Southern California Reproductive Center

The weaknesses would be the communication. I feel like the financial person could do a better job reviewing costs. I also think the staff can do a better job communicating what will happen next. I thin kthey might assume that everyone knows the drill. This is still very foreign to me.

Because he actually knew what was going on, my chart, whetehr he looked at it right before he saw me or not I dont know. But Ive been to a doctor that had no clue what was going on or that i was even a patient.

She was very helpful. She was my point of contact for most things. Very responsive and knowledgable.

He was always very nice. Funny. Explained things when I needed. Kept me up to date on what was going on. I don't like to stress so a doctor with a sense of humor can definitely lighten the mood. I am also not the type of patient to ask a ton of questions as I put my trust in the doctor and know that this is their specialty and not mine. This is my second fertility clinic and I'm under the impression that none of them hold your hand through anything really because they have way too many patients. With that said If I needed something or had a question I would just email my nurse.

Be ready to laugh.

I dont know that their was necessarily a strategy. I am under the impression that this protocol is for everyone and not just me. So Iwouldnt say I feel special or anything. 225 of Menopur, 225 of gonal f. Take prenatal, COQ10 and DHEA.

So far Ive spent almost 18k but medications are very expensive

We havent discussed

Clinic is clean, modern, sophisticated. The hours are good and open early enough so that I could get my blood drawn before heading to work. In the early part of process, I think they could improve on how they reach out to a new prospective client as I felt like I had to initially chase the answers/information.

Dr. Chang made me and my partner feel welcomed from the beginning. She was thorough and delicate in explaining our treatment plan, reading of lab results and clear with next steps. She made us feel very calm and confident even with such overwhelming and technical information.

Nurses have thus far been able to answer questions that I have either via email or phone. At times, I might have to call back to get a more timely answer, but overall they have been responsive. When communicating, they appear warm, friendly and helpful. One suggestion would be for them to introduce themselves so that I could get to know their names as I know I'll be working with them more closely over the next few months.

Dr. Chang has been thorough in explaining information to us. She appears like she cares and wants to optimize our chances of getting pregnant. She communicates in a clear manner, often speaking slowly and calmly, which is appreciated given the technicalities of IVF.

I have not completed a full cycle yet, but Dr. Chang is currently preparing for IVF and has suggested a number of supplements to optimize our health. We've gone through many pre-tests and ultrasounds that have helped her give her a baseline of our health. I appreciate her having us take our time to improve our chances instead of rushing into the procedure.

Genetic screening, consultation office visits, ultrasounds, cycle day 2 labs, supplements

It's like a factory. The waiting room is bustling sometimes beyond what's tolerable. There are t.v.s to watch in the waiting room. It's almost impossible to get anyone to answer the phone or call you back. The financial department is not helpful and was absent the entire time (there were mistakes.) . The lab techs are very nice and on it.

Dr. Alexander was compassionate and caring to a fault. This was just what we needed in the beginning but as things went wrong this actually made the process more difficult because she had strong feelings which were sometimes hard to deal with. The nurses were compassionate when I saw them and always knew my name and had a positive and caring attitude no matter what was happening.

The nurses were great in person. All of them were warm and knowledgable. They were sometimes hard to get a hold of and I would have to follow up on medications because occasionally something slipped between the cracks.

We started doing IVF for male factor (1 % morphology) after I had two chemical pregnancies. Dr. Alexander was extremely compassionate and thorough with testing before we started a cycle. She was confident I would get pregnant as everything on my side looked amazing. Our egg retrieval went great, with 4 PGS normal embryos. Our first transfer was delayed because she found polyps and I was scheduled for a hysteroscopy to remove them. While under she found a uterine septum and removed that as well. Then I tested slightly positive for irregular uterine cells and did a course of antibiotics. We finally started our transfer cycle only to be cancelled because my lining wasn't responding to the meds properly. We started again with a different type of estrogen priming and went ahead with our first transfer which resulted in a pregnancy. Dr. Alexander was more excited than me, as I was cautiously optimistic because I knew one beta test is not the whole picture. Our second beta came back lower than they would have liked and we did a third one which was normal. After this we waited to do an ultrasound at which point things did not look good. I was told this news during the ultrasound which was very upsetting. We had to go back several times to keep watching and I eventually started to miscarry and took drugs to help it along. Transfer 2 failed, which was shocking to everyone. We met with Dr. Alexander and she suggested an ERA and seeing a hematologist, which didn't make total sense to me. I said, why don't we do one more transfer before we do all that and she suggested another hysteroscopy before a transfer and the plan was to do a third transfer before she left for the holidays. We did the hysteroscopy where she removed a small piece of tissue but everything else looked great. We then found out that we wouldn't have time to do the transfer we talked about doing so I suggested doing the ERA while we were waiting for her to get back. We started a mock cycle on their "standard protocol" which did not work at all for me on any level. It was the same hormone protocol as the first cancelled transfer... I expressed concerns about this not working and was told it would be fine. When my lining didn't respond and this cycle was cancelled, I felt like Dr. Alexander started to lose confidence. She said the ERA was no longer necessary as she "didn't want to be chasing her tail around trying to get a good lining." It was disconcerting being told we needed a test and then a week later we didn't. She suggested trying a natural cycle which I started and when she discovered fluid in my uterus (which I believe was there from the cancelled cycle before) we were brought into her office and mid-cycle suggested surrogacy in a very odd way. Asking if I knew anyone who I would want to be my surrogate and saying she wished she could be mine. My husband and I were no where near ready for that conversation and it was very strange to have it brought up in the middle of an FET cycle. The fluid was aspirated, I had a second HSG with her associate (who called me a conundrum during that procedure) and she recommended going ahead with the third transfer. That one failed and we decided to get a second opinion at that point.

Be ready to be in the driver's seat of your fertility journey whether it's following up for results, getting medications called in and doing your research. Dr. Alexander is smart but there were things that were missed along the way and I wish we were given a more realistic idea of what to expect with the entire process.

Egg retrieval was pretty typical. FET changed from estrogen pills to many patches and Viagra, lovenox, steroids and lots of natural supplements and PIO and endometrin when it was time. Final FET was natural (waiting for me to ovulate) with a little patch support and endometrin/PIO shots, lovenox and steroids.

