Alyaa Elassar

Dr Elassar is a magician and and is the most caring and nicest I have ever experienced. People come to see her from all over the world so I feel privileged to be her patient - she is really best in class. She got me confident and optimistic right away - she is clearly at the front edge of all newest research and technologies. There was never a question she couldn't answer or support with data. She remembered all my personal details and numbers on top off her head. She is incredibly professional but personal and approachable at the same time. I cannot recommend her enough and will come to her for another baby!

Don't get overwhelmed at your first visit! Just trust her experience, you will learn more along the way and she will guide you carefully.

Used Gonal and Cetrotide to mature eggs for retrieval which worked great, although my hormone level was growing a bit slow so we did not do the Lupron shot. I had a very high number of eggs (22) with high success rate (ended up with 8 embryos, several very high quality). We froze the embryos to do the transfer next cycle because I wasn't feeling great (and because we did not use Lupron at the end). Transferred one embryo and it worked the first time! Have been adjusting the dose of estrogen along the way, as well as progesterone and increasing my TSH synthoid (I have a thyroid issue so Dr Elassar monitored my TSH and adjusted the dose progressively). Everything is going great!

I had insurance cover most of it

We decided to go with one embryo because I am still under 35 and we were ready to take our chances vs potentially getting multiple births. Dr Elassar explained all the statistics and our odds very carefully which we appreciated.

Dr Elassar is in every detail and closely manages everything. She does all the scans herself and clearly communicates what she sees. She is also always interested in the wellbeing of the patient, follows up after every treatment. She is available 24 hours a day and always sends lab results to you the same day as they come in with clear next steps. She clearly explained that we may need a few rounds to adjust the medication for better stimulation and when we got to the right meds all went as planned with good implementation. unfortunately the pregnancy did not last past 9 weeks but we will continue to try again with Dr Elassar We are lucky to have her and hope to get the result we want soon.

the personal care is worth the time and the perhaps additional payment

First cycle - birth control pills 2 weeks then gonal-F 300 + Menopur 150 (not good stimulation, cancelled after a few days) 2nd cycle - estrogen patches, then gonal-F 300 + Menopur 150 (better stimulation, but early ovulation, cancelled cycle) 3rd cycle - birth control pills 2 weeks + testosterone gel then Lupron + gonal-F 200 + Menopur 150 (good stimulation + retrieval + pregnancy)

She had a preference to use 2 embryos in our case but she likely has a very personalized recommendation based on various factors

Not only is Dr. Alyaa Elassar amazingly competent and knowledgeable, she is very caring and puts the patient's well-being (mental, physical, financial) above everything else. She takes the time to explain things in great detail, and customizes personalized treatment to one's specific needs, rather than mass-production factory approaches. Dr. Elassar knows my file inside out, and despite my complicated medical history (thyroid disease) and age (early 40s) she did not write me off and went to great lengths customizing protocols for me. I was able to get pregnant because of the protocols she designed for me. She is very hands-on and has a no-nonsense down-to-earth approach, which is very refreshing and reassuring. You immediately get the feeling that you're in very good hands. Not to mention she responds to emails very promptly even at odd hours and nights and weekends. I recommend her wholeheartedly!

My insurance covered most of the costs, I had to pay a co-pay. Certain procedures were not covered by insurance so I paid out of pocket.

Put simply, Dr. Elassar is the best doctor I have ever had. I believe she is an empath with an Einstein-like genius and passion for her vocation. If that is not the ultimate combination for a doctor, I don't know what is. When my husband and I were looking for a doctor, we reviewed hundreds of bios all across the country, and interviewed several other doctors. My hope in writing this review is that my words will provide you the confidence to call Dr. Elassar without hesitation as once you meet her, you will be so relieved to know she exists and you will never look back.

Not to hesitate in consulting with her! This process is filled with so much sacrifice and uncertainty. The only thing you can really do for yourself is to take the journey with the right person.

Based on my research, the costs at this clinic are commensurate with the standard costs of the procedures involved, though I have no doubt that Dr. Elassar could command much higher rates if she chose too.

My husband and I decided to see a fertility specialist just for peace of mind after we had been trying for six months with no success. We picked Dr. Elassar based on her reviews and how close her office was to my work, and I am so grateful every day that we did. From the first appointment/scans through our most recent egg retrieval, she has been nothing short of wonderful through every stage—walking us through each step of the process, answering emails at all times (nights, weekends; it makes no difference), and providing endless support. Her warmth and compassion over the past ten months we have been undergoing treatment have made the entire process so much more bearable—at every visit (and there have been many), she greets me with a smile, and appointments have become a welcome break in the work day rather than something to dread. She is incredibly kind and brilliant and we are so thankful for her.

