Ratings of 1 indicate that a clinic was poorly operated.
Ratings of 10 indicate that a clinic operated very well.
Scheduling
9.4
9.4
Scheduling
Ratings of 1 mean it was difficult to schedule appointments with this clinic.
Ratings of 10 mean it was easy to schedule appointments.
Billing Department
8.9
8.9
Billing Department
Ratings of 1 indicate an unsatisfactory billing department.
Ratings of 10 indicate an excellent billing department.
Nursing Team
8.9
8.9
Nursing Team
Ratings of 1 indicate an unsatisfactory nursing team.
Ratings of 10 indicate an excellent nursing team.
LGBTQ+ Care
10
10
LGBTQ+ Care
Ratings of 1 indicate an unsatisfactory LGBTQ+ care.
Ratings of 10 indicate an excellent LGBTQ+ care.
Attention to Detail
8
8
Attention to Detail
Attention to detail is on a 1 - 10 scale, and is scored based on the rate, and severity, of errors committed by the clinic according to the patients.
For example, a severe error might be failing to inform a patient of critical information, while a small error might be failing to call a patient with results.
CDC Success Rates
This is the most recent data from the CDC. The CDC cautions that it should not be used to compare doctors and clinics. This data represents the outcomes of IVF cycles when using a person's own eggs.
For more information please see our FAQs.
Where you see a “?” on the chart, a clinic has done fewer than 20 cycles in this category and age range, so the CDC says showing percentages from this small data set would be misleading and unreliable.
Dr. Ringler seems reserved, when it matters most, he is extremely compassionate. Dr. Ringler is not "warm and fuzzy" upon meeting him. He is serious and business-like. However, we learned that he is incredibly supportive during a traumatic experience. It is easy sometimes to write off people whose personalities do not jump off the page. This is true of Dr. Ringler but based on his calls from a European vacation to counsel us, among other things, he is all we could have expected and more.
Our experience with the clinic as a whole was very good. I would say that the strengths are the staff and particularly, Dr. Ringler's combination of compassion and obvious excellence in his field. The only weakness is that the accounting staff did not initially present any insurance or financing options. I would advise prospective patients to do their own research in that regard. They have been very helpful with our specific challenges but general financial counseling does not seem to be their forte.
How was your experience with Guy Ringler at California Fertility Partners?
Although there have been hurdles along the way, our confidence in Dr. Ringler never faltered. My husband and I have as much faith in him today as we did when we entered his office for the first time over three years ago.
Without going into great detail, our experiences thus far with our journey to parenthood have been disappointing. While we had hoped to have a healthy baby long before now, we also realize it is no one's fault. We are also aware that other intended parents often have much longer roads.
Everything went very smoothly during the process until the retrieval and outcome of PGT-A testing. All of our embryos were mosaic to varying degrees. At first, we did not fully understand the gravity of the situation. Dr. Ringler took the time to call us from his vacation in Europe to discuss the results. He was candid in saying that he was quite surprised due to our donor's age of twenty-four and excellent history. It was a rare but troubling result.
During that call and subsequent conversations, Dr. Ringler laid out our options. He was supportive when we needed it most. In order to fully explore the possible ramifications of transferring a mosaic embryo, we met with a genetics counselor at Harvard on Dr. Ringler's recommendation.
We ultimately decided not to proceed with a transfer based on the high degree of mosaicism. Several weeks later, COVID struck and our plans to immediately resume the process were dashed. Life also intervened when my husband lost his father unexpectedly.
During this lengthy period, Dr. Ringler checked in periodically which was much appreciated. We met with him again recently in person to discuss our three potential egg donors. He provided guidance which led to our final selection. If all goes well, we are hoping for a retrieval to take place in several months. We are cautiously optimistic and feel that we are in great hands as far as Dr. Ringler and his entire office.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Guy Ringler at California Fertility Partners?
I would tell a prospective patient that while Dr. Ringler seems reserved, when it matters most, he is extremely compassionate. Dr. Ringler is not "warm and fuzzy" upon meeting him. He is serious and business-like. However, we learned that he is incredibly supportive during a traumatic experience. It is easy sometimes to write off people whose personalities do not jump off the page. This is true of Dr. Ringler but based on his calls from a European vacation to counsel us, among other things, he is all we could have expected and more.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Guy Ringler at California Fertility Partners?
From the moment we entered Dr. Ringler's office, his nurses and staff were cordial and respectful. Our first meeting was with Dr. Ringler and it set the tone for an excellent visit. I was particularly nervous and expressed my concerns immediately. Dr. Ringler was extremely patient without seeming even slightly patronizing. When it became clear that my husband and I needed a tutorial on the basic elements of the process, Dr. Ringler drew several easy to follow diagrams. In fact, I still refer to those diagrams to this day.
Our journey has been a bit bumpy and through it all, Dr. Ringler has shown us kindness and empathy. His staff and nurses have also been wonderful. We moved back to the East Coast after our initial appointment which caused several logistical hurdles. The office was very sensitive to our travel issues. Additionally, his office manager in particular has been a delight. She and Dr. Ringler are cognizant of the financial demands presented by fertility treatment. They have gone out of their way to recognize our specific circumstances and work with us.
Describe the protocols Guy Ringler used in your cycles at California Fertility Partners and their degree of success.
Our course of treatment was standard in terms of a gay couple intending to be parents. We had a detailed physical examination and semen analysis during our initial appointment. Thereafter, our egg donor was cleared and began her cycle.
We actually traveled to Los Angeles on the day of the retrieval to provide fresh samples. The retrieval went smoothly; unfortunately, the result was not what we hoped for.
For our second attempt, we are proceeding similarly. My husband and I feel confident we were simply victims of bad luck. There was nothing that could or should have been done differently.
Describe your experience with your nurse at California Fertility Partners. (Assigned nurse: I believe her name was Desiree.)
Our nurses and the entirety of the Doctor's staff was excellent from being to end. They were extremely organized and returned calls within twenty-four hours. Whenever we had a question for Dr. Ringler, it was transmitted to him immediately. We had a number of issues with travel plans and they did their best to work with us. Honestly, we could not be happier with our treatment from the beginning.
Describe your experience with California Fertility Partners.
Our experience with the clinic as a whole was very good. I would say that the strengths are the staff and particularly, Dr. Ringler's combination of compassion and obvious excellence in his field.
The only weakness is that the accounting staff did not initially present any insurance or financing options. I would advise prospective patients to do their own research in that regard. They have been very helpful with our specific challenges but general financial counseling does not seem to be their forte.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Guy Ringler at California Fertility Partners.
I believe that the total cost of treatment from initiation through transfer was about $40,000.00. This seems consistent with similar practices in LA.
Describe Guy Ringler's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at California Fertility Partners.
Dr. Ringler encouraged eSET as the healthiest option for our gestational surrogate. We had not considered otherwise so everyone was in full agreement.
How competent was California Fertility Partners at LGBTQ+ care?
Yes, absolutely! We felt completely comfortable during every interaction with the office. The best compliment I can provide is that it was entirely a non-issue.
Describe your experience using 3rd party reproduction (donor eggs, donor sperm, or gestational carrier) at California Fertility Partners.
Unfortunately, we did not get to that point with CFP. That said, we have no reason to believe there would have been any problems down the road.
While he [Dr. Ringler] is very likely a highly skilled physician, he was unprofessional in handling our case. When we questioned him on why his own medical standards were not being followed, and rather relying on things the donor or donor agency said rather than actual medical / lab documents, he became defensive. Worse, when he realized how bad our case had transpired at his office and apologized and claimed he was embarrassed, he did little to correct the situation and actually ignored emails....When we had our first Skype call with him, Dr Ringler confused us with another couple, was unfamiliar with our donor, and only had information he was retrieving from the egg donor agency...
She [the nurse] never contacted us for 2 months as the office was receiving information about our egg donor. She then blatantly ignored emails from both us and the search firm we used...They [California Fertility Partners] are likely on the cutting edge of fertility medicine, but our case was handled completely unprofessionally. No communication, ignored emails, ignorance about our case, and relying on non-medical professionals for critical medical information.
How was your experience with Guy Ringler at California Fertility Partners?
While he is very likely a highly skilled physician, he was unprofessional in handling our case. When we questioned him on why his own medical standards were not being followed, and rather relying on things the donor or donor agency said rather than actual medical / lab documents, he became defensive. Worse, when he realized how bad our case had transpired at his office and apologized and claimed he was embarrassed, he did little to correct the situation and actually ignored emails.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Guy Ringler at California Fertility Partners?
While is likely a very skilled physician, make sure your case in handled properly from a medical perspective if using an egg donor (e.g. her exams are done there and/or transferred from other medical facilities to his).
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Guy Ringler at California Fertility Partners?
When we had our first Skype call with him, Dr Ringler confused us with another couple, was unfamiliar with our donor, and only had information he was retrieving from the egg donor agency.
Describe the protocols Guy Ringler used in your cycles at California Fertility Partners and their degree of success.
We were still evaluating both the donor and host for viability of egg/embryo transfer.
Describe your experience with your nurse at California Fertility Partners. (Assigned nurse: Ashley)
She never contacted us for 2 months as the office was receiving information about our egg donor. She then blatantly ignored emails from both us and the search firm we used.
Describe your experience with California Fertility Partners.
They are likely on the cutting edge of fertility medicine, but our case was handled completely unprofessionally. No communication, ignored emails, ignorance about our case, and relying on non-medical professionals for critical medical information.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Guy Ringler at California Fertility Partners.
$35 for full egg donor cycle and one embryo transfer
What specific things went wrong at California Fertility Partners?
Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at California Fertility Partners.
As the clinic received important information about our egg donor, they never reached out to us. When we finally got ahold of Dr Ringler, he confused us with a different couple, was unfamiliar with our case, and relied on information from the egg donor agency rather than medical / lab forms for critical medical information. After realizing how badly our case was handled, the apologized yet went on to ignore emails and important questions.
Doctor Marrs really cared about me as a patient...He clearly spent a lot of time reviewing the records because at our first appointment, he knew the entirety of my file without even having to reference the documents...made me feel hopeful again and he ABSOLUTELY delivered above and beyond any promise. We had 35 follicles retrieved, 30 fertilized, and 16 made it to blastocysts! Mr. Marrs saw me at every appointment and personally conducted my ultrasounds. He is so calming, honest, and trustworthy.
Please don't make my mistake. Go to California Fertility Partners FIRST. It could be one and done for you. Dr. Marrs tailors his plans for the specific needs of each patient. This takes a lot of time and each patient deserves this. Dr. Marrs froze 16 embryos for me...Do yourself a favor and go to CFP first. They are THE BEST...Wonderful [nursing] team all around...At California Fertility Partners, everything is done on one floor and you see your doctor every time you come in for an ultrasound. The doctors even do the ultrasounds themselves.
