Let's Talk About Fertility Doctors
One thing that no one told me when I started on my infertile path is that, for the most part, most infertility doctors are guessing when they start working with you. There are countless protocols and since every woman's body is different, they throw a protocol at you and see how it works and go from there. It can be a financially devastating 'guess.' My IVF journey started in Southern California, which offers a plethora of Fertility Clinics.
My first RE, whom I call "Dr. Spock" for his cold, unempathetic manner, told me after the first unsuccessful IVF that the procedure "really didn't count" because in retrospect he should have waited another day for egg retrieval. He was surprised that I responded so well to the drugs at my age. Hmmm, I had my records that showed I responded well with low levels of clomid, but what did I know, I was just a stupid patient. And by the way Dr. Spock, if that IVF didn't count, why did you keep your fee?
The sting I will never forget was when my ex was accusing me of 'milking it' when I explained that all the drugs and hormones were affecting my moods. I thought this was a well known, medical fact so for back up I brought it up with the RE in front of my fiance. He dismissed me curtly and coldly by saying "that's something you should bring up with your therapist." My fiance gave a "yep I knew it" snort and shook his head. From then on, I was not given any slack for anything my body was going through - even when my estrodial was over 7,000 and I had a chemical pregnancy. Dr Spock discounted any emotional effects of the IVF process forever more.
Dr Spock didn't even acknowledge that I had a chemical pregnancy when I registered a "9" on my first beta, which dropped for the next blood test. It wasn't until the last RE my ex and I worked with 11 months later who explained that yes, indeed, numbers over a 5 indicated that implantation had started. I had indeed suffered a very early miscarriage. He explained that Dr. Spock didn't count it because for his clinic to get credit for it as a positive it needed to be over 15 - a change from several years ago where a positive pregnancy hgc level counted at anything over 5.
I started shopping for a new RE and met with one well-known "expert" who seemed burned out and bored, but probably knew his stuff. Due to this clinics awesome statistics we went with them, or I should say almost went with them. After all the tests and being on the pill for two weeks my fiance cancelled hours before I was to begin stimulation. This week marks the 2 year anniversary of that cancellation. I will always believe that IVF would have been successful. Our child would now be 17 months, but I digress . . .
Another RE that I interviewed alone started out our conversation pushing me on PGD testing. I know this is controversial, but what I could not get over is when I looked at his statistics I noticed his pregnancy rate dropped significantly in relation to his use of PGD rose. Since then, more and more I have heard skeptics point out to PGD testing being a money making 'experiment' that does not improve pregnancy outcomes. I couldn't get out of that office fast enough.
Obviously not all REs are bad, but I do wonder if Reproductive Endricronology attracts a different kind of person - a person more focused on making money - lots of unregulated profit. Why is IVF so much less expensive in other countries? I believe it's because no one is fighting to make IVF more affordable so the doctors and clinics can name there price for all the desperate people that are emotionally shattered and willing to do anything. Since our insurance company's have very little involvement in infertility, no one is looking at the cost of these procedures and saying "Hey, that is outrageous!"
So that is my bitch session about infertility doctors for now - tell me some of your experiences and complaints!
