Fertility Institute of New Orleans

dionnewedding

Hi Everyone, 

Has anyone used the Fertility Institute to help conceive? My husband and I have been trying for 14 months and are starting our first cycle with them in July. Really excited to have specialists dealing with us now, but don't really know what to expect.  Any advice would be awesome. 

 Thanks!  

thelamberts2007

HI

I'm currently seeing Dr Sauter. She has been absolutely amazing. I'm not sure if you have had your 1st appt yet so I will run down how my experience has been.

The 1st appt was a consultation the last week of May.I sat with the nurse, then Dr, and went over all my paperwork medical history. I had 6 months of FF charts that she reviewed. She did bloodwork to test for all the basics Thyroid, vitamin D something else.

My second appt I did an ultrasound additional blood work based on results she scheduled an HSG SA for hubby in June. And I'm already starting my 1st monitored Clomid cycle this week.

They definitely dont play around :. I actually wanted to take things slower try a few more cycles naturally but once my original results came in she was very straightforward suggested starting medicated cycles now since my chances of conceiving naturally are slim.

Oh and last thingthey have been great about trying to get as much covered by mh insurance at possible which has helped alot....starting this week its all OOP!

Feel free to ask any questions!

dionnewedding

I had my first appointment with Dr. Sartor as well. She seemed really good. It's funny how casual she talked about some things. I was told if when they did some test and didn't see enough swimmers, then she'd just "squirt" some more up there. Haha, I've never heard IUI quite explained that way. I did have some blood work but I don't remember for what exactly. It was kind of like information overload so I didn't catch everything. 

My husband already did a SA and so she recommended an oral medication along with injectables for me for this cycle. I'm supposed to call them on CD1 so I guess it's just a waiting game for Mother Nature to get the ball rolling. 

That's great that they try their best to run as much through the insurance. I'm glad they don't play around. 

 So what days do you go to have ultrasounds/monitoring?

Good luck and best wishes to you!!

nawlinsgrl

I'm a Sartor success story, twice over.  Went to see her when I was 38, and based on my diagnosis of a blocked fallopian tube, she recommended going straight to IVF.  I followed all her advice and adhered strictly to my cycling protocol (literally told her I was doing everything I could, and she had to do everything she could), on top of losing 25 lbs before cycling, and was successful with IVF #1.

At my last visit with that pregnancy, I asked her when to start on #2, due to my age, and she said before I turned 40 (I turned 39 in March 2012 and gave birth early June that year), so I was back in her office to get the ball rolling a few months later, and by November, we were successful on the first try with IVF again (slightly modified protocol due to my increased age).

If you get to work with Mary, she is the best nurse there (they are all pretty nice and helpful though), and I really loved working with her.  Your monitoring schedule will depend on your cycle.  You'll starting going in a certain number of days after starting meds, and then they'll decide how often to go after that based on what they see at each appt.

It's a little overwhelming and nerve-wracking at first, but the cycle will be over before you know it.  My main words of advice are to really follow whatever she tells you.  I know a former patient of Dr. Sartor's, who was eventually successful after MANY attempts, and that was her big take-home advice to me.  She said every time she doubted or ignored Sartor, she later realized Sartor was right and she should have listened to her.

That's not to say you shouldn't ask questions.  I always did and she always listened and we would discuss pros and cons and leave it up to me.  But overall, I really feel like this woman knows her stuff.  Good luck to you! 

dionnewedding

Thanks for the advice nawlinsgirl! It is great to hear a success story from Dr. Sartor. 

 Thelamberts2007, good luck!! Sending lots of good wishes and prayers your way. 

 My cycle this month was unfortunately put on hold due to my genetic test. I am carrier of a "severe" deficiency so my husband had to get tested as well. It really isn't anything that affects quality of life but has to do with the lack of breaking down an ingredient in some anesthesia. It causes issues with breathing when trying to come out of it. Seems like something to just be aware of, but I'll put my trust in Dr. Sartor. Hopefully all goes well and we can start in August!  

lacenjoe

Be prepared to feel as if they are herding cattle over there.  Bottom line though.... their numbers are really really good. I see Dr. Lu and sometimes you don't understand him (because he is so smart). He is more of a "numbers man" which is hard for me bc for the first time I don't understand a lot and my hubby does. He literally talks with percentages and I just feel lost, but I'm sticking with him bc I've heard he is the best. 

My number one bit of advice I will give is to advocate for yourself. Be blunt. Say exactly what you want. Be informed about the different procedures before consult. This journey is so expensive.  Get a journal and write your questions down you will have many and you talk mostly to nurses who go back to the doctor than call you back with the answer. It can be frustrating. 

 

teridanielle

I'm a success story of Dr. Lu's.  I'm pregnant right now with a singleton baby boy from IVF.  We are due late October.  I ended up at FINO b/c of a diagnosis of severe endometriosis.  Both my surgeon and my OB suggested moving straight to IVF.  We met with Lu after several recommendations to see him over any of the other physicians in the clinic.  I loved him!  He is very hard to understand at times b/c he is super smart and he does stutter, but overall he is very good at what he does.  I actually went through two cycle of IVF before I got pregnant, but my first cycle was cancelled due to poor response.  Meaning I didn't respond well to the drug protocol I was put on, which was a long lupron protocol.  The second go round Lu changed my protocol to an antongonist.  It worked for me.  I never produced alot of eggs either time (likely due to the 15 years I suffered from endo), but the eggs I produced the 2nd go round were of a good enough quality that we have 5 frozen. 