How was your experience with Richard Marrs at California Fertility Partners?
Doctor Marrs really cared about me as a patient. I had a HORRIBLE results with SCRC and had my records transferred to Dr. Marrs at California Fertility Partners. He clearly spent a lot of time reviewing the records because at our first appointment, he knew the entirety of my file without even having to reference the documents. He knew my partners name, the disease we were trying to eliminate during genetic testing, the dose of Gonal F Dr. Danzer loaded me up on, etc. Dr. Marrs made me feel hopeful again and he ABSOLUTELY delivered above and beyond any promise. We had 35 follicles retrieved, 30 fertilized, and 16 made it to blastocysts! Mr. Marrs saw me at every appointment and personally conducted my ultrasounds. He is so calming, honest, and trustworthy. Please do not make my mistake and go to SCRC. Dr. Marrs and California Fertility Partners are the team we all deserve. IVF is hard enough. Dr. Marrs is our angel!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Richard Marrs at California Fertility Partners?
You made the right decision.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Richard Marrs at California Fertility Partners?
At California Fertility Partners, everything is done on one floor and you see your doctor every time you come in for an ultrasound. The doctors even do the ultrasounds themselves. This is NOT the treatment you get at SCRC.
Describe the protocols Richard Marrs used in your cycles at California Fertility Partners and their degree of success.
150 follistim and 75 menopur. We reduced later to 100 follistim.
Describe your experience with your nurse at California Fertility Partners. (Assigned nurse: Allie)
Wonderful team all around.
Describe your experience with California Fertility Partners.
Please don't make my mistake. Go to California Fertility Partners FIRST. It could be one and done for you. Dr. Marrs tailors his plans for the specific needs of each patient. This takes a lot of time and each patient deserves this. Dr. Marrs froze 16 embryos for me. The previous clinic, SCRC, froze 5. Do yourself a favor and go to CFP first. They are THE BEST.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Richard Marrs at California Fertility Partners.
I don't remember, but worth every penny. It is cheaper to do it here first than to have to do it multiples of times with other careless doctors. Learn from my mistakes.
She [Dr. Baek] took the time to carefully review all my history at previous clinics and RPL and built a protocol to improve on my results...She doubled the quantity of eggs from previous cycles... and quadrupled the quantity of embryos. Ultimately PGT testing was unsuccessful, but she has adjusted each cycle as a result. She has also paid more attention than other doctors to my partner's stats and how to improve them, which may be part of our improved numbers...
Allie [nurse at California Fertility Partners] would follow up each visit immediately after seeing Dr Baek and we would review all the next steps, medications, and confirm I had completed any lab work before leaving. An hour later I would have a detailed message in the portal describing next steps and the pharmacy had received prescriptions and called to coordinate delivery. CFP is run extremely well - I am often in and out in less than 30 minutes while still receiving more thorough and clear information than the other clinics I have been to....
How was your experience with Kelly Baek at California Fertility Partners?
Dr. Baek is really invested in my quest to have a child. She took the time to carefully review all my history at previous clinics and RPL and built a protocol to improve on my results. Which she absolutely did. She doubled the quantity of eggs from previous cycles... and quadrupled the quantity of embryos. Ultimately PGT testing was unsuccessful, but she has adjusted each cycle as a result.
She has also paid more attention than other doctors to my partner's stats and how to improve them, which may be part of our improved numbers.
She and her partners run a very tight ship, meaning there is absolute clarity and never a dropped ball about the next steps.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Kelly Baek at California Fertility Partners?
Provide her with as much background information on your fertility history - she really does factor in a lot to tailor your protocol.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Kelly Baek at California Fertility Partners?
Dr Baek is very organized, detail oriented, and specific about tailoring the treatment to your specific needs. She is always on time - always! - so the visits don't waste your time. I am often called back to the examination room just moments after arriving. She is thorough in answering questions and explaining why she is recommending each part of the treatment - especially as it pertains to your own history. As a scientist, she is meticulous and curious and seems like she is actively keeping up with all the latest research.
Describe the protocols Kelly Baek used in your cycles at California Fertility Partners and their degree of success.
Estrogen priming then antagonist protocol with a HCG trigger. The estrogen priming was to keep from suppressing my ovaries too much and to synch all the follicles. Dr. Baek would only proceed on months where there was a good number. She adjusted the meds trying to get to an earlier trigger to preserve quality.
Describe your experience with your nurse at California Fertility Partners. (Assigned nurse: Allie)
Allie would follow up each visit immediately after seeing Dr Baek and we would review all the next steps, medications, and confirm I had completed any lab work before leaving.
An hour later I would have a detailed message in the portal describing next steps and the pharmacy had received prescriptions and called to coordinate delivery.
CFP is run extremely well - I am often in and out in less than 30 minutes while still receiving more thorough and clear information than the other clinics I have been to.
Describe your experience with California Fertility Partners.
CFP is an excellent clinic. They are invested in your success, are knowledgeable, and provide excellent care. I firmly believe if there is a diagnosis or solution out there, Dr. Baek and CFP will find it.
CFP makes good use of eIVF so all your information is organized and available. Each department communicates clearly and in a timely fashion.
CFP is pricey, but with drastically better numbers than my other cycles, I am satisfied it has better value.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Kelly Baek at California Fertility Partners.
During the initial consultation, Dr. Chung discussed my history and went on to describe what the process was like, what I can expect, her projections, challenges that we might face and the reproductive system in general. I also noticed that her approach is a combination of experience and sciences. She was very thorough in her recommendations and did not cut any corners. She seemed like she was in it with me.
I liked the ease of making appointments [at California Fertility Partners]. All my information were uploaded in a timely manner to the portal. I could email the embryologist directly. Also the waiting room is very comfortable and everyone was pleasant. Shout out to the surgery nurses and the anesthesiologist - they were amazing. The clinic does not have a package so you have to pay for every ultrasound, every blood test, which can be stressful when you are paying out of pocket.
How was your experience with Karine Chung at California Fertility Partners?
During the initial consultation, Dr. Chung discussed my history and went on to describe what the process was like, what I can expect, her projections, challenges that we might face and the reproductive system in general. I also noticed that her approach is a combination of experience and sciences. She was very thorough in her recommendations and did not cut any corners. She seemed like she was in it with me.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Karine Chung at California Fertility Partners?
Ask questions and trust her- she knows what she is doing.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Karine Chung at California Fertility Partners?
Dr. Chung performed all her ultrasounds and took the time to respond to all my million questions. She seemed to be aware of every detail pertaining to my case.
Describe the protocols Karine Chung used in your cycles at California Fertility Partners and their degree of success.
375 -425 menopur, estrogen priming, ganirelix as the antagonist double trigger (HCG+Lupron). I used both triggers at the 34hour and 12 hour mark.
For IUI it was Clomid100 and Follistm - 200 HCG trigger. We also did icsi and zymot for the sperm
For IVF retrieval, we got 7 eggs, 5 mature and 2 blast with one pgt normal.
For IUI I had 3 good sized eggs and must have ovulated all 3. Dr. Chung likes to complete the IUI either very close to ovulation or after which makes sense as a matter of science. I am currently waiting for the result
Describe your experience with your nurse at California Fertility Partners. (Assigned nurse: Jessica)
I was happy that I saw one nurse - Jessica almost through out my treatment. She was pleasant, organized and helpful. On one or two occasions I had to work with a different nurse and it threw me off.
Describe your experience with California Fertility Partners.
I liked the ease of making appointments. All my information were uploaded in a timely manner to the portal. I could email the embryologist directly. Also the waiting room is very comfortable and everyone was pleasant. Shout out to the surgery nurses and the anesthesiologist - they were amazing. The clinic does not have a package so you have to pay for every ultrasound, every blood test, which can be stressful when you are paying out of pocket.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Karine Chung at California Fertility Partners.
iui and ivf were approximately over $30k, each monitoring usually cost about $600 because of ultrasound and blood work and a cycle had about 5 of those. Medication cost about 8k for my ivf cycle and retrieval including pgt biopsy cost approximately 15k.
Describe Karine Chung's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at California Fertility Partners.
na - i haven't transferred yet
What specific things went wrong at California Fertility Partners?
Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at California Fertility Partners.
There were some required tests which I thought I had completed but some of the tests were either not uploaded to the portal or I was not told it was outstanding. It was a quick fix as I just completed the test in-house. My advice - if you are completing tests with your primary care, make sure you have all the required tests.
Dr Ringler takes the time to explain everything to you, answer your questions and make you feel at ease. However, if there is a problem, he will tell you so you are not wasting your money, time and energy...I am a 2 time cancer patient and unable to have children...Having to use donor embryos AND a surrogate has been hard but Dr Ringler has been my rock...Dr Ringler has been so kind and compassionate through this whole procedure...
I love Shelley! [nurse at California Fertility Partners] I don;t want to say I bother her a lot, but come on, you know I do! I am sure she's dealing with so many stressed out intended parents but whenever I talk to her, she seems calm and committed to me and answers all (and I mean ALL) of my many questions. She's been great through this whole process!...Thye have a warm and inviting atmosphere from the moment you step into the lobby. hen I first started the process, I was able to take a tour of the premises and look through the window of the lab...not sure if you can still do that due to covid, but it was a cool thing to see
How was your experience with Guy Ringler at California Fertility Partners?
I am a 2 time cancer patient and unable to have children. I tried to freeze my eggs before starting chemo, but only able to retrieve one egg...which did not turn into a viable embryo. I was gifted embryos by an amazing anonymous donor. Part of my contract with the donor was that I had to use Dr Ringler and I am so glad because Dr Ringler has been so kind and compassionate through this whole procedure. Having to use donor embryos AND a surrogate has been hard but Dr Ringler has been my rock. After 1 (and a half) failed transfers, I have a new surrogate lined up and our medical clearance appt is on Monday. I can not wait to start this process again and am so glad to be working with Dr Ringler.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Guy Ringler at California Fertility Partners?
To trust him. If I had another dr who told me to move on from my first surrogate, I may not have listened and probably would have just wanted to go ahead and try again. But I completely trust Dr Ringler and when he told me to look for a new surrogate, I took his advice.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Guy Ringler at California Fertility Partners?
Dr Ringler takes the time to explain everything to you, answer your questions and make you feel at ease. However, if there is a problem, he will tell you so you are not wasting your money, time and energy. For example, there was an issue with my surrogates uterus after our failed transfer and instead of moving forward with her, he explained it was best to find a new surrogate
Describe the protocols Guy Ringler used in your cycles at California Fertility Partners and their degree of success.
