Dr. Goldstein is very compassionate, caring and most importantly she treats you with utmost sincerity and humanity. She's a wonderful communicator. Easy to understand and easy to follow. Throughout my journey we tried all types of treatment and combination of medication, every time holding out for hope. Dr. Goldstein told me as long as I was willing to continue she will be by my side and that's all I could ask for.
Billing department [at Beverly Hills Fertility] is very difficult to deal with. They don't help you with much, they are just there to charge you for your visits. No assistance to you if you need it on your end. Nurses are nice but you will need to call them and remind them of certain things...Somre had better experience at things such as taking blood work, remembering to send you certain paperwork.
How was your experience with Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
Dr. Goldstein is very compassionate, caring and most importantly she treats you with utmost sincerity and humanity. She's a wonderful communicator. Easy to understand and easy to follow. Throughout my journey we tried all types of treatment and combination of medication, every time holding out for hope. Dr. Goldstein told me as long as I was willing to continue she will be by my side and that's all I could ask for.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
Don't give up hope.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
Dr. Goldstein from the beginning gave me hope. Although it took years she didn't give up on me. She was truthful and patient. From the beginning, I felt I can rely on her and that meant a lot to me.
Describe the protocols Ellen Goldstein used in your cycles at Beverly Hills Fertility and their degree of success.
We made so many changes and tweaks it's hard to remember what happened in the last 4 years.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Beverly Hills Fertility. (Assigned nurse: Alondra)
The nurses were nice. Somre had better experience at things such as taking blood work, remembering to send you certain paperwork. Sometimes I had to call in to remind them or ask for things.
Describe your experience with Beverly Hills Fertility.
Billing department is very difficult to deal with. They don't help you with much, they are just there to charge you for your visits. No assistance to you if you need it on your end. Nurses are nice but you will need to call them and remind them of certain things.
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Beverly Hills Fertility.
Most appointments were done to my needs. However very few were pushed to different times, do to emergency procedures which can not be helped.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility.
I belive am IUI procedure was around 3K there was a small price cut if you bought 3 procedures at 1 time. I did not like that concept. Mini IVF procedures were pricey I believe I paid 9900.
Describe Ellen Goldstein's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Beverly Hills Fertility.
My first 2 IVF's doctor thought it would be best to transfer both embryos at a time for best results. I only had 2 eggs to work with each IVF
Dr. Goldstein is the most accessible and communicative doctor I've ever experienced. I sent her dozens of emails throughout my treatment and always received a response from her directly, often within minutes and always on the same day...She performed all my ultrasounds herself and was present for all my appointments, outside of when I just needed to come in for blood work. I felt like she got to know me as a person and was with me emotionally through the highs and lows of my IVF treatment. I felt like she really cared about helping us to achieve our family goals as a human and not just as our doctor.
The [Beverly Hills Fertility] clinic is clean, brand new and beautiful. I felt very confident in the lab and the main embryologist Dr. Liu. This was important for me because they are a new clinic and there was no data for me to look at prior to choosing them as my clinic...I appreciated having a specific nurse designated to me for my treatments. It was helpful because I knew that they were aware of my situation and were present throughout the IVF process and for the majority of my appointments. I thought both Christina and Mariam were excellent nurses and appreciated that they were there for me to help answer questions, teach me how to use the medications, and were cc'd on all email communications I had with Dr. Goldstein.
How was your experience with Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
Dr. Goldstein is a caring and skilled doctor and I felt like I was in great hands every step of the way. She is clearly very intelligent and well educated, which made me feel comfortable that she was up to date on the latest scientific research and protocols. What I also really appreciated about her is her bedside manner, and her obvious care for her patients. Fertility treatment is a very emotional, challenging process with lots of ups and downs, and I felt like Dr. Goldstein was very present with me throughout the whole experience. I also appreciated that when it came down to the science, she was very straightforward and didn't sugarcoat things, but communicated it in an empathic, caring way. This was helpful for me because it allowed me to really trust her and know that she wasn't going to try and spin things to sound positive just to make me happy, but that she would be fully honest with me. I really felt like I needed an attentive doctor who would sort of hold my hand through the process, but also be very skilled as a doctor and Dr. Goldstein is the perfect combination of both these qualities.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
Dr. Goldstein is the most accessible and communicative doctor I've ever experienced. I sent her dozens of emails throughout my treatment and always received a response from her directly, often within minutes and always on the same day. I never got the impression that I was bothering or inconveniencing her, even with my occasional anxious late-night emails. She performed all my ultrasounds herself and was present for all my appointments, outside of when I just needed to come in for blood work. I felt like she got to know me as a person and was with me emotionally through the highs and lows of my IVF treatment. I felt like she really cared about helping us to achieve our family goals as a human and not just as our doctor.
