Anyone have any experience with Dr. Satu Kuokkanen?

We are planning to see Dr. Satu Kuokkanen at Long Island IVF in Melville for the first time. We've been TTC for 15 months with no success. Any advice on this doctor and your experience/success rates with her? We are completely new to IVF and LI-IVF.
Who exactly sees you on your visits (melville)? Are they nurses or NP's or technicians? Who performs the egg retrievals, sonograms, actual IVF or ICSI procedure? How does it all work?

We want to be seen by female practitioners only. Any other recommendations for Doctors or centers where this is possible? Are the examiners at melville basically all female if you select Dr. Kuokkanen or Dr. Droesch?

Any advice or help would be appreciated. Also does anyone have any info. regarding insurance coverage with UnitedHealthcare? Supposedly they may cover diagnostics and Sonograms.

Help!

Re: Anyone have any experience with Dr. Satu Kuokkanen?

I saw her for one cycle at LI IVF in Melville.

I came from Dr.B's office after 8 failed IUI's, he stopped taking all insurance so I had to switch.

I liked Dr.K, basically she questioned why I wasn't doing IVF after 8 failed IUI's, I told her as I was in the middle of closing on a house it wasn't possible right then. She also questioned why my past 8 IUI protocol wasn't changed up at all.

For my IUI with her we did injectibles only, a higher dose and no femara, I responded better as I produced more eggs, about 4 instead of 1-2. Ultimately this IUI did not work and right after I switched to a free clinical ivf trial and I am currently 6.5 months pregnant. So I needed ivf, and she suggested it and was right, but I couldn't afford the 12k at the time.

Besides my consultation with her I didn't see her except for my IUI. The nurses did my monitoring. I thought their Melville office was very nice, coming from Dr.B's 1 hour plus wait time, LI IVF was a dream 15m door to door for morning monitoring appts. They have great hours. If anything they excessively monitor you, I had bruised arms from going in so often, but I guess that is a good thing. Dr. K would call mid afternoon after every appt, so I got to speak with her personally even if I didn't see her. I thought the staff was friendly and helpful too.

If I had the 12k at the time I would have probably continued with them to do ivf, I didn't have much hope with them as I knew my 9th iui probably wasn't going to work.

I think you should meet with her and see how you feel. Good luck!

Re: Anyone have any experience with Dr. Satu Kuokkanen?

I went to LI IVF but my primary RE was Dr. Brenner. I did see Dr. Kuokkanen a few times during my cycles there. She performed my water sono and some of the monitoring.

I'm not sure if it is the same at all the locations, i went to Lake Success and for the most part all of my sonograms during the monitoring was done by a PA, only once or twice did i see a tech (female) for monitoring. But from experience (1 IUI and 2 IVF) when it comes to doing the IUI or IVF procedures it will be one of the REs but it will not necessarily be Dr. K or any other female RE. Those procedures are done only at the Melville office and since they wont know exactly when you will need to go in for ER or ET it all depends on who is scheduled for that day.

I'm not sure if will make accomodations for you to only be seen my female Drs.

Re: Anyone have any experience with Dr. Satu Kuokkanen?

Thank you for the information! What's the price difference between IVF and ICSI? Can you watch the IVF as they do it or the ICSI? Is the initial consultation usually free? If not, how much does it cost with no insurance coverage?

Anyone have any experience with Dr. Satu Kuokkanen?

Does Dr. Kuokkanen perform ER and ET now? Previously she was just observing I heard...