With my first surrogate, we did 2 months of BC and then the transfer. the transfer failed. We started again with 1 month of BC and then went in for her lining check appt and determined she had swelling in her uterus that would not be good for a successful implantation. After months/or a year of searching for a new surrogate, I have found a lovely girl and we are excited to have her medical clearance appt on Monday. Hopefully from there, right to transfer!
Describe your experience with your nurse at California Fertility Partners. (Assigned nurse: Shelley Marsh)
I love Shelley! I don;t want to say I bother her a lot, but come on, you know I do! I am sure she's dealing with so many stressed out intended parents but whenever I talk to her, she seems calm and committed to me and answers all (and I mean ALL) of my many questions. She's been great through this whole process!
Describe your experience with California Fertility Partners.
It's a beautiful, clean clinic. They follow very strict COVID protocols, which I love. Thye have a warm and inviting atmosphere from the moment you step into the lobby. hen I first started the process, I was able to take a tour of the premises and look through the window of the lab...not sure if you can still do that due to covid, but it was a cool thing to see
Describe the costs associated with your care under Guy Ringler at California Fertility Partners.
I mean, not sure of exact cost but it's so much...not because it's Dr Ringler but because all IVF costs are expensive and not covered by insurance. I feel like I had to spend extra because of working with a surrogate. Again, Dr Ringler's fault, so more out of pocket expenses for someone using a surrogate
Describe Guy Ringler's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at California Fertility Partners.
No comments. I am only looking to transfer one embryo as I am a single intended mother and one is what I'm looking for.
Dr.Chung performed all my ultrasounds, retrievals, and transfer. She tailors to my need- what to expect, answer questions I had, shared information that I should be asking, but didn’t think to ask...Dr.Chung was the only doctor in my fertility experience to thoroughly review my history in detailed. Her empathy, knowledge and due diligence made me feel like we were her only patient!...There is a waitlist for new patient consult with Dr.Chung...
Megan [nurse at California Fertility Partners] is one of the best, she is organized, communicative, and her energy was quite contagious!...California Fertility Partners is a well organized establishment. Everything is precise and down to a science. Your scheduled appointment time is on-time- so say good-bye to those long wait times at other clinics. Lab is state of the art Surgical center is state of the art. California Fertility Partners is like the Ritz for clinics!...
How was your experience with Karine Chung at California Fertility Partners?
Dr.Chung performed all my ultrasounds, retrievals, and transfer. She tailors to my need- what to expect, answer questions I had, shared information that I should be asking, but didn’t think to ask. I will be graduating from Dr.Chung’s care soon and I wish she was my OBGYN too.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Karine Chung at California Fertility Partners?
There is a waitlist for new patient consult with Dr.Chung. My advice is be practice patience, she is worth the wait (trust me on this!) I did my fair share of IVF RE consult based on my previous fertility experiences. You will know she’s the one when you first meet her!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Karine Chung at California Fertility Partners?
From the very first consult in Feb 2021, Dr.Chung was the only doctor in my fertility experience to thoroughly review my history in detailed. Her empathy, knowledge and due diligence made me feel like we were her only patient! This is such a rare trait, but she just “got us” and I am so grateful that she chose us too!
Describe the protocols Karine Chung used in your cycles at California Fertility Partners and their degree of success.
Again this is different for everyone and these protocols are tailored to you individuals based on your diagnostic test
and how you respond to them.
Describe your experience with your nurse at California Fertility Partners. (Assigned nurse: Megan)
Megan is one of the best, she is organized, communicative, and her energy was quite contagious!
Describe your experience with California Fertility Partners.
California Fertility Partners is a well organized establishment. Everything is precise and down to a science. Your scheduled appointment time is on-time- so say good-bye to those long wait times at other clinics.
Lab is state of the art
Surgical center is state of the art.
California Fertility Partners is like the Ritz for clinics!
Describe the costs associated with your care under Karine Chung at California Fertility Partners.
I am grateful for the company I work that provides fertility benefits
Describe Karine Chung's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at California Fertility Partners.
Dr. Ringler is pretty dry but once you get to know him is very sweet and compassionate. This man means business! He is very committed to success and everything he does is with extreme precision...He took a look at my paperwork, all our previous attempts and within minutes was able to see exactly what the problem was...I was apprehensive about doing IVF but [he] advised against IUI due to low sperm count from our donor and borderline AMH levels. He said he would give IUI a shot but that we shouldn’t get our hopes up and he was right. We went to IVF for our second cycle and it stuck right away.
My only complaint [with California Fertility Partners] is really that their billing department seems unreachable a lot of the time. Otherwise I think this place is great, well organized, and the staff is very kind. I really appreciate that you don’t have to make an appointment to come in for bloodwork that you can just show up and then leave. I also love their patient portal portal.
How was your experience with Guy Ringler at California Fertility Partners?
Dr. Ringler is pretty dry but once you get to know him is very sweet and compassionate. This man means business! He is very committed to success and everything he does is with extreme precision. I understand his bedside manner is not for everyone but I was at a previous clinic with a doctor well-known for being sweet and it just wasn’t cutting it. I’ll take getting pregnant over niceties any day. Many fertility doctors also don’t do their own ultrasounds and that was never the case with Dr. Ringler. He has his finger on the pulse every step of the way. We had been trying for nearly 2 years prior to seeing Dr. Ringler. He took a look at my paperwork, all our previous attempts and within minutes was able to see exactly what the problem was. It was such a relief to finally feel like we were in good hands and I’m so grateful. He’s truly a master of his art.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Guy Ringler at California Fertility Partners?
These clinics see A LOT of people. I was at a previous clinic that couldn’t even remember my name, recognize my face or keep track of the tests I had taken. CFP really does their very best to keep on top of things and it was so appreciated.
Describe the protocols Guy Ringler used in your cycles at California Fertility Partners and their degree of success.
I was apprehensive about doing IVF but Dr. ringler advised against IUI due to low sperm count from our donor and borderline AMH levels. He said he would give IUI a shot but that we shouldn’t get our hopes up and he was right. We went to IVF for our second cycle and it stuck right away.
Describe your experience with your nurse at California Fertility Partners.
Like I mentioned before these clinics are so overworked as are the nurses and so it’s important to remember to be empathetic and give them grace. I think everyone at CFP is amazingly organized considering all the patients they see.
Describe your experience with California Fertility Partners.
My only complaint is really that their billing department seems unreachable a lot of the time. Otherwise I think this place is great, well organized, and the staff is very kind. I really appreciate that you don’t have to make an appointment to come in for bloodwork that you can just show up and then leave. I also love their patient portal portal.
[Dr. Ringler] asked me to upload the past tests in the patient portal...He did not review the documents uploaded in the patient portal...it was only after I started the cycle... [Dr. Ringler] then informed me that one of the tests is missing! At that time, it was already too late to repeat the test and the chances were that I missed the cycle altogether....
I was treated very poorly and with no respect and empathy by the very same people [staff at California Fertility Partners] that were supposed to support me and take care of me. I have done many IVF/IUI cycles and have been in countless office visits in many fertility centers and have never been treated the way I was treated in CFP, ever. Above all, this clinic does not accept any form of insurance and their charges are super high.
How was your experience with Guy Ringler at California Fertility Partners?
I went to Dr. Ringler at CFP for a natural cycle IUI. I had an initial consult app. On Skype with Dr. Ringler that cost $490. As part of the consult, we discussed the treatment plan for the IUI cycle. At the end of the conversation, he asked me to upload the past tests in the patient portal and also send them to his email address, those tests were critical for the success of the IUI cycle. He was supposed to provide his feedback on whether he had all the tests needed or if any test was missing or needed to be repeated. His promise of looking at the documents was never fulfilled. He did not review the documents uploaded in the patient portal and never responded to my email either. I never received any sort of response and wrongly assumed that he does not need any tests to be repeated, it was only after I started the cycle, that I asked him about the medical history, which he mentioned that he has never looked at the documents I have uploaded in the portal and never received my email, when I mentioned the date that I sent the email, he was able to find it and then informed me that one of the tests is missing! At that time, it was already too late to repeat the test and the chances were that I missed the cycle altogether.
Doctors in CFP put notes in the system that nurses, and staff become aware of the discussed and agreed treatment plan and be aware of what needs to be done when the patient starts the cycle. Dr. Ringler did not put any notes in their system and the treatment plan which was agreed on bet. me and him, never been discussed with the nurse and the rest of the team. The goals of the consult session have never been fulfilled, it was a complete waste of time and $490 was a complete waste of money.
Unfortunately, Dr. Ringler did not do enough to clarify and resolve anything. He put his staff before the wellbeing of his patient, for not putting any note in the system and not communicating clearly with his staff.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Guy Ringler at California Fertility Partners?
Make sure that you and him are on the same page when it comes to treatment plan. Make sure he puts notes in the system and let the staff and nurses know - ahead of time - of the agreed treatment plan. Make sure he reviews the medical records that you upload in the patient portal or send to his email address and ask for his feedback BEFORE you start the cycle.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Guy Ringler at California Fertility Partners?
I went to Dr. Ringler at CFP for a natural cycle IUI. I had an initial consult app. On Skype with Dr. Ringler that cost $490. As part of the consult, we discussed the treatment plan for the IUI cycle. At the end of the conversation, he asked me to upload the past tests in the patient portal and also send them to his email address, those tests were critical for the success of the IUI cycle. He was supposed to provide his feedback on whether he had all the tests needed or if any test was missing or needed to be repeated. His promise of looking at the documents was never fulfilled. He did not review the documents uploaded in the patient portal and never responded to my email either. I never received any sort of response and wrongly assumed that he does not need any tests to be repeated, it was only after I started the cycle, that I asked him about the medical history, which he mentioned that he has never looked at the documents I have uploaded in the portal and never received my email, when I mentioned the date that I sent the email, he was able to find it and then informed me that one of the tests is missing! At that time, it was already too late to repeat the test and the chances were that I missed the cycle altogether.
Doctors in CFP put notes in the system that nurses, and staff become aware of the discussed and agreed treatment plan and be aware of what needs to be done when the patient starts the cycle. Dr. Ringler did not put any notes in their system and the treatment plan which was agreed on bet. me and him, never been discussed with the nurse and the rest of the team. The goals of the consult session have never been fulfilled, it was a complete waste of time and $490 was a complete waste of money.
Describe the protocols Guy Ringler used in your cycles at California Fertility Partners and their degree of success.
Natural cycle IUI, no mediations used.
