Kofinas Fertility Group

I highly recommend Dr. C, he was kind, warm, friendly and funny. I always looked forward to seeing him during my visits and I was able to see him at almost all of my visits. Most importantly, he took a lot of time up front to understand our particular situation. We had already done one unsuccessful IVF cycle at another well-known and supposedly respected clinic. My partner is a testicular cancer survivor, requiring him to be on testosterone replacement therapy for 9 years resulting in a 0 sperm count. After a year of injections and meds he was able to get a just a few sperm back which was great news. However the first clinic was not able to get any embryos for us and also were very unresponsive so we decided to switch to Kofinas. Dr. C listened to what we had been through, and recognized that my partner would most likely need a TESE procedure as his sperm count indicated probable sperm quality issues. He referred him to a urologist who agreed, and coordinated my IVF cycle perfectly so the retrieval landed on the one day the urologist performed outpatient procedures, so we did not have to freeze the retrieved sperm and were able to get 5 embryos out of 9 eggs retrieved. Dr. C also did more tests than the other clinic, and identified some autoimmune issues which he treated me for. I had Dr. C’s email, and emailed him with any questions I had and he always got back to me very quickly.

Go ahead and ask as many questions as you can so you have a clear understanding and realistic expectations of your situation and odds of success.

We used gonal-f and menopur and triggered with lupron I think. I don’t remember details. My partner underwent a TESE procedure after injections of HCG and Clomid pills.

There were monitoring time slots in the morning. I would usually be seen within 15 mins, but on occasion it would be closer to 45 mins but that was only once or twice.

I was all out of pocket, and I think total I paid about 5k for meds for one cycle and transfer, 2k at the surgical center and 24.5k for the retrieval, PGS testing and one transfer. I had $15 copays for monitoring.

We had our embryos PGS tested, and got to euploid embryos, so Dr. C recommended transferring just 1.

Dr. C was nice but he was a little on the colder side. He did not necessarily have the warmest bed side manner and often came off like he was in a rush. My one desire is that he just took more time to explain the process, explain what was coming next, set loose expectations even if they might change etc. and to ensure questions are always answered before rushing out.

Be proactive with questions and information you want about the process from the start since you might not get it without asking. I had a stellar outcome so I'm very happy with the care I received but looking back, I wish I asked more questions about the process, what it was doing to my body, what the WHOLE timeline looked like so I could have a sense of what to expect etc. because as time went on, I realized I wasn't going to get it with Dr. C without asking. And to be persistent because you might feel rushed through your questions but insist on taking your time to go through them all regardless.

-1 of each daily for a week (oral meds): 2mg Estradiol and 10 mg Medroxyprogesterone (This timed up with my cycle - the day the oral meds ended my period began - this would have been a cool process note the doctor could have shared to help set expectations and shed light on the process). -Injections started the day my cycle ended: 2 x 75 iu of Gonal, 1 x 75 iu of Menopur -After 5 days/on the morning of the 6th day, I was told to add a 25mg Cetritide injection in the morning, with 1 x 75 iu of Gonal and 2 x 75 iu of Menopur at night -On the 10th day I was told only to take the Cetritide shot in the morning, with the trigger shots for 1230am that evening (1 shot of HCG and 1 shot of Lupron) -On the 11th day (the day before the retrieval, I had 1 Lupron shot at 8am and 1 Lupron shot at 8pm. -My retrieval was on the 12th day Again, I am very very happy with the outcome - I was able to retrieve a comfortable number of eggs that has me feeling very good about the future, so the guidance and instruction from the doctors was very successful and I felt great the whole time. Just would've loved a bit more info and insight from the beginning and throughout the process.

I am still getting bills in but everything seems to have been properly processed to date.

n/a

My experience with Dr. Charalampos Chatzicharalampous, has been great thus far. In the beginning, as a patient I was quite nervous and unsure. However Dr.Charalampos Chatzicharalampous, has helped me with my patients and troubled mind during this process. He has also encourage me to remain calm. He has helped me with my anxiety attacks (lol) and stress levels as a patient.

One piece of advice I would give is to not be nervous and always ask questions even if you think it sounds weird. Dr. Charalampos Chatzicharalampous is patient and would give you a consultation if you have any questions or concerns to start your IVF process. No question is a dumb question so ask away!.

