This is the most recent data from the CDC. The CDC cautions that it should not be used to compare doctors and clinics. This data represents the outcomes of IVF cycles when using a person's own eggs.
For more information please see our FAQs.
Where you see a “?” on the chart, a clinic has done fewer than 20 cycles in this category and age range, so the CDC says showing percentages from this small data set would be misleading and unreliable.
My dosages were adjusted [by Dr. Kummer] based on monitoring. I then used a Lupron trigger instead of an HCG trigger in order to prevent OHSS. I ended up having 8 eggs retrieved, 5 fertilized with ICSI, and 4 made it to the blastocyst stage...never ever treated us like a number. Every time we saw her, she took her time, got to know us as people (not just patients), and truly cared about us. In addition, all care was personalized to us, not just a standard "we will do this".
We did PGS testing [at Advanced Fertility Care] and 3 were normal. The cycle was a freeze all. Approximately 6 weeks after IVF we did a frozen embryo transfer with one embryo...The whole staff, including all nurses, assistants, and secretaries, at the clinic was amazing! Sandy, the IVF coordinator, was so sweet. I called her multiple times after hours and she never ever sounded frustrated with my questions...Our IVF cycle with PGS and ICSI was approximately $16,525.
How was your experience with Nicole Kummer at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
We met with Dr. Kummer after switching from another local clinic that was unwilling to do the same protocol with us that was successful with our son 3 years earlier. From the moment she started talking with us, my husband and I knew that we had found the perfect fit for us to continue our journey. Since we already knew our diagnosis, we moved straight to an IUI. Dr. Kummer made it pretty clear that because of my diagnosis, an IUI with oral medications would be our best option, not using injectables. After a failed IUI, not at all her fault, I sat down with Dr. Kummer, and we decided that IVF was our best option. Continuing to do IUIs did not make much sense to us financially. However, Dr. Kummer NEVER pushed us to IVF. I'm so grateful for that. Moving to IVF is a large decision, and I'm happy we came to that on our own with her support. We had some bumps during our IVF cycle, and Dr. Kummer was so great at communicating with me and helping me to be less anxious. She understood my anxieties and didn't make me feel like I was stupid or irrational, instead just took the time to reassure and show compassion.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nicole Kummer at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Ask her any questions that you have! She will not hide stuff from you and won't judge you. She is great at explaining and taking time to discuss everything.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nicole Kummer at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Dr. Kummer never ever treated us like a number. Every time we saw her, she took her time, got to know us as people (not just patients), and truly cared about us. In addition, all care was personalized to us, not just a standard "we will do this". She was honest with us about what she thought would get us the best results, and also cared about our feelings. She is truly a gem in the fertility world!
Describe the protocols Nicole Kummer used in your cycles at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic) and their degree of success.
My IUI cycle was 5 mg days 5-9, then monitored, and using stair step method with 5mg for five more days. Resulted in only one follicle. Negative pregnancy test.
My IVF cycle was a mix of Gonal-F, Menopur, and Ganirelix. My dosages were adjusted based on monitoring. I then used a Lupron trigger instead of an HCG trigger in order to prevent OHSS. I ended up having 8 eggs retrieved, 5 fertilized with ICSI, and 4 made it to the blastocyst stage. We did PGS testing and 3 were normal. The cycle was a freeze all.
Approximately 6 weeks after IVF we did a frozen embryo transfer with one embryo. For this, I started with estrogen patches, then added estrogen pills based on my blood work. 5 days before transfer, we started progesterone in oil injections. Medicine is then continued until week 10. The transfer was successful!
Describe your experience with your nurse at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic). (Assigned nurse: Sandy)
The whole staff, including all nurses, assistants, and secretaries, at the clinic was amazing!
Sandy, the IVF coordinator, was so sweet. I called her multiple times after hours and she never ever sounded frustrated with my questions. She also had to do a lot of reassuring for me!
The other nurses and staff were SO great, too. They were always happy and outgoing when they saw me and would help to comfort me after some tough ultrasounds.
It truly felt like family. I wish I could go there for my whole pregnancy!
Describe your experience with Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
A huge strength to this clinic is that you see a doctor at EVERY visit! This is not typical, but is SO important to me and my husband. A doctor performs every ultrasound and is able to tell you what they are thinking right then. In addition, it really makes you feel that they care about you more instead of just being a number.
I really can't think of any weaknesses.
There are three doctors at the clinic, and you will likely see them all. Dr. Kummer and Dr. Larsen are a bit more specific and compassionate in their explanations. They take a lot of time with you. My experience with Dr. Z was that he was more blunt and not as descriptive, often causing me more anxiety than needed. Once you see all three, try to schedule around your preferred provider(s).
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nicole Kummer at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
Our IVF cycle with PGS and ICSI was approximately $16,525.
Describe Nicole Kummer's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
Advanced Fertility Care doctor strongly encourage, but do not mandate, an eSET.
The first time we met with Dr.Z [Zoneraich] he had read our information we had sent from our previous RE but he asked us for our insight and perspective of what had happened at our previous treatments. He then asked what were our intentions and timeline for our treatment...he spent about an hour and a half with us explaining everything about testing he recommended we have done and his projected plan of treatment depending on the different outcomes of our testing. He drew diagrams and made checkoff lists for us to keep and for us to be able to refer back to after the meeting...
The office [Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona] helps you search through about 20+ pharmacies they have on file to help you find the cheapest price for your medications... I did not have to wait a day to get my results...All testing and lab work is done at the clinic...between $10,000-$15,000 not including the medications because of the PGS testing and the ICSI...They [nurses] helped with education and questions concerning medications
How was your experience with Nathaniel Zoneraich at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
The first time we met with Dr.Z he had read our information we had sent from our previous RE but he asked us for our insight and perspective of what had happened at our previous treatments. He then asked what were our intentions and timeline for our treatment. We told him our discouragement from our previous RE and that we were there to have a baby as soon as possible. In our first appointment he spent about an hour and a half with us explaining everything about testing he recommended we have done and his projected plan of treatment depending on the different outcomes of our testing. He drew diagrams and made checkoff lists for us to keep and for us to be able to refer back to after the meeting. He answered every question we had and some we hadn’t even thought of to ask. He set us up to speak with the financial advisor based off of our concerns about when we needed to pay for each part of the treatments. At every encounter with him he was happy and personable. He would always sincerely ask how you were doing. He would remember minor details about your life and things you were going through from conversations that had nothing to do with your infertility. The next time he would see us he would ask us about things. Like how did that meeting with work go, how was your trip to see your family, or did you guys decide on what kind of puppy you want to get. He was always professional when doing any testing or exams but always had a smile and a caring concern every time he saw us. If we were there for bloodwork he would pop his head into the blood draw lab and say hello and ask how we were doing. You can tell that he knows his specialty and that he really wants to help his patients.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nathaniel Zoneraich at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
If you are ready to start a family as soon as possible go to Dr.Z Make sure you take all of your previous treatment records for him to be able to review. If something can be done to help you have a child, he will do everything he can to help you. He will be straight with you and will not give you false hope either.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nathaniel Zoneraich at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Everyone at Dr.Z office was friendly and kind. They would always ask you how you were doing and would remember things about you that had nothing to do with your infertility journey. For example, if the last time you were there you had mentioned you were going on a trip to see an old friend. The next time you were in the office someone would ask you how your trip was. Dr. Z is very personable and I feel he adapts his way of responding to you depending on your needs at that time.
Describe the protocols Nathaniel Zoneraich used in your cycles at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic) and their degree of success.
Even though we had diagnostic testing at a previous clinic, Dr Z. Wanted to do testing of his own and he wanted to perform more thorough testing that our previous RE had not done. He then laid out our treatment plan. He believes in supplements for three months before starting Stems. He prescribed Gonal F and I forget the other medicine he had me on. The office helps you search through about 20+ pharmacies they have on file to help you find the cheapest price for your medications. Throughout my stems I had bloodwork and ultrasounds. I would go into the clinic first thing in the morning and by 2 or 3 in the afternoon the office would call me and tell me how to adjust my medication. I did not have to wait a day to get my results. During my Stems my medication dosages changed 5-6 times.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
Everyone was very personable and informative. Everyone would always have a smile on their face. They helped with education and questions concerning medications. They helped with finding the best pharmacy for specific medications that were prescribed. They helped with insurance questions and issues. They helped me with FMLA paperwork (my works company is the worst for multiple forms for FMLA) The nurses had to send in paperwork 4 different times to our company and had to speak with them on the phone multiple times.
Describe your experience with Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
All testing and lab work is done at the clinic. I consider this a strength but some may not like that it is all in one. Dr. Z has you sign paperwork in the beginning that acknowledges that he is disclosing the fact that he has partial ownership of the on site surgical center where your retrieval and transfer are done and he has partial ownership in the lab that does all your lab work and testing. It did not bother me that he has partial ownership but some might be concerned by this fact. I just found that by having it all in his office it allowed me to get test results back faster and it allowed Dr.Z to more closely monitor and adjust my medications. Everyone is very efficient and everything works on a strict timed out schedule. Everything runs on time and never late.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nathaniel Zoneraich at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
Cost all depended on what testing and procedures you required to have. If you chose to do PGS testing and ICSI. We chose to do all the testing and ICSI. It was between $10,000-$15,000 not including the medications because of the PGS testing and the ICSI and because of the number of embryos we had that survived to day 5
Describe Nathaniel Zoneraich's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
Dr. Z highly recommends a single embryo transfer for everyone who has PGS tested embryos. However you can choose to transfer two embryos.