Describe your experience with your nurse at California Fertility Partners. (Assigned nurse: Leslie)
Once I started my treatment in that center, I was assigned a nurse called: Leslie. Since Dr. Ringler did not put any notes in the system for the agreed plan bet. me and him, the nurse was not aware that I am supposed to go for ultrasound and blood work for the duration of my cycle, she wrongly assumed that I am supposed to go only for one day, she did not bother to clarify this issue with the doctor and wrongly accused me of going for extra ultrasound and blood, this is what she told me: “These are not authorized by the doctor, he only authorized one blood work, I’m dictating what needs to be done and I’m playing the role of a doctor”.
She told me that I play the role of doctor, but when at some point, I left the ultrasound room and told her that Dr. Ringler mentioned that he wants to wait to receive the blood results to decide to whether perform the IUI same day or the next day, she immediately rejected the idea, and told me there is no IUI app. available that day and that it must be done the day after! So now, who is playing the role of the doctor?! And it was a natural cycle IUI when timing is everything!
She accused me of wasting her time, the doctor's time and the entire CFP staff! She even ordered the entire staff and the front desk to not talk to me and transfer all calls to her so she can handle me in a proper way and prevent me from wasting their precious time! If you do not believe these words, I do not blame you, it IS unbelievable! Who wants to pay extra money for ultrasound and gets poked every day for unnecessary blood work?! When I mentioned the agreed plan bet. Dr. Ringler and I, this was Leslie’s response: “If the doctor does not put notes in the system, it's not my fault.” Even if the doctor did not put any note in the system, how hard was it for her to ask him a simple question and clarify things?! I have been in many fertility centers and Leslie is the least professional nurse I have ever dealt with.
Describe your experience with California Fertility Partners.
It has been by far the most stressful and painful cycle I have ever done, the stress I did not need. I was treated very poorly and with no respect and empathy by the very same people that were supposed to support me and take care of me. I have done many IVF/IUI cycles and have been in countless office visits in many fertility centers and have never been treated the way I was treated in CFP, ever.
Above all, this clinic does not accept any form of insurance and their charges are super high. Even a simple phone call goes through channels! When you call this clinic, after you have been on hold for a while, Emily picks up the phone and asks: “Can I put you on a brief hold?!” and sometimes the brief hold becomes eternity, or the call just drops! If you don’t have a very strong reason to see a special doctor in this practice, STAY AWAY! There are much better clinics in Los Angeles within a close proximity of this clinic that accept insurance, or their charges are much better or at least know how to treat patients with respect and dignity.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Guy Ringler at California Fertility Partners.
No insurance accepted. Please note these fees belong to 2020. Consultation session $490. Progesterone: $130, Estrogen $125, LH $125, Blood draw fee: $45, Ultrasound: $285.
What specific things went wrong at California Fertility Partners?
Lost paperwork
Lost appointments
Failed to call with results
Failed to order appropriate test
Failed to inform you of changes in protocol
Lost results
Provided conflicting information
Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at California Fertility Partners.
It has been by far the most stressful and painful cycle I have ever done, the stress I did not need. I was treated very poorly and with no respect and empathy by the very same people that were supposed to support me and take care of me. I have done many IVF/IUI cycles and have been in countless office visits in many fertility centers and have never been treated the way I was treated in CFP, ever.
Above all, this clinic does not accept any form of insurance and their charges are super high. Even a simple phone call goes through channels! When you call this clinic, after you have been on hold for a while, Emily picks up the phone and asks: “Can I put you on a brief hold?!” and sometimes the brief hold becomes eternity, or the call just drops! If you don’t have a very strong reason to see a special doctor in this practice, STAY AWAY! There are much better clinics in Los Angeles within a close proximity of this clinic that accept insurance, or their charges are much better or at least know how to treat patients with respect and dignity.
I cannot recommend Dr. Karine Chung enough. Upon her first meeting with me, Dr. Chung thoroughly explained the entire fertility process and that helped me understand what was going to happen during my IVF / embryo freezing process. She is also an expert in oncofertility which meant she knew all the latest research and could help make personalized recommendations for me. I was so happy with Dr. Chung.
California Fertility Partners is an amazing facility. They have everything under one roof including exam rooms, laboratory, and state of the art surgical OR. It's very clean and the staff are very professional and caring. They are very organized and help make sure your treatment stays on track and that you have everything you need...She [the nurse] stayed on the phone with CVS for hours to make sure I had the medication I needed at the right time
How was your experience with Karine Chung at California Fertility Partners?
I cannot recommend Dr. Karine Chung enough. Upon her first meeting with me, Dr. Chung thoroughly explained the entire fertility process and that helped me understand what was going to happen during my IVF / embryo freezing process. She is also an expert in oncofertility which meant she knew all the latest research and could help make personalized recommendations for me. I was so happy with Dr. Chung.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Karine Chung at California Fertility Partners?
Have your questions ready to ask her. She will take time to answer them all.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Karine Chung at California Fertility Partners?
Dr. Chung has the perfect mix of compassion, empathy, and scientific expertise. I felt so confident in her care. She personally did my ultrasound during every monitoring appointment and answered any questions I had. She also called me personally with results. She was always familiar with my current medical state, making me feel like she remembered me and cared about me as a person.
Describe the protocols Karine Chung used in your cycles at California Fertility Partners and their degree of success.
For the first cycle she started me on 75 Menopur and 300 Gonal F. However at my first monitoring appointment she increased me to 150 Menopur and 300 Gonal F which is the same protocol I used for the second cycle. I used Pregnyl and Lupron for my trigger shots.
Describe your experience with your nurse at California Fertility Partners. (Assigned nurse: Erika P)
I really loved having Erika P as my nurse throughout the process. She was extremely compassionate and organized. She stayed on the phone with CVS for hours to make sure I had the medication I needed at the right time. Seeing her face during my regular appointments really made me feel more comfortable and at ease.
Describe your experience with California Fertility Partners.
California Fertility Partners is an amazing facility. They have everything under one roof including exam rooms, laboratory, and state of the art surgical OR. It's very clean and the staff are very professional and caring. They are very organized and help make sure your treatment stays on track and that you have everything you need.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Karine Chung at California Fertility Partners.
My Progyny insurance covered all of it in full, so I'm not sure, but they said it could cost about $20K per cycle including medications.
[Dr. Marrs] had read through all of our charts and history prior to our first consultation...presented his opinion about the reason for our recurrent pregnancy loss. Other doctors had thought it was a bicornuate uterus and other issues, but [he] believed it was another issue that could be solved surgically. He had his colleague Dr. March perform the surgery with him in attendance
Very nice, warm, caring atmosphere, both in the physical clinic and the personnel [at California Fertility Partners]. From the front desk staff to the people who guide you to and from the various areas. Very clean, modern. The online patient portal is also very helpful and useful. Everyone was able to answer every question we had...All [staff] very professional, caring, thorough. A well-run operation in a very nice clinic
How was your experience with Richard Marrs at California Fertility Partners?
He is our second REI doctor after we exhausted options with our first. He had read through all of our charts and history prior to our first consultation, which means he actually understood where we were with our history. His sense of caring, warmth, and expertise is simply wonderful. His experience and reputation in the field are unparalleled, so we were quite shocked that he still spent so much time with us as if we were his only patients.
He analyzed our case and charts and presented his opinion about the reason for our recurrent pregnancy loss. Other doctors had thought it was a bicornuate uterus and other issues, but Dr. Marrs believed it was another issue that could be solved surgically. He had his colleague Dr. March perform the surgery with him in attendance.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Richard Marrs at California Fertility Partners?
He is our second REI doctor after we exhausted options with our first. He had read through all of our charts and history prior to our first consultation, which means he actually understood where we were with our history. His sense of caring, warmth, and expertise is simply wonderful.
Describe the protocols Richard Marrs used in your cycles at California Fertility Partners and their degree of success.
[See previous response]
After having surgery to remove the uterine septum, we are now planning on another FET.
Describe your experience with your nurse at California Fertility Partners. (Assigned nurse: Erin Wiesener)
All very professional, caring, thorough. A well-run operation in a very nice clinic.
Describe your experience with California Fertility Partners.
Very nice, warm, caring atmosphere, both in the physical clinic and the personnel. From the front desk staff to the people who guide you to and from the various areas. Very clean, modern.
The online patient portal is also very helpful and useful. Everyone was able to answer every question we had.
Dr Ringler although he’s quiet has you the patient as his priority. He listens and answers questions fully and makes sure you understand...With my age he does multiple embryo transfers...He’s compassionate, caring and detailed oriented. Answers every question and ensures that I understand everything before he leaves the room..
[the California Fertility Partners nurses] provide detailed instructions and promptly respond to any portal questions/messages...Gorgeous building with its own laboratory, embryology and surgical suite. Valet parking in garage with elevator or stairs. Very friendly staff. Billing staff is very helpful. Laboratory staff super nice and very good at blood draws...Total for IVF 2021 is about $35k including meds
How was your experience with Guy Ringler at California Fertility Partners?
He’s compassionate, caring and detailed oriented. Answers every question and ensures that I understand everything before he leaves the room. Dr Ringler diagnosed me with a septate uterus and the amazing (now retired) Dr March repaired the defect and I’m ready for IVF.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Guy Ringler at California Fertility Partners?
Listen to him and ask questions. Have information written down i.e. period dates, any medications, any previous miscarriages or treatments you have had. If you have any test results bring them with you along with a CD of images if applicable. He will answer your questions and if you don’t understand tell him, he will make sure that you understand and are comfortable with your treatment plan.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Guy Ringler at California Fertility Partners?
Dr Ringler although he’s quiet has you the patient as his priority. He listens and answers questions fully and makes sure you understand. He is very to the point and doesn’t give false hope. He is very easy go work with, has an amazing smile and laugh and he’s very personable. He has helped two of my friends with endometriosis and low ovarian reserve become mothers. It’s now my turn and I’m so excited about the process and becoming a mother. I’m in the middle of my IVF cycle and could not be happier with my care.
Describe your experience with your nurse at California Fertility Partners. (Assigned nurse: Juliana)
Juliana has been absolutely amazing to work with. When she’s off I’ve had the pleasure of working with Donna. They provide detailed instructions and promptly respond to any portal questions/messages.
Describe your experience with California Fertility Partners.
Gorgeous building with its own laboratory, embryology and surgical suite. Valet parking in garage with elevator or stairs. Very friendly staff. Billing staff is very helpful. Laboratory staff super nice and very good at blood draws.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Guy Ringler at California Fertility Partners.
Total for IVF 2021 is about $35k including meds, ICSI, PHS, etc. the entire package.
Describe Guy Ringler's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at California Fertility Partners.
