Dr Lu is a great doctor - His end goal is getting you pregnant by means of treatment with the best odds, but this sometimes made me feel pressured into treatment I wasn’t prepared for. I feel jumping into IVF isn’t the right next step for me until we figure out why I keep losing pregnancies...very forthcoming with information. He uses a lot of statistics in his approach...
They [Fertility Institute of New Orleans] are extremely easy to get an appointment with. I was very pleasantly surprised to get an appointment as quickly as I did. They have ultrasound and labs on-site to make every appointment extremely easy. They are also very quick to report results from testing....The nursing staff is so wonderful at FINO. They are extremely compassionate and make sure every question is answered at each visit.
How was your experience with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Dr Lu is a great doctor - His end goal is getting you pregnant by means of treatment with the best odds, but this sometimes made me feel pressured into treatment I wasn’t prepared for. I feel jumping into IVF isn’t the right next step for me until we figure out why I keep losing pregnancies.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Dr Lu is a wonderful doctor for anyone with “traditional” fertility issues such as low AMH, male factor infertility, etc. He was hesitant to look into newer research for recurrent loss in my case. If you want to try experimental/newer treatment perhaps a different doctor might be the way to go.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Dr Lu was very forthcoming with information. He uses a lot of statistics in his approach.
Describe the protocols Peter Lu used in your cycles at Fertility Institute of New Orleans and their degree of success.
I did 2 cycles of Letrozole (2.5mg) with timed intercourse and oral progesterone supplements. The first was not successful but the second resulted in a positive pregnancy test but ended in an early loss. For the third cycle, we used Follistim injections, timed intercourse and progesterone suppositories. That cycle resulted in a positive pregnancy test but again an early loss.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
The nursing staff is so wonderful at FINO. They are extremely compassionate and make sure every question is answered at each visit. I loved 2 nurses - Paige and Wendy, but really every single one was great.
Describe your experience with Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
I have been so happy with the care of FINO as a whole. They are extremely easy to get an appointment with. I was very pleasantly surprised to get an appointment as quickly as I did. They have ultrasound and labs on-site to make every appointment extremely easy. They are also very quick to report results from testing which is so nice considering the stress you are already feeling going through this process.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
I have no fertility coverage - medicated cycles with oral medications were $900 + the cost of meds paid upfront at the cycle start and medicated cycles with injectable meds were $1395 + the cost of meds paid upfront. Additional testing is not included in those costs - Karyotyping was an additional $500 for my husband and I and an ERA with monitoring was $1500.
Describe Peter Lu's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
Dr. Lu had always explained a lot of scenarios and circumstances in the form of statistics. This helped my husband, a very logical man that enjoys facts, to understand how to process certain decisions we needed to make. I also know that he would always answer any questions we had openly and candidly, and I appreciated it so much. His bedside manner was pretty good, but I also know that sometimes we weren't ready for certain procedures, and he was very eager to do them than we were at times.
The Mandeville clinic [of Fertility Institute of New Orleans] is spacious, nurses are great, and the doctor's care and really are informative and compassionate. Weaknesses would just be availability of Dr. Lu being in the Mandeville location versus Metairie can sometimes be inconvenient....First consultation and bloodwork + ultrasounds were $700 (this included genetic chromosonal testing for my husband). HSG test was $675. Post coital test, bloodwork, HCG shot + consultation was $450.
How was your experience with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Dr. Lu had always explained a lot of scenarios and circumstances in the form of statistics. This helped my husband, a very logical man that enjoys facts, to understand how to process certain decisions we needed to make. I also know that he would always answer any questions we had openly and candidly, and I appreciated it so much. His bedside manner was pretty good, but I also know that sometimes we weren't ready for certain procedures, and he was very eager to do them than we were at times. That's the only conflict of any kind that had arose.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
If you want to fully understand your options, Dr. Lu will line it out very well. Also don't be afraid to ask for time to think about it and process all the statistics he provides before making these big decisions.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
I feel like Dr. Lu was very excited and painted the best picture of what the process would look like. Sometimes it may be more so the nurses or other staff that can tend to give a vibe of being more like a number, when it seems like it is more routine for them and a bit less personal in their interactions.
Describe the protocols Peter Lu used in your cycles at Fertility Institute of New Orleans and their degree of success.
Dr. Lu had first tried a trigger shot and nothing else to see if my mature follicles would mature and fertilize naturally, they did not. After that he had me on Letrozole 2.5mg paired with a trigger resulting in negative pregnancy teset. Then the next cycle 5mg of Letrozole with no trigger, resulting in a negative pregnancy test. And lastly the next cycle after that 7.5mg of Letrozole + trigger + IUI, which resulted in a chemical pregnancy.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
I would generally just say that I liked Eve, Sadie, and the lab lady in the Mandeville location. But I was never fond of having to go to the Metairie office whenever I needed to go there because that is where Dr. Lu was on that particular, because he works out of Mandeville and Metairie on certain days of the week. I didn't like the staff in Metairie, they were kinda in a rush, and at the end of the day they complained a lot around the nurses station, and you could so hear it from the patient's room.
Describe your experience with Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
The Mandeville clinic is spacious, nurses are great, and the doctor's care and really are informative and compassionate. Weaknesses would just be availability of Dr. Lu being in the Mandeville location versus Metairie can sometimes be inconvenient. .
Describe the costs associated with your care under Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
First consultation and bloodwork + ultrasounds were $700 (this included genetic chromosonal testing for my husband). HSG test was $675. Post coital test, bloodwork, HCG shot + consultation was $450. Flat fee for monitored cycle with oral medication was $875. And our IUI which was done on a weekend so it was slightly higher than a weekday was $550.
Dr.Lu made the process as painless as possible. He always explained everything in detail including the risks and the chances of success...the first thing I did with him was IUI twice with injections including gonal-f, cetrotide, and trigger shot. I did not have success with either, but my body did respond more positively with the second round of IUI...
If I asked questions, they [nurse of Fertility Institute of New Orleans] would always answer them, but sometimes I felt like they could’ve explained things a little better...Overall everyone at the clinic is very nice...It was about $1100 per IUI cycle for monitoring $525 per IUI The HSG was about $800 Initial consult was about $100-$200 They charge you 2.5% service fee for using credit cards which sucks when that’s the only way you can afford to do fertility treatments
How was your experience with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Dr.Lu made the process as painless as possible. He always explained everything in detail including the risks and the chances of success. I do wish I could have seen him more than just at the initial visit and the IUI day.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Be patient. Be open minded.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
I felt like a human because he took the time to talk about my treatment plan and options. He always broke down everything in terms I could understand. I never felt rushed when talking to him. He genuinely wants to see his patients have success.
Describe the protocols Peter Lu used in your cycles at Fertility Institute of New Orleans and their degree of success.
I did clomid with my obgyn before meeting with Dr.Lu so the first thing I did with him was IUI twice with injections including gonal-f, cetrotide, and trigger shot. I did not have success with either, but my body did respond more positively with the second round of IUI. He diagnosed me with moderate PCOS. I have not been able to do a third cycle of IUI due to COVID-19 but plan to when the clinic reopens.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
The nurses will helpful. Sometimes I felt rushed and wanted more clarification. If I asked questions, they would always answer them, but sometimes I felt like they could’ve explained things a little better. They were always kind though.
Describe your experience with Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
Overall everyone at the clinic is very nice. Holly who always did my ultrasounds was amazing and super sweet. She remembered details about you and made the process as painless as possible. I always appreciated her compassion. The ladies who work the front desk area are also wonderful. They remembered me personally and were always nice.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
It was about $1100 per IUI cycle for monitoring
$525 per IUI
The HSG was about $800
Initial consult was about $100-$200
They charge you 2.5% service fee for using credit cards which sucks when that’s the only way you can afford to do fertility treatments
What specific things went wrong at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
A couple days before my IUI I met with my nurse as usual and told her I needed a prescription of progesterone called in for my IUI day. She said she would get it taken care. I called my pharmacy the day before my IUI and they said they never received it. I was able to get a prescription on the day of my IUI though so it wasn’t a big deal.
After meeting with Dr. Lu for the first time, my husband and I felt immediately at home. Our first consultation with him lasted for over an hour. Dr. Lu explained everything in great detail and never once made us feel rushed...made sure we felt comfortable before leaving his office...is a numbers guy. From the moment we stepped into his office he had a very detailed plan of how our second round of IVF would go. Dr. Lu sat my husband and I down for over an hour and explained in great detail every step he would take and every change he would make to our treatment plan. Dr. Lu reminded me repeatedly that he had my best inte
Mrs. Mary [nurse at Fertility Institute of New Orleans] has been absolutely wonderful. She replies to my emails and calls in a timely matter and covered in great detail everything we needed to know about our upcoming IVF cycle...The totally cost of a complete IVF cycle with FINO is a little more expense than our previous clinic. Our previous clinic cost roughly $16k whereas FINO will run us around $21K...Short waiting times, excellent communication between staff and patients, and a warm, welcoming environment. We are very happy to be a part of FINO.
