How did you find your RE?

LollipopsAndCrisps

It's finally time for DH and I to make an appointment. 

Did you "shop around" and interview different REs? Did you call your insurance company and go with the doctor they cover? Did you do your research online? 

I don't know anyone else who's been through IF, so I can't ask anyone I know. 

I'm just sort of at a loss. 

TIA!

notquiteblushing

I had heard about them on my local board before I even started trying and checked them out online.  I'm not in a big city so there's not too many places.

ellephunt

I did some Internet searching and talked to my ob who said yay or nay to who I suggested. Then made the appt (don't have ins coverage so didn't need referral). At my consultation we talked about being OOP and he referred me to someone cheaper and with more flexible hours. 

Sarahlou614

My ob/gyn referred me to him.  I researched him online and found that he was the top rated RE since 1995 so that made me feel much better.  It's interesting b/c the more people I talk to, the more I find out that tons of people I know have been to him and had success

Good luck!

Sarahlou614

Sarahlou614:

My ob/gyn referred me to him.  I researched him online and found that he was the top rated RE since 1995 so that made me feel much better.  It's interesting b/c the more people I talk to, the more I find out that tons of people I know have been to him and had success

Good luck!

 

*top rated in my area

MsGMChick

Mine was recommended by my OBGYN. He had amazing reviews and is the biggest clinic in our area with good results. 

I would ask your GYN or check your local bump board for recommendations. 

Loopyseven

I have a friend who did IVF in Cleveland so I asked her who she went to and if she was happy with them (she has 10 month old triplets) while she was under their care and such and she said they were awesome.  I didn't need a referral through my insurance so I just called that practice and made an appointment.  I see a different doctor than she did b/c they have multiple offices and one of them is really convenient to my work, but the doctor she worked with primarily does not do any office hours at that location.

Rvnsgrl81

My OB recommended three. One was Shady Grove Fertility. I called them because of the reputation. When I found out which doc I would be seeing I researched him online. He is one of the top in the area. Met him, LOVED him. Before meeting him my mom had a coworker that liked the other RE in the practice much better so I was nervous before I met mine, but my mom (she went to first appointment since DH couldn't get out of work and we didn't want to delay the appointment) both LOVED him immediately.

rjade9

What state are you in?  I found mine through a friend who had recently seen her.  I also had read great reviews before I was even refered. 

You can also look on this website which clinics report their success rates and what not. https://www.sart.org/find_frm.html

Good luck!

buckeyebaby814

I had done some research based on who was covered by my insurance and asked a few co-workers who also went through IF treatments.  In the end, my OBGYN referred me to the RE everyone had recommended (and the one I liked based on my research).

buckeyebaby814

Loopyseven:

I have a friend who did IVF in Cleveland so I asked her who she went to and if she was happy with them (she has 10 month old triplets) while she was under their care and such and she said they were awesome.  I didn't need a referral through my insurance so I just called that practice and made an appointment.  I see a different doctor than she did b/c they have multiple offices and one of them is really convenient to my work, but the doctor she worked with primarily does not do any office hours at that location.

I'm near Cleveland, but I go to an RE in Akron.  I guess by *near* Cleveland I mean like an hour away.  But I also live where the Amish are my neighbors down the road!

Blsd4given

I picked my RE based on who was in my insurance network to have diagnostics covered.  But since I'm completely OOP for treatment, I may shop around... But we'll see how this cycle goes first.

btaylor19

We called insurance and found out who was covered, and then went there.  When we had to switch for IVF we got a few recomendations from my RE and then went with the closest one since I hate driving.

Suz+Mo

If you are open about TTC, you could ask people if they know anyone going through IF.  You'd be surprised how many people know someone.  I got a recommendation from a friend's friend's sister  (how's that for a connection?!)  She had just gotten pregnant on her second round of IVF and loved her doctor!

Has your OB/GYN recommended anyone they respect?

Suz+Mo

ellephunt:

I did some Internet searching and talked to my ob who said yay or nay to who I suggested. Then made the appt (don't have ins coverage so didn't need referral). At my consultation we talked about being OOP and he referred me to someone cheaper and with more flexible hours. 

Oh good point Ellephunt!  Make sure you research their hours for early morning monitering appointments and ask about holiday/weekend hours.  We have ladies on the board who have had to have appointments on Thanksgiving or Easter (shout out to Kati B!)  so you want a RE practice that is flexible.

dimples128

I went with my ob/gyn's recommendation.  I researched him before scheduling the appointment and ended up with a great RE.

melgeorge7189

rjade9:

What state are you in?  I found mine through a friend who had recently seen her.  I also had read great reviews before I was even refered. 

You can also look on this website which clinics report their success rates and what not. https://www.sart.org/find_frm.html

Good luck!

This is where I started, in addition to making sure they are board certified.  After that, online reviews and proximity to work and home. Sorry for your troubles...good luck to you!

ETA: I do not have insurance coverage for IF...if I did, I would start there.

candyreesecup

My GYN gave me a list of her recommended REs and I looked up some of them online.  I eventually picked one who had extensive experience in IF. 

Have you heard about Anglieslist.com?  I use it to find a realtor, carpet cleaner, etc.  You do have to pay subscription fee, but they have one for Health & Wellness category.  The site is great because you can see the rating and feedback of the different business and professionals. 

