Dr. Insogna has the best bedside manner and really understands her patients...always seems to find the solution and doesn’t leave you feeling lost or without options...Menopur 150 units and Gonal F 300 units to help mature eggs...Estrace (estradiol) 2mg tablets twice daily to build up lining of uterus...lining showed fluid, used mucinex to decrease fluid
Columbia University Fertility Center is a well-kept facility, both organized and clean...staff is on the same page to ensure that everything functions smoothly...fully satisfied with the decorum of staff both over the phone, online, and in person...Meghan was very responsive to all my questions and provided regular updates
How was your experience with Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
Dr. Insogna has the best bedside manner and really understands her patients. She is very caring and nurturing and makes you feel like she is going through the process with you. She always seems to find the solution and doesn’t leave you feeling lost or without options. We were always able to rely on Dr. Insogna throughout the process and she put us at ease during our most challenging periods. As an older couple, we tried everything to get pregnant, prior to our visit with her, and truly appreciate everything she did to make us comfortable. We can’t thank her enough for all her efforts. We recommend Dr. Insogna to the highest degree for anyone looking to get pregnant through the IVF process and is in need of someone who will be that true support system.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
Don’t lose hope even when things don’t always seem to go right. Explore all options and listen to the dr.’s advice.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
Dr. Insogna was sensitive to our needs and answered all our questions and concerns
Describe the protocols Iris Insogna used in your cycles at Columbia University and their degree of success.
Used Menopur 150 units and Gonal F 300 units to help mature eggs. Menopur was increased as needed. Used Estrace (estradiol) 2mg tablets twice daily to build up lining of uterus prior to transfer. When lining showed fluid, used mucinex to decrease fluid. PRP was also introduced to increase lining, didn’t help much with thickness, but lining had a beautiful trilaminar appearance. Prior to transfer, took Tamoxifen 40mg, 2 tablet once a day for 5 days. Also, took baby aspirin (81mg) daily and still taking through pregnancy.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Columbia University. (Assigned nurse: Meghan E. DeRuyter)
Meghan was very responsive to all my questions and provided regular updates on the process and was thorough with her explanations and directions.
Describe your experience with Columbia University.
Columbia University Fertility Center is a well-kept facility, both organized and clean. All staff is on the same page to ensure that everything functions smoothly, with a seamless transition for patients, as they move through the front office and on to the medical team. Patients will be fully satisfied with the decorum of staff both over the phone, online, and in person.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Columbia University.
Monitoring appointments were scheduled in the morning, the process was quick and efficient. Allowed for me to get to work on time.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Iris Insogna at Columbia University.
Most expenses were covered by my insurance except for the facility fee, embryo storage fee and genetic testing fee
Describe Iris Insogna's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Columbia University.
Dr. Insogna is the most compassionate, kind, and brilliant doctor I could ever hope to have. She's so warm and encouraging, always holding out hope (while remaining realistic), but erring on the side of positivity...She's also unbelievably accessible both over email and by phone, and she's always very quick to respond to all of my questions and very thorough in her responses...whenever possible, she does my ultrasounds herself. It feels like she goes out of her way to do them and to make sure that we can see each other in person.
Columbia is a wonderful clinic. Like other large clinics, you're likely to see a variety of doctors, nurses, radiology technicians, etc. when you go in. I had excellent experiences with all of them. Everyone was professional, courteous, and knowledgeable. The clinic itself is very comfortable. It feels surprisingly intimate, given how many patients it sees. I almost never have to wait more than a few minutes to be seen for morning monitoring. The receptionists at the front desk are helpful and warm. The office is also very physically pleasant.
How was your experience with Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
If I could give Dr. Insogna a rating of 100 instead of 10, I would. I'd give her a 1,000. From the moment I started working with her, I felt totally at ease with her. At every turn, I've felt like she's my advocate. When things go well, I feel like she's genuinely excited for me, and when I've had setbacks, I feel like she's truly disappointed for me. She’s just unbelievably knowledgeable and brilliant, versed in the latest research and clinical techniques. I completely trust her opinion about everything, but I also feel that she listens to and supports my wishes. She doesn't have a pushy top-down doctor-knows-best agenda (even though she really does know best). I feel like we're partners and collaborators. She acknowledges that I'm the expert on how I'm feeling in my own body and how I feel about different courses of treatment. She's an amazing communicator and explains everything clearly, thoroughly, and in straightforward language. No question is too small for her. She treats my silly questions about fringe nutritional supplements with as much seriousness and respect as she treats my questions about medical procedures. She's incredibly accessible over email and by phone and never makes me feel rushed. She always makes me feel like she has unlimited time to answer my questions. I've also been so impressed by how knowledgeable she is about financing IVF. She acknowledges how expensive it is and collaborates with the billing department to make sure that we have insurance coverage before moving forward. When our insurance provider initially blocked me for treatment, claiming that I didn't qualify as "infertile," she very patiently (and effectively) convinced them that I do meet the criteria. She’s so compassionate, so smart, so caring and kind and great. I could not trust Dr. Insogna more or hold her in higher esteem. She's absolutely amazing. I feel so unbelievably lucky to be working with her.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
I'd advise prospective patients to ask her any questions you have. She'll answer every one of your questions with thoughtfulness and care.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
Dr. Insogna is the most compassionate, kind, and brilliant doctor I could ever hope to have. She's so warm and encouraging, always holding out hope (while remaining realistic), but erring on the side of positivity. Throughout this challenging process, she's always said such caring, things, going out of her way to reassure me that I'm doing everything right and haven't done anything wrong. She’s quick to acknowledge the emotional and psychological challenges of IVF as well as the physical ones, and she’s always validated my feelings. She's also unbelievably accessible both over email and by phone, and she's always very quick to respond to all of my questions and very thorough in her responses. (She responds the same day I email, often within hours—sometimes within minutes!) She never, ever makes me feel rushed--she acts like she has all the time in the world for me. In terms of clinical care, whenever possible, she does my ultrasounds herself. It feels like she goes out of her way to do them and to make sure that we can see each other in person. I opted to do a natural embryo transfer (which makes the timing impossible to predict), and she was so kind in expressing disappointment that she wouldn't be able to be the one to do the procedure herself (but she also reassured me about the excellent doctor who did do the transfer). She's also always really mindful of issues around consent and making her patients feel as comfortable as possible, even during uncomfortable procedures. So, for example, whenever she's done my ultrasound, she's started by saying, "Is it okay if we get started?" I've always really appreciated that. She also shows me the ultrasound and explains everything she sees. I’ve been really moved, too, by her remarkable recall of personal details about my life. She remembered, for instance, that I was in the middle of a home renovation and living upstate for a while. I know that she has lots of patients, so it blows me away how much of a personal connection I feel that I have with her. And she was willing to tell me about her own experiences with IVF, which I truly appreciated. (She has also shared this on Columbia's website.) Knowing that my doctor has gone through the same treatments I have has been so heartening. I feel like she really understands what I've been going through. On top of all that, she's funny. And she always uses her first name with me, which makes me feel even more like we have a human connection. She's just the best doctor ever. I feel like I won the lottery in getting to work with her. I’m just so grateful.
