Importance of success rates?

SLPMel

As we are trying to figure out what our next steps are, we are definitely looking for a new clinic (#1).  We have the option of staying with the same over calinic, but changing branches(#2).  We have the option of switching to a new clinic, but staying in the same area(#3).  We also have the option of going to pretty much any clinic of our choosing and having it covered-we could do monitoring in our area, and ER/ET in another state-we have been thinking about SIRM in NYC (#4) and Braverman on Long Island (#5)

 

So we look at success rates for my age range:

#1- 42.4% of transfers result in live birth

#2- 50.6%

#3- 54%

#4-  54%

#5-??

The craziness is I really thought my original clinic was one of the best in the area-and it was surprising to see they were lower than others.  

Sher and Braverman have the ability to treat immunologic aspects of my care-which we aren't sure are there, but could be.  

How much would success rates impact your decision?  How much should I put into the immunologic aspect and be willing to travel if the success rates aren't significantly higher-but could be for me?

Any advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciated!!

GenRN45

success rates were very important for me in choosing REs. We were fortunate that the RE we fell in love with also has the best success rates in our area (>50%) for my age and our diagnosis.

njohnson1972

I think that is just one factor.  I also consider the style of the clinic.  Some clinics boast better numbers because they are selective with their patients.  I tease my RE that I am not helping their SART numbers.  But I am glad that he is willing to try with me.  Some clinics would not treat me due to my FSH levels.

I think it is important to have a consult with the clinic/RE and not just look at the numbers.

Cost was also an issue for me since we were 100% OOP.

Faith722

While I see the importance of success rates and definitely used that info as part of choosing and RE, keep in mind that statistics can be skewed.  So much depends on the type and difficulty of cases and who's being included/excluded.  At the end of the day, the only success rate that matters is yours.  I think it's important to see a doc you trust and who has experience with your issues. 

GenRN45

njohnson1972:

  I tease my RE that I am not helping their SART numbers. 

OMG - i did that too after IVF #1. 

He told me he was more concerned about getting me pregnant than he was about the numbers he had to report. 

Nature Lover

for me it has been a HUGE issue.  But I am new to this. I am doing all the diagnostics at a clinic that is covered by my insurance but after our first visit found out their success rates aren't as good as some other sin our area. I was already thinking of changing, but have now had some not so great experiences where I'm at (feeling like a #, poor bedside manner, etc.)  I think it has to be a careful balance of success rate and feeling comfortable where you're at.  I told DH yesterday taht you HAVE to trust your RE b/c no matter how much we read we will enver know as much as he does so if we don't feel comfortable with who we're with, we need to think about switching so taht we DO trust what our RE is telling us.

I'm a numbers girl so the stats are huge (I am going to ask my RE how they get their number and if they refuse patients who are more "difficlut" cases).

mdluv21

The RE I went with had the second highest rate in our area but the RE himself (or herself) was just as important to me.

I wanted one I would see at most, if not all visits and the larger clinic with slightly higher success rates, I knew I would only see the doctor for ER/ET and then it might not even be the same doctor.

Because we are OOP I also opted for the clinic that offered a shared risked program.

kthappy76

I didn't look at success rates at all until we decided on IVF, then we went with the clinic in our area with the highest rates (>50%).  We have only one covered cycle, so we figured it's all in (and we're just sucking up the longer drive).  I'm confident that the clinic is not just turning away hard cases, but actually has better quality control and embryology.  I've been very impressed with them overall, and especially when I compare them to my previous clinics.  GL!

sweetky_06

njohnson1972:

I think that is just one factor.  I also consider the style of the clinic.  Some clinics boast better numbers because they are selective with their patients.  

Absolutely this. My RE does not have the best #s but the clinic and staff "fit my style". Now of course, we will seek a second opinion when that time comes, but I am happy with where we are now.

esperanza123

If I were in your shoes, I would look to choose the clinic/RE that could best deal with/has experience with our diagnosis. I love SG, but if we had a more particular diagnosis I would have weighed going elsewhere.

SLPMel

esperanza123:

If I were in your shoes, I would look to choose the clinic/RE that could best deal with/has experience with our diagnosis. I love SG, but if we had a more particular diagnosis I would have weighed going elsewhere.

Right now our most significant dx is MFI.  I have endo, but not severe.  SIRM said I should be tested for immune issues, but SG didn't test at all for it (and a lot don't!).

