22 replies to this topic

[babylove]

Hi,

I'm thinking of changing clinics. Does anyone have any feedback? I will be seeing Dr Hemmings tomorrow. I'm undergoing FET at the Royal Victoria Hospital right now and I want a 2nd opinion in case FET doesn't work.

Your feedback would be greatly appreciated.

BL

We did three IVF cycles and 2 FETs at Ovo over quite a few years. The third IVF resulted in our DD. The subsequent FETs did not work. Overall, we had a good experience at Ovo - nice staff, good doctors, good customer service. Having done IVF elsewhere now (Ottawa) I found Ottawa to be even more professional and thorough than Ovo. Ovo didn't always test E2 during stims, and I think they may have let me stim for way too long. I don't have any experience at McGill, but I think if you want to stay in Montreal, Ovo is a good choice. Let me know if you have any specific questions.....I am more than happy to help.

[nina78]

Hi there,

I am also at McGill. We did one IVM cycle on Nov which was bfn. We still have few frozen embies, so we'll be probably doing FET within couple of months.

How do you find McGill?? I am not too pleased, ecspecially because 1 yr ago we did IVF cycle at Montreal Clinic. We loved the staff.....it feels like a big family and they know what they are doing. IVF resulted in chemical pregnancy, but since I am scared of long term effects hormones might have on our bodies, I chose to do IVM. Anyhow looking back, and seeing how much IVM ended up costing, I would've just had second IVF.

That being said, McGill seems unorganized, and waiting time is just insane. But since we have frozen babies, we have no choice but to go again to McGill.

Montreal Fertility clinic is amazing. I suggest you at least go and meet with them. If FET does not work, my next stop is back to MTL clinic! No questions asked. I went to OVO for a consultation and wasn't too impressed.....But everyone has their own opinion. If I were you, just visit both clinics and make your own decision.

Good luck!

[babylove]

We did three IVF cycles and 2 FETs at Ovo over quite a few years. The third IVF resulted in our DD. The subsequent FETs did not work. Overall, we had a good experience at Ovo - nice staff, good doctors, good customer service. Having done IVF elsewhere now (Ottawa) I found Ottawa to be even more professional and thorough than Ovo. Ovo didn't always test E2 during stims, and I think they may have let me stim for way too long. I don't have any experience at McGill, but I think if you want to stay in Montreal, Ovo is a good choice. Let me know if you have any specific questions.....I am more than happy to help.

Hi Hwertheim,

Thanks for your reply. At OVO did you do a natural IVF cycle? Dr Hemmings recommended I try that. The rate of success isn't as high as conventional IVF since they don't stimulate you as much but, it follows your natural cycle so maybe the natural route is the way. The staff and Dr seemed nice. I notice Dr Sylvestre from McGIll is there now. They seem to be getting bigger. We'll wait and see as we went through FET and are waiting for results.

[babylove]

Hi there,

I am also at McGill. We did one IVM cycle on Nov which was bfn. We still have few frozen embies, so we'll be probably doing FET within couple of months.

How do you find McGill?? I am not too pleased, ecspecially because 1 yr ago we did IVF cycle at Montreal Clinic. We loved the staff.....it feels like a big family and they know what they are doing. IVF resulted in chemical pregnancy, but since I am scared of long term effects hormones might have on our bodies, I chose to do IVM. Anyhow looking back, and seeing how much IVM ended up costing, I would've just had second IVF.

That being said, McGill seems unorganized, and waiting time is just insane. But since we have frozen babies, we have no choice but to go again to McGill.

Montreal Fertility clinic is amazing. I suggest you at least go and meet with them. If FET does not work, my next stop is back to MTL clinic! No questions asked. I went to OVO for a consultation and wasn't too impressed.....But everyone has their own opinion. If I were you, just visit both clinics and make your own decision.

Good luck!

Thanks Nina for your fast response.

I have been at McGill for 3 years and there are good points and bad points. I have both good and bad experiences with the Drs and nurses there. They know me very well there which is good for the personalized service but, it just means that I have been there for TOO long and underwent many procedures and some unfortunate experiences. The waiting time is actually pretty good. I never had to wait over an hour for my Dr and that's pretty rare. I am also able to get an appointment rather quickly. I do see what you mean about the disorganization especially with the nurses but, I hate putting them all in the same boat. Some are super on top of things and others say things without any facts. Which Dr are you seeing?

Right now I am waiting for my beta results resulting from FET. Actually I know I am pregnant but, I started spotting on Sunday and went 4 days earlier for a beta. The beta result seems a little low to me but the Dr and nurses asked me to stay calm and relax for the rest of the week. On Friday I go back for a beta and I will know more. Fingers crossed and lots of prayer!!!

