Sara Vaughn

We honestly couldn't have imagined a better experience. Dr. Vaughn is thoughtful, compassionate, professional, and always patiently and meticulously answered all of our questions. She was thoroughly prepared from the start, with slides to walk us through what to expect, presented it in an optimistic manner that was balanced by an honest appraisal, very data-driven but in a way even those without medical background can understand, and never missed the human element, even with the challenge of a virtual consultation amidst the first major wave of COVID-19. Added together this was very reassuring to us as the IVF journey can seem quite intimidating. Dr. Vaughn also planned the treatment according to our needs. At our first appointment, we told her if possible we'd like to plan having more than one child in the future. Based on the first egg retrieval results, she suggested a second one for a more comfortable margin of success given our family planning. Although we had been trying for more than a year and I wanted to be pregnant as soon as possible, we felt comfortable with her advice because she explained in detail the multitude of reasons why this was the smarter choice. After following her plan, we now should have enough healthy embryos.

Don’t hesitate to ask questions. Dr. Vaughn is very patient and she explains everything very clearly. It certainly helps ease a lot of potential anxiety. I remember after my first transfer failed, I asked Dr. Vaughn if we should implant multiple embryos instead of one to increase the chance of success. She told me that not only it will increase the risk of multiple births, it is also possible I’ll lose multiple healthy embryos if my body isn’t well-prepared. My second transfer was successful. Hang in there and don't give up.

We were very lucky to have our treatments covered by insurance.

We came to Dr. Vaughn after a discouraging attempt with a different doctor another practice a year earlier. Immediately, the difference in her approach was clear. Our first appointment revolved around setting up a plan for treatment. She came in with an immense knowledge of my entire health history, better than even I knew it. A clear plan of action was developed, taking our input as needed. We left the initial appointment feeling confident, with the right level of cautious optimism and understanding of the chances and risks. It was relieving to know that we were (finally) in good hands. One thing I really think sets Dr. Vaughn apart is her ability to clearly convey medical information. Throughout my treatment, I had lots of questions, and she would always answer every one with the perfect level of detail. It never felt condescending or rushed, and I would joke with my friends that I was getting a mini-fertility lesson each time I saw her. My treatment involved lots of monitoring through ultrasounds, which when I've had them at other locations were incredibly awkward/uncomfortable. While still not a 'fun' experience, Dr. Vaughn recognized I was nervous and would talk throughout the procedure with me and calm me down by explaining what we were looking at and what we were looking for. As an engineer and scientist, the learning and conversation was something that helped me persevere on and reach the goal of having a baby. Dr. Vaughn always had excellent bed side manner. She would always smile when she came into the room and take the time to ask how I was doing. Struggling with infertility can be emotionally hard sometimes, but whenever I had an appointment with her I felt strengthened and encouraged, not by false promises but by a confidence that there was a plan and she would be there with me to go through it. I really wish all my doctors could be as good as Dr. Vaughn. My husband and I agree that she is by far the best doctor either of us have ever had and that she was so much more than we could have asked for. Our baby boy is due in 5 more weeks, and I really do believe we owe it all to Dr. Vaughn.

Don't wait. I lost a year of time after going to a different doctor and getting scared off by fertility treatments. Dr. Vaughn is a great doctor and I wish I had started seeing her sooner.

*Understanding of source of infertility (anovultion due to PCOS) through blood test, MRI, ultrasounds, saline sonogram, analysis of husband's sperm *5 rounds of letrozole to induce ovulation. She got the right dose on the first time - Two IUIs - Three natural approaches (the shots/number of appointments stressed me out due to a busy time at my work, so she explained the risks and modified my plan for a few cycles.) Result: baby boy.

I had a wonderful patient experience. Dr Vaughn was very thorough in all of her interactions and communication. She clearly outlined all options. She treated my husband and I was kindness and compassion.

There is so much information when it comes to infertility. Dr Vaughn will answer all of your questions and go over all options that you are interested in exploring. She is an excellent doctor.

Treatments used were medications and IVF. I am considered advanced age snd have experienced one loss prior to beginning treatment with Dr Vaughn. Dr Vaughn knew that time was of the essence and we wanted the best outcome.