I think a retrieval cycle was listed as a little over $20k but once you add tests and meds its more like $30k. We spent close to $7k for everything for each transfer.

She went back and forth about whether or not to transfer one or two but ultimately agreed with our decision to transfer one at a time... she felt strongly about me not carrying twins for health reasons.

The clinic is overwhelming, somewhat disorganized and you can you expect long wait times. We were really frustrated by the lack of communication between departments and sometimes had to follow-up multiple times to get an answer to even simple questions. If it wasn't for Dr. Chang and our amazing nurse, we would have likely gone to a different practice after the first round.

Incredible bedside manner, very detail oriented, extremely caring and compassionate.

the primary nurse was excellent and so were the techs. However, some of the other nurses we worked with were really negligent and had a hard time communicating policy/procedure. We felt fortunate to have the primary nurse that we did (Kimberly) because she was outstanding and really supported us throughout the process.

She genuinely cares about her patients and will do anything within her ability to help you achieve your desired outcome. She pays close attention to detail and is very articulate. She will explain things as many times a you need to hear them, and give you her undivided attention.

Invest in the consult and make sure her style/approach is right for you. Because her practice has one of the best labs in the country, we decided to move forward with her office. We were told the labs were the most important part of the process, but she is also an extremely competent and supportive doctor which you don't always find in this profession.

Since we went through 3 rounds, she did try a variety of medications and approaches. She paid really close attention to my wife's response and made adjustments if/when necessary. The first round was a high dose of meds to which my wife did not respond well to. The next round, she tried a much lower dose and we were able to create one embryo even though we did not retrieve as my eggs. The final round she tried the same process and we got 8 eggs, but unfortunately no embryos. Our situation was a bit unique though because both my wife and I have fertility issues, so our chances of making an embryo together we are finding is pretty low.

About $40K for a two cycle package without the meds. The package included everything necessary to complete the cycle (blood work, ultrasounds, surgery center fees etc..)

She recommended a single embryo transfer for us, because of the inherit risk of having twins.

Again, I did not expect to receive amazing personal care going in to SCRC, given it is a popular/busy office and I had heard other feedback that it is a somewhat business-like environment. I adored my friendly and competent phlebotomists, and the ultrasound technicians were also great! As mentioned, it is very hard to get a hold of anyone over the phone. I made all of my next appointments in person. And my favorite part was the office flexibility and efficiency. They had early morning appointments available, and I could get in and out without having to take time away from work. This was convenient and appreciated.

I admit, I did not expect to receive amazing personal care going in to SCRC. I had always been happy with my interactions with the doctors and liked the office when I visited, but I knew it was a popular/busy office and I had heard other feedback that it is a somewhat business-like environment. Dr. Danzer was kind and personable, but I had very little interaction with him. I also feel that my protocol and care was standardized, not personalized. I loved the phlebotomists and the ultrasound technicians! As for Dr. Danzer's nurses, I feel a bit conflicted. They were warm enough, but they made several errors I had to catch and it was somewhat difficult to get a hold of anyone in the office. I will say, I loved the office flexibility and efficiency. They had early morning appointments available, and I could get in and out without having to take time away from work. This was convenient and appreciated.

As I mentioned, I feel a bit conflicted about Dr. Danzer's nurses. They were warm enough, and I appreciated their timely email responses. But they made several MAJOR errors I had to catch, once with my calendar and another with calling in the correct dosage of meds to my pharmacy. I have heard many other women complain about this same issue. I'm not sure how there have not been more serious consequences for some of the mistakes. I will say, they were always present and available to speak with me at my appointment times. Initially, it was hard to get a hold of them when outside of the office. But then I built a good relationship with one of the nurses, and I think that made a difference.

As I mentioned, Dr. Danzer was kind and personable, but I had very little interaction with him. I also feel that my protocol and care was standardized, not personalized. I did have great trust in Dr. Danzer, that he knew what he was doing (his history and notariety speak for themselves) and that he would obtain the best results he could for us. I was okay with a more straight-forward approach, the results were more important to me than bedside manner. However, I would have liked a bit more personal experience and reflection on our specific case.

Definitely advocate for yourself, especially with his support staff. And I would try to build as much of a relationship with Dr. Danzer as possible early on. Try to get in front of him, when you can. A couple of times, I had to request to meet with him personally, which was arranged. I think that is helpful. Also, find one friend within his team - that helped us immensely.

Dr. Danzer used a standardized protocol - birth control pills, followed by an antagonist approach of Gonal F (primary) and Menopur (secondary), with Cetrotide and trigger at time of egg retrieval. We have not moved on to the transfer cycle with him yet, so not sure of his protocol there. I felt pretty fine on the medication. The staff met with me for instruction, and offered a helpful website with videos. Because of my age, he did hit me with higher dosages. I was unsure of this, at the time, but now feel that might have been the right way to go. I ended up having to be on the meds for two extra days, for response growth. I came in for ultrasounds and blood draws every other morning. My egg retrieval went smoothly, however I did end up having slight OHSS about one week later. It cleared up the following week. We were happy with our results at first, then a bit disappointed. Retrieved 20, but less than half fertilized. We did send most off for genetic screening, but the majority were abnormal. Dr. Danzer did offer good education on our results, which I appreciated.

This was definitely not an inexpensive clinic, but I knew that going in. We were paying for the best. Both Dr. Danzer and the clinic/lab have stellar scores, no question. I was happy with the fact that the clinic did try to find us savings, where possible. I don't know that I would go so far as to say they worked with our budget, but they did try to get us some discounts.

We have not embarked on this part of the process just yet. I believe Dr. Danzer does recommend eSET, which I feel comfortable doing.

I haven't been there often yet, but i like how friendly it is and you feel very comfortable there, even in the waiting area and you don't wait a long time until you see your Dr. Its also very clean and you don't feel like you have to worry about catching anything in their bathrooms, either

I feel like a human, because Dr. Ghadir and his team are the first ones to actually listen to me and my concerns. They ask me if i have questions and if i do, they take the time to answer them. I have never received any fertility medication in eight years. I gave up when doctors simply just told me i couldn't get pregnant and Dr. Ghadir told me there is no way that anyone could predict that type of outcome without doing several tests. We have just started with Dr. Ghadir, so we haven't done any meds or anything yet, but when i met them in person, i actually, for the first time in 8 years, felt hopeful that we could have a child in the future and if it's in my cards, i will be a loyal patient to him and his team until the end.

