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.

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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.

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

Working with Dr. Harry was a dream! He was very detailed when explaining each step of the process, what our different options were and his recommendations to achieve our preferred outcome - which was to get pregnant as soon as possible. He was very easy to connect with, made me laugh, and kept me optimistic throughout the process.

Trust him. He knows what he is doing!

With my secondary infertility being unexplained, we did several tests to try and figure out what was going on, but never really landed on a clear explanation. We did two rounds of IUI, with the understanding that the odds of conception were low. After two unsuccessful inseminations, we decided to move quickly to IVF. We had a successful egg retrieval and our first transfer took. I am currently 8 months pregnant and expecting a baby boy in November!

Dr. Harry recommended a single embryo transfer, which we were incredibly supportive of.

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

Dr. C. was a wonderful doctor. We worked with him through three IUIs and after that didn't work he asked if I still wanted to get pregnant because he thought that IVF would be a great option. He was right and our first time worked perfectly!

Trust what he says. He really knows what he is doing.

We first did a surgery to remove some cysts. Then we did 3 IUIs which were unsuccessful. I ended up producing quite a few eggs each time but it never took with the sperm and the timing of everything. We did a consult for IVF and started right away. All of the hormones and treatments were extremely effective and we are now ten weeks pregnant with our first child.

Monitoring is every day at every location between 7-9am. As a teacher I could get there early but I would still often be late for work. Thankfully my supervisors understood. Sometimes you'd be in and out super fast but if there were a lot of women there it would take longer. Honestly though this is the best method because there is no way to know how long each person will take so it's first come first served. Just bring a book and relax in case there are a lot of people and sometimes you're in and out very quick. There's no way to predict because every woman is on a different monitoring schedule.

I don't even want to look this up. I have a very thick folder full of receipts. Our insurance covered some things. Each visit with any type of monitoring was $50. Anytime I went just for bloodwork it was $30. Our insurance didn't pay for genetic testing which was $5,000. Our insurance also didn't pay for facility fees which were a few hundred dollars. There was a lot more that added up than we thought. For example, some meds we needed were not covered by insurance but I'm glad we paid for them out of pocket because it resulted in a pregnancy.

Our doctor recommended only transferring one embryo since it was our first time and I'm only 34 years old. He explained that there are so many risks to multiple births that it isn't worth it.

Dr. Charalampos Chatzicharalampous is the best fertility doctor I have seen. From the first time I met him he put me at ease. He treats his patients as equals, listens attentively to concerns and works with you to your comfort level. The hardest part of IVF is the feeling that you have no control over the process and it is quite an intense protocol. Dr. C was always willing to work with me if I felt I was having adverse effects to certain parts of the protocol, and he would encourage me by making me understand why certain aspects are imperative to success. As a result, I felt increasingly like I was in control of the process with him and it became less daunting over time. He has a great sense of humor that immediately endears him to his patients and is very important when talking about fertility! When my first round of FET didn't take, I felt he was just as baffled as I was when relaying the news. Indeed I felt completely in it with him the entire time. His direct but compassionate approach was exactly what I was looking for in a fertility doctor and I would recommend him to anyone considering fertility treatments.

Feel free to bring up any concerns and/or questions you may have. If you find a study that shows conflicting results from the protocol at Kofinas, show it to him; he will look into it!

Honestly at this point I have forgotten the specifics of protocol. I know it started with estradiol, then added progesterone injections, along with extensive supplements and closer to the procedure there were a few days of prednisone.

It's different for everyone depending on which insurance provider you have but procedures became less expensive each time, every Dr visit had a $90 co-pay and you could return drugs (for freezing) and get money back- they were always willing to look for the cheapest option for you. I did one round of freezing, two hysteroscopies, 2 IUIs, 2 FETs, and I believe over that time span of 8 years I spent under $30,000 total.

The thinking at Kofinas was that if it is a tested 5 day embryo, then only one would be transferred. If it was a 3day embryo which can not be tested then they would transfer more than one.

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.

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