Describe the protocols Ellen Goldstein used in your cycles at Beverly Hills Fertility and their degree of success.
I have DOR, so Dr. Goldstein had me start with estrogen priming for both my retrievals. She then had me on 150iu of Menopur, 225iu of Gonal-F for stimulation of the ovaries. She then prescribed Ganirelix for the last 5 days prior to the trigger shot. She utilized an HcG trigger. This was the same protocol for both my egg retrievals.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Beverly Hills Fertility. (Assigned nurse: Christina and Mariam)
I appreciated having a specific nurse designated to me for my treatments. It was helpful because I knew that they were aware of my situation and were present throughout the IVF process and for the majority of my appointments. I thought both Christina and Mariam were excellent nurses and appreciated that they were there for me to help answer questions, teach me how to use the medications, and were cc'd on all email communications I had with Dr. Goldstein. Christina was assigned to me for my first retrieval and then Mariam took over for me for my second retrieval. I did wish that it was communicated to me more clearly that I would be switching over from Christina to Mariam, but I figured it out and it ended up being fine.
Describe your experience with Beverly Hills Fertility.
The clinic is clean, brand new and beautiful. I felt very confident in the lab and the main embryologist Dr. Liu. This was important for me because they are a new clinic and there was no data for me to look at prior to choosing them as my clinic. I felt like I had great results considering I yield so few eggs per retrieval. I did switch insurance companies at the beginning of the year, and my new insurance company (Blue Shield) was not in-network with the clinic which was a bit of a bummer once I became pregnant. So I ended up paying for each OB related ultrasound out of pocket, which would have been fully covered with my insurance had it been accepted. I did find out from the billing department that they are in process of getting paneled with Blue Shield and that will probably happen this year. It was a small price to pay though for getting successfully pregnant and I'd happily pay that three times over if I had to again for a successful pregnancy. That really was the only downside I can think of regarding the clinic overall.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility.
Insurance covered my first egg retrieval cycle, medications, PGS testing, and FET in full. We paid for the second IVF cycle (including egg retrieval & FET) out-of-pocket, which was $13,350 plus the cost of medications. We ended up paying about $2000 for PGS testing in addition, plus some smaller fees for anesthesia and cryopreservation of embryos. Then once pregnant I paid $250 per ultrasound for OB care since they were not in-network with my new insurance at that point. IVF treatment is expensive, but it's all pretty on-par with other similar clinics in the area.
Dr. Goldstein treats you the way no one else I've ever met treats a patient. When you're going through treatment with her, she makes it seem like you and your partner the only people in the world she is treating. She's kind, empathetic, friendly, and humanistic... She answers all your questions so well. She's a master of her craft. I can go on writing this for days. Words can never suffice, she's really plain incredible.
The [Beverly Hills Fertility] clinic is state of the art. Location is amazing. It's brand new, clean, and spacious. Everything is under one roof. It's gorgeous, you will love it. The waiting area is so nice. There are plenty of exam rooms. There are conference rooms/offices for deep discussions so you don't have to have them in the exam room. The procedure rooms are beautiful. The surgery center is within the facility, which is great. We both really loved it there.
How was your experience with Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
Dr. Goldstein is an ideal human and physician. She's kind, patient, empathetic, friendly, and humanistic. She's a great listener and humanistic. She is generous with her time, and available no matter what. Dr. Goldstein did what was best for us every step of the way. She came in when she was sick, when her kid was in the hospital and her husband was out of town. She treated us like giving us the thing we wanted so badly was the only thing in the world that she wanted. She explains everything so clearly. Her vibe is so comforting in an otherwise anxiety-provoking time. She answers all your questions so well. She's a master of her craft. I can go on writing this for days. Words can never suffice, she's really plain incredible.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
Absolutely positively go to her, don't waste your time looking anywhere else. Trust her and embrace her, and she'll work miracles for you. Going to her is the best decision you'll ever make in your life.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
Dr. Goldstein treats you the way no one else I've ever met treats a patient. When you're going through treatment with her, she makes it seem like you and your partner the only people in the world she is treating. She's kind, empathetic, friendly, and humanistic. She sits with you in her office in chairs at a table and gives you all the time in the world to hear you out about anything and everything, and address all your concerns. She's kind. She's sweet. She's always available. Nobody in my life in any service, medical or otherwise, has made me feel like more of a human than Dr. Goldstein.