The care coordinator takes all the time she has to make you feel comfortable. The only thing i was not happy about was the fact that i tried to get a hold of her one time and didn't get a call back until almost a week later, but when she explained that she fell behind with calling patients back, because she was unable to answer the phone as she was helping patients in person, i definitely understood. She is super nice and caring and you don't feel like just another person that cannot afford IVF. She really cares about you, your journey and your feelings. If you ever have trouble reaching her, write her an e-mail instead, she will be more available through that outlet. If you have issues at all with the communication, i found that approaching it was the best thing i could have done. Getting those awkward assumptions right out of the way. Maria, the nurse is also very nice, but i have not had as much contact with her just yet. She always responds to e-mails promptly and if she is near the phone she answers it quickly. I am actually excited to go the route with them, because i feel well taken care of.

Dr. Ghadir is a very friendly and encouraging fertility specialist that is realistic at the same time. He doesn't waste my time with treatments that may or may not work and suggests to go the route with the best possible outcome. I have not noticed any weaknesses up to this point.

Call the clinic before you schedule an appointment, ask for Ari and ask all questions you have. She may or may not have the answers, but the more answers you get before your consultation, the more time you have to understand the details the Dr. will be providing you with. Due to the location, leave a bit earlier than usual, the roads can be very congested and you may not find parking right away. You don't want to be late, but if you are, call into the office and let them know. They are very understanding. IVF is expensive, so make sure you ask about alternative possibilities that the Dr. can help you with.

Because we need authorizations before any and all services, we weren't able to do many tests, but we were able to do genetic testing and they made sure that our insurance was going to cover it before they did anything. They explained to us what cost was going to be expected and then sent a bill in the mail that we paid off very easily right away. It was $30 for drawing blood.

This clinic was highly recommend to me by a friend. The fact that I had a positive experience to go by influenced my decision to go there. The only drawback was that the clinic was not in network with our health insurance provider. Their prices were much higher than quoted elsewhere, but the level of care was excellent.

I first saw Dr. Wendy Chang when I was in a delicate state... I’d tested positively, then negatively but didn’t have the usual miscarriage symptoms. I just wanted to know what had happened and why. She took a lot of time and care to go over my previous (abroad) medical history and helped me to understand the possible causes for my pregnancy losses. She went ahead and did an ultrasound and confirmed that I was no longer pregnant, making sure I was ok and could cope with the diagnosis. We discussed immune protocols and the way forward. She gave me hope but also backed up her medical advice with hard facts about my condition. She is such a caring individual, and willing to go the distance to help out. I can’t recommend her enough.

Kind and attentive

Dr. Chang’s strengths can be summed up as compassion, communication, and expertise. She won my trust and I am so grateful she was able to add another piece to the fertility puzzle by performing my ERA and helping me understand the clinical facts behind the immune protocol best suited for me. The only drawback is that she is in Southern California and I’ve moved to Northern California, so I can no longer continue treatments with her.

Take the time to read “Is my body baby friendly” before seeing Dr. Chang. She is extremely knowledgeable and open minded regarding reproductive Immunology.

I had several ultrasounds to examine my uterine health. Dr. Chang also evaluated my hormonal health including my thyroid which no other RE had ever bothered to look at. She did my ERA and the results showed that my uterus is pre-receptive by 1 day. This means that all my previous embryo transfers were done outside my receptivity window. Because we need donor sperm due to MF, and it was determined that we would also need a donor egg, Dr. Chang recommended that I seek out IVF with a donated embryo. Her clinic doesn’t provide this service but she went the extra mile to recommend resources.

The costs were from consultations, lab and diagnostic methods, plus an on office surgical procedure. I was billed immediately after each visit and was able to pay by credit card.

In my case, I have a long history of implantation failure. Dr. Chang explained the risks and statistics behind both choices to me in a clear way, and advised me according to my diagnosis.

The clinic has one of the best labs in the country, and Dr. Barat who overseees the lab is brilliant and very likeable. Knowing the quality of the lab is what influenced our decision to move forward with SCRC. However, the office is very unorganized and very crowded. We found ourselves very frustrated by chaos that we often experienced when waiting to see the doctor, getting instructions or receiving test results. There was a lot of miscommunication and inconsistency in the detail we received which often made us question the quality of care we were getting. We stuck it out because we really loved Dr. Chang but for a clinic that costs as much as they charge, they really need to work on they improving their general operations.

Dr Chang is very sensitive and compassionate, she is extremely thorough and genuinely cares about her patients.

Kimberly was amazing, so sweet and overly accommodating/helpful. She was very responsive and on top of of everything. Ashley and Jessica were terrible so after multiple complaints, we requested to work exclusively with Kimberly.

Dr Chang is a very effective communicator and really takes the time to make sure that all of your questions are answered. She’s extremely knowledgeable and does a lot of additional testing to make sure no stone is left unturned. I always felt 100% comfortable under her care. That being said, after 3 rounds of egg retrieval we only created one embryo. Obviously this was not the result we were hoping for but both my husband and I have fertility issues, so I’m not sure if the outcome can be attributed to her treatment plan. We are now in the midst of getting a second opinion and intend to go through another round with a different doctor to see if we can achieve a better outcome.

Interview multiple clinics to make sure that the approach and methodology is right for you. There are a lot of highly qualified doctors in Los Angeles, and depending on the circumstance there could be specific doctors better suited for your needs. I’m not sure if we made the right choice because we ended going with the first doctor we spoke with, since we felt very comfortable and confident in her approach during our first meeting. Flash forward 3 Years, we are now in the process of getting a second and third opinion because we did not get the outcome we were hoping for. Also, her fees are very expensive and there are many great doctors that charge significantly less.