We were very lucky and fortunate to have Progyny Insurance which covered the majority of our costs

The doctors approach was single embryo transfer. I was in full agreement as the goal was one healthy pregnancy.

Dr. Sara kept us in loop about everything and had a very honest evaluation of our situation. She was very diligent with all our testing requirements and covered every single aspect of our genetic testing fir example. In fact the thorough testing ordered by her was a breeze for our gynae.

You are in best hands!

I don’t remember the protocol honestly

I have no real downsides to explain or review for Dr. Vaughn. She was an angel who was understanding but also top notch in technical proficiency! Best of both worlds. Didn't set too high of expectations but also was optimistic enough to keep head up throughout the process.

Ask questions, and don't be afraid to repeat the questions. She'll always have a good answer!

Mid-luteul egg freezing protocol. I was given the choice to do mid-luteul or another protocol that would additionally use birth control pills to help with timing, but mid-luteul fit my schedule better so that's what I went with.

$8950 for the total cost of egg retrieval. I am on a payment plan that splits this cost up with monthly payments of under $300 over 3 years. Medication was a one-time payment of a complete package of $3900. First consultation fee of $450 which includes doctor consultation, initial transvaginal ultrasound, and initial bloodwork.

Dr. Vaughn gave me extremely clear information on what I could expect (and what factors would be impossible to predict). I did a lot of my own research and sought to understand every aspect of the procedures I went through - Dr. Vaughn was patient with questions and clear in her answers.

If you are looking for a warm, intelligent, and experienced provider, you could not do better than Dr. Vaughn. There is a decent chance you will end up seeing at least a few other doctors in the practice due to the number of weekend apts you’ll have, and the good news is that everyone else I saw was fantastic as well. Spring clearly screens for warm personalities in addition to intelligence and fertility knowledge when hiring.

I don’t remember the details of my protocol

We did two retrievals and one frozen embryo transfer. Altogether a complete cycle (medicine + monitoring + retrieval + testing + freezing + frozen embryo transfer) cost about $30,000. Because we did the additional retrieval, our total was around $55,000. Our fertility insurance, Progyny, covered about $27,000 of that.

N/A

Dr. Vaughn was so knowledgeable and shared her knowledge so freely that I felt a sense of trust in her from the get-go. She always greeted me warmly, explained each step of treatment thoroughly, and provided thoughtful answers to my many questions. Although I know I was far from her only patient, it felt like she remembered me well at each appointment and was able to comment on the specifics of my treatment. Dr. Vaughn was very friendly and I looked forward to seeing her at each appointment. She and the team made the experience as smooth and painless as it could have possibly been.

If you are wondering something about your treatment, ask! Dr. Vaughn is so willing to explain each step in accessible language and you will feel more comfortable the more informed you are.

I believe it was an antagonist protocol. I was on Menopur, Gonal-F and Cetrotide before my retrieval, and the injection period lasted 12 or 13 days. Dr. Vaughn monitored me often and adjusted my dosage as necessary. Her excellent judgment led to a highly successful egg retrieval (21 eggs) which resulted in 11 5-day blasts, 7 of which were PGS normal.

The early morning appointments were very efficient and worked well for my schedule. I was usually seen immediately after arriving and was out the door in 15 minutes or less.

We were incredibly fortunate to have out entire cycle covered with Progyny.

Dr. Vaughn explained clearly at our consult that the goal was one healthy baby and the rationale for transferring one embryo at a time. It made lots of sense to us.

I had an exceptionally positive experience with Dr. Vaughn, and not just because we had an outcome that exceeded all expectations (frozen 27 eggs when I was fully prepared to be happy with 10). I appreciated how forthcoming she was with information, how she answered all my questions and never appeared rushed. I felt that she offered the perfect balance of honesty and warmth, and I could not imagine a better RE for this step in my journey.

You would be lucky to have her.

Birth control, then GonalF + Menopur (low dose for both... response was very strong), then Lupron + Novarel trigger. The whole cycle took ~12 days from the start of injectables to retrieval.

$8750 for egg freezing plus a few hundred for the initial consultations, plus medications. The bulk of the cost is going to be embryology and transfer, so I am bracing myself.