Describe the protocols Ellen Goldstein used in your cycles at Beverly Hills Fertility and their degree of success.
Dr. Goldstein used the best IVF regimen for my wife's body to help maximize our chances of a healthy baby. She never cut corners or did what would be fastest to get us through the clinic, or make the most money off of us. She used Follistim and Menpour prior to egg retrival, then the following month, timed the embryo transfer to mimic the natural time fertilization and implantation would occur.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Beverly Hills Fertility. (Assigned nurse: Alondra)
The nursing staff and Alondra in particular made us feel like family from day 1. They were always available. They knew us by first name basis right off the bat. They were kind and friendly. When you're going through this process, you go to the office and see these people almost every day for a few months. The nursing staff made it feel like we were going home to see family every day. They were happy for us like our own family was when we got the good news.
Describe your experience with Beverly Hills Fertility.
The clinic is state of the art. Location is amazing. It's brand new, clean, and spacious. Everything is under one roof. It's gorgeous, you will love it. The waiting area is so nice. There are plenty of exam rooms. There are conference rooms/offices for deep discussions so you don't have to have them in the exam room. The procedure rooms are beautiful. The surgery center is within the facility, which is great. We both really loved it there.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility.
I won't get into specifics, but Dr. Goldstein's pricing is very competitive. They walk you through all the numbers in a dedicated financing session, which is really helpful. Worth every single cent.
Describe Ellen Goldstein's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Beverly Hills Fertility.
Dr. Goldstein was so confident in her work, and she deserves to be. Based on our genetic testing, she said our success rate would be high, therefore since we strongly wanted to avoid the chance of multiples, we transferred a single embryo. Dr. Goldstein always does what you want and what's in your best interest. For us, that was a single baby, and that's what she made happen.
Dr. Goldstein is truly a concierge doctor. She made sure to explain every step along the way. She was available via email almost any time of day. Her overall demeanor was personable and genuine. She spent all the time you needed with her during appointments and it never felt rushed or hurried...Dr. Goldstein knew all the verbiage surrounding treatment of members of the LGBTQ community. She always treated me and my partner with respect and love
The [Reproductive Fertility] nursing staff is BUSY there. I would sometimes have to call and email multiple times about lab orders or protocol before I would get an answer..All of that being said, the ball never got dropped on me...The clinic is in a nice building in Beverly Hills. The surgical center where transfers are done and their labs are located in the same building so that was nice. Everything always seemed clean and sanitary.
How was your experience with Ellen Goldstein at Reproductive Fertility?
A woman in this field who is as humble, caring, brilliant and amazing as Dr. Goldstein is something I didn’t know existed. She is confident in her skills and puts it all out there for her patients. She also specializes in natural transfers which was a GOD SEND. After all the injections of the retrieval, the last thing I wanted to do was inject myself with an intramuscular needle for weeks.
You will also always see her at your appointments (minus blood draw appointments). She is your person so there’s no way your information gets lost or miscommunicated. It’s also nice when you’re in such a vulnerable place to be able to see the same friendly face at each visit and not just feel like you don’t know who will be doing procedures that truly emphasize the vulnerability factor of infertility.
As I may have stated in another section, Dr. Goldstein’s communication and ability to give a response in a timely matter is top notch. I emailed her at 7 pm one night during my nightly suppository because I had minor spotting and there was an email response within 10 minutes. Any time anything fell through with her nurses, she would just handle it herself. No question was ever too silly, no concern was ever too petty. She addressed all and any questions or concerns I had throughout the entirety of our treatment with compassion and fact based information.
I never felt like she didn’t have my back.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Ellen Goldstein at Reproductive Fertility?
Trust her. She will not give you the runaround or try to squeeze you for extra services. She’s the real deal and has your best interest at heart.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Ellen Goldstein at Reproductive Fertility?