I experienced multiple pregnancy losses/failed implantations with euploid embryos and Dr Larsen did not do any further testing on me. I was with his clinic for 2 retrievals, a mock cycle and 2 transfers and only met Dr Larsen four times in addition to the very first video consult. There was never any consults between retrievals or transfers and his protocol was not individualized for my specific case...He is very evidence based and is not willing to think outside of the box
The clinic [at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona] as a whole seems very efficient and you never have to wait very long in the waiting room. They seem to have a good system in place that helps them to run very smoothly. The staff all do their jobs well and are always professional and pleasant but never really went out of their way to be very personable or walk me through the process...I found multiple mistakes, most significantly forgetting to put cetrotide on my retrieval protocol calendar.
How was your experience with Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Even though I was with Dr Larsen for multiple retrievals and transfers, I only ever spoke to him for a minute or two before I was put out under anesthesia or right before my transfers. He seemed pleasant enough with his bedside manner before my procedures but lacked any sort of communication on future protocol between procedures. He is very evidence based and is not willing to think outside of the box or dive deeply into figuring out what the issue may be. He is very relaxed with his approach and even told me to "let him know if I came up with any other protocols/meds that I would like to try". I do not have any medical experience and it should not be my responsibility to research and come up with treatments. My last phone call with him, he told me that he was stumped why my euploid embryos were not implanting and that I should start looking into a surrogate. I was not a fan of Dr Larsen or AFC but I was stuck there due to insurance but I have recently switched clinics since I have exhausted my insurance benefits. My new doctor has already found multiple things wrong with me that were easily overlooked and not tested for which cause a majority of implantation failures.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Be proactive, advocate for yourself and double check that your protocol is correct. I found multiple mistakes, most significantly forgetting to put cetrotide on my retrieval protocol calendar. Thankfully, this was not my first retrieval and I knew that cetrotide is supposed to be given around day 5 of stims in order to prevent ovulation so I was able to catch the mistake in time. If I wasn't able to catch this mistake, it would have cost my the entire retrieval cycle as I would have ovulated before my retrieval.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
I experienced multiple pregnancy losses/failed implantations with euploid embryos and Dr Larsen did not do any further testing on me. I was with his clinic for 2 retrievals, a mock cycle and 2 transfers and only met Dr Larsen four times in addition to the very first video consult. There was never any consults between retrievals or transfers and his protocol was not individualized for my specific case. There were often mistakes in my protocol and or things that were forgotten.
Describe the protocols Frederick Larsen used in your cycles at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic) and their degree of success.
I was on a common antagonist protocol including menopur, gonal f and cetrotide for my retrieval. I chose to add omnitrope also which helped me to get my euploid embryos. For both of my transfers, Dr Larsen put me on PIO and estrogen and we added an antihistamine protocol (claritin, pepcid & prednisone) for my second transfer. In addition, I consulted with a different doctor before my last transfer who recommended metformin and lovenox. Dr. Larsen was against adding these two meds and would not add them to my protocol but I was able to get prescription for it from the consulting Dr and I added them on my own unbeknownst to Dr Larsen.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic). (Assigned nurse: Alyssa)
The only time I saw or heard from my primary nurse/PA was during my monitoring appointments. She was professional, pleasant and communicated well but there was no "personal" feeling that came from any of these visits. It was all very efficient...I went into the room, had the ultrasound done and that was it and I had no further interaction with her besides those appointments. All communication I ever received was from my coordinator. My coordinator was nice and communicated well and always answered my texts within a few hours. It was very nice being able to have someone to text anytime I had a question. I did catch quite a few mistakes and a few of them were most likely due to an error from my coordinator.
Describe your experience with Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
The clinic as a whole seems very efficient and you never have to wait very long in the waiting room. They seem to have a good system in place that helps them to run very smoothly. The staff all do their jobs well and are always professional and pleasant but never really went out of their way to be very personable or walk me through the process.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
I had progyny insurance so my insurance covered all costs except the Emma/Alice biopsy test.
Describe Frederick Larsen's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
I was not interested in a multiple embryo transfer so I never inquired about it.
What specific things went wrong at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Failed to order appropriate test
Provided conflicting information
Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
1 - Forgot to add cetrotide to my retrieval protocol calendar
2 - Forgot to test my Vitamin D levels after I specifically asked for it to be tested
3 - Misread my Emma/Alice biopsy results. Told me that my results came back fine and that nothing needed to be changed when in fact my results showed a lack of any lactobacillus bacteria in my uterus and I needed to be on a probiotic.
4 - Forgot to add antihistamine protocol to my transfer calendar after Dr Larsen told me that he was going to add it
Dr Z. set realistic expectations about treatment and outcomes. When some of my diagnostic testing came back as inconclusive, he recommended additional testing to rule out potential issues...[he] recommended a single embryo transfer in my case. Since my embryos were PGT-A tested, I was not interested in transferring more than one...
The nursing staff is kind and friendly. Emails and calls are responded to promptly...The Scottsdale location is conveniently located. I never had an issue getting in for appointments, even on short notice. If I left a message for the clinical staff, someone would typically return my call by the end of the day. If you have fertility insurance benefits, there is a bit of legwork required on the part of the patient and you will need to stay on top of things.
How was your experience with Nathaniel Zoneraich at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Dr Z. set realistic expectations about treatment and outcomes. When some of my diagnostic testing came back as inconclusive, he recommended additional testing to rule out potential issues. Although that delayed treatment slightly, I felt as though he wanted me to have the best chance of a healthy pregnancy and not to waste time or money on treatment that was unlikely to be successful. While Dr. Larsen wasn't my primary doctor, I did see him frequently for monitoring and he has a very calming demeanor.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nathaniel Zoneraich at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
I saw both Dr. Z and Dr. Larsen for treatment and monitoring. Both are willing to take time to answer questions or address concerns. I never felt rushed.
Describe the protocols Nathaniel Zoneraich used in your cycles at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic) and their degree of success.
I did six IUIs with letrozole as required by insurance. One was successful but unfortunately resulted in a miscarriage. I then did one IVF cycle resulting in eight embryos total, four of which tested as PGT-A normal. My first frozen embryo transfer was successful and I am currently pregnant. My retrieval was an antagonist protocol with Menopur, Gonal-F, cetrotide, and trigger shot. My transfer cycle was fully medicated with estrogen patches, progesterone in oil injections, and progesterone suppositories.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
The nursing staff is kind and friendly. Emails and calls are responded to promptly.
Describe your experience with Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
The Scottsdale location is conveniently located. I never had an issue getting in for appointments, even on short notice. If I left a message for the clinical staff, someone would typically return my call by the end of the day. If you have fertility insurance benefits, there is a bit of legwork required on the part of the patient and you will need to stay on top of things. The billing/insurance staff at the clinic is helpful but of course they cannot do everything so I spent a fair amount of time dealing with my insurance company. I truly felt like the staff was invested in the outcome of treatment.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nathaniel Zoneraich at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
For IUIs, the clinic was in-network but the lab was not. My out of pocket cost per IUI was approximately $300. I have an infertility allowance which paid for most of my IVF cycle, thus I am not sure providing detailed information would be helpful to others.
Describe Nathaniel Zoneraich's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
Dr. Z recommended a single embryo transfer in my case. Since my embryos were PGT-A tested, I was not interested in transferring more than one.
Dr Larsen always gave us the validation that no question was too small, too unimportant, or too stupid....We started with unmedicated IUI's as I had no pre-existing issues that we knew about. After 2 failed cycles, I had an HSG to check my fallopian tubes and found a filling defect in my uterus. Dr Larsen performed a sonohistogram the following week and saw several polyps or fibroids in my uterus. He was very honest and candid with his recommendation to proceed with a hysteroscopy to remove them, as he felt this could be why I had not gotten pregnant yet. After the hysteroscopy I wanted to try 1 more unmedicated cycle, which he agreed was perfectly reasonable. That IUI resulted in a pregnancy, but unfortunately ended in a missed miscarriage. As I explained above, his care an
The clinic [Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona] feels very strongly that eSET is a safer and more effective approach than multiple embryo transfers...The strength of AFC is definitely how they treat their patients. Everyone greets you with a smile and calls you by name. My spouse and I felt so supported and encouraged by the receptionists and nurses, and we really felt that they were rooting for us to get pregnant...Each visit, I was always greeted by first name and recognized as a returning client. At no point did I have to retell details or "my story" as Dr. Larson always was up to date with my most current statues. Specifically, when I ended up in the hospital with a ruptured ectopic pregnancy Dr. Larson checked in on both myself and my spouse several times to see how we were doing, which was on a weekend, during his time off.
How was your experience with Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Dr. Larsen approached me as a patient but made me feel as though I was a family member, always having my best interest at heart. While he always shared both risks and benefits, his knowledge and talent put me at ease with every decision I made. At no point did Dr. Larsen make me feel forced into a decision; he showed support and empathy during all of our interactions.
When I experienced my miscarriage, Dr. Larsen showed an incredible amount of empathy, reminding me over and over that it was nothing I did wrong. After he discovered the baby had no heartbeat and it would not be a viable pregnancy, Dr. Larsen said to take as much time as I needed in the room but then wanted to meet with myself and my spouse before I left. Being able to talk with him right after such tragic news was comforting to myself and my spouse. He went above and beyond to check on me while I miscarried at home from a physical, emotional and mental perspective. While having a miscarriage is a lonely experience, I felt Dr. Larsen was always available for any questions or concerns I had.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Don't be afraid to ask anything! Even the questions that seem unimportant or that you feel you should already know the answer to, Dr Larsen always gave us the validation that no question was too small, too unimportant, or too stupid.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Each visit, I was always greeted by first name and recognized as a returning client. At no point did I have to retell details or "my story" as Dr. Larson always was up to date with my most current statues. Specifically, when I ended up in the hospital with a ruptured ectopic pregnancy Dr. Larson checked in on both myself and my spouse several times to see how we were doing, which was on a weekend, during his time off.
Describe the protocols Frederick Larsen used in your cycles at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic) and their degree of success.