She started out with a really high dose of injections during the first round to which I did not respond well to. I was on the meds for an extended period of time since my eggs weren’t growing, and they almost canceled my stim. They were able to retrieve 6 mature eggs but none of them fertilized. The next round she put me on a much lower dose of injections and I got 5 eggs but was on a shorter stim cycle and was able to make one embryo. The last round she used the same protocol, I got 8 eggs but none of them fertilized. I also tried to fertilize 4 of the eggs with donor sperm to see if we could improve our chances (since my husband has poor sperm quality) but that didn’t seem to work either.

We did the 2-cycle package which cost about $40k for everything excluding meds

For my age (34), she recommended a single since the odds of it taking are between 65-70%. She mentioned for older patients she would be more inclined to transfer 2.

We used two different doctors for our two cycles, and you have to adjust to the frantic, "conveyor-belt" office visits. Dr. Chang's office was very busy and runs like a superstore compared to visits to your general physician. However, they were very efficient, and nice. So not necessarily a negative, but still an adjustment.

During in office appointments with Dr Chang, we received 100% of her attention.

Dr. Chang, was very knowledgeable, and took the time to fully access our specific situation, explain the IVF process, risks, and likely results. Going through IVF requires you to process an incredible amount of information and in a short period. This coupled with the obvious emotional and financial stakes, we naturally had a lot of questions to make sure we maximized our chances of success. So we required and she happily gave us her full attention during visits. We never felt like we were being rushed in and out of the office, as opposed to our previous doctor. Dr. Chang really focused on us achieving optimal physical health before starting our cycle. Although they extracted 11 eggs, unfortunately, we did not end up with any viable embryos. Despite the huge disappointment, I felt that Dr. Chang put us in a position to achieve the best possible results, even though ultimately unsuccessful. Which is the reason for the 8 rating instead of the 10. Though, if we decide to do another cycle, it would definitely be with Dr. Chang.

You cannot ask too many questions. And Dr. Chang gave smart, thoughtful answers, which made the entire process a lot easier.

It was almost a year ago, so I do not remember many specifics except an extremely detailed assessment of our physical state before IVF, and a comprehensive analysis and modification of our diet to optimize our fertility chances.

Approximately $20,000-$25,000

SCRC Santa Barbara is small, which I like - you feel like you have a personalized medical team. Given how big SCRC is in LA, I also felt like I was with the best of the best. I'm not sure how prices compare, but there aren't many other options in Santa Barbara so I didn't pursue comparisons too deeply.

The entire staff, especially the nurses, came to know me very well. If I was nervous, scared, etc. Dr. Rychlik knew to tell me jokes and make me laugh when asked. He broke down everything that was going on, from the positive pregnancy test to the ultimate miscarriage. After the DNC and leading up to it, he would call me personally to check in. I'm not back for my second FET and he / the team, is being even more candid and honest and open - as this isn't our first go-round!

Ashely was/is exceptional. In fact, the entire nursing staff and coordinators are amazing. Everyone was responsive, open, honest. They took the time to answer any and all questions, never making me feel like I was annoying or stressed. Every visit was like hanging out with girlfriends who only had my best interests and my family's in mind. I cannot say enough wonderful things about them.

Dr. Rychlik was very open and honest throughout our first cycle / transfer and ultimate miscarriage. As this was our first time with IVF, he did explain a lot of what was happening. There were periods were maybe things were painted a little too positive and expectations were set too high. Which in the moment I appreciated. We are now on our second cycle with Dr. Rychlik and more realistic about what could happen. He's onboard with our needs and requests to get it all straight. So I feel like we have a true partner here.

He makes times for all patients - even being the one to take my blood tests occasionally. So be sure to ask ANY and ALL questions you want. He will answer.

We went with a very straightforward protocol - IVF/ICIS with genetic testing. As it was more male factor, we didn't go too aggressive for the retrieval and I responded really well to all the drugs - never feeling too poor. We ended up with 2 genetically tested embryos and transferred 1 Day 5. It resulted in a positive! Unfortunately, the baby stopped growing between 5 and 6 weeks. Even though it was genetically tested, apparently this can happen (I do wish I was more prepared). However, after some months off now, we are going back for our next FET.

Monitoring appointments were a breeze. I felt like I was the only patient, I never had a wait. I saw the same nurse and Ultrasound tech every time & sometimes even Dr. R himself! I actually really enjoyed these appointments. It was always happy and even if I was stressed or nervous, we still laughed and they helped calm me down. I booked them right before work and never had a delay. I'm happy to be back for this next transfer!

IVF with ICSI and Genetic Testing, including Dr Fees & Facility Fees was around 15k. Medication another 5k. FET was around 3k.

Both Doctor and Nurses seemed to think single was the way to go - so if something did happen we could review and adjust the plan of action for the next one. Subjectively, friends who have done IVF my age and with similar circumstances also advocated for single transfer.

Very busy- strength and weakness bc you can get in and or quickly but it also has the feeling of a fertility mill.

Dr. Alexander is extremely caring. She has made me feel like she genuinely cares about how Im doing and how things are going without coddling or intruding. I have never had another doctor like her.

They respond promptly and never disregard a concern or question.

I came to SCRC not knowing what to expect. I have theee children and I assumed having a fourth was a no brainer. 9 months later still nothing. My regular OB recommended Dr. Alexander and my rheumatologist recommended another. I'm so glad I got to meet Dr. Alexander. The first visit was to go over my health status and what tests needed to be done to eval my fertility status. She also used a power point to explain all options available and also to help me figure out what course of treatment should happen next. After my consult I had a chemical pregnancy that did not want to clear my body and she checked on me weekly. She offered encouragement and also let me know that she was ready to jump in as soon as I was ready and my cycle had returned. She always finishes her phone calls or emails with "Best wishes" or "be well" and I think she might actually mean it. :) I have not conceived with her yet but I feel she will support me for as long as I continue to see her.

Come ready with questions and information about your fertility to save time.

Metformin- I have had surgery for dermoids multiple times so I think she put me in a pcos category. This drug helps with egg quality. Estrace- my lining and periods have been light either due to age or bc I have had a d and c and also retained placenta removal in the past. Coq10- help with egg quality Letrazole- I have Some cycles without ovulation Hcg injection- trigger ovulation Dexamethasone- bc i have autoimmune issues Aspirin- to build lining Folgard- not sure but I think bc a lot of people have some clotting or antibody gene or mosaic of the gene Prometrium- support potential pregnancy Prenatal vitamin

Co pay of $30 each visit. $250 for a consult but they waved it bc I she had to cance last minute.

