Rated 8.6
Strongly recommend: 75%Neutral: 15%Don't recommend: 10%8.6
75% strongly recommend
19 reviews
Humanity
9.1
9.1
Humanity

Ratings of 1 mean patients felt this doctor treated them as "a number."

Ratings of 10 mean patients felt this doctor treated them as "a human."

Communication
9
9
Communication

Ratings of 1 mean poor communication.

Ratings of 10 mean excellent communication.

Frequency Seen
8.3
8.3
Frequency Seen

Ratings of 1 mean patients only saw this doctor once or twice during treatment.

Ratings of 10 mean patients saw this doctor at every appointment.

LGBTQ Care
8
8
LGBTQ Care

Ratings of 1 indicate an unsatisfactory LGBTQ care.

Ratings of 10 indicate an excellent LGBTQ care.

Responsiveness
7.6
Good
Responsiveness

Scale is "poor, ok, good, excellent" and measures how responsive a care team was when patients needed to speak to them.

Education

Medical School
U. of Michigan
Residency
Northwestern
Fellowship
UCSF

How Doctor Communicates

doctor, nurse available by email
doctor, nurse available by directline
doctor, nurse available by directline
doctor available by personal cell phone
doctor available by personal cell phone
Geraldine Ekpo works in 1 office at

Kindbody San Francisco
Rated 5
Strongly recommend: 23%Neutral: 23%Don't recommend: 55%5

Explore Clinic
San Francisco
88 Sutter St
San Francisco, CA 94104

2 patient reviews filtered by:

Clear Filters
Verified

This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.

