Daniel Rychlik

Dr. Rychlik has what seems like the experience and accreditation as an endocrinologist, but he seems to not think outside the box and wants every patient to fit his protocol. I don't feel he looks at each patient as an individual person. He was always very polite and kind but he doesn't do well responding to failure or patient concerns. There was no talk about what to do next after 4 failed transfers, it was almost as though he didn't want me as a patient anymore. Maybe it's because I would bring his success rates down? Not sure. He took no responsibility for my failures, so while even though he didn't know what was wrong with me there must be a problem and it couldn't be his protocol. The most frustrating thing was that early on in our first consult I told him is it possible that it is my uterus? He said no way that is just not likely and talked about a study of women who received uterine transplants from post menopause women and they conceived fine. In the end when we had our final failure he basically told me that he thought it was my uterus. He gave me this answer without any testing or diagnostics. Overall Rychlik is a decent man but I can't say we developed rapport so I decided to go elsewhere for a yet another opinion.

Push him to give you answers as to exactly what protocol he uses for stimulation and why. Also ask him exactly what he thinks is your infertility diagnosis and if the first transfer fails what next? See if he can provide real data to his success rates and where that proof is on the CDC website.

Stimulation was with Gonal F and lupron. Transfers were with progesterone and estrogen in form of IM, oral and suppositories. I had a DNC prior to my first transfer as a clean out. Also had an ERA when the 3rd transfer failed.

Had my monitoring don't by a local center.

For the first round all in, including the guest transfer was about 25,000. Each transfer after was about 5,000. ERA was about 1,500.

Doctor prefers single transfers.

Dr. Dan is extremely truthful and candid. As a scientist myself I appreciated that he was honest about the odds. We chose to do six rounds because I was only getting about 2-5 embryos per round. Because of my age once they were tested they were not genetically normal. My husband and I were happy to commit a year to egg retrieval and Dr. Dan made that possible for us. He was always available via phone call and when scary moments happened he was a calming voice. Mostly I appreciated his explanations. I wanted to know the ins and outs of the fertility journey and he set me up for success by giving me data.

Be ready to be positive. Think about this journey as if your body can do it. Then be honest about the odds and put the time and energy into the process.

The genetic testing was extremely helpful for us in my age category. I felt less scared about having a baby at 44.

They were quick and easy and as a school teacher I could schedule them before work!

Dr. Dan preferred elective single embryo transfer and we trusted the process.

Dr. Rychlik is very open and truthful about the entire process. While sometimes we don’t get the news we want he manages to keep it real and provide you with all the knowledge needed to make informed decisions! His overall goal was for me to become a mother! I am currently 28 weeks pregnant with a healthy baby boy!

He is not there to coddle you and tell you what you want to hear! He is there to assess and give you true and accurate information in hopes of being able to conceive!

We used oral, vaginal, and injection medications! All dosages were carefully manned out! I loved that everything was provided to me on a calendar so I knew exactly what to expect! During cycles labs were drawn and if changes were needed they were updated and changed on my calendar!

Dr. Dan’s strengths are being able to use analogies to explain some medical things. Personally, I did not appreciate that. It felt as though he spoke in circles. I only spoke with him 3 total times and I never trusted he had a complete understanding of me and my case. He wasn’t willing to change his standard protocol and just wanted to repeat cycles, each cycle costing more money. He seemed like an intelligent doctor who was interested in my case at my consult, but failed to prove that through my care.

Ask a lot of questions and speak up if you don’t feel something is correct.

I was on the low stim protocol for both of my cycles. I did 14 days of Menopur, Gonal-F, and added in the Fyremadel toward the end. I used a Lupron trigger for my first ER that I didn’t respond to, but he still went through with the retrieval resulting in 1 immature egg. The second round was the same protocol but did an Ovidrel trigger. We did retrieve 15 eggs but my 1 blast was abnormal and not suitable for transfer.

They would get too busy and started having to do monitoring in the afternoons, which was inconvenient and didn’t match what they had in their protocol.

My low stim IVF package was $7500 plus $4700 for medication. I would have paid more to have personalized care.

Dr. Dan required PGT testing in his packages and would only transfer 1 embryo. But we never made it past PGT testing with Dr. Dan.

