Regional Fertility Clinic In Calgary, Alberta.

BeetleGirl · 03-31-2006, 12:36 AM

I have read about the clinic on many boards and wondering what PCOS experiences at the clinic have been like.
This morning we met with one of the RE's and I am now having a few reservations about the clinic.
Currently I am suffering from Ashermans, PCOS, Bacterial issues & Dh is suffering from Retrograde ejaculation so we are not going to be an easy case.
Please don't wish me babydust or tell me that optimism is the key to our success.
I appreciate your responses but am looking for non sugar coated experiences with the clinic. Good or bad...but just honest.
Thanks.

Sierra_Canada · 04-10-2006, 03:33 AM

Hi! I've only just been at the clinic for a couple of months myself, but so far I've found them to be really helpful and informative.

BeetleGirl · 04-10-2006, 04:17 AM

Hi Sierra,
Is the clinic doing anything to treat your PCOS?

Twinmommy2008 · 04-10-2006, 06:51 AM

There are no guarantees, especially with male factor. I go to a clinic in BC. I am guessing that they will suggest IVF with ICSI in your case. It may be difficult to get preg though not impossible. Age makes a big diff as well to egg quality. Being open to adoption helps too.

BeetleGirl · 04-10-2006, 08:10 AM

After two IVF cycles in Toronto I could only assume that IVF is the only option for us here in Alberta.
Especially with the additional factors that we didn't originally have to deal with when we started ttc years ago.
My problem with the clinic wasn't a matter of what they offered us but the fact that one of the doctors openly admitted his lack of experience that bothered us.

Sierra_Canada · 04-11-2006, 06:44 PM

I've had experiences with two of the doctors in the clinic now. Dr Greene is our doctor, but Dr. Scott has done both my HSG and yesterday, my sonohystorgram. To deal with my PCOS, he immediately put me on metformin, which my doctor previous had refused to do. I had to do a whole lot of bloodwork and then my HSG. The HSG showed polyps in my uterus, so I had to do the sono. I have a followup appointment next week to find out where we go from here. Dr. Greene also did an endo biopsy, just to make sure everything was good there. Both doctors have been really good with answering my questions and keeping me informed. The only issues I've had has been with some of the staff, when I've called to make my appointments, being a little hard to deal with because my cycles are pretty irregular (HELLO!!!! You'd think at an IF clinic they'd be used to that?). I've had to be a bit pushy as to getting the HSG and sono scheduled, giving my body enough time to stop bleeding. But other than that they've been wonderful.

BeetleGirl · 04-11-2006, 07:13 PM

Thanks for sharing.
I am not sure if I am compatible with the doctor that I met with. I have been on Metformin for years without success and the RE we met with will not consider trying anything else(which bothered me)because drugs such as avandia have not been proven to be safe during pregnancy...hello I can't get pregnant anyways so why not consider trying it to see if I respond. But hey I can respect their decision(or try to anyways)about that.
They were responsive in testing me for other things I wanted done. B12 anemia, Hypothyroidism(Both of which my file says I do have)
My biggest issue was with my reason for my last miscarriage...I had every test done. Everything points to a GBS infection that I had. There is proof that GBS can affect getting pregnant & maintaining a pregnancy but the RE we met with said that since it wasn't what they learned that they didn't believe it was possible but would converse with their colleages.
As well when a doctor tells you they have only seen like 50 some patients with one of your factors and that the last case was so bad that their surgery failed it does not give you the confidence that you should have in your doctor. Also arguing with us about the way they handled dh's sperm sample and saying they didn't do it correctly when they did was also a bit frustrating.
I guess with my history I have a difficult time trusting doctors anyways but I like to know that whoever I deal with has the experience required to handle a case like ours.
The day I originally wrote this I was a little perturbed that the doctor wasn't familiar with what we were throwing on the table and that was very frustrating.
I am sure it's a great clinic and I hope that in time i will have good things to say about it but for the time being I still have a difficult time trusting them.
I am scheduled for a hysteroscopy/laproscopy/ovarian drilling in June & I hope at that point they can show me what a great clinic they truly are.

hoping soon · 01-18-2008, 01:07 AM

I've just had my first appointment at the clinic and am currently waiting to get in for my HSG. I can't get it done this cycle so I'm disappointed that I need to wait another cycle to get in. All indications are that I'm only dealing with age factors so I don't have experience with the conditions you are dealing with.