How was your experience with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Dr. Lu is a numbers guy. From the moment we stepped into his office he had a very detailed plan of how our second round of IVF would go. Dr. Lu sat my husband and I down for over an hour and explained in great detail every step he would take and every change he would make to our treatment plan. Dr. Lu reminded me repeatedly that he had my best interest in heart and that the recommendations he gave to me he would also give to his family member.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Write everything down before going to your appointment. Dr. Lu will cover any questions you have while also providing statistics. Just make sure you remember everything you wanted to ask.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
After meeting with Dr. Lu for the first time, my husband and I felt immediately at home. Our first consultation with him lasted for over an hour. Dr. Lu explained everything in great detail and never once made us feel rushed. Dr. Lu answered every question in great detail and made sure we felt comfortable before leaving his office.
Describe the protocols Peter Lu used in your cycles at Fertility Institute of New Orleans and their degree of success.
Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, we were unable to move forward with our second IVF cycle. Our first IVF cycle in 2019 resulted in 2 PGS normal embryos from a different clinic. Our first FET resulted in a miscarriage at 6 weeks and the second was a failed implantation. Dr. Lu went over a different strategy and medication protocol he would like to try when we are able to continue with our next IVF cycle.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Fertility Institute of New Orleans. (Assigned nurse: Mary)
Mrs. Mary has been absolutely wonderful. She replies to my emails and calls in a timely matter and covered in great detail everything we needed to know about our upcoming IVF cycle.
Describe your experience with Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
I have not had any issues with our new clinic at all. Short waiting times, excellent communication between staff and patients, and a warm, welcoming environment. We are very happy to be a part of FINO.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
The totally cost of a complete IVF cycle with FINO is a little more expense than our previous clinic. Our previous clinic cost roughly $16k whereas FINO will run us around $21K.
Describe Peter Lu's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
Dr. Lu strong believes in single embryo transfers and we have no objection to that.
Dr Lu was alway very through with his thoughts on my case and the path forward. He explain everything so I understood and always made sure I understood. When I was responding like he expected to my treatment he switch up my protocol and explain why and what he wanted to accomplish with the change. He also began monitoring but me more to watch for changes so we wouldn’t have to cancel my cycle. He has the best bed side manners and no was generally concerned about mum well being after my Procedures.
She [Fertility Institute of New Orleans nurse] is very caring and compassionate. She is very detailed Oriented and made sure I complete under stood my calendar and my meds before leaving from the visit. She also responded to all my calls the same day...The Metairie office rooms are very small however it’s not issue as there was plenty room for my Husband to always be in the room with me during all procedures..
How was your experience with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Dr Lu was alway very through with his thoughts on my case and the path forward. He explain everything so I understood and always made sure I understood. When I was responding like he expected to my treatment he switch up my
protocol and explain why and what he wanted to accomplish with the change. He also began monitoring but me more to watch for changes so we wouldn’t have to cancel my cycle. He has the best bed side manners and no was generally concerned about mum well being after my
Procedures.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
He is a numbers man and will give your the odds in percents.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
I felt like Dr. Lu was invested in me and my protocol was specialized to me and I was not thrown into a pool and made to follow along with other
Describe your experience with your nurse at Fertility Institute of New Orleans. (Assigned nurse: Ashley)
I absolutely love Ashely. She is very caring and compassionate. She is very detailed Oriented and made sure I complete under stood my calendar and my meds before leaving from the visit. She also responded to all my calls the same day
Describe your experience with Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
The Metairie office rooms are very small however it’s not issue as there was plenty room for my
Husband to always be in the room with me during all procedures. I often though of if as just being cozy. There was
Describe the costs associated with your care under Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
I had some insurance coverage so we didn’t have full put of pocket. What I didn’t have to pay they were willing to work with us on large payments and timing. We were aware ahead of time when payments needed to be made
Describe Peter Lu's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
Due to the risk associated with transferring 2 embryos he recommended one for a great chance at success as well as my health and safety
Dr Lu is very personable and compassionate. He is always upbeat and encouraging at what I described as a very sad lonely time. He takes the team approach, meaning we are all in this together not just him running the show...reviewed my labs and clinical history specifically to me and not just based on statistics
Appointments [at Fertility Institute of New Orleans] are easy to obtain. Very warm and friendly welcome. Be prepared to start lab work even a ultrasound your first visit...[The nurses are] completely compassionate and get back to you in a timely fashion
How was your experience with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Dr Lu is very personable and compassionate. He is always upbeat and encouraging at what I described as a very sad lonely time. He takes the team approach, meaning we are all in this together not just him running the show.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Bring everything to the table and tell him what you expect.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
He sat down with me and reviewed my labs and clinical history specifically to me and not just based on statistics.
Describe the protocols Peter Lu used in your cycles at Fertility Institute of New Orleans and their degree of success.
On our very first visit he started with blood work and semen analysis. Turns out my AMH is very low so he didn’t want to waste time or money doing any cycle with my own eggs. He did redraw the lab work just to ease my own mine. He performed a Sonohystagram to check on my fibroid to make sure it was in a ok spot. He then told me to go find donor eggs.
My husband and I looked into donor eggs in America and decided to travel to Greece to do donor egg transfer. After 2 failed transfers we came back to Dr. Lu. We were set up to do a ERA before my next transfer and then COVID-19 put us on hold. Dr Lu wants to do a ERA to check my lining and timing and my progesterone levels.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Fertility Institute of New Orleans. (Assigned nurse: Ashley)
Completely compassionate and get back to you in a timely fashion
Describe your experience with Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
Appointments are easy to obtain. Very warm and friendly welcome. Be prepared to start lab work even a ultrasound your first visit. Office is easy to get to and parking lot is a little full for afternoon visits. The clinic will file insurance but as most of us know most of the testing is not covered. They have a lab on site, and 2 ultrasound techs so everything is done at the clinic. They also do semen analysis at the clinic as well. So no need to go to extra labs or testing sites.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
ERA cost approx $1500
Initial office visit around 50-100 but my insurance paid for the initial visit
Describe Peter Lu's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
Dr. Lu was very easy to talk to. He was good at keeping things light while also being compassionate and understanding. He was great at explaining options and answering questions, and he never made it feel like he was rushing to get to his next patient..He always knew both of us and the specific details of our situation. He never had to stop to check the file or ask questions repetitively.
The clinic [Fertility Institute of New Orleans] has a short wait time compared to most doctor’s offices. The secretaries are wonderful and they know you by name after a few visits...For my wife’s IUI cycles, she used gonal-f to stimulate follicle growth. She used cetrocide to delay ovulation and then the trigger shot to induce ovulation...for one IUI cycle it was arbor $2700-2800. Before starting the first round, my wife had to get a dye test done and that cost $800.
How was your experience with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Dr. Lu was very easy to talk to. He was good at keeping things light while also being compassionate and understanding. He was great at explaining options and answering questions, and he never made it feel like he was rushing to get to his next patient. He took his time and knew us as patients.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Bring a pen and a paper because he will give you a lot of good information.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
He always knew both of us and the specific details of our situation. He never had to stop to check the file or ask questions repetitively. He always was good at making jokes and talking conversationally.
Describe the protocols Peter Lu used in your cycles at Fertility Institute of New Orleans and their degree of success.
For my wife’s IUI cycles, she used gonal-f to stimulate follicle growth. She used cetrocide to delay ovulation and then the trigger shot to induce ovulation. This was for both cycles. She would go in for blood tests and an ultra sound every other day, and it was every day at the time where ovulation was close. The nurse would call back within an hour or two after t he blood test to relay what dose of what medication Dr. Lu said to take for that day(s). Dr. Lu said since my wife had PCOS and was in good shape, and also because her dye test showed her uterus was in good condition, that rounds of injections would be good for her. Also because of my retrograde ejaculation, he said IUI was the best option. I do believe these cycles will work but we have gone through two cycles and have not gotten pregnant.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
Most nurses were conversational and good at explaining what the ultrasound showed and how to administer medications and whatnot. They were easy to talk to and very knowledgeable.
Describe your experience with Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
The clinic has a short wait time compared to most doctor’s offices. The secretaries are wonderful and they know you by name after a few visits. It feels almost like a family. Strengths include caring and knowledgeable staff and a light yet compassionate atmosphere.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
For one cycle of IUI, you could pay all doctor visits, bloodwork, and ultrasounds in a bundle for $1000. This cost was for up to ovulation. The medications needed cost about another $1200. The IUI procedure itself was $550. So for one IUI cycle it was arbor $2700-2800. Before starting the first round, my wife had to get a dye test done and that cost $800.
Describe Peter Lu's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
N/a. We did IUI, and Dr. Lu stated that with these medications the chances of multiples are higher, but we did not discuss embryo transfer.
Dr. Lu is an upfront and honest doctor. He explains everything and is more than willing to answer any questions that we have...When I had a miscarriage after IUI he called me personally to talk me through the process and where to go from there...Ive gone through 2 IUI cycles with Dr Lu. These included bloodwork every 2-3 days, injections, and ultrasounds...[he] genuinely cares about his patients and their wants/needs/health
[nurse of Fertility Institute of New Orleans] is super organized and helpful... She explained all procedures, injections included thoroughly and without hesitation...The only thing that has been very expensive are medications...Everyone is on a first name basis and you know that they care as much as you do about your experience...He [Dr. Lu] explains everything and is more than willing to answer any questions that we have
How was your experience with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Dr Lu is an upfront and honest doctor. He explains everything and is more than willing to answer any questions that we have. He explains every step of your process and all procedures. I could not ask for a better doctor to go through this journey with. When I had a miscarriage after IUI he called me personally to talk me through the process and where to go from there.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
These processes are very fast paced, but he is there every step of the way to encourage you and give a helping hand wherever needed.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Dr Lu genuinely cares about his patients and their wants/needs/health. I have spoken directly to him over the phone concerning test results. There is no other doctor that I would trust with my fertility needs other than Dr Lu.