Aside from the M.D. on his business card, it wasn't very clear to me how good / not good he is at his job. I barely saw him, which is fine if I didn't need to see him, but I felt like if I had questions about next steps they had to go through the clinic which can always mean things get lost in translation.

Be ready to do your own research.

I'm honestly not sure if he properly read my charts and tests. At first he thought my tests would be "lower" but when he got the results and read them to me on the phone he said everything was "good", but I didn't really know what that meant. There wasn't really a strategy, at least not one that was explained to me or my wife.

approximately $1,200 per IUI cycle

N/A

Dr. Rychlik made me feel like I was not intelligent, and that I was going to be emotional. After telling me on the first visit that I would need IVF, he said to me "you probably stopped listening already" and then he indicated the he would start directing the conversation to my husband. I was not crying and was paying complete attention. My husband is actually the type to have his mind start spinning, and stop paying attention. Dr. Rychlik was googling images to show me, he had nothing prepared as a presentation. He said multiple time, "that's not the picture I want. There's a graph I really like." He was not prepared. Dr. Rychlik gave me a treatment plan, IVF, after just one visit, without an HSG test, and without a semen analysis. After now seeing a different doctor and talking with a family friend who is an OBGYN, I know this is a crazy plan after just one visit.

Please do not see him.

We did not get to begin a cycle, because I was unsatisfied with his diagnosis after only an ultrasound. I did not trust him and I believe he just wanted my money.

I provided my insurance information before the appointment because they told me that they needed do talk to my insurance before the appointment. Then when I went then still didn't know if my insurance would cover the ultrasound. The Dr. called the nurse in to get me to approve the cost of the ultrasound in case my insurance wouldn't cover it. I did not end up paying because my insurance did cover it. I only went to that one appointment, so I had no other costs.

N/A

He was always very nice. Funny. Explained things when I needed. Kept me up to date on what was going on. I don't like to stress so a doctor with a sense of humor can definitely lighten the mood. I am also not the type of patient to ask a ton of questions as I put my trust in the doctor and know that this is their specialty and not mine. This is my second fertility clinic and I'm under the impression that none of them hold your hand through anything really because they have way too many patients. With that said If I needed something or had a question I would just email my nurse.

Be ready to laugh.

I dont know that their was necessarily a strategy. I am under the impression that this protocol is for everyone and not just me. So Iwouldnt say I feel special or anything. 225 of Menopur, 225 of gonal f. Take prenatal, COQ10 and DHEA.

So far Ive spent almost 18k but medications are very expensive

We havent discussed

Dr. Rychlik was very open and honest throughout our first cycle / transfer and ultimate miscarriage. As this was our first time with IVF, he did explain a lot of what was happening. There were periods were maybe things were painted a little too positive and expectations were set too high. Which in the moment I appreciated. We are now on our second cycle with Dr. Rychlik and more realistic about what could happen. He's onboard with our needs and requests to get it all straight. So I feel like we have a true partner here.

He makes times for all patients - even being the one to take my blood tests occasionally. So be sure to ask ANY and ALL questions you want. He will answer.

We went with a very straightforward protocol - IVF/ICIS with genetic testing. As it was more male factor, we didn't go too aggressive for the retrieval and I responded really well to all the drugs - never feeling too poor. We ended up with 2 genetically tested embryos and transferred 1 Day 5. It resulted in a positive! Unfortunately, the baby stopped growing between 5 and 6 weeks. Even though it was genetically tested, apparently this can happen (I do wish I was more prepared). However, after some months off now, we are going back for our next FET.

Monitoring appointments were a breeze. I felt like I was the only patient, I never had a wait. I saw the same nurse and Ultrasound tech every time & sometimes even Dr. R himself! I actually really enjoyed these appointments. It was always happy and even if I was stressed or nervous, we still laughed and they helped calm me down. I booked them right before work and never had a delay. I'm happy to be back for this next transfer!

IVF with ICSI and Genetic Testing, including Dr Fees & Facility Fees was around 15k. Medication another 5k. FET was around 3k.

Both Doctor and Nurses seemed to think single was the way to go - so if something did happen we could review and adjust the plan of action for the next one. Subjectively, friends who have done IVF my age and with similar circumstances also advocated for single transfer.

Dr Rychlik always remained positive and optimistic about the outcome. I wish maybe I would've known going into it that one IVF cycle wouldn't work or that maybe donor eggs should've been discussed. Obviously there's no way of knowing until you go through it but I wasn't fully prepared for the disappointment of having no viable embryos.