Describe the protocols Iris Insogna used in your cycles at Columbia University and their degree of success.
For my first retrieval cycle, she started with a relatively conservative/low dose of Menopur (I think 150 units) in order to try to give me the lowest dose possible, but she gradually increased it over the course of the cycle as I required the maximum dose (300 iu) for ovary stimulation. I was also on 300 iu of Gonal-F. I think I used Cetrotide, Ovidrel, and Leuprolide to trigger. I had 10 follicles and five eggs retrieved, three of which fertilized normally and two of which made it to blastocyst. Neither was genetically normal. For my second retrieval, she kept me on 300 iu of Menopur and 300 iu of Gonal-F, but she moved me to microcode Lupron in the mornings and evenings (I think 20 iu each time). I believe that I only used the Ovidrel to trigger (but I could be wrong about that). I had 9 follicles, five of which were retrieved (one was matured overnight in culture), three of which (including the one that matured in culture overnight) fertilized normally, two made it to blastocyst, and one was genetically normal. For my third IVF round, I had asked Dr. Insogna about mini IVF, so we tried a hybrid treatment. I took some oral medications (I don't remember which ones--maybe Clomid?) along with lighter doses of injectables. But only two of my follicles were growing, so we decided to cancel that round. (At that point, I thought that insurance would only cover three rounds, and it seemed like a waste given that the other rounds had gone better.) My next round went worse than expected, and I'm almost certain it's because I got very sick right beforehand. My sickness (not Covid) delayed my period for nine days, and I have a very regular cycle, so that was weird. I kept the same protocol as for cycle two above, but I only had, I think, 7 follicles, five of which were retrieved (three matured in culture overnight). I think 2-3 of them fertilized, but none made it to blastocyst. I decided to do a fourth round because when I went in for an evaluation for an embryo transfer, it turned out that I had 14 follicles that month. We kept the same protocol from cycles two and three, and eight eggs were retrieved. Six of them were mature, three fertilized, and two made it to blastocyst. Unfortunately, neither was genetically normal.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Columbia University. (Assigned nurse: I worked with a lot of nurses, but mostly Haley Roche)
Haley is really kind and approachable. She set up a Zoom with me before I did my first egg retrieval and showed me how to inject all of the medications (even though I'd done an egg retrieval years earlier at a different clinic). She always responds to my emails quickly and thoroughly.
Describe your experience with Columbia University.
Columbia is a wonderful clinic. Like other large clinics, you're likely to see a variety of doctors, nurses, radiology technicians, etc. when you go in. I had excellent experiences with all of them. Everyone was professional, courteous, and knowledgeable. The clinic itself is very comfortable. It feels surprisingly intimate, given how many patients it sees. I almost never have to wait more than a few minutes to be seen for morning monitoring. The receptionists at the front desk are helpful and warm. The office is also very physically pleasant.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Iris Insogna at Columbia University.
I am extremely fortunate that I have really comprehensive health insurance, so I've had to pay very little out of pocket to see Dr. Insogna. I realize how incredibly lucky I am.
Describe Iris Insogna's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Columbia University.
Dr. Insogna is thoughtful, kind, patient, extremely well informed, and cares deeply for her patients...recommended IVF and laparoscopic GYN-surgery to have the hydrosalpinx removed...set appropriate expectations and was there to answer questions every step of the way
At Columbia, each patient has a single doctor overseeing their care, but the doctor performing the retrieval or transfer varies based on who is on the schedule for procedures on the day you are ready...All receptionists, embryologists, doctors, nurses and phlebotomists were kind, caring and optimistic
How was your experience with Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
Dr. Insogna is thoughtful, kind, patient, extremely well informed, and cares deeply for her patients. She gives her patients the information and data they need to make the best decision for them. She always made her recommendation clear but indicated that she would be supportive if I was not ready to take a step right away. It always felt like we were a team.
I first saw Dr. Insogna in March 2023 for an initial fertility consultation. Things looked good, despite one hormone being a little low, and we began trying to conceive shortly after. After 7 months without success, my husband returned for a consultation and no issues were detected. We met with Dr. Insogna who shared she was optimistic and thought it would only be a matter of time, but still offered the option to complete HSG testing to examine by tubes and uterus. Unfortunately, the HSG testing revealed tubal blockages on both side with a hydrosalpinx in one tube. Dr. Insogna recommended IVF and laparoscopic GYN-surgery to have the hydrosalpinx removed. While selecting a surgeon that I felt comfortable with, we kicked our an egg retrieval. IVF is not the most fun process but Dr. Insogna set appropriate expectations and was there to answer questions every step of the way.
At Columbia, each patient has a single doctor overseeing their care, but the doctor performing the retrieval or transfer varies based on who is on the schedule for procedures on the day you are ready. I had an egg retrieval in February 2024 (retrieval conducted by Dr. Forman), surgery in March 2024 (not conducted at Columbia Fertility) and a transfer of one embryo in May 2024 (conducted by Dr. Robles) after recovering from surgery. I am now 9 weeks pregnant and hopeful for the best. We are so grateful to Dr. Insogna and the team at Columbia. All receptionists, embryologists, doctors, nurses and phlebotomists were kind, caring and optimistic.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
Share all of your concerns and ask all your questions!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
Dr. Insogna treated me with the utmost respect and care throughout our time working together. She was extremely patient, made herself available to address my concerns before after and during procedures, and treated all of my concerns as valid. She was also extremely knowledgeable and shared the stats and research to go along with each recommendation. I really appreciated that she gave me the information I needed to make an informed decision at every step on the process.
Describe your experience with Columbia University.
At first, I was put off that I would not see my doctor for every scan. But as I went through the many appointments required in an IVF and transfer cycle, I was grateful for Columbia's easy scheduling for morning monitoring and pooled doctors for procedures so that somebody was always available.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Iris Insogna at Columbia University.
She [Dr. Insogna] is incredibly patient with me, communicates sensitively and promptly yet honestly, considers my whole personhood, answers my questions rapidly, competently, simply and completely, consistently checks in on how I'm doing with the IVF process (physically and emotionally) and beyond...even accommodates my husband's needs, fears, questions, etc. with so much grace...
My nurse, care coordinator and the other nursing staff [at Columbia University] that I interact during visits with are kind, considerate, thorough and great at what they do...clean, efficient and thorough. My only qualm is the communication system. When they are closed and the answering service picks up they will only contact the doctor on call for a short list of reasons and sometimes my needs have fallen outside of that sphere and it has caused me a lot of anxiety and stress...