I'm not sure if you've investigated acupuncture as a complementary treatment. There is a clinic in Calgary called Body in Balance that focuses on treating fertility related issues. Since starting acupuncture, I've noticed positive changes in my cycles and managed a pregnancy late last year (though it ended in a miscarriage). I've also read the book "The Infertility Cure" by Randine Lewis and it was an interesting read about Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture to treat fertililty issues. There is a chapter in it related to PCOS.

I hope this is helpful - and if anyone knows how to get in for the HSG faster than waiting for another month - I'd appreciate any advice. I asked about going to Edmonton or somewhere else for the test and I was told I'd have to wait another month !!!

BeetleGirl · 01-18-2008, 02:52 AM

Well I am no longer a patient at the clinic.
The day I went for my HSG supposedly someone screwed up and they couldnt find my paperwork. They figured that they probably didn't receive it and told me they had recently had issues with the clinic.
The hospial just went ahead and did the procedure anyways.
So you could either call the hospital directly and see if they can sneak you in or ask the clinic if they will put you on their cancellation list.
Good Luck.

weemes · 02-03-2008, 05:24 AM

My DH and I waited from July to January 2 to make it into that clinic! And let me tell ya- it was painful. Finally called in September to ask how much longer it would be and they said "never heard of ya". I had my family dr re-fax the referral at which time they promised to "try" to put me closer to the top. I called again in December at which time they reluctantly gave us a January appointment.

DH of course had to get his s/c done. Which he did. So Jan 2 we went in all happy for our appointment hoping we'd get the ball rolling. The doctor walked in, introduced himself and stated we had 2 problems. I have PCOS and DH has a ZERO s/c. When we both said "what?!?" he said "oh someone didn't tell you already?"

He then said IVF would be our only option. That perhaps DH does have swimmers down there that just can't get out. Have a couple more tests done, wait 5 months for the results and then we can talk about it.

If not we could go donor. He sent us home with the literature on that as well and I get home and it said donor IUI- nothing about IVF. What do they just try to force you into it so you have to pay more?

AT NO TIME do they mention that if you don't pay the 200 registration fee for IVF you don't go on the waiting list. We went to the manditory IVF information session last thursday which is how we learned we needed to pay. The wait is 5-9 months. Another 5 weeks wasted.

I wish I could afford to go to a private clinic in the states. This is the only clinic and they can force us to pretty much do anything they want us to.

BeetleGirl · 02-03-2008, 12:42 PM

Hey Weemes,
I hated the incompetencey I experienced as a patient at Foothills. After dealing with so many other clinics across Canada, it was devastating to deal with doctors that didn't have experience with our particular infertility issues. When we moved to BC it was a great excuse to switch clinics.
I know that clinics that are long distance work with their patients. would you consider meeting with other clinics(Edmonton, Vancouver)? Most have satilite clinics(ob/gyn offices, u/s clinics or labs) that you can get monitored at and then you only have to travel for the procedures.
Good Luck.

Shejayd · 02-03-2008, 11:08 PM

Hi, to share, my experiences havent been that bad at the RFC, while DH and I were trying to get pregnant the clinic was very reasurring, and prompt. There were a few issues with getting results, so i started writing everything down and asking for copies of almost everything. My recent complaint is the wait for genetic results. And i the wait for my D&C in September. I miscarried August 23rd and didnt get my D&C until Sept 5th. I am still waiting on results for my fetal karyotyping, 5 months now. I think its the waiting that hurts so much.