Caleb Kallen

Dr. Kallen is an incredibly talented, kind, compassionate doctor. He is up-to-date on the latest studies and values his patient's input. He takes the time to educate, inform and listen to all of his patients. He works seamlessly with his nursing and clinical staff, which you can tell through their communication. While he has a very calm and serious demeanor, he is incredibly caring and compassionate. When we received less than great news, he was the one who called us personally to share that news. He listened to all of our concerns and worries and thoughtfully shared his thoughts, while never once pushing us in any direction. I fully trust Dr. Kallen and know that I am in good hands.

Look no further! We came to Dr. Kallen as a second opinion and knew we'd found the right doctor upon our first consultation with him. Bring any and all questions and concerns to him and he will guide you through everything.

Since we had had diagnostic testing done at our previous clinic only a few months prior to coming to Dr. Kallen, we did not have to repeat our genetic blood screening. (I was not a carrier for any conditions the test screened for). My husband repeated his semen analysis and completed an infectious disease blood panel. I also repeated a complete blood work up. Prior to beginning our IVF cycle, I had an HSG done, a saline sonogram, and mock embryo transfer. This was our first IVF cycle, and we followed the Antagonist IVF Protocol. This entailed being on an active birth control pill for 21 days which commenced on the first day of my menstrual cycle. A few days before injections were to start, I came in for a baseline ultrasound and bloodwork. Once they verified that my levels were where they needed to be, 3 days later I started my injectible hormones. I began on 225 IU of Gonal F and 150 IU of Menopur daily. I came in 3 days later for my first monitoring appointment and my dosage of Gonal F was increased to 300 IU per day. Monitoring appointments became more frequent and my dosage of both Gonal F and Menopur increased. Once my follicles were large enough, I began Cetrotide and came in for monitoring almost daily. Then we got the go-ahead and exactly 36 hours before egg retrieval, we used an HCG injection. Egg retrieval was successful and we waited to see how many made it to Day 5 blastocyst. Since we were doing PGS testing, our blastocysts were biopsied and sent to the lab and embryos were frozen. PGS test results took about 2 weeks to come back, and in the meantime I waited for my next menstrual cycle to begin active birth control pills again to begin my frozen embryo transfer cycle. After we received our normal embryo results, I also began Estrace oral pills, three times daily. Then I began progesterone in oil injections five days before our frozen embryo transfer. Once the embryo was transferred, I continued both Estrace and PIO until 10 weeks gestation.

There are global fees for procedures. Global fees for IVF is based on maternal age and they have 3 packages - one cycle, multi-cycle, Shared Risk money-back.

Dr. Kallen prefers eSET, as there are now studies that show that transferring multiples does not increase the chances of success, rather the chances of multiples which is risky. He explained the risk of multiples and the probability of an embryo splitting. Due to our age (25 and 26) and this being our first pregnancy, he highly advised going with an eSET. We were planning on doing an eSET anyway.

Our experience with Dr. Kallen was incredibly disheartening and upsetting. There was no personal approach to my treatment, he never suggested running any additional testing and he jumped right to the most expensive treatment options. He was incredibly pushy and I would never trust him as my doctor. We only had two appointments with Dr. Kallen, our initial consult and the treatment consult, both of which were done over Telehealth calls. After receiving what seemed like good news from our nurses, our treatment consult felt incredibly misleading and confusing. Dr. Kallen ran through our testing quickly, said that everything looked okay except my low AMH levels and then immediately went on to explain why IVF was necessary. He spent a majority of the appointment running through all of the financial packages that SGF offers for IVF, which felt like a business push instead of a focused/personal treatment plan for us. He ended the appointment by saying that our numbers were extremely concerning, which contradicted what he said at the beginning of the appointment, leaving us extremely confused and upset. My husband and I decided to get a second opinion with MLF where they ran additional mid-cycle testing, which Dr. Kallen never suggested or mentioned. This testing led them to find out that I am not ovulating, a situation that can be fixed with medication. For comparison, MLF has NEVER even talked to us about IVF, as it would be the absolute last resort if the less intense treatment options do not work. Because Dr. Kallen never suggested running these additional tests, there is a possibility that we could have put ourselves through extremely expensive fertility treatments and I could have put my body though something that was completely unnecessary, which is the most frustrating and upsetting part of our experience with Dr. Kallen.

Be an advocate for your own health. If something doesn't feel right, seek a second opinion. But overall, I would not recommend Dr. Kallen as a doctor to anyone.

Dr. Kallen suggested that we could try IUI, but focused on the fact that the success rates are not high. He mostly pushed for IVF.

N/A

Dr. Kallen is a very smart man. He knew from the very beginning what my problem conceiving was. He put me on the perfect protocol and even though I wasn't very sure at first I trusted him and sure enough everything turned out exactly as he expected it to. I felt confident I was under the right care from the very beginning. He is an excellent doctor!