This clinic is probably one of the highest rated clinics in our region. They have a state of the art laboratory and I know they have skilled staff and high standard of quality. There are many clinics locally that are far less expensive but I don't know if they are as good in regards to their laboratory

We were always greeted warmly and never rushed. I felt like we were listened to and treated with empathy.

The nurses were really sweet and helpful but not always easy to get a hold of. I found that their preferred method of communication was email and sometimes that wasn't the best for me.

Dr Rychlik always remained positive and optimistic about the outcome. I wish maybe I would've known going into it that one IVF cycle wouldn't work or that maybe donor eggs should've been discussed. Obviously there's no way of knowing until you go through it but I wasn't fully prepared for the disappointment of having no viable embryos.

Ask all of the questions whether they're good or bad. Find out if the money you are spending is being put to good use and if maybe there are better options for you besides IVF.

Are used injectables every night for two weeks. Every other day I went in for ultrasound and blood work. I took Menopur, Gonal-F followed by Ganirrelix and Ovidrel.

My appointments were very easy and I was never waiting on people or in a Cattlecall situation. I was in and out in less than 10 minutes every time.

19k not including meds but including PGD and another 5-6k for FET not including meds.

SCRC is a busy but efficient clinic. I appreciate that they open as early as they do (6:30AM) so I can go in for my lab work and ultrasounds before work. The staff are friendly and I have always found the wait times reasonable. Unfortunately the cost is significant, especially if you're health insurance doesn't cover infertility, which mine doesn't. I'm sure there are some who would balk at the cost but from what I can tell infertility treatments are expensive no matter where you go and I'd happily pay more to know I'm getting the best care possible.

Dr. Chang has always treated both me and my husband with great respect and sympathy for what we're going through. During each step of our treatments with her she has taken the time to inform us of the process and made us feel comfortable with the next steps.

Both of Dr. Chang's nurses who have overseen my care, Jess and Kimberley, have been kind, organized, and always available to answer my questions during the course of my treatment.

Dr. Chang is a kind, compassionate, and extremely knowledgeable doctor who has made the IVF process feel less intimidating. She is not one to sugar coat the truth or make promises she can't keep but always maintains a positive outlook and shows great concern for you as an individual. She has taken care to ensure that both me and my husband are informed about each step of the IVF process and made herself accessible for questions and follow-up discussions. After our first FET failed Dr. Chang immediately put a plan in place to determine the reason for the failure before attempting a second transfer. She was even able to include me in a clinical trial for an ERA (Endometrial Receptivity Analysis) so that my costs for the test would be reduced. Though I'm not pregnant yet I have complete trust that Dr. Chang will do everything in her power to help me achieve a positive outcome. I truly can't recommend her enough.

Though going through IVF, or any fertility treatment in general, is a difficult and emotional experience, Dr. Chang is someone in whom you can place your trust and who will never make you question the level of care you receive.

When we first began seeing Dr. Chang, she was very throrough with her testing to determine the reasons for our infertility. I was found to have narrow Fallopian tubes and a low egg reserve, which means that natural pregnancy is possible, just very unlikely. She suggested the less aggressive route of IUI to begin with and adjusted the protocol for each round. For the first round of IUI I took Clomid and when that didn't work she had me switch to injectsble Gonal-F for the second round. The second round was unsuccessful as well so she increased the dose of Gonal-F for the third round. Though all theee rounds of IUI were unsuccessful I appreciated her adjustment of the protocol each time so we weren't simply repeating the same approach and expecting different results. After the third round of IUI failed, Dr. Chang sat us down and explained our options. Though we could continue with IUI, the expected success rate after three failed cycles in a row was lower and might be a sign that we need to try a more aggressive approach with IVF. At no point did we feel pressured into doing IVF but we understood that Dr. Chang was trying to provide us with realistic expectations and next steps that could possibly be more successful. My husband and I elected to try IVF rather than a fourth round of IUI and prior to beginning Dr. Chang had an in-depth discussion with us about what to expect. About two weeks later Dr. Chang had me start the protocol for egg retrieval. When it came time for the retrieval I had about 9 follicles but upon waking up from the procedure Dr. Chang informed me that 4 were mature enough to be retrieved. Though we initially wanted to have half of the eggs fertilized naturally and the other half fertilized with ICSI, Dr. Chang recommended fertilizing all eggs with ICSI since we had so few and she didn't want to risk the possibility of any eggs not being fertilized. I was thankful for this recommendation because all eggs were successfully fertilized. The week following the retrieval is nerve wracking as you wait for news about embryo development but Dr. Chang called me almost every day to update me about the status of our embryos. After genetic testing, we ended up only having two top-quality embryos of the initial four but Dr. Chang had told us ahead of time to expect that. Following my retrieval, which was in September, I was given about a month of recovery time prior to starting the FET protocol. I began with active birth control pills, followed by daily Lupron injections for about 10 days, after which I began the PIO injections along with oral Estrace and suppository Endometrin. My uterine lining developed nicely and was about 9mm prior to the FET. My hormone levels also looked good so we went ahead with the transfer after 5 days of PIO and all went well. Unfortunately the transfer was unsuccessful, which I could tell puzzled Dr. Chang given how good everything looked prior to the FET. Because we only had 1 embryo left she wanted to determine the reason for the failure before proceeding with another transfer. I was scheduled for a hysteroscopy to see if there were any polyps, scar tissue, or anything else in my uterus that could have prevented successful implantation. Fortunately that came back clear. Dr. Chang also recommended an ERA (Endometrial Receptivity Analsysis) to determine if 5 days of PIO was enough or if I potentially needed more (as 20-30% of women do) and was able to include me in a clinical trial that SCRC was participating in so as to reduce my costs. The ERA came back normal so Dr. Chang also recommended that I see a Rheumatologist to rule out possible auto-immune disorders that could affect implantation. So far, all test results have come back normal and I'm starting to accept the fact that the failed FET may have just been a fluke given that there's never a 100% success rate but I'm so appreciative that Dr. Chang has been so through and relentless in her search for answers. I'm confident that by the time we begin the protocol for our next FET Dr. Chang will have done everything in her power to prevent another failure.