How was your experience with Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
Dr. Insogna is the most humane physician I have EVER worked with. She clearly works just as hard to treat me with kindness and compassion as she does to meet my physical, medical needs, yet she does that excellently as well. She is incredibly patient with me, communicates sensitively and promptly yet honestly, considers my whole personhood, answers my questions rapidly, competently, simply and completely, consistently checks in on how I'm doing with the IVF process (physically and emotionally) and beyond it, and even accommodates my husband's needs, fears, questions, etc. with so much grace. She is a dream. I love absolutely EVERYTHING about this doctor and it has been an honor to work with her and has literally set a new standard for my medical care going forward. I would recommend her to absolutely anyone I care about.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
Share your whole heart with her. Be a whole human, express yourself honestly as such and she will meet you where you are and you will never regret it.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
Dr. Insogna is the most humane physician I have EVER worked with. She clearly works just as hard to treat me with kindness and compassion as she does to meet my physical, medical needs. She is incredibly patient with me, communicates sensitively yet honestly, considers my whole personhood, answers my questions rapidly and completely, consistently checks in on how I'm doing with the IVF process and beyond it and even accommodates my husband's needs, fears, questions, etc. with so much grace. She is a dream.
Describe the protocols Iris Insogna used in your cycles at Columbia University and their degree of success.
Timed intercourse because I have PCOS and need help with ovulation so we started with minimal intervention and I only took oral drugs to help me ovulate. When that did not work twice, I asked to move to the next stage of intervention so we attempted an IUI and I never ovulated using Letrozole. Dr. Insogna recommended we move to IVF because she knows I want to get pregnant asap and because more potent ovulation meds might result in multiples given that I have a robust number of eggs. I then did an egg retrieval that resulted in 11 perfect embryos, 5 imperfect but viable and 2 that are not recommended for use and I will undergo my first transfer in 3 weeks.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Columbia University. (Assigned nurse: Maddie Bellinger)
Everyone I work with at Columbia is great. My nurse, care coordinator and the other nursing staff that I interact during visits with are kind, considerate, thorough and great at what they do.
Describe your experience with Columbia University.
The clinic is mostly great. It is clean, efficient and thorough. My only qualm is the communication system. When they are closed and the answering service picks up they will only contact the doctor on call for a short list of reasons and sometimes my needs have fallen outside of that sphere and it has caused me a lot of anxiety and stress. I think they should have a voicemail box that you can leave a message out during off hours and maybe the ability to text the on call doctor so that they can quickly respond without being inundated with calls.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Iris Insogna at Columbia University.
8k
Describe Iris Insogna's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Columbia University.
Dr. Insogna prefers one egg at at time for me given my embryo number, age, health, etc. in the hopes of my having the safest pregnancy possible and I agree.
What specific things went wrong at Columbia University?
Provided conflicting information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Columbia University.
I have only once spoken to the on call doctor who told me something slightly different than my own doctor but we are all human and so we will not always align perfectly. The on call doctor also didn't have as much information as my primary physician.
Dr. Insogna is the sweetest, smartest doctor ever. Her warmth and support throughout this emotional process carried us through. Her motivation and genuine care is unprecedented in the field. She is beyond personable, relatable, and truly committed to her patients and their partners...She held my hand (both figuratively and literally) during milestone events. My husband and I established a personal relationship with her that felt natural and comforting, unlike anything we have experienced in the medical field
Only strengths [at Columbia University]; best-in-class doctors, amazing staff, comfortable surroundings, clean environment, easy scheduling, excellent communication, seamless insurance approval process through the financial coordinator team...I would faint from bloodwork. The entire team – Margaret included – accommodated my situation and would prepare an exam room ahead of time for bloodwork so that I could lay down during the routine blood draws. One nurse in particular, Megan, was so patient and kind to me
How was your experience with Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
Dr. Insogna is the sweetest, smartest doctor ever. Her warmth and support throughout this emotional process carried us through. Her motivation and genuine care is unprecedented in the field. She is beyond personable, relatable, and truly committed to her patients and their partners. She was extremely accessible and would answer emails at off-hours. I feel so very lucky to have had her as my fertility doctor. The journey would not have been the same without her!
Dr. Insogna was invested in our success. She explained everything thoroughly and with compassion. She held my hand (both figuratively and literally) during milestone events. My husband and I established a personal relationship with her that felt natural and comforting, unlike anything we have experienced in the medical field. Fertility can be lonely but Dr. Insogna and her team made us feel seen and important. Her treatment plan worked and I am successfully pregnant and graduating from Columbia Fertility in the upcoming days. I will continue to check in with Dr. Insogna (as she told us to send updates) and will absolutely return to her for future pregnancies. After all, she made it happen!
I cannot recommend her enough!!! She is a true gem!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
I definitely did not feel like a number. Dr. Insogna is the sweetest, smartest doctor ever. Her warmth and support throughout this emotional process carried us through. Her motivation and genuine care is unprecedented in the field. She is beyond personable, relatable, and truly committed to her patients and their partners. She was extremely accessible and would answer emails at off-hours. I feel so very lucky to have had her as my fertility doctor. The journey would not have been the same without her!
Describe your experience with your nurse at Columbia University. (Assigned nurse: Margaret Baazova)
I could write a novel! I established a very special relationship with my core team. I cannot thank them enough for the professional, tender care they provided.
Margaret Baazova, sonographer, has become a friend. She is genuinely invested in my fertility success and has been supporting me from the beginning. We established an incredible connection from the start and she took such great care of me throughout the process. Margaret is extremely knowledgeable, passionate, and professional. She always explained everything thoroughly and was able to answer questions and ease potential concerns. The practice is extremely lucky to have her – she is a true asset.
When I came to Columbia Fertility I had an irrational fear of needles. I would faint from bloodwork. The entire team – Margaret included – accommodated my situation and would prepare an exam room ahead of time for bloodwork so that I could lay down during the routine blood draws. One nurse in particular, Megan, was so patient and kind to me, and took the time to make me feel as comfortable as possible. I felt at ease with Megan and over time the fear subsided. She was understanding of my fear and would walk me through each step, encouraging me to breathe at specific times. This seems trivial but as a patient who would faint previously she really made the process much easier and more tolerable. I appreciated her kind understanding and compassion.
I truly felt SO supported by Margaret and Megan. I never felt like a number at this practice. I am so lucky to have had a dedicated and trustworthy team. I could not have done this without their genuine care! I will continue to check in with them throughout my pregnancy as they were integral to my fertility experience!
Describe your experience with Columbia University.
Only strengths; best-in-class doctors, amazing staff, comfortable surroundings, clean environment, easy scheduling, excellent communication, seamless insurance approval process through the financial coordinator team.
Dr. Insogna is not only a bright, realistic, no-nonsense person, but also genuinely kind. An embryo transfer is a beautiful but physically and logistically awkward procedure; Dr. Insogna made it less uncomfortable and more intimate. I like that she always asked for my approval before initiating either an ultrasound or a speculum insertion.
It's [Columbia University] a good-looking clinic, busy, but with a very little waiting time before each visit. I wish specific procedures, like semen collection, were available on weekends. It's perhaps on the pricey side in NYC. There are no daily updates post-fertilization...My nurses were very efficient. They prepared me well for the self-administration of all my shots. I like how my test results and the following steps were fast and well explained.
