Evelyn Mok-Lin

I have been seeing Dr. Mok-Lin for several reasons since 2015. If it wasn’t for her I wouldn’t have had my boy, period. He is a toddler now and I will be forever grateful to her and her team. Dr. Mok-Lin performed surgery on me to remove a septate uterus. It was a long and complicated process but she finally fixed it all and I became pregnant naturally. Now, due to unexplained infertility I completed 4 IUI’s and I got pregnant twice with a miscarriage and a cervical ectopic pregnancy. With this last one, which I found out during a routine ultrasound, I had to go through the embryo removal procedure that same moment. I was alone and terrified and my husband on a work trip. When Dr. Mok-Lin showed up in the room I was relieved and knew she would take care of me and everything would be fine. And it was! Now, I am in the process of IVF with FET. Dr. Mok-Lin has said she plans to do the transfer and I’m very excited for that. Because of the time she’s spent with me explaining the process I know what to expect but when I have questions, I send her an email and she responds clearly. Dr. Evelyn Mok-Lin is smart and knowledgeable, she listens and tries to please but only if she knows it is the best option for her patient. I have 100% confidence in her.

That they may not always see her during appointments but she will be behind every decision concerning the patient.

On the first round of IUI I took 100mg of clomid. I produced too many eggs so the procedure had to be cancelled. The other 4 rounds, 50mg of clomid and got pregnant twice but miscarried and had an cervical ectopic pregnancy. For egg retrieval, I only did it once using Cetrotide, Gonal F and Lupron. I can’t remember dosage :/

Due to the anatomy of my uterus and my age, Dr. Mok-Lin will only do a single embryo transfer and I am okay with that. There is no option for me to risk having multiples.

Dr. Mok-Lin has been my doctor for years, and I think that in itself says something. She always gave me the detailed facts and her advice when I would ask for her opinion. I am a detailed oriented person, and she would always help me understand the processes as they were happening. I couldn't be happier with her as a doctor and will hopefully return soon to see her again!

A close friend of mine did become a patient of hers and I didn't feel I needed to give her any advise.

I would always ask Dr. Mok-Lin a million questions. And she would always answer them with a lot of insight and expertise. Every time she would explain to me how things would go or her feelings on something, she was always spot on. There were never any surprises, and I always felt very prepared mentally for what was to come.

I went through so many cycles and different treatments over the course of 4-5 years, I honestly couldn't start to remember

Her explanation for why they did multiple with my own eggs and only one with the donor made sense. And both times she was right!

As a lesbian couple looking to start our family, we sought out a fertility practice that would not only respect us, but also would be knowledgeable about our desired path, specifically reciprocal IVF. Their team clearly has experience working with same-sex couples and other than discussions about reciprocal IVF, we felt like we were treated as any other patient. Dr. Mok-Lin and the entire team at UCSF Center for Reproductive Health (Mission Bay) was extraordinary and we could not speak more highly of our experience. From the outset, Dr. Mok-Lin took the time to review with us our options, was candid and forthright about the challenges of IVF, and was willing to talk in-depth about genetic testing. She keenly understood our desire to pursue reciprocal IVF especially as we contemplated our long-term plans for two children with each of us carrying one of them. She explained things in a way that was easy to understand, but never once over-simplified or glossed over anything. We felt free to ask any question and to dive into any of the details. We never felt rushed in any of our conversations and she made time to engage with us both in-person as well as over email and the phone. And while our conversations with Dr. Mok-Lin included all kinds of information and data, they were also filled with so much warmth and compassion and genuine interest in us. When we were ready to begin the process again for our second child, we returned to UCSF (despite having moved to the East Coast) because we felt so confident and comfortable with Dr. Mok-Lin and her team. And once again, our experience was outstanding. And this time around, Dr. Mok-Lin and her team corresponded both before our transfer and after our transfer with our East Coast doctors, creating a seamless experience for us. When our second son was born, one of the first pictures went to Dr. Mok-Lin.

With any first appointment in a fertility setting, bring your questions and concerns and be willing to have an open and transparent conversation. You'll find Dr. Mok-Lin will listen carefully and be willing to answer your questions directly.

Dr. Mok-Lin was extremely welcoming & respectful of us -- and even more importantly really understood our desire to pursue reciprocal IVF so that our (hopeful at the time) two children would share a 100% genetic bond and especially that their genetic bond would not just be from an anonymous sperm donor.