Dr. Goldstein is truly a concierge doctor. She made sure to explain every step along the way. She was available via email almost any time of day. Her overall demeanor was personable and genuine. She spent all the time you needed with her during appointments and it never felt rushed or hurried.
Describe the protocols Ellen Goldstein used in your cycles at Reproductive Fertility and their degree of success.
I was on Gonal-F, Menopur and then eventually Centrotide for my egg retrieval stims. I used Lupron for my trigger shot. Dr. Goldstein was able to retrieve 31 eggs. Throughout the lab insemination process, the embryologist and Dr. Goldstein diagnosed me with low egg quality. We had already committed to PGS testing on the embryos so in the end 8 went in for testing and 4 came back as normal.
For my FET I did a natural transfer cycle so the only meds I was on were Endometrin suppositories a little bit before the transfer. The natural transfer cycle did mean that I had to go into the office considerably more often, sometimes 3-4 times a week, to get my blood drawn and levels checked. Blood draws had to be done in the AM so results would be in same day.
FET was normal but a bit uncomfortable due to the full bladder. Transfer went smoothly and now I am pregnant with our first IVF baby.
How competent was Ellen Goldstein at LGBTQ+ care?
Dr. Goldstein knew all the verbiage surrounding treatment of members of the LGBTQ community. She always treated me and my partner with respect and love. She also let us know certain extra legal steps we might want to take advantage of since both of our genetic material would not be used during our treatment.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Reproductive Fertility. (Assigned nurse: Kyra)
So. This would be my only negative part of this experience. The nursing staff is BUSY there. I would sometimes have to call and email multiple times about lab orders or protocol before I would get an answer. Often I would give up and email Dr. Goldstein who would take care of it personally. Nursing staff there was adequately nice most days but also almost always seemed overworked and tired. The one friendly face I could always count on was Gunay. Every interaction I had with her was a positive one and that surely could not be said about some of the other staff there. All of that being said, the ball never got dropped on me because Dr. Goldstein made sure of it.
Describe your experience with Reproductive Fertility.
The clinic is in a nice building in Beverly Hills. The surgical center where transfers are done and their labs are located in the same building so that was nice. Everything always seemed clean and sanitary.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Ellen Goldstein at Reproductive Fertility.
A complete IVF cycle totaled $20,175. That included her professional fee, Anesthesia, Operating room, ICSI, Assisted Hatching, Embryo biopsy, PGT test on up to 8 embryos, Cryopreservation (freeze) for any remaining embryos, Embryo thaw, and Frozen embryo transfer cycle.
What specific things went wrong at Reproductive Fertility?
Dr. Goldstein’s approach was refreshing. she was up front and accessible...It would be comforting for more explanation on certain points of the process, but knowing how hands on she is with all of her patients, I would prefer that over the latter...Lutial phase stim
[At Beverly Hills Fertility] Billing delays were a surprise. we received copays months later. more organization on their onboarding packages. could use more transparency in the clinic assets as that would only strengthen what they offer at BHF and make the patient feel safer
How was your experience with Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
Goldstein is extremely hands-on and looks at the patient's situation individually. While sometimes she could be short or more of an explanation was desired, she was always responsive by email. Truly believe her methods specifically are why were pregnant
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
It would be comforting for more explanation on certain points of the process, but knowing how hands on she is with all of her patients, I would prefer that over the latter
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
Dr. Goldstein’s approach was refreshing. she was up front and accessible
Describe the protocols Ellen Goldstein used in your cycles at Beverly Hills Fertility and their degree of success.
Lutial phase stim
Describe your experience with your nurse at Beverly Hills Fertility. (Assigned nurse: Alondra)
Alondra was great
Describe your experience with Beverly Hills Fertility.
Billing delays were a surprise. we received copays months later.
more organization on their onboarding packages. could use more transparency in the clinic assets as that would only strengthen what they offer at BHF and make the patient feel safer
Describe the costs associated with your care under Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility.
Dr Goldstein was wonderful and compassionate...was at every appointment and even came in on a Sunday morning for me once...resulted in 3 pgt test embryos...did a true natural cycle with progesterone support. It worked!...took the time to explain and answer my questions. She was confident and kind...Safer not to risk twins was the thought here...went out of her way to help and I can’t explain how important that is when going through ivf.