How was your experience with Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
Dr. Insogna is not only a bright, realistic, no-nonsense person, but also genuinely kind. An embryo transfer is a beautiful but physically and logistically awkward procedure; Dr. Insogna made it less uncomfortable and more intimate. I like that she always asked for my approval before initiating either an ultrasound or a speculum insertion.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
Trust her. Doing a google search might be important for some, but I felt so much more relaxed when I just gave up and decided to rely on people who are experts.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
I'm sure Dr. Insogna had many patients she was treating concurrently, but she's never made me feel like I'm a number. I've never felt rushed, dismissed, or forgotten. She knew exactly where I was in my treatment and what was ahead for me.
Describe the protocols Iris Insogna used in your cycles at Columbia University and their degree of success.
A different doctor set up the medication protocol before she transferred to another fertility clinic and referred me and my husband to Dr. Insogna.
Dr. Insogna suggested a natural cycle for our single frozen embryo transfer.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Columbia University. (Assigned nurse: Madeline and Gwendolyn)
My nurses were very efficient. They prepared me well for the self-administration of all my shots. I like how my test results and the following steps were fast and well explained.
Describe your experience with Columbia University.
It's a good-looking clinic, busy, but with a very little waiting time before each visit. I wish specific procedures, like semen collection, were available on weekends. It's perhaps on the pricey side in NYC. There are no daily updates post-fertilization.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Iris Insogna at Columbia University.
The majority of the expenses were out of pocket. That includes IVF cycle and medication, anesthesia during egg retrieval and embryo transfer, genetic testing. My insurance paid for blood work and procedures involving infertility diagnoses (ultrasounds and hysterectomy).
Describe Iris Insogna's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Columbia University.
When I asked about multiple embryo transfer, Dr. Insogna described the inherent risks to both mother and children in carrying such a pregnancy to term. Although our embryo was genetically tested, which gave us some solace when it came to our concerns about a successful implantation, we would never opt for multiple embryo transfer.
From the moment I met Dr. Insogna, she went above and beyond to understand my fertility journey, to listen to my concerns, and to make me feel heard. Throughout the process of egg retrieval, I always felt like she was my number 1 cheerleader along the way. She spoke to me like a friend and confidant even when expectation setting about possible outcomes...
Madeline and all of the other staff members at CUFC were wonderful. They were always very easy to get in touch with regarding questions and concerns. Madeline made the instruction process for the injections simple and easy to understand...They were able to see me quickly and begin a cycle when other clinics had given me months-long waiting lists. The office environment itself is efficient and serene, which is helpful given the frequency of visits...
How was your experience with Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
I cannot say enough good things about Dr. Insogna and my experience as her patient. She made me feel so at ease throughout an extremely stressful and emotional process. I trust her judgment implicitly. She took the time to get to know me and was optimistic while also helping me stay realistically grounded in my expectations.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
Be willing to ask for advice and listen.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
From the moment I met Dr. Insogna, she went above and beyond to understand my fertility journey, to listen to my concerns, and to make me feel heard. Throughout the process of egg retrieval, I always felt like she was my number 1 cheerleader along the way. She spoke to me like a friend and confidant even when expectation setting about possible outcomes.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Columbia University. (Assigned nurse: Madeline)
Madeline and all of the other staff members at CUFC were wonderful. They were always very easy to get in touch with regarding questions and concerns. Madeline made the instruction process for the injections simple and easy to understand.
Describe your experience with Columbia University.
Overall, I was extremely satisfied with my experience. They were able to see me quickly and begin a cycle when other clinics had given me months-long waiting lists. The office environment itself is efficient and serene, which is helpful given the frequency of visits.
Dr Insogna was very kind and patient, made me feel comfortable and answered all my questions...She is thoughtful and smart, and she found the best treatment specific to me. I will definitely send friends and family to her...She recommended single embryo transfer because we tested the embryos (PGS)...Ask all your questions because she will gladly answer them....
The morning appointments [at Columbia University] were quick, and the ultrasound staff were efficient but also very helpful and nice. My main team was organized, I could always reach them with questions, and everything (treatment steps and appointments) went very smoothly. Everyone including the front desk, the blood drawing and operating room staff and of course my main team were very kind, friendly and helpful! It’s obviously a busy clinic but it didn’t feel like it for me, which is great.
How was your experience with Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
Dr Insogna is very kind, patient and attentive, and answered all my questions. She is thoughtful and smart, and she found the best treatment specific to me. I will definitely send friends and family to her.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
Ask all your questions because she will gladly answer them.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
Dr Insogna was very kind and patient, made me feel comfortable and answered all my questions.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Columbia University. (Assigned nurse: Madeline)
They always followed up with me on any day I had monitoring/testing and clearly explained next steps.
Describe your experience with Columbia University.
The morning appointments were quick, and the ultrasound staff were efficient but also very helpful and nice. My main team was organized, I could always reach them with questions, and everything (treatment steps and appointments) went very smoothly. Everyone including the front desk, the blood drawing and operating room staff and of course my main team were very kind, friendly and helpful! It’s obviously a busy clinic but it didn’t feel like it for me, which is great.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Iris Insogna at Columbia University.
Insurance paid, except for deductibles, co-pays, PGS testing.
Describe Iris Insogna's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Columbia University.
She recommended single embryo transfer because we tested the embryos (PGS).
She [Dr. Insogna] took the time to answer questions I felt ridiculous asking and never made me feel small for having such a lack of understand about my own body. She made us feel comfortable being vulnerable and sharing out anxieties about parenthood...I prefer a little extra compassion and he prefers to understand the hard science and probabilities. Dr. Insogna did a fantastic job providing both perspectives and putting our concerns at ease...
Columbia Fertility is clean and well run. My only concern is on weekends the waiting room can be extremely full, so I would suggest having the earliest possible appointment on weekends...She [Dr. Insogna] took the time to answer questions I felt ridiculous asking and never made me feel small for having such a lack of understand about my own body. She made us feel comfortable being vulnerable and sharing out anxieties about parenthood...
How was your experience with Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
My partner and I had the best possible experience with Dr. Insogna. As a recently married couple, we sought fertility consultation to plan for the future. Dr. Insogna validated out concerns about pursuing fertility testing even before trying naturally. She made us feel comfortable sharing out goals and provided prospective treatment plans. She explained the testing she recommended and really broke down the reasoning for each test.
My partner and I have different approaches to our medical information. I prefer a little extra compassion and he prefers to understand the hard science and probabilities. Dr. Insogna did a fantastic job providing both perspectives and putting our concerns at ease.
When we received our results, Dr. Insogna was very proactive about immediately sharing and explaining results so that were not left in suspense. She explained possible treatment plans and interventions in a way that made us feel hopeful for the future with realistic expectations about what achieving our reproductive goals would entail. Furthermore, Dr. Insogna did not make us feel pressured or worried to act immediately. She made us feel hopeful for our future family and like active participants in our care by giving is ample information on how we can proceed when we are ready.