I have thought about switching to Rockville because I really think part of the problem was our actual clinic.  A lot of people have been very happy with Rockville-and we've heard more and more that weren't with our branch.

SLPMel

Thanks ladies for all your input-definitely gives me something to think about!  We want to do it right-it's just trying to figure out what makes it "right"!

lisaiesha

My SIL is an OB and has also gone through IVF. She told me to look at the clinic's average number of live births per cycle. It should be between 1 and 2. Anymore than 2 and they are bordering on being irresponsible (the goal of IVF is to have one live birth per cycle). Also, make sure the lab/clinic is a member of SART.

Jackie2200

I hope you don't mind me posting (I still feel that IF is my home board) but IMO, success rates are just part of it. 

My clinic has some of the lowest success rates in the area (about 33%) but I went with them b/c I liked the RE.  I also liked that I didnt feel like a # there.  Every RE in the practice knew me.  REs did all ultrasounds 9not technitions) and I could email my RE any time with all sorts of crazy questions and he would reply. 

I also liked their philosophy in that less medication is better....they didn't haveme take BCP before IVF b/c they wanted to have me meet their schedule.  They came in on 4th of July weekend with all smiles b/c it was my CD2.  I also liked that they started everything on CD2...I thought that I was getting more chances...I also felt that there was less of waiting game to get started when AF came since once she showed, you went the next day. 

I also liked that they would rather take the time to see if they could find a cuase of our IF instead of just giving me lots of drugs and hoping for the best.  I went through every test in the book and then some but I never worried about blocked tubes or endo, etc.   

My RE says that their goal is to help every couple, not just the ones that are the most likely to succeed.  

Definitely go with the person you feel most comfortable with.  Good Luck!

 

SLPMel

Jackie2200:

I hope you don't mind me posting (I still feel that IF is my home board) but IMO, success rates are just part of it. 

My clinic has some of the lowest success rates in the area (about 33%) but I went with them b/c I liked the RE.  I also liked that I didnt feel like a # there.  Every RE in the practice knew me.  REs did all ultrasounds 9not technitions) and I could email my RE any time with all sorts of crazy questions and he would reply. 

I also liked their philosophy in that less medication is better....they didn't haveme take BCP before IVF b/c they wanted to have me meet their schedule.  They came in on 4th of July weekend with all smiles b/c it was my CD2.  I also liked that they started everything on CD2...I thought that I was getting more chances...I also felt that there was less of waiting game to get started when AF came since once she showed, you went the next day. 

I also liked that they would rather take the time to see if they could find a cuase of our IF instead of just giving me lots of drugs and hoping for the best.  I went through every test in the book and then some but I never worried about blocked tubes or endo, etc.   

My RE says that their goal is to help every couple, not just the ones that are the most likely to succeed.  

Definitely go with the person you feel most comfortable with.  Good Luck!

 

Thanks so much-can I ask where you went?

Jackie2200

Hey..I didn't realize you were in MD.  Sorry that you have to deal with all this! 

I went to Johns Hopkins.  Seems that EVERYONE goes to Shady Grove but I just didn't feel all that comfortable there.  Good luck!!

SLPMel

Jackie2200:

Hey..I didn't realize you were in MD.  Sorry that you have to deal with all this! 

I went to Johns Hopkins.  Seems that EVERYONE goes to Shady Grove but I just didn't feel all that comfortable there.  Good luck!!

Thanks, we are going to the Fertility Center of MD for our second opinion-but I'm so happy to hear about your success with Hopkins!  We may also get another opinion depending on what FCOM says!

lenebene

I know your experience wasn't great with SG but I think it's the clinic and the doctors you went to.  Depending on the office I go to, I feel the same way.  They actually do test for immune issues, as I'm going through them right now since my FSH is extremely high and I'm only 29.  I also feel their numbers aren't as great because they have shared-risk, which most places don't.  Some clinics are also VERY selective and only treat patients that fit into a certain criteria, which gives them higher numbers.  I would rather work with a clinic that has lower numbers but is willing to work with my issues.  

Every clinic has their share of success and horrid reviews based on the internet/friends/etc but you are the only one that can determine if you are happy.  I feel the internet doesn't always help with this.  I have read wonderful things about SG/Hopkins, Fertility Center, etc but I have also read just as much horrible things.  

I wish you good luck in your second opinion! 