Trust him, he knows what he's doing.

He put me on the antagonist protocol. Started me off on a very low dose of gonal and menopur as he expected my ovaries to react well. They weren't initially responding the way he expected them to so he monitored me very closely and adjusted my doses as needed. I stimmed for about 13 days and ended up with 18 retrieved, 17 mature, 12 fertilized and 9 embryos. He was very confident that even though my ovaries didn't respond the way we initially thought the were going to we would still end up with good embryos (which we did!) I'm very happy I trusted him as we were very happy with the results.

insurance coverage

His stance on single embryo transfers vs multiple embryo transfers is very clear and understandable. One healthy baby is the goal! If single transfers aren't working then he isn't opposed to transferring more than one.

Dr. Kallen is very no-nonsense and clinical. While I don't expect every doctor to have a wonderful, cheerful personality, his is less than ideal for women going through the very emotional and stressful infertility process. Unless you ask a specific question he does not volunteer information. Each monitoring appointment was very quick and he offered no opinion as to how I was progressing - I had to wait until my nurse called with blood test results to get more information on what was seen on the ultrasound. I also learned that he is pretty conservative/traditional in his approach. I specifically had to ask about other treatments I had read about that may be better suited for my diagnosis. I didn't feel like he was up on the latest studies or open to alternative treatments (even ones that are commonly used by other clinics). These factors ultimately lead to us finding another doctor/clinic.

If personality is not important, and standard, by-the-book treatment is ok with you, Dr. Kallen is just fine. If you want more personalized care look elsewhere.

I was diagnosed with diminished ovarian reserve during my first appointment. Dr. Kallen told us that IVF would be our best option, but also said we could consider IUI - ultimately the decision was ours. We ultimately moved forward with IVF and did a pretty standard antagonist protocol - Gonal-F, Menopur and Cetrotide. I was considered a poor responder, and Dr. Kallen pushed more meds at the end of the cycle to try to produce adequately-sized follicles. We ended up with 5 eggs, 3 mature. All 3 fertilized but arrested growth on day 5 post-retrieval.

Medications were approximately $19,000 ($15k luckily covered by insurance). I think the medical procedures (monitoring appts, egg retrieval, fertilization/embryologist) were around $15,000 but pretty much all was covered by insurance so I'm not sure of the total.

Generally recommended single embryo transfer, though we never made it to that stage.

Caleb treated me as if I was money. Not a person. It upsets me because he don’t work around nor does he help with the situation. He basically makes you feel like your worthless. Thank god he won’t be my doctor anymore

Make sure he don’t treat you like money. Make sure when your paying cash for everything you accually get the time you payed for and the resolves of the work you have done

Ivf. He says clamping the tubes before transfer. That’s all he told me

He wants to me pay 30,000$ for 6 cycles and that’s with out medication. Very crazy . That’s not the price for all the lab work and stuff before .

I really have nothing. He treated me so horrible and I can’t wait to go to cny fertility

Dr. Kallen does not have good communication skills and struggles giving individualized protocols and recommendations (especially for DOR). He does not stay up to date on infertility research and studies. As his background is in Academia, he likes to lecture about topics he feels comfortable with. If you ask questions (especially about IVF) he does not respond to them directly. It took him two weeks to answer very standard questions about the quality of the lab and even then his answers were very vague (I had been a patiend of his for 4 months at this point). During my time being treated by him, I felt I was just a number. At one point during a medicated cycle, he recommended I trigger 4 days earlier than I had in the previous cycle (the follicle sizes were the same as the previous cycle) which would mean I would only trigger with one mature follicle. I challenged his recommendation and triggered a few days later to give the other three follicles a chance to mature (that cycle resulted in pregnancy). When I asked why he had decided on the random date for the trigger, he did not have a good reason and told me it's ok to trigger later. It seems like he just didn't care when I triggered. After speaking with other women and seeing other doctors, I now know that my treatment by Dr. Kallenn was subpar.

I do not recommend this doctor

We did 3 medicated cycles with clomid and Gonal F with timed intercourse. We had wanted to do IVF right away but we had a bad experience w/ Dr. Kallen, so we moved fertility clinics.

My insurance covered most but I needed to meet my deductible. I've spent about 3k on testing, 3 medicated cycles monitorring and the medications

If PGS testing, Dr. Kallen recommends just one embryo transferred.

At our first appointment I thought that Dr. Kallen pushed doing IVF a little too hard, but once I explained I wasn't ready for that he was immediately okay with trying another IUI. He explained the process he wanted to try and what results he expected. When things didn't work out as planned, he reassured me that things could still work out, and if they didn't, we could change our course for the next cycle without moving onto IVF right away. He was personable and honest and I appreciated the fact that he did all of my ultrasounds and the actual IUI.