Treatments that’s Dr. Charalampos Chatzicharalampous, Suggested are progesterone oil, viagra suppository, progesterone suppository, blood thinner (to reduce the risk of blood clots), estradiol, Tactolimus, and implemented a proper diet.

I don’t remember I really loss count.

I trust Dr. Charalampos Chatzicharalampous judgement for transferring one embryo at a time.

I was under the care of Dr. C (Dr. Harry) while my doctor was out on leave. He performed multiple monitoring appointments several times a week. During one of them, I informed about a lump that had formed in my breast. Without looking at my breast or asking any further questions, he replied, "Breasts are lumpy and it was probably nothing bad." On a second occasion, I brought the lump to his attention again stating that it was still there and his response was that he could look at my breast but did not have the time. He did not inform me to make another appointment about it or even what kind of appointment I would need in order for him to look and give me additional information. It was not until my husband and I met with Dr. Harry for a fertility consultation that he performed a breast exam on my insistence and made a referral to a radiologist. From the time I brought the lump to Dr. Harry's attention to the time he performed a breast exam, my breast had gone through significant changes (inflamed skin; inverted nipple) which was later diagnosed as Stage 3 Breast Cancer, with inflammatory characteristics. If I had not continued to be insistent with Dr. Harry performing a breast exam and making a referral to a specialist, I doubt he would have ever re-visited it and the cancer could have spread even further. Since the skin became inflamed and the tumor was large, my oncologist recommended a very aggressive course of treatments (chemo, surgery, radiation, hormone meds). Because my tumor is estrogen and progesterone positive, part of my treatment has been to lower my hormone levels as it has been explained to me that these hormones feed my tumor. My intention for sharing this story is not to scare anyone seeking fertility treatments, but to highlight that there were opportunities for Dr. Harry to pause and gather more information before continuing with 1 or 2 more failed rounds of IUI - but he didn't, and as a result my treatment was delayed and my health was put at risk.

Find another fertility clinic.

I was prescribed letrozole for 5 days and then daily progesterone suppositories from IUI insemination until a pregnancy test. No one at the clinic discussed potential risks of these medications.

The clinic failed to bill my insurance for covered injections costing me money out of pocket and time spent trying to get reimbursed from my insurance provider. The clinic kept reassuring me that my insurance covered the costs of IVF and failed to disclose the out of pocket facility fee ($5100) until I was already a patient, but I ultimately did not complete an IVF cycle with them. My insurance copay was $50 per monitoring visit because it was performed by a doctor.

Dr.Charalampos (Harry) Chatzicharalampous is the type of doctor that anyone can wish they had. His patient and understanding is out of this world. He made his patients comfortable and relax. Dr. Harry was very fantastic and thoughtful. He took his time to explain everything to my husband and I. After receiving our results, he made sure we understand everything that was on the chart which we never get from past doctors we had seen before. I am truly lucky to have met Dr. Harry.

Do not give up hope. Be open and honest. Don't be afraid to ask questions until you understand what is there.

With PCOS- change my diet and walk more to reduce my weight. I started taking supplements that was recommended from the doctor. I had to do a Hysteroscopy & Polypectomy. I took Letrozole (Femara) to help me ovulate. Later I got a trigger shot and IUI injection.

Not sure!

Everyone who struggles with infertility knows what a sensitive topic this is, we come in to these clinics with broken hearts, lack of hope and lack of trust in our bodies not to much so much confusion. From the first day I met Dr C I knew he was going to be the one to make my dreams come true . I felt his energy through every part of my soul. He was extremely knowledgeable , honest and always sensitive to my needs. No matter how many times I emailed him asked him the same questions over and over , seemed doubtful scared He was always there to pick me up when I felt like I was falling apart she answered my emails so quickly anytime of day weekends nights holidays If I needed him he was always there. The way he put so much thought effort knowledge into my protocol I feel like that is why we were so successful he really took the time to get to know me my journey my own situation It was a personalized protocol just for me and we did it on the first try

I have seen many doctors in my life but none have left such an impact on my life the way Dr C did ….Charalampos Chatzichatalampous you are a remarkable doctor and I am so blessed to have met you…Thank you for giving me my daughter