 

SLPMel

lenebene:

I know your experience wasn't great with SG but I think it's the clinic and the doctors you went to.  Depending on the office I go to, I feel the same way.  They actually do test for immune issues, as I'm going through them right now since my FSH is extremely high and I'm only 29.  I also feel their numbers aren't as great because they have shared-risk, which most places don't.  Some clinics are also VERY selective and only treat patients that fit into a certain criteria, which gives them higher numbers.  I would rather work with a clinic that has lower numbers but is willing to work with my issues.  

Every clinic has their share of success and horrid reviews based on the internet/friends/etc but you are the only one that can determine if you are happy.  I feel the internet doesn't always help with this.  I have read wonderful things about SG/Hopkins, Fertility Center, etc but I have also read just as much horrible things.  

I wish you good luck in your second opinion! 

 

Um, they "surprised" us with a major surgery on my DH two days before our ER and then never used the sperm and can't tell us what happened to it, I was grilled by a RE about what was the big deal about discarding 2 or 20 embryos a day before my ER and I had to explain our religious beliefs and why I felt that having 30 embryos was a big deal to me, and now they haven't given me my medical records even though I've requested the information on my IVF cycle twice.  This isn't the Internet-this was my personal experience.  Our experience wasn't just "not great" it was horrible and quite possibly harmful in putting my DH through a surgery that they can't tell me what happened with the sperm-just that nothing was frozen and they only used what they found from him sample the day before. 

I'm glad you are having a good experience with them-I really hope for your sake, you continue to have a good experience because I wouldn't wish what happened to DH and I on anybody. 

Thanks for letting me know you've read horrific things about all the other clinics as well.  Would you pass them on to me or PM me with links, because I've yet to read any reviews on them and would love to read positive and negative reviews of them.

 

lenebene

SLPMel:

lenebene:

I know your experience wasn't great with SG but I think it's the clinic and the doctors you went to.  Depending on the office I go to, I feel the same way.  They actually do test for immune issues, as I'm going through them right now since my FSH is extremely high and I'm only 29.  I also feel their numbers aren't as great because they have shared-risk, which most places don't.  Some clinics are also VERY selective and only treat patients that fit into a certain criteria, which gives them higher numbers.  I would rather work with a clinic that has lower numbers but is willing to work with my issues.  

Every clinic has their share of success and horrid reviews based on the internet/friends/etc but you are the only one that can determine if you are happy.  I feel the internet doesn't always help with this.  I have read wonderful things about SG/Hopkins, Fertility Center, etc but I have also read just as much horrible things.  

I wish you good luck in your second opinion! 

 

Um, they "surprised" us with a major surgery on my DH two days before our ER and then never used the sperm and can't tell us what happened to it, I was grilled by a RE about what was the big deal about discarding 2 or 20 embryos a day before my ER and I had to explain our religious beliefs and why I felt that having 30 embryos was a big deal to me, and now they haven't given me my medical records even though I've requested the information on my IVF cycle twice.  This isn't the Internet-this was my personal experience.  Our experience wasn't just "not great" it was horrible and quite possibly harmful in putting my DH through a surgery that they can't tell me what happened with the sperm-just that nothing was frozen and they only used what they found from him sample the day before. 

I'm glad you are having a good experience with them-I really hope for your sake, you continue to have a good experience because I wouldn't wish what happened to DH and I on anybody. 

Thanks for letting me know you've read horrific things about all the other clinics as well.  Would you pass them on to me or PM me with links, because I've yet to read any reviews on them and would love to read positive and negative reviews of them.

I'm so sorry about your horrible experience.  I wish you the best in the future.  Yes, I'll PM you the other reviews... 

lenebene

One question, which SG office did you go too?  I know every office has different doctors.  

SLPMel

lenebene:

One question, which SG office did you go too?  I know every office has different doctors.  

I am very specific about not wanting to talk badly about a clinic because I do know that for every bad experience someone has a good one.  When I talk about it-I don't even put in the clinic because I wouldn't want to sway someone from going and having a good experience with them.  I do know it seems like people have had positive experiences way more at other branches-and I've said that in previous posts.  It's also why I've thought about switching to another branch (thus putting it in the original post). 

We just know going back to our original clinic is completely out of the question for us-especially now that we've seen the poorer success rates and gotten (in our opinion) substandard care.  Because of the closeness-and we loved our nurse, and even liked one of the doctors-we would have loved to continue with them.  

lenebene

I understand.

I sent you an PM.