I cannot recommend Dr. Insogna enough. I have proceed to recommend her to all my friends and family and I look forward to working with her in the future when my partner and I are ready to conceive.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
I would advise a future patient of Dr. Insogna to be full transparent from the beginning and include your partner from the beginning at the initial consultation if possible. Sharing piecemeal information could affect the course of action she recommends. She is very thorough and detail oriented so the more information she has at the initial consultation the better. My partner was trepidatious at first but I can tell that meeting Dr. Insogna at the initial consultation put him at ease and made him more amenable to his contributions to our shared treatment. Fertility treatment can feel like it is primarily care for the future-pregnant partner, but Dr. Insogna really incorporated and spoke to my partner in a way that emphasized the importance of his involvement and support of me
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
I felt like a human because Dr. Insogna acknowledge the magnitude of the conversation around starting a family. She took the time to answer questions I felt ridiculous asking and never made me feel small for having such a lack of understand about my own body. She made us feel comfortable being vulnerable and sharing out anxieties about parenthood. My partner and I are recently married and pretty young (25 and 26-years-old respectively) and she took the conversation with us seriously and validated our goals to pursue parenthood
Describe the protocols Iris Insogna used in your cycles at Columbia University and their degree of success.
Dr. Insogna had me do day 2/3 bloodwork, checklist bw (STI testing), transvaginal ultrasound, and additional bloodwork to see if an earlier diagnosis of POC affected my ovulation. She wanted to rule out PCOS as a diagnosis. She recommended day 2/3 bloodwork to check my hormone levels and make sure they were in normal range during my menstrual period and STI testing is standard for Columbia Fertility. I did the HSG to check to make sure my fallopian tubes are open
Describe your experience with Columbia University.
Columbia Fertility is clean and well run. My only concern is on weekends the waiting room can be extremely full, so I would suggest having the earliest possible appointment on weekends. But i would guess a full waiting room is a good thing to be concerned about.
[Dr. Iris Insogna] took the time to explain all of the treatment options and expected results...went out of her way to share embryo news and results on the weekend...She performed a successful transfer for us with our first embryo and then made it a point to do all of my ultrasounds after...23 eggs, 21 mature eggs, 14 fertilized, 7 blastocysts, 4 normal embryos, 2 mosaic embryos, 1 nonviable embryo. 1 transfer, resulting in the live birth of baby girl
[Columbia University has] Knowledgeable doctors and staff, clean and nice office, very easy to coordinate and schedule appts. Became like a second home to me with all of the monitoring appts haha. Saw various doctors and technicians throughout the process and everyone was lovely.
How was your experience with Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
Iris went above and beyond for me and my family. She was an advocate for me and my care during an ectopic pregnancy that led me to have to go to another hospital’s ER. She went out of her way to share embryo news and results on the weekend before I had surgery to remove a blocked tube, giving me good news before that procedure. She performed a successful transfer for us with our first embryo and then made it a point to do all of my ultrasounds after that so we could track the pregnancy’s progress together. She even coordinated a gender reveal card for us to open later with colored confetti. As I sit here holding my healthy baby girl who is 5 weeks old, I am overcome with gratitude not only for the medical guidance and success Iris provided, but the genuine warmth and humanity she provided at every step of what can be a cold and scary process. I had the best experience with Iris and I recommend her to anyone who needs fertility support.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
Ask questions, be vulnerable, and know that you have a great doctor who will work with and care for you.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
Iris took the time to explain all of the treatment options and expected results so that I was informed and could make decisions for our family. During my ectopic pregnancy, Iris was extremely communicative with both me and other doctors when I was at another hospital’s ER and coordinated my care from afar. I felt like she truly cared about me throughout my journey to motherhood and was excited alongside me and my husband during our embryo transfer, our subsequent ultrasounds to track our pregnancy, and even after I graduated from the clinic when I would share updates.
Describe the protocols Iris Insogna used in your cycles at Columbia University and their degree of success.
2 IUI cycles with Clomid and Ovidrel (1 failed and 1 ectopic, likely due to endometriosis blockage). Ectopic was originally considered nonviable and D&C was performed. Shots to resolve the ectopic were given once diagnosed.
1 round of meds and egg retrieval (gonal, menopur, cetrotide, leprolide). 23 eggs, 21 mature eggs, 14 fertilized, 7 blastocysts, 4 normal embryos, 2 mosaic embryos, 1 nonviable embryo.
1 transfer, resulting in the live birth of baby girl!!
Describe your experience with your nurse at Columbia University. (Assigned nurse: Meghan DeRuyter)
Great communication and explanations of next steps and details!
Describe your experience with Columbia University.
Knowledgeable doctors and staff, clean and nice office, very easy to coordinate and schedule appts. Became like a second home to me with all of the monitoring appts haha. Saw various doctors and technicians throughout the process and everyone was lovely.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Iris Insogna at Columbia University.
I had copays because most services were covered by my insurance. I had to pay for genetic testing and embryo freezing and storage.
Describe Iris Insogna's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Columbia University.
We didn’t want multiples so agreed with the approach to transfer 1 embryo.
Dr. Insogna is the warmest doctor I've ever had...very caring and easy to communicate with...never hesitated to express my concerns or ask lots of questions, and she always responded quickly over email (even sometimes on her days off)...my treatment plan was individualized and that there was flexibility to adjust the plan according to my daily monitoring results...We then did an unmedicated (except Ovidrel trigger) frozen embryo transfer...currently 19 weeks pregnant.
Every staff member of CUFC that I met over the course of 8 months -- from reception to lab to ultrasound to surgery -- was incredibly kind and professional...only surprise was how infrequently I saw my doctor...never met my nurse Meghan in person, but she was wonderful over email and phone. Meghan provided very clear instructions after each appointment, and had an enthusiastic positive attitude
How was your experience with Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
Dr. Insogna is very caring and easy to communicate with. I never hesitated to express my concerns or ask lots of questions, and she always responded quickly over email (even sometimes on her days off). She made me feel that my treatment plan was individualized and that there was flexibility to adjust the plan according to my daily monitoring results. She let me be fully in control of all decisions after presenting her recommendations, such as whether to do ICSI (I chose no even though she recommended it) and fresh embryo transfer. She was not able to provide all the granular data that FertilityIQ courses say to ask for, but that was not a problem for me.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
Dr. Insogna is the warmest doctor I've ever had. She and her team always treated me with patience and kindness, carefully responding to all my questions very quickly over email and remembering my specific concerns.
Describe the protocols Iris Insogna used in your cycles at Columbia University and their degree of success.
