Innovative Fertility Center

Strengths-small, conveniently located, personal, amazing anasthesiologist Weaknesses-hours are strange, sometimes there is long wait time before appointment, compared to other clinic we worked with the technology and facility are a bit dated and could use a refresher and deep cleaning (lots of files and boxes everywhere)

This office is small, 2 nurses, 1 doctor, 1 embryologist, 1 girl at the front desk, 1 business manager and 1 financial coordinator. You see the exact same people every time you are in for an appointment, so they get to know you pretty rapidly.

Communication is pretty good, emailing for clarification is helpful to have things written down to go back to. Otherwise they give instructions verbally. They know who you are, their calls are on time and they are easy to get on the phone. The nurses are great with blood work which is helpful when they take blood multiple days in a row.

Dr. Rispler sees you at every visit, so you get to know him quickly. He isn't a "warm and fuzzy" doctor, and for the most part he tells it like it is. If you ask questions he will answer them, but if you don't k ow what to ask you may leave a bit confused. His office hours are a little strange (he doesn't work on Wednesdays, and the office closes early on Friday). These hours (9-4:30) can make it a challenge to manage a work schedule with your doctor appointments.

1) Be prepared with questions 2) have things written down 3) get the nurses email addresses 4) expect him to work very conservatively-he is the "better safe than sorry" type rather than experimental

I had 2 iui clomid cycles that were unsuccessful. We tried IVF with another clinic unsuccessfully and are now working with this clinic again. I have used Gonal-f and menopur during my atom cycle. Dr. Rispler does not like to do fresh cycles so we are waiting for a FET. Additionally, without previous failures he is not open to transferring more than 1 embryo. FET will be preceded with Lupron.

Cost of one round of IVF was 9,500. Ultrasounds before hand were $250 each, we had 3. IUI cost was 2,000. Anesthesiologist =$350 they are doing a mock transfer for about $350 (not included in cost). I believe to freeze embryos is 600-800$ per year. Blood work is not included, genetic screening is 5,000 (not included).

Even with our failed previous transfer, Dr. wants to only transfer 1 embryo. This decision is also apparently due to age (he considers us to be a young couple with "plenty of time").

The clinic is small, with Dr. Rispler being the only RE there, and I felt like that was a bonus, with a lot of personal attention from Dr. Rispler himself. The staff (aside from the nurse) were all very pleasant and it looked like they enjoyed working there. I was very pleased with my care there.

Dr. Rispler is a very kind and caring doctor. He took the time to thoroughly explain what he felt was the best course of action and why, while at the same time listening to what I wanted and taking that into consideration as well. I felt like we were a team!

I did not care for the nurse at the time, who I believe no longer works there. She was cold and misinformed, telling me that my insurance was not taken at the clinic, when it fact it was, and all I needed to do was switch medical groups.

Dr. Rispler is very knowledgeable about fertility issues and I felt I could trust his judgment. However, he was willing to take into consideration my wants and needs when they differed from his recommendations. For example, he recommended using Clomid simply because of my age, 38 at the time. I was concerned about having multiples and he agreed to start with unmedicated IUIs (I got pregnant after the 4th one). He also recommended having a fibroid removed that he found on my first ultrasound via hysteroscopy. I decided against it at first, not wanting to do anything invasive, but after the third failed IUI I asked him to remove it, and I got pregnant on the very next IUI!

Listen to his recommendations, but also advocate for yourself.

Unmedicated IUIs with trigger shot on the first and last (successful) IUI, along with ultrasound monitoring with every IUI. I requested and received a prescription for progesterone supplementation after every IUI as I had a borderline low progesterone level.

I believe $100 per ultrasound and $200 per IUI.

N/A

Great location in Manhattan beach w easy parking, cute decor, they play chick flicks and rom coms in the lobby which was funny. Nothing notable re the exam rooms or nurse stations. Surgery room was adjacent for extractions which was convenient.

Very keep nd staff, always answered questions, made room for me, went above and beyond supporting me

Sweet, easy to talk to, they really got to know me, friendly, approachable, offered to help when they didn’t have to

Sweet soft spoken, compassionate, informative, does his research, approachable with questions and unusual requests. Always felt cared for and listened to. He’d call me Judy to check in following any bad news, which I appreciated

If you don’t understand what he’s saying, ask him to explain it another way until you fully understand

After 1st IUI and tests we knew I was a low responder, so tried HGH which boosted by egg count but not by much- I was 43/44 yrs old, so low egg quality. I did various progesterone methods to help carry my egg once put back in me (vagival suppositories in addition to shots).

I think $6k-$8k all in for each cycle - insurance covered the rest

He was cautious about multiple transferred and was very clear of the consequences