MD or RE?

[Trusting77]

Does it matter if your fertility treatment is provided by an MD vs. an RE? Mine provides reproductive endocrinology services, has had a fellowship in RE, completed a residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology, and is certified in advanced operative laparoscopy and advanced operative hysteroscopy so he seems to have the proper training.  Just wondering if the RE credential is critical or not.

[nshapland]

My first dr did fertility exclusively but I found out later he had no formal training in reproductive endocrinology (he was board certified in obstetrics-gynecology but not RE).  He also missed my ovulation when doing iui. I switched drs soon after.  I think liking and trusting a dr is really important but if I'm spending the money I want him or her to be board certified, too--just like I make sure my anesthesiologists are board certified when I have surgery.
Good luck!

[Trusting77]

Thanks for your replies.  BeeHappy76, your comments seem to make sense b/c he is not a primary care physician.  All he does is fertility, but I thought for some reason he would have RE behind his name.  Your thought that RE's are MD's makes sense.

Thanks everyone!

[BeeHappy76]

If he had residency in ob and fellowship in RE then that means he has the same training as an RE. RE's are MD's and they don't get extra letters after their names, just MD. Could be that he is an RE but advertises himself differently than most bc he also does ob, which most don't. It is totally valid to call his office and ask for clarification about his credentials. For me I find it most important to find a doctor that I like and trust. Good luck!

[Wantababy111]

I agree also, go with an RE, they are the ones helping women everyday with fertility and they know everything and have personally seen it all firsthand rather than just learning about it in school..

[seattleview]

I completely agree with RainLos27. In addition to what she said above, good RE's tend not to be as overbooked as Ob-gyn's and can therefore get your testing done sooner, analyzed more quickly and thoroughly, and get you started on treatment quickly.

[RainLos27]

To me and my personal option, RE credential would be critical. Personaly, and MD or my primary care doctor wouldn't run the proper test that my RE would run to help me with fertility treatment. If your Primary Care doctor has a residency in OBGYN, and is certified in advanced operatuve laparoscopy and hysteroscopy, he himself wouldn't do surgery on you if you didn't some type of surgery. Unfourt. may things changed throughout the years and certain docs do go get retrained, not like an RE would. They basically eat, breath and sleep fertility. So why not just go to the expret?