NewLIFE (Leaders in Fertility & Endocrinology)

Dr. Ripps is very confident in his practice and clinic. He was confident that we would get pregnant easily with treatment and we fully trusted him. After multiple IUIs we were no closer to our baby and decided IVF would be a better option based on his recommendation. I never saw Dr. Ripps during my IVF monitoring until the day of egg retrieval. Also, Dr. Ripps never reached out after our failed transfers and I only heard from him when I called with questions. His ego needs to be knocked down a few notches and he needs to limit the number of patients he sees so that everyone can receive the appropriate care from him.

Understand that we will only see the nurses or nurse practitioners during your treatment and will not see Dr. Ripps unless you have an egg retrieval, embryo transfer, hysteroscopy or surgery.

Each IUI used Letrozole. Progesterone was added after first IUI resulted in pregnancy and progesterone levels were low but was not given for subsequent IUIs or pregnancy. 1st and 2nd IUIs were on 5mg Letrozole. 2nd IUI was cancelled due to no follicle growth. 3rd IUI Letrozole increased to 7.5mg. 4th IUI Letrozole increased to 10mg at my request. Egg retrieval used 150 FSH, 150 Menopur, Lupron trigger and cabergoline (to help with OHSS). 1st embryo transfer used birth control, Lupron suppression, baby aspirin, prednisone, metformin, progesterone in oil, estrogen patches, doxycycline. 2nd embryo transfer used Lupron depot to increase suppression, birth control, Lupron suppression, baby aspirin, prednisone, metformin, progesterone in oil, estrogen patches, doxycycline, platelet rich infusion to help uterine lining be more receptive.

Diagnostic testing was covered through my insurance and I paid $40 co-pay for each office visit. Each IUI Letrozole cycle cost approximately $1000 plus the cost of medication. The IVF cycle cost approximately $19,500 which included monitoring ultrasounds, bloodwork, egg retrieval, anesthesia, ICSI, Lab fees for embryo development, short term cryo-preservation plus the cost of medication. Genetic testing of embryos cost $4500 for up to five embryos. This did not include the cost of the PGTA testing that was performed by the genetics lab. Each Frozen embryo transfer cost $3600 which included the thaw process, Lab fees, monitoring Ultrasounds, bloodwork, and transfer procedure. Platelet rich infusion cost $350. Beta hCG pregnancy blood test cost approximately $115.

Dr Ripps works with several locations within this clinic, so it was rare and infrequent that we were in touch with him personally. I always seemed to feel he didn’t share the same urgency as we did with our situation - that he felt our push to begin more intensive treatment methods wasn’t originally something he supported. Dr. Ripps has a great bedside manner and seems like he cares about your successes. However, there were several times when my husband and I left the clinic with unanswered questions. Some of the prescribed treatments and procedures left us in the dark as to what was going on. This in part is a testament to the communication between him and the nurses at the office location where we were patients. Dr Ripps also mentioned to us, after a year as patients in his office, that he knew of some abnormalities in my scans since I became a patient with him, but he didn’t view those abnormalities as dire, so he never mentioned them to us. That certainly created doubt in my mind, because I felt we should have been made aware of anything and everything that could be a cause to impact our fertility.

Be prepared with questions when you schedule an appointment with Dr Ripps! Since it is few and far between that you will actually meet with him, any questions you have are better answered in person. Also, understand that he leans on the cautious side of things - meaning, he generally doesn’t agree when patients come to see him with a sense of urgency, or who are looking for quick results. Dr Ripps advocated for my husband and I to attempt to conceive with timed intercourse and light meds to assist. If we hadn’t pushed for us to begin IUI/IVF (more intensive treatment), I am confident he wouldn’t have us on that path still today, over a year into our treatment.

