Dominion Fertility Vs. Shady Grove Fertility: How To Choose The Best Clinic

Seeking fertility treatment can be an emotionally and financially draining journey. Choosing the right clinic to partner with makes all the difference.

Dominion Fertility and Shady Grove Fertility are two large assisted reproductive clinics with multiple locations across the U.S. Here we’ll compare the pros and cons of each to help you decide which clinic may be the best fit.

A Brief Comparison Table

Aspects	Dominion Fertility	Shady Grove Fertility
Number of Clinics	15+	40+
Locations	East Coast focused	East Coast & Midwest
Specialties	Fertility only	Broad women’s health
Average IVF Cost	$12k-$15k	$8.5k-$10k
Insurance	Not accepted	Accepted at many
Refund Programs	Yes	No
Donor Egg Program	Partnerships	Own egg bank
Success Rates	Above average	Consistently high
Genetic Testing	Offered	Advanced options
LGBTQ Services	Tailored programs	Equal services
Patient Experience	Boutique feel	Factory feel by some

Overview of Dominion Fertility

Dominion Fertility was founded in 1996 and now has over 15 locations across 9 states. Their headquarters is in Arlington, VA. Dominion takes an innovative approach using cutting-edge technologies and research.

Pros of Dominion Fertility

• High live birth rates – Dominion reports higher than average live birth rates per IVF cycle compared to national averages.
• EMR system – Dominion uses electronic medical records to seamlessly coordinate care between doctors and clinics.
• Embryology success rates – Their lab practices help achieve great success in freezing/thawing embryos and blastocyst development.
• Refund programs – They offer multi-cycle IVF refund programs to ease the financial burden if not successful after 3 or 4 cycles.
• Support services – Dominion has mental health professionals on staff and support groups to help patients through the emotional aspects.

Cons of Dominion Fertility

• Wait times – Given their popularity, you may wait 1-3 months for initial consultations and have to travel farther to clinics with better availability.
• Lower rating – Dominion has a lower rating on CDC report cards for IVF success rates compared to other major chains.
• No insurance benefits – They don’t file insurance claims and don’t offer in-network benefits with any providers. Patients pay 100% out-of-pocket.

Overview of Shady Grove Fertility

Shady Grove Fertility is one of the largest fertility center networks in the U.S. They have over 40 full-service clinics in 9 states, with their headquarters in Rockville, MD.

Pros of Shady Grove Fertility

• High live birth success rates – SGF clinics consistently report some of the highest live birth rates nationally.
• Accepts most insurance – Shady Grove participates with many major insurance providers to reduce out-of-pocket costs.
• Flexible financing – They offer low financing rates and multiple payment plans through their financial services program.
• Discounts for teachers, military, first responders – These groups receive 10-25% discounts on treatment packages to reduce costs.
• Donor egg bank – Their in-house egg bank gives patients access to 1000+ fully-screened donors.

Cons of Shady Grove Fertility

• Factory medicine feel – The large size leads some patients to feel like a number rather than an individual.
• Wait times – Getting initial appointments may take 1-2 months at their busiest clinics.
• Success rates vary – Live birth rates can vary significantly between clinics so it depends which location you use.
• No refund programs – Unlike some competitors, SGF does not offer refund programs across multi-cycle packages.

Key Differences Between Dominion and Shady Grove

Now that we’ve looked at the pros and cons of each clinic network, let’s summarize some of the key differences between Dominion Fertility and Shady Grove Fertility:

• Number of clinics – Dominion has over 15 locations while Shady Grove has over 40 locations nationally.
• Specialties – Dominion focuses specifically on fertility while Shady Grove offers a wider array of women’s health services.
• Costs – Dominion does not take insurance and costs tend to be higher, while SGF participates with many insurance plans to reduce out-of-pocket expenses.
• Refund programs – Dominion offers multi-cycle refund programs, which Shady Grove does not.
• Donor egg programs – Shady Grove runs its own frozen donor egg bank while Dominion partners with outside agencies.
• Patient experience – Dominion touts a boutique, customized feel compared to a larger “factory” feel cited by some Shady Grove patients.