We did 2 cycles of Letrozole with IUI. During months when I was traveling too much to go to all clinic appointments, we did Letrozole with timed intercourse. I decided when to switch to IVF treatment. My IVF medications were Gonal-F, Menopur, Cetrotide; the trigger was a combination of Ovidrel and Lupron. I ended up using only half the amount of medications that was shipped to my home. The number of eggs retrieved was optimal according to FertilityIQ's graph of success rates vs risks, so I was thrilled about that! Dr. Insogna suggested a fresh embryo transfer because success rates for fresh vs frozen are similar for my age. Even though the fresh transfer was unsuccessful, I am happy I tried it because I liked keeping the momentum of treatment instead of waiting around for my next menstrual cycle and genetic testing results. We then did an unmedicated (except Ovidrel trigger) frozen embryo transfer with a tested euploid day-5 blastocyst, and it was successful! CUFC continued to monitor me until I seamlessly transitioned to a regular Columbia OBGYN at 9 weeks, and I took Progesterone vaginally until 10 weeks. I am currently 19 weeks pregnant.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Columbia University. (Assigned nurse: Meghan DeRuyter)
I never met my nurse Meghan in person, but she was wonderful over email and phone. Meghan provided very clear instructions after each appointment, and had an enthusiastic positive attitude, and looped in Dr. Insogna whenever appropriate. (Other nurses who were on call during Meghan's days off were not always as clear as she was.)
Describe your experience with Columbia University.
Every staff member of CUFC that I met over the course of 8 months -- from reception to lab to ultrasound to surgery -- was incredibly kind and professional. I would recommend this clinic to everyone. The only surprise was how infrequently I saw my doctor. I only saw Dr. Insogna over video visits and during a few ultrasounds when her in-clinic days happened to overlap with my morning monitoring. I did not know who would do my IUI, egg retrieval, and embryo transfer procedures until the morning of.
What specific things went wrong at Columbia University?
Provided conflicting information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Columbia University.
I caught typos on 2 separate occasions when my doctor and nurse emailed me lab results, once for blood type and another for progesterone. It would be better if all lab results were automatically visible in MyChart, instead of manually emailed.
3 things stand out about Dr. Insogna: 1) She is incredibly responsive and easy to get ahold of...2) She pays attention and puts in the effort to solve tricky fertility issues...With her, I felt like I had a real partner in trying to solve my fertility issues. She was willing to collaborate with me, supporting me to explore different solutions...3) She has a very warm and kind demeanor. From the moment I met her in a virtual appointment, I felt safe and cared for.
[Columbia University] Strengths: They email your bloodwork results in the afternoon, and you can schedule your own monitoring appointments at a time that works for you on their appointments portal. The offices are clean and comfortable...The lab will do embryo transfers on the weekends. Weaknesses: You can't easily access your ultrasound images. They can provide grainy/blurry copies to you, but only if you request. I found the ultrasound images, even on the machine screen, to be a bit lower quality than some other clinics in NYC. I don't think it interfered with my care, but I noted it. The clinic has only one NYC location for morning monitoring, and it's in Columbus Circle which isn't convenient for everyone.
How was your experience with Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
3 things stand out about Dr. Insogna: 1) She is incredibly responsive and easy to get ahold of. She provided me with her direct email and would often reply within the hour. She was very patient with all of my questions and never left me hanging. 2) She pays attention and puts in the effort to solve tricky fertility issues. I've found many doctors at NYC fertility clinics are just trying to move you through "the machine" and don't take much time to dig in on your particular case if it deviates from their typical protocol. Not Dr. Insogna! With her, I felt like I had a real partner in trying to solve my fertility issues. She was willing to collaborate with me, supporting me to explore different solutions. She never made me feel like I was crazy or annoying for being very engaged in my own treatment. 3) She has a very warm and kind demeanor. From the moment I met her in a virtual appointment, I felt safe and cared for.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
If you have questions, email her! She's very responsive.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
Dr. Insogna was very present for me. She paid attention to the details of my case, she was open to exploring new solutions and routes when I proposed them, and she was incredibly responsive via email.
Describe the protocols Iris Insogna used in your cycles at Columbia University and their degree of success.
I came to Columbia late in my fertility journey. I was diagnosed with unexplained infertility with thin endometrium being a potential cause. I had already been a patient at 4 other NYC clinics where I'd done egg freezing, 2 failed IUIs, 3 Letrozole cycles, 2 hysteroscopies, 4 additional egg retrievals for embryo freeze-all cycles, and 1 failed fresh transfer. After all that, I had a handful of PGT-tested embryos to use for FET. I came to Columbia because I liked how accessible and collaborative Dr. Insogna was, and because their lab schedule better fit my needs (i.e., they do FETs 7 days a week). I transferred my PGT-tested embryos from other NYC clinics to Columbia in preparation for an unmedicated frozen embryo transfer cycle. I wanted to try an unmedicated cycle because I'd recently had a hysterosocopy and we wanted to understand how thick my endometrium could get on its own. Dr. Insogna oversaw an unmedicated FET cycle in which we monitored my lining extremely closely (because that had been the suspected issue in the past). I triggered ovulation with Ovidrel and added progesterone suppositories in preparation for the FET. My FET ended up falling on a weekend, so I was so glad I'd moved to Columbia (had I stayed at my previous clinic, which didn't do weekend transfers, my whole cycle would have been canceled and I would have had to wait until the next month). After the FET of one PGT-tested embryo, I continued with twice daily progesterone suppositories into the 10th week of pregnancy.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Columbia University. (Assigned nurse: Meghan)
My primary care coordinator (Meghan) was very responsive and helpful. The nursing staff generally was great -- I liked all the phlebotomists and sonographers.
Describe your experience with Columbia University.
Strengths:
They email your bloodwork results in the afternoon, and you can schedule your own monitoring appointments at a time that works for you on their appointments portal.
The offices are clean and comfortable.
You can have a support person in the recovery area before/after procedures.
Monitoring appointments are available as late as 10am.
Appointments are usually on time or only 10-15 min late.
The lab will do embryo transfers on the weekends.
Weaknesses:
You can't easily access your ultrasound images. They can provide grainy/blurry copies to you, but only if you request.
I found the ultrasound images, even on the machine screen, to be a bit lower quality than some other clinics in NYC. I don't think it interfered with my care, but I noted it.
The clinic has only one NYC location for morning monitoring, and it's in Columbus Circle which isn't convenient for everyone.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Iris Insogna at Columbia University.
My care was covered completely by Progyny, but I did request the self-pay price list (out of curiosity) and found the prices to be comparably high as other top clinics in NYC like CCRM, RMA< and NYU Langone.
Describe Iris Insogna's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Columbia University.
Because my embryos were PGT-tested and because of my age (39), I only wanted to transfer one embryo, and Dr. Insogna was supportive of that.
As soon as I met Dr. Insogna, I felt at ease. She had reviewed my file in detail, and remained knowledgeable of everything that was going on me and my husband the entire time I was her patient. She took her time explaining what she felt was the best protocol...Despite my low AMH levels, Dr. Insogna tried to keep my medication protocol as natural as possible, only having me on medications through my usual cycle and ovulation period...Her amazing attitude made all the difference, and made a difficult process so much better...
The nursing staff [at Columbia University] was responsive and provided clear instructions...At times it was a bit difficult to reach some of the coordinators. When I was examined by other doctors, nurses and other medical staff, they were all extremely professional and I felt comfortable with them...I never felt that I waited too long to be seen for the monitoring appointments. The monitoring window worked for me...