We began treatment with Dr Ripps in 2019 after a miscarriage And over a year of TTC on our own. Our new patient initial consult was with a NP, not Dr Ripps himself. We were sent for testing (a dye test to determine if my Fallopian tubes were open and also a scope test of my uterus). Both tests supposedly yielded normal results. Subsequently, we were advised to begin a trial cycle using meds to see how my body would respond. Roughly 5 months after my new patient visit, we began a cycle of clomid and timed intercourse. This resulted in a negative pregnancy test. We were told cycles were scheduled every other month, and on our second round we were prescribed stronger medications. We were told not to try that month as the medications produced too many eggs and therefore a high risk of multiples. Cycle was cancelled. We tried a third cycle of medications and timed intercourse that was unsuccessful, when we pushed to begin IUI. That was completed by a nurse at the Mobile location, yielded negative results. We were then scheduled for a second IUI, however the medications were again too strong and we were told to go home and try on our own, without using the trigger shot. However, then we received orders not to do this and to abstain. At this point, it was already too late. This resulted in a chemical pregnancy. Finally my husband and I pushed to begin IVF. I was told I was a high risk of OHSS and was told to order two different trigger shots (would take a specific one to manage OHSS if needed), and was instructed not to do the specific OHSS shot, but proceed with the normal shot. Egg retrieval yielded 29 eggs, 17 embryos. However, I also ended up with severe OHSS and was told I could not proceed with fresh transfer. We completed one frozen transfer the month following, resulting in a negative pregnancy test. Going into the second frozen transfer cycle, I was told there were abnormalities with my lining and I needed further testing. Two subsequent transfers were cancelled in order to repeat the same scope testing I completed as a new patient a year ago. Also was a called in for a saline infused sonogram, which was not able to show Dr Ripps anything. Ultimately was told I needed to go under the knife for an exploratory procedure to determine if I had uterine lining damage from a miscarriage prior to us being patients with Dr Ripps. At that point, I became skeptical because I felt that potential damage should have been something they discovered during initial testing, when at that time I was told there was no damage. Ultimately sought a second opinion upon scheduling the exploratory surgical procedure

We paid a deposit of $5,500 for our first IVF treatment (supposed to include the retrieval and one transfer). Our transfer was cancelled due to OHSS, and we never saw a dime of that back. In scheduling our first frozen transfer, we paid $500. Each IUI was $350, and diagnostics were a $250 co-pay

I requested 2 embryos be transferred for subsequent transfer procedures after our first. It was difficult to even get Dr Ripps to review that request, as it has to go through the nurse, who relayed the message to him. He then considers and relays the message back to us through the nurse. We ultimately never got consent to transfer multiples. He is very much an advocate of transferring one embryo in most conditions

He was very cold and uncaring the first time we met. He made some rude comments to me when I was upset and going through my history of miscarriages. He would also make make you feel dumb for asking legitimate questions. He did seem like a decent doctor as far as being knowledgeable in his field, but I did find some contradictions with his treatment plan and my new clinic's treatment plan. I very much felt like a number and that he was pushing IVF before we exhausted other options.

If you have a thick skin go for it, for me it was worth it to switch clinics.

Testing

I would say overall he was a great doctor. He was very blunt into the point and made sure we knew what we were getting ourselves into as well as what our test results had said. I wish I had seen him more than just for the consultation and then again to go over the results of all of our labs but I know that he is working at two or three different clinics and can’t be there all the time.

If you’re going to the mobile location don’t expect to see him a lot but when you do talk to him he will be very honest and blunt with the information he gives you

The only thing that was prescribed to me was vitamin D3 500 mg as I guess my vitamin D was low on my blood results but other than that the first few visits we’re just getting blood drawn and transvaginal ultrasound and they did do a testicular ultrasound on my husband. They then sent me to the Pensacola location to have my HSG and hysteroscope procedure done in one day.

It was really expensive but they were able to get insurance to cover some of the blood test

I do not. We have not made it that far yet

He is very quick to deliver information and mostly just points to the computer screen and goes over results. You rarely see him but he has to approve everything. He's not very aggressive with meds either. He's nice but he gives off a vibe like someone putting on a show.