Sperm purchased via California Cryobank, shipped directly to UCSF and the process was seamless.

She is pretty dead-pan and blunt when explaining the process and expectations. This may be a great style for some patients, but I have preferred other doctors in this practice that are more warm and compassionate. I was also disappointed that she didn’t try to fine-tune anything about my cycles. We did exactly the same thing 5 cycles and she didn’t want to change anything. I switched to a different doctor at UCSF for this current cycle and she is much more communicative and has tweaked my medications several times. My new doctor has also called me personally when she’s changing something or to see how I was feeling after my retrieval.

Don’t be shy about emailing the nurses for any questions or needs you have. The nurses are your direct line to the doctor and no question is too small to ask

I have severely diminished ovarian reserve and have been doing “mini IVF” using an antagonist (Femara or Clomid) and minimal stimulation once the follicles are bigger. She advised us to freeze as many as possible and transfer 3-4 at a time to maximize chances

The first 2 cycles I did were in 2014 and they cost around 17-19k in clouding medications. This time around I’ve been doing mini IVF which is only 5-7k each cycle

At my age she recommended 3-4 embryos at once with the rationale that only 1/5 or 1/12 may be normal

I think she is great at what she does and perhaps my reflection is in general as how UCSF runs their fertility clinic. I feel as a woman going through this you want a bit more contact with your assigned doctor

I feel this advice is based on whatever Dr they go see. Do your research ahead of time to come as prepared as possible and ask about all options eg using growth hormone, uterine scratching etc and don't be afraid to reach out - they don't reach out to you you have to be an advocate and in charge of this process 100%

again you would usually get a different doctor or a NP. i was lucky enough this last cycle to get the same NP for almost every ultrasound

the retrieval with ICSI and assisted hatching was just over $12,000 that does not include the drugs

I have only started seeing Dr. Mok-Lin but she is the third fertility physician I have seen and by far the best. She fully explained all of my treatment options and answered all of our questions in ways we could understand. I would highly recommend her to anyone with DOR or having issues getting pregnant.

You’re in great hands.

I am in the early stages of starting clomid/timed intercourse and potentially IUI if the first option doesn’t work. She is very open to trying different treatments to fit my individual health issues and helpful in every way.

For clomid out of pocket I paid $90 and I was told IUI would be approx $1500 (my insurance does not cover IUI) but IVF would be a 50% discount if I decide to go that route, based on my insurance.

We went to see Dr. Mok-Lin in order to assess our options for future care - as a queer couple with medical concerns, we knew our path towards parenthood would be much much more complicated than most, and though we weren’t quite ready to move forward at the time, we felt the need to get some questions answered. Dr. Mok-Lin was empathetic and made us feel heard, and not like we were wasting her time in thinking things through beforehand. We both had diagnostic testing to clarify what our fertility health and risks were at that age, and were counseled on what the simplest preferable treatments would be. We’re starting treatment soon, and feel much more secure in our choices as a result of those appointments.

Consultation and diagnostic work-up only (TVU, FSH/AMH/etc, genetic testing) - all covered by insurance, other than a $20 copay.

She seemed to have a strong preference towards eSET for patients under 35.

She was amazing and a provider that I felt at ease with and trusted completely. She is dedicated and cares about her patients. All of our questions were always answered and even when I went in feeling nervous, she always made me feel at ease.

Trust her and be open with all of your concerns/questions.

The costs were very fair. We did not have a problem with the costs associated with our care.

I appreciate her care when choosing to implant one or more than one embryo depending on the quality.

Dr. Mok-lin is caring, personable and a very clear communicator and knowledgeable expert. She worked closely with us to create a fertility plan based on my past history with cervical cancer and the fact that my husband and I are both carriers of SMA. She was very mindful of the special circumstances given my past history and worked with us to ensure the most effective and painless transfer procedures possible. She ensured that she personally performed them and handled them expertly! Our last transfer has resulted in pregnancy! :)

Dr. Mok-Lin seemed knowledgeable but didn't invest much time with follow up and treatment. When we let her know that i went through a cancer scare and that our oncologist did not offer to save my egg prior to oophorectomy, she didn't offer compassion. All she offered was explanation as to what should have been done during my oncology appointments that had already passed.