How was your experience with Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
As soon as I met Dr. Insogna, I felt at ease. She had reviewed my file in detail, and remained knowledgeable of everything that was going on me and my husband the entire time I was her patient. She took her time explaining what she felt was the best protocol, and was kind and genuine. I also felt like Dr. Insogna was rooting for me from day one. Although she was upfront about my chances, she was my personal cheerleader, and focused on the percentage I had for success. When I had trouble with my health insurance she fought for me and was my advocate even when my faith faltered. Her amazing attitude made all the difference, and made a difficult process so much better. I couldn't have had a better experience with a fertility doctor and I really believe she is huge factor in why the transfer was successful.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
Don't be afraid to reach out with questions, she will try her best to answer them as quickly as possible.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
Dr. Insogna always checked in with me. She made me feel like she was aware of every test and result, and she made an effort to personally test me when she could. I knew that if I emailed her, she would try to respond to me as soon as possible.
Describe the protocols Iris Insogna used in your cycles at Columbia University and their degree of success.
Despite my low AMH levels, Dr. Insogna tried to keep my medication protocol as natural as possible, only having me on medications through my usual cycle and ovulation period. This was less taxing on my body. I also had a natural transfer cycle since I have regular (28) day cycles.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Columbia University. (Assigned nurse: Madeline Bellinger)
The nursing staff was responsive and provided clear instructions.
Describe your experience with Columbia University.
I had great overall experience with the clinic. At times it was a bit difficult to reach some of the coordinators. When I was examined by other doctors, nurses and other medical staff, they were all extremely professional and I felt comfortable with them.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Columbia University.
I never felt that I waited too long to be seen for the monitoring appointments. The monitoring window worked for me.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Iris Insogna at Columbia University.
I had health insurance, so I only had to pay co-pays.
Describe Iris Insogna's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Columbia University.
This wasn't an option for me because I had only one normal embryo available for transfer.
She [Dr. Insogna] is warm, compassionate, and takes the time to answer all your questions and makes you feel at ease. Every interaction I had with Iris was positive, and I only wish that it was possible to have seen her at every visit (but the clinic doesn’t operate that way)...3 natural IUI cycles that did not take...For my one and only stim cycle, I was put on a Menopur, Follistim, and Ganirelix regimen with Lupron trigger that produced a lot of eggs...
Everyone I interacted with [at Columbia University] was professional, timely, and effective in their roles. I never had to ask twice or wait very long for a response from the team...convenient location, open 365 days, lots of doctors so there is always someone on call 24/7, usually quick and efficient monitoring appointments, good communication between email/receptionist/care team...you may not always see or hear from your primary doctor...
How was your experience with Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
Iris is the kind of doctor that you want when proceeding on an unknown and long journey. She is warm, compassionate, and takes the time to answer all your questions and makes you feel at ease. Every interaction I had with Iris was positive, and I only wish that it was possible to have seen her at every visit (but the clinic doesn’t operate that way).
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
Don’t be afraid to talk about what’s on your mind or bothering you, even if it seems minor. Email is a good way to stay connected for non-urgent questions.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
I never felt like I was just a number or statistic at Columbia Fertility
Describe the protocols Iris Insogna used in your cycles at Columbia University and their degree of success.
I first did 3 natural IUI cycles that did not take, but I was aware that the odds were low to begin with. Unexplained infertility but with normal cycles and average AMH. For my one and only stim cycle, I was put on a Menopur, Follistim, and Ganirelix regimen with Lupron trigger that produced a lot of eggs.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Columbia University. (Assigned nurse: Madeline Bollinger)
Everyone I interacted with was professional, timely, and effective in their roles. I never had to ask twice or wait very long for a response from the team.
Describe your experience with Columbia University.
Pros: convenient location, open 365 days, lots of doctors so there is always someone on call 24/7, usually quick and efficient monitoring appointments, good communication between email/receptionist/care team
Cons: you may not always see or hear from your primary doctor, occasional busy morning monitoring hours with >10 min wait times, can feel impersonal since you are always seeing different nurses during appointments (but dedicated care team is always an email away)
Describe the costs associated with your care under Iris Insogna at Columbia University.
Insurance covered most of the appointments, I only paid copays for non-monitoring visits and prescriptions
Iris is such an amazing person/doctor. Iris validated my concerns. We discussed my concerns 1 by 1 and developed a plan that I was happy with. Iris was always available to listen to our questions/concerns and gave us honest feedback. Overall, Iris is attentive, smart, passionate, and kind...always first listens and then explains. It is such a underrated thing. Working with her I always felt heard.
Everyone is really nice and easy to talk to. -The clinic [Columbia University] was nice and bright. -You don't get to see your doctor at each appointment but your doctor is the one that reviews everything and gives you your updated protocols -Depending on what day your procedure lands on you may not get your doctor doing it. -The instructions the nurses provide are very clear - Doctor/Nurses were quick with responses even on vacation and her days off. - Great monitoring appointment times. I didn't have to tell my job I was doing this process because it was well before work.
How was your experience with Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
When I first was concerned about my fertility, I asked my OBGYN questions and was immediately brushed off. I then met Iris, Iris is such an amazing person/doctor.
Iris validated my concerns. We discussed my concerns 1 by 1 and developed a plan that I was happy with. Iris was always available to listen to our questions/concerns and gave us honest feedback. Overall, Iris is attentive, smart, passionate, and kind.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
Ask her all your questions and be honest about your concerns and feelings
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
Iris always first listens and then explains. It is such a underrated thing. Working with her I always felt heard.
Describe your experience with Columbia University.
-Everyone is really nice and easy to talk to.
-The clinic was nice and bright.
-You don't get to see your doctor at each appointment but your doctor is the one that reviews everything and gives you your updated protocols
-Depending on what day your procedure lands on you may not get your doctor doing it.
-The instructions the nurses provide are very clear
- Doctor/Nurses were quick with responses even on vacation and her days off.
- Great monitoring appointment times. I didn't have to tell my job I was doing this process because it was well before work.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Iris Insogna at Columbia University.
I am not sure because most of it was paid through insurance.
Dr. Insogna was very warm and encouraging. She was readily accessible over email and explained answers to my questions thoroughly...I felt comfortable in her care and trusted her. She helped ease my anxiety and addressed any concerns I had. She explained things thoroughly and in a way that made sense...I had a wonderful experience with Dr. Insogna...
The clinic [Columbia University] runs efficiently, is clean and welcoming. I froze my eggs there before cancer treatment and thawed them to crest embryos 5 years later. Both of my experiences at this clinic were positive and I trusted the doctors and nurses who took care of me...all the nurses I came into contact with were professional and communicated well. Madeline was responsive when communicating via email...
How was your experience with Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
I had a wonderful experience with Dr. Insogna. I felt comfortable in her care and trusted her. She helped ease my anxiety and addressed any concerns I had. She explained things thoroughly and in a way that made sense.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
I would tell them to trust her and to not be afraid to ask questions to address any concerns you have.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
Dr. Insogna was very warm and encouraging. She was readily accessible over email and explained answers to my questions thoroughly.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Columbia University. (Assigned nurse: Madeline Bellinger)
Madeline and all the nurses I came into contact with were professional and communicated well. Madeline was responsive when communicating via email.