With my age he does multiple embryo transfers, which is amazing.
I trust Dr. Marrs and he will even listen to you as we all know we google things! He will explain why this or that does or doesn't work so that you understand the science of it all. And he doesn't act like he knows everything being in the field for a long time...Ask questions to understand why he is a certain protocol. He tailers to your journey to you individually.
All the nurses [at California Fertility Partners] except for Ann could use some training in compassion. They are young (which nothing is wrong with that) but it doesn't give them a reason to not try to empathize with what each person is going through. They treat you like your just a number, an inconvenience at times...Dr, Marrs is wonderful and very particular in your care.
How was your experience with Richard Marrs at California Fertility Partners?
I trust Dr. Marrs and he will even listen to you as we all know we google things! He will explain why this or that does or doesn't work so that you understand the science of it all. And he doesn't act like he knows everything being in the field for a long time.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Richard Marrs at California Fertility Partners?
Ask questions to understand why he is a certain protocol. He tailers to your journey to you individually.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Richard Marrs at California Fertility Partners?
Dr. Marrs is very kind and genuine. He's compassionate and does not pretend he knows it all considering he has been in this field for a long time. He treats you with compassion and with good information.
Describe the protocols Richard Marrs used in your cycles at California Fertility Partners and their degree of success.
I have thin lining and after several attempts to get my lining to at least 7mm, I came to him noting my lining was a little thicker using egg retrieval protocol. It has proven to help me but we are still in the process to see if I can get the embryo to implant.
Describe your experience with your nurse at California Fertility Partners. (Assigned nurse: Juliana)
All the nurses except for Ann could use some training in compassion. They are young (which nothing is wrong with that) but it doesn't give them a reason to not try to empathize with what each person is going through. They treat you like your just a number, an inconvenience at times, and they are supposed to guide you through to take injections and etc. They are no thorough and you have to follow up with them to make sure you know what medications to take. It's not just this one nurse, it's been all of them that I've encountered except for Ann. Noone wants to be on this journey and if we have to come in, we should also get the right support from the nurses.
Describe your experience with California Fertility Partners.
Dr, Marrs is wonderful and very particular in your care. The nurse staff could use some training on compassion, empathy, and being thorough. I understand you are seeing patients over and over but each one is an individual and should be treated as such.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Richard Marrs at California Fertility Partners.
~$25K for egg retrieval
~$1500 egg retrievals meds
$8K embryo transfer
~$1200 embryo transfer meds
Kelly Baek is a great doctor. She is trustworthy due to her skill, competence, and ethics. I have met with her for all my appointments and she is kind, efficient, and directly communicates. Sometimes it is a lot information thrown at me, and especially if the news isn't great, it's hard to process all the details while having an emotional response.... Dr Baek is very good at what she does. There is a higher focus on ensuring outcomes than emotional counseling, which given a choice, I prefer.
The setting and location [of California Fertility Partners] are nice as are the facilities. Dr Baek is great. The nurses and admin are a little disorganized and there could be an improved experience with a more relational approach as well as more document handouts to better process information.... There seemed to be some disorganization. Lots of unnecessary back and forth phone calls for communication. Transactional approach vs relational.... Kelly Baek is a great doctor. She is trustworthy due to her skill, competence, and ethics.
How was your experience with Kelly Baek at California Fertility Partners?
Kelly Baek is a great doctor. She is trustworthy due to her skill, competence, and ethics. I have met with her for all my appointments and she is kind, efficient, and directly communicates.
Sometimes it is a lot information thrown at me, and especially if the news isn't great, it's hard to process all the details while having an emotional response. It'd help to have a summary in writing to follow the visit, for us visual learners.
I have worked with Dr Baek since 2016, when she has advised me on timed intercourse, which was successful twice, but only lead to one live birth. More recently, we did an IVF cycle for my second child, but had no embryo success. We are going to try again, and Dr Baek has outlined a new strategy for retrieval. We are hopeful and I have a lot of confidence with Dr Baek's support.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Kelly Baek at California Fertility Partners?
Do what she says and you'll most likely end up happy.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Kelly Baek at California Fertility Partners?
Dr Baek is very good at what she does. There is a higher focus on ensuring outcomes than emotional counseling, which given a choice, I prefer.
Describe the protocols Kelly Baek used in your cycles at California Fertility Partners and their degree of success.
Gonal F and Menopur. I had some negative side effects from the Menopur.
Because of my diminshed ovarian reserve and age, she didn't want to "overcook" my eggs. She thought she'd be able to retrieve 3 eggs of the 8 since they grew at different rates, but on day of retrieval only 2 were large enough. One had a abnormal PN, and the other embryo didn't grow to a blastocyst by day 7.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at California Fertility Partners.
There seemed to be some disorganization. Lots of unnecessary back and forth phone calls for communication. Transactional approach vs relational.
Describe your experience with California Fertility Partners.
The setting and location are nice as are the facilities. Dr Baek is great. The nurses and admin are a little disorganized and there could be an improved experience with a more relational approach as well as more document handouts to better process information.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Kelly Baek at California Fertility Partners.
We have Progyny insurance so the IVF cycle was covered, with the exception of Zygot sperm procedure for $520.
She’s [Dr. Kelly Baek] very smart so don’t mistake her clinical tone as unfeeling. I believe she really cares about her patients...she found a congenital defect in my uterus that 3 other doctors failed to find...At my first ultrasound appointment for the start of my first cycle with Dr. Baek, I found her to be very warm, friendly and engaging... I appreciated that she wanted to make sure my body was in a good place so as not to waste our money on treatment that, in her mind, didn’t have the potential for a good outcome.
The [California Fertility Partners] clinic is clean, organized and has good feel to it. The front desk staff is pleasant and the few nurse interactions I’ve had have been great. They don’t do paperwork appointments on the weekends...They also keep a credit card on file and charge it after every appointment. They have an app which is useful because you can see all of your appointment results and notes same day after your appointment.
How was your experience with Kelly Baek at California Fertility Partners?
First of all, she initially didn’t have an appointment available until January, but agreed to adjust her schedule so that she could see us before the holidays in November. At our initial consult, Dr. Baek was more clinical than I would have necessarily wanted, but she found a congenital defect in my uterus that 3 other doctors failed to find. Not only that, after my last doctor told me my only option was to pursue natural cycles, Dr. Baek had other ideas as to how to proceed with treatment for me. At that point I had to make the decision to look past the clinical tone and feel of the first appointment and decided to switch doctors. I’m glad I did because when I saw Dr. Baek to start a new cycle at the beginning of February, she was anything but cold and clinical. At my first ultrasound appointment for the start of my first cycle with Dr. Baek, I found her to be very warm, friendly and engaging. She cancelled my cycle that day because I’d been sick with the flu but she was very thorough in explaining why she cancelled. It’s been a few months and now I’m working with her to try to figure out why I still haven’t gotten my period since having the flu and she’s been very thorough, communicative and willing to see me for ultrasounds and testing despite the pandemic.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Kelly Baek at California Fertility Partners?
She’s very smart so don’t mistake her clinical tone as unfeeling. I believe she really cares about her patients.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Kelly Baek at California Fertility Partners?
I feel like a human with Kelly because I believe she’s invested in helping us achieve pregnancy. She remembered me two months after our consultation and when she cancelled my cycle because I’d had the flu, she explained very openly exactly why we couldn’t proceed with a cycle and I appreciated that she wanted to make sure my body was in a good place so as not to waste our money on treatment that, in her mind, didn’t have the potential for a good outcome.
Describe the protocols Kelly Baek used in your cycles at California Fertility Partners and their degree of success.
We haven’t been able to implement our strategy yet but it is to monitor a natural cycle and trigger ovulation when the lead follicle gets to 18. Then add estrogen and maybe an objective to sync the follicles in the luteal phase and then do an egg retrieval.
Describe your experience with your nurse at California Fertility Partners. (Assigned nurse: Christina Yang)
I haven’t had much experience with the nursing staff other than they are quick to answer questions.
Describe your experience with California Fertility Partners.
The clinic is clean, organized and has good feel to it. The front desk staff is pleasant and the few nurse interactions I’ve had have been great. They don’t do paperwork appointments on the weekends which was hard to coordinate with my husband. They also keep a credit card on file and charge it after every appointment. They have an app which is useful because you can see all of your appointment results and notes same day after your appointment.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Kelly Baek at California Fertility Partners.
Every ultrasound appointment is $285, initial consult was $350-400 I think and phone consult was $315
Dr. Chung is compassionate and knowledgeable, but most importantly you can tell she cares. She took her time to truly understand our unique situation which I really feel does make a difference, as well as to fully explain our prognosis, options, and risks. Unfortunately we ran into a road block that has stalled our journey, however Dr. Chung helped us find the right specialist to help shed some light at the end of the tunnel.
The nursing staff [Cal Fertility Partners] was great in explaining protocols and finances, however I did not get the opportunity to really get to work with them....This clinic is easy to find when you're driving by since it is a big building and painted orange, there is paid parking on the ground floor, but also street parking in the surrounding neighborhood. Everyone at the clinic has been professional and caring, wait times have been minimal.
How was your experience with Karine Chung at California Fertility Partners?
Dr. Chung is compassionate and knowledgeable, but most importantly you can tell she cares. She took her time to truly understand our unique situation which I really feel does make a difference, as well as to fully explain our prognosis, options, and risks. Unfortunately we ran into a road block that has stalled our journey, however Dr. Chung helped us find the right specialist to help shed some light at the end of the tunnel. As soon as we figure out a way through this hurdle, we will be sure to make our way back to Dr. Chung.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Karine Chung at California Fertility Partners?
Ask all the questions you may have to understand the journey ahead of you, Dr. Chung is very knowledgeable and there is a lot of information.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Karine Chung at California Fertility Partners?
Dr. Chung took the time to understand our unique situation during our first consultation. She created a safe and comfortable environment for my husband and me, allowing us to have a better understanding of what our options are and path moving forward with realistic expectations.
Describe the protocols Karine Chung used in your cycles at California Fertility Partners and their degree of success.
I was to complete a typical egg retrieval cycle using hormone injections daily and for the first week, and have appointments every other day at the clinic. We were likely going to be using the ICSI procedure with my husband's frozen sample to create embryos.
Describe your experience with your nurse at California Fertility Partners.
The nursing staff was great in explaining protocols and finances, however I did not get the opportunity to really get to work with them.
Describe your experience with California Fertility Partners.
This clinic is easy to find when you're driving by since it is a big building and painted orange, there is paid parking on the ground floor, but also street parking in the surrounding neighborhood. Everyone at the clinic has been professional and caring, wait times have been minimal. We've heard high praises for CFP labs and that also definitely played a huge part in our choosing Dr. Chung as our RE.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Karine Chung at California Fertility Partners.