Though I can't remember the exact costs of each procedure, here is what I do recall: Each IUI cycle cost about $1500-$2000. My stim medications were about $5000 and then the retrieval plus embryology and genetic testing cost about $17,000 (this number changes significantly depending on the 'add-one' you choose). The FET protocol was about $5,000. All in all, for three rounds of IUI and 1 round of IVF we spent close to $30,000.

Because we only had two embryos from our first retrieval cycle Dr. Chang suggested only transferring 1 for the first FET since the increase in the success rate by transferring 2 was minimal and we risked losing both on the first try. I'm so thankful we only transferred 1 since the FET failed and it would have been devastating to lose both embryos.

SCRC is absolutely one of the top clinic and they use a top notch lab. I deeply appreciated their organization and the flexibility of their schedule. My only complaint would be that though the lab is top notch, it was unclear to me that they were a separate company. We had two mosaic embryos which Dr Chang and I would like to explore transferring but the lab in this case refuses which is disappointing given the newer research surrounding the viability of mosaic embryos.

Wendy and her dedicated nursing staff was available by phone and email readily, they always got back to me in a timely manner and were lovely to deal with... as much as I hated having my blood taking so often, I find myself actually missing the phlebotomists. When we were ultimately unsuccessful, they all seemed as devastated as we were.

They were incredibly calm, helpful and organized... they made the process much less stressful as a result.

Wendy was our partner in a very tough journey and she took that partnership seriously, despite the volume of her practice she took the time to answer all of our questions at every juncture and truly seemed to cherish her work. When new research emerged regarding some of the treatments we had used that positioned a few of the practices in a controversial light... she did not shy away from the conversation at all and was the first in line to grapple with those choices.

IVF practices are extremely busy places and Wendy is very focused on getting folks to a successful pregnancy, depending on your specific circumstance and age that may mean that you end up with some expensive and ultimately unnecessary treatment options. Dr Chang will not force you into any of them but you do need to be informed as a patient to wade through what the best decision for you is.

I don't remember all the specifics of the injections but Dr Chang is very focused on nutrition and health as a precursor to egg health which studies have shown is a big factor.

For 2 cycles for a +40 patient with all the extra treatments it was about $45k

We did eSET as we had done PGS, in retrospect given my age and the potential inaccuracies of PGS - I regret that choice.

The nice thing about SCRC is there are 5 doctors in the office, so there is always at least one there for IUIs and transfers. The front desk staff is amazing and always kind. If you go between about 9-11:30 it is going to be busy, and you can expect to wait anywhere from 15-45 minutes before being called back.

I was always greeted by name, even when I hadn't started signing in. The nurses I worked with were always very kind and helpful, even when I asked potentially silly questions.

Maria and Ludi are the two main nurses I worked with. Both we wonderful. They were very helpful any time I had questions. They were also good about emailing back the same day if I emailed them before 4pm.

During Clomid/IUI cycles I would only see Dr. Ghadir for the IUI, assuming he was in the office that day. I twice had other doctors do the IUI. Once I moved to IVF I saw him a lot more. He did the retrieval surgery and 2 of the 3 transfers. Since becoming pregnant I have seen him every week. I would usually only hear from him on the phone for the results of betas.

Be prepared for him to want to do the maximum number of medicated IUI cycles.

For the first medicated cycle I was put on 100 mg of Clomid. When that only produced one mature follicle I was placed on 150 mg of Clomid for the other 5 cycles I did. I usually grew 2-3 mature follicles before triggering. Once I moved to IVF I was put on Gonal-F, Menopur and Cetrotide. I started at a higher dose, and after my first monitoring appointment had the meds reduced to avoid OHSS.

Ultrasounds are $220, Blood work varies depending on what you have tested. IUI was around $250 each time. A full IVF cycle was around $10,600, which included every appointment and blood draw once you started stim meds through the first beta. FETs are about $2600, which included every appointment and blood draw once you started meds through the first beta.

The clinic has multiple sites, and I started at another clinic before moving. There was confusion, and there was always a wait to verify or get information about my file. I asked several times to have my file transferred to the clinic I was not going to. I found myself having to take initiative many times, in calling for results, asking for next steps, etc. the staff is friendly, but it did not seem genuine.

On the day of our IUI, we waited for almost 2 hours to be treated, without any interaction. When we were greeted by Dr. Wendy Chang, she was very vague in her conversation with us, without any mention to our personal journey or treatment (e.g., “Okay this is what we are going to do.” Instead of using names, or mentioning anything personal about us.)

The nursing staff was nice, but not personable. I did not like needles, and they let me lay down to draw blood. The nurses often forgot which labs I was getting done, and I had to call the clinic for results.

Dr. Chang was very professional, but lacked compassion. Her statements seemed almost rehearsed, and I feel that she lacked interest in our personal journey. She was friendly, but it did not seem genuine. Although she did explain the risks of IUI, she failed to inform us of the very low success rate of IUI. I feel that this is a very important bit of information that may have encouraged us to re-evaluate our treatment options. Dr. Chang was only in the office on certain days of the week, which made it difficult to set up appointments. My HSS was performed by a different doctor, and I was not informed of this until I arrived for the appointment. Overall, this did not feel like a personal or tailored experience, but a scripted and routine procedure, which I was very unfamiliar with.

Ask a lot of questions, and ask for the layout of your treatment, including who will be performing the different aspects of your treatment. Ask about success rates of your procedure, and explain your expectations for your treatment.

Diagnostic blood work was performed first, in attempt to diagnose the cause of my infertility. Phone consultation to recommend IUI with Clomid due to starting treatment non-invasive and working up. 3 days of Clomid, and then more labs and ultrasound performed to see egg follicles. Ovulation test used to determine time of ovulation, and trigger shot given in the event that ovulation does not occur before IUI appointment. Ovulation test determined ovulation the night before IUI procedure. IUI performed, and home pregnancy test done 10 days later, which determined no pregnancy.