OVO actually offers natural IVF so if you want a more natural approach that may be an option. I knew you mentioned you weren't too impressed with OVO. I agree you have to feel comfortable with the clinic you go with.

I think McGill offers natural IVF as well but, they never offered it to me.

I heard good and bad things about the Montreal Fertility Clinic. Who was your Dr and why did you decide McGill? I guess they don't offer natural IVF at the Montreal Fertility Clinic. What's their approach like? I find McGill shoves IVF and meds rather easily. Same protocol for everyone with slight variation depending on response. OVO seems more conservative and personalized approach. I don't know which one is better but, if this FET doesn't work for us we will most likely move on to another clinic. Maybe we should consider Montreal Fertility Clinic.

Hopefully we won't need to research a new clinic any time soon!!!

Thanks!

[nina78]

babylove,

I wish you all the best!!!!! I hope your beta doubles and that you start enjoying your pregnancy! let us know please!!! I am dying to hear some positive stories! kwim?

Natural IVF cycle is not the same as IVM. With natural IVF cycle they only take your 1 or maybe even 2 mature eggs and hope for the best. So basically you'll only have 1 max 2 eggs to depend on.

As for IVM, they take all your immature eggs (it ranges from 4-20) depending how many follicles you have at the beggining of each cycle, they mature them in the lab and then they fertilize them. So your chances are a lot higher then with natural IVF. I would ask your dr at McGill about that option. McGill is the only clinic that offers it.

Can I ask you something? What did you hear about MTL fertility centre? I never had a chance to meet anyone who either was treated there or even heard something about that place. Please let me know.

As for McGill......I know that there a lot of good things about them. But I agree with you, maybe you need a second opinion.

What was the quality of your frozen embryos? I am still not sure when I'll do mine, but after everything I've been through, I really hope it works.....even though chances of working with FET are lower.

[nina78]

Oh sorry, I didn"t answer your question.

The first time I went to MTL Clinic, Dr. Biljan was the main doctor. However since he has passed. I was a little bit uncomfortable with him at the time....he was very sick and wasn't talking at all. He pretty much had a nurse read his notes from the paper. Yeah I know.....a bit weird. Anyhow while he was there we did 3 IUI....all bfn. Then Dr. Mahutte took over his practice. He was also trained at McGill.

The reason why I like them now, is that they really take time to answer all your quuestions!!! They are a small clinic, and I believe they refuse to make it bigger because they want to dedicate as much time as they can per patient. Every time I called they called me back within few hours! During the IVF treatment, they also gave me their cell numbers....I had DR's cell number and their main nurse gave me her home number! They make you feel very important and they know you very well.

When I went to McGill.....every time I went, my u/s was done by a different doctor. I know they are a learning clinic, but c'mon. It's like starting from scratch every time you go there. That being said, I know they know what they are doing, but I believe you should be at least comfortable during any treatments. Also once I got BFN after my IVM, I continuously tried getting in contact with my doctor - Dr. Tan.....he never once responded. I had to wait another 2 months before he could see me.

Anyhow, if you end up with BFN and I hope you don't!!!!!.....I suggest to at least go to MTL clinic for a consultation.
Good Luck!!!

[babylove]

Hi nina78,

Unfortunately, I don't have good news. My beta numbers are not doubling. They are actually decreasing which means I am losing this pregnancy. This is just too much!!! It's so emotionally draining! So the FET cycle worked however, as my Dr explained to me today he doesn't think the embryo was strong enough. Complications are the story of my life!!! That's what it feels like sometimes.

For now I guess we will take a break and in the meantime consider other options, clinics, etc...we have to keep our options open.

Initially I was supposed to be Dr Tan 's patient but, after months waiting for an appointment and after cancellations just the day before the appt (happened twice), they advised me to see Dr. Holzer. He's a great man...very patient and calm. I can't complain about how he has treated me as a patient. I know what you mean about always being visited by a different Dr and having to explain what your going through, etc. It can be frustrating.

I don't know if I would be a good candidate for IVM but, it'll be interesting to see what my Dr will suggest when we go see him in a couple of weeks. I don't know if I produce enough follicles for this.

OVO did suggest natural IVF. Maybe my body needs a natural approach.

I don't think Mtl Fertility Clinic offers natural IVF or IVM so they probably would recommend medicated IVF.

I met someone through this board "Doone" and she is at the Mtl Fertility Clinic and she now has a son and just fell pregnant after FET. From what I read on this board she is happy with the Mtl Fertility Clinc.

I guess I should at least going there for a consult. What's the wait like? I guess pretty quick from what you've said.