 

Loopyseven

buckeyebaby814:

Loopyseven:

I have a friend who did IVF in Cleveland so I asked her who she went to and if she was happy with them (she has 10 month old triplets) while she was under their care and such and she said they were awesome.  I didn't need a referral through my insurance so I just called that practice and made an appointment.  I see a different doctor than she did b/c they have multiple offices and one of them is really convenient to my work, but the doctor she worked with primarily does not do any office hours at that location.

I'm near Cleveland, but I go to an RE in Akron.  I guess by *near* Cleveland I mean like an hour away.  But I also live where the Amish are my neighbors down the road!

I'm only about 15 minutes from downtown, but I work 40 minutes west of Cleveland so having it be convenient to work allows me to not miss quite as much work as I would if I still had to drive from downtown to work after a morning appointment. 

buckeyebaby814

Loopyseven:

buckeyebaby814:

Loopyseven:

I have a friend who did IVF in Cleveland so I asked her who she went to and if she was happy with them (she has 10 month old triplets) while she was under their care and such and she said they were awesome.  I didn't need a referral through my insurance so I just called that practice and made an appointment.  I see a different doctor than she did b/c they have multiple offices and one of them is really convenient to my work, but the doctor she worked with primarily does not do any office hours at that location.

I'm near Cleveland, but I go to an RE in Akron.  I guess by *near* Cleveland I mean like an hour away.  But I also live where the Amish are my neighbors down the road!

Absolutely!  And after a morning appointment, rush hour would be winding down!  

I'm only about 15 minutes from downtown, but I work 40 minutes west of Cleveland so having it be convenient to work allows me to not miss quite as much work as I would if I still had to drive from downtown to work after a morning appointment. 

RequiresExalted

I'm going with the one my OB recommended, but we did some internet research, too.  We have a back-up choice if we don't like them, but we're lucky to be in a big city, so there are lots of choices.

kleigh926

My OBGYN told me about the two practices in my area and asked which one I preferred. I picked the one that was closer and has a great reputation. I didn't even think of the other suggestions (insurance, flexible hours) but that is definitely worth looking into as well. 

twistsandturnsto2

I checked with our insurance first to see what sort of IF treatments(if any) that they cover. Turns out they covered medicated cycles, but not IUI or IVF cycles.

I did some asking around and online research(you can even look up their stats online...the CDC website, maybe? has all the stats for live birth, age of patients, etc....if you want to see the success rates), but in my case, their seem to be two big centers for RE's in my area, and we are going with the one that offers a Shared Risk program and other payment options for those paying OOP. It is also the one that is much closer(I drive by it everyday).

Eibhlin1

Mine too was recommended by my OB and is the top rated practice in the area.  The office staff made me feel completely welcome and comfortable the moment we stepped in the door.  Our doctor is terrific as well, I felt an immediate connection with her.

 The reason I mention it is that I think it's very important to feel comfortable with the doctor and staff.  We've been TTC for 15 months and have only started seeing a RE this cycle.  We've already been riding the rollercoaster.  Having a doctor and staff that understand what you've been going through is extremely comforting.

Lightdrwr

My ob/gyn gave me two suggestions. I got on their websites and looked around. I liked that my current RE talked about using a mind/body approach and know someone who had an excellent experience with the other RE. I called both offices and one took my insurance and the other one didn't so it was an easy decision in the end . 

MrsZ816

I got a recommendation from a good friend who I knew was seeing a RE.  I asked my gyno about the RE my friend recommended and did some research.  Very happy where I have ended up even though I'm not pregnant yet

megs3084

My OBGYN gave me a list of suggestions.  I chose one not on the list that a friend of mine uses.  Initially I was going to pick one from the list, but had some bad experiences with scheduling and such, decided that office seemed way more about money than helping people & jumped ship.  When I told my OBGN that I changed to a different RE, he told me the only reason he didnt suggest him was because that RE is only based in chicago & didnt think Id want to drive in from the suburbs so much.

mnj05

My OBGYN consults my RE when she's doing anything fertility related, but ultimately we were referred by DH's uro. I looked him up online before the appointment and he and his partner actually founded the clinic I go to and he's been doing this since the late 80's.

LollipopsAndCrisps

Thanks, ladies! I greatly appreciate your feedback.

lovelainie

We were referred by DH's urologist, but it would have been the same result if I'd gone looking for one--they're the only real RE clinic within reasonable driving distance from me.

KdgTeacher

I researched names in my area, but ended up making the decision after talking with my OB/GYN.  I went with her one and only recommendation.

Neesey

My sister used our RE last year. Her husband is a psychiatrist here in town so he talked with other doctors about him. They loved him and were successful so it was an easy choice for us. We are all OOP so insurance wasn't a factor. 

jessi1988

My family Dr referred me to the RE's clinic, I'm just really happy I got the one I did out of that. She is awesome so far, I had my HSG today and she was so supportive!

Goodluck, I hope you get a RE that you connect well with. I think it makes things so much easier on you!

SCSmith2011

The RE I'm seeing next week works with my Obgyn's office. He comes up from Philly once a month. There aren't a whole lot of options in my area so when my doc suggested the RE that comes to their office it was a no brainer for me. The RE accepts my insurance but other than the initial consultation I don't think anything will be covered.