We have done one IUI with her [Dr. Kelly Baek] and currently are in our first IVF cycle now. We just did an egg retrieval. While previously diagnosed as "Unexplained", Dr Baek dug further and figured out that I have Endometriosis. She was very thorough in her approach and I felt like she was a detective working on our case. Dr Baek did all of my ultrasounds herself and called me the day after my egg retrieval to check on how I was doing.
Our nurse [at California Fertility Partners] (Ann A.) was friendly and took the time to explain each step with us. She went over injections and was very available to answer questions over the phone or via their messaging system on the portal...Our first cycle was about $20,000 including medications. For Los Angeles this is average...This clinic is well managed and I was always able to get appointments when necessary. Financial department was clear and communicative. The patients information is uploaded in real time to the patient portal (also available as an app).
How was your experience with Kelly Baek at California Fertility Partners?
We have been very happy for Dr Baek so far. We have done one IUI with her and currently are in our first IVF cycle now. We just did an egg retrieval. While previously diagnosed as "Unexplained", Dr Baek dug further and figured out that I have Endometriosis. She was very thorough in her approach and I felt like she was a detective working on our case. Dr Baek did all of my ultrasounds herself and called me the day after my egg retrieval to check on how I was doing.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Kelly Baek at California Fertility Partners?
Dr. Baek’s ultrasounds are fairly quick, she has a lot of patients and a busy schedule so this is understandable. It’s best to be proactive, ask questions, and she will take the time to explain things to you.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Kelly Baek at California Fertility Partners?
Dr Baek did all of my ultrasounds herself and called me the day after my egg retrieval to check on how I was doing.
Describe the protocols Kelly Baek used in your cycles at California Fertility Partners and their degree of success.
We did 11 days of stims, two triggers (HCG and Lupron) and many ultrasounds to be sure she did not overly cook my eggs. She was very careful to base my treatment off my lab-work and not just the ultrasounds.
Describe your experience with your nurse at California Fertility Partners. (Assigned nurse: Ann Amores)
Our nurse (Ann A.) was friendly and took the time to explain each step with us. She went over injections and was very available to answer questions over the phone or via their messaging system on the portal.
Describe your experience with California Fertility Partners.
This clinic is well managed and I was always able to get appointments when necessary. Financial department was clear and communicative. The patients information is uploaded in real time to the patient portal (also available as an app).
Describe the costs associated with your care under Kelly Baek at California Fertility Partners.
Our first cycle was about $20,000 including medications. For Los Angeles this is average. Her care and devotion is well appreciated.
Describe Kelly Baek's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at California Fertility Partners.
Dr. Chung is super friendly and genuinely works to help you grow your family. She responded to every one of my emails very promptly or she called me if a lengthy explanation was needed. In my first cycle when my embryos weren’t looking so good, Dr. Chung called me personally to give me updates on their progress. Dr. Chung always set realistic expectations and did her best in providing me with possible reasons for my failed cycles.
Ana was my nurse at CFP but I only met with her twice; all the other times I had random nurses, who were all very professional...I spent $25K [on an IVF Cycle] (including med) and that included a fresh transfer...All ultrasounds, bloodwork, and lab results are posted on a health app which was nice since it allowed me to look at the data later on but at times, it felt impersonal especially with the embryo lab report that was posted for my viewing. Given that I did not have any embryos that made it to freeze, I think I would have felt much better about the situation if someone had called me and broke down the information for me.
How was your experience with Karine Chung at California Fertility Partners?
I first met Dr. Chung at USC Fertility where I did one IVF cycle with her. Soon after, she moved her practice over to CFP and I followed her to do a second IVF cycle.
For my first cycle, she put me on BCPs for two weeks and then a micro-dose lupron protocol, with Follistim and Menopur, and a Pregnyl trigger. 9 eggs were retrieved, 5 mature, and 4 were fertilized with ICSI. On day 3, my embryos were not doing too well so it was decided that they would freeze any that progressed to 6-8 cells. Two were frozen and I was told I would have a 10-15% of getting pregnant if I transferred the two.
I decided to proceed with a second cycle. For IVF #2, Dr. Chung did estrogen priming (patches) with an antagonist protocol, added clomid and omnitrope and triggered with lupron and Novarel. 10 eggs were retrieved, 9 mature, and 6 were fertilized with ICSI. One day 5, I transferred an early blast and a morula. I did not get pregnant and none of my other embryos made it to blastocysts/freeze.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Karine Chung at California Fertility Partners?
Ask questions! She will answer them all and make you feel so much more at ease.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Karine Chung at California Fertility Partners?
Dr. Chung is super friendly and genuinely works to help you grow your family. She responded to every one of my emails very promptly or she called me if a lengthy explanation was needed. In my first cycle when my embryos weren’t looking so good, Dr. Chung called me personally to give me updates on their progress. Dr. Chung always set realistic expectations and did her best in providing me with possible reasons for my failed cycles.
Describe the protocols Karine Chung used in your cycles at California Fertility Partners and their degree of success.
See above. After my first failed cycle, Dr. Chung made major adjustments to my protocol such as estrogen priming instead of BCPs since they were too suppressing in the first cycle and took a much more aggressive approach by adding clomid and omnitrope.
Describe your experience with your nurse at California Fertility Partners. (Assigned nurse: Ana)
Ana was my nurse at CFP but I only met with her twice; all the other times I had random nurses, who were all very professional.
Describe your experience with California Fertility Partners.
All ultrasounds, bloodwork, and lab results are posted on a health app which was nice since it allowed me to look at the data later on but at times, it felt impersonal especially with the embryo lab report that was posted for my viewing. Given that I did not have any embryos that made it to freeze, I think I would have felt much better about the situation if someone had called me and broke down the information for me. I ended up calling Dr. Chung and speaking to her about it but that part of the process left me disappointed.
CFP goes by an a la carte pricing system, which one means they are more expensive than other clinics. I paid $2k more just for bloodwork. Paying at the end of every appointment made my second cycle so much stressful than my first.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Karine Chung at California Fertility Partners.
At USC, it was $15k (including meds) but I did not transfer any embryos. At CFP, I spent $25K (including med) and that included a fresh transfer.
My husband and I love that Dr. Baek is a scientist. After (and during) every cycle, she is modifying and fine-tuning the treatment. When we went in for a consultation after our first failed IVF transfer (no pregnancy), we were inspired by her explanation of what could be fine-tuned to get a better result on the next cycle.... In our current attempts, Dr. Baek is using less medication, starting the shots later, and triggering earlier. She has explained that as women age, the eggs mature quicker so triggering needs to happen earlier.
The entire clinic [California Fertility Partners] runs like a well-oiled machine. They are timely, friendly, and always able to assist. I am always impressed by them. The only disappointment I have had is that they don’t take insurance or have payment plans. Programs such as Baby Quest are often necessary for families to access CFP if they do not have the funds to pay out of pocket.
How was your experience with Kelly Baek at California Fertility Partners?
My husband and I love that Dr. Baek is a scientist. After (and during) every cycle, she is modifying and fine-tuning the treatment. When we went in for a consultation after our first failed IVF transfer (no pregnancy), we were inspired by her explanation of what could be fine-tuned to get a better result on the next cycle. It wasn’t just “I’m sorry, you can try again”, it was “here’s what I saw when I examined the eggs and here’s what we can do differently”. She will lay out all the possibilities, make recommendations, and support our choices when they are viable. Our second round of IVF, after refining the process through her evaluation of the data she collected, resulted in a successful pregnancy. Four years later, we are trying again. We are confident that if anyone can help us get pregnant again, it will be Dr. Baek.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Kelly Baek at California Fertility Partners?
She’s worth the cost.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Kelly Baek at California Fertility Partners?
The entire office runs smoothly and everyone is kind. Dr. Baek explains the science she is using to get the best result. She’s often business-like, but it’s clear she knows what she’s doing and is invested in the outcome.
Describe the protocols Kelly Baek used in your cycles at California Fertility Partners and their degree of success.
In our current attempts, Dr. Baek is using less medication, starting the shots later, and triggering earlier. She has explained that as women age, the eggs mature quicker so triggering needs to happen earlier. I come in mid-cycle and use estrogen patches (2, switching every other day) from post-ovulation through period start then leave on the patches until I see her a few days later. She usually sees me around day 3 of my cycle to assess egg growth and quantity. I come in frequently (sometimes every other day) to monitor the growth of the eggs. She tries to start the shots (combinations of Follistim and Menopur) as late as possible and adjusts the dosage along the way. She monitors the egg growth carefully and is triggering a little earlier in each cycle we’re doing. She triggers twice, about 12 hours apart, to try to get the eggs that weren’t ready at the time of the first trigger but might be ready by the second (that’s my understanding, at least).
Describe your experience with your nurse at California Fertility Partners. (Assigned nurse: Currently, Tonna)
All of the nursing staff have been friendly, nurturing, informative, and helpful.
Describe your experience with California Fertility Partners.
The entire clinic runs like a well-oiled machine. They are timely, friendly, and always able to assist. I am always impressed by them.
The only disappointment I have had is that they don’t take insurance or have payment plans. Programs such as Baby Quest are often necessary for families to access CFP if they do not have the funds to pay out of pocket.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Kelly Baek at California Fertility Partners.
Probably between 16-20,000 per cycle.
Describe Kelly Baek's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at California Fertility Partners.
CFP will now only transfer a maximum of 2 embryos at one time. During our previous rounds (2014), we transferred 3 embryos both times, the first resulting in no pregnancy and the second resulting in a singleton.
Dr. Ringler has performed every procedure, answered every question, and has been willing to go in depth to educate us on what our options are at every step of the way. ... He's clearly steeped in the latest science ... He has not sugarcoated anything, but has also been very encouraging and emotionally supportive. ... He also has been completely available and willing to build strategies to accommodate our schedules.
Small things, but asking a very busy nurse to write out emails explaining what we need to do versus having an adaptable form with well thought-out and articulated instructions for every step of the process would undoubtedly free up the nurse's time and cut down on confusing email interactions. ... All of the nurses are very friendly and compassionate, but as case managers things can get a little loose.
How was your experience with Guy Ringler at California Fertility Partners?
Dr. Ringler has performed every procedure, answered every question, and has been willing to go in depth to educate us on what our options are at every step of the way. He also has been completely available and willing to build strategies to accommodate our schedules. He's clearly steeped in the latest science and is incredibly knowledgable (as you would hope) on the subject matter, but more importantly is top notch at explaining things in a way that we understand.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Guy Ringler at California Fertility Partners?