Do not hesitate, it would be impossible to find a better doctor.

I was fortunate enough to meet with this doctor and the best decision we took after failed IUIs/IVF at another facility. On our first visit, she took the time to understand my previous medical history and gave us the confidence to start the second round of IVF. Her words gave us so much trust right from the beginning we met her and we always thought that this second attempt would work. She is a very knowledgable, kind-hearted and caring doctor. She has a customized approach for each couple. She also laid the potential options for us, clearly communicated the details when we had to take a big decision for embryo transfer. She is prompt in responding to emails any time of the day and that helped me to clarify any doubts I had while undergoing this process. She made it so easier and better despite the stress you undergo with this whole process. It was really sad on the day when I graduated from her facility. She also showed her concern and asked me to give updates on how our pregnancy has been progressing.

Be prepared with the list of questions that you would want to ask the doctor and be informed. Have trust in this doctor !! My husband and I were extremely happy with the whole process.

I was given Lupron, Menopur and Gonal-f and did a fresh embryo transfer. After the transfer, I continued with the progesterone in oil injection until 8 weeks before moving to ob/gyn.

Be prepared for the costs to be higher considering the standards and also compared to other facilities, the entire process is slightly higher priced. But you get more than what you pay for.

Dr. Alyaa Elassar solved my inquires with her expertise, which helped me to know my body better and also saved a lot of unnecessary spending, like Hysteroscope. What is the most important is that I finally get pregnant after 3 times IUI failure and twice embryos transfer failure in other clinic. So Dr. Alyaa Elassar is highly recommended.

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Without PGS, almost 20,000 dollars per cycle.

Since my husband and I would like to have two babies, we asked our doctor to transferred two embryos.

Dr Elassar was open and honest all the way. She explained the process with patience. She was compassionate but also matter of fact. Her staff were helpful and the facility was very nice. I would recommend her to others seeking treatment.

Ask many questions, and you will receive the guidance you need.

IVF cycle

Out of pocket for IVF cycle and medicines. Insurance covered some medical costs associated with bloodwork, etc.

We are so beyond grateful for Dr Elassar and her amazing staff at NYCIVF. They have been an absolute dream to work with and so helpful in every aspect of our treatment. I went to Dr Elassar very confused and anxious about my PCOS and our chances to conceive. She explained more to me in my initial consultation than numerous doctors have in the 4 years since my diagnosis. She was very clear in her plan of action for us which was hugely comforting and I can honestly say I felt so well cared for and safe in her hands. Dr Elassar never made us feel anything other than hopeful and she was always available to us on email if and when we needed which is an amazing comfort during an extremely stressful time. Dr Elassar was kind and compassionate and very reassuring throughout our whole journey. We are so so happy we found her and so grateful for the little life she has helped us create...there really are not enough ways to say thank you for what she has done for us. Our experience with Dr Elassar has been amazing and we will always be thankful for the help and guidance she provided us.

Run to her...now!

Our first cycle started with 50mg of clomid taken for 5 days and then TI. I have problems ovulating and clomid was very successful in that it stimulated 3/4 eggs that first cycle and I did in fact ovulate. It didn’t however result in pregnancy, most likely due to timing. Our second cycle was also 50mg of clomid however I did not seem to respond as quickly this cycle. After a consultation with the Dr, we decided to do a second round of clomid within the same cycle and sure enough I responded. We then followed with a trigger shot and IUI insemmination. After a week I returned for a progesterone test and after another week a pregnancy test. I am so thankful to say that this cycle worked and I am currently pregnant with our first baby.

The costs associated with our treatment where standard for NYC. We had no issues with any treatment costs. We paid for every treatment ourselves without insurance and they were very upfront about the costs and we spoke in depth with the financial coordinator of the practice after the initial consultation. Everything was outline clearly for us and there were no additional costs.

Dr. Elassar has a lot of heart when it comes to her practice. She works so hard to provide each of her patients with attention, care and thoughtfulness, while aiming to get them the results they are after.

Be ready to commit to a plan of action and to follow through!

Dr. Elassar personalized my treatment and modified the protocol to my specific needs (i.e. low responder with potential egg quality issues). The results (# of eggs retrieved and fertilized and transferred) were more successful than previous attempts with another facility.

