I made sure to attend all my appointments with my specialist, except for one Saturday appointment and my ER visit. I have worked with three different clinics due to moving and insurance issues, but I have always seen every RE at all my appointments without any problems. In my opinion, your experience may not be typical based on my own experiences. I never had to call to schedule appointments beyond the initial consultations and first day of periods, as I could schedule everything in person and knew exactly when my next appointment would be.
The frequency of scans during stims varies depending on the clinic. In my case, my doctor personally conducts scans every few days, allowing me to have conversations with him. Communication with the rest of the team, including nurses and assistants, is primarily done through email.
I only communicate with my reproductive endocrinologist during WTF appointments. In the case of ER and FET procedures, another RE from my fertility clinic may perform them depending on the on-call schedule. My nurse handles all scheduling and instructions.
I believe it is common practice to have multiple ER visits for follicle monitoring, as long as you have seen them at least two or three times. Despite not speaking directly with the doctor, the nurse midwives consult with them regularly throughout the process. However, I did not receive any information on my results until I contacted them myself a couple of weeks later to inquire about the next steps.
It is typical at my US clinic!
The range of experiences varies based on cost - I visit a pricey clinic in Northern California where the doctor personally conducts all scans and blood work, and promptly responds to emails. Can’t say if it leads to better results, but it does bring peace of mind.
I’ve heard that many people experienced issues, so I chose a more expensive clinic where I paid a premium for direct contact with my doctor. I have an app and the doctor’s direct number for easy communication, and all my questions are answered promptly. The convenience of the app makes it my preferred method of communication. My clinic is Pacific Fertility in Los Angeles, CA.