Need Help Deciding What RE to Go With..

Updated on October 10, 2008
A.V. asks from Saint Louis, MO
13 answers

My dh and I have been trying to conceive for some time now. I have PCOS and diabetes 2. I've been doing rounds of Provera for about a year to jumpstart my cycle, but now I'm starting to have my own periods without Provera. I've been doing rounds of Clomid for 3 months. My regular OB says that she can't help me more to help me conceive than the 3 months of Clomid I just finished. She now wants to send me to an RE (Reproductive Endocrinologist) a specialist for people with my issues.

However, as her reference she only gave me 2 RE names to go with and only 1 of those is supported by my insurance. The problem is that I was really hoping for a woman dr. and this is a man, a Dr. Jorge Pineda. Also I needed a dr's office that was affiliated with St. John's Mercy hospital since that's where I ultimately want to have my baby. I've been told that most RE's will have a high risk OB on staff that I'll go to, to have the baby... I need the high risk dr. because of my diabetes.

Does anyone know of this Dr. Pineda, is he any good, is he reputable? Also is he affiliated with St. Johns?
My insurance does have a women RE on its listing, so should I try her instead? Her name is Dr. Valerie Ratts. Is she with St. John's, do you know? There's also a Dr. Kerri Marguard, but I'm not sure if that's a man or woman.

I very confused and any info about Dr. Jorge Pineda would be great! As I'm apprehensive about a man dr., I'd like to know he's ok before I go see him.

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S.W.

answers from St. Louis on

I did not go to Dr. Pineda but I heard he is wonderful! My old neighbor went there and ended up with twins. She actually went to him for all 4 of her kids. I went to the Drs at WashU. There are several women in the group but everyone is there is very good.

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C.M.

answers from St. Louis on

I know an obstetrician who used Dr. Pineda for her own infertility issues and really like him. As everyone has said, it doesn't matter who gets you pregnant because you will transfer care to Midwest Maternal Fetal Medicine (the high risk group at St. Johns) when you are far enough along in your pregnancy.

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M.R.

answers from St. Louis on

I am a patient of Dr. Peter Ahlering and he is the best I have ever seen. I have a daughter because of him and I am working on my second cycle. You can check out his website - www.haveababy.com. You can choose any OB you want after you are 10 weeks pregnant and "graduate" from an RE's care. I wouldn't get caught up on having a women or man doctor, I would just go with the best and in my opion it is all of the docors that are affiliated with the Sher Institute of Reproductive Medicine - namely Dr. Peter Ahlering.

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V.P.

answers from St. Louis on

I don't know Pineda, but we did use Ratts at Barnes. She helped us conceive our daughter through IVF. We have used 2 other RE clinics since then. Dr. Silber and Dr. Ahlering. Both are males. They too were great.
Hope this helps.
V.

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M.S.

answers from St. Louis on

A.,

I conceived a son 13 years ago with the assistance of Dr. Pineda. He is well known, experienced and wonderful. I wouldn't hesitate to see him. It seems to me that my regular Ob just delivered the baby though, so I'm not sure about Dr. Pineda's hospital affiliations. M.

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V.I.

answers from St. Louis on

hi. i also have PCOS and valerie ratts is my dr. she is wonderful, although her office is down at barnes, so not sure she is affiliated with st. johns.....

happy to say that i am the mother to a 3 1/2 year old, a 14 month old, and another one coming in feb! good luck!

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J.P.

answers from St. Louis on

A.,

I don't know Dr. Pineda, but I can recommend by OB who is a high risk OB and is wonderful. His name is Dr. Forseter and when I was worried about conceiving he assured me that he would be able to help. I was lucky and able to conceive on my own, but he is so helpful and understanding - eveyone I have sent to him just LOVES him. He answers questions by phone or e-mail the same day and offers the kind of warm personal attention I never got from any other doctor. Good luck to you in your search and in trying to conceive.

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L.G.

answers from St. Louis on

Hi A.,
I had trouble conceiving and before my doctor would put me on clomid, she had me get an outpatient procedure to see if my tubes were blocked in any way. They shoot a dye into your tubes (or ovaries) and watch it travel down the tubes. The benefit of this procedure is not only knowing if the tubes are clear, but it gets the tiny villi in the tubes working again. They move the egg down the tube.
I tried to get pregnant for a year, and the next month after this procedure, I got pregnant. The procedure is covered by most insurance. If you haven't had it done, you might discuss it with your doctor.
As far as a high risk Dr.-- I liked Dr. Susan Moore, she is the head of the St. John's perinatal group. Good luck!

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K.O.

answers from St. Louis on

Hi A.: I know you referenced wanting a woman doc. . . My RE was awesome and voted top RE in STL for a couple years. His name is Peter Ahlering w/SIRM (SHER INSTITUTE FOR REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE) They have a website www.haveababy.com and they are located off of Ballas/Olive. He is out of St. Johns' but your regular OB with be the one to deliver you unless you have a problematic pg (in which you'll be referred to a perinatologist). They have a wonderful group of peri's on staff at St. John's also. If you have another other questions, pleasee feel free to pm me. Good luck and tons of baby dust coming your wya

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B.S.

answers from St. Louis on

I personally went to Dr. Pineda in 2003 after 2-3 years of fertility treatments with another doctor. I think he is great, and I know of 2 other women that went to him both with successful outcomes. His nursing staff is also very nice and friendly. After I got pregnant, and went through the first 8-10 weeks, I then switched back to my normal doctor. Good luck!

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T.L.

answers from St. Louis on

I do know Dr. Pineda! I have a four year old son because of him. He and his staff are fantastic. My OB/GYN calls him a miracle worker. You do not have to see him again after you have concieved, so don't worry about him being at the same hospital in which you intend to deliver. Best of luck to you!

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D.P.

answers from St. Louis on

I went to PARINTS. They are a group of RNs that worked with my OB. We did clomide, and insemination. It took me three times for each pregnancy with the insemination. My insurance did not cover it but I made payments to them for a long time after my children were born. All the tests were looked over by my OB, but the women there did all the work. Becky is in charge and awesome! Their address is: 2821 N Ballas Ste. 220 St. Louis, MO 63131. I do not have the phone number any more. My OB is Carlos Maitz. He is very nice and explains everything to you. My husband would recommend him as well. I hope this helps.
D.

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L.L.

answers from St. Louis on

Dr. Pineda is well-known and is at St. Luke's Hospital. Dr. Ratts is also well-known and is affiliated with BJC at Barnes-Jewish and Missouri Baptist. Generally, once you become pregnant and are past the first trimester, you are turned back over to your regular OB/GYN for the rest of your prenatal care. If you are high-risk [i.e. your diabetes], your OB/GYN would call in a Maternal-Fetal Medicine consult that would be on staff at the hospital where you would deliver. There are several MFM's at St. John's. Your task at hand is to conceive. The pregnancy will take care of itself when the time comes. Good luck! I worked labor and delivery at Jewish and Barnes-Jewish for many, many years...so I know it can happen!

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