I was on my supplemts to help keep me at my healthiest from mynoverhall health , I felt super protected from COVID as well. We used lots of supplements from life extension That helped the egg quality then we did everything we could for my uterus , placenta He also gave me prescription pillls like tacrolimus and plaquenil to help suppress immune system so my natural killer cells wouldn’t act up I was on lovenox throughout my whole pregnancy also did progesterone shots gonal f certricide and also had weekly intralipids infusions Whenever I listen to friends protocols who struggle with similar fertility issues I knew my protocol was the best , he had everything covered

They made waking up so early so easy…The office staff at front desk always greeted you a smile and always got you in and out where you never felt rushed but never felt worried if you had to get to work

I had no insurance coverage so they were very clear on how much it would cost . I was able to pay as I went whether I was bringing cash or credit cards They helped me make it happen helped guide me anyway I can save money on. Medications too

Dr. Chatzicharalampous "Dr. Harry" is the best provider that I ever had. He helped me feel comfortable my entire process. He explained every step of the way the good and the bad and set real time expectations. He was compassionate and caring to my needs. I have never had a doctor that was so attentive and cared. One thing I always admire was he remembered the small personal things discussed outside of treatment.He was also personable and not just making you feel like a chart number like my previous doctors. He is the best and I will always recommend him to family and friends. I am so happy that I was his patient.

You are in good hands, he is willing to answer all questions so never hesitate to ask them. He is very knowledgable . Be comfortable and trust the process. The best decision you made was choosing Dr. Harry as a doctor.

I came in and wasn't sure of the right course of treatment. I have been to doctors before that did not take time to see what treatment I would need. He was able to see what I needed. He conducted all the right test , a Laparoscopy and other recommended test that ultimately led to me conceiving on my own.

I only paid my co payments . My insurance covered most of the expenses.

Dr. Kofinas is knowledgeable and brutally honest. If your looking for a hand holding doctor, this is not the place for you. However, he does respond to emails and thoroughly answers all questions and concerns. Dr. Kofinas does use different protocols and considers suggestions that you may have within reason. Kofinas institute is aggressive with medication protocol and tend to cancel multiple cycles for those poor responders or if you didn’t meet Doctors expectation Of follicle count. He is experienced and comes from a family that specializes in fertility, but if I had to do it over again. I would of gotten a second opinion before pursing a laparoscopic procedure.

Make sure you do your own research and pay attention to your body when taking the medication. I found that Dr. Kofinas had a standard protocol for meds and In the beginning i didn’t feel that the regime was personalized. Keep a record of your sonograms with medications that were prescribed. You will learn what doesn’t work for your body.

I would spend about an hour at then clinic.

It is not affordable and there are additional cost.

Dr. Kofinas was open to both.

Dr. Masbou is extremely attentive and caring in a way that I was not expecting. After our first failed IUI with her, she sent me a personal email to ask how I was doing and that she was so sorry about the failed cycle. Even at our initial consultation, her first question to me was nothing about our past infertility workups, she looked right at me and said, "first of all, how are you doing mentally and emotionally?" She explains procedures before and during them and makes sure you know why she is recommending a line of treatment. We brings up options and let's you decide what you think is right for you and then is completely gungho behind whatever choice you make.

Don't be afraid to ask questions or email her directly - she responds so quickly! I was so nervous in the beginning to email her because I felt like I was annoying and should have asked all these things while I was at my appointment - but there's so much information and sometimes questions come up later. She never makes you feel like anything you ask is stupid or silly or annoying. She even emailed me once from her vacation because she knew I was antsy about results.

During IVF, we started with gonal-F and then swapped for menopur after a few days. Dr. Masbou didn't want to overstimulate me so we played it safe to start. We ended up with 22 eggs, 17 of which fertilized, 8 made it to freeze.

Very easy. You can make an appointment for a specific time or just show up at any point between 7 and 9am. Never waited more than a few minutes in their UWS Manhattan office.

IVF with PGS and one year of storage (without insurance coverage) was $22,500. They were able to work it out with my insurance company to have the meds covered.

1 PGS embryo transfers only.

He is an amazing doctor. Very knowledgeable and very thorough. He explains everything to you and helps you understand. His bedside manners are great along with the rest of the nurse and staff. My experience has been wonderful. I have had 2 misscarriages withina year and I am so greatful to have met Dr. Chatzicharalampous because now I am 10 weeks pregnant and am feeling great!