Ask all of the questions whether they're good or bad. Find out if the money you are spending is being put to good use and if maybe there are better options for you besides IVF.

Are used injectables every night for two weeks. Every other day I went in for ultrasound and blood work. I took Menopur, Gonal-F followed by Ganirrelix and Ovidrel.

My appointments were very easy and I was never waiting on people or in a Cattlecall situation. I was in and out in less than 10 minutes every time.

19k not including meds but including PGD and another 5-6k for FET not including meds.

I don't speak english very well. He all time tried to found a interprete for translate. He wont I undertand everything.he is very nice and he tried to help us all time. He felt worried about our diagnostic and tried to foun the bes option for us.

The best

All the time he Spoke clear about our diagnostic.we start with birth control pills and after We use menopur and digonal for almost 2 weeks and 2 days before the retrivial we use cetritide. We got 12 eggs 2 fertilized naturaly and 2 via ICSI. For the 5 day we got only 2 embryos. We sent to test it but both was a poor quality. My doctor said we can try again bue we are broken. No more money then he said we can try a embryo donnor

20,000

Dr. Rychlik is a doctor that truly cares about his patients and the outcomes. When my partner and I first met with him, after going through IVF with another doctor and having two failed attempts at having viable embryos to transfer, we left his office with newfound hope. We did not feel rushed and he took the time to really understand our past as it relates to fertility. I have gone through the egg retrieval process with success. We not only have one or two viable embryos, but three! He has always taken the time to explain things if I had questions and he didn't charge me for every phone call like my previous doctor. We are now entering into the next phase, which is the transfer, and I am confident in saying that he is the right doctor to go down this journey with.

I would tell them that they are in good hands with Dr. Rychlik and his team because they want you to be successful just as much as you do.

$8,900 Egg Retrieval Process $495 Anesthesia $1500 Dr. Rychlik for ICSI $1500 Dr. Mills for ICSI $5000 medication

We transfer clinic after being with our original clinic for 4 years (with no results). After we transfer to Dr. Rychlik, we moved through the process quick, and are currently expecting in a few weeks! He explained the risk & expectations of using embryos not retrieved by him. He explained everything in lay-man's terms, and we were able to ask even "dumb" questions, which he gave detail answers to. He was very knowledgeable about this field of medicine, and we felt very confident with him.

Follow his instructions & recommendations to a T. Ask any & all questions you have!

We didn't original do the egg retrieval with Dr. Rychlik, but did end up using him/his clinic for the embryo transfer into our Gestational Carrier. As intended parents, we really didn't do any medical protocol with Dr. Rychlik, as it was already done at our old clinic. Our GC did go through the med cycle (injectables, weekly monitoring, etc).

Since we've already did the retrieval at a different clinic, we were only billed for the monitoring for our gestational carrier.

Dr. Ryclik only recommended 1 embryo transfer, but did allow multiple embryo transfer. We only did 1 embryo transfer, as we only had 1 PGTa tested normal embryo. Even if we did have multiple PGTa tested normal embryos, we would have gone with Dr. Ryclik's recommendation of doing just 1 embryo transfer.

Dr Dan was in one word, amazing. From the moment I met with him he was genuine, straightforward, and helpful. He really cared about both me and my husband and how to get us to our goal. When we hit bumps in the road (and we did) he never gave up on us or our dream of having children. Dr Dan found a way for us to achieve our goal. We have been working with Dr Dan for over 7 years, I feel we have gotten to know him and his staff very well. We believe in him and that’s why we have followed him from clinic to clinic. He will get you to your goal! He’s an excellent doctor and all around great human.

It’s a long hard road, know that going in and just stay focused on your end goal. It will be hard but it’s so worth it. Trust in your care team. They truly are there to help you.

I recall having to go through multiple egg retrievals with one producing no eggs at all. I remember feeling like I went through all that work and all those shots for nothing and felt like a failure. Dr Dan and his team were so supportive and came up with a plan to move forward. I also recall having a few negative pregnancy tests in a row and needing extra attention so we did something called an ERA. My journey was not straightforward, they tailored everything for me and what my body needed. They are professional and they know what they’re doing. Trust in the process.