We started with unmedicated IUI's as I had no pre-existing issues that we knew about. After 2 failed cycles, I had an HSG to check my fallopian tubes and found a filling defect in my uterus. Dr Larsen performed a sonohistogram the following week and saw several polyps or fibroids in my uterus. He was very honest and candid with his recommendation to proceed with a hysteroscopy to remove them, as he felt this could be why I had not gotten pregnant yet. After the hysteroscopy I wanted to try 1 more unmedicated cycle, which he agreed was perfectly reasonable. That IUI resulted in a pregnancy, but unfortunately ended in a missed miscarriage. As I explained above, his care and compassion throughout that process was incredible. My spouse and I felt so supported. Once healed emotionally and physically, we did 3 medicated IUI cycles with Clomid. Dr Larsen adjusted the Clomid dose appropriately each time to target the recommended number of follicles. After each failed cyle I would return more discouraged than before, but he always remained honest and optimistic. After those failed cycles I asked him if it was worth checking for polyps again, and he agreed that while they usually wait 9 months to a year to check, there were no other clear reasons why I was not getting pregnant so he felt it was a good idea. Sure enough, I had more polyps, and Dr Larsen performed my second hysteroscopy. This was in December, and he was so mindful of finances and a huge advocate for getting me in before the end of the year before my deductible and out-of-pocket started over. Our 7th IUI after that was another Clomid cycle that resulted in a positive pregnancy, but ended as a ruptured ectopic pregnancy at 5 weeks. We did a follow-up visit with him a few weeks later, where he gave us his opinion that IVF should be our next step. Knowing that the cost and process of IVF was a known fear of mine, he did not push us AT ALL to make that decision, and even said that he would agree to one or two more IUI's if that's what we wanted to do. Because of our trust in Dr Larsen and the clinic, we are looking forward to confidently moving forward with IVF in the next few weeks.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
AFC is very unique in that you see a doctor at every single visit, and they are the ones performing all ultrasounds and any other procedures. With that said, the nurses were always friendly, helpful, and remembered us each time. Whenever I called with a question for the clinical staff, they would always check with the doctor to make sure what they were telling me was correct.
Describe your experience with Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
The strength of AFC is definitely how they treat their patients. Everyone greets you with a smile and calls you by name. My spouse and I felt so supported and encouraged by the receptionists and nurses, and we really felt that they were rooting for us to get pregnant.
Describe Frederick Larsen's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
The clinic feels very strongly that eSET is a safer and more effective approach than multiple embryo transfers.
[Dr. Frederick Larsen] listened and respected my personal needs including specific and complex religious needs without any judgement. He remembers the details of those needs. He preforms every exam and ultrasound himself, usually very quick but always answers any questions...he is respectful, compassionate...preforms the procedures smoothly while explaining each step as he does it...strong preference for single transfer
Friendly and kind staff [at Advanced Fertility Care], there have been some issues with billing and insurance mistakes so I do feel I have to keep on top of it to make sure things are correct. Every once in a while a nurse will confuse something in the treatment outlines so I like to review it over with them and check for any questions or discrepancies, but overall helpful and competent!
How was your experience with Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
He has listened and respected my personal needs including specific and complex religious needs without any judgement. He remembers the details of those needs. He preforms every exam and ultrasound himself, usually very quick but always answers any questions. He explained our options clearly and spent as much time as needed discussing. He is very optimistic which is good but can also be challenging after a failed cycle. Overall he is respectful, compassionate and communicates well. He also preforms the procedures smoothly while explaining each step as he does it.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
As lots of questions he will answer them
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
His practice as well as him have listened and respected my personal needs including specific and complex religious needs without any judgement. He remembers the details of those needs. He preforms every exam and ultrasound himself, usually very quick but always answers any questions.
Describe the protocols Frederick Larsen used in your cycles at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic) and their degree of success.
I have possibly post pill pcos so famara was the better choice for me over clomid, he started me in a low dose and built up till my ovaries responded well, once we go that right we switched from timed intercourse to iui, will be discussing next steps soon.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic). (Assigned nurse: Carol )
The care coordinator has been available whenever I have questions especially since there have been some issues with insurance and billing, sometimes when she knows I am in the office she’ll come out just to give me a hug and check in on me.
Describe your experience with Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
Friendly and kind staff, there have been some issues with billing and insurance mistakes so I do feel I have to keep on top of it to make sure things are correct. Every once in a while a nurse will confuse something in the treatment outlines so I like to review it over with them and check for any questions or discrepancies, but overall helpful and competent!
Describe the costs associated with your care under Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
I have insurance for fertility treatments but I had to pay for all lab fees so each iui cost $270
Describe Frederick Larsen's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
Very strong preference for single transfer as their goals are healthy babies not just pregnancies and they want to give each pregnancy the best chance
What specific things went wrong at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Provided conflicting information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
If the doctor modified something during our appointment sometimes the paperwork they give me doesn’t reflect that slight change and I need to remind them
the protocols were pretty standard [with Dr. Frederick Larsen]. They checked in on our progress every other day and changed any necessary doses or medications. Both the retrieval and transfer were successful and I think that's because our doctor knew what he was doing...listened to every concern and always answered our questions thoroughly, unlike the other doctors in the clinic. He was patient and we could tell he genuinely cared about the outcome. He was invested in our success like a family member.
Our doctor [at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona] was opposed to transferring two due to an increased chance of complications. However, we were adamant about transferring two. He reviewed all of the dangers with us, but respected our decision and allowed us to do so...They were more costly than the first clinic we tried, but it was worth every penny. They saw us so often and did so much that it didn't feel like a waste.
How was your experience with Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Dr. Larsen listened to every concern and always answered our questions thoroughly, unlike the other doctors in the clinic. He was patient and we could tell he genuinely cared about the outcome. He was invested in our success like a family member.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Be your own advocate. If there's something you don't agree with or understand, bring it to their attention! They'll accommodate you.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Most of the time, I felt like the clinic staff knew me and treated me really well. Occasionally, I would have to see another doctor. When it came to retrieval and transfer, they clumped all the patients together for dates and that's when it felt like we were a number.
Describe the protocols Frederick Larsen used in your cycles at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic) and their degree of success.
I can't remember all the specifics but the protocols were pretty standard. They checked in on our progress every other day and changed any necessary doses or medications. Both the retrieval and transfer were successful and I think that's because our doctor knew what he was doing.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic). (Assigned nurse: Gabrielle)
Everyone was very kind and welcoming. They always acted professionally and many knew my name by the end of our treatment.
Describe your experience with Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
The only weakness I can think of is that occasionally there were only appointment spots in Mesa or Gilbert so I had to drive to different locations. I also didn't love seeing the other doctors. The biggest strength is that I always felt safe and in good hands.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
They were more costly than the first clinic we tried, but it was worth every penny. They saw us so often and did so much that it didn't feel like a waste.
Describe Frederick Larsen's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
Our doctor was opposed to transferring two due to an increased chance of complications. However, we were adamant about transferring two. He reviewed all of the dangers with us, but respected our decision and allowed us to do so.
What specific things went wrong at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Failed to call with results
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
A couple times I called the clinic about results because I wanted to make sure to catch them before they closed. It sounded like they were still getting back to calls at the time so it's possible they were going to call me after hours.
Dr. Larsen is personable and compassionate. After experiencing our first pregnancy and miscarriage through IVF, he sat us down in a comfortable place and explained out options. He comforted us and made us feel hopeful about the future. He has a positive demeanor, while still delivering not-so-good news in a compassionate way.... Retrieval 1: BC pills, Lupron, Menopur, Follistim, HCG Trigger shot Fertilization: 21 eggs, 17 mature, 5 fertilized Fresh Transfer: progesterone shots, estrogen patches Result: One 5-day blastocyst and 1 morula transferred resulting in pregnancy of one fetus. Saw heartbeat at 6 weeks, miscarried at 8 weeks.
This clinic [Advanced Fertility Care of AZ] is extremely organized and they communicate very effectively. The way the clinic runs is a definite strength of this practice. They are very flexible with getting appointment days and times that work for you. I love that his clinic has a patient portal that I can use to communicate with the nursing staff or my doctor. There are always questions that come up after I have visited the clinic and I feel a sense of comfort knowing I can ask them in the portal and they will respond quickly.
How was your experience with Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Dr. Larsen is personable and compassionate. After experiencing our first pregnancy and miscarriage through IVF, he sat us down in a comfortable place and explained out options. He comforted us and made us feel hopeful about the future. He has a positive demeanor, while still delivering not-so-good news in a compassionate way.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
This would be for any doctor. Research, ask questions, and do all of the diagnostic testing and other testing that you can do in order to come up with the best protocol for you.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Dr. Larsen and all of the doctors at Advanced Fertility Care are kind and do seem to care about you as a person.
Describe the protocols Frederick Larsen used in your cycles at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic) and their degree of success.
Retrieval 1: BC pills, Lupron, Menopur, Follistim, HCG Trigger shot
Fertilization: 21 eggs, 17 mature, 5 fertilized
Fresh Transfer: progesterone shots, estrogen patches
Result: One 5-day blastocyst and 1 morula transferred resulting in pregnancy of one fetus. Saw heartbeat at 6 weeks, miscarried at 8 weeks.
Retrieval 2: BC pills, Lupron, Menopur, Follistim, HCG Trigger shot
Fertilization: 28 eggs, 21 mature, 17 fertilized through ICSI, four 6-day blastocysts sent for PGS testing, 2 chromosomally normal embryos frozen
Frozen transfer #1: BC pills, estrogen patches, lupron, progesterone shots
Results: 1 PGS normal embryo transferred resulting in pregnancy with low HCG (29 on 14dp6dt). HCG levels rose appropriately, but only a sac visible at first ultrasound at 7 weeks confirming a non-viable pregnancy.