[Beverly Hills Fertility] is wonderful. Dr Goldstein is at every appointment. Even when it’s busy, you will never wait too long. Almost every appointment I was brought in right at my appointment time. There is easy parking! The lab is great! There are wonderful people there!...Wonderful people, communicative and warm and professional...14,000 for the retrieval and ivf process
How was your experience with Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
Dr Goldstein was wonderful and compassionate. She said that, going there, I had a clean slate. I had had 3 failed embryo transfers of pgt tested embryos and I was told I had to have a battery of new tests and go on lupron for two months and…. I was overwhelmed. Having a clean slate with someone made me feel so relieved. She was at every appointment and even came in on a Sunday morning for me once… the office was completely empty. She went out of her way to help and I can’t explain how important that is when going through ivf.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
To trust her!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
In a city filled with doctors who are overworked, sick of women’s endless repetitive questions and have the pressure to see more patients than they can handle, Dr Goldstein took the time to explain and answer my questions. She was confident and kind. I was a basket case by the time I found her, and it was the first time in over a year of fertility treatment that I felt safe during my procedures and appointments.
Describe the protocols Ellen Goldstein used in your cycles at Beverly Hills Fertility and their degree of success.
We used menopur, and follistim and gonal (interchangeable medications). I had a really… lovely retrieval. It was honestly wonderful. She kept me off omnitrope, she didn’t think it was necessary to add extra medications. This resulted in 3 pgt test embryos. She believed I would be fine on a natural cycle, despite the 3 previous transfer failures, as I ovulated naturally and had had a previous natural pregnancy. I think she thought it was possible the three failures were based in some kind of error on timing. We did a true natural cycle with progesterone support. It worked!
Describe your experience with your nurse at Beverly Hills Fertility. (Assigned nurse: Erika )
Wonderful people, communicative and warm and professional.
Describe your experience with Beverly Hills Fertility.
The clinic is wonderful. Dr Goldstein is at every appointment. Even when it’s busy, you will never wait too long. Almost every appointment I was brought in right at my appointment time. There is easy parking! The lab is great! There are wonderful people there!
Describe the costs associated with your care under Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility.
It was about 14,000 for the retrieval and ivf process. I had to pay for the medications as well, but I already had some left over from other cycles with different doctors so I don’t know the exact price. The embryo transfer was another nominal cost. I did not pay close attention to the costs at this point, but it seemed similar for clinics in the area.
Describe Ellen Goldstein's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Beverly Hills Fertility.
Dr. Goldstein is without a doubt the best Doctor I have ever worked with. Her level of care is unmatched...is so easy to speak to and has such a high level of knowledge and care...follows up on things immediately, and never leaves you wondering...timed intercourse, medication, and a trigger shot for IUI
[At Beverly Hills Fertility] The office staff was so organized. Anytime we needed anything, someone was there to provide it instantaneously....never confusion about appointments, cost, etc....was so friendly, clean, ON TIME, and always had snacks and water in the waiting room, which was a fun touch!
How was your experience with Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
There are not enough good words I can use to describe my experience with Dr. Goldstien and her staff at Beverly Hills Fertility. Dr. Goldstien spent a large chunk of time with my initial consult and truly made sure she understood me as a person as well as my needs and issues. She was so easy to talk to, yet she was also so knowledgeable; answering any and every question I had with such patience and kindness. She won't BS you or try to have you do anything unnecessary.
She made such a scary experience honestly feel SO easy and seamless. Dr. Goldstien herself is truly one of a kind Doctor and person. We saw her after having some doubts with our last fertility specialist. Dr. Goldstien made our doubts completely go away, as well as found out another issue, gave such attentiveness to the issue, and got me pregnant FIRST TRY.
She also replies to emails what feels like instantaneously. She answers all questions honestly and calmly. She is brilliant and knowledgeable in what she does, but is so calm and easy to talk to.
I wholeheartedly recommend Dr. Goldstein and Beverly Hills Fertility to anyone embarking on this journey. Their commitment to excellence, coupled with the compassionate care ensures an experience that goes beyond medical treatment.
I feel so grateful to be pregnant, and will never forget the amazing level of care I received through this office.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
Be ready for a wonderful experience and next level care.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
Dr. Goldstein is without a doubt the best Doctor I have ever worked with. Her level of care is unmatched. Dr. Goldstien is so easy to speak to and has such a high level of knowledge and care. She also follows up on things immediately, and never leaves you wondering.
