LA IVF

We never waited more than a few minutes in the waiting room. The entire staff of nurses is just so positive and helpful. The financial person was even such a delight. All around we never hit one speed bump or bad attitude. The business itself runs perfectly and I would trust them with any friend or family member.

Strengths include: The clinic is in a very nice high-rise medical building with a convenient parking garage, which they will provide validation for. The NP, Yelena (?) is incredibly kind and gentle with setting up your IV. The staff who answer the phones are generally friendly. The blood draws were quick and painless. Tips: I would recommend getting all cost information, with very specific details in writing for everything. Before starting my cycle, I was informed by the office manager that it would be a certain price with ICSI, assisted hatching, 1 transfer, etc., included in the cost. Right before my stims started, I was then asked to pay an amount that was significantly higher than the original quote. I was certain it was a mistake, so I called the office and was informed that they had raised prices, but that it was actually more favorable for patients (which I didn't quite follow). I also received a lot of push back that I had ever even received the lower price estimate and that whoever gave it to me was not correct or that I had misremembered. After producing proof of the old quote, they honored the lower price, but I felt like very uncomfortable throughout the whole situation. Another issue that I had - which still unnerves me to this day - is what happened on the day of my retrieval. I have been to several other clinics and have gone through several retrievals previously, so I'm used to some form of patient identification protocols - especially when dealing with something as precious as human life/tissues. When I arrived on the day of the retrieval, I was one of several other patients that day, and my name was only asked at the front desk. When I went in for the retrieval procedure itself, my coordinator who had worked with me throughout the whole journey, introduced me to the anesthesiologist by an entirely incorrect name (e.g., if my name were Sarah, she called me Susan). I was so nervous and stressed that I thought I'd heard her wrong, so I let it go. I wish I had corrected her, however, because beyond the front desk, at no point prior to or after the retrieval did anyone ask me what my name was or what my birthdate was. That had never happened to me before at another clinic - every other clinic had some process in place (e.g., ID bracelets, making you state your name to the Dr. and embryology team, having you read your name on the embryology petri dishes/vials, etc.). I later learned that my partner had a similar experience while providing his sample - his name was not on his semen sample cup, nor did anyone ask him his name. I'm not in the medical field, so I do not know if that's standard protocol, but it made me very uncomfortable as a patient. Lastly, medical documents and receipts/proof of payment have been incredibly difficult to obtain. I've had many emails and phone calls go unanswered for several months, and still not have received the documents that I need.

I had a relatively seamless experience of stimulation for egg freezing and an uneventful retrieval. Where this clinic failed miserably was in thawing my eggs, retrieved just after my 40th birthday. These were the only eggs that I had frozen. Six months later, I returned with donor sperm to have the eggs thawed and fertilized. Subsequently, when all but 2 eggs disintegrated in the thaw procedure, they failed to communicate transparently and appropriately about the failure of the thaw procedure. They also failed to offer any type of fair remedy (i.e., a refund or at minimum a complimentary cycle). And refused my request for a refund or a complimentary replacement cycle to replace my banked eggs. They also refused to refund any portion of the money that I paid for the thaw/transfer cycle that resulted in no viable thawed eggs. Instead, they blamed their failure on my egg quality. Ironically, a year later, in a mini-IVF cycle, I produced 8 mature eggs of which, 7 fertilized. I have been subsequently told by another doctor that my egg quality is good.

Zero strengths. The reception staff is very rude, and downright mean. The clinic is disorganized and the doctor is stretched too thin. He doesn't care about the patients. Definitely felt like I was part of a money making machine for the doctor.

He would give the best recommendation for the patient, he wouldn't do any unnecessary test or treatments to make money . I feel he is compassionate and cares about his job. It is hard to find a physician to spend the time and tailor the specific treatment just for you. You don't feel it you are in a factory like some other big clinics. This journey can be difficult for some, so I highly recommend Dr Bayrak and his team to give you the best chance.

Easy access and parking, friendly atmosphere. I think the size is just right- not too big and not too small. I rarely had to wait for my appointment, Dr. Bayrak was always prompt. I never felt like it was a factory in the clinic and felt that I received individualized care.

They all seem annoyed with patients. No one is outwardly helpful or friendly. No one really smiles in this office. Follow-up is not done, except with several phone calls and reminders. The billing person, Linda, saw us once or twice in the beginning, then we never saw or heard from her again. She stopped answering emails and was never available to speak on the phone. Stacey was the most helpful person and the most compassionate. After our second failed cycle she seemed genuinely sorry and hugged me. I don’t know anyone else’s name. No one introduced themself.

The strength is Dr Bayrak and his attentive method. There have been a few times where I reached out to him over email and he got back to me within a couple of hours. He's easy to reach and talk to about all things IVF. My biggest issue has been billing, and honestly it's not too bad, but getting your questions answered with billing has been difficult. Recently a new woman was hired to assist with billing and that made it a lot better. I hate medical billing at any place and unfortunately this clinic is no different. My advice is to understand each bill and if you have any questions just keep asking.

One strength is that the clinic feels intimate and private. They cover up your name on the clipboard and are careful to close the reception window when making calls. I think they take patient confidentially seriously.

The one thing that I feel somewhat sad about is the cost. LA IVF is very expensive. But most in the area are in the same price range from what I recall. The convenience of them having multiple offices in the LA metro area is a plus and a minus. It makes it more convenient for more people, but it also sometimes meant having to go very far out of the way to get to the location where the procedures happen.

Strengths: always seen by the same doctor. Weaknesses: staff is unempathetic, overworked, and too busy to handle patient flow. Clinic itself feels small and lacking in cleanliness.

I had a really good experience with one of the nurses at the Pasadena office- she wasn't assigned to my case and wasn't always in during my treatments, but she made the experience much better as a consistent friendly face. She was one of the people I was genuinely excited to share our good news and progress with even after we successfully graduated. Overall I think the good outweighed the bad, and with IF being such a difficult journey, we were glad to use LA IVF and have success with our FET.

Clinic is clean, easy parking. Convenient location. Less than 5 minute wait time which is a miracle! Follow up emails are immediate. Equipment is up to date. Rooms are reasonable huge, screens are easily located so you can see ultrasound images and get explanations during visit. Quiet neat and great privacy.

They are very organized and helpful. Very friendly and family like. They know everyone that comes in everytime. You will never feel like a number here.

For the strengths I appreciated that it was a smaller practice and you could tell that he cared about his patients and wasn’t in it just for the money. Only weakness is that he works out of multiple offices so sometimes it took a little bit more time to schedule since I was working but we made it work