Ultrasound $220 (2 ultrasounds done), Labs for IUI $450, IUI procedure day-of about $1,000

Not applicable.

Southern California Reproductive Center is a busy, busy place. (I would assume this has to do with the knowledge-base and experience of the doctors.) It seemed that everyone was effectively performing their job, but they forgot that I was new to the process. So sometimes I felt a little lost and would have appreciated if someone had taken the time to explain things more slowly and clearly. I was seen for appointments within 15 minutes of my assigned time and the medical staff was always efficient. The clerical staff was not as warm and inviting as I would have liked. I was often left to figure out things like where to go for blood draws or the location of the nearest restroom on my own. Billing was a bit chaotic, so be sure to check your invoices and statements. On-site parking was pricey and limited, but there is a drug store around the corner with a public parking lot which is much larger and economical.

I felt most like a human when dealing with Dr. Ghadir in person. Over the phone he seemed rushed and spoke very fast. Oftentimes when dealing with the office staff and nurses, I felt like a number. My encounters with them, both in-person and via phone, were all monotone and repetitious.

I dealt with my assigned nurse (and a few others when she was off) mostly over the phone after ultrasounds and blood draws. During the calls she gave me new dosage information. She never offered any insight into what was seen on the ultrasounds or asked how I was dealing with the effects of hormones. On occasion I had questions and would leave messages for the nursing staff. (It seemed the nurses were never available to answer the phones.) My phones calls were always returned.

During our initial consultation, Dr. Ghadir was running late but very apologetic. He listened and asked questions. Not long after we our consultation, he ordered lab work. Each time results came back, he personally called either myself or my husband to reveal the results. Oftentimes these phone calls were in the early evening hours. I appreciated his direct contact with us. My condition required me to have a hysteroscopy to remove uterine polyps. Dr. Ghadir came to see me both before and after performing the surgery. During my actual IVF cycle, I dealt mostly with the office staff. He did perform the retrieval and transfer. During these times his was quick and efficient. Dr. Ghadir called me to reveal my positive pregnancy test results. During the post-treatments (he asked that I have weekly ultrasounds in his office for the first 10 weeks) he was present for each and discussed what he was on the ultrasounds.

Keep a notebook to jot down questions and information you receive in the office and over the phone. This is a very fast-paced office! While his office truly is organized and on top of things, the process can seem very chaotic. Also, look into financing before beginning the process. The company they refer you to for financing has astronomical interest rates. Which just adds one more stress to an already chaotic process.

I took twice daily injections of Lupron, Menopur, and Follistem for a little under three weeks. After each ultrasound and blood draw a nurse would contact me to discuss modifications to dosages. If I recall correctly the only real changes were in the Menopur. The ultrasounds started at about 3-4 days apart and gradually became closer. The last week I was at the office on a daily basis. The day before retrieval I gave myself an injection (can't remember name) and it had to be given at an exact time of day. The nurse was very clear about the time frame I had for administration of this medication.

One cycle of IVF was approximately $15,000 paid to Southern California Reproductive Center. The drugs were about $3500 paid to an outside pharmacy. All ultrasounds and blood work done from the first injection to the pregnancy test were included in the cycle. All other (pre- and post- IVF cycle) procedures were not included They offered a package for women under a certain age (can't remember exact age) for few thousand dollars more (can't remember the exact price) that ensured you another cycle should the first not result in pregnancy. Now the catch is that if you had a miscarriage after the first round of IVF, the second cycle was null and void.

The front office staff is courteous and always remembered my name. My calls were always returned the same day, and if an emergency came up in the middle of the night, someone was always available or my doctor could be paged. The ultrasound and lab techs were very friendly which is nice when you're in almost daily. The office itself is very inviting and cozy. One downfall would be lack of available street parking on week days and the expense using the clinic's parking garage. But on the plus side, it's a one stop shop for all your needs from doctor consultations to surgery center, and there's even a specialty pharmacy across the street if you need to quickly refill a medication.

Dr. Ghadir treated me with compassion, listened to me, and took my concerns seriously. Before getting a referral to see him, I had been dismissed by multiple OBs over the length of time I had unsuccessfully been trying to conceive as well as suffering with prolonged heavy periods. My consultation with Dr. Ghadir was like a breath of fresh air and on my 2nd visit, he found the cause of my heavy periods which was a large polyp in my uterine cavity as well as discovering both my tubes were blocked at the ends by my ovaries.

Maria is an angel. She is extremely compassionate and patient as I called with tons of questions on a weekly and sometimes daily basis.

Dr. Ghadir has a warm demeanor and his confidence put me at ease. He is compassionate but very matter of the fact when it comes to discussing diagnosis and treatment options. He is highly knowledgeable and skilled in reproductive endocrinology and I did eventually get pregnant under his care. However, he was unable to complete an out of pocket hysterscopic surgery at his clinic to remove my polyp which set me back a month to begin IVF while I waited to have the surgery repeated at a hospital operating room under my health insurance plan with a regular OB who was able to complete the surgery with no issues.

Don't let your impatience to get pregnant let you make hasty decisions. I threw money away on a surgery my insurance covered because SCRC could get me at an earlier date only for the surgery to not go as planned.

IVF #1 Long Lupron protocol with Gonal-F and Menopur. I had an easy textbook cycle. 21 eggs retrieved and great fertilization rate, but by day 5 transfer day only 3 embryos had survived due to unanticipated low egg quality. Two were transferred but the cycle failed. IVF #2 Long Lupron protocol with Gonal-F and Menopur with the addition of Human Growth Hormone to give the embryos a boost. Another easy textbook cycle with 20 eggs retrieved and great fertilization rate. This time 6 embryos made it to day 5. Two were transfer using assisted hatching, and I got pregnant with a singleton.

Total costs including testing, two fresh IVF cycles with monitoring, and medications were around $40,000.

The clinic was great easy to find in Santa Barbara it was clean and the staff was awesome. The front desk always called to confirm appointments and they were on it with all the information. They were also great with emails sometimes it was hard to get down to the clinic so if we were able to do it over email or fax they always made it work for us. Just overall great staff.

The staff is really awesome at the clinic the nurse Maddie always made me feel very comfortable and they all were very professional.

