XP: (Former) CCRM Patients Please Come in

km0426

Hi everyone, I usually post on IF but popped onto this board looking for some input from CCRM patients. DH and I have had 3 failed IVF cycles and are trying to determine our next steps going forward  We are completely OOP for fertility treatments and drugs and we have been getting a great price for IVF with our current RE in Chicago.

We had a phone consult with Dr School.craft at CCRM this morning and are trying to decide whether we should go there for IVF#4 or if we should continue with our current RE. The CCRM RE had some interesting thoughts on how he would proceed with us if we cycled there and we aren't sure if our current RE will be open to implementing any of these approaches.

I am looking for input from others who may have had a similar situation - was it worth going to CCRM (CCRM would be about 3x the price for us compared to what we are paying now)? Did it make the difference for you? Were you happy you decided to go to CCRM? If you were an out of state patient did you get a break at all on the IVF package price if you did not do your monitoring at CCRM?

TIA!

CJB8

I went to CCRM after 2 failed fresh cycles locally and after my local RE told me to use donor sperm or adopt.  He said we were done trying to have biological children.  It absolutely was worth going to CCRM as you can see by my siggie.  Our first cycle was successful at CCRM and resulted in my daughter.  We went back to try for #2 which took a bit longer (3 frozen cycles).  We only transferred one at a time for #2 so that is partly why.  I did get pregnant on the first try for #2 but it resulted in a miscarriage.  Oddly, I had a clotting disorder which likely caused it but we didn't know.  Fortunately, Schoolcraft figured it out before we continued on.  I am extremely happy with our choice to go there.  I have zero complaints and I can't say anything negative about CCRM. 

You don't get a break on the price since you do have to do some monitoring out of state. 

Dr. Schoolcraft is absolutely amazing.  I can say only positive things about him.  I was really afraid when ttc #2 that he would be against us transferring one at a time but he absolutely respected our decision.  He would tell us each time his suggestion to do 2 but totally understood!!  

I have a blog www.frenchfamilyjourney.blogspot.com that I have written in since the beginning if you want to read more about it.

good luck on your decision!  I know how hard it is to take that jump to go there.  If you have any questions, let me know!

 

howleyshell

I'm not a CCRM grad but I'm currently donating an egg (today actually) for a study they're doing on eggs quality over 40.

I'm a HUGE fan of Schoolcraft and actually got all fan-girl when I got to meet him a month or so ago for my intake screening into the study.

CCRM is amazing and they're doing incredible things to advance the field of infertility.  They've got 9 researchers on staff.  I know they're more expensive but IMO you get what you pay for in terms of expertise.

And... if you end up coming here I live about 5 minutes from their main IVF clinic so let me know if you need anything at all.  I'd love to help you out while you're in town if I can! 

CJB8

howleyshell:

CCRM is amazing and they're doing incredible things to advance the field of infertility.  They've got 9 researchers on staff.  I know they're more expensive but IMO you get what you pay for in terms of expertise.

I have to second this!  CCRM is not only amazing at what they do but the are trying to make even further advances in the field!  

The protocol that Dr. Schoolcraft did for me was almost identical to the one I did locally.  I was so nervous because they didn't find any further issues and did the same protocol!  But, I had 9 embryos go to blast and frozen for the genetic testing.  I didn't even have that in 2 IVFs at my local clinic.  The lab is amazing!!

erstwhile+maven

I moved before I could begin IF treatments at CCRM but I was diagnosed there - finally.  I cannot speak highly enough of their staff and their facilities.  I'd go for it.

JM1977

We went to CCRM after having a truly abysmal experience with our local RE (complete misdiagnosis, illogical treatment suggestions, etc.).  I was very impressed with CCRM, especially how they approached everything from a scientific standpoint and had very solid evidence for every recommendation that they made. 

Our cycle there ended up being unsuccessful (low number of eggs retrieved, very poor fertilization, highly fragmented embryos, BFN), but because we had so much faith in our CCRM RE and the lab, we left having a really clear indication of what was actually wrong and what our options were.  We ended up moving on to DE and had an unsuccessful DE cycle before realizing that we needed DE and DS.  CCRM was a really big step for us in realizing how serious our problems really were, which helped us to be able to move forward with the treatments that were ultimately successful for us.

stepgirl21

If you can afford it then, YES, GO! Both me, DH and my Brother and SIL went to CCRM. I have a 1 yr old and she is 20 weeks pregnant. She has DOR and did IVF in Wash DC and her RE told her she has less than a 1% chance of ever getting pregnant with IVF. She came to CCRM and not only is she pregnant, she has 7 beautiful frozen embies. You can PM me if you have more questions.