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

Dr. Hari is exceptional and went above and beyond my own expectations for this experience. He is knowledgeable, patient and treats you with compassion. He takes the time to explain all results and next steps, follows up when needed, and answers emails within the day. I found him yo be an incredible doctor who left no stone unturned to help get me pregnant.

Trust him and the process.

We started with a workup including bloodwork, hsn and hsg. Those findings, along with other symptoms led us to believe I had endometriosis. I had a laparoscopic surgery to remove scar tissue and a polyp prior to beginning stimulants. Once healed I began the ivf process.

Morning hours can be rushed, but I always found I was seen quickly once the doctor came in.

There was a copay for each visit under my insurance. My insurance also did not fully cover stimulant meds, so I wound up buying directly from Kofinas which was convenient and cheaper (for me).

He recommended only transferring 1 embryo (I had 2 normal embryos) due to multiples being high risk

Dr. C is extremely knowledgeable in the field exuding the confidence you need to feel in your doctor when undergoing such an important process. He was always present which in this day in age is not something that can be taken for granted. He was always available via email with extremely timely responses. Every step of my IVF cycle was closely monitored and altered based on each appointment. Following failed cycles, novel treatment options and altered medication regiments were used in attempt to improve the results of the next.

If you want someone that will do everything possible to help you succeed, go see Dr. C.

The medication protocol (each time varied to some degree) included clomid, cetrotide, gonal, menopur, HCG and Lupron. I had a laparoscopic procedure to r/o endometriosis following my first unsuccessful IVF cycle- revealing insignificant amount of endometriosis. I underwent ovarian PRP (plasma rich platelets) following by second unsuccessful IVF cycle- resulting in one healthy embryo for each of the next two IVF cycles.

The monitoring appointment window was conveniently scheduled for the mornings, making it possible to complete prior to work.

Approximately $60,000.

Dr C is a dream of a doctor. He treated us with respect, compassion, and professionalism. It was clear that he loves his job. I always felt he respected my choices, and he was also guided by what he thought clinically would be most suited to our needs.

Though there may be setbacks, you can absolutely trust in the advice given by Dr. C. He is the doctor you want by your side on the sometimes long road to having a baby. I recommend seeing Dr C at the Brooklyn office as he is there nearly every day and there was excellent continuity of care as, for the most part, I saw only him. His colleagues and the nursing staff are also excellent.

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.

We were very excited to meet Dr. C. We met him in the summer of 2021 and both my partner and I agreed that he will "The One". We had very bad experience in the past with other clinic and after meeting Dr. C, we knew that we will be safe at his clinic. Every suggestion, every course of our treatment, he guided us and suggested the best procedures and treatments. We listened to him and trusted his plan, and we finally got our first pregnancy test in November 2022. We are super grateful and excited. I would recommend family and friends to turn to this doctors if you want to have a baby!

Come with a positive attitude and smiles!

I had insurance, but some medications I had to pay extra.

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.

Like I said before, he's very personable, making the time to get to know you. He keeps you at ease throughout the whole journey. No question is too stupid to ask. He has great bedside manner. The only con is that he doesn't see you throughout the whole pregnancy.

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.

This doctor really cares about his patients. He is reachable outside of his office and answers all your questions. He is friendly and very down to earth. Very professional! I think he was God sent and I am thankful he was able to help me. After visiting 4 different fertility doctors I finally found someone who was able to tell me why I was not able to have kids. Dr. C found the root of my problem and recommended a surgery that led to a successful IVF.

Be patient, have faith and trust this doctor who is very knowledgeable and professional.

I remember doctor C recommended me to do IVF after I had a laparoscopy surgery. I was the best choice I made due to my medical history and the damage endometriosis made to my uterus and ovaries.

None!

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

Doctor Harry was wonderful and caring. He was knowledgeable and clear. He always took time to explain things clearly to me. He has a very kind gentle demeanor. Fertility struggles are extremely mentally, physically and emotionally draining and he is very supportive. He was vigilant in responding to emails whenever I had questions and concerns. When there were rare things I experienced that he needed second opinions on, he reached out to senior doctors at the practice for further guidance. I appreciated that greatly. My second round of ivf was very taxing with many added medications. He knew the right combination for me! Now I’m 11 weeks pregnant!

