Hellobee Boards

I live in the DC area, so I can't help you with any specific feedback about the RE's you are looking at. But when I started my search, I googled and read reviews. That didn't really help because the reviews were all over the place.

I made the call to set up our first appointment and liked the treatment I received on the phone. And at our first appointment, I really clicked with the RE. I say, trust your gut. If you feel like you need to make two appointments to have a comparison, go for it. But you might meet one, and have a good feeling. Trust that feeling.

I also recommend that you meet some of the staff. Most of the time, you're dealing with everyone BUT your actual RE. So while they are the ultimate point of contact for treatment, you are connecting with your nurse and all of the technicians WAY more. The staff is a big part of a good experience.

Convenience is also a factor. Whether or not the office has weekend hours (periods don't always fall on regular M-F days). And if they have the early monitoring appointments. It's nice to be able to get in and out early so IF doesn't feel like it's taking over your day.

Good luck with your decision! I hope you find one that you like and that you have a good experience. I only have good things to say about my RE!

Asked my OB for recommendations. Checked out their SART data, which looked good. I picked a clinic close to work. I really like my RE at first but there were some issues with the nurses she had. I liked the dr but the nurse seemed a bit distracted. At some point, I got a new nurse, but she wasn't any better. Then I was ready for another treatment and I learned my dr was on maternity leave (which hurt a little but hey people, including my drs, can get pregnant) and the clinic doesn't allow patients to see other REs in the clinic while one is out (not even while she was on leave...wtf!). I started not liking their clinic's policies more and more. Nurse continued to bother me. She wasn't horrible but I just something off about her.

Well, after my 3rd failed IUI and with a unknown diagnosis, I decided to switch clinics. I wanted to move to IVF and I wasn't able to be seen by my dr or any of the other REs. They said I would have to wait like a new patient to see another RE in the clinic. It was like a whole month. Oh, the people up front were kinda rude about it when I asked to switch dr. Up until the point, I enjoyed working with the people in the front office.

I got recommendations to see one in the same city (still close to work) or one about 15 min away (outside of Seattle). I heard good and both bad about the clinic in Seattle. My accupunturist said some of her patients switched to the one in Bellevue and got pregnant. I decided to call them and they were able to get me in before my current clinic could see me with a second opinion RE. Bonus points for the new clinic!!

Right from the start, I liked the office. They had two REs in the clinic. I saw both of them. They had similar methods and worked together. If I needed to see an RE, I would/could see either one of them. I printed copies of all my records and they started trying to get be diagnosed and away from the unknown diagnosis. After about a month worth of tests they diagnosed me and were hopeful that IUIs could work for me with the new meds they put me on. I was so relieved to have a diagnosis. Not sure why the other clinic didn't do these tests. (Checking my insulin levels is one of the factors in finding my diagnosis, because I had a mild insulin-resistant PCOS + DOR.) Oh, other clinic did blood work only every 6 months. My clinic now does one almost every time.

Oh, after I switched my accupunturist told me that a bunch of her clients switched to my current clinic and got pregnant. She even noticed the quality in care and attention at this clinic. She said she's seen hints of PCOS in the months that she's treated me with accupunture, but she's not a doctor and didn't want to bring it up to me.

Though my second set of 3 IUIs were unsuccessful, I'm still very happy in deciding to switch and continue treatment with them.

I read a bunch of reviews and threads about the various local RE practices on a local web DC Urban Mom. The RE practice I chose was also one of the two my GYN recommended and they are in the same building as her. A friend also recommended them and her specific RE but he was not saying patients at the office closest to me anymore so I went with the first available RE at my local clinic who had good reviews and he's been great. I agree with what someone up thread said about the nurses, I liked my first nurse more than my second but first nurse left between one I had baby one after treatment and I went back to cycle again. Good hours especially early monitoring hours was a major factor for me as well.

@Hoots: Like some of the other ladies mentioned I looked for somewhere that was close to work so that I could do monitoring and appointments with minimal disruption to my schedule. Also they are open 7 days a week and do not close over the holidays at all.

From there I got a recommendation from someone I was close to who had been to the clinic for IVF, she liked her Dr and the nurses/tech staff. Ultimately, we went with the personal recommendation and it was great.

@Hoots: that's great! I have to drive about 45 minutes to get there too. I hope you like them as much as I do.

@mrs.shinerbock: McKnight. I've heard that McKnight and McKenzie have better bed-side manner. McKnight is amazingly empathetic and kind.

It's been over a year since my last treatment cycle, but I'm an example of someone who switched to a clinic that was chaotic and basically a free-for-all, but found much better success there. Not that it's always the better choice, but once in a while it works out!