My advice is stick with one doctor you feel comfortable with.  Sartor is more direct less emotional, Lu is more sensitive although he will be straight up with you.  Also, become friends w/ the nurses.  They are who you communicate with 85% of time.  I love Mary (although I'm biased b/c she is a friend of mines mother), but Ashley is great too!  Good luck.  IVF if you have to go there is sooo overwhelming.  Feel free to ask questions! 

dionnewedding

Well, I just had my first cycle with Dr. Sartor. Now I'm on the dreaded 2 WW and get to take a HPT on 9/6. Wish I could fast forward these days so I could just know! Thanks for the advice teridanielle! Good luck on these last few months of your pregnancy! Congrats!

thelamberts2007

Hi Dionne!

Good luck the 2ww. That was the worst! I finished my 1st cycle with Dr Sartor a while back and am happy to report I'm 6.5 weeks pregnant & we saw the heartbeat yesterday. I will be released from FINO after my appt at the end of next week if all goes well. All I can say is just listen to Dr Sartor she really does know what she is doing & did everything under the sun to make cycle 1 work!

meganfauer

I am very late to the punch on this response but had to add my story. VERY Long story short is I was a patient of Dr. taylor's and I could not agree more with Lacenjoe's comment, you will feel like a herd of cattle in there. We did 2 failed IVF's when I was 30 and was told all was normal we had male issues and it would be just fine well after 2 failed Ivf's and no further explanation of what to do next we were told that it will not happen and was talked to about Donor Egg's. Well as I sit here at 33 and 39 weeks pregnant, I would like to have my "pretty women" moment and walk in there and say "BIG MISTAKE, HUGE!" 

We went to see Dr. Wells at Audubon Fertility and I can not say enough amazing things about Dr. Wells and that group. They know you by first name, never feel like cattle, can talk to the dr. via email or cell phone regularly. Such a completely different and wonderful experience. If I would not of been a fighter, stubborn and persistant. I would not be sitting here anxiously awaiting the arrival of my baby boy, who we had longed for. Dont give up but I am so glad to know that the Fertility Institute FINALLY has some competition in town. 

dionnewedding

Hope everything is going well for you, @thelamberts2007! @meganfauer, thanks for the info. I feel like if IVF is the plan, it may be wise to look at a second opinion. I hope you had a healthy, happy delivery!

nicole_rc

Hi Ladies!  I'm new here!  I have been ttc for 8 months.  This month I had an IUI because my hubby has a low sperm count. I had my unmedicated IUI with my gyno, however, it was not monitored (no u/s) and I am now looking into fertility clinics. I have read good things about Dr. Sartor.  Do you all recommend her or anyone else in the NOLA area?  Thanks so much:)

nawlinsgrl

See my post above about my experience with Dr. Sartor.  

cheriquigs1

Hi everyone,

I unfortunately went to FINO (Dr Taylor) and Audubon (Wells). I think the staff at FINO is great but I didn't feel like me treatment was personalized. I also saw Dr Wells and had an absolutely horrible experience (who also told me to use donor eggs).

I am now 7 weeks pregnant with twins and have 2 chromosomally normal eggs frozen. I went to Houston Fertility Institute (HFI--Dr Witz) for this cycle. The experience has been night and day! Really truly amazing. I do my monitoring at FINO. I would recommend checking SART for statistics. Also, look into taking the CCRM cocktail of supplements for 3 months before IVF (of course ask whoever you chose for your doctor). And definitely try Accupuncture-at the very least it may help your sanity

Good Luck!!!

mrsCW

I have heard a long list of horror stories about several doctors at FINO!! I never considered it after 5 different people told me to literally run in the other direction! I see Dr Wells at Audubon and have nothing but positive things to say about her & her staff. We just completed an IVF cycle with her & I'm about to go in for my 6 week u/s. Feel free to PM me if you have more questions.

(I don't usually post on this board, but I'm very active on the IF board. I wandered over today and saw this post & had to comment!)

shellybellyrelly

I did as stated and looked at the SART stats... why are they so unbelievably poor in Louisiana, the clinics in Texas are nearly double in live births!! WOA! And its not like its cheaper here?? Anyone know whats up with that? 

skottypowell

I saw Dr. Sartor at FINO and had an amazing experience there. Just one month on injectables and an IUI, I was pregnant. The staff is very friendly, supportive and organized. I have many friends who have gone to both Audubon Fertility and FINO and all of my friends who went to FINO and had Dr. Lu or Dr. Sartor became pregnant within one or two cycles. I have friends who are still at Audubon struggling and frustrated and feel like they have invested a lot of time and money into the clinic with no answers or success.

BabyIxolib

This will be an odd reply but hear/read it out, I am a Dr. Dickey baby (33 years old), and my sister is a FINO Dr. Moorhead baby:) (21 years old) my mother went through fertility treatments for both of us and I was a regular with her on her visits, lived the staff and actually would tell you I wanted to be a fertility specialist back when I was little and thought I wanted to be a doc... Funny thing is I'm a wedding/ event planner now in a nearby town and have had several clients mention these doctors and the FINO and always always hear wonderful things, a close friend just went through several years of fertility with Dr. Lu (she called him lucky Lu) and blogged her fertility experience, you can find her by searching " Laura Bonura childless but not hopeless" she's now the proud mommy of a beautiful baby girl! Her blog was extremely helpful while I spent a year TTC.
At any rate, I always hear amazing things about the docs there and will always have a special place in my heart for them:) good luck!