Describe the protocols Peter Lu used in your cycles at Fertility Institute of New Orleans and their degree of success.
Ive gone through 2 IUI cycles with Dr Lu. These included bloodwork every 2-3 days, injections, and ultrasounds.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Fertility Institute of New Orleans. (Assigned nurse: Gaynell)
Gaynell is super organized and helpful. Any question I had she answered without hesitation. She explained all procedures, injections included thoroughly and without hesitation.
Describe your experience with Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
The office staff is very friendly. They are all involved with every patient. All off the staff gets excited with you when you get satisfying results. Everyone is on a first name basis and you know that they care as much as you do about your experience. I have never had a bad experience with any of them.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
Starting out we were petrified over the costs of services. The only thing that has been very expensive are medications. All procedures were not as expensive as we had originally thought they would be.
I felt like he [Dr. Lu] was great assessing where we were at and had compassion for us...Based on my hormones, age, and amount of time not getting pregnant, he narrowed down the problem very quickly because we brought in a lot of important tests results into our first appointment...Ask any questions you have, don't leave anything to assumption, he'll be happy to answer them
[Fertility Institute of New Orleans] will line out pricing very well and give you a good expectation of what costs will be...My first consultation that included my first round of bloodwork was about $325. A medicated cycle with Femara (included blood work, ultrasounds, etc) was a flat price of $875. Post coital tests were $87 each...The bloodwork and ultrasound techs are quick and efficient!
How was your experience with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
I felt like he was great assessing where we were at and had compassion for us. He and my husband got along great and I really enjoyed our conversation with Dr Lu about some of our assumptions about infertility and he really shed a lot of light on what the facts are.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Ask any questions you have, don't leave anything to assumption, he'll be happy to answer them.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
I think he has a great way of being realistic with possibilities but also hopeful by always having a great plan of what we can do.
Describe the protocols Peter Lu used in your cycles at Fertility Institute of New Orleans and their degree of success.
Based on my hormones, age, and amount of time not getting pregnant, he narrowed down the problem very quickly because we brought in a lot of important tests results into our first appointment (semen analysis, previous hormone blood tests, genetic testing on my husband and myself, etc). Our first visit with Dr. Lu was a consultation and day two of my cycle so we got to start monitoring everything right away. Later in that cycle we did a trigger shot after an ulttasound and that ended in no pregnancy. The following month I went on 5mg of femara and that also resulted in no pregnanct. We will up my dose of Femara to 7.5 next month and see how that goes. I consider my body reacting to the medication but because it was quite as many large follicles as Doctor Lu would have liked to have seen, he decided the next step is upping the dose of Femara.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Fertility Institute of New Orleans. (Assigned nurse: Not neccessarily, but I have mostly directed my questions to Eve at the Mandeville location, and she has been great!)
Eve has a great working relationship with Dr Lu so you can see there is great consistently on how they communicate and approach questions. They have worked together for a long time and I like that she really keeps up with every appointment and details very intentionally. I would say I am not as fond of the nurses in the Metairie location, just for the particular reason that they are slightly less professional, but still friendly.
Describe your experience with Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
I think with most medical clinics you need to be mindful of when you make your appointments. I would suggest having an apt earlier in the day if possible, because your afternoon appointment may be delayed due to other appointments the doctor had earlier that took longer than expected. Outside of that, they will line out pricing very well and give you a good expectation of what costs will be. The bloodwork and ultrasound techs are quick and efficient!
Describe the costs associated with your care under Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
My first consultation that included my first round of bloodwork was about $325. A medicated cycle with Femara (included blood work, ultrasounds, etc) was a flat price of $875. Post coital tests were $87 each tome.
Describe Peter Lu's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
[Dr. Peter Lu] strongly believes in the eSET method based on his previous experience...performed a full work up of me before recommending this option and believes that my uterus is not capable for having twins or multiples...is compassionate but also is a man of science and probabilities, which I appreciate. He gives you the reality but also understands the situation you are in...For the transfer cycle, I had to cancel right before the first date bc my lining wasn't the number he wanted. It was close but not close enough, so we had to postpone and try again with a new estrogen protocol.
Strengths [at Fertility Institute of New Orleans]: experienced, record of success, compassionate, logical approach. Excellent support staff, including ultrasound techs and the blood draw liason from the lab. Everything is in house. Weaknesses: Can't think of any except maybe the front desk staff could be more on the ball, but they are very nice. Sometimes they assume you know things you do not especially if you are a new patient... The Metairie campus is also very conveniently located.
How was your experience with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Dr. Lu is very smart and when you first met him, this is all you can think of and wonder if he could be compassionate with you. The answer is ultimately yes, and you realize that his intelligence is all that matters. I appreciated his candor and logical approach to fertility. I do not want someone to treat me just because I want it. I want someone to treat me because they know they can. This is how you feel when under Dr. Lu's care.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Do not be put off by his statistical and logical approach when you first met him. It will overwhelm you at first, but you quickly realize that his understanding of how this works is what you can rely on. I trust that he knows best about my capability to conceive.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Dr. Lu is compassionate but also is a man of science and probabilities, which I appreciate. He gives you the reality but also understands the situation you are in. He does not take advantage of your emotions and would not recommend treatment he did not believe in. In this way he treats you like a person or family member he cares about and not just a statistic.
Describe the protocols Peter Lu used in your cycles at Fertility Institute of New Orleans and their degree of success.
Strategy for me was to have one embryo for transfer. The first cycle was successful. Egg simulation was increased towards the end of the phase, which kicked into gear my ovaries. For the transfer cycle, I had to cancel right before the first date bc my lining wasn't the number he wanted. It was close but not close enough, so we had to postpone and try again with a new estrogen protocol. I went through the transfer with no issues but lost the gamble. Getting pregnant is a gamble each time with your odds increasing each time. The second stim cycle wasn't changed much except that he increased my meds early as a result of what happened the first time. I did not respond much the second time and had no embryos. I did grow an endometrioma on my right ovary and needed surgery. We regrouped after and went with a new protocol that included lupron, or the lupron flare, for my third simulation. The goal was quality eggs. I ended up with one embryo, but it was genetically abnormal. After this news, Dr. Lu consulted with us and recommended that my AMH be tested again to see if we had some time to take a break and make a decision later as he understood the economical and emotional hardship we were going through. He says that no one else would treat me with the results I have had, but being had I the one genetically normal embryo, he believes I am still capable and told me that if I were his family member, he would encourage me to continue. He wasn't trying to get me to do it again because of the money. Instead he presented us with the option to wait depending on the AMH test and presented less financially burdening options. We are currently resting from the treatments and are confident that we will get pregnant. Dr Lu brought up egg donor options but believes I have time to try with my own before going to that step. So that's what where we are right now. Resting and planning to continue with my own eggs.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Fertility Institute of New Orleans. (Assigned nurse: Mary McGregor )
My primary nurse was great. I felt like I could ask her questions and speak to her about things that felt really personal without any judgement. My two nurses both have experience with ivf, so they could also be compassionate. The were very patient when reviewing information and answering my questions. Overall, I love the staff and wouldn't want anyone else to depend on.
Describe your experience with Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
Strengths: experienced, record of success, compassionate, logical approach. Excellent support staff, including ultrasound techs and the blood draw liason from the lab. Everything is in house.
Weaknesses: Can't think of any except maybe the front desk staff could be more on the ball, but they are very nice. Sometimes they assume you know things you do not especially if you are a new patient.
The Metairie campus is also very conveniently located.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
I only know that the generic testing was around $5k. Also it cost more for ICSE. Total with medicines, we have spent /loaned ~$60k for the treatments we completed in the last year.
Describe Peter Lu's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
Dr. Lu performed a full work up of me before recommending this option and believes that my uterus is not capable for having twins or multiples. He also strongly believes in the eSET method based on his previous experience. I trust his knowledge.
He [Dr. Lu] is willing to go out of his way to consult with me when I need him. ... He is very numbers oriented. He shows empathy, but not compassion. Sometimes I leave appointments with more questions than I came in with. ... Sometimes I think I only get information because I ask for it, not because he offers it to me. ... I can see him any time I need to, but I often feel like the nurses are managing my day to day care.
I hate that I have to call, leave a message and then wait for a call back. ... They Fertility Institute of NO] are very quick though. Not much waiting in the lobby. ... The clinic doesnt transfer two embryos in patients younger than 38 ... They once called in 4 ganarellix for me and the pharmacy sent and made me pay for 4 ganarellix. I’ve never used 4 ganarellix even in the past year and a half. ... love Mary [nurse], she’s my favorite. She knows my chart, she calls me back as soon as she can. I trust her. She talks to me like a person and not a patient.
