Initial Visit
All patients must be seen for an initial
consultation with Dr. Selub before starting treatment. The date and time of your
initial visit can be scheduled directly with Debbie
Carmichael, our Patient Coordinator. She will try to arrange the appointment to suit your convenience.
There is usually less than a month’s wait to be seen. While we encourage
patients to bring their partner to this visit, it is not essential. The fee for
a new patient consultation ranges from $200.00 to $250.00, depending on the
extent of the interview.
Patients arriving from out of the area, or
out of the United States, who wish to directly start treatment with Assisted
Reproductive Technology (A.R.T.), should inform us when making the appointment for
an initial visit. (A.R.T. includes IVF, G.I.F.T.,
Z.I.F.T., and ICSI procedures.) This also
applies to patients from nearby, who already know they are A.R.T. candidates and
wish to go straight into a treatment cycle. We can arrange initial interviews
for such patients so that they can start treatment the same day they meet with
Dr. Selub. If a patient goes ahead with an A.R.T.
cycle immediately, then she will
not have to pay an additional $250.00 for the initial interview required when
starting an A.R.T. treatment cycle. In such cases, we may request that the patient
forwards a copy of her records before her appointment. This way we will be able
to review the history to be sure that we do not need to recommend or discuss
other options.
Please arrive about 15 to 30 minutes before
your scheduled consultation to allow time to complete necessary paperwork. You
should allow at least one hour to complete the appointment. If your male partner
has never had a semen analysis, you might want to arrange your appointment with
enough time so that one can be done on the day of your initial visit. This is
especially important for those traveling from far away to visit us. It is often
more convenient to do a semen analysis on the day of your initial visit than to
travel again at a later date for this test alone. You must let us know if you
plan to do a semen analysis, so that laboratory personnel will be prepared to
analyze the specimen. The fee for a routine semen analysis is $100.00. The A.R.T.
semen analysis fee is $225.00 and this amount will be applied towards your A.R.T.
fee, if you decide to enter a treatment cycle.
Women may or may not need to be examined on
the day of the initial visit. Be sure to bring any relevant records, operative
reports, test results, or X-ray films for the doctor to review before your
discussion. Let the receptionist know that you have material for the doctor to
review when you arrive. Dr. Selub will discuss in detail the type of treatment
that she believes to be most suitable for your case. Alternatives will be
reviewed with you as well. Any necessary drugs will be prescribed. You may start
treatment whenever you wish to do so. You will be given the opportunity to have
any necessary testing done by your own obstetrician/gynecologist when it makes
sense to do so.
Be ready for a frank, realistic opinion
about what is best for you. We do not believe in giving patients false hope, or
encouraging them to spend money for treatment that has virtually no chance for
success. Unlike many other centers, we do not force you to repeat diagnostic
testing or operations that have been done elsewhere, unless there is a
particular reason to do so. Nor do we do encourage you to undergo testing or
surgery that is not absolutely necessary. Knowing the results of certain
expensive tests or diagnostic surgery often will not change the treatment
options that are ultimately available to you. The surgical treatment of many
forms of infertility is becoming obsolete because of advancement in Assisted
Reproductive Technologies (A.R.T.).
Dr. Selub is known for her honesty and
integrity when giving medical opinions and will recommend the most efficient
approach to your individual problem. We have successfully treated many patients
who have been surprised, disappointed, overwhelmed, or maybe even discouraged
after an initial visit. We love to be positive, but are very careful to avoid
misleading our patients about the chance for a particular treatment to be
successful. Some patients are unable to follow through with treatment with us
right away. Sometimes the delay is because of financial reasons. Patients may
decide to seek less expensive treatment with another doctor or decide to undergo
surgery elsewhere because a procedure is covered by insurance. Others seek a
second opinion that may seem less expensive at first, only to realize later that
extensive, costly preliminary testing is required before treatment.
We encourage second opinions and realize
that the vast majority of our patients will eventually return for treatment.
Many come back to us because of our personal approach and patient-friendly
atmosphere. We have treated many patients successfully for a second or third
time! Don’t be surprised if you meet some of these babies or children in our
waiting room. We offer financing for many treatments and our fees are quite
competitive. Beware of hidden fees you may encounter elsewhere. The biggest
disadvantage in delaying treatment with us is wasting precious time. This is
especially important for patients over 35 whose ovarian reserve diminishes more
rapidly.
Tests may be arranged and blood may need to
be drawn for testing the day of your initial visit. Be sure to bring a copy of
your insurance card, if you have one, so that if you need blood work, we will be
able to send it to the proper, covered laboratory. If you do have insurance, you
will probably be covered for your blood work, even if Dr. Selub is not a covered
provider for your plan or is out of network. Though we do not accept most
insurances, we will make every effort to fill out forms to submit to your
insurance provider to help you receive reimbursement for covered services. All
fees are due at the time service is rendered. A.R.T. fees are due in full at the
time treatment is initiated.
Keep in mind that success with treatment
for infertility is directly related to your persistence in continuing with
prescribed therapy. As a result of the rapid advances in technology, there are
virtually no patients today who cannot look forward to the prospect of
parenthood. We look forward to helping you!
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