Tell him what you're comfortable doing. Be honest.

My first cycle with Dr. Kallen for my IUI I took Clomid 100mg CD 3-7 and a 75mg follistim injection on CD 7. I started estrace vaginally twice a day on CD 8 because my last cycle with Clomid it thinned my lining and the follistim and estrace were to make sure my lining was where it needed to be. I ended up having only one follicle but it was a big one. I used ovidrel and 2 days later had my IUI. I'm still in the TWW.

I have a $70 copay every time I walk in the door except for bloodwork. I'm unsure of the actual cost of the IUI because I haven't been billed for it yet. They provided my follistim injection for free as long as I used their pharmacy for the ovidrel.

Dr Kallen does allow you to email and he will often return messages directly by phone if it is something pressing or important. He is very much a scientist and thinks about things in terms of percentages. Sometimes I think he knows what we should do next, but almost involves us too much in the decisions, but I am not sure if that is because both my fiancé and I are also doctors!

Be very very direct with your questions and most important ask at every step how you are expected to feel. Also, ask what is the "usual" experience for a woman with a similar health profile. I was surprised by how I felt after egg retrieval and also how many embryos actually are mature, fertilize, and then grow! There is a drop off at every step and no one explained that to us! We will know better now if we have to do more rounds!

It was absolutely wonderful to have Dr Kallen as my doctor. He is very sincere and my experience with him was that he took time to explain every detail of the IVF treatment and also give confidence throughout my journey

It is best to ask questions through the entire process if you think something is unclear or not explained.

Mostly covered by insurance.

Dr Kallen recommended single embryo transfer and also provided more details on why it is more favourable.

Dr. Kallen was always available when we needed him. When we had questions he would respond. Furthermore, I loved his direct approach, and encouraging words. We traveled between two clinics-one close to our home and the other close to my work. 90% of my visits was handled by Dr. Kallen, which is impressive given the number of appointments I needed and the travel between the two clinics. Additionally, Dr. Kallen did not rush our process. He was careful and thoughtful. For example, after my retrieval and genetic testing, I was left with one embryo. The original plan was for me to begin the transfer process of our one embryo. Instead, doctor Kallen decided that I should engage the medication as if transferring the embryo, but instead they would take a biopsy of my endometrium lining to determine whether or not the medication protocol (which originally is based on the average woman's needs) was appropriate for my body. This was a difficult decision because it met that I had to give myself injections and wait an extra month for the actual transfer. The biopsy returned indicating that my medication protocol needed to be different from the average woman. At that moment, I felt most grateful to Dr. Kallen for encouraging us to follow the medication/biopsy process before the medication/transfer process. The extra month was well worth the wait. Our lone embryo was transferred resulting in a positive pregnancy test. Dr. Kallen performed the transfer with optimism and was the one to call with the positive pregnancy test. I was surprised and afraid at the same time to hear his voice and relieved to hear his good news. He sounded as happy as we were, which affirmed my belief that we were all working as a team. He gave all the credit to us. I know that without Dr. Kallen, my positive mindset and our good results would not have been possible. He always helped me to feel powerful and in control. For example, he often told us that we were doing great and that he is impressed with us. This positive reinforcement helped me to remain sane throughout this journey.

Trust him.

My issue with fertility is blocked tubes-one resulting in removal of the right tube due to ectopic pregnancy the year before. I began with medication protocol: July: Birth Control for a set number of day and daily injections in my belly (Gonal F & Menopur) after blood work and ultra sound, retrieval was scheduled. Once eggs were retrieved this was the most challenging time for me. Waiting for results regarding the growth and development of the eggs, then waiting for the genetic testing results. After it all, i had one Embryo which developed for 5 days before freezing. The next phase began medication for biopsy of my endometrium lining. The protocol began in August including: Birth Control, Estrace tab 2 mg PO 3 for approximately two weeks, blood work/ultrasound, first day of Estrace, Progesterone in oil 50mg 1 mL in AM and PM, continued with Estrace and Progestrone shots in the buttock for 5 days. Biopsy followed. September we followed the same protocol adding an extra day of Estrace and Progestrone as the biopsy indicated I needed. Embryo transfer followed. October 10th blood test scheduled giving us a positive result. We continued with Shady Grove for weekly ultra sounds until 10 weeks. I then moved to my OB/GYN doctors for the remainder of my pregnancy.

30,000

Dr. Kallen believed strongly that we only transfer one embryo for our first cycle. It would not have mattered for us anyway because I only had one embryo to transfer.