How was your experience with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
He is willing to go out of his way to consult with me when I need him. I trust his plan, but this whole process is tedious. He is very numbers oriented. He shows empathy, but not compassion. Sometimes I leave appointments with more questions than I came in with. i often did not know which questions to ask because I was so naive about the whole process. Sometimes I think I only get information because I ask for it, not because he offers it to me.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
He is numbers oriented and more straight to the facts. There’s not a lot of hand holding.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
There are a lot of patients at this clinic. I can see him any time I need to, but I often feel like the nurses are managing my day to day care.
Describe the protocols Peter Lu used in your cycles at Fertility Institute of New Orleans and their degree of success.
IUI with follistim - negative
IUI with follistim - negative
IUI with follistim - negative
IVf with follistim and menopur - egg retrieval- 4eggs, 3 blastocyst, 1 pgs normal
Transfer prep w estrogen - cancelled, thin lining
Transfer prep w low dose estrogen - cancelled, thin lining
Transfer prep w tamoxifen - cancelled, thin lining
Transfer prep w Natural cycle - cancelled, thin lining
Transfer prep w low dose follistim - 7.4 lining, negative pregnancy test
Describe your experience with your nurse at Fertility Institute of New Orleans. (Assigned nurse: Mary)
I love Mary, she’s my favorite. She knows my chart, she calls me back as soon as she can. I trust her. She talks to me like a person and not a patient.
Describe your experience with Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
I HATE that I can’t email them and that they do not have online charting. I would like to see my records in real time. I hate that I have to call, leave a message and then wait for a call back. They are very quick though. Not much waiting in the lobby.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
I pay over $100 every time I go (sometimes up to 5x/week) on top of an large upfront cost of IVF
Describe Peter Lu's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
I only had one good egg to use, but I would have transferred two if I could. The clinic doesnt transfer two embryos in patients younger than 38
What specific things went wrong at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
They once called in 4 ganarellix for me and the pharmacy sent and made me pay for 4 ganarellix. I’ve never used 4 ganarellix even in the past year and a half.
Dr. Lu started our first cycle with monitored clomid and then made decisions on further treatment from there. ... I love that he is passionate about his work and truly does the right thing for my specific problems. ... Currently scheduled for surgery to removed uterine fibroids/ polyps and will regroup. ... Dr. Lu is very compassionate and personable. He really listens to me and takes time out of his day to answer my questions. I am very happy with his “bedside manner”.
The Metairie office [Fertility Institute of New Orleans] is nice and easy to find. ... I do not remember all of the exact totals but the office will provide you with a complete list of expected fees before procedures. ... The female phlebotomist is a little rough but it is what it is. When I first called I was told I could go between the Metairie office and Mandeville office but later found out that you need to stay where you start so be aware of that. Everyone I have encountered has been very nice and knowledgeable.
How was your experience with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Dr. Lu is very kind and caring. He makes you feel like you are his only patient. He takes time to answer my questions and really explains things in a way I can understand. I love that he is passionate about his work and truly does the right thing for my specific problems.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
When visiting Dr. Lu have questions ready and make sure you are fully aware of the next steps for your procedure.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Dr. Lu is very compassionate and personable. He really listens to me and takes time out of his day to answer my questions. I am very happy with his “bedside manner”.
Describe the protocols Peter Lu used in your cycles at Fertility Institute of New Orleans and their degree of success.
Dr. Lu started our first cycle with monitored clomid and then made decisions on further treatment from there. Through and ultrasound, they discovered I had polyps and recommended removal before proceeding. The treatment is subject to change with your situation. Currently scheduled for surgery to removed uterine fibroids/ polyps and will regroup.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Fertility Institute of New Orleans. (Assigned nurse: Kim)
Cherie and Kim are a great team. I have a lot of questions and they have been very patient and compassionate with my situation.
Describe your experience with Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
The Metairie office is nice and easy to find. The female phlebotomist is a little rough but it is what it is. When I first called I was told I could go between the Metairie office and Mandeville office but later found out that you need to stay where you start so be aware of that. Everyone I have encountered has been very nice and knowledgeable.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
I do not remember all of the exact totals but the office will provide you with a complete list of expected fees before procedures.
Dr. Lu is very professional and knowledgeable of the profession and process. I felt safe and confident with him. I just wished he was a little more sympathetic or emotional with the patient. ... And although it costs more, he recommends ICSI as it has higher chances of embryos. ... He knew the right about of meds I should take so I wouldn't overstimulate. he knew how to monitor to the right thickness of the uterine lining.
I do not like that the clinic [Fertility Institute of New Orleans] refuses to transfer more than one embryo if you are under the age of 38. NOT FAIR ... Weaknesses - can be difficult to reach as you have to leave a message and wait for a callback, billing people are all about getting the money (even if you just miscarried), lack of compassion ... Strengths - organized, efficient, quick appts (most of the time)
How was your experience with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Dr. Lu is very professional and knowledgeable of the profession and process. I felt safe and confident with him. I just wished he was a little more sympathetic or emotional with the patient. Aside from that, he's a great doctor.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Be completely devoted and ready to give it your all. Dr. Lu is like a perfectionist and his treatment feels a little aggressive but I have conceived a baby on my first IVF. He's good.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
All my doctor talks about is statistics and numbers. At first, it got me excited that he's so good but when things started getting emotional or if we came across a rough patch, our doctor didn't offer much sympathy. And if he did, it didn't seem genuine. But he is good at what he does.
Describe the protocols Peter Lu used in your cycles at Fertility Institute of New Orleans and their degree of success.
He knew the right about of meds I should take so I wouldn't overstimulate. he knew how to monitor to the right thickness of the uterine lining. And although it costs more, he recommends ICSI as it has higher chances of embryos.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Fertility Institute of New Orleans. (Assigned nurse: Nurse Mary)
I love the ultrasound techs at the office. Always made me feel comfortable. My IVF nurse is a little difficult to get in contact with but when we do speak, she's easy to talk to.
Describe your experience with Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
Strengths - organized, efficient, quick appts (most of the time), Dr. Lu's knowledge and professionalism
Weaknesses - can be difficult to reach as you have to leave a message and wait for a callback, billing people are all about getting the money (even if you just miscarried), lack of compassion
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
The clinic allowed me to select the time that worked best for me but the problem was the number of appts and how it conflicted with work. Most of the time the appts were in and out but if I had to see the nurse after an ultrasound, the wait and appt was longer.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
$13500 for IVF
$1950 for ICSI
$770 for embryo storage
plus cost of consultation, blood test, semen analysis and other initial appts before the IVF process began
Describe Peter Lu's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
I think it should be the patients choice to transfer a single embryo vs. multiple as we are paying for it and going through so much. I do not like that the clinic refuses to transfer more than one embryo if you are under the age of 38. NOT FAIR
What specific things went wrong at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Lost appointments
Failed to call with results
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
I took an AMH test before I took a break from the clinic and waited a month with no callback. I had to call in for the results and the nurse said she forgot but was apologetic.
Husband did a sperm analysis and I was waiting for results to know next steps and they forgot to call. I called in and they called back to give me the results.
I was suppose to start birth control on a Sunday so they called in my med on Friday. Saturday I'm at the pharmacy and was told the script was not called in. I had to call the afterhours line to have the on-call doctor call it in. Very upset and inconvenient.
Right from our first meeting I felt that Dr. Lu cared. He did not immediately push ivf on us, which we assumed would happen. With each question or concern Dr. Lu has taken time to explain things to us. He is always very specific and chooses his words carefully. Dr. Lu is very professional and he's also very personable. We've been very satisfied with our choice of Dr. Lu as our dr so far.
Strengths are the drs and nurses as well as the facility itself [for Fertility Institute of NO]. Our Dr. is great, the nurses and techs are all nice and helpful. Unfortunately we have had issues with the billing department, but those have been resolved. Overall we are very pleased and glad we chose this clinic.... We felt that the policy regarding implanting 1 vs 2 embryos was not explained to us at the time we were deciding on the number of eggs to fertilize.
How was your experience with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Right from our first meeting I felt that Dr. Lu cared. He did not immediately push ivf on us, which we assumed would happen. With each question or concern Dr. Lu has taken time to explain things to us. He is always very specific and chooses his words carefully. Dr. Lu is very professional and he's also very personable. We've been very satisfied with our choice of Dr. Lu as our dr so far.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Dr. Lu can sometimes talk a little fast and he likes numbers and statistics, so pay close attention!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Dr. Lu took time to explain things to us. His bedside manner was warm and welcoming. He went as far as calling us on his own time to answer questions, give clarification and address concerns we had.
Describe the protocols Peter Lu used in your cycles at Fertility Institute of New Orleans and their degree of success.
I can't really describe this, but it did seem as though with each monitoring appointment, Dr. Lu was great with analyzing the situation and adjusting as needed. He seemed very intuitive.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Fertility Institute of New Orleans. (Assigned nurse: Ashley Alleman)
Overall very helpful and caring.
Describe your experience with Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
Strengths are the drs and nurses as well as the facility itself. Our Dr. is great, the nurses and techs are all nice and helpful. Unfortunately we have had issues with the billing department, but those have been resolved. Overall we are very pleased and glad we chose this clinic.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
Our ivf with icsi was about $15.
Describe Peter Lu's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
Dr. Lu follows their clinic policy which goes along with the state recs of putting back one embryo under a certain age and two if over. If younger he will do two after failed cycles.