Action: Recurrent pregnancy loss blood work done, which revealed elevated blood clotting number (no diagnosis), and heterozygous MTHFR gene mutation.
Frozen transfer #2: BC pills, estrogen patches, progesterone shots, Folate, lovenox injections (after transfer)
Results: 1 PGS normal embryo transferred resulting in a negative pregnancy test
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
The nursing staff were kind and compassionate and responded promptly to any questions I had.
Describe your experience with Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
This clinic is extremely organized and they communicate very effectively. The way the clinic runs is a definite strength of this practice. They are very flexible with getting appointment days and times that work for you. I love that his clinic has a patient portal that I can use to communicate with the nursing staff or my doctor. There are always questions that come up after I have visited the clinic and I feel a sense of comfort knowing I can ask them in the portal and they will respond quickly.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
The first cycle (retrieval and transfer) was around $11,000. The second cycle (retrieval, ICSI, Freeze embryos, PGS testing) was around $15,000, plus about $3,000 paid directly to the lab who did the PGS testing.
Describe Frederick Larsen's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
Once we did the PGS testing, they recommended only transferring one embryo. We did not ask to transfer more, but it seems like they would be open to it depending on the circumstance.
Dr. Zoneraich helped me understand my diagnosis in non-medical terminology. He drew pictures to help explain and allow me to visualize what was happening. I particularly like that our discussions were in his office and only medical treatments were in an exam room because it can be overwhelming... I was diagnosed with Early Ovarian Failure. I had the option to induce a period with progesterone but ended up not needing it. Dr. Z gave us three treatment options to discuss. First, clomid ministim which was 5 days of clomid pills, 3 days of Gonal F injections and finally a trigger shot with times intercourse.
The clinic [Advanced Fertility Care of AZ] was very clean. It didn’t feel like a doctors office. I have been to their Scottsdale and Mesa office. Both waiting rooms are beautiful, offering complimentary coffee and water. I only wish the front desk staff took phone calls in a private area. They openly talk to patients on the phone.... I was surprised to learn the low cost of clomid ministim compared to IVF. It was approximately $3,000 for all tests such as ultrasound and blood work once treatment started as well as the clomid, Gonal F and trigger shot.
How was your experience with Nathaniel Zoneraich at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Dr. Z spoke to me as a friend, not a patient. He was sincere, thorough and gave me hope during I time I needed it most. I particularly like that he called me personally to discuss a treatment question I had and not a nurse. Being 25 and unmarried, I was worried I would be negatively persuaded to choose one decision when in fact, Dr. Z gave us multiple options and explained all pros and cons of each.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nathaniel Zoneraich at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Check your insurance coverage! Mine covered diagnostic testing up until I started treatment. Also, write questions down before arriving. I was often overwhelmed and lost my train of thought and forgot to ask questions while there.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nathaniel Zoneraich at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Dr. Zoneraich helped me understand my diagnosis in non-medical terminology. He drew pictures to help explain and allow me to visualize what was happening. I particularly like that our discussions were in his office and only medical treatments were in an exam room because it can be overwhelming. He didn’t tell me what I had to do but gave me 3 options to go home and discuss before calling him with a decision. He was very thorough and I never felt judged being 25 and not married as I did with my first opinion doctor. Glad I sought a second opinion and glad it was with Dr. Z. We now have a friend seeking treatment options from him and will be back when we are ready for a second child ourselves! We love AFC!
Describe the protocols Nathaniel Zoneraich used in your cycles at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic) and their degree of success.
I was diagnosed with Early Ovarian Failure. I had the option to induce a period with progesterone but ended up not needing it. Dr. Z gave us three treatment options to discuss. First, clomid ministim which was 5 days of clomid pills, 3 days of Gonal F injections and finally a trigger shot with times intercourse. This is the option we chose. 2nd option was IVF and the 3rd was to do nothing because we didn’t know how fast my eggs were depleting. Unfortanetly, I ovulated over Memorial Day weekend so my first treatment failed because the office was closed. However, they so kindly offered me a discount on repeating the cycle the following month since the failure was no ones fault. The second cycle gave us a happy, healthy baby girl!
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
The nursing staff made you feel comfortable during the process. They also call promptly with results and are the ones to let you know your pregnancy results!
Describe your experience with Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
The clinic was very clean. It didn’t feel like a doctors office. I have been to their Scottsdale and Mesa office. Both waiting rooms are beautiful, offering complimentary coffee and water. I only wish the front desk staff took phone calls in a private area. They openly talk to patients on the phone.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nathaniel Zoneraich at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
I was surprised to learn the low cost of clomid ministim compared to IVF. It was approximately $3,000 for all tests such as ultrasound and blood work once treatment started as well as the clomid, Gonal F and trigger shot.
Dr Zoneraich was a nice person and was always honest with me. Sometimes, he tend to emphasize on the worse possible outcome a little too much and this would frustrate me and make me feel less confident, but he needed to prepare me in case if it was not going to work...He was also honest all along the way. Sometimes I felt rushed as the follow-up appointments were literally 2 minutes long....Dr Zoneraich was always smiling and happy
This clinic [Advanced Fert Care] is well organized. It is spotless and there is minimal to no wait time. Everyone is welcoming and dedicated to their jobs. The only downside is that it was very expensive...around 30,000$ total 16,500$ for full cycle (egg retrieval and embryo transfer with ICSI) 4,000$ genetic testing 7,000$ for drugs 2 x 2,000$ for IUI attempts...[nurse] Sandy was quick to respond to my emails. She was also patient when it came to my multiple questions and inquiries.
How was your experience with Nathaniel Zoneraich at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Dr Zoneraich was a nice person and was always honest with me. Sometimes, he tend to emphasize on the worse possible outcome a little too much and this would frustrate me and make me feel less confident, but he needed to prepare me in case if it was not going to work.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nathaniel Zoneraich at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
He is very professional and knows what he is doing. I would recommend to future patients to stay confident in his knowledge and to not get discouraged when he exposes the possibility of having a negative outcome.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nathaniel Zoneraich at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Dr Zoneraich was always smiling and happy. He was also honest all along the way. Sometimes I felt rushed as the follow-up appointments were literally 2 minutes long...
Describe the protocols Nathaniel Zoneraich used in your cycles at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic) and their degree of success.
I did not emphasize too much on getting the full details of the strategies since it worked the first time.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic). (Assigned nurse: Sandy)
Sandy was quick to respond to my emails. She was also patient when it came to my multiple questions and inquiries.
Describe your experience with Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
This clinic is well organized. It is spotless and there is minimal to no wait time. Everyone is welcoming and dedicated to their jobs. The only downside is that it was very expensive.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nathaniel Zoneraich at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
around 30,000$ total
16,500$ for full cycle (egg retrieval and embryo transfer with ICSI)
4,000$ genetic testing
7,000$ for drugs
2 x 2,000$ for IUI attempts
Describe Nathaniel Zoneraich's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
I think that Dr Z. recommended to us the eSET because he is not wanting to increase the rate of multiple births among his patients. He is conscious of the serious complications that this involves and wants to spare us this. It was a much more reasonable approach than many other fertility specialist that let their patients have 2 or 3 babies at a time...
What specific things went wrong at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Failed to send your chart to another clinic
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
When I was transferred to an OBGYN I requested that ALL my file was transferred to the new clinic/doctor. Few appointments later, I realized that the clinic was still asking me to do tests that I had already done at Dr Z. So I had to call back AdFertCare and have them fax the FULL chart.
I was very impressed with how Dr. Zoneraich advocates for his patients. He made sure that my husband and I understood all risks and procedures we were undergoing. He was friendly and positive at all our visits... I felt like Dr. Zoneraich really cared about making the journey of conceiving enjoyable instead of stressful and actively worked to ensure a successful outcome.
The staff and doctors are very knowledgeable and kind [at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona]. They make patients feel like they are important. They have a lab tech on staff to draw blood and process results fast which is very appreciated. With 2 locations it could be necessary to schedule appointments without seeing your Dr. if not needed but overall there was VERY little of that or it was for appointments where it was not necessary to see the Dr.
How was your experience with Nathaniel Zoneraich at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
I was very impressed with how Dr. Zoneraich advocates for his patients. He made sure that my husband and I understood all risks and procedures we were undergoing. He was friendly and positive at all our visits and so was his staff. I felt comfortable to ask more questions when I didn’t understand something and was appreciative of the one on one injection training they provided for my husband and me. I felt like Dr. Zoneraich really cared about making the journey of conceiving enjoyable instead of stressful and actively worked to ensure a successful outcome.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nathaniel Zoneraich at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
This practice has an office in Scottsdale and Mesa. Dr. Zoneraich splits his time between both offices so it may be necessary to drive to the other office if the timing requires it.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nathaniel Zoneraich at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Dr. Z took time to sit down with me in the beginning to read through my medical history and records with me. He was considerate of my concerns but direct in his approach to my care. He took the time to explain the process so we knew what to expect throughout our care.
Describe the protocols Nathaniel Zoneraich used in your cycles at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic) and their degree of success.