Good luck with your upcmoing FET! I hope it all works out for you.

[nina78]

babylove I am soooooo sorry. I know exactly how you feel. This infertility thing is really getting the best of us. It's such a rollercoaster. Something that is suppose to be so simple......I would never imagine I would, like you and many others, have to go through this.
You really can't give up!!! It will happen.....
I wish you all the best!

[babylove]

Nina78, this experience does get the best of us. It's like your life comes to a complete STOP. It becomes the centre of your universe. What's difficult is when you see some couple arrive at the clinic that fall pregnant after the 1st attempt and then others come out of there devastated time and time again. It's so frustrating and there are no guarantees. Today I am doing much better than yesterday but, it's hard. We're probably going to take it easy the next couple of months, think positive, and try again this Summer.

We have to move forward and we cannot give up on our dream!!!

My thougts are with you too!!!

Hi,

No, they didn't recommend natural IVF for us - but we didn't show much interest in it either. I would be careful around natural IVF as the costs aren't that much lower, and the success rates are definitely lower. You could also ask about low-dose IVF - with very low doses of stimulation drugs - I have heard good things about that, but I don't know if Ovo does that. We saw mainly Drs. Kadosh, Couturier, and I think I had Sylvestre for a retrieval.

We really thought about IVM at McGill, but the crazyness of McGill scared us away. I hope that your FET works, thought, and that you don't have to go to a new clinic at all!

Hannah

[Doonee]

Hi babylove,

As you know, I am at the Montreal Fertility Center and LOVE it! I started at McGill to do all the prelimenary tests there since it was covered. When we were told that we had no choice but to go the IVF + ICSI route, I started shopping around.

My experience at McGill was not great although I didn't do any major treatments there and this was back in 2003. The waiting time was not acceptable at all in my opinion. 1+ hour is not acceptable for a clinic where you might end up spending tens of thousands of dollars. I didn't like that you had to take a number just to speak to the receptionist. We always were seend by a different intern who didn't take the time to look at our file and then were lucky to see Dr. Tan for 1 minute or 2. Then when we did see him, his bedside manners were really bad. They lost test results for me and my DH more than once and it required us to go back and do them. I can see this happening once but I was a little weary when it happened more than once.

I went to OVO while being on the waiting list at the Montreal Fertility Center. I had a co-worker that was a patient at the Montreal Fertility Center and that was where I ultimitely wanted to go. At OVO, they did genetic testing and then I got my apointment at the Montreal Fertility Center so I just switched right over after my very first visit. The waiting list is not very long anymore since they now have 2 doctors.

My experience at the Montreal Fertility Center has been amazing. You really are treated like family. I never once had to say who I was after my first visit. I did go there when Dr. Biljan was there and he was not speaking much at that point (but I knew about this), but his wife/nurse Diane was a godsent and there was something in Dr. Biljan's eyes that just said to me that I was in good hands.

I never waited more than 30 minutes there for anything! For my betas, I never waited for more than 5 minutes! Dr. Mahutte, who took over the practice, with his wife who is a doctor as well, is great. He does indeed take a lot of time with you and I never ever feel rushed. He has called me 3 times at night to give me my blood work results same day (for thyroid ) and has also called me back on a Saturday for a call back after I had left a message expecting him to call back on the Monday. The nurses are really nice too. They also return your calls super duper fast and know you by name.

I recommended a friend to Dr. Mahutte and she emailed them and told them I had referred her to them. Well that very same day Dr. Mahutte replied to her email saying that he'd be more than happy to give her a consult if she wanted a second opinion. So this is the kind of treatment you could expect to get there.

I would recommend getting consults at OVO and The Montreal Fertility Center so that you see the facility, meet the staff, discuss a second opinion and see what clinic could offer you the best services given your history and desires (IVF vs. IVM etc). It's a very personal choice and the most important thing is to be confident in the one you do choose.

Good luck with your clinic shopping!

Doonee

[babylove]

Thanks hwertheim. Unforunately, the FET didn't work out. I am seeing my Dr next week and from there I will take into account the other clinics (OVO and Montreal Fertility Clinic).

BL

[babylove]

Hi Doone,

Thanks for being so helpful as usual.

Well I know what OVO is like since I have been there already and met with Dr Hemmings. I will give Montreal Fertility Clinic a call too. I think the hardest part is absorbing all the advise they have to offer and then deciding for yourself where you think it will work out the best. In a way I am afraid to switch because it's like starting over but, in a way that may be exactly what we need. From what you are telling me, it sounds like the kind of service I need. Right now I am lucky to have my Dr cell #. I can call him anytime if I need to reach him and ask him questions but, not all Drs are willing to do that.