What specific things went wrong at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
We felt that the policy regarding implanting 1 vs 2 embryos was not explained to us at the time we were deciding on the number of eggs to fertilize. That issue has since been resolved.
Dr. Lu is very knowledgeable. He is down to earth and talks to you like you are a friend not a patient. He stutters but is not hard to follow what he is saying. It’s more like his mouth can’t keep up with what his brain wants to say. He talks to both partners and explains in detail what treatment he recommends. He takes his time with talking to you and will answer any questions.
This clinic [Fertility Institute of New Orleans] has a couple locations. I went to the Mandeville location. It’s a small office so when they get busy there’s not a lot of room in the waiting area. Everyone seems happy to be there and happy to see you. They make you feel like they really want you to be successful.... r Lu’s nurse Wendy and the ivf nurse, Lisa, are very easy to talk to. They encourage you to call them with any questions. They make sure you understand what you need to do and what’s next.
How was your experience with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Dr. Lu is very knowledgeable. He is down to earth and talks to you like you are a friend not a patient. He stutters but is not hard to follow what he is saying. It’s more like his mouth can’t keep up with what his brain wants to say.
He talks to both partners and explains in detail what treatment he recommends. He takes his time with talking to you and will answer any questions.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Take notes on what he says. He can cover so much information that it’s hard to remember it all sometimes.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Staff is very pleasant and personable. They seem to be excited for us when we were able to start treatment.
Describe the protocols Peter Lu used in your cycles at Fertility Institute of New Orleans and their degree of success.
We went to Dr. Lu interested in his donor embryo program. He was very happy for us to adopt embryos and work with us. After we ran bloodwork to be matched with donors, we did an shg and then began a fet cycle.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Fertility Institute of New Orleans. (Assigned nurse: Wendy (nurse) then Lisa (ivf nurse))
Dr Lu’s nurse Wendy and the ivf nurse, Lisa, are very easy to talk to. They encourage you to call them with any questions. They make sure you understand what you need to do and what’s next.
Describe your experience with Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
This clinic has a couple locations. I went to the Mandeville location. It’s a small office so when they get busy there’s not a lot of room in the waiting area. Everyone seems happy to be there and happy to see you. They make you feel like they really want you to be successful.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
I had to pay for initial consult & testing & then fet cost.
Describe Peter Lu's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
Dr. Lu was very adamant that he would only transfer 1 embryo at a time. He explained that the risks of a multiple pregnancy was much higher than a singleton pregnancy.
What specific things went wrong at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
The ivf nurse failed to call in the birth control to get my fet cycle started. We had a couple of days before I was to start taking it so I just reminded her & she called it in immediately after that.
He [Dr. Peter Lu] has to rely on his notes when he saw you...Have your questions with you before you go. He will answer any questions you have, but you have to ask them. He likes to talk, and it cam cause him to get behind. He has a steady hand, and it gentle when doing a procedure. Although he can seem rushed if there is something on his mind...Clomid, 3 months, 1 pos pregnancy, miscarried, 1 month metronome, chemical pregnancy, 1st round of IVF, 2 eggs retrieved, both fertilized, fresh transfer and frozen. 1 neg, 1 chemical. 2nd IVF round, 6 eggs retrieved, 5 fertilized, 3 made if to freeze, 1 neg, 1 pos, ended in miscarriage, about to transfer embryo 3.
During my first IVF cycle [at Fertility Institute of New Orleans], I was ordered to take a drug once. They didn't tell me how to take it or what time. I ended up calling the Dr on call to find out. During my 2nd IVF, they changed protocol on checking the embryos. I waited to find out how they were doing and never got a call back. I didn't find out until 2 days later that they had changed this protocol. But I was told then and it made sense. I just wish they had told me before.
How was your experience with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
He has to rely on his notes when he saw you. He shudders, but he is ok to understand. Have your questions with you before you go. He will answer any questions you have, but you have to ask them. He likes to talk, and it cam cause him to get behind. He has a steady hand, and it gentle when doing a procedure. Although he can seem rushed if there is something on his mind.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Have questions written down before you go. He's happy to answer them, but you have to be prepared to ask them.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
During medicated cycles, you were treated like a number. Which I complained about. Suddenly it got better. Doing IVF, you were a human they were very interested in.
Describe the protocols Peter Lu used in your cycles at Fertility Institute of New Orleans and their degree of success.
Clomid, 3 months, 1 pos pregnancy, miscarried, 1 month metronome, chemical pregnancy, 1st round of IVF, 2 eggs retrieved, both fertilized, fresh transfer and frozen. 1 neg, 1 chemical. 2nd IVF round, 6 eggs retrieved, 5 fertilized, 3 made if to freeze, 1 neg, 1 pos, ended in miscarriage, about to transfer embryo 3.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
They are nice, and willing to talk to you. One of them smokes too much, and comes in the room smelling of smoke. Also, she is a little blunt. They are caring, and called to check on me when I miscarried. They always call back very quickly.
Describe your experience with Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
Strengths-they are knowledgeable and have many years of experience. They are a little conservative when it comes to treatments, which is for the patient's health, but it can be annoying.
Weaknesses-they need to be upfront with costs before you start treatment. Nurses need to not smoke or spray with something before coming in the rooms.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
$800 per Clomid cycle
$200 for post cloitle exam
$12,000 for first IVF cycle
$7,000 for 2nd IVF cycle
Describe Peter Lu's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
I had to do single transfer because of my uteral deformity.
What specific things went wrong at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Failed to call with results
Failed to convey critical information
Scheduled the wrong procedure
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
The nurses sometimes don't check on things before they call. I can only do natural cycles, and they constantly forget this. During my first IVF cycle, I was ordered to take a drug once. They didn't tell me how to take it or what time. I ended up calling the Dr on call to find out. During my 2nd IVF, they changed protocol on checking the embryos. I waited to find out how they were doing and never got a call back. I didn't find out until 2 days later that they had changed this protocol. But I was told then and it made sense. I just wish they had told me before.
Dr. Lu was compassionate and easy to talk to. He explained every step of the process and helped me feel like I knew about everything that was going on and everything that I could expect. When I was at risk for OHSS, he did everything he could to prevent it. That included medication after egg retrieval and letting me know what warning signs to look for. I did not end up with OHSS.... My doctor prefers to transfer 1 embryo at a time. I’m happy with this because having multiples puts the babies and mother at a higher risk of complications.
The clinic [Fertility Institute of New Orleans] has multiple locations and it was a huge help because my main clinic was 2 hours from my home. I was able to do most of my ultrasound and bloodwork at one of the clinics closer to my home. They were very accommodating.... I had two main IVF nurses and both were very compassionate and well organized. I felt comfortable calling them with any questions I had during my IVF process.... I had lots of anxiety and occasionally panic attacks and they were very compassionate. Dr. Lu was also very compassionate.
How was your experience with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Dr. Lu was compassionate and easy to talk to. He explained every step of the process and helped me feel like I knew about everything that was going on and everything that I could expect. When I was at risk for OHSS, he did everything he could to prevent it. That included medication after egg retrieval and letting me know what warning signs to look for. I did not end up with OHSS.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
He will give you a good description of what treatment you choose but have your questions ready as well. He will answer any and all questions you have.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
The nurses were great and helped me throughout my egg retrieval. I had lots of anxiety and occasionally panic attacks and they were very compassionate. Dr. Lu was also very compassionate.
Describe the protocols Peter Lu used in your cycles at Fertility Institute of New Orleans and their degree of success.
My protocol for IVF was Follistim, Menopur and Ganirelix. After the first 4 days of stims, I went in for my first ultrasound and blood work. My medication was adjusted according to those results. I went in for ultrasounds and blood work every day until egg retrieval. I stimmed for 10 days and pulled the trigger on day 11. My egg retrieval was on day 13 and we got 14 eggs, 11 were mature and 7 fertilized via ICSI. We ended up with 5 frozen embryos.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
I had two main IVF nurses and both were very compassionate and well organized. I felt comfortable calling them with any questions I had during my IVF process.
Describe your experience with Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
The clinic has multiple locations and it was a huge help because my main clinic was 2 hours from my home. I was able to do most of my ultrasound and bloodwork at one of the clinics closer to my home. They were very accommodating.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
We had to pay for ICSI and medication, the rest of our IVF treatment was covered by a grant that we won.
Describe Peter Lu's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
My doctor prefers to transfer 1 embryo at a time. I’m happy with this because having multiples puts the babies and mother at a higher risk of complications.
Dr Lu is very smart. He seemed rushed every time we met with him. We were new to the world of fertility and were looking for answers to our many questions. Genetic testing was a huge part of why we needed help and he brushed it off and said we had to call the facility that handles that directly. He's very clinical, not one for warm and fuzzy.
When we had appointments here [Fertility Institute of NO], we always left with more questions than answers. With outside monitoring they did not send the same day results until the following day, after a number of calls. ... The clinic is conveniently located and offers Saturday appointments. I think the nursing staff and front office staff could be more friendly and supportive. ... They often don't answer the phone to schedule appointments, you have to leave a message. The phlebotomist never shared that I shouldn't drink coffee before a blood test - just water. They once took 7 vials of blood but didn't offer me juice or tell me that I'd be light headed the rest of the day. Overall just felt like the ball was dropped many times.