Cycle 1 w. Dr. Elassar: Menopur, Follistim, Ganirelix, before retrieval, progesterone before transfer Cycle 2 w. Dr. Elassar: Lupron, Menopur, Follistim, Ganirelix, testosterone before retrieval, progesterone / endometrin before transfer Had retrieval and transfer cycles previously with another facility.

Costs were direct and upfront, on par with other clinics in NYC.

Yes, I was aware of the trade-offs of a single embryo vs multiple embryo transfer

I really trusted Dr Elassar and always felt she had my best interest at heart. I really connected with her. The only feedback was that she never picked up the phone to give me bad news which I would have preferred over email communication.

Make sure you have tried to get pregnant naturally before pursuing IVF. Don’t make assumptions based on test results.

I don’t remember

I had insurance but there were out of pocket costs for transfers

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Dr. Elassar is so incredibly knowledgeable, personable, compassionate and has a kind, warm heart and a beautiful soul. She is an excellent communicator and makes sure you understand everything along the way. She made the IVF journey seem almost easy. She set my medication dosage exactly as was needed in order to stimulate me appropriately in order to get the most mature eggs, but was very careful to never overstimulate me and put my health at risk. Because of this I always truly felt great. She monitored me extremely carefully from the beginning to the end of my IVF journey constantly. She was always kind, came in with a smile and was always uplifting and reassuring. She was always immediately available by email to answer any and all questions day or night. When we found out that I was pregnant after my first embryo transfer, she was genuinely so happy for me, like a best friend would be. I could not have ever imagined such a wonderful and pleasant experience. Dr. Elassar was truly God sent. My husband and I will be forever grateful to her.

I would advise any prospective patient of Dr. Elassar to never hesitate for one second on using her as a doctor for all of their fertility needs.

eSet was the choice my husband and I both had decided on ourselves. However, based on my young age (30) and good health, eSET happened to be the recommended approach for embryo transfer for someone in my age/health demographic as well.

Dr Elassar is a wonderful person. She is intelligent, thoughtful, funny, and very focused on the project at hand. I felt completely confident in her abilities and totally comfortable in her care. I wasn't even sure I was going to proceed with anything when I first met her - I was just checking it out - but she was so clearly trustworthy and smart that when she recommended that I go forward, I decided to do it, and I only started liking her more from then. She is gracious, warm, and thoughtful. She is direct and always compassionate. She clearly loves what she does.

Don't be intimidated by the office. You'll develop very personal relationships with the people here.

Dr. Elassar just did a pretty basic egg retrieval for me. She tested my blood to decide how much hormones to give me, gave me the minimum always. Oh! She put me on birth control for a couple days before I began the process because I was going to get my period over Thanksgiving and that way I could still do the retrieval in November. Then she allowed me to stay on the birth control for a few more days because I had an event I wanted to go to on the projected day of the harvest. She was totally non-judgmental about that and what it was (it was a holiday party, so pretty frivolous to be moving a medical procedure because of, but she didn't ask and I'm sure would have said that was a perfectly fine reason). Once i went on the hormones, it was pretty simple. I just went and checked in with her every couple days so she could make sure things were going according to plan. She always tested my blood and then adjusted the dose. She was available on email all the time, even when I wrote to her at 7pm with an inquiry and needed a response by 7:30pm because of the timing. So we did those hormones for the expected number of days and then she gave me the final triggering injection I needed to take. I did that, then she checked on me again and gave me a little more of that one. Then she did the procedure the next day! I had fewer side effects than I expected on every leg of the process, especially the recovery from the procedure. Results were good. I got a bunch of eggs and then most of them ended up successfully frozen (more than 20)