If you have additional complications he's going to want to resolve those himself. He wanted to do all my surgeries even though I had a local doctor who could. I don't understand why. He's a bit hypocritical - says his surgery helped me with my endometriosis, and sure enough, I got pregnant after. But then when I say it's a concern for the next time I try he says it had nothing to do with it.

Started out slow, oral meds, then moved onto injections. Bases things on response as far as i know. You don't really talk to him but one time for your consult or if there's problems after many tries.

IUI without insurance is $1800 plus meds. IVF is between $12-15k

He is mostly against multiple.

Dr. Barry Ripps is strong in selling his procedures, products, and services but weak in listening to the patient. I asked questions that I knew the answers to already to see what he would say, and every answer was negative, but it was said with a smile and a suggestion that I choose this procedure or that medication. I wasn't told the positive possibilities only the negative possibilities which made it seem as if I needed to spend thousands of dollars to follow his regimen.

If this is the only doctor that your insurance covers and you have to go to him, go informed and ask questions to see where he is with you. Does it seem like he's concerned about your well-being or does it see like he's trying to sell you his products and services? Ask about possible positive outcomes if he doesn't bring them up.

I received fertility testing and advice on what to do to achieve pregnancy.

Everything was paid for by my insurance, so I don't know.

none

Dr. Ripps is confident and knowledgeable though can sometimes seem dismissive, but he isn't! "Dry" is a good way of describing him, and that's fine, but he clearly cares and we never felt rushed or not cared for. Our first cycle failed due to poor fertilization. I found that you just have to keep asking Dr. Ripps questions, come prepared and advocate for yourself. He is hesitant to try new techniques, test etc. I would say he's conservative in his approach which can work great for some people.

Be prepared with questions because Dr. Ripps likes to get straight to the point without using much filler. I needed answers and explanations for everything (whether it was a why or a why not) but he isn't much for entertaining those and he's pretty blunt. That's ok, just be prepared! You also meet with Head Nurse Linda who is all about the details and can fill that void if you need it.

We are dealing with severe male factory infertility. My husband was put on clomid (3 different doctors agree), we added supplements and continued to eat well as we already do. Between two doctors, all his panels were run and show no known genetic issues (though male factor science is lacking), and other tests are good too. For me, I was a super straight forward very easy case for egg retrieval. I stemmed for 7 days and they retrieved 12 eggs (10 mature) which is a great number! In the end, we had zero blasts due to poor fertilization. We used TESA retrieved sperm for our second IVF cycle. 15 eggs were retrieved and we ended with 2 blasts. Neither resulted in a pregnancy. We are moving on to known donor sperm IUIs with another clinic.

Appointments are not covered by insurance in Florida. Each visit is a little over $100. Semen analysis are around $70. Our first IVF round which included ICSI, a frozen semen sample and freezing for left over embryos (might be forgetting something) was $10,500. Medications were around $3000.00 or so. We didn't do a transfer or have embryos to freeze so we were refunded close to $1000.00. Our second IVF was a little less though (med prices were also a little less) we had two transfers which total around $3000.00 each with meds and such. Though these prices always change a bit.

Dr. Ripps discourages transferring more than one embryo in most circumstances.

Based on the feedback from the primary physician at this office, it appears that she might have been a bit reserved with our treatment plan. I understand having a balance, but I feel like perhaps our treatment plan wasn't the best fit for us after seeing a specialist. I don't think they did all of the right testing, referrals before having us do IUIs. Dr. Delaney herself was personable and straight forward.

Be aware of your options and have lots of questions. Bring something to write on because she gives you a lot of information.

I didn't like having to take birth control to be on the same cycle as everyone else for IUI. I understand that for IVF but it seems like they just want to sync everyone instead of letting your body cycle naturally.

IUI was approximately $900 + costs of medicine. They were very helpful in obtaining medication through Apothecary by Design.

N/A

Dr. Delaney was very kind in our consult, but seemed very quick to jump to a diagnosis of unexpected infertility without trying different testing. It seems like the clinic is pushing costly IUIs and IVF in order to make money instead of trying other things first.

IUI not including medications or monitoring 1000