It was pretty straight forward. He had prices for each procedure and prices for bundle procedures. For example a certain price for a single embryo transfer and a different price for embryo transfer until pregnant, in case the first transfer doesn’t stick.

I believe Dr Dan had only the best intentions for me and I followed his advice. Single transfer was a safer route for me and that’s what we did.

Strengths open to questions during appointments, called back if I had questions was clearly very knowledgeable and let us make decisions and made it clear he wasn't making any fake promises. Explained the ins and outs of different meds and adjustments that were being made. I like that he's funny because otherwise this whole ordeal would have been more difficult. Weaknesses a little formulaic/deadpan in delivery, but to some that would be a strength anyway?

He talks quickly but don't let that mislead you into thinking he's rushing you along - he's actually got a lot of patience and is very thoughtful.

Two IVF/egg retrievals, both started the same with menopuur and gonal F, then added Ganirellix depending on ultrasound results before lupron trigger. First round did ultrasound every other day and blood draw every other day. In the second round we didnt do blood draws, only increased the frequency of ultrasounds (explained to me that the ultrasounds gave more immediate results than waiting for blood draws to come back from the lab) - and I didn't mind going in for ultrasounds more frequrntly since everything is close by to my house. Embryo transfer planned for early 2024

Meds, genetic carrier screens, IVF, PGT-A - and we will also pay for FET early 2024

He said he doesnt do multilple embryo transfer, only single transfers. Can't remember why.

I didn't think my wife and I had a fertility issue until frolicking and fun, spontaneous or planned well in advanced didn’t result in any close calls. Ultimately, we had a long discussion about wanting children and wondering why, after nearly 10yrs of marriage (and frolicking) that it hadn’t happen. We both went to our respective primary care doctors and were each told “there is no health reason you can’t have children”. This is where my wife and I were very fortunate to find Dr. Rychlik. He sent us to get additional lab test (for both me and my wife), followed by an honest assessment of getting pregnant naturally. We are an older couple, I’m older than my wife and she is now in her early 40’s. It turns out that being healthy, in every way, including her uterus and the motility of my sperm…doesn’t guarantee pregnancy…and those odds drop every day we get older. After more conversation with Dr Rychlik we decided to put our trust in him and go the IVF route. The IVF process doesn’t ask much of me…my wife has been the epicenter of it; all the shots, the mood swings, the pain…it’s not easy. However, I couldn’t imagine going through IVF with any other doctor than Dr. Rychlik and his entire team. He is clear and precise about what he expect from you as a patient; you have to follow the protocols exactly. Also, his team is also clean, and empathetic; they certainly imparted a high level of positive energy, empathy and kindness in particular during egg retrieval and the days following successful implant. We are in our 3rd trimester and have had a relatively worry free 1st and 2nd trimester because all the advice Dr Rychlik gave us; in particular genetic testing of the embryos for viability. Based on how many eggs were retrieved versus how many were viable; it’s clear to me why we didn’t have any accidents; if left to ours own devices we wouldn’t be expecting. Dr Rychlik (and his team) made all the difference. I think IVF could be among the most significant endeavors my wife and I have ever undertaken (separately or as a couple), made easier by Dr. Rychlik’s leadership, precision and sound practical advice. I can’t say enough good things, I can literally go on and on.

I think he has a specific way of doing things, ultimately he is as goal oriented as the patient (the goal being to get pregnant). If you follow his very specific instructions, I think it affords patients the best chance.

I don’t remember the specific being the husband, I can only watch as my wife meticulously executed the instructions. From vaginal suppositories to a number of injections (for retrieval, post retrieval and implantation, etc)…the rational was simple, all of these treatments provided a better opportunity to retrieve viable eggs and a good implantation.

10k without the required meds

We only had two viable eggs; we were given the impression that implanting one was the safest way to go. And we took that advice.

Dr. Rychlik has a very deep understanding of the process. He is in fact very updated on the latest developments in the field. He explained how the embryology lab is the an important, if not the most important part of the fertility treatment and how his lab was the most state of the art lab in the city. He was super compassionate, he is extremely funny and that made me very comfortable throughout my journey. He is a super start and Santa Barbara is lucky to have a physician of this quality.

There are a lot of services that are part of the plan when you chose to do IVF with Dr. Rychlik. Psychologists, nutritionists and acupuncture specialist. They make you feel in control and relaxed during the process. Its a fantastic experience.