My treatment was fairly straightforward. I do not have Fallopian tubes because they were removed due to hydrosalpinx. After having one tube flushed and one removed and trying to conceive naturally the second tube was removed about a year later and IVF was the only option. Dr. Z suggested a one embryo transfer for our first pregnancy with the use of ICSI to fertilize the egg. My husbands sperm were someone malformed when examined and he felt that would give us the best success with fertilization. We did one retrieval cycle that yielded a good number of eggs and were able to produce a good number of embryos. We had a successful singleton pregnancy to full term. We later visited Dr. Z to use our frozen embryos. We asked about 2 embryo transfer and based on my history warned us that twins were a very likely possibility despite the minimal risk of freezing and unthawing embryos. We were ok with this and transferred 2 embryos and successfully carried twins to term.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
I do not specifically remember anything about or care coordinator but I do remember feeling like there was always someone available to answer my questions or get back to me when I needed something
Describe your experience with Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
The staff and doctors are very knowledgeable and kind. They make patients feel like they are important. They have a lab tech on staff to draw blood and process results fast which is very appreciated. With 2 locations it could be necessary to schedule appointments without seeing your Dr. if not needed but overall there was VERY little of that or it was for appointments where it was not necessary to see the Dr.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nathaniel Zoneraich at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
None of my costs were covered by insurance for my procedure. Some medications were covered. I was charged for the retrieval, transfer, medications, and embryo storage
I saw Dr Larsen almost every visit never just a nurse. After every failed attempt he would take the time to personally call and discuss the next step and options. He is very knowledgeable and stays up to date on the latest treatments and research... If you have an hashimotos that is a factor with infertility he may not be your best choice. He doesn’t believe your auto immune condition has any impact on your fertility if your tsh is ok.
Cost was he biggest factor, we are 100% cash pay and they [Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona] are pricier than a lot of places...They have a great billing staff they will do all they can to get authorizations and things covered for you...They are all very kind and never leave you with questions unanswered. If it’s aomething they can’t answer they will follow up with you after talking with the doctor...One egg retrieval including icsi and anesthesia was over $12,000 not including meds or genetic testing.
How was your experience with Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
I saw Dr Larsen almost every visit never just a nurse. After every failed attempt he would take the time to personally call and discuss the next step and options. He is very knowledgeable and stays up to date on the latest treatments and research.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
If you have an hashimotos that is a factor with infertility he may not be your best choice. He doesn’t believe your auto immune condition has any impact on your fertility if your tsh is ok.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
The front office staff greets you by name and even remember where I work and what I do. It has been a rough 4 years but the staff and doctors are always so caring and never make you feel like you are just a customer. Many have similar experiences and understand the heartache involved and can relate on a whole different level.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
They are all very kind and never leave you with questions unanswered. If it’s aomething they can’t answer they will follow up with you after talking with the doctor.
Describe your experience with Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
Cost was he biggest factor, we are 100% cash pay and they are pricier than a lot of places. I honestly believe you get what you pay for in this type of situation so we have stuck with the clinic. They have a great billing staff they will do all they can to get authorizations and things covered for you.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
One egg retrieval including icsi and anesthesia was over $12,000 not including meds or genetic testing.
I felt judge by [Dr. Zoneraich]...My partner and I were considering IVF with him and he made us feel terrible for wanting to choose the gender of our first baby (his clinic only allows you to choose the gender of you already have children). He made it seem like this is a common practice across clinics. I understand that everyone has different beliefs about the ethics of selecting gender, we weren’t asking him to change the clinics policy, but did not appreciate his judgement of our differing beliefs...did explain treatments well in consultations and had a lot of information. I didn’t always see him during my monitoring they other doctors were capable and nice, but it felt a little impersonal.
The clinic [Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona] is very organized. You rarely have to wait more than 5 minutes. All their financial and treatment information is very organized, clear, and easily disseminated. The office is very clean. I really liked the TV screens that show you the ultrasound screen...clinic only allows you to choose the gender of you already have children...The nursing staff was very organized and kind...Single embryo transfer only
How was your experience with Nathaniel Zoneraich at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
I felt judge by Dr. Z. My partner and I were considering IVF with him and he made us feel terrible for wanting to choose the gender of our first baby (his clinic only allows you to choose the gender of you already have children). He made it seem like this is a common practice across clinics. I understand that everyone has different beliefs about the ethics of selecting gender, we weren’t asking him to change the clinics policy, but did not appreciate his judgement of our differing beliefs.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nathaniel Zoneraich at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Dr. Z did explain treatments well in consultations and had a lot of information. I didn’t always see him during my monitoring they other doctors were capable and nice, but it felt a little impersonal.
Describe the protocols Nathaniel Zoneraich used in your cycles at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic) and their degree of success.
IUI
Monitored cycle
Novarel trigger shot
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
The nursing staff was very organized and kind.
Describe your experience with Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
The clinic is very organized. You rarely have to wait more than 5 minutes. All their financial and treatment information is very organized, clear, and easily disseminated. The office is very clean. I really liked the TV screens that show you the ultrasound screen.
Describe Nathaniel Zoneraich's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
He was quick with results as he does all testing personally. He gave us our options, but did not pressure us into any treatments. I had some polyps that needed to be removed and Dr. Zoneraich did that surgery himself.
My only complaint is that the billing office needs some work. They have attempted to overcharge a few times. You just have to be vigilant and know what you are supposed to pay so that you can make sure it matches what they are asking for.
How was your experience with Nathaniel Zoneraich at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
A great doctor! I had all fertility testing done through his office. He was quick with results as he does all testing personally. He gave us our options, but did not pressure us into any treatments. I had some polyps that needed to be removed and Dr. Zoneraich did that surgery himself. I am now on my second attempt with femara so we will see what happens at the end of this cycle. I have had a great experience with this doctor and his staff so far. My only complaint is that the billing office needs some work. They have attempted to overcharge a few times. You just have to be vigilant and know what you are supposed to pay so that you can make sure it matches what they are asking for.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nathaniel Zoneraich at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Be prepared to pay appointment costs up front.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nathaniel Zoneraich at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Nurses were always kind and made sure I was as comfortable as I could be. I had to have one appointment with Dr. L while Dr. Z was out of town and I was so pleasantly surprised that he knew my whole history and where I was at with my treatment. Dr. Z takes the time to answer all of my questions without rushing me or my husband.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
Always made sure I was comfortable. (Did I need to use the restroom, do I need water etc.)
Dr. Larsen seemed knowledgeable. I have DOR, and I wish there were discussions about needing multiple rounds and freezing embryos. Doing more than one egg retrieval was never mentioned. They [Advanced Fertility Care of AZ] only offer package plans for people who are likely to be successful and no packages for less desirable patients.
Dr. Larsen seemed knowledgeable. I have DOR, and I wish there were discussions about needing multiple rounds and freezing embryos. Doing more than one egg retrieval was never mentioned. They [Advanced Fertility Care of AZ] only offer package plans for people who are likely to be successful and no packages for less desirable patients.
How was your experience with Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Dr. Larsen seemed knowledgeable. I have DOR, and I wish there were discussions about needing multiple rounds and freezing embryos. Doing more than one egg retrieval was never mentioned. They only offer package plans for people who are likely to be successful and no packages for less desirable patients.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
If you have money to spare and will probably need only one Ivf cycle, he is a.great option for you.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
He was thoughtful, remembered me and my situation, and personally returned calls and emails.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
$12800 IVF cycle
$1000-1200 IUI
What specific things went wrong at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
He [Dr. Frederick Larsen] was great...I have no negative feedback. He was always patient, kind, trustworthy, on time, explaining everything, encouraging. It was the best experience and I couldn't have asked for more. I really have no negative feedback. The experience was beyond expectation. We have a beautiful, healthy baby boy because of him....PGS testing was the reason we were able to put the correct embryo. He highly recommended it after our 5 losses with previous trials.
He [Dr. Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of AZ] was great...I have no negative feedback. He was always patient, kind, trustworthy, on time, explaining everything, encouraging. It was the best experience and I couldn't have asked for more. I really have no negative feedback. The experience was beyond expectation. We have a beautiful, healthy baby boy because of him....PGS testing was the reason we were able to put the correct embryo. He highly recommended it after our 5 losses with previous trials.
How was your experience with Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
He was great...I have no negative feedback. He was always patient, kind, trustworthy, on time, explaining everything, encouraging. It was the best experience and I couldn't have asked for more. I really have no negative feedback. The experience was beyond expectation. We have a beautiful, healthy baby boy because of him.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Trust him.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
He's absolutely FANTASTIC!! Great bedside manners, kind, patient, explains everything.
Describe the protocols Frederick Larsen used in your cycles at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic) and their degree of success.
PGS testing was the reason we were able to put the correct embryo. He highly recommended it after our 5 losses with previous trials.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
Great!
Describe your experience with Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
No negatives...honestly my experience was amazing.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
I felt like everything was explained well and questions were answered [by Dr. Nathaniel Zoneraich]...I was also upset that PGS testing of embryos wasn’t brought up until after a miscarriage...After we went through entire package of fresh cycles and frozen transfers nothing worked...I felt like the doctor was very smart and I trusted him completely. I wish there was more compassion in the way of financial stresses...Our doctor preferred single embryo transfer for all his patients. But we could only do a single embryo transfer as I have a unicornate uterus. (Half a uterus)
The billing [at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona] was a little off. They seemed to have issues with getting amounts correct or charging the right thing. I would come in a week after paying a bill and I would have a leftover balance. Most recently, I’ve had a major issue with paying the yearly storage for my one remaining embryo. They would harass me for payments when I was paying every time I got a bill. It was very frustrating for them to be harassing for money when they already had over 30k from us with nothing to show for it.
How was your experience with Nathaniel Zoneraich at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
I felt like the doctor was very smart and I trusted him completely. I wish there was more compassion in the way of financial stresses. I was very frustrated that PGS testing wasn’t brought up until after my miscarriage/egg retrieval. The packages offered weren’t nice. I thought it was weird that one of the packages you paid more for, and if nothing worked and get majority of your money back. That’s all startin The packages offered were nice. I thought it was weird that one of the packages you paid more for, and if nothing worked then you get majority of your money back. That felt to be starting off on a bad note and you think you will leave with your baby. So we chose not to do that. After we went through entire package of fresh cycles and frozen transfers nothing worked. We wished we would’ve done that plan
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nathaniel Zoneraich at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Know all your options. All of them. Know there is PGS testing.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nathaniel Zoneraich at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
I felt like everything was explained well and questions were answered. But with one miscarriage into field transfers I felt like I was just a number. I felt like they thought money was in list and just want to keep trying. We didn’t have the money for that. I was also upset that PGS testing of embryos wasn’t brought up until after a miscarriage.