$8000 plus drop costs

I think of Dr. Elassar and wonder how I got so lucky and fortunate to have met someone like her. Dr. Elassar has truly been a godsend during an extremely difficult time. My husband and I decided to see Dr. Elassar after we were trying to get pregnant for 6 months with no luck. For those thinking of doing IVF, I can't stress enough how important it is to find a doctor like Dr. Elassar. From our first meeting, she put forth a plan of action to get us pregnant that I not only felt completely comfortable with, but also that I was a part of planning. Dr. Elassar answered all of my questions and assured me every single step of the way. She was available on email ALL THE TIME. I'm not exaggerating - I would email her at 8pm and two hours later, I would have a response from her. It was incredible and not something that many doctors do, let alone reproductive endocrinologists who have a number of patients who I'm sure are constantly emailing her. As her patient, I only saw Dr. Elassar every step of the way. She was the one who had to call me when my first transfer didn't work, a devastating time. She shared in my grief but more importantly, she never lost faith that I would be pregnant. Our next transfer a month later, it was her optimism and dedication to me that kept me hopeful. The transfer was a success and we are currently 13 weeks pregnant. I "graduated" from Dr. Elassar's office a few weeks ago and still miss them. Incredibly, Dr. Elassar reached out to me just a week ago to see how I was doing. It made me cry and think of how truly lucky I am to have her in my life. For you women about to go through this difficult journey. please know that having Dr. Elassar in your corner will make you stronger, make the process more bearable, and should there be some heart ache involved as there was in mine, you will have someone in your corner to cry with you but to also pick you up and moving toward your ultimate goal. Your questions will be answered, you will be seen my one of the most thorough doctors I have ever met, and more importantly, you will feel like this is someone who is by your side during what can be a challenging time. You will not regret choosing her. Best of luck to all you ladies starting this journey. My heart is with you.

Go see her sooner rather than later if you are older. Don't wait for an OB doctor to refer you. I listened to my acupuncturist and went straight to Dr. Elassar once I couldn't get pregnant after 6 months. I am 35 years old and didn't want to wait a full year before seeing an RE.

She was out of network for me, so it was $8000 total for the procedure. My meds were covered by our insurance.

Productive and pleasant. I have fully trusted Dr. Elassar since our first appointment. I am 40 years old and from the very beginning we wasted no time. It took just one full cycle to complete all the tests -- from genetics to ruling out fibrosis and all the hormonal levels -- and assess our chances. We had no major issues. We started the IVF stims with my second cycle. I got pregnant on the third transfer after one failed fresh and one failed FET cycle. Overall experience took less than six months from the first introductory appointment in March to graduation in the beginning of September. I only saw Dr. Elassar during my appointments and she was constantly available by email, including late hours and weekends to answer all your questions and adjust treatment as necessary. She checked if I received all the right meds from the online pharmacy by emailing me and asking me to open the box and list all the meds that I got before starting the stims. The doctor was there when my first two transfers failed to support me. I was completely devastated and emotionally destroyed when that happened - Dr Elassar made me believe again that it could still happen -- and voila -- it did! She never promises anything unrealistic, just simply states the facts and gives you a clear assessment of your chances. I have a very demanding job -- I start at 7am and it is extremely difficult to step out of the office even at a lunch break. But Dr. Elassar made it work adjusting her schedule to fit mine, which sounded next to impossible to me before we started the treatment -- but somehow it worked. Above all -- Dr. Elassar is just a great professional and a very pleasant person.

Prepare for your first visit - send all your period calendars, previous test results etc. to the doctor ahead of your first visit. She will review them before your first appointment and you will have a more productive conversation right from the start. Prepare for all your visits. The Doctor sees all her patients herself and is extremely busy - you will make it a better experience for both of you if you come prepared. State you time and money limitations right from the start - both the Doctor and you need to set expectations clear right from the start.

1st fresh cycle: Short (flare/microflare) agonist protocol - Lupron, Follistim (300iu), Menopur (150iu) -- failed. FET cycle - estadiol both orally and vaginally -- failed. 2nd fresh cycle - Antagonist protocol - Follistim (300iu), Menopur (150iu), Ganirelix -- success.

Dr. Elassar was out of network. I have Anthem BCBS. So I had to pay around $10k out of pocket. Insurance paid the rest and I exhausted all of $30k life-time maximum insurance funds available for IVF. Meds are entirely covered by insurance with no limit.

Quality over Quantity

She is very direct and no-nonsense, which we very much appreciated during the stressful experience that is seeing a fertility doctor. She always has time to answer questions and was available whenever we needed her outside of our appointments. She explains everything clearly so that we could evaluate what the best course of action was for us, and while she makes her opinions known about what course of action to take, she is clear that the choice is always in our hands. I found her to be an excellent doctor and a lovely person.

She may seem a bit brusque the first time you meet her, but she is very caring and compassionate. Don't let her direct manner turn you away- she is the best!

We were diagnosed with unexplained fertility, and because we were older (I was 36 and my husband was 49), she encouraged us to go straight to IVF using an agonist cycle.

I believe the total cost was between $10,000 and $15,000.

She strongly recommended single embryo transfer because of the risk of complications from multiples, but was clear that the decision was in our hands.