The staff was awesome always made me feel very comfortable and they always made me feel important which is a great feeling when you feel so many emotions.

I felt that Dr Surrey was very knowledgeable with what my condition was. He let us know the options we had and also made us feel that if we had any questions or hesitations that we could always call and ask him.

Make sure to have all your questions written down because he will take the time to answer them but it’s better to be prepared when you meet with him.

I was on birth control at the beginning to regulate my period after I was taking my stimulation’s and that was determined by the ultrasounds and what my levels where at the time which was follistum and menopur. Before my retrieval I was given antibiotics to help with any bacteria infections.

Around 20,396

He wanted to retrieve the healthy ones and that was his main concern. If I choose multiples then I would have to talk about the chances of having twins.

It is a very busy clinic, always full. That said, I never felt like a number, just that I was in a very busy office! The main thing is having to be on top of your own treatment and following up yourself when necessary.

Dr. Alexander gave me her personal cell phone number and always immediately responded to any texts or questions I had, and would call me personally with the results of milestone tests. She seemed to really care.

The main problem with the nursing staff is turnover, and so you don't have a consistent or ongoing relationship with one person. They often change, and also you get who you get, depending on who answers the phone or emails. But they are nice and helpful.

She is a brilliant doctor, incredibly smart. She is warm and kind. She is not always the best communicator because her mind is working at a mile a minute, but I appreciate very much her expertise. She also frequently sought the opinions of other colleagues, both in the clinic and outside. It wasn't about ego for her it was about doing the best possible thing.

Make sure you ask questions and you do your own research too. And know that she is thinking about you.

Dr. Alexander also successfully removed, or significantly reduced a large uterine septum I have. The first operation I had with another doctor had failed. Dr. Alexander did an excellent job.

Strengths: Modern facility, very clean and bright Downside: It's so big that you feel like a number (or a bank account) when you're there.

SCRC feels a bit like a factory. Often times I would call and get transferred around not being able to speak to a live human. The "third party coordinators" were a mixed bag -- some were very friendly and helpful, others came across as less enthusiastic and didn't follow up appropriately. I also felt the billing system lacked transparency -- expect to get credit card charges but with no accompanying statements. Felt a bit like a money making machine.

They have a third-party coordinator system. You email a mailbox or leave a message and usually within 24 hours someone will get back to you. Often the person who gets back to you is different from the one you spoke to before. I wish there would have been some consistency here.

Dr Ghadir has a nice manner to him and seems really to care about his patients (without being too stiff or formal). He is very professional as well. He was thorough in his explanation of the process and attentive to all of our questions.

Working with Dr Ghadir is great. The only downsides are the administrative features of SCRC -- phone calls not getting returned, billing not being transparent.

The clinic is excellent. However, the separation between themselves and the embryology laboratory can make things complicated with regards to billing.

Dr. Alexander worked very hard to provide us with individualized service. She always remembered all of the facts about our case and would work with us to establish treatment plans.When things were not successful she made sure to call us to comfort us. She always made sure we were comfortable with all of our treatments plans.

I am so grateful to Dr. Alexander for her incredible work with us. Her positive outlook allowed us to get through one of the most difficult times in our lives. She is extremely knowledgeable and patient focused. Her approach is tailor made to each patient. When she treats you, you feel like the sole focus of her office. She will always make time for you as a patient and will do everything to ensure a successful outcome. She is extremely sensitive to a patient's needs.

She is an amazing provider. I would recommend following all of her advice with regard to a retrieval. She is extremely responsive to a patient's need/ concerns so make sure to take an active role in your treatment process.

My first FET and retrieval were pretty standard. My second and third FET involved the use of lovenox. This was used after it was discovered that I tested positive for lupus anticoagulant. My third FET also involved the use of prednisone (a steroid) due to a discovered history of familial autoimmune conditions.

Our doctor allowed us to transfer two embryos during each FET. This was our preference and she remained supportive of our choice. She left the decision of transferring one or two up to us (due to our diagnosis). However, she was very clear that she would not transfer more than two (a pretty standard practice based on our young age)

They are perfectly nice but I don't feel that anyone particularly cares that much. After my last experience with a doctor who cared a lot but didn't get me pregnant, I care less about being treated with tenderness as long as we get good results.

I like that there are two techs (again, not nurses) who work strictly with Dr. Chang. There is much less confusion about who is doing what. The problem I've noticed is that they answer emails and return calls sporadically if I'm not in active cycle. I find this frustrating. When I'm in front of them, they are very helpful.

She is kind and friendly, she has a nice sense of humor. She seems like a good investigator and is open to my ideas. She was willing to refer me out to a Reproductive Immunologist, which many REs do not do, so I appreciate that. She was able to get my husband's sperm in much better condition. We were so concerned with his sperm issues that we fertilized half the eggs with his sperm and half with donor sperm and he outperformed the sperm donor! This was all because of Dr. Chang's strict orders for his diet, supplements, recommendation on frequency of ejaculation, etc. (along with his strict compliance.)

To advocate for herself. This is the same advice I'd give for most REs though. They are busy and don't have the time or attention to give to each of our cases, so find other women who have been through this and learn from their experiences.

the clinic is packed full of people and I felt like a number. Dr. Chang was nice but I rarely saw her (only for the initial consultation and the IUI). That was it. She was a little robotic in her conversations with me. I felt like she didn't really remember me.

I had an overall good experience with Dr. Chang as a person. She is very nice and thorough in her evaluation. She actually caught a small issue with my thyroid and suggested that I take more iodine, prescribed Synthroid, and sent me to an endocrinologist for re-evaluation. I decided not to take Synthroid and took more iodine instead. In a few months, my TSH was much lower and it has remained steady for more than one year. I am grateful to Dr. Chang for that! Dr. Chang performed an unmedicated IUI, which she did well. It did not work. She suggested a medicated IUI but I did not respond to the drugs so I cancelled the IUI. After that, I decided not to continue fertility treatments due to my age (I was 43). Dr. Chang is a very good doctor. She listened and was willing to follow along with my ideas (unmedicated IUI). She was even open to a natural IVF with no drugs. She is very nice and I did feel comfortable with her (rare for me). But I don't recommend her because I think there are RE's with smaller clinics that feel more personal.