Describe the protocols Nathaniel Zoneraich used in your cycles at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic) and their degree of success.
I don’t remember the Protocal. It was in 2016.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
Nursing staff was professional and polite. They showed compassion in the hard times and were very caring.
Describe your experience with Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
The billing was a little off. They seemed to have issues with getting amounts correct or charging the right thing. I would come in a week after paying a bill and I would have a leftover balance. Most recently, I’ve had a major issue with paying the yearly storage for my one remaining embryo. They would harass me for payments when I was paying every time I got a bill. It was very frustrating for them to be harassing for money when they already had over 30k from us with nothing to show for it.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nathaniel Zoneraich at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
We did a package that included Hey certain amount of fresh cycles and frozen transfers. We also had to pay in addiction to that for another fresh cycle to get more embryos, PGS testing and the medications. Over $35,000
Describe Nathaniel Zoneraich's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
Our doctor preferred single embryo transfer for all his patients. But we could only do a single embryo transfer as I have a unicornate uterus. (Half a uterus)
We transferred one embryo for our first IVF cycle that ended in a chemical pregnancy and decided to transfer 2 our next round of IVF. Dr.Larsen let us know of the risks involved but respected our wishes . But he strongly advised against transferring 3 or more in our case...His techniques during physical examinations made me feel comfortable and at ease. He did not run tests that he felt were not needed and tried to start with low dosage infertility drugs and see how my body handled that and responded before prescribing more meds and higher dosages.
The hours [at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona] are amazing but because where are 3 different locations it was possible many times that visit could be in different location . Depending on the day of your appointment each location was different but the staff remained the same which was very comforting...If you have any questions don’t hesitate to call even if you think the question is minimal he will always or tries to always call back and answer your questions with detail and sincerity
How was your experience with Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Dr Larsen was very approachable and understood the emotional/mental stress associated with infertility and approached my partner and I with compassion and offered all possible alternatives . Dr Larsen was very soft spoken and gentle. His techniques during physical examinations made me feel comfortable and at ease. He did not run tests that he felt were not needed and tried to start with low dosage infertility drugs and see how my body handled that and responded before prescribing more meds and higher dosages.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
If you have any questions don’t hesitate to call even if you think the question is minimal he will always or tries to always call back and answer your questions with detail and sincerity
Describe your experience with Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
The hours are amazing but because where are 3 different locations it was possible many times that visit could be in different location . Depending on the day of your appointment each location was different but the staff remained the same which was very comforting
Describe Frederick Larsen's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
We transferred one embryo for our first IVF cycle that ended in a chemical pregnancy and decided to transfer 2 our next round of IVF. Dr.Larsen let us know of the risks involved but respected our wishes . But he strongly advised against transferring 3 or more in our case
Dr. Zoneraich was fairly aggressive with my IVF protocol and willing to try things that "can't hurt, might help." But when I asked about the ERA test before transfer he said that he didn't suggest it for people until they'd had multiple failed transfers. When I decided I wanted to do it anyway (I'd had 1 failed transfer with another clinic) he was totally supportive and agreed to do it. Same thing with PGS testing - he suggested it for me but was not pushy at all when I declined. He's fairly conservative but willing to discuss alternatives and flexible with your preferences.
Advanced Fertility Care is the 3rd clinic I've been to, and definitely my favorite. You see a doctor at every appointment, and can easily/quickly reach your doctor via phone to speak directly with them. Sherri, their embryologist, is an absolute gem. In my experience, most embryologists are very technical and not super warm, but Sherri is the perfect combination of both and talked me off the ledge multiple times. The accessibility to your team of experts at this clinic is amazing and something I didn't experience at my previous 2 clinics. I
How was your experience with Nathaniel Zoneraich at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
I love Dr. Z! He is very candid but in a gentle way, and talks to you like you are a real person, not "just" a patient. He has a great sense of humor, and calls you directly with good news and bad news, rather than having nurses deliver messages. There are 3 doctors that rotate between the clinic locations, but Dr. Zoneraich is my favorite. I saw Dr. Larsen for a few appointments and he is a close second, he is warm and kind and takes the time to explain things in detail. I saw Dr. Kummer once at a follicle check for my IVF cycle that wasn't going well, and she was pretty blunt and negative about my chances of getting cancelled, not nearly as compassionate as Dr. Zoneraich or Dr. Larsen. I just didn't jive with her as well.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nathaniel Zoneraich at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Don't be afraid to ask about additional procedures or unconventional treatments. Dr. Zoneraich was fairly aggressive with my IVF protocol and willing to try things that "can't hurt, might help." But when I asked about the ERA test before transfer he said that he didn't suggest it for people until they'd had multiple failed transfers. When I decided I wanted to do it anyway (I'd had 1 failed transfer with another clinic) he was totally supportive and agreed to do it. Same thing with PGS testing - he suggested it for me but was not pushy at all when I declined. He's fairly conservative but willing to discuss alternatives and flexible with your preferences.
Describe the protocols Nathaniel Zoneraich used in your cycles at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic) and their degree of success.
Because of my age (39 at the time) and previous poor response at another clinic, Dr. Zoneraich suggested a microdose Lupron flare protocol, but also wanted to add in HGH/Omnitrope in hopes that it would help with egg quality. In my previous IVF at another clinic I'd started with a decent antral count, had many follicles but few contained eggs, and was unsuccessful. My cycle with Dr. Z also started with a good antral count, but my mid-cycle follicle checks showed only 3-5 follicles growing. We discussed canceling, but Dr. Z felt we should proceed if we had at least 3, and my husband really wanted to go for it. I'm glad I listened to them, because when I came out of anesthesia they told me there were 15 eggs. I made the nurse double check because I thought she'd mixed me up with another patient! I don't know how or why they all decided to grow in the 2 days between my last scan and retrieval, but was obviously thrilled. Of the 15 retrieved, 12 were mature, 7 fertilized, and 4 made it to blast - 1 excellent and 3 good. We did the ERA test at my request and learned that I was pre-receptive by 12 hours, and planned my progesterone timing appropriately for our FET cycle. We transferred 2 embryos, which led to our first ever positive pregnancy test. Sadly our betas didn't double and we lost the pregnancy very early. Because my tests are all fine, Dr. Z and I agree that it was likely due to chromosomal abnormality due to my age, as we did not do PGS testing. However, we were all encouraged by the fact that we finally were able to achieve pregnancy. We have 2 embryos still frozen, and plan to transfer them in 2019.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic). (Assigned nurse: Sandy)
My IVF coordinator/nurse Sandy is awesome. She is accessible, informative, compassionate, and stayed on top of prescriptions with my multiple pharmacies. Her IVF support nurse Bree is also very easy to get in touch with and helpful. The clinic nurses are a bit more inconsistent, and seems to be a fair amount of turnover.
Describe your experience with Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
Advanced Fertility Care is the 3rd clinic I've been to, and definitely my favorite. You see a doctor at every appointment, and can easily/quickly reach your doctor via phone to speak directly with them. Sherri, their embryologist, is an absolute gem. In my experience, most embryologists are very technical and not super warm, but Sherri is the perfect combination of both and talked me off the ledge multiple times. The accessibility to your team of experts at this clinic is amazing and something I didn't experience at my previous 2 clinics. I do wish they had a more consistent group of medical assistance staff - part of that is that they rotate between the 3 offices, so sometimes you'll see new faces, but they are very frequently training a new staff member. They do a great job with their injection training! My previous clinic told me to watch the videos on Freedom Pharmacy's website; these videos are great, but I would have been so much more prepared if I'd had the personalized instruction like they do here. Their cash pay rates are quite expensive, I could not afford to use AFC if I didn't have insurance, but they have been such a pleasure to work with. And while I don't have a baby in my arms yet, Dr. Z helped me achieve my first ever pregnancy, and I'm hopeful that our next transfer will be successful.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nathaniel Zoneraich at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
Thankfully my insurance covered our IVF cycle with AFC, so our costs have been mostly limited to our deductible and out of pocket max.
Describe Nathaniel Zoneraich's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
Dr. Zoneraich refers to the ASRM guidelines, and agreed with my preference to transfer 2 embryos, since I was 39 and the embryos were not PGS tested. For PGS embryos, I think he prefers single embryo transfer regardless of age group. In the "IVF packet" of paperwork given prior to your cycle, they included testimonials of a patient that had a multiple gestation and had difficulties/premature birth. They definitely want their patients informed of the risk!
[Dr. Zoneraich] encourages eSET for PGS embryos and even has a packet with a story of a patient who begged him to transfer 2 PGS embryos and she ended up with triplets and it was a rough go for her (her words) in the beginning...personally called me with my pregnancy results and would always call back within the hour if he was on call and I needed anything after hours. He outlined a very personalized plan for me that ended up turning out exactly how he predicted.
I had a subchorionic hemorrhage and bled every week until I was 18 weeks pregnant. Sandy [nurse at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona] was always available to discuss this and made me feel better without over-exaggerating that things would turn out ok...Everything is cutting edge and perfectly coordinated. Even though I am an RN, the injection teaching was very helpful and the staff made sure to go over everything with me and were all always very professional. Costs were always discussed ahead of time and were never a surprise.