If you don't mind me asking, why did the Dr recommend genetic testing in your case? We were never asked to do that.

Thanks again!

Babylove

[Doonee]

We were recommended genetic testing from OVO since our issue was a male factor and they wanted to identify if it was caused by a genetic factor. That way we could know and make an informed decision to proceed with IVF and have a chance that a son would have the same genetic factor. We were lucky and it didn't turn out that is was a genetic factor so we didn't have to way that into our decision to move forward with IVF.

[babylove]

Doone - Oh OK I see. Our issue was also a male factor and then more complications occurred on my side when I had the ectopic pregnancies. My DH had a varicocele but, they never asked us to go in for genetic testing. I will bring this up during our next appointment

[suzyflo]

I know this post was started a long time ago but for those still looking about others' experience at OVO, I wanted to share mine.
I hated it. Felt like a number from the very beginning and the fact that our doctor (Hemmings) never remembered us confirmed this. You'd think after performing a laparoscopy on me, he'd remember who I was but nope, no clue. So much so, that after a failed IVF he recommended...a laparoscopy! Well, we finally switched to McGill where we were very happy and felt in professional hands the whole time. I'm now 6 months pregnant with twins after being told by OVO that I needed to go through yet another surgery before attempting another IVF. Went to McGill and they didn't feel the same. At OVO, I got 34 eggs and the doctors at McGill (and another doctor at OVO) were very surprised I didn't get OHSS. I was monitored very closely at McGill were they told me "more isn't always better" when I got 19 eggs. The waiting time at OVO was ridiculous whereas we were always seen quickly at McGill. So, so glad we switched. i'm convinced otherwise, we would still be struggling with trying to get pregnant.

[whisper]

I started off at McGill but I really hated it there. I did 1 IUI - BFN & 1 IVF BFN. My husband and I were just a number to them, we always felt rushed, always seen by different dr's who shuffled through my chart, waiting time was just ridiculous & seeing Dr. Tan was even more ridiculous!!

I really dislike Dr. Tan he never made us feel comfortable & took about 1 minute to see us after we waiting way over an hour for him.

On my transfer day my embryos were not the best quality (only because he over stimulated me) and told me YOU SHOULD TRY DONOR EGGS!!!!!!!!!!!! c'mon this on my transfer day!! so positive!!!

well after the advice of a friend I changed clinic and went to see Dr. Biljan at the Montreal fertility clinic. it was the best choice i ever made. the staff was warm, calm friendly - loved them. at that point he could not speak much but I didn't care because I knew he was a good dr. HE SAID MORE TO ME WITH HIS EYES THAN DR.TAN WITH HIS MOUTH!!!!!!!!!!!

we had a few iui cycles which failed. Then i fell under the care of dr. mahutte and with his dedication and knowledge i became pregnant with twins WITH MY OWN EGGS!!!!!!!! i now have twin boys who are 2!!!!!!!!!

that's my 2 cents!!

[Talula]

I've just started at McGill and I've noticed that administratively they have a lot of issues..... I'll give it a try and if it's not up to par I might consider switching....

[marslo]

Does anyone have anything to share about OVO? We have our first consultation there on Friday. I can't believe how quickly we got in! We've done one failed IUI at McGill, but it's so impersonal that we're shopping around. We went to MFC last week and really liked Dr. O, but much of what I've read in the forums really concerns me about MFC. Does anyone have experience at OVO since the law changed? Any and all impressions would be much appreciated!

[CatL]

Hi Marslo,
Your experience with McGill is not surprising as there are others on this forum that have had to deal with the administrative issues. Unfortunately, I can't give you much feedback for Ovo. We have also consulted with them but I am currently waiting to start my IVF cycle which will start in 1-2 months. I was, however, impressed with the RE and how she treated us. If you have a look at the MFC thread, you will see postings from Lucy that is now pregnant from a cycle at Ovo. You may want to contact her directly if you have any specific questions. She has provided information about her experience on the MFC thread as well.
Good luck!
Cat

[marslo]

Thanks so much for your reply, Cat. I have been lurking around the MFC thread, which is why I decided to try OVO. These forums have been such a help. Good luck to you!

[Brightnew2012]

HI, I'n new to this forum (any online forum, in fact!). I am currently a patient at Ovo, and have had 3 unsuccessful IUIs. The doctor (not the same as my first consult) said I could try for a 4th try at IUI, while I wait.... 3 to 5 months... for a spot in IVF program!! I called Montreal Reproductive Centre and could get an appointment as early as next week and get signed in right away for IVF.
I was wondering if anyone has done a switch from one clinic to another, and if so, how did that go?
While I have become used to the way things work at Ovo, I do not want to wait 5 months!