How was your experience with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Dr Lu is very smart. He seemed rushed every time we met with him. We were new to the world of fertility and were looking for answers to our many questions. Genetic testing was a huge part of why we needed help and he brushed it off and said we had to call the facility that handles that directly. He's very clinical, not one for warm and fuzzy.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Have your questions written down and ask all of them. Press him for more information and explanations. My advice would be, if you are young and just need minimal treatments, FINO and Dr Lu will be a good fit. If you are over 38 and need extensive help, seek a second opinion.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
FINO is a busy place, they see a lot of patients. Though a handful of nurses/techs were friendly, I often was turned off by their cold vibe. A little smile every now and then would go a long way.
Describe the protocols Peter Lu used in your cycles at Fertility Institute of New Orleans and their degree of success.
We sought a second opinion before doing a cycle with Dr Lu. But have done outside monitoring at FINO.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
One nurse, over the phone, told me that the genetic disorder I was a carrier of was "the scary one." I think I was speechless. Thank goodness I then did my own research and learned that was not necessarily the case. I found the nurses cold and aloof.
Describe your experience with Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
The clinic is conveniently located and offers Saturday appointments. I think the nursing staff and front office staff could be more friendly and supportive. The lady that checks you out was always the nicest one. I've had some issues with outside monitoring - they never sent same day results. You have to stay on top of everything and be your own advocate!
Describe the costs associated with your care under Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
Outside monitoring is about $250-275/appointment.
Describe Peter Lu's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
We didn't get a chance to discuss this topic.
What specific things went wrong at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Failed to call with results
Failed to send your chart to another clinic
Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
When we had appointments here, we always left with more questions than answers. With outside monitoring they did not send the same day results until the following day, after a number of calls. They often don't answer the phone to schedule appointments, you have to leave a message. The phlebotomist never shared that I shouldn't drink coffee before a blood test - just water. They once took 7 vials of blood but didn't offer me juice or tell me that I'd be light headed the rest of the day. Overall just felt like the ball was dropped many times.
Dr Lu works between 2 clinics in the New Orleans area, so he is not always at the clinic at the time of my appointment. This was never a negative in my opinion! He is a very busy man, but if I ever felt the need to talk to him directly, his nurses would pass the message, and he would call me soon after. Dr Lu did perform all of my procedures, and was always available when needed.... He's very personable and realistic. He remains positive in outlook, which helped me to feel confident that things would work out for us, which they did. He is patient in his explanations, and setting expectations.
The nursing staff [at FINO] is very kind, compassionate and understanding. They are patient in explaining procedures and your plan of care. They are always available via phone as well. I always received follow up calls with in a few hours of my appointment to discuss my hormone levels, and the next steps/medication changes. To this day, I still keep in touch with some of the nurses!
How was your experience with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Dr. Lu is highly qualified and experienced. He is very patient in explaining procedures and answering questions. He has a very understanding and warm bedside manner. We had 1 egg retrieval, 1 fresh embryo transfer, and 2 frozen embryo transfers. Currently, we have 1 more frozen embryo. Our fresh embryo transfer resulted in a negative pregnancy test. Our first frozen transfer resulted in a positive pregnancy but miscarried very early (chemical pregnancy), and our 2nd frozen embryo transfer has resulted in the birth of our son!
After our second transfer miscarried, we had a appointment with Dr Lu to discuss our plan moving forward. I went into the appointment very sad and frustrated. Since we are dealing with Male-Factor infertility, and I was under 30 years old at the time, we (meaning me, my husband, and Dr Lu) really thought that I would have gotten/stayed pregnant on the 1st or 2nd try. (side note- we did not do any PGD testing to know if our embryos were genetically normal/abnormal). Embryos were transferred in the order of highest rating to lowest rating. At our appointment, we discussed how he has had patients have perfect embryos that just don't work out, and then end up giving birth to their lowest rated embryo. His stories and examples helped me to feel more confident to move forward, thus resulting in our 3rd transfer and giving birth to our son.
Dr Lu works between 2 clinics in the New Orleans area, so he is not always at the clinic at the time of my appointment. This was never a negative in my opinion! He is a very busy man, but if I ever felt the need to talk to him directly, his nurses would pass the message, and he would call me soon after. Dr Lu did perform all of my procedures, and was always available when needed.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Don't hesitate to make your appointment! He's great, and I highly suggest anyone to work with him.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
The nursing staff at FINO is amazing! They truly care how you are feeling and take time explaining everything and answering questions. I still keep in contact with some of my nurses! I am looking forward to working with them again for my next embryo transfer.
Dr Lu is also great! He's very personable and realistic. He remains positive in outlook, which helped me to feel confident that things would work out for us, which they did. He is patient in his explanations, and setting expectations.
Describe the protocols Peter Lu used in your cycles at Fertility Institute of New Orleans and their degree of success.
I was under 30 years old at the time we started to seek treatment, never had any sort of problems of my own in regards to my cycle or reproductive system. We had tried several years to conceive on our own before starting to investigate why we weren't getting pregnant on our own. Come to find out, we are dealing with male-factor infertility. My husband's sperm count and quality are extremely low, giving us less than a 1% chance of conceiving on our own. Given all this information, Dr Lu explained why we should move straight to IVF. Because of my husbands sperm quality/quantity, clomid or IUI wouldn't raise our chances much at all.
Shortly after our 1st consultation with Dr Lu, we decided to move forward. Once I started my next period, I called the office so we could start monitoring my uterus, ovaries, and blood levels. Once everything looked good, we order medications and started stimulation injections.
I don't remember dosages, as they all changed day to day depending on my hormone levels. I know I was on Folistim and Menopur at the beginning, and then started hCG injections a few days before the egg retrieval.
Once egg retrieval day arrived, we went in for the surgery. No complications. I started progesterone injections this same day, in anticipation that I would possibly do a fresh transfer. Retrieved 17 eggs, 12 of which were mature enough to fertilize.
Dr Lu suggested that we uses ICSI to fertilize to make sure that each egg received a healthy sperm. Of the 12 eggs that received a sperm, 9 actually fertilized. Of those 9, 4 were healthy enough to make it to day 5/6 embryos.
Because my hormone levels, uterus and ovaries were looking good, we decided that it was safe to do a fresh transfer 5 days after retrieval. This first transfer resulted in a negative pregnancy test.
On the very next cycle, we did a frozen embryo transfer. I know I had injections leading up to the transfer, but other than progesterone, I can't remember what it was. This cycle, we did get a positive pregnancy test, but miscarried a week later.
The following cycle, we went for another frozen transfer, which resulted in full term pregnancy and live birth of my son.
We currently have 1 frozen embryo left, and plan to transfer in the next year or so.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Fertility Institute of New Orleans. (Assigned nurse: I had 2: Mary and Ashley)
The nursing staff is very kind, compassionate and understanding. They are patient in explaining procedures and your plan of care. They are always available via phone as well. I always received follow up calls with in a few hours of my appointment to discuss my hormone levels, and the next steps/medication changes. To this day, I still keep in touch with some of the nurses!
Describe your experience with Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
The hours are great! I was always able to make appointments early in the morning so I wouldn't miss work for routine labs/blood work.
The reception staff is not always warm and welcoming, but hey... they just answer phones and sign people in. They aren't responsible for my care, so that didn't bother me. It may bother some people.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
I was very lucky! My employer offered benefits that included fertility treatment up to $20,000, or 1 full round of IVF. Which, after my deductible, I only paid 10% of the overall charges. I would not be a good example of the associated costs, because I paid very little compared to the majority of patients.
Describe Peter Lu's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
Dr Lu suggested that we only transfer 1 embryo at a time. Since I have a healthy reproductive system, and was under the age of 30, it didn't make sense to try more than 1 at a time. He had actually mentioned that they were preforming multiple embryo transfers for women under the age of 35, as it only increased the risk of multiple miscarriages and pre-term birth/complications. The chances of getting pregnant were only 1% higher with multiple embryo transfers vs single transfers. Dr Lu went on to explain that if you transfer 2 embryos, and 1 is healthy and implants, and the other implants and isn't healthy or miscarries, it could cause the healthy one to miscarry too.
Dr. Lu was very nice and smiled a lot during my consultation. ... He kept giving me statistics that were confusing me and I was told I should quickly make a decision about starting treatment as I only had 2-5% chance of conceiving naturally. ... During the IUI he came in and explained things quickly, performed the procedure, and left the room. My husband and I were both upset when we left.
The front desk staff [Fertility Institute of New Orleans] seemed miserable to be at work and I always felt rushed. ... I was told after an appointment that I would be called by closing with results of lab work and the dosage of medications I should take over the next few days. I waited all day and was never called. I ended up having to call the after hours line who had to get me on the phone with someone because I had no idea how much medication to inject that night.
How was your experience with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Dr. Lu was very nice and smiled a lot during my consultation. He was hard to understand and I felt like my questions weren't being completely answered. He kept giving me statistics that were confusing me and I was told I should quickly make a decision about starting treatment as I only had 2-5% chance of conceiving naturally. I only saw him at consultation and the day of my IUI. During the IUI he came in and explained things quickly, performed the procedure, and left the room. My husband and I were both upset when we left.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
He is very difficult to understand when he speaks and he is very in to statistics
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
When I went in for my consultation I was very nervous. We had enough funds for 1 IUI at the time. Dr. Lu was very nice and smiled a lot, but I felt like my questions weren't answered thoroughly and he was hard to understand. I was basically told that with endometriosis I had a 2-5% chance of conceiving naturally and that I should quickly make the decision of starting treatment. I felt rushed and confused by the time I left and I still had unanswered questions. From the time I walked in the door it was up and down and up and down from the font desk all the way to the back. Even when I made the decision to go ahead with IUI and they brought me in the room to show me how to administer my injections, I felt like I was just told everything quickly so that they could move on with their day.