We have not gotten to embryo transfer yet, but my sense is that Dr. Vaughn would be cautious.

In terms of strengths, I think Dr. Vaughn excels in professionalism, intelligence, kindness, warmth, empathy, and competence. I can't think of weakness for her. Like the people reading this review, I was well informed and well researched heading into this process and knew what would suit my personality type and the type of care I needed, and Dr. Vuaghn met my every expectation.

I hate to paint such a rosy picture without any constructive feedback, but I wouldn't give you any advice other than if you want a warm, caring, nurturing--and ultra-competent doctor to take care of you, call Dr. Vaughn now.

For our treatment, we of course first did all of the necessary testing and landed in the undiagnosed fertility category. Once treatment began, I started with Clomid, then triggered Ovidrel--having the IUI procedure two days later. The plan was to try that three times and then discuss other options if that didn't work. The first round was not successful but the second round was. Dr. Vaughns's rationale for using IUI as a first treatment was mostly my age (and I'm sure lots of other really logical concepts I don't remember). I remember she felt really confident about the treatment plan and so did we.

I don't think this is the cheapest option, but you pay for the exceptional service and extremely well-qualified doctors/staff.

Dr. Vaughn was a very clear communicator, which I appreciated. She shared the facts and studies she was using to make her decisions, and also sent me the papers after our appointments so I could read up on them myself. She also is very insightful into treatment for patients with diminished ovarian reserve, and modified my treatment plan throughout my cycles. With her modifications, I went from retrieving 3 and 2 eggs (cycles 1 and 2) to retrieving 15 and 15 eggs (cycles 3 and 4). I would highly recommend her to anyone undergoing IVF, especially those with diminished ovarian reserve.

If you don't understand something, ask lots of questions until you do! Dr. Vaughn is great at explaining complicated medical concepts, and is more than comfortable going into the weeds if you want details.

Since I had low follicle count, we did a min stim protocol for cycles 1 and 2 (and got 3 and 2 eggs). Dr. Vaughn suggested that I try removing my IUD after cycle 1 - she said that studies show that it shouldn't make a difference, but that some of her patients had seen better results after IUD removal. We also switched to a flare protocol (microdose lupron flare) with antagonist priming (testosterone and estrace) for cycles 3 and 4, and had much better results (15 and 16 eggs).

I was charged for medication through Alto (pharmacy), and Spring charged me for the appointments and blood work.

I had a wonderful experience with Dr. Vaughn from start to finish. I felt that she was genuinely invested in my comfort with each step of the process and in my overall success with egg retrieval. She was great about explaining each step the process and clearly communicating what comes next after each visit. She was friendly, relatable and positive. Most importantly, she made what once seemed an intimidating process completely attainable. I felt incredibly well cared for during my time with Dr. Vaughn.

I would advise anyone considering egg retrieval and freezing not to hesitate to reach out and learn more. I would encourage them to place their trust in Dr. Vaughn and her amazing team, as they are true professionals and lovely people.

My egg retrieval treatment included regular appointments for ultrasounds to monitor ovarian follicle growth and bloodwork to monitor hormone levels. I began with 10 days of birth control and then moved on to 12 total days of twice daily injections before my retrieval.

The cost of the egg retrieval procedure was $8,500 with the option for a payment plan and the medication ended up at around $4,000.

From my very first appointment with Dr.Vaughn, I felt that I was in very capable hands. It was important for me to have a female doctor as i went through this journey. She has immaculate bedside manners, and professionalism. She also educated me along the way, so that I understood the fertility process much better than i had months prior. She was honest with me about my prospects, while at the same time encouraging optimism, striking a good balance for fertility-related care.

Ask questions, be realistic about your expectations, relax. You're in good hands.

Dr. Vaughn adjusted my treatments based on the results of my first cycle, which was not so satisfactory. She recommended a more aggressive treatment, informed me about the inconvenience involved (more injections), and this led to more successful cycles.