Describe the protocols Ellen Goldstein used in your cycles at Beverly Hills Fertility and their degree of success.
We came up with a strategy together that felt right fort my husband and I. This included timed intercourse, medication, and a trigger shot for IUI. We were very lucky our first treatment worked, and we credit Dr. Goldstein for this.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Beverly Hills Fertility. (Assigned nurse: Kayla Morris)
Kayla Morris was equally as amazing in our experiences and time at Beverly Hills Fertility! She is so organized, efficient, easy to communicate with, and truly was there for us every step of the way.
Describe your experience with Beverly Hills Fertility.
The office staff was so organized. Anytime we needed anything, someone was there to provide it instantaneously. There was never confusion about appointments, cost, etc.
The office was so friendly, clean, ON TIME, and always had snacks and water in the waiting room, which was a fun touch!
Describe the costs associated with your care under Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility.
I don't remember exact cost, but I know this was cheaper than the first place I was at by far!
Describe Ellen Goldstein's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Beverly Hills Fertility.
Trust in Dr. Goldstein's advice and recommendations. She truly cares about her patients and takes the time and effort to provide them with personalized care...She gave me a sense of comfort and confidence in my fertility journey...Dr. Goldstein was there for every one of our appointments and explained what was happening very clearly. We were very fortunate that our first IUI cycle worked and could not thank her enough.
The [Beverly Hills Fertility] clinic was brand new and had state of the art equipment and technology. I got used to seeing my ultrasounds on a huge TV which was a change when I graduated to a normal OBGYN. Easily parking and check-in process...Very compassionate and responsive [nurses]. If they didn't respond, Dr. Goldstein would jump in, which I appreciated...Dr. Goldstein was there for every one of our appointments and explained what was happening very clearly. We were very fortunate that our first IUI cycle worked and could not thank her enough.
How was your experience with Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
I could not recommend Dr. Goldstein highly enough.
I had a rough start to my fertility journey after finding out that a previous ovarian cyst removal caused significantly diminished AMH levels (<0.2 for early 30s) and a very low follicle count. I was at a different fertility clinic (large franchise) and both the level of care and bedside manner was terrible - wanted me to do IVF ASAP and told me my poor test results over a voicemail and the first appointment was weeks later before I could discuss with this doctor.
I'm so glad I found FertilityIQ and actually shopped around for the right doctor for my needs. When I met Dr. Goldstein, it was a complete 180. When I told her of my unique situation, she explained the treatment options and how she would recommend a tailored approach, which was to actually start with IUI vs IVF, given my low follicle count. She gave me a sense of comfort and confidence in my fertility journey. When we started the IUI cycle, I would email her whenever I had a question and she or her nurse would respond within the day. Dr. Goldstein was there for every one of our appointments and explained what was happening very clearly. We were very fortunate that our first IUI cycle worked and could not thank her enough.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
Trust in Dr. Goldstein's advice and recommendations. She truly cares about her patients and takes the time and effort to provide them with personalized care.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
I had started my fertility journey with a different doctor that made me feel like a number. He wanted me to start on IVF without considering my unique medical situation which is diminished ovarian reserve and very low AMH and follicle count. One of the first things that Dr. Goldstein said to me was that she was going to provide me with a personalized, tailored plan. And in her POV, she would actually not start with IVF given how invasive it was and the fact that my low follicle count would not produce many eggs and IVF is very much a numbers game.
Describe the protocols Ellen Goldstein used in your cycles at Beverly Hills Fertility and their degree of success.
I had a very low AMH (<0.2) and follicle count (4) for my age (33). I started taking levothyroxine 25mg to bring my TSH below 2.5 (something my previous doctor never noted). For my IUI, I was taking Letrozole 2.5 MG and Gonal. Dr. Goldstein and I spoke about doing a double IUI since I had 3 follicles with eggs so we did one in the afternoon and one the next morning. Luckily, we were successful with 1 baby (due in a month)!
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Beverly Hills Fertility.
Very compassionate and responsive. If they didn't respond, Dr. Goldstein would jump in, which I appreciated.
Describe your experience with Beverly Hills Fertility.