How was your experience with Nathaniel Zoneraich at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
I feel Dr. Z is extremely up-to-date with effective IVF protocols and does not waste your time or money with extra “fluff” that hasn’t been proven to work. As an RN myself who works in an area that encounters other women who have gone through IVF with other doctors, I really felt that Dr. Z and his protocol was very personalized and evidence-based. He did give me 3 options at the start and I initially was going to do IUI but I had 5 mature follicles and I was scared to chance the risk of multiples. I was also surprised that I had that many follicles with my diagnosis of probably early diminished ovarian reserve. I was scared that I wouldn’t produce enough follicles. When I decided to do IVF because I felt like Inhadnmore control, I was astonished to have at least 10 mature follicles for each ovary during my scan. I asked how this was possible with my low AMH but they said they would rather see me have a high AFC with an low AMH than a normal AMH and a low AFC. My AMH was 1.15 at age 34. At my egg retrieval I ended up with 24 eggs retrieved, 17 mature, 14 fertilized (conventional), 6 made it to day 6 and 3 were normal via PGS. We transferred one embryo and are blessed with a beautiful baby girl.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Nathaniel Zoneraich at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Have faith in the process and do everything in your power to follow the protocol exactly.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Nathaniel Zoneraich at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Dr. Z personally called me with my pregnancy results and would always call back within the hour if he was on call and I needed anything after hours. He outlined a very personalized plan for me that ended up turning out exactly how he predicted.
Describe the protocols Nathaniel Zoneraich used in your cycles at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic) and their degree of success.
I don’t specifically remember but I know I used birth control, lupron, Menopur, Gonal-F, Pregnyl trigger, estrogen patches, PIO injections and progesterone suppositories. I also used a prenatal vitamin, aspirin 81 mg and abstained from all caffeine until my second trimester.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic). (Assigned nurse: Sandy)
I had a subchorionic hemorrhage and bled every week until I was 18 weeks pregnant. Sandy was always available to discuss this and made me feel better without over-exaggerating that things would turn out ok.
Describe your experience with Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
Everything is cutting edge and perfectly coordinated. Even though I am an RN, the injection teaching was very helpful and the staff made sure to go over everything with me and were all always very professional. Costs were always discussed ahead of time and were never a surprise.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Nathaniel Zoneraich at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
Insurance at the time covered $5000 of any fertility treatment and I paid around $14,000 for my IVF cycle (some of that was included in the $5k because all I did prior was Clomid and monitoring because I decided not to do IUi). My medications were around $5000.
Describe Nathaniel Zoneraich's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
Dr. Z encourages eSET for PGS embryos and even has a packet with a story of a patient who begged him to transfer 2 PGS embryos and she ended up with triplets and it was a rough go for her (her words) in the beginning.
His [Dr. Frederick Larsen] exams are pain free and he was extremely responsive to the one concern that came up in my IVF process. This doctor is gentle, honest, knowledgable, direct, and kind. I very much hope that my current pregnancy (from IVF done by Dr. L) works out, but if not, I'd go back to his care without any hesitation...Dr. Larsen is extremely honest and direct. He doesn't sugarcoat bad news. I think his bedside manner is great, and I believe he deeply cares about helping his patients become and stay pregnant. But, he's not a hand-holding/"cuddly" doctor per se. Also, his predictions of how our treatment process would go were extremely accurate, so I appreciated his directness.
I loved my whole [Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona] team, all of whom were compassionate, kind, and seemed very motivated to help me get pregnant. They were all so happy for us when we got our big fat positive, I just can't thank them enough. Weaknesses: The clinic is big, and they do have a standard treatment protocol that they prefer (e.g., medicated FET vs. natural). They provide a good rationale for their recommendations and respect patient preferences, though. Overall: Come to AFC! They know what they're doing and treated us great.
How was your experience with Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Honestly, this doctor is fabulous. I have no complaints and have recommended AFC to others already. His exams are pain free and he was extremely responsive to the one concern that came up in my IVF process. This doctor is gentle, honest, knowledgable, direct, and kind. I very much hope that my current pregnancy (from IVF done by Dr. L) works out, but if not, I'd go back to his care without any hesitation.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Ask any question you have. If you're not happy with your protocol, say something. If you need to meet with Dr. L before your next appointment, schedule a follow up consult.
One consideration: Dr. Larsen is extremely honest and direct. He doesn't sugarcoat bad news. I think his bedside manner is great, and I believe he deeply cares about helping his patients become and stay pregnant. But, he's not a hand-holding/"cuddly" doctor per se. Also, his predictions of how our treatment process would go were extremely accurate, so I appreciated his directness.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Dr. Larsen is fabulous. He's honest, extremely knowledgeable, and, best of all, kind. Plus he got us pregnant so I really can't complain. The staff are great. You are not a number at AFC, they really want to help you get pregnant.
Describe the protocols Frederick Larsen used in your cycles at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic) and their degree of success.
We did 2 IUI's with Clomid which didn't work (2 big follicles each time; two negative pregnancy tests). Then we did a round of IVF with Menopur, Gonal-F, and Lupron. We had one egg retrieval, followed by a frozen single embryo transfer, which (very luckily) was successful. Then I took progesterone and estradiol for the first 10 weeks of pregnancy - this was not fun lol. Overall I had a very positive experience with the fertility treatment process and was very well-monitored and well-supported by the AFC team.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic). (Assigned nurse: Yeneley )
My nurse navigator was FABULOUS! She followed up after every appointment, helped me get in touch with Dr. Larsen when I needed, and was the sweetest, most supportive person to have on this journey. Yeneley rocks.
I also worked a ton with nurse Hannah. She is an outstanding ultrasound tech and is very direct and compassionate.
I had one nursing assistant I didn't love but I asked to work with someone else and they accommodated it without an issues. I'd say the entire staff, including the phlebotomists and embryologists, are fabulous.
Describe your experience with Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
Strengths: This clinic has been around a long time. They have a strong reputation and excellent results to back it up. I really got the sense that they were competent, caring, and experienced from the get go. As previously mentioned I loved my whole team, all of whom were compassionate, kind, and seemed very motivated to help me get pregnant. They were all so happy for us when we got our big fat positive, I just can't thank them enough.
Weaknesses: The clinic is big, and they do have a standard treatment protocol that they prefer (e.g., medicated FET vs. natural). They provide a good rationale for their recommendations and respect patient preferences, though.
Overall: Come to AFC! They know what they're doing and treated us great.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
Thank goodness I had infertility insurances. So, this estimate may not be helpful to others. But from what I recall, we paid about $1000 for meds + treatment per IUI cycle, and then about $2500 for IVF + meds + embryo transfer. Genetic testing was $5,000 and wasn't covered. I believe that IFV including transfer, meds, and PGT-A would've been about $15,000 had we not been insured.
Describe Frederick Larsen's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
Dr. Larsen is smart, warm, and patient. He is willing to listen and be collaborative...He listens to you, educates you, and also answers your questions and concerns well. I never felt once rushed in an appointment or treated like another number...For the egg retrievals, I was put on Gonal-F, Menopur, and Cetrotide with a Lupron trigger shot. For the transfer, I was on oral estrogen, baby aspirin, and IM Progesterone injections and vaginal suppositories for 10 weeks...
Advanced Fertility Care is a well run clinic and will provide excellent care to their patients...Scheduling for ultrasounds and blood draws were sometimes not ideal but fortunately, I had a flexible schedule to accommodate for it. I loved the clinic staff (especially Jennifer who is the head of the clinic staff) and felt well supported with my navigators (my journey with the clinic lasted for nearly 3 years and my navigators would change over time)...
How was your experience with Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
I highly recommend Dr. Larsen to anyone in the valley for their fertility care. Currently, I am 39 weeks pregnant after 2 egg retrievals (done at 37 and 38 years old) and 1 transfer (done at 39 years old) . As a Family Nurse Practitioner with an Integrative Medicine perspective, I am not the easiest patient to work with at times. However, Dr. Larsen was willing to collaborate with me and his warm and fuzzy presence was incredibly comforting during our fertility journey which had its moments of high stress, twists, and turns. Never once did I feel rushed through an appointment and all of my questions and concerns were answered. Even during vaginal ultrasounds and procedures, Dr. Larsen treated my body gently and with respect. I plan to return to Dr. Larsen’s care and his team when we are ready to get pregnant with our second child.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Dr. Larsen has a warm and fuzzy presence. He listens to you, educates you, and also answers your questions and concerns well. I never felt once rushed in an appointment or treated like another number. As a Family Nurse Practitioner with an Integrative Medicine perspective, Dr. Larsen was willing to collaborate with me as we wen through the fertility journey together. I felt well supported under his care. Even with the vaginal ultrasounds and procedures, he treated my body gently and with respect.
Describe the protocols Frederick Larsen used in your cycles at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic) and their degree of success.
For the egg retrievals, I was put on Gonal-F, Menopur, and Cetrotide with a Lupron trigger shot.
For the transfer, I was on oral estrogen, baby aspirin, and IM Progesterone injections and vaginal suppositories for 10 weeks.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
The staff at the Scottsdale and Mesa locations were friendly, kind, and responsive to my needs. They assign each patient a navigator as your primary communication person who helps answer your questions and support your needs through the process in a timely manner. I plan to return to Dr. Larsen’s care and his team when we are ready to get pregnant with our second child.
Describe your experience with Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
I believe Advanced Fertility Care is a well run clinic and will provide excellent care to their patients. Dr. Larsen is smart, warm, and patient. He is willing to listen and be collaborative. Scheduling for ultrasounds and blood draws were sometimes not ideal but fortunately, I had a flexible schedule to accommodate for it. I loved the clinic staff (especially Jennifer who is the head of the clinic staff) and felt well supported with my navigators (my journey with the clinic lasted for nearly 3 years and my navigators would change over time).
Describe the costs associated with your care under Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
Unfortunately, the state of Arizona does not require insurance to cover fertility treatment. Our health insurance would only cover for diagnostic care. We ended up spending around 40k for 2 egg retrievals and 1 transfer with our IVF experience. It's expensive and we were fortunate that we could afford it.