2019, Unsuccessful
NPS
0
NPS
0
1 IUI
Unexplained
Only Doc Seen
Doesn't Recommend
Doesn't Recommend
Unsuccessful
Dr Ekpo made us feel very comfortable, and the pricing felt reasonable...We opted for the IUI treatment and went through the process...They didn't put my concerns at bay, or care to explain what was happening to me...I never received a call from Laurel Fertility about how I was managing after my symptoms scare, no less inquire if the treatment was successful or not.
I was mis-diagnosed [at Laurel Fertility Care] with unexplained infertility, neglected when I had worrying symptoms that could've become a ruptured cyst from Clomid drugs, and received a bill from collections a year and a half later without being notified first of any outstanding balance...At this point I felt very neglected and angry that Laurel fertility did not provide me with the information and care I needed.
How was your experience with Geraldine Ekpo at Laurel Fertility Care?
I decided to leave behind my frustrations and anger with Laurel Fertility back in 2019 when I received their treatments. But now that I received a collections bill for nearly $400 a year and a half later, I am beyond pissed. I too have received no letter in the mail, and no notification in my email or portal of an outstanding balance before it went to collections. I called their office several times trying to get in touch with someone who could explain the bill to me, with no avail. Sadly this is just a further reflection of a clinic that's clearly in disarray. Back in mid-2019, feeling desperate after trying for a couple years and getting a recommendation from a friend, my husband and I got in touch with Laurel Fertility. Dr Ekpo made us feel very comfortable, and the pricing felt reasonable. After a few tests and an ultrasound, she diagnosed my situation as "unexplained infertility". We opted for the IUI treatment and went through the process. A few days after the procedure, I came down with very concerning symptoms. I felt extremely faint, and had diarrhea and heavy cramping. I called Laurel fertility to alert them of these symptoms. They didn't put my concerns at bay, or care to explain what was happening to me. They just told me very impatiently to see if the symptoms go away after a few days. It was through an emergency appointment with my primary doctor where she explained that the symptoms are likely a swollen cyst from the clomid treatment. If the symptoms persist and get worse, it could mean a fatal ruptured cyst. At this point I felt very neglected and angry that Laurel fertility did not provide me with the information and care I needed. Thankfully I recovered, and was hopeful that the treatment would result in a pregnancy. But that window came and passed. I never received a call from Laurel Fertility about how I was managing after my symptoms scare, no less inquire if the treatment was successful or not. Back to the diagnosis of "unexplained fertility" I received- some months later I'm referred to a wonderful gynecologist named Dr. Mona Orady. Five minutes into my ultrasound she suspected I had severe endometriosis which was the explanation to my infertility. I had surgery to remove the endometriosis, and am now 25 weeks pregnant! I'm delighted that I finally found the answer, but this should have been with Laurel Fertility. I have experienced neglect, mis-diagnosis, poor treatment, and a shady $400 mystery bill from collections. I never bother to write negative reviews, but for a business that has this type of emotional component and medical responsibility, I implore you to take your business elsewhere and save yourself the anguish.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Geraldine Ekpo at Laurel Fertility Care?
Back in mid-2019, feeling desperate after trying for a couple years and getting a recommendation from a friend, my husband and I got in touch with Laurel Fertility. Dr Ekpo made us feel very comfortable, and the pricing felt reasonable. After a few tests and an ultrasound, she diagnosed my situation as "unexplained infertility". We opted for the IUI treatment and went through the process. A few days after the procedure, I came down with very concerning symptoms. I felt extremely faint, and had diarrhea and heavy cramping. I called Laurel fertility to alert them of these symptoms. They didn't put my concerns at bay, or care to explain what was happening to me. They just told me very impatiently to see if the symptoms go away after a few days. It was through an emergency appointment with my primary doctor where she explained that the symptoms are likely a swollen cyst from the clomid treatment. If the symptoms persist and get worse, it could mean a fatal ruptured cyst. At this point I felt very neglected and angry that Laurel fertility did not provide me with the information and care I needed. Thankfully I recovered, and was hopeful that the treatment would result in a pregnancy. But that window came and passed. I never received a call from Laurel Fertility about how I was managing after my symptoms scare, no less inquire if the treatment was successful or not.
Describe your experience with Laurel Fertility Care.
I was mis-diagnosed with unexplained infertility, neglected when I had worrying symptoms that could've become a ruptured cyst from Clomid drugs, and received a bill from collections a year and a half later without being notified first of any outstanding balance.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Geraldine Ekpo at Laurel Fertility Care.
The cost was reasonable and we paid upfront, but then received a $400 bill from collections a year and a half later, with no notification from the clinic that we had an outstanding balance.
What specific things went wrong at Laurel Fertility Care?
  • Failed to call with results
  • Provided conflicting information
  • Failed to convey critical information
  • Failed to consider drug intolerance
0
Doctor
Geraldine Ekpo
NPS
Humanity
1 of 5
Communication
2 of 5
Frequency Seen
1 of 5
Trustworthiness
3 of 5
Compassion
3 of 5
Explained risks
1 of 5
Adaptability
2 of 5
0
Clinic
Laurel Fertility Care
San Francisco
NPS
Operations
1 of 5
Scheduling
4 of 5
Billing Department
1 of 5
Nursing Staff
1 of 5
Clinic Atmosphere
3 of 5
Educational Resources
4 of 5
Verified

This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.