The clinic was brand new and had state of the art equipment and technology. I got used to seeing my ultrasounds on a huge TV which was a change when I graduated to a normal OBGYN. Easily parking and check-in process.
What specific things went wrong at Beverly Hills Fertility?
Failed to order appropriate test
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Beverly Hills Fertility.
I was so impressed and amazed by how available Dr Goldstein was for us during or outside of our clinical visits. She performed all my ultrasounds herself (I find this to be uncommon in other clinics!) and being able to see her on each visit and ask questions in person made a huge difference for us...She was so patient when we had thousands of questions and concerns towards the treatment and she knew exactly how to answer all of them with reasons. We definitely felt we were in good hands with her. She is just incredible.
I am so glad I have found such amazing team at BHF...Where to start… they [BHF nursing staff] are all so amazing! Not only do they know what they are doing, but they are the best at making you feel like you matter to them...I was so impressed and amazed by how available Dr Goldstein was for us during or outside of our clinical visits. She performed all my ultrasounds herself (I find this to be uncommon in other clinics!) and being able to see her on each visit and ask questions in person made a huge difference for us.
How was your experience with Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
Dr Goldstein is the most caring, personal, patient, flexible, and understanding doctor I have met. My husband and I tried 2 IVF doctors before coming to her. Our experience with our previous doctors wasn’t bad in terms of succeeding in the IVF (Although ended in a miscarriage). However, our main struggle with the previous clinics was that the doctors weren't often present and we felt abounded at times during the treatment. I was so impressed and amazed by how available Dr Goldstein was for us during or outside of our clinical visits. She performed all my ultrasounds herself (I find this to be uncommon in other clinics!) and being able to see her on each visit and ask questions in person made a huge difference for us. I see IVF to be physically exhausting but more so, mentally challenging. She took the time to learn our history and made a personalized plan for us. She was so patient when we had thousands of questions and concerns towards the treatment and she knew exactly how to answer all of them with reasons. We definitely felt we were in good hands with her. She is just incredible.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
Don’t waste your time searching for anywhere else like I did. Dr Goldstein is like no other doctor. Have your questions ready, and trust her if you decide to go with her.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
She took the time to get to know us as people. This also goes out to all the nurses and staff in the office. They all knew the sad history we have with our last child, they treated us like a family and were genuinely feeling for us and crying with us at times.
Describe the protocols Ellen Goldstein used in your cycles at Beverly Hills Fertility and their degree of success.
Our case is little bit complicated… With infertility related issues, no one can tell you exactly what the problem is. With our case, we knew one of the problems was a high fragmentation with the sperm. Dr Goldstein had mentioned this to us and gave us an option to use donor sperm (she never forces you to do anything, she gives you an option), but my husband and I really wanted to try with our own egg and sperm. We moved forward with it on our first round of IVF with Dr Goldstein in January 2023. However, it didn’t succeed. Next month, we shipped our embryos (of our own eggs and sperm) that we froze last year in another country to Dr Goldstein’s office and did a transfer. This didn’t succeed either. We took a little break after that to take care of our health and in April, we listened to Dr Goldstein’s suggestion and decided to do another round with donor sperm this time and then that worked! There is more to our story, but I am gonna keep it short. All I want to say is that Dr Goldstein would only give you advice and options that best suit you and all you have to do is trust her. Looking back, she was paying such close attention to the doses of my meds, when to take a break, when to transfer and how many we transfer and every detail. She made me feel like I really mattered. Because she made me feel so special, I often felt like maybe I was a special case!, but I know she puts the same effort into every case. She is beyond.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Beverly Hills Fertility. (Assigned nurse: Adrianna)
Where to start… they are all so amazing! Not only do they know what they are doing, but they are the best at making you feel like you matter to them. Thanks to Adrianna and Alondra for making yourself always available for me. Thanks to Christina for always caring for me. Thanks to Erika for giving me a hug when I most needed it and crying with me. What I most appreciated (besides their generosity) is that they make themselves available to the patients and are so easy to reach. In my previous clinics, communication was the most difficult part. When you can’t reach anyone, you are discouraged and lose confidence in the process. I am so glad I have found such amazing team at BHF.
Describe your experience with Beverly Hills Fertility.
My husband and I tried 2 IVF doctors before coming to her. Our experience with our previous doctors wasn’t bad in terms of succeeding in the IVF (