There are so many steps and variable to the fertility process. You can't necessarily expect your doctor to proactively explain everything. Advocate for yourself. Ask the dumb questions (they're not dumb if they're making you anxious). Stay as long as it takes for you to fully understand your options. Dr. Ringler will patiently be there to answer all your questions and advise you on the optimal path.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Guy Ringler at California Fertility Partners?
Dr. Ringler has been an absolute professional throughout our process with him. He has not sugarcoated anything, but has also been very encouraging and emotionally supportive. He is a reserved guy, but it's clear that he loves helping people and what he does everyday. It translates to the thoughtfulness of his approach.
Describe the protocols Guy Ringler used in your cycles at California Fertility Partners and their degree of success.
We have a pretty straight forward IUI (one failed pregnancy test) and now IVF (awaiting transfer). Other than the small tweaks and adjustments to various hormones, injections and medicines things have been fairly status quo as best I can tell.
Describe your experience with your nurse at California Fertility Partners.
We like our lead nurse however the clinic is clearly busy and she must have a lot of cases on her plate because at times communication was not the most clear and required follow-up and clarification. All of the nurses are very friendly and compassionate, but as case managers things can get a little loose. Nothing dangerous or reckless, just sub-optimal for patients trying to navigate this big unknown world of fertility.
Describe your experience with California Fertility Partners.
The clinic is clean, light-filled and generally pleasant. We enjoy all of our interactions from techs in the lab right up to Dr. Ringler. The only suggestion I have is for the clinic to consider creating templates for communications and instructions for steps in the process that they must inherently have to explain dozens of times every day. Small things, but asking a very busy nurse to write out emails explaining what we need to do versus having an adaptable form with well thought-out and articulated instructions for every step of the process would undoubtedly free up the nurse's time and cut down on confusing email interactions. The nurses are always easy to reach or call right back, so it's not that big an issue but it just seems like low-hanging fruit. One example, post-retrieval Dr. Ringler and staff told us that we would know how many embryos had become blastocycsts on Day 5 and how many would be sent for genetic testing. So Day 5 is clearly a much anticipated day. Our Day 5 landed on a Sunday so the office was closed after noon. We got an email in the afternoon from the lab saying that only one embryo had been sent out for genetic testing leading us to think the worst (Only one?!). No one leading up to that moment had told us the possibility of day 6 embryos so we had to figure that out ourselves on the internet (a harrowing place to educate yourself) and hope the next day would be better news. Turned out it was good news, but that 24 hours of anxiety and unknowing could so easily have been avoided. Those moments really stick with you.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Guy Ringler at California Fertility Partners.
From what I can tell online, it seems prices here a little higher than other clinics in other states, but in Los Angeles they're in line with the market.
Describe Guy Ringler's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at California Fertility Partners.
Dr. Ringler strongly prefers to do single embryo transfers for the simple reason of the safety and health of both baby and mother. He was open to multiple embryo transfers if we wanted but he stated his preference and rationale for a single persuasively and we agreed.
What specific things went wrong at California Fertility Partners?
Dr. Kelly Baek tailored treatment and protocol specifically to me. She was very detail oriented and had undivided attention to maximize my results...I came to Dr. Baek after failed IVF...after consulting with 8 different REs at other prominent clinics...Extremely knowledgeable, with abundance of common sense and incredible attention to detail she will be the best detective on your case...She used less medication to help improve egg quality and has applied “early trigger” methodology that has resulted in better blast development and improved egg quality as well.
[California Fertility Partners] is handling complex cases and their work is unmatched by other clinics I have been to that were still top clinics in the country. At CFP every doctor does their own ultrasounds and there is a greater attention to customized patient protocol than in most clinics these days that use "factory" approach...Dr. Baek absolutely on top of every detail to maximize my results. She was always making sure my follicles are synched and grow close together so we can maximize number of mature eggs. She used less medication to help improve egg quality and has applied “early trigger” methodology that has resulted in better blast development and improved egg quality as well. I started getting normal tested embryos in every cycle.
How was your experience with Kelly Baek at California Fertility Partners?
Dr. Kelly Baek is by far one of the best and most talented REs in LA. I was so lucky and fortunate to have found Dr. Baek and had her as my RE. I am 4 month pregnant and looking forward to what is to come.
Yelp post is not long enough to describe what Dr. Baek can bring to any fertility case.
I came to Dr. Baek after failed IVF at SCRC, after consulting with 8 different REs at other prominent clinics including Reproductive Partners, SCRC, HRC, USC, even flew to CCRM in Colorado…
Dr. Baek is absolutely an expert. Extremely knowledgeable, with abundance of common sense and incredible attention to detail she will be the best detective on your case. I’ve seen so many women go through number of clinics and IVFs to be correctly diagnosed only after several failed attempts, sometimes not even then. Dr. Baek seeks those answers at start and checks everything. She was absolutely on top of every detail to maximize my results. She was always making sure my follicles are synched and grow close together so we can maximize number of mature eggs. She used less medication to help improve egg quality and has applied “early trigger” methodology that has resulted in better blast development and improved egg quality as well. I started getting normal tested embryos in every cycle.
When I came to Dr. Baek, I was already tired of mistakes doctors were making and I had zero tolerance for mistakes as well as doctors not paying attention to things. Those mistakes cost me thousands of dollars, lost time and emotional stress.
With Dr. Baek I always felt absolutely confident and safe, knowing that she has everything under control and has my best interest at heart. That is evident from her precise planning, calculations, inviting me for ultrasound even day in between to make sure we hit the best timing and don’t miss anything. This is absolutely incredible and very rare to find in this day and age when most clinics are factory lines, where patients interface with never ending phone systems, ultrasound technicians and see RE only at first consult, egg retrieval and to receive good or bad news on the phone. By the way, at CFP all RE’s do their own ultrasounds, no techs!
Dr. Baek is honest, direct, will tell you as it is. She will be patient and methodical in her approach and will achieve results.
I read some of the negative reviews here where people complain about lack of time Dr. Baek spend with them or lack of compassionate care. I do want to say this journey can be very emotional and difficult and if you are someone who needs a lot of hand holding, long conversations and need some difficult information sugar-coated this may not be the best match for you. Dr. Baek is focused most on your case and achieving results for you. She is direct, pragmatic and quick but that may be difficult for some people in this process.
Without Dr. Baek, this journey would have been much longer, more painful, costly and possibly without results. I owe enormous gratitude to her and she will forever stay one of the key people who had profound effect on my life.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Kelly Baek at California Fertility Partners?
If you want someone who will be honest, dedicated to your success and absolutely one of the best experts in the field then look no further.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Kelly Baek at California Fertility Partners?
Dr. Kelly Baek tailored treatment and protocol specifically to me. She was very detail oriented and had undivided attention to maximize my results.
Describe the protocols Kelly Baek used in your cycles at California Fertility Partners and their degree of success.
Dr. Baek absolutely on top of every detail to maximize my results. She was always making sure my follicles are synched and grow close together so we can maximize number of mature eggs. She used less medication to help improve egg quality and has applied “early trigger” methodology that has resulted in better blast development and improved egg quality as well. I started getting normal tested embryos in every cycle.
Describe your experience with California Fertility Partners.
CFP is handling complex cases and their work is unmatched by other clinics I have been to that were still top clinics in the country. At CFP every doctor does their own ultrasounds and there is a greater attention to customized patient protocol than in most clinics these days that use "factory" approach.
Dr. Baek does not spend a ton of time with you and is usually in a rush during routine US visits. But if you are proactive and ask questions, she definitely takes the time to explain things to you.... I had full trust in her as a expert in her field. While I only had one normal embryo in two cycles (we opted for PGS testing), I still believe this is a better outcome than any other RE could have provided.... Dr. Baek counseled on supplements (CoQ10) and acupuncture (weekly) and Chinese herbs.
This clinic [California Fertility Partners] is very well managed. I never had to wait too long, was always able to get appointments when necessary. Financial department was efficient and clear. They have an online portal where all of your information is uploaded in real time and accessible to you.... The nursing staff were extremely competent. I did get switched from one nurse to another without warning, but it all worked out. They took great care in explaining the schedule, making sure I understood the timing and meds and how to administer them.
How was your experience with Kelly Baek at California Fertility Partners?
I had a bad experience with my last RE, and never even started a cycle. Going to Dr. Baek (on the recommendation of my acupuncturist) was night and day. I had full trust in her as a expert in her field. While I only had one normal embryo in two cycles (we opted for PGS testing), I still believe this is a better outcome than any other RE could have provided. We are waiting to transfer the one viable, but I do fully believe that I have the best possible chance with Dr. Baek as my doctor.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Kelly Baek at California Fertility Partners?
If you are someone that needs a lot of hand-holding or are unable to advocate for yourself, she might not be the right fit. I am very happy with her, but my partner does not care for her. She is not for everyone, but she works for me!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Kelly Baek at California Fertility Partners?
Dr. Baek does not spend a ton of time with you and is usually in a rush during routine US visits. But if you are proactive and ask questions, she definitely takes the time to explain things to you.
Describe the protocols Kelly Baek used in your cycles at California Fertility Partners and their degree of success.
Dr. Baek counseled on supplements (CoQ10) and acupuncture (weekly) and Chinese herbs. We went through 2 months of monitoring before starting and hormones. She monitored me very closely - at least once a week and was always the one conducting the US. She would constantly revise retrieval date based on the progress of my eggs during stimulation.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at California Fertility Partners.
The nursing staff were extremely competent. I did get switched from one nurse to another without warning, but it all worked out. They took great care in explaining the schedule, making sure I understood the timing and meds and how to administer them. They responded promptly via email when I had questions.
Describe your experience with California Fertility Partners.
This clinic is very well managed. I never had to wait too long, was always able to get appointments when necessary. Financial department was efficient and clear. They have an online portal where all of your information is uploaded in real time and accessible to you.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Kelly Baek at California Fertility Partners.
Each cycle was about $20,000 including medications. Not cheap, but I did not find this to be vastly more than other RE in the area.
She [Dr. Kelly Baek] does everything herself. Ultrasounds, visits, retrievals, everything...I appreciated being able to see her every time I came in...She is not warm and fuzzy as primary qualities...despite all my egg production I was never overstimulated with OHSS...she changed the protocol to include fewer meds and adjusted medication and timing each time with labs and ultrasounds. Each cycle was fitted to me- no cookie cutter protocol. She was ALWAYS adjusting.
On time appointments [at California Fertility Partners]. Great lab. Prompt and organized. I never felt like a number. They were efficient and friendly and yet I always could ask the nurse a question if I needed to. That I really appreciated! There’s a Lot of email and text communication which is as easy to read through the patient portal.