She is knowledgeable and has expertise, if you would like someone with great bedside manner and compassion as well, this perhaps is not the provider for you.

Her steps were for us to meet with the psychologist for psych evaluation due to using donor eggs. She did not offer follow up after that was completed.

No comments, did not get that far into treatment

Dr. Mok-Lin is genuine and personable. I've always felt that she's trustworthy and truly wanted to help me achieve my desired outcome. I felt as if she gave me some good advice, based on her knowledge and understanding of my specific situation. She felt like a friend, not just a doctor, in those times. I didn't always have direct access to her and had communicated with her through a nurse. Once I was able to connect with her via email directly, my experience vastly improved. She promptly responded to my questions and concerns.

Don't be afraid to open up to Dr. Mok-Lin about your unique/specific situation to help her recommend, prescribe and schedule the most appropriate IVF protocol for you.

She is very intelligent and up to date on protocols and medical literature. I felt confident in her decision-making. Care team was disorganized and sometimes slow to respond, did not process requests, and mis communicated about my plan and communication.

Be proactive. Try to contact Dr. Mok-Lin directly if something is confusing.

Dr. Mok-Lin was clear with us about what was happening at each stage of care - the risks, the odds - and listened to our questions and concerns. We transferred care to her at UCSF after a negative experience with a practitioner at another clinic. She was professional but empathetic to the additional level of stress we were experiencing.

She will be compassionate but professional.

We brought 4 frozen embryos with us when we began working with Dr. Mok-Lin. During the first cycle to prepare for the embryo transfer, I ovulated and we also found a uterine fibroid. She recommended we cancel the cycle, use lupron for a brief period of time, and then start again. The second cycle worked as planned and the embryo transfer was successful.

I honestly can’t think of anything I’d have wanted in a doctor that Dr. Mok-Lin didn’t do. She was professional and compassionate. She communicated clearly and in a way that we could understand. We had such a wonderful experience with her and her team that we have already recommended her to anyone we know who is pursuing starting a family. Dr. MoK-Lin was respectful, kind, courteous, and we fully trusted her judgement during the entire course of treatment. We are so glad to have gone through this process under her care.

Be open about challenges you may be nervous about. Dr. Mok-Lin was great at setting our minds at ease when we were worried about anything, but also offered solutions and took our opinions into account, so don’t be afraid to voice concerns.

Dr. Mok-Lin did a fresh cycle. She shortened my treatment for egg retrieval because I responded very positively to the injections. I ended up with OHSS, but it resolved after about a week. I can’t remember too many specifics other than that she allowed me to not do the steroids due to my risk for mania.

We paid for a test out of pocket, but financed the treatments totaling a little over $13,000.00. We also paid for the medications out of pocket and those were about $250, if I remember correctly. I also had acupuncture regularly and we purchased donor sperm and had it shipped, which added about $3,500 to our total costs.

I’m very glad we transferred just one embryo. She explained that there was a high likelihood that the embryo would take on the first cycle because we had such positive result with retrieval and fertilization and that the best bet for a singleton was transferring just one blastocyst.