I would tell them not to loose hope, that Dr. C is amazing and will help you in as many ways as possible.

My insurance was covered however I believe that with surgery, you pay $500 dollars to the surgical center.

She listened and was reassuring yet honest in terms of my conditions of fibroids. She shared that her job was to get me pregnant and there were options if I was willing. They would conduct IVF on me despite my advanced age. This was reassuring to me. I was terrified that my dream of becoming a mother would not come to pass. There are no guarantees yet I am holding onto to hope and faith that I can get pregnant and carry my baby.

Be open.

Natural supplements such as a Prenatal Vitamin, CoQ10, Mitchrondial Optimizer. I also added DHEA. I was given Clomid and did well.

I have been fortunate to say what the clinic has taken Blue Cross/Blue Shield - I've only had to pay co-pays ($30 per visit/bloodwork). For IVF is over 45 years of age, they take GHI/Emblem Health.

Wanted to optimizer chances of healthy pregnancy - single embryo transfer.

Dr Chatzicharalampous hands down is the best! His very upfront and always available! Very honest and sweet at the same time! He tells you everything before he does it and also gives you different options! Thanks to him I got pregnant on my first iui. I can’t thank him enough! The entire staff starting from receptionist to the MA, Nurses and Doctors are truly the most attentive and kind people to have under one facility. I am truly Blessed to have met the Kofina family and very thankful to DR Chatzicharalampous I can’t thank you enough.

Trust him. Trust the process.

Metformin and progesterone (iui)

Dr Chatzicharalampous was amazing and got my procedures approved by my insurance. I had to pay for my copayment and medication.

Dr Kofinas is extremely positive even when the situation seem dim, he fights with his patient to get the desired results. He's compassionate I the event something unexpected happens, he has a wary with words that provides encouragement.

Stay informed and ask a lot is questions. Follow instructions exactly as they are given and be on time with your meds

At least$30000

My pregnancy was very high risk so transferring multiple embryos was not recommended

Dr Montes is a wonderful doctor. She is very smart and will explain everything to you in detail. She was warm and kind and really took her time to answer my questions. As she examined me she explained every step and stopped to answer my questions and then continued. I feel very safe with her and know I am getting the best care. So happy to be her patient.

Trust in her. Ask questions. I always tell people to be there own advocate no matter who the doctor is.

I am just starting. I will be meeting with her in the next 2 weeks to plan out exactly the step we will take to reach my goal. I am realistic and hopeful.

She is a very patient doctor with great bedside manner and make sure you understand what the procedure is gonna be and how to take all medications that's assigned to you. I love that she is straight forward with you and dont tell you what she wants you to hear or what sounds good.

Ask lots of questions and call her if she is good with returning call.

Clomid menopur gonal f and cetrotide

21000

No comments didnt make it that far

Dr. Melissa was very caring and understanding, gave advise and explained all that needed to be explained to me. Talked about what the expectations were and the pros and cons of what is to expected. Will highly recommend dr. Melissa to anyone because she was compassionate, careful, caring but very professional and passionate about her job

Caring, passionate and professional

The protocol that was used for me was cetrotide, menopur, lovenox

Because of my advanced age 45, multiple embryos transfer was done

I never once felt uncomfortable with a decision or appointment with Dr.C. He is the best doctor - not only because I’m now pregnant but because I trusted him - down to begging him to deliver my baby due in January because I really didn’t want to leave! I would recommend Dr.C to anyone needing fertility treatment - he always followed up with facts and his professional opinion on things, always answered emails timely, and always was friendly and made the appointments easy - even the hard ones.

Listen to what he says because he knows his stuff!!! I may have been a more difficult and defiant patient - again not the biggest fan of medicine but everything Dr.C told me to do, I did and it resulted in a positive pregnancy!