I had a pretty straightforward experience. I was explained the issue, the protocol and I am pleased with the results!

IVF cycle was $7,500 and it was included pgt-a testing. The Embryo transfer was $4000 which included all transfers made from one cycle. We loved this idea of transparency and knowing what is the ceiling!

Dr. Rychlik strongly only does single embryo transfer if the embryo has been biopsied and tested for abnormalities. It was explained to us and we were in alignment with his decision.

I recently had the privilege of being under the care of Dr. Rychlik and he was wonderful! He made me and my husband feel like human beings and truly cared about my well-being and our desire to start a family. From the moment I walked into the clinic, I knew I was in good hands. Not only as the clinic staff friendly, the clinic was clean and the atmosphere made you feel calm and at peace. One of the most remarkable aspects of my experience was Dr. Rychlik’s genuine empathy and understanding. They took the time to listen to my husband and my concerns, fears, and hopes, creating a safe and supportive environment where we felt comfortable sharing my emotions. It was evident that they not only saw me as a patient but as a person going through a challenging journey. What set him apart from other clinic’s we had visited in the past was his ability to provide expert medical care while also acknowledging the emotional and psychological impact of going through the fertility process. They recognized that the process can be overwhelming and filled with uncertainty. Instead of rushing through appointments, they patiently explained each step, ensuring I understood each step of our fertility process. Throughout my treatment, he tailored the plan to my specific needs making me feel like an active participant in the decision-making process. Their attention to detail and personalized approach gave me confidence that I was receiving the best possible care. But what truly made Dr. Rychlik exceptional was his compassion and kindness. He and his staff truly got to know my husband, my mom, and me. Empower fertility treated us like family and followed up with us even after we transferred care. He went above and beyond to meet and exceed our expectations. Whether it was a reassuring phone call or email or even a simple gesture of understanding, their presence made a world of difference. It was evident that they genuinely cared about my fertility success and overall well-being. I cannot express enough gratitude for the exceptional care I received from Dr. Rychlik. His expertise, compassion, and ability to create a caring environment made a difficult and emotional process more manageable. I would wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone facing fertility challenges. Thank you, Dr. Rychlik, for making my husband and I feel like you truly cared about us and our fertility journey. Your kindness and expertise have made all the difference, and we will forever be grateful for the exceptional care you provided.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. He is willing to explain anything that you might not be clear on. He takes his time and is happy to help.

I did an egg retrieval process first. I had to take several medications both oral and injectable to prepare for the embryo retrieval process. After the embryo retrieval, I began the frozen embryo transfer process. Again, I took a series of oral and injections to prepare for the transfer. Prior to the transfer, I began taking progesterone and continued with progesterone injections 2 times a day and continued until I was 11 weeks along in my pregnancy.

When I started going to Dr. Rychlik, they only were taking cash as a form of payment. This was a challenge because we could not make any payments using credit card. They also were not taking insurance so we had to pay out of pocket and then submit reimbursement.

We did a single embryo transfer using the best rated embryo we had.

Dr. Rychlik always answered and explained all the questions we had regarding our fertility journey. He often uses analogies to better explain certain situations to help us understand better. If he is not able to guarantee something or be 100% certain of some things, he will be honest about it. I believe Dr. Rychlik always looked out for our best interest and always strives for the best results that he can get.

Be patient and be kind to yourself.

Our fertility experience is a bit different than your typical experience, but I would say we spent about 25K-30K in total

We only had 1 viable embryo to transfer

I appreciated his sense of humor during such a challenging time. He balances the humor with very thorough explanations and advice. I appreciated his confidence too. At every step, I felt reassured and that I was in good hands.

In preparation for my FET, I was prescribed birth control pills. Prior to FET, I had a SIS procedure, which found a fibroid. As a result, Dr. Rychlik recommended a hysteroscopy to better understand and visualize the fibroid. The procedure went incredibly smoothly and he was able to remove some uterine polyps; the fibroid was not needed to be removed. From there, I started a Lupron two-week kit, then estrogen in the form of pills and suppositories. Five days before transfer, I added 2x daily PIO shots. After transfer, I continued PIO and estrogen (adding in patches as well). This combination led to a thick, trilaminar uterine lining before transfer.