2017, Unsuccessful
NPS
0
NPS
0
Age 34
3 IUI
PCOS
Ashkenazi Jewish
Income $100K - $199K
1st of 3 Docs
1 IUI With Other Docs
Doesn't Recommend
Doesn't Recommend
Unsuccessful
At first I really liked Dr. Ekpo. She was blunt but kind, and seemed knowledgeable about the the entire fertility field.... I do feel that she mismanaged my expectations... My ultimate dislike and distrust came after my 2nd and 3rd IUI with Laurel Fertility.... My first cycle they measured my lining at around 3.5 mm, but still went forward with the IUI.... I feel it was morally irresponsible for them to perform 3 IUI's on me when my lining was less than 5 each time
The office [Laurel Fertility Care] is small and outdated, the exam rooms could barely fit me and my husband in it together making us feel cramped and uncomfortable.... $490 PER ULTRASOUND! And during all my cycles with Dr. Ekpo, I needed 4-6 ultrasounds before the IUI.... Nurses were lovely and kind people. I had a couple issues with them not updating my calendar in a way that worked for me, but otherwise they returned calls, answered questions, and were very pleasant to be around.
How was your experience with Geraldine Ekpo at Laurel Fertility Care?
At first I really liked Dr. Ekpo. She was blunt but kind, and seemed knowledgeable about the the entire fertility field. My ultimate dislike and distrust came after my 2nd and 3rd IUI with Laurel Fertility. One thing off the bat, the online calendar and app is just terrible. Very difficult to access and with all the medications and timing needs, this was frustrating. My first cycle they measured my lining at around 3.5 mm, but still went forward with the IUI. At the time, I just put my blind trust in the doctors and figured they would do what they thought would be most successful-NOT TRUE. Any other Dr. will tell you that you want your lining to get to 8mm to have a decent shot at pregnancy, and I wasn't even halfway there. I feel it was morally irresponsible for them to perform 3 IUI's on me when my lining was less than 5 each time. Also, my cycles required LOTS of monitoring ultrasound appts, and at $490 per appt, this became ridiculously expensive. These utlrasound appts were 5-10 minutes, for $490!!! insane. They didn't make any attempts to get my insurance to cover it as a diagnostic tool, so I had to pay out of pocket for everything. Dr. Ekpo also straight up lied to me about a certain procedure which is what ultimately makes me feel I would NEVER recommend anyone go there. She told me there was no way to do a HSG dye test in the same cycle as an IUI, and it just isn't true. Many other doctors do this and I believe the only reason she told me I couldn't was to get more money and more visits out of me.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Geraldine Ekpo at Laurel Fertility Care?
Do your research and don't go with a private clinic because you think you'll receive better care, it just isn't true.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Geraldine Ekpo at Laurel Fertility Care?
Dr Ekpo was kind and I didn't have an issue with her personality or her demeanor during our visits. I do feel that she mismanaged my expectations and given what I know now, there is no way she was ever going to get me pregnant so it really feels like it was more of a cash grab, preying on my desire to have a child, while not addressing the reality that my lining was not even close to thick enough to move forward with the IUI's she performed on me. It gave me a lot of false hope without addressing diagnostic issues that they completely skipped over.
Describe the protocols Geraldine Ekpo used in your cycles at Laurel Fertility Care and their degree of success.
Each IUI cycle I was on Letrazole, with lots of monitoring ultrasounds to see how my follicles and uterine lining were developing. The first two were about the same-letrazole, trigger shot, IUI. The third one they added estrogen injections mid cycle to try and boost my lining since I never got past 4mm with previous two cycles, then another trigger shot and another failed IUI. I wasn't given any other alternatives except for IVF which they began pushing on me after the first failed IUI.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Laurel Fertility Care.
Nurses were lovely and kind people. I had a couple issues with them not updating my calendar in a way that worked for me, but otherwise they returned calls, answered questions, and were very pleasant to be around.
Describe your experience with Laurel Fertility Care.
The office is small and outdated, the exam rooms could barely fit me and my husband in it together making us feel cramped and uncomfortable. And while this isn't the clinics fault, the building was under massive construction which made parking impossible and getting into the building a real pain.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Geraldine Ekpo at Laurel Fertility Care.
$490 PER ULTRASOUND! And during all my cycles with Dr. Ekpo, I needed 4-6 ultrasounds before the IUI. It was absurdly expensive. Around 2k for the actual IUI, and several hundred dollars for medications. My bloodwork was covered by insurance.
0
Doctor
Geraldine Ekpo
NPS
Humanity
4 of 5
Communication
3 of 5
Frequency Seen
4 of 5
Trustworthiness
2 of 5
Compassion
4 of 5
Explained risks
5 of 5
Adaptability
3 of 5
0
Clinic
Laurel Fertility Care
San Francisco
NPS
Operations
2 of 5
Scheduling
5 of 5
Billing Department
3 of 5
Nursing Staff
4 of 5
Clinic Atmosphere
1 of 5
Educational Resources
4 of 5