Iui #1 - 1 day because I only had 1 decent follicle and Dr.C did not want to waste donor sperm on a cycle that was likely to be unsuccessful. 2.5 mg letrozole Iui #2 - 2 days Bc I had 1 good follicle. 5 mg letrozole Iui #3 - 1 day even though I had 2 good follicles but this was my choice. Possible 10 mg chlomid 1st FET cycle was successful - 2mg Estradiol 4x a day, 40mg lovenox 4x a day, viagra before cycle 2x a day, progesterone oil up until 10 weeks & progesterone suppositories 3x a day up until 10 weeks

3 iui cycles including appointments and medicine cost about $3,000 1 fet cycle cost about $5k

I’m only 29 with no history of fertility problems - dr.c explained why we should only do a single transfer based on facts

From the first appointment I could tell that Dr. C was the right doctor for me. He is very professional but also very personable. His knowledge base is very broad and will answer any questions you may have, citing scientific evidence. He is optimistic and makes you feel very safe and offers exceptional care. He will go above and beyond! I trusted every decision he made and I was not wrong! My friends who did egg freezing at other clinics had a much lower number of eggs, even with similar AMHs. He managed my hyperstimulation extremely well and I was feeling great within 3 days after the retrieval. I am definitely coming back to see him if I need to use my frozen eggs.

Trust him 100%. He will find a way to make it work!

Antagonist protocol, 150 gonal then 225 menopur. I have PCOS so the doses were not very high. I had 40 eggs retrieved, 26 were frozen.

Mondays and Fridays are really busy! May wait for an hour or more. Other days are ok, you are seen within 20-30 minutes.

Insurance covered most of it. Had to pay about 20% out of pocket.

N/A

Dr. C. is a very warm and caring person. he treated me with respect and even his humor was very appreciated as it helps relieves some of the stress of this process. I was very pleased with his care and will highly recommend him to my friends.

To trust him because he knows what he is doing.

He tested me for everything that could be a factor in my getting pregnant and addressed every issue with medications. This is something that was not done at previous facilities I attended before him.

It was well organized.

copays 50 when blood and ultrasound. 20 for just a doctor's visit. surgery costs. transfer and storage costs.

He uses single embryo transfer due to pregnancy complications with multiple transfers.

Dr. C has a kind demeanor and is an excellent communicator. He was ready to answer any and all questions. We cannot thank him enough for guiding us through this process and always being readily available if we needed him. He explained everything and then re-explained when needed. He is a doctor that will remember you when you come in for your next appointment. Dr. C is honest and upfront and will never give a false sense of reassurance.

Ask. Ask. Ask. The only stupid question is the question that I never asked.

We really liked that everything proceeded in a steady pace. No part of the process ever felt rushed.

> $5000

N/A

Similar to my last response, Dr. Harry always treated me with great respect and care. He is extremely personable, kind and genuine. I feel that he actually cares about me as a human being and not just another name on his list of patients any given day.

To not think twice because he's a man. I feel like a lot of women can get uncomfortable with a man in this field, but in no way shape or form did I ever even think twice about the fact that I was seeing a male doctor for this. He made me feel just as comfortable as any female doctor could have.

Unfortunately Dr. Harry was OOO during my monitoring period before my retrieval, so he wasn't the one administering the visits/treatment plans while I was doing the hormones leading up to retrieval. I did sense a small bit of disappointment after my retrieval in that he had hoped my retrieval numbers would have been slightly higher but that he didn't do my monitoring so he didn't know if there was a reason why I didn't get the 20-25 number he had hoped for. After hearing that, I had wished he had done my monitoring so as to see if I would have gotten different results.

Monitoring was extremely convenient. The only thing I wish that could have been different was that I wish Dr Harry was in the office during that time. Unfortunately with the way the scheduling worked out and my cycle, he was OOO and I think I would have felt a bit more confident about the entire thing had he been able to see me through start to finish.

I paid a $35 copay every single time I visited the clinic. I paid $275 to Freedom Care Fertility Pharmacy for my injectable hormones. For my retrieval, I paid a $2,700 fee to Kofinas, a $1,100 facility fee to Manhattan Reproductive Surgery Center and a separate $400 for Albumin IV for Hyperstimulation. I am still waiting on that to be submitted to my insurance company to hopefully be reimbursed.

N/A

Dr. Narine was very professional with excellent bedside manners. She listens to concerns and takes the time to explain your diagnosis as well as answer questions. Despite my fertility issues being somewhat different than what other women experience, she was very thorough and compassionate to my situation.