My husband and I felt immediately at ease when we first met Dr. Mok-Lin, and within 5 minutes, we knew she was the right doctor for us. (Our first fertility doctor was great, but he moved to Chicago, so we had to find another doctor at UCSF CRH, which is why we had a meeting with her.) There are so many great things to say about Dr. Mok-Lin. Without this incredible woman, I would not have my twin girls, who are 5.5 years old now, and they are literally the best thing that has ever happened to me! It's been nearly 10 years since I first met Dr. Mok-Lin, and not a day goes by that I don't think about her, picture her kind face, and feel the utmost gratitude for everything that she has done for me and my family. Because of her, I have a family! First of all, she has the best bedside manner. She is very compassionate and understanding. She really listens to you, your goals, your concerns, your fears, and she looks you in the eye when she talks to you. She is also brilliant! She is extremely smart, analytical, and articulate. She really knows her stuff, and she explains everything, including complicated things, very clearly. She is a great communicator. She is also a strategic thinker and makes the best recommendations she can based on her expertise and experience at every given point in the process. On top of that, she's funny and fun to be around! IVF is a grueling process, but my husband and I actually looked forward to our meetings and appointments with her. She treated me and my husband like partners in the whole process. She presented our options, gave her recommendations, and we had discussions about how we would like to move forward during each phase of my IVF treatment. She is also honest and realistic about the IVF process. For example, after a failed transfer, I asked her at what point do people stop trying if they're not successful. And she said IVF is a physically, emotionally, mentally, and financially taxing process, and at a certain point it doesn't make sense to keep going if it takes too much of a toll on, e.g., one's mental health. I really appreciated her honesty and how real she was with us. We worked with Dr. Mok-Lin for about three years off and on, mostly on. We took a break when my mom was sick and dying of leukemia, and Dr. Mok-Lin understood my need to do so, even though at that point I was already 38 years old and time was ticking away. I started treatment again after my mom died. Dr. Mok-Lin knew how much I loved my mom, and she was so kind to me after I told her about my mom's passing. A particular issue I had was uterine polyps. Dr. Mok-Lin performed a procedure to remove the uterine polyps, but within 1-2 months they grew back. Over time, I ended up having several procedures to get my uterine polyps removed, because they kept coming back. We would time my retrievals and transfers when my uterus was "clear" or as "pristine" and free of polyps as possible. Dr. Mok-Lin always performed the procedures, and I always felt safe and protected in her hands. After my first IVF transfer in which we transferred 2 embryos, I got pregnant, but sadly, it resulted in a chemical pregnancy. I was devastated, but Dr. Mok-Lin, my husband, and I regrouped. Dr. Mok-Lin said we would adapt and try a different strategy of transferring more embryos. At this point, I was 39 years old. After yet another procedure to remove uterine polyps and my second transfer in which we transferred three embryos, none of the embryos took. I was totally distraught, depressed, overwhelmed by anxiety, and I absolutely had to take another break. A few months later, after doing a lot of yoga, meditation, therapy, and soul-searching, my husband and I went to the Philippines for the first time to celebrate my 40th birthday. I 'm American, but the Philippines is where my parents are from, so going there had lots of meaning for me. In the Philippines, we decided that we would give IVF one more shot, and if it didn't result in a successful pregnancy and live birth, well, we would be okay with that. And part of why we felt okay with that, is because we had a wonderful, human doctor, who made us feel like we would always always be okay. Of course, we would strategize and do our best to make the best decisions possible, and at a certain point, if my husband and I couldn't emotionally or mentally continue doing any more rounds, then we would be fine. So after we got back from the Philippines, I had another procedure to get my uterine polyps removed, and we had one more transfer in which we transferred 5 embryos! Yes, 5! I was in a very good place emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually, and 3 of the embryos took! I ended up having a selective reduction from triplets to twins, and I gave birth to two, beautiful, healthy, fraternal twin girls, the loves of my life, thanks in large part to Dr. Mok-Lin. I love Dr. Mok-Lin so much that I named one of my daughters after her. As I said, I think about her every day, and I probably will for the rest of my life. It's doctors like her that make this world a better, happier place. She doesn't have a superiority complex, she doesn't think she's God. She treats her patients with respect. To me, she's just the perfect doctor. I honestly can't think of any constructive criticism, and I'm a very critical person. I mean, I'm a professional editor! I think she just needs to keep being herself and doing what she's doing/doing her thing. Last thing I wanted to say: A family friend of mine from the Philippines who lives in Mexico and is married to a Mexican asked me if I would recommend my fertility doctor. Of course I said yes. 100% yes! My family friend ended up moving to San Francisco temporarily for her IVF treatment with Dr. Mok-Lin, and I'm thrilled to report that my family friend has never been happier. She is now a mom of a gorgeous 6-month old boy! Thank you for everything, Dr. Mok-Lin!!!

Listen to Dr. Mok-Lin and trust her. You are in the best hands.

I already addressed this earlier. Dr. Mok-Lin is a strategic thinker and adapts the plan well based on whatever new challenges or issues that come up. Since after my second transfer, none of the embryos took, it made sense to be aggressive and transfer as many as possible so that hopefully at least one embryo would take. Having a pristine uterus was ideal for implantation, so having procedures to remove uterine polyps was the best strategy.

I can't remember, but it was expensive!!!!!

I already answered this question in earlier comments. For me, it made sense to add more embryos in subsequent transfers to increase the chances of success.