Dr. Vaughn is one of the best doctors I've ever had. Before finding her, I had met with half a dozen fertility doctors over the course of a year and half. During that time, these other doctors were unable to determine why I wasn't getting my period and/or wasn't ovulating. And all but one told me I had very little hope of conceiving and that I should immediately start IVF if I wanted any chance of having a baby. By contrast, Dr. Vaughn proposed running a limited number of tests to determine my egg count, hormone levels, etc. And upon looking at the results, Dr. Vaughn figured out that I likely had a borderline case of "lean" PCOS, and that using clomid and ovidrel would likely be successful. And because of my egg reserve and age, she saw no reason why we would need to move to IVF immediately unless I wanted to. I was so relieved I cried tears of joy. And Dr. Vaughn was absolutely right: we got pregnant on our very first cycle of clomid/ovidrel and I had a beautiful, healthy baby girl. After that, Dr. Vaughn kept in touch and helped me make some critical decisions when I needed to seek fertility treatment again but no longer had insurance coverage that enabled me to be treated by her. And even before that, Dr. Vaughn was very understanding and sensitive to what tests and treatment were covered by insurance so that I would not end up with huge out of pocket expenses if at all possible--I've yet to see a doctor before or since who was so proactive and conscientious about costs when I expressed concern. She also worked hard to make sure she was available for all of my appointments - including ultrasounds - so that I wasn't simply scheduled with whoever was in the office at the time. In short, Dr. Vaughn is exceedingly smart, kind, thoughtful, and attuned to her patients' wants and needs. I could not endorse her more strongly.

If you have any doubt, just meet with Dr. Vaughn to see what you think. I'm confident her smarts and kindness will persuade you that she is a fantastic and caring doctor.

I used a low dose of clomid and ovidrel. So far as I understand it and can recall, the rationale was that I ovulate irregularly, which makes it very hard to use timed-intercourse effectively through natural means. We started with a low dose of clomid to see if that would be sufficient to grow a follicle and stimulate ovulation - and it was. I then used the ovidrel to trigger ovulation and had timed intercourse. It all worked perfectly.

I did not have to pay for any of the diagnostic tests or appointments. But due to my insurance, I did have to pay for treatment.

I had three treatment cycles with Dr Vaughn this summer, and my experience has been nothing but great from the initial consultant to the final procedure/surgery. During the initial consultant session, she was very patient in understanding my goal and explaining everything in an easy-to-understand. Each appointment with Dr. Vaughn is warm and personable, I trusted her every step of of the process. I highly recommend.

Don't hesitate to contact Dr. Vaughn.

$1500

Doctor Sara Vaughn is very nice and friendly. She treats you like a friend in very warm manner. At times you will feel low and she will motivate you to keep faith. All her decisions will be based on your blood tests and ultrasound and you will be explained well so that you understand what to expect. I will highly recommend doctor Sara Vaughn to all the ladies out there who have been struggling to conceive. Doctor Sara is great doctor, she understands your pain and she is very supportive. There was time when i was quite susceptible about everything but it is her words which made me keep going.

Be positive and never loose your faith and confidence. At times you may feel sad and unhappy but one day everything will work for you. Never hesitate to discuss any of your insecurities or issues with doctor because every single details matter. Have faith and give time to entire process.

Doctor Sara Vaughn starts with a plan and optimize it according to individual results to the process. For example in my case doctor decided to start with IUI because it looks to be apt process for me but in middle my body didn't responded well to the decided plan and so with mutual discussion we decided to go for IVF without any further delay which saved my time and energy. She will make her decisions based on blood work and ultrasound. She follows all the guidelines and protocols stated by state of California and their clinic.

Spring fertility only allows single embryo transfer.

The entire experience of freezing eggs and managing fertility can be anxiety inducting and daunting. From the moment I met Dr.Vaughn I felt I could trust her and be open and honest with my thoughts, fears and hopes for the egg freezing processing. Every single appointment I felt I had an open path of communication, I was informed and educated on the status and next steps. I genuinely looked forward to each appointment and felt that Dr.Vaughn was fully invested in me and my success with egg retrieval and freezing.

Egg freezing is a very involved and time consuming process that you need to be fully dedicated to.

Regular ultrasounds, discussions on medication, egg retrieval, post egg retrieval summary and next steps.

4K medicine 12k procedure