Do not wait a second more to get an answer to your fertility issue!

I was fortunate enough that my insurance covered most if not all of the cost of my testing and surgery. Before anything was decided they sat me with a billing consultant that reviewed the cost with me and how much my insurance would cover before any decisions were made.

Dr. Sullivan and Dr. Kofinas are extremely warm and caring individuals. Every single dealing I have had with them has been extremely pleasant and professional. They take the time to carefully craft your protocol because they understand that not every woman's reproductive journey is the same.

Dr. Sullivan and Dr. Kofinas are honest and will not "sugar coat" a prognosis. I totally respect this approach and encourage it. While many may see this as being harsh, the truth is that their honesty and transparency are what helped me navigate this difficult journey.

My treatment strategies were carefully coordinated by Dr. Sullivan and Dr. Kofinas. Because I have diminished ovarian reserve and high FSH, it was necessary to be closely monitored. This usualy entailed being at the office 3 -4 times a week for bloods and sonograms. Depending on my hormone levels and the sonograms they would carefully construct medication protocols that catered to the individual needs of my body. In my particular case, too much stimulation was not necessary. This is a very careful science and so protocols for each cyle varied and because of that it is hard to remember the exact treatment strategies.

Monitoring takes place between 7am and 9am. It is first come first serve unless you are just coming for blood work only. There is an ipad when you first walk in that you check in. It is a very organized process.

I am very fortunate to have medical insurance. However, with that being said I have so far spent since March of 2019 about $25,000. This includes copays, medications, and procedures.

After 2 cycles of IVF my body was only able to produce 1 egg for an embryo transfer.

The comprehensive medical plan was explained empathetically with detail. She shared all of my results with me and explained how the treatment plan addressed my needs as a patient. She asked us if we had any questions, so that both my husband and I can voice our concerns.

Ask questions when she asks if you have any. She is willing to explain your treatment plan and how the science works.

We only did three cycles of IUI. I was scheduled for laparoscopy surgery to check to see if I had endometriosis and to make sure my uterus had no issues before moving forward. She wanted to check to see if there were any issues before we moved on to either IUI or proceeded with IVF. We were planning to determine which path to take based on the results of the procedure. Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit NYC, I have been in touch with her and am continuing on my regimen of medications to ensure that all my hormone levels remain ideal for fertility when we resume treatment this summer.

I have GHI/Emblem Health and as a public school teacher, my copayments consisted of lab fees ($20) and doctor visit fees ($50 per visit). IUI cycles were covered by my insurance company.

Not applicable. We did not discuss this yet.

Dr. Masbou is the embodiment of an exemplary doctor. My experience as a patient was extremely positive. She was able to explain each step of the multiple processes involved in an IVF Cycle. Her knowledge and expertise is evident, as she is able to explain treatment plans, treatments, and the rationale behind them. Dr. Masbou was able to help prepare me both mentally and physically for the demands and changes that would occur along with Egg Retrieval, Embryo Creation and Preservation, Frozen Embryo Transfer, and Early Pregnancy. She was extremely responsive in a prompt manner to the any questions, concerns, and nervousness that arose over the course of treatment. Her positive and optimistic attitude works wonders during an extremely stressful time and process. As a patient I was fortunate to have been under her care. It is evident she has a passion for her field and expertise and any patient is in the safest hands under her care.

Trust her because she beyond knows what she is doing.

Egg Retrievals: Dr. Masbou used Estrogen Priming during my Ovarian Stimulation in hopes of achieving optimal results in embryos reaching the blastocyst stage. The more embryos you have the greater likelihood it will lead to a live birth. Laparoscopy: Dr. Masbou diagnosed and advised removal of one of my Fallopian Tubes, which had hydrosalpinx, which can effect treatment success rates significantly. Embryo Transfer: Dr. Masbou had me prepare for a Frozen Embryo Transfer using Lupron. This is effective in quieting your reproductive system down. She also helped me manage a blood clotting disorder using a blood thinner to prevent miscarriage.

Most of my care was covered under my insurance plan. Anything additional, such as PGS Testing were presented to us an in open-ended fashion, with costs, pros, and cons on the table in an honest manner.

My doctor recommended a single embryo transfer due to age and other appropriate situational factors.