Describe the protocols Peter Lu used in your cycles at Fertility Institute of New Orleans and their degree of success.
I had a baseline ultrasound and lab work. I was prescribed Gonal F 100 mIU every day for 5 days to produce follicles, but not too many as I ovulate on my own. I went for ultrasound on day 3 and 6 of the treatment cycle to see how I was responding. On days 5 and 6 I was told to add Ganirelix to my injections to keep from ovulating on my own. On day 7 I did my trigger shot. On day 8 I had my IUI. The cycle resulted in a negative pregnancy test
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
The nursing staff was very straight forward and moved quickly. I always saw different nurses, and they didn't always seem very happy to be at work. The day I was supposed to be shown how to do my injections, I was in the room all of 2 minutes. I left nervous because I really still wasn't sure of exactly what I was supposed to do in order to use the injections correctly. I ended up googling it and asking a friend who had gone through treatments. When I would call to speak to a nurse I would wait all day for a call back and then it would seem like my questions were bothering them
Describe your experience with Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
I can't list many strengths. The clinic itself was nice and tidy. The front desk staff seemed miserable to be at work and I always felt rushed. Their means of labs and ultrasounds is tiring. Check in at front desk, sit down, get called to the back for ultrasound, back to the waiting room to sit down, called to the back again for blood work, back to the waiting room to sit down, called to the back again for a nurse to tell you what to do with medications for the few days and when to come back, finally check out. It was tiring and draining.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
I believe cost of the bundle was $1275 which included office visits, ultrasounds, and blood work. Medication was not included in that cost. The IUI was $495. If it would have had to be done on a weekend then it would have costed $525.
What specific things went wrong at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Failed to call with results
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
I was told after an appointment that I would be called by closing with results of lab work and the dosage of medications I should take over the next few days. I waited all day and was never called. I ended up having to call the after hours line who had to get me on the phone with someone because I had no idea how much medication to inject that night.
Dr. Lu was VERY thorough and straight forward. He explained my risk of having multiples, as my body responded almost too well to my shots. He adjusted the dosage to lower my risk while still ensuring a successful pregnancy...I didn’t always see him for my appointments as he was between clinics, but it wasn’t really necessary to see him every time. He always reviewed my ultrasounds and blood work and the nurse called after every appointment.
They do a really good job getting you in and out in a timely manner, which is especially important when you have a full time job. Everyone is friendly and will try to help the best they can. Often the nurse isn’t available to talk when you call but will always call you back that day...All of the nurses were kind and helpful during the treatment. The ultrasound techs were especially kind and gentle, as once my ovaries got so big ultrasounds were very uncomfortable.
How was your experience with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Dr. Lu was VERY thorough and straight forward. He explained my risk of having multiples, as my body responded almost too well to my shots. He adjusted the dosage to lower my risk while still ensuring a successful pregnancy. It’s so important to have a responsible doctor that has the experience to adjust and lower the risk of multiples. We underwent IUI in March 2017 and have beautiful, healthy boy/girl twins that arrived at the end of October. I’d recommend him to anyone!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Ask questions if you don’t understand and he always answers thoroughly.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
He was very thorough and took a lot of time to explain the treatment. I didn’t always see him for my appointments as he was between clinics, but it wasn’t really necessary to see him every time. He always reviewed my ultrasounds and blood work and the nurse called after every appointment.
Describe the protocols Peter Lu used in your cycles at Fertility Institute of New Orleans and their degree of success.
I had level 1-2 endometriosis that caused me a lot of pain and pregnancy is one of the few treatments for it. I was 23 and my husband was 24 and our blood levels were so good that it was confusing to him why I hadn’t gotten pregnant easily after trying for 6 months. We had a miscarriage in December after getting pregnant naturally and started treatment in March. He decided to use injections for the type of endometriosis I had, as he said with his experience injections worked better for this type. I used 75IU of follistim for about a week and then used 10,000 IU of pregnyl for a trigger. We did IUI the day after trigger. This resulted in a fraternal twin pregnancy.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
All of the nurses were kind and helpful during the treatment. The ultrasound techs were especially kind and gentle, as once my ovaries got so big ultrasounds were very uncomfortable.
Describe your experience with Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
They do a really good job getting you in and out in a timely manner, which is especially important when you have a full time job. Everyone is friendly and will try to help the best they can. Often the nurse isn’t available to talk when you call but will always call you back that day.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
We spent about $3,200 for one round of injectable IUI. My insurance didn’t cover a lot of the ultrasounds so almost everything was out of pocket.
He [Dr. Peter Lu] was the first doctor to agree with me that something is very wrong just based on having tried for 4 years before going to him and my husband's varicocele having been corrected but still not conceiving. He validated my concerns and communicated with numbers, which is how I understand and process situations...Because Clomid thinned by lining worse than its usual level, and letrozole didn't give me much response, Dr Lu put me on injections. He decided I didn't need an IUI since our post coital tests kept coming back postitive. The injections were able to achieve desirable lining thickness and ample follicles. There was still only a 20% success rate for us at best and we did 2 rounds without a bfp. I am completely impressed by his protocol on our IVF. I was so scared as he lowered my meds doses so much but at the end, he manipulated everything PERFECTLY. I was risking and nearly OHSS and he gave me letrozole and cabergoline to prevent full ohss and so I know we maximized the potential for eggs retrieved while keeping me safe. He did an excellent job of changing my doses every day. Transfer was perfect as well.
Injection rounds [at Fertility Institute of New Orleans] had a flat rate (for all bloodwork and ultrasounds and appointments up to ovulation) of 1250 each. There were med costs from the pharmacy on top of that and if I had needed the iui, it would have been another 500. We spend just under 2000 each injection cycle (follistim, menopur). IVF single/simple round is $12000 for fresh or frozen transfer.
How was your experience with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Dr Lu has been rated the best fertility doctor in the region, and I can see how. His strength is assessing a situation and making a treatment plan. He has done a great job of telling us what to expect for each round of treatment and the stats of likely success. I would definitely recommend him.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
With infertility in general, Do your own research and always be your own advocate. He is flexible to change your plan if you want to be more aggressive. Come to the appointment with your questions prepared.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
He was the first doctor to agree with me that something is very wrong just based on having tried for 4 years before going to him and my husband's varicocele having been corrected but still not conceiving. He validated my concerns and communicated with numbers, which is how I understand and process situations.
Describe the protocols Peter Lu used in your cycles at Fertility Institute of New Orleans and their degree of success.
Because Clomid thinned by lining worse than its usual level, and letrozole didn't give me much response, Dr Lu put me on injections. He decided I didn't need an IUI since our post coital tests kept coming back postitive. The injections were able to achieve desirable lining thickness and ample follicles. There was still only a 20% success rate for us at best and we did 2 rounds without a bfp. I am completely impressed by his protocol on our IVF. I was so scared as he lowered my meds doses so much but at the end, he manipulated everything PERFECTLY. I was risking and nearly OHSS and he gave me letrozole and cabergoline to prevent full ohss and so I know we maximized the potential for eggs retrieved while keeping me safe. He did an excellent job of changing my doses every day. Transfer was perfect as well.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Fertility Institute of New Orleans. (Assigned nurse: Wendi and Lisa)
I only had issues with one nurse (not named). All other nurses were compassionate, informed, honest, helpful, empathetic, and genuine.
Describe your experience with Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
The front desk staff is incredible. They are very personable and even coordinate a monthly support group meeting on their own dime. They offer refreshments and rally a medical professional to discuss their field of expertise. The Mandeville location is never crowded(never felt like a cattle service, like other clinics and ob/gyn offices feel like).
Describe the costs associated with your care under Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
Clomid and letrozole rounds may have been around 300-400. Injection rounds had a flat rate (for all bloodwork and ultrasounds and appointments up to ovulation) of 1250 each. There were med costs from the pharmacy on top of that and if I had needed the iui, it would have been another 500. We spend just under 2000 each injection cycle (follistim, menopur).
IVF single/simple round is $12000 for fresh or frozen transfer.
Describe Peter Lu's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
In August 2017, the SART board regulated in our region that you may only transfer one embryo (or be sanctioned), unless female is 38+yrs old or has had 2 previous failed transfers, no other exceptions. I was sad to only transfer one but it wasn't really up to Dr Lu. All the fertility clinics in Louisiana have to adhere to the new regulations. He was clear about the risks of transferring more than one, though.
What specific things went wrong at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Provided conflicting information
Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
When I was with Dr Taylor in this office, he told me everything looked perfect on my bloodwork and ultrasounds during my Clomid month. I didnt know how important lining thickness was at the time and didn't even know to ask about it. When cd1 came, I called him to find out if we were going to up the dose and try again and that's when he informed me that my lining was at a 5.something at ovulation. He told me I might get pregnant with triplets when I was getting my trigger shot that month!