So in summary, Dominion Fertility brings innovative technologies and above average success rates but requires you to pay 100% out-of-pocket. Shady Grove has a wider reach and lower costs with insurance benefits but you sacrifice a more personalized experience.

IVF Treatments Offered by Dominion

Dominion Fertility provides the full range of assisted reproductive services. Here are some of their core IVF treatments:

Basic IVF Cycle

This involves ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, fertilization, and embryo transfer. Dominion has an excellent embryology lab.

PGT-A Genetic Testing

Preimplantation genetic testing on embryos screens for chromosomal abnormalities and helps select the healthiest embryos.

Minimal Stimulation IVF

Uses lower doses of fertility medications for fewer eggs retrieved. Reduces side effects and costs.

Donor Egg IVF

Dominion facilitates anonymous donor eggs or embryos and gestational carrier options for patients who need them.

LGBTQ Family Building

Specific services aimed at helping LBGTQ couples build families through IVF, surrogacy, egg/sperm donation, and adoption.

Fertility Preservation Services

Includes egg, embryo, or sperm freezing services for those hoping to preserve future fertility through procedures like egg freezing.

Also Read: Choose Between Inito And Kegg

IVF Treatments Offered by Shady Grove

In addition to all standard IVF services, Shady Grove Fertility also specializes in several advanced treatment options:

PGT-M Genetic Testing

Tests embryos for over 175 genetic disorders to reduce the risk of passing on genetic diseases.

CCS Genetic Testing

CCS analyzes every chromosome in an embryo to improve implantation success rates for some patients.

Egg Freezing and Storage

SGF offers egg freezing procedures and long-term cryogenic storage plans.

Fertility Testing

Diagnostic tests check for issues affecting fertility in both women and men. Testing helps customize treatment plans.

Donor Egg IVF / Gestational Carrier

Shady Grove facilitates connecting patients to egg donors and gestational surrogates.

Intrauterine Inseminations (IUI)

SGF provides medicated and non-medicated IUI procedures based on each patient’s needs.

Also Watch This Review Video:

Choosing Between Dominion vs Shady Grove: Key Factors

If you’re trying to decide between Dominion Fertility and Shady Grove when seeking fertility treatments, here are some important factors to consider:

Treatment costs

The cost per IVF cycle averages $12,000-$15,000 at Dominion but just $8,500-$10,000 at Shady Grove when accounting for insurance benefits. But Dominion offers refund programs after multiple failed cycles.

Success rates

Check clinics’ SART profiles. Dominion cites high success but some locations have lower CDC ratings. Shady Grove clinics report consistently high live birth rates.

Location accessibility

Dominion has fewer clinic sites concentrated on the East Coast while Shady Grove has 40+ locations across the Eastern and Central U.S.

Fertility coverage

Those with no fertility benefits will pay much less per cycle at Shady Grove vs Dominion which doesn’t use insurance.

Donor programs

Both offer egg/embryo donation services but Shady Grove also runs their own frozen donor egg bank.

LGBTQ care

Dominion seems to focus more on LGBTQ family building needs while Shady Grove treats all patients equally.

Genetic testing

Shady Grove may be better equipped for advanced PGT-M and CCS testing based on their lab capabilities.

Also Read: Differences Between Molina Healthcare And Superior Health Plan.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Also Read: Differences Between MDLive And Teladoc.

Final Thought

When weighing Dominion Fertility vs Shady Grove Fertility, there are valid reasons you may choose either clinic network for your treatment. Dominion offers cutting-edge lab technology, refund programs, and boutique-style care. Shady Grove touts excellent success rates and reduces costs through insurance benefits.

Look closely at the clinic location options for accessibility, confirm they have expertise treating cases like yours, and inquire about any area-specific success rates. Meet with doctors to find the right personal fit.

Both chains aim to help you build your family through top-quality IVF treatment. Committing to an open and honest partnership with a fertility clinic can make challenging treatments easier to navigate.