Describe your experience with Columbia University.
The clinic runs efficiently, is clean and welcoming. I froze my eggs there before cancer treatment and thawed them to crest embryos 5 years later. Both of my experiences at this clinic were positive and I trusted the doctors and nurses who took care of me.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Iris Insogna at Columbia University.
I have a lifetime maximum of $10,000 with my health insurance plan, so much of my care was covered. However, the clinic is holding $2000 on a credit card no in case I went over that maximum, so we are still in the process of figuring out how much we will owe out of pocket.
[Dr. Iris Insogna] really listened to me. She never gave me false hope and was cautiously optimistic...is one of the kindest human beings...is sincere and thoughtful and attentive...always makes me feel like she genuinely cares... is so approachable and explains everything so clearly.
[Columbia University] is run very efficiently. Very organized. I never had a long wait time...there is street parking 1 block away as well as a parking garage that has discounted rates for Columbia patients...My nurse was wonderful and communicated everything to me kindly, promptly and efficiently.
How was your experience with Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
I consider myself very lucky to have found Dr Insogna and to be under her care. I can not say enough nice things about this kind, sincere and brilliant doctor. She made my dream of becoming a mom come true when it felt like all odds were against me. She really listened to me. She never gave me false hope and was cautiously optimistic. The fertility journey can feel like a very long and dark road and she was like this bright light radiating kindness and empathy with her brilliant knowledge of medicine. She is an amazing person and a very knowledgeable doctor. I am forever grateful to her for everything she has done for me and my family.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
Feel free to ask any questions you have. She is so approachable and explains everything so clearly.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
Dr Insogna is one of the kindest human beings. She is sincere and thoughtful and attentive. She always makes me feel like she genuinely cares.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Columbia University. (Assigned nurse: Meghan )
My nurse was wonderful and communicated everything to me kindly, promptly and efficiently.
Describe your experience with Columbia University.
The clinic is run very efficiently. Very organized. I never had a long wait time. I commuted from NJ and there is street parking 1 block away as well as a parking garage that has discounted rates for Columbia patients.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Iris Insogna at Columbia University.
1st cycle 1 was self pay
2nd cycle I had insurance coverage
[Dr. Iris Insogna] is the reason I made it through 2 years of strenuous IVF and now pregnant. She never gave up on finding a solution to my challenges...kept suggesting innovative treatment, improving my protocol with every attempt...answers emails day, nights, and weekend and I was never alone.
[Columbia University has] Very high quality of care, well organized and offering most advanced treatment out there. Facilities have great morning opening times and flexible scheduling...Blood work nurses were generally good...did have repeated challenges with the financial coordinators which either did not understand my insurance or did wrong financial calculations.
How was your experience with Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
Iris is the reason I made it through 2 years of strenuous IVF and now pregnant. She never gave up on finding a solution to my challenges and she kept suggesting innovative treatment, improving my protocol with every attempt. She answers emails day, nights, and weekend and I was never alone. She knew when I needed encouragement and when I just needed to be allowed to cry. She was there for all of it - kind and caring! I would 100% recommend her.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
You are in great hands and you will have the best treatment possible.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
I have never had a doctor that to such an extent were present and knew me as a person
Describe your experience with your nurse at Columbia University. (Assigned nurse: Meghan)
I value swift replies and organization - most coordinators and medication coordinators were good at that. Blood work nurses were generally good but did find especially one too chatty and not able to read situations where I did not want to be interactive. I did have repeated challenges with the financial coordinators which either did not understand my insurance or did wrong financial calculations.
Describe your experience with Columbia University.
Very high quality of care, well organized and offering most advanced treatment out there. Facilities have great morning opening times and flexible scheduling. Felt like my treatment and success was the key.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Iris Insogna at Columbia University.
Most of my treatment was covered by insurance. But self pay IVF is around $12000 and FET is $2800.
Dr. Insogna was incredibly warm, thoughtful, compassionate, and personable. She took great care of me and I feel incredibly lucky to have been in her care! We had a very thorough, hour-long initial consultation. She empathized with our situation and laid out options for us. She took time to answer all of my questions and was always very responsive over email...She is clear and thoughtful and takes time to explain everything.
Everyone at the [Columbia University] clinic was welcoming, warm, kind, and positive! I was always seen right on time or even early if I was there early. Everyone from the nurses to the front desk staff to the technicians were positive and encouraging and wonderful. Very nice clinic and easy location to get to...Dr. Insogna is extremely warm, compassionate, and personal. She is clear and thoughtful and takes time to explain everything. Everyone at the Columbia University Fertility Center is amazing!
How was your experience with Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
Dr. Insogna was incredibly warm, thoughtful, compassionate, and personable. She took great care of me and I feel incredibly lucky to have been in her care! We had a very thorough, hour-long initial consultation. She empathized with our situation and laid out options for us. She took time to answer all of my questions and was always very responsive over email.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
See her!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
Dr. Insogna is extremely warm, compassionate, and personal. She is clear and thoughtful and takes time to explain everything. Everyone at the Columbia University Fertility Center is amazing!
Describe the protocols Iris Insogna used in your cycles at Columbia University and their degree of success.
n/a
Describe your experience with your nurse at Columbia University. (Assigned nurse: Meghan)
Meghan was a great communicator. She was clear and positive and always wrote to me very quickly.
Describe your experience with Columbia University.
Everyone at the clinic was welcoming, warm, kind, and positive! I was always seen right on time or even early if I was there early. Everyone from the nurses to the front desk staff to the technicians were positive and encouraging and wonderful. Very nice clinic and easy location to get to.
Describe Iris Insogna's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Columbia University.
Dr. Insogna is very patient to answer all our questions professionally but still in a way that's easy for us to understand. She always made sure that we make informative and comfortable decisions. Her thoughtful care and sweet smiles also smoothed the whole process. We would definitely recommend her...is very patience to answer all questions and make sure we are comfortable with the planned process.
The [Columbia University] doctor who would conduct your procedure may not be your primary doctor. I have done 2 egg retrieval procedures and 2 implant procedures, and it was different doctors every time. But all doctors and nurses will treat you seriously and friendly...Dr. Insogna is very patient to answer all our questions professionally but still in a way that's easy for us to understand. She always made sure that we make informative and comfortable decisions. Her thoughtful care and sweet smiles also smoothed the whole process. We would definitely recommend her...is very patience to answer all questions and make sure we are comfortable with the planned process.
How was your experience with Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
Dr. Insogna is very patient to answer all our questions professionally but still in a way that's easy for us to understand. She always made sure that we make informative and comfortable decisions. Her thoughtful care and sweet smiles also smoothed the whole process. We would definitely recommend her.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Iris Insogna at Columbia University?
Dr. Insogna is very patience to answer all questions and make sure we are comfortable with the planned process.
Describe your experience with Columbia University.
The doctor who would conduct your procedure may not be your primary doctor. I have done 2 egg retrieval procedures and 2 implant procedures, and it was different doctors every time. But all doctors and nurses will treat you seriously and friendly.
