor morphology. Check out Dr. Sherbahn at AFC Chicago.

Moving away from Shady Grove is the right thing to do. They're not even that good at donor egg, they just have a very large program and good guarantee, but the stats are average and some years below average.

Thank you all! OP here. I have a phone consult with Dr Davis at Cornell and also at SIRM. I guess I'll see what they say and go with my gut. I guess I don't mind Cornell being a factory if they know what they're doing like a PP said. SG has just disappointed me so far.

For one of the PP's, SIRM is Sher Institute for Reproductive Medicine. Not at all "shady" that it is not affiliated with a hospital: most aren't. CCRM is not: locally, SG, DF, and CFA are not.

I would put it up there -- right below CCRM and Cornell. For me, it was at the top, since Cornell is not at all open to immune treatment. CCRM is a little bit open: they would do prednisone, but not much more.

Cornell feels like a factory because of the large number of patients, but the very careful monitoring/adjusting of protocols by the REs (they all meet everyday to review cases from what I understand) feels very personalized. It's not like they have 5 options they pick from - there is very careful fine tuning of stims, meds, etc. And my RE was much more accessible via email - even though I didn't necessarily see him often in person.

But I wouldn't go there for a first cycle. You might get lost or miss something. Definitely helps to have cycled before.

Anonymous wrote:PP 18:03, thank you. I am definitely getting away from my local clinic here in DC. I just don't know if I should go to another "factory". Cornell sounds like Shady Grove, which is where I'm at, and they are definitely a factory with huge numbers of patients. I wonder if Cornell would offer anything different then?

Cornell's operation makes Shady Grove look small, so it is hard to get away from it being a factory. However the factory aspect never bothered me because my nurses were great, everything was really well run, I believe in Dr Davis, the numbers and process, and I got a BFP. In contrast, my local clinic (not shady grove, but I cycled with shady grove before) was small and while my dr had a great bed side manner, the operation sucked. So I guess I'm ok with a factory that seems to know what it is doing, versus a more 'touchy feely place' that is not up to the job.

Yes, I stayed in NY during my treatment at Cornell- it was a choice I made rather than commuting back and forth. I rented an apartment through VRBO, it was great! Co-culture is where they take a biopsy scratch from your uterine lining and use this as culture for your embryos to grow in. I believe they say it helps the quality. I am AMA, DOR, and low AMH. You go a month or so before your IVF cycle to have this done and they also take a few vials of blood. You will see might and day difference in Dr. Levens and Dr. Davis.

PP 18:03, thank you. I am definitely getting away from my local clinic here in DC. I just don't know if I should go to another "factory". Cornell sounds like Shady Grove, which is where I'm at, and they are definitely a factory with huge numbers of patients. I wonder if Cornell would offer anything different then?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Consulted only with Dr Davis at Cornell...never met him in person...but he was so great on the phone (nice, knowledgeable). I don't know if he/Cornell really have the magic touch, but I got BFP on my 2nd IVF there, which was my 8th IVF overall (if counting FET and cancelled cycles). I have DOR in mid 30s. Basically kicked out of my local clinic and told to go to DE. So I'm a believer in getting away from local clinics if you have a hard case.

I'm a little confused. How did you cycle with Cornell if you never saw Dr. Davis?

Did all my consultations with him over the phone and then when I was in New York for cycle he was never the doctor checking follicle counts/retrieval. Cornell is a factory. Every morning there were like 50 to 100 people getting blood work and ultrasound. At my first retrieval there were like 20 of us. Maybe 12 on the second. Some people do not like that aspect of it. Then again, there were literally people coming from all over the world for treatment.

I do not live on the east coast if that gives you a sense of my willingness to travel to see Dr Davis and my feeling it was worth it.

16:45 and 16:10 - I am the other Levens DE speech poster. It is really odd that he's moving to this so much now. Perhaps they want better SART stats.

16:45 - With whom is your SIRM consult? And is it by phone or are you going there in person? I'm planning to call tomorrow to see about seeing Dr. Dicken.

OP here no worries! Yes I can't believe there are so many on here who are seeing Levens and getting the DE speech! I just set up consults with Cornell and SIRM and am excited and hopeful for the first time in weeks.

Hi I'm 14:51. Sorry to make confusion.. I just couldn't believe there's so many of us on the same board who have had the same experience with the same doctor. That is a red flag to me.

Thank you, OP. I've been taking ubiquinol since mid-April even though he said it wasn't necessary. I also did DHEA but stopped it after my first cycle, which was cancelled. Didn't take it for my next cycle, for which I just got a BFN. I too am moving on from him.