Lessons Learned
Find a clinic and doctor you are comfortable with.
Research and go to your visits prepared to ask questions.
Use resources available to help understand the process and financials.
Our first experience would have been more comfortable if we had armed ourselves with more information.
THEN
We dipped our toe in the infertility battle field 5 years ago. We had been trying to conceive naturally for almost a year. After a brief consultation with my OBGYN, we proceeded to the RE he recomended with the optimistic send off of "See you in a couple months when you're pregnant".
NOW
I'm tired of waiting and ready to take this journey by the horns with as much control as possible. I reasearched RE's online within a 100 mile radius. I read reviews from patients, purused their websites and researched statistics. We settled on a clinic less than 30 minutes from our home. The location was a perk, but we chose it based on the fit with our personality. From the initial phone call it felt different than our first experience.
THEN
We ventured to an affluent part of town and made our way into a luxury office building. Seated across a large desk from the doctor, we sunk into a couch that was designed to make you feel weak. In this principles office atmosphere the doctor assured us of his years of experience then ordered us to stop all drinking, wear boxers and purchase a laundry list of supplements. My husband, who was in good physical shape, was questioned about prior steroid use and met with skeptasism when he denied ever using them. Having received the results of our tests indicating male-factor infertility, Seth was made to feel like he had done wrong something to land us in this predicament.
NOW
Our new clinic is in a modest office building near where we used to live. Our consultation was held in a conference room around a 4-person table with the Doctor and Physicians Assistant. This path feels like a colaborative journey rather than a prescribed catalog of treatment.
THEN
We were told to do three rounds of IUI and move to IVF if we didn't have any luck.
NOW
Our test results and options were explained to us and we were asked how we would like to proceed and what questions we had to help with the decision.
THEN
I had insurance coverage but didn't know anything about the required qualifications to use the infertility coverage and this clinic wasn't helping with the navigation.
NOW
Before my first visit, Spring Creek connected me with fertility lifelines. They reviewed my insurance covereage and then called me with step-by-step instructions on qualifications. This service helped me feel informed and in control. On a follow up visit Spring Creek connected us with a financial counselor to help us understand all the costs. At no point were we made to feel like these are services we can't afford as the financial review is standard at the practice.
We have not yet received any treatment at the new clinic. Our IVF cycle is scheduled to start in 2 months. Every step of the process this time has been more comfortable and empowering than the path we took in 2012. Not because the clinic we chose is better, but because it is better for us.