How was your experience with Kelly Baek at California Fertility Partners?
She does everything herself. Ultrasounds, visits, retrievals, everything. Everything there was to do, she did. It was never left to a tech or anyone else. I did have a procedure with Dr March but she was there and they worked well together. I appreciated being able to see her every time I came in. If I had questions afterwards I went through a nurse but that’s to be expected. But she was hands on through the entire 3 cycles of IVF we did with her.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Kelly Baek at California Fertility Partners?
First of all, IVF is HARD. It’s tempting to make your doctor God, and to expect to have your feelings soothed, and look for comfort when some cases there is none. We had vast amounts of eggs- and a minuscule fraction were genetically normal. We spent all our money and we’re running ragged by the drugs and the worry and the strain of it all. None of this is the doctor’s fault. She is doing her best to figure out he best course of action. She is not warm and fuzzy as primary qualities. And we tend to expect that (unfairly) from women. Hold it together and try to approach her scientifically while you get your emotional needs met elsewhere (sliding scale therapy is a godsend.) that way you can have sole emotion processing and be able to hear what the doctor says with a Little more objectivity and less emotion. Dr Baek is taking care of one part of the equation and make sure you take care of the other parts- the pain and suffering and grief.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Kelly Baek at California Fertility Partners?
Dr Kelly Baek met with us personally and went carefully over all our information. She is patient and calm and a brilliant diagnostitician. She is not, however, a therapist. We really needed to see a brilliant mind in order to figure out why I was miscarrying, and we’d knew that she didn’t have a reputation for being a hand holder so we prepared ourselves. However upon working with her I have discovered she has empathy, humor and cares very deeply about her patients... but is first and foremost a doctor and scientist, and I had to deal with facts and figures in her office, rather than emotions. It’s a rocky and emotional road, so you bet I was in a therapists office to deal with my feelings.
Describe the protocols Kelly Baek used in your cycles at California Fertility Partners and their degree of success.
I produced scads of eggs- one time, 44. And only one in all my cycles was genetically normal. She could see from my first doctor that my eggs were post mature and that I was triggered too early. So she changed the protocol to include fewer meds and adjusted medication and timing each time with labs and ultrasounds. Each cycle was fitted to me- no cookie cutter protocol. She was ALWAYS adjusting. And despite all my egg production I was never overstimulated with OHSS. I thank her for that.
Describe your experience with your nurse at California Fertility Partners. (Assigned nurse: Nancy)
I can’t say enough good things. Nancy and the other nurses are wonderful.
Describe your experience with California Fertility Partners.
On time appointments.
Great lab.
Prompt and organized. I never felt like a number.
They were efficient and friendly and yet I always could ask the nurse a question if I needed to. That I really appreciated! There’s a Lot of email and text communication which is as easy to read through the patient portal.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Kelly Baek at California Fertility Partners.
It was all out of pocket. She’s comparable to most clinics and i s surprised- I thought she’d be more expensive than others. I think with medication and all labs and procedures and everything, i rounded the number to figure about 25K per cycle. But that includes things like hysteroscopies and the endometrial function test so I may Jaheim paid more than someone who didn’t need those things. They are upfront about all costs and give you a sheet of paper with the rates.
Describe Kelly Baek's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at California Fertility Partners.
We only had one normal embryo to use and she implanted one which so far has been a successful pregnancy.
She [Dr. Baek] gets super irritated if you ask questions - everything always feels rushed, and she looks annoyed if she has to pause as she's running out the door to answer a question. She is also super defensive. We asked her a question about our results during an ultrasound appointment, and she told us completely the wrong thing - when we brought the results back the next time and asked her about the discrepancy, she was really snappy, sarcastic and irritated with us
Well organized - you always get an appointment on the day you need one, and they [California Fertility Partners] have a good system for labs etc. However, the clinic is cold and impersonal...it's a factory line getting as many people in and out as quickly as possible...We just arrived at the appointments, were seen hurriedly by Dr Baek, and then were shunted to the nurse who gave us a print-out with instructions for the next set of medicines for me to inject, and the date for our next appointment. It seemed like we were driving the process
How was your experience with Kelly Baek at California Fertility Partners?
I felt like I was a car on a factory line - she didn't treat us like we were human beings experiencing an emotional, somewhat stressful experience. She's robotic, irritated if you ask questions, and generally just made us super stressed and nervous to raise any concerns or even ask about what was coming up next. I'm a medical doctor myself, and I cannot imagine treating my patients with such a complete lack of empathy. I believe that a lot of the success in fertility treatment relies on the emotional wellbeing of the patient, not just on how technically good the doctor is. This is where she falls so far short of what you would (and should) expect from a clinician. She can't seem to see her patients as whole people with feelings, just eggs, sperm and a uterus.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Kelly Baek at California Fertility Partners?
Please look for another doctor - there are so many good doctors in Los Angeles. It's not worth it.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Kelly Baek at California Fertility Partners?
Dr Baek doesn't seem to know how to treat her patients like humans. She gets super irritated if you ask questions - everything always feels rushed, and she looks annoyed if she has to pause as she's running out the door to answer a question. She is also super defensive. We asked her a question about our results during an ultrasound appointment, and she told us completely the wrong thing - when we brought the results back the next time and asked her about the discrepancy, she was really snappy, sarcastic and irritated with us, and said we shouldn't ask questions during ultrasound appointments because she doesn't have time during those appointments to answer questions. She never once asked how we were feeling about the process. Her questions are technical and robotic. She is focused on making money, not on caring for patients.
Describe the protocols Kelly Baek used in your cycles at California Fertility Partners and their degree of success.
Dr Baek didn't really take the time to explain her treatment strategies or protocols. I truly don't really know what her treatment protocols are. We just arrived at the appointments, were seen hurriedly by Dr Baek, and then were shunted to the nurse who gave us a print-out with instructions for the next set of medicines for me to inject, and the date for our next appointment. It seemed like we were driving the process - IUI failed, so we asked if we could do IVF next and she agreed. We had to stop an IVF a few days into the cycle as my oocytes didn't synchronize, and she didn't suggest any alternative course of action after she told us. We sat there sad and disappointed, and then my husband then asked if we could convert to an IUI, and she said "yes, I supposed we could". I only found out a few days into that IVF cycle that she was planning to send our embryos for genetic testing, and she didn't bother to explain that would mean they would freeze and implant in a later cycle - I heard this from the nurse later almost in passing.
Describe your experience with your nurse at California Fertility Partners.
Impersonal, cold, it's a factory line getting as many people in and out as quickly as possible
Describe your experience with California Fertility Partners.
Well organized - you always get an appointment on the day you need one, and they have a good system for labs etc. However, the clinic is cold and impersonal. It's clearly a business, not a place where you go to get care.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Kelly Baek at California Fertility Partners.
I don't know - our insurance covered this, so I'm not sure of the cost.
Describe Kelly Baek's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at California Fertility Partners.
All she said (as she was running out the door) is that she would usually transfer one, but said we could transfer two if we were happy with twins. She didn't go into any of the risks or benefits or trade-offs.
What specific things went wrong at California Fertility Partners?
Provided conflicting information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at California Fertility Partners.
We asked Dr Baek about our results, and she told us completely the wrong information. When we brought the printed results to our next appointment and asked about the discrepancy between the results and what she had told us, she got really irritated with us, and said we shouldn't have asked her questions during our ultrasound appointment as she doesn't have time then to answer questions. So essentially implied it was our own fault.
Although Dr. Baek's office is quite busy, I felt that she was invested in our care and our outcome. She treated us as humans and was kind and supportive. Although we felt our visits were rushed at times, she was always attentive.... She does all of the ultrasounds herself compared to other clinics that have a nurse complete this procedure. She was dedicated to our treatment from beginning to end. She is extremely busy, so there were times when I felt rushed or felt that she was short with answers, but she ultimately answered all questions.
Strengths: Beautiful office [Cal Fertility Partners], updated technology, nurses are extremely knowledgable and helpful. Billing staff is organized. Easy to make appointments. Online portal is easily accessible. Communication is thorough. Weaknesses: Extremely busy office, felt rushed at times, worst / slow elevator in building.... My nurse was communicative, thorough and supportive. She took a lot of time explaining medication protocols and would always follow up when contacted.
How was your experience with Kelly Baek at California Fertility Partners?
Dr. Baek is extremely sharp, thorough and diligent. She does all of the ultrasounds herself compared to other clinics that have a nurse complete this procedure. She was dedicated to our treatment from beginning to end. She is extremely busy, so there were times when I felt rushed or felt that she was short with answers, but she ultimately answered all questions. Initially, I thought she was not warm but as I got to know her better, I experienced warmth and kindness.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Kelly Baek at California Fertility Partners?
Trust her process as she knows what she is doing. If you feel rushed during your visit, the nurses are there to provided support and are happy to answer questions.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Kelly Baek at California Fertility Partners?
Although Dr. Baek's office is quite busy, I felt that she was invested in our care and our outcome. She treated us as humans and was kind and supportive. Although we felt our visits were rushed at times, she was always attentive.
Describe the protocols Kelly Baek used in your cycles at California Fertility Partners and their degree of success.
Medicated IUI -- failed.
1st round of IVF: Follistom, Menopur, ganirelix antagonist, HCG trigger -- resulted in 2 poor quality embryos along with a few eggs that were premature. Fresh transfer of 2 embryos - Negative.
2nd IVF: Augmented minimal med cycle. Later administration of Follistom, Menopur, ganirelix antagonist, HCG trigger + Lupron trigger. Resulted in 5 eggs retrieved, 4 mature, all 4 made it to day 5 blast. 3 PGD normal embryos. Result: Positive pregnancy test!
Describe your experience with your nurse at California Fertility Partners. (Assigned nurse: Erin )
My nurse was communicative, thorough and supportive. She took a lot of time explaining medication protocols and would always follow up when contacted. When our nurse was out of the office, the clinic made sure to assign another nurse in her place in order to ensure continuity of care.
Describe your experience with California Fertility Partners.
Strengths: Beautiful office, updated technology, nurses are extremely knowledgable and helpful. Billing staff is organized. Easy to make appointments.
Online portal is easily accessible. Communication is thorough.
Weaknesses: Extremely busy office, felt rushed at times, worst / slow elevator in building.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Kelly Baek at California Fertility Partners.
Each round of IVF costs approx $10-$15k. Medications are additional $4k approx.
What specific things went wrong at California Fertility Partners?
Lost appointments
Describe the specific things that went wrong at California Fertility Partners.