Dr. Kallen can be seen as a man of few words as I've seen in other reviews, and I agree with that. However, what he says is full of substance and gets to the heart of the issue. He was compassionate when things were tough, and honest about my obstacles. After 2 previous ectopics (separated by a successful IUI pregnancy), he was very clear with me that IVF would be the best option, and that IUI worried him because of the risk to my health with another ectopic. That made me feel more secure making the difficult decision to go forward with IVF even though we get pregnant with one IUI cycle before. I had an extreme curve in my cervix from a previous C section that made the egg transfer extremely difficult. He was honest and said that it would be really difficult, maybe impossible to get into my uterus with the eggs. That scared me, but I felt it prepared me for the possibility of not being able to get the egg into my uterus; a possibility I had never thought of. I could tell he was really focused on figuring it out, coming to my ultrasounds and trying to figure out what was going on. I felt like he really worked hard on helping me as an individual with specific needs.

nothing. He was great and I would highly recommend him.

I think our costs were about 20,000 for one egg retrieval and 2 transfers. Our insurance covered all of this. We got PGS testing free because we were part of a study. The egg freezing was around $4,000 I think, and maybe another $1000 for medications that weren't covered.

I asked Dr. about the idea of transferring multiple embryos. Dr. Kallen said it would not increase my chances, and explained the increased risks of multiples. Using one egg a time would make sure each embryo had it's best shot. This was my understanding of it. He sometimes would say, "If you were my sister, my advice would be..." That made sense to me, and I it made me feel like he was giving me real advice and feedback rather than just numbers and science. He did also mention that I could do 2 embryos if I wanted to, if I would be jumping at the idea of twins.

Dr. Kallen helped us get pregnant on the first cycle of fertility treatment with non-invasive treatment. I was thrilled to have such fast results. I think Dr. Kallen really cares about his patients, and clearly knows the research and medicine behind fertility care. Sometimes, I felt that I had trouble communicating with him during appointments.

Go into it with an open mind and remember that he is there to solely help you get pregnant.

We used Chlomid, hormones, trigger shot, with timid intercourse. We got pregnant on the first cycle of treatment.

Costs were reasonable. Our insurance helped pay for a significant portion of the treatment. We were left with reasonable costs. I would say total we spent less than $1000 including all of the testing, doctors appointments, ultrasounds.

Dr. Kallen explained our options for fertility treatment and respected our choice to try the least invasive option first.

Initially When I Read The Reviews Online For All Of The Fertility Doctors At Shady Grove Fertility I Remember Whispering "Please Don't Let Me Get Dr. Kallen, He Sounds So Mean And Cold". I Scheduled My Consultation And Sure Enough I Was Assigned To Dr. Kallen. I Was So Worried But I Went In With An Optimistic Approach And Believed That Maybe All Of Those Negative Reviewers Had Him Wrong. In My Experience, He Is Very Straightforward, A Little Cold Or Serious, But When He's Being Sweet Or Warm You Have To Know How To Read It. I Met With Him Maybe 2-3 Times In Person; For The Consultation, For The OAR, & Finally For The Ultrasound To Check How Many Sacs After A BFP, And Once Over The Phone To Discuss Test Results. He Did Not Perform My IUI Which I Was Shocked To Find Out When 2 Women Walked Into The Room But I Understand He Can't Be Everywhere At Once. He Explained Everything As It Appeared And Let Me Know Whenever There Was A Small Moment Of Concern. Although He Seems Like He Could Use A Big Hug Or A Few Laughs, Dr. Kallen Was Exactly What Was Best For My Journey In The End.

Please Be Open-Minded With Dr. Kallen's Personality. He Shows His Warmth And Passion In Other Forms. Don't Expect For Him To Make You Laugh Or Smile But To Assist In Making Your Dreams Of A Family A Reality.

My Treatment Strategy Was A Natural IUI Cycle Using Donor Sperm From A Sperm Bank. I Had Recently Went Into Preterm Labor With Twins And Was No Longer Involved With The Father. I Did Various Forms Of Bloodwork, Dr. Kallen Checked Out My Egg Count, I Ordered 2 Vials From California Cryobank, I Checked Ovulation Using One Digital Ovulation Kit And Strips To Compare, Once I Got My LH Surge I Was Scheduled For My IUI The Next Morning, Started Vaginal Progesterone The Following Morning For Whatever Reason I Was Not Given An Explanation, Got My BFP 2 Weeks Later, SGF Checked That My HCG Levels Were Rising, And Then Brought Me In To Count The Sacs.

The Costs Was All Out Of Pocket For Me. It Was A Lot Cheaper Than I Expected. My Insurance Was Not Accepted. Discounts Not Really Explained Came In Handy. I Filled Out Paperwork With A Financial Counselor Of Sorts And NEVER HEARD FROM HER. She Is A Terrible! Doesn't Answer Phone Calls, Emails, Or Voicemails. The Sperm Donor Vials Were The Most Expensive From California Cryobank.