My obgyn recommend her after 6 failed clomid cycles. At our first visit with Dr Elassar she went through our history and was very thorough. After required tests, she recommended IVF and explained th reasons for it. She helped me get ready for the IVF cycle by adjusting my thyroid medication. I was well informed throughout the process and grateful for her kindness in the moments I was feeling a bit scared/insecure.

Don't be afraid to ask questions and trust her.

We did 1cycle of IVF IMSI with own eggs. I don't recall the dosage but used Follistim, Menopur, Ganirelix for stimulation. My body was a bit stubborn and she adjusted the dosage and medication accordingly.

Appointments were frequent and had no issues with scheduling. They work with your schedule

We put 2 embryos in and glad we did so. Currently 2nd trimester

The road of infertility can be rocky and we may not get the results we desire on the first try. Dr. Elassar was very clear about this and to keep a positive attitude. I am currently pregnant after a second IVF cycle (third transfer) and it was hard to try again on the second cycle with the same doctor as you think "am I doing everything I can to make this situation work..." but her one-to-one attention at a smaller clinic has been the best experience I can ask for. I see her, I can call or email her and I get her responding to me any time I have a question. I also have some thyroid issues that have come to light over the first trimester and even though I had "graduated" to my OB, Dr. Elassar still made herself available to me to answer questions and to validate medication decisions as well as she checked in on me to make sure I was doing okay. I very much appreciate her commitment to my case and her warmth in her bedside manner.

I feel that Dr. Elassar was aggressive in the schedule but she did ask us how serious we were about getting pregnant this year. We were serious and she pushed us to try again when we had a negative result (chemical on the first transfer and negative pregnancy test the second transfer). Her encouragement to try again can sometimes be a lot when you are emotional but I am glad to have her pushing towards the goal that I set for myself. I appreciate her in so many way. I think she is an excellent doctor and guided me through a really difficult process.

I have unexplained fertility. There weren't a lot of obvious roadblocks. The first cycle we used lupron, gonal f and menopur. I had a good number from the retrieval 7+ and was able to transfer 1 blastocyst (ended in chemical) and freeze two (frozen transfer the next month with a negative pregnancy test). The second cycle, we substituted lupron for ganrilex. They were only able to harvest 3 eggs and I only had 1 good (grade A) embryo and one mediocre embryo. I am currently 12.5 weeks pregnant with a singleton.

There are co-payments along with the billing to insurance for doctor's office visits. There was a fee to the doctor for the stimulation process, there is a fee to the clinic for the retrieval and there is a fee to the clinic for the handling and freezing of extra eggs not used in the transfer.

We came to Dr. Elassar after visiting some of the bigger hospital affiliated clinics (NYU, Cornell, etc). Our level of stress immediately went way down. Dr. Elassar took time to understand our situation and explain every detail thoroughly. She clearly thinks a mile a minute but is willing to walk you through her thought process, and her approach is tailored to each couple. The bottom line is, we were able to achieve pregnancy after our first IVF implantation. After trying for so long (including 7 IUIs) it felt like a miracle. We can't recommend Dr Elassar more highly. Don't be put off by the shared reception area. It's a small operation but that's how she works best. We (almost) always were seen by Dr Elassar every step of the way, which mattered a lot to us. She answers email and phone calls directly. She is a blessing.

Don't be put off by the shared reception area or the small operation. It's professional and clean and not stressful.

In general, we were given choices for the protocols but the doctor was careful to assess progress and change protocols as needed. In the end, we were able to use fewer drugs and did not have to use injected progesterone treatments.

$14,000 for the IVF. All the medications were around $4,000.

Because NYCIVF is a two partner office, and there is really no other medical staff there, your primary doctor is also the person who discusses things with you, does your bloodwork, does your ultrasound, and everything in between. In addition to having this one caregiver, dr. Elassar also manages to remember your name, what you like to do, and what your partner is up to, which makes the whole objectively rather unenjoyable experience of being poked and proded much more bearable. I never felt like I was in a factory farm.

don't recall the dosages, but the following medications were used: Follistim, Ganirelex, Menopur

Monitoring appointments were done by the same doctor who saw me for all other needs, and as such it was as enjoyable as those things can possibly get. Other than an occasional waiting room reading time, since, again, it's one doctor handling everything, rather than a whole team.

it ended up being partially covered by health insurance, which significantly helped with medication costs. i believe my out of pocket costs were under $12k for two cycles of ivf.