Describe Frederick Larsen's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
He [Dr. Frederick Larsen] has been amazing since day one. My first consultation was very clear and very positive. It made it so easy, when we decided to go through another cycle he was so supportive and very compassionate when our last cycle resulted in a miscarriage. The biggest thing for me was he remembered my daughters name and it was almost three years between cycles. The personal touch is what brings me back
I feel the [Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona] clinic is overall strong and helpful, however I think they need to review the billing for insurance or have a better understanding of the benefits...The nursing staff or I should said the front office staff has always been so pleasant and warm. I have always felt welcomed.
How was your experience with Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
He has been amazing since day one. My first consultation was very clear and very positive. It made it so easy, when we decided to go through another cycle he was so supportive and very compassionate when our last cycle resulted in a miscarriage. The biggest thing for me was he remembered my daughters name and it was almost three years between cycles. The personal touch is what brings me back
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Ask all the questions. He has no shame in telling you how it is and being hopeful at the same time. He will put your mind at ease and make sure you are armed with all the knowledge to make the best decisions
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
With the first pregnancy he was very kind and supportive the entire way. He made it feel like family whenever he was discussing treatment. Even with the last pregnancy that resulted in a miscarriage he was very supportive and felt genuinely apologetic when it didn’t happen
Describe the protocols Frederick Larsen used in your cycles at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic) and their degree of success.
Because of the PCOS I do not ovulate on time or produce big enough eggs. The first time we tried a natural cycle and I was too close to starting a period cycle that the IUI did not take. The second cycle, we used clomid to help with the ovulation and production of eggs to have a higher chance of a positive cycle. During that time I was monitored for a week on the clomid then, had a transvaginal ultrasound to check where my body was and then given the trigger shot Injection to take on a specific day to ensure the release of that egg at the time of the insemination. I was told to come with a full bladder and once the insemination was done, I would sit with my hips elevated for ten minutes. Which it worked! We had a daughter. The process was very easy and every step was explained multiple times to make sure my partner and I knew exactly what was going on
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
The nursing staff or I should said the front office staff has always been so pleasant and warm. I have always felt welcomed. There was one nurse in particular who started doing IUI procedure that I felt did not have the right amount of training or knowledge to be performing them. She was overall nice and apologetic, but she had such a hard time trying to find my cervix she end up pinching me and causing a lot of cramping during that particular cycle
Describe your experience with Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
I feel the clinic is overall strong and helpful, however I think they need to review the billing for insurance or have a better understanding of the benefits. I have a $1000 credit because I over paid them so much based on”the benefits” they ran. But I want allowed to use the credit in case my insurance denied a claim.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
The prices were affordable with a high premium plan, but if the insurance did not cover the benefits it was reasonably expensive for the service you receive. I do still have a credit , but unable to use it. As previously stated the team needs to learn to properly bill an insurance.
Describe Frederick Larsen's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
N/A
What specific things went wrong at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Failed to call with results
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
When I was going through the last cycle, the miscarriage cycle they could not get a hold of me but instead of attempting to call me earlier then at the close of business they called me after 5, which is fine but instead of trying me again. Left a voicemail stating I was having a miscarriage and to stop all prescriptions. It wasn’t the physician it was one of the nurses but I felt so fragile at that time and for someone to leave me a voicemail felt very insensitive
[Dr. Larsen] never mislead us and was there every step of the way when we had to terminate our pregnancy due to an ectopic pregnancy. He even called me personally on occasion to make sure I understood what was going on and what to expect. He never discouraged us from trying and didn’t push IVF just because we had a few failed cycles...I could tell her genuinely cares for me. When we found out we had an ectopic pregnancy I’ll never forget him saying “we’re going to get you through this.”
She’s has been extremely communicative and answer any questions that arise. If she isn’t 100% sure, she always follows up with the physician and gets back to me...We didn’t feel anyone had any bias towards us being apart of the LGBTQIA+ community...they have a dedicated staff member that answers the more complex questions regarding insurance benefits...a few staff members could learn to check a chart before mentioning a pregnancy, assuming patient is still actively carrying after a loss. But again, they are an awesome team overall.
How was your experience with Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Dr. L is simply put, amazing! He’s extremely thorough, has a kind, gentle and direct bedside manner, though never rude. He cares about his patients and their outcome and from the very beginning he made sure to ask us what OUR goals were. He never mislead us and was there every step of the way when we had to terminate our pregnancy due to an ectopic pregnancy. He even called me personally on occasion to make sure I understood what was going on and what to expect. He never discouraged us from trying and didn’t push IVF just because we had a few failed cycles. To this day, I wouldn’t go to annoying else. My wife and I love Dr. L and the clinic team.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Come prepared to your initial consult with questions. He will answer them honestly and give you any additional information you may be missing or need to understand.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
I felt like a human because Dr. L actually included my wife, even when she wasn’t there. He also never forced me to continue a cycle just for the means of making money. I could tell her genuinely cares for me. When we found out we had an ectopic pregnancy I’ll never forget him saying “we’re going to get you through this.”
Describe the protocols Frederick Larsen used in your cycles at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic) and their degree of success.
Initial consultation - come up with treatment plan; call on cycle day 1 and be scheduled for a baseline US; take meds as prescribed and f/u at next appointment with additional US to check on follicles; depending on how follicles have grown they will schedule you for IUI; have IUI procedure and schedule blood hcg test in 14 days. If you become pregnant you do blood draws until hcg is at certain level and then you schedule your first US to see your growing baby.
How competent was Frederick Larsen at LGBTQ+ care?
The entire staff was welcoming of me and my wife. I never had a moment where I felt uncomfortable, nor my wife. They always included her and all but one time did anyone reference me having sex with a man. We didn’t feel anyone had any bias towards us being apart of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic). (Assigned nurse: Leah)
She is heave-sent. She’s has been extremely communicative and answer any questions that arise. If she isn’t 100% sure, she always follows up with the physician and gets back to me. I don’t recall their ever being a scheduling error on her behalf and she is warm and inviting. She cheers me on and reminds me that there is no pressure to schedule for cycles and that “our time will come.”
Describe your experience with Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
The front office staff have their days, but the good outweighs the bad. For the most part insurance isn’t an issue and estimates are typically spot on. In the event there are questions, they have a dedicated staff member that answers the more complex questions regarding insurance benefits.
I’d say, maybe it comes with experience, but a few staff members could learn to check a chart before mentioning a pregnancy, assuming patient is still actively carrying after a loss. But again, they are an awesome team overall.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
Roughly $250-$400 per cycle. It got lower after each try due to the insurance I have.
Describe Frederick Larsen's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
N/A
How competent was Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic) at LGBTQ+ care?
Very much so, nothing much else to say.
Describe your experience using 3rd party reproduction (donor eggs, donor sperm, or gestational carrier) at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
We used donor sperm and a specialist from the clinic would call once shipment had arrived at the clinic to confirm it was the vials we purchased. Never had any hiccups in the process. I had to switch speed banks at one point due to lack of diversity in donor choices and Dr. L had no issues filling out the required paperwork and it was completed same day.
I wanted to try a few cycles of IUI, and while Dr. Larsen was honest about the relatively low statistical success rate, I never felt pressured to move right into IVF...I never felt rushed or dismissed...No success with IUI but felt Dr. Larsen tailored his approach to my individual needs... recommended eSET for me, especially because I have a thinner lining, which would have a harder time supporting multiple embryos.
Advanced Fertility Care has two offices- one in Mesa and one in Scottsdale. You may have to be a little flexible at times as to the location depending on the days you need to be seen. But I've never had a problem getting an appointment when needed... nice to see familiar faces at each visit to the office...Each IUI cycle was about $1,000...IVF was quoted at almost $15k and about $4k for medications...
How was your experience with Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
My husband and I met with Dr. Larsen due to unexplained infertility. He clearly explained our options and cited research studies and statistics. I wanted to try a few cycles of IUI, and while Dr. Larsen was honest about the relatively low statistical success rate, I never felt pressured to move right into IVF. I completed three back to back cycles of IUI treatments and Dr. Larsen was always willing to answer my many questions. I never felt rushed or dismissed. I appreciate his knowledge and caring nature and plan to begin IVF as soon as procedures can be resumed.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
Hold your pee before an IUI... it makes the procedure much easier!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic)?
I felt treated as a human because I felt heard and he was more than willing to answer my questions. He called me directly when treatments had to be postponed due to COVID.
Describe the protocols Frederick Larsen used in your cycles at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic) and their degree of success.
My first IUI cycle consisted of 100mg Clomid. Good follicle response but lining was thin. Dr. Larsen explained this occurs for some women on Clomid so for the 2nd IUI cycle he switched the medication to Femara and started me on estrogen suppositories to help thicken the lining. This only helped thicken the lining a little. For the 3rd cycle, Dr. Larsen changed up the start day of the Femara and continued with the estrogen. Progesterone suppositories were prescribed the day after each IUI procedure and continued until pregnancy test. He assured me that my thinner lining should not necessarily prevent a pregnancy. No success with IUI but felt Dr. Larsen tailored his approach to my individual needs.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
The nursing staff are wonderful! They are responsive, patient, organized, and very knowledgeable. I always felt comfortable and it was nice to see familiar faces at each visit to the office.
Describe your experience with Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
Advanced Fertility Care has two offices- one in Mesa and one in Scottsdale. You may have to be a little flexible at times as to the location depending on the days you need to be seen. But I've never had a problem getting an appointment when needed.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Frederick Larsen at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
Each IUI cycle was about $1,000. A little more for the first cycle which included some diagnostic testing. Upcoming IVF was quoted at almost $15k and about $4k for medications.
Describe Frederick Larsen's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Advanced Fertility Care of Arizona (Pinnacle Network clinic).
Dr. Larsen educated me on the risks of multiple embryo transfers. He recommended eSET for me, especially because I have a thinner lining, which would have a harder time supporting multiple embryos. This makes sense and I will follow his recommendation.