Dr. Lu's strengths include taking a thorough approach to understanding his patients' history and goals for seeking fertility treatment. He is a candid communicator and is able to answer our questions from both a statistical and a compassionate mindset. I have felt confident in every step of our treatment because Dr. Lu truly understands our specific concerns and keeps those at the forefront of every recommendation. I have also appreciated his straightforward approach to communicating next steps and results, while still leaving room for compassion and understanding.
The nursing staff at The Fertility Institute is inconsistent. Some of Dr. Lu's nurses are absolutely wonderful. They respond to requests in a timely manner and when I was starting at-home injections, gave me their cell phone number just in case I forgot how to properly mix something during off-hours. This is my primary nurse with Dr. Lu. The other nurses who have supported me at random points don't feel as invested or knowledgeable of my course of treatment...The clinic is extremely well organized! You can expect the same routine each time you go and the staff is efficient and mindful of your time. They are also flexible with scheduling appointments and have a very thorough financing department.
How was your experience with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Dr. Lu's strengths include taking a thorough approach to understanding his patients' history and goals for seeking fertility treatment. He is a candid communicator and is able to answer our questions from both a statistical and a compassionate mindset. I have felt confident in every step of our treatment because Dr. Lu truly understands our specific concerns and keeps those at the forefront of every recommendation.
I have also appreciated his straightforward approach to communicating next steps and results, while still leaving room for compassion and understanding. An example of this is when he called with the Diminished Ovarian Reserve results. I was 29 at the time and this was a result we sincerely did not consider possible. Dr. Lu re-explained the testing process, the diagnosis, and his recommended treatment comprehensively, but stopped to say "I hear that you're upset, and I want you to know that it's okay. Now is the time to be upset." This was incredibly affirming of my experience as a patient. He was gentle in pushing us forward in our treatment to not waste time while also being incredibly understanding.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Dr. Lu is a straightforward communicator and an incredibly good listener but you should be prepared to ask questions and be clear about your concerns and goals! He answers all of our questions in full and has continued to keep our goals in mind. I would imagine that if you don't have those things ready and would like more of a coaching approach, you may not feel fulfilled in the relationship.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
From the first appointment with Dr. Lu, I felt that he was deeply invested in my individual fertility journey. He was candid about the different infertility realities couples face and outlined his reasoning behind every single test he first administered. He has continued to be patient, thorough, and transparent throughout the ups and downs of our treatment. He has listened to what our major concerns are and has helped us to make the most informed decisions possible that are the best for our family.
Describe the protocols Peter Lu used in your cycles at Fertility Institute of New Orleans and their degree of success.
My husband and I tried to conceive naturally for 10 months before I made an appointment with my gynecologist, Dr. Sacha Wax. Due to my history of endometriosis, she moved forward with treatment and prescribed the first round of Clomid (50 mg/day), suspecting that I wasn’t successfully ovulating. My reaction to Clomid was not ideal but not uncommon. I developed a large cyst and went on birth control to diminish its size. Due to my history, reaction, and low progesterone, Dr. Wax recommended that I see a fertility specialist, and I made an appointment with Dr. Lu.
The first few appointments with Dr. Lu were likely what every couple experiences on this journey. Bloodwork, ultrasounds, more bloodwork. From the initial imaging, Dr. Lu suspected an ovulation timing issue. We tried the HCG shot to trigger ovulation when one of my follicles was just on the cusp of the right size and my lining looked great. More bloodwork and progesterone supplements followed, as well as another sizeable cyst that ruptured and resulted in a trip to the emergency room.
In the follow up conversation with Dr. Lu, he said that my bloodwork revealed my AMH results were extremely and surprisingly low for my age (29). I had an AMH of 0.677, when he expected it to be closer to 8, which meant my ovarian reserve was very low. The next step Dr. Lu recommended was another round of Clomid (100 mg/day), not to try for a successful pregnancy but instead to determine my FSH level to identify the quality of the eggs left in my limited reserve. The Clomid caused my FSH levels to almost double (from 6.8 to 11) which confirmed that both the quantity and quality of my ovarian reserve are extremely low.
From there, Dr. Lu recommended that we try one-two months of Follistim injections (October 2016) in the hopes that this course of treatment would be successful instead of IVF. We tried one month of Follistim (150 mg/day) and I developed only one viable follicle on my left ovary, with two much smaller on my right. The treatment was unsuccessful and, on November 1, 2016, Dr. Lu shared that we were now at the point where IVF was the only course of treatment he could recommend due to my poor response to Follistim.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
The nursing staff at The Fertility Institute is inconsistent. Some of Dr. Lu's nurses are absolutely wonderful. They respond to requests in a timely manner and when I was starting at-home injections, gave me their cell phone number just in case I forgot how to properly mix something during off-hours. This is my primary nurse with Dr. Lu. The other nurses who have supported me at random points don't feel as invested or knowledgeable of my course of treatment.
Describe your experience with Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
The clinic is extremely well organized! You can expect the same routine each time you go and the staff is efficient and mindful of your time. They are also flexible with scheduling appointments and have a very thorough financing department.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
In total (including medications, imaging, bloodwork, special testing, and office visit fees) we have spent over $6,000 on our fertility treatment thus far. Louisiana Insurance companies are not required to cover infertility treatment so none of our visits with Dr. Lu are covered.
Describe Peter Lu's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
We have not gotten to this point in our treatment yet.
I felt he [Dr. Peter Lu] took the time to explain things and the process in which we took. I didn't feel like a number...He was easy to talk to and gave me expected outcomes. He did "damage control" from the other doctor I saw at another clinic. I felt like he had my interest at heart and not simply taking my money. I had to meet with him weekly due to a cyst that developed after my first IUI...
The nurses [at Fertility Institute of New Orleans] are knowledgeable about the process...$1385 for IUI and labs...$150 in medication...The parking for the clinic is horrible. You will have a difficult time trying to find somewhere to park. The staff is quick with check ins and taking labs. The privacy aspect is not completely private, you can guess what others are there for during the visit...
How was your experience with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
He was easy to talk to and gave me expected outcomes. He did "damage control" from the other doctor I saw at another clinic. I felt like he had my interest at heart and not simply taking my money. I had to meet with him weekly due to a cyst that developed after my first IUI. He took his time to explain to me and my wife how he could help us in the process. Unfortunately, the IUI didn't turn into a pregnancy so we will be doing a follow up appointment to see what our next step will be.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
When you first meet him, put all your cards on the table with expectations and concerns with the process.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
I felt he took the time to explain things and the process in which we took. I didn't feel like a number.
Describe the protocols Peter Lu used in your cycles at Fertility Institute of New Orleans and their degree of success.
When I started the process with him in December 2017, it was discovered I had a cyst, in which birth control was prescribed to make it smaller. This process last until the end of February. I was put on Letozole 7.5mg for 5 days , wait for 5 days to do ultrasounds to check follicle size and I took Pregnyl on March 2 and I was inseminated on March 3
Describe your experience with your nurse at Fertility Institute of New Orleans. (Assigned nurse: Charlene)
The nurses are knowledgeable about the process.
Describe your experience with Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
The parking for the clinic is horrible. You will have a difficult time trying to find somewhere to park. The staff is quick with check ins and taking labs. The privacy aspect is not completely private, you can guess what others are there for during the visit.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
$1385 for IUI and labs
$270 for co payments for the treatment of cyst
$150 in medication
Describe Peter Lu's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
He [Dr. Peter Lu] really takes the time to explain what is involved in the IVF process. He spent over an hour with my husband and I, answering our questions and making sure we understood the individualized plan he had. He also did extra testing that other clinics had not done, and saved us from attempting a third IUI, needlessly.... Dr. Lu strongly encouraged single embryo transfers for my age group. He explained in detail risks vs benefits.
The staff [at Fertility Institute of NO- Mandeville] is extremely friendly and helpful. Sandy from ultrasound always made us feel more comfortable as she described what she was looking at and what Dr. Lu was looking for from the tests ordered. She always too the time to explain to us what was going on during our IVF journey. They have a support group that meets monthly.
How was your experience with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Dr. Lu spent extra time with my husband and I to explain the entire process. He made sure that he had our entire history, and took the time to perform extra testing not offered elsewhere. He took the time to answer all of our questions and made sure we understood. He is a very caring and personable doctor.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
Make sure you choose him as your doctor.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Peter Lu at Fertility Institute of New Orleans?
He really takes the time to explain what is involved in the IVF process. He spent over an hour with my husband and I, answering our questions and making sure we understood the individualized plan he had. He also did extra testing that other clinics had not done, and saved us from attempting a third IUI, needlessly.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Fertility Institute of New Orleans. (Assigned nurse: Lisa)
Lisa promptly communicated with me any new information. She made sure I had the medications I needed, and was always understanding when I asked her questions when I needed clarification on information I had previously received.
Describe your experience with Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
The staff is extremely friendly and helpful. Sandy from ultrasound always made us feel more comfortable as she described what she was looking at and what Dr. Lu was looking for from the tests ordered. She always too the time to explain to us what was going on during our IVF journey. They have a support group that meets monthly.
Describe Peter Lu's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Fertility Institute of New Orleans.
Dr. Lu strongly encouraged single embryo transfers for my age group. He explained in detail risks vs benefits.