Make sure to clear enough time in the morning for the appointments. There can sometimes be lengthy wait times due to many women needing his care. It’ll all be worth it when he gets to you!

Doctor Harry recommended doing a mock transfer before my first transfer to try and identify and further causes for infertility. Against his advice I chose to do the transfer due to the way it would have processed with the insurance. After the first round failed I went ahead with the mock cycle. He was able to identify two issues and treat them during the transfer and first trimester and it worked and got me pregnant after three years of trying. I had two surgeries, multiple iuis and medicated cycles before trying ivf.

There are no appointments for monitoring. They have walk in hours from 7-9. With that being said it is first come first serve and many woman show up before the clinic opens to get their spot in line. So I recommend getting there early to avoid long wait times.

Each copay is $50 unless you are there for just bloodwork which is $20. For the iui cycle insurance covered most of the costs. For ivf it was $5600 facility fee for one retrieval and one transfer (this portion is not covered by insurance). It’s an additional $5000 for PGT genetic testing which I highly recommend. There are also fees associated with cryo preservation and storage of the embryos. Be prepared for the copays as you will be in the clinic 3-4 times a week during a cycle. Medication can be expensive but if you purchase suppositories outside of the clinic you can get them cheaper.

I initially wanted to attempt a two embryo transfer. Doctor Harry advised against it and listed the reasons why. At first I was discouraged and disappointment. However, after doing some research I saw that single was the safest way. Now that I am pregnant I am glad I decided to go with the single embryo transfer.

I had a good experience with Dr. C. I was really not excited about fertility treatment and he let me take my time with different procedures and work around my schedule. I ended up doing 2 IUI cycles and 1 IVF, IVF worked the first time. He was honest about my conditions, risks, and needs and took every step to ensure things were done correctly and with the best available information and treatment. Kofinas is a very high quality clinic with expert Dr.s and nurses. He would respond very quickly to emails at all times of day with questions I had, and supported decision making around different treatments, and while the clinic would sometimes be busy he would do things efficiently but take time to explain and describe what he was seeing. I don't think I could have asked for a better Dr.

I think be prepared for the long haul of fertility treatment which is not necessarily a piece of advice for working with Dr. C. He will advocate for the very best treatment - he is a smart and thorough Dr. Be comfortable asking questions. There are other clinics out there that have different standards of care - Kofinas and Dr. C provide the highest quality i've seen.

I used a medicated natural cycle, because I wasn't ready for the invasiveness of IUI or IVF - this was taking a pill and then having timed intercourse. This was not successful. I did 2 IUI treatments, with medication (hormones and trigger shot) - these were not successful. I did egg retrieval - I got 36 eggs, 21 made it to day 5 embryo, and 6 passed the genetic test. This was on many medications for hormones. I did a blood infusion treatment (i think) following egg retrieval to reduce over stimulation syndrome. I was very uncomfortable following egg retrieval but that was expected and it went away after a few weeks. I was on a high protein diet. After the embryo transfer I was on a mix of hormones, then then a multiple week treatment of progesterone oil, suppositories, estradiol, estradiol cream, lenovox, and metformin. This resulted in a positive pregnancy (I'm ~11 weeks) on the first try.

This was efficient. Most of the time I was in and out in one hour- sometimes it took much longer, other times less.

~$4000

No comments.

My experience as one of Dr Charalampos Chatzicharalampous patients was phenomenal!! The man knows everything! He had answered for all my questions. I never left there feeling discouraged or disappointed or not knowing what's the next step is. He made everything seems so simple and i like that alot about him. He's very encouraging. If i have to do this all over again i would definitely choose Dr Harry. I'm very confident in him. I also love the fact that he does all his sonograms and not sending you to get it done from a second party.

Don't doubt anything that he said!! Any questions you may have Don't be afraid to ask him. He have answers for them all.

I did a biospsy and a polypectomy surgery to removed polyp. I also did 2 cycles of IUI and here I'm now 20 weeks pregnant can't wait to meet my little girl! Thank you very much Dr Harry!