The Reproductive Medicine and Surgery Center of Virginia, PLC, offers all levels of female and male infertility evaluation and treatment and reproductive health services. What is unique about us is that we are the only dedicated fertility clinic in Charlottesville and surrounding region. Doctors Bruce Bateman, Laura Smith, and Chris Williams are subspecialty trained and certified reproductive specialists with over 50 years of combined experience. Dr. Bateman and Dr. Williams have been named one of the nations “Best Doctors” for many consecutive years. Dr. Williams is the author of an internationally sold book to help couples to conceive called The Fastest Way to Get Pregnant Naturally. They are the only subspecialty trained and certified fertility specialists (reproductive endocrinologists) in Charlottesville and the surrounding region. Many Ob/Gyn’s and some family doctors (or medical endocrinologists) offer limited fertility services but they are not able to offer most aspects of fertility care. Also, they are only open 5 days a week so almost 1/3 of the time (2/7 days and no holidays) they will miss the opportunity to help.
Our fertility clinic offers all services for the diagnosis and treatment of infertility, 363 days a year. Commonly seen patients include Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), assistance with ovulation problems, in vitro fertilization (IVF), tubal reanastomosis (tubal ligation reversal), egg banking, endometriosis, fibroids (myomas), premature ovarian failure, irregular menstrual cycles, recurrent miscarriage, intrauterine insemination or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for low sperm numbers, egg donation, preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and preimplantation genetic screening (PGS), minimally invasive and conservative surgery, and advanced laparoscopy and hysteroscopy. They are specially trained to perform myomectomy, outpatient tubal ligation reversal surgery, advanced surgery for endometriosis, removal of ovarian cysts while preserving normal ovarian tissue, correction of congenital anomalies of the uterus, vagina and fallopian tubes, and reconstruction of damaged fallopian tubes. The practice is open 7 days a week to optimize care.
Doctors Williams, Smith, and Bateman function as a group. The doctors have various responsibilities in the operating room, the office, doing hysterosalpingograms, and IVF procedures. If you wish to see a specific physician for elective follow-up visits, we will be happy to meet your requests. However, visits that are menstrual cycle day dependant (and many are) you will be seen by the physician who is in the office that day. The doctors practice together with a similar management style.
“Aggressive” versus the Usual Approach
There are usually several treatment options that are possible and appropriate for a given infertility circumstance. We will describe them all for you, talk about the pros and cons of each, and make a mutual decision about what is best for you as a couple. If you want to be more or less aggressive – let us know.
Unfortunately, we are unable to help everyone, or not in the time-frame couples expect. Despite state of the art treatment, some patients will not conceive. As your treatment proceeds we will let you know what is ahead and we will let you know when we think you should consider changing treatments or discontinuing treatment. Stopping care is a difficult decision and many times treatment lacks a clear endpoint. We encourage an open discussion with us if you are becoming frustrated or considering discontinuing treatment.
Because most insurance companies in the State of Virginia offer little or no financial assistance for infertility treatment, financial constraints are a common reason for discontinuing or postponing treatment. It is a frustrating reality for doctors and patients. Please let us know when you are having financial challenges. Sometimes we will be able to alter your treatment plan to try to minimize cost.
Patient Satisfaction
Fertility care is truly a team effort between a couple and their doctor(s). It is our sincere goal to help you conceive and to meet your emotional needs during your treatment. As your treatment proceeds we will make decisions together. It is our goal to go into as much detail as you would like about options and answer all of your questions. If any facet of our care is confusing or inadequate, we definitely want to know. Please help us meet your needs and expectations.
UVA Residents Train in Our Office
Doctors Bateman, Williams, and Smith maintain faculty appointments at the University of Virginia. These are teaching positions granted to physicians outside of the full time faculty. We are honored to hold these appointments and it is part of our mission to help train the next generation of obstetrician/gynecologists. On some days there will be a UVA Ob/Gyn resident seeing patients with us in our clinic, but they do not participate in surgeries. The residents’ role in your care may be reviewing your medical history at the initial visit and/or performing minor physical examinations or sonograms. Doctors Bateman, Williams, or Smith will always be present for exams and sonograms. Residents will never make decisions regarding your treatment. They are here to learn. We appreciate your understanding of the importance of teaching but if you do not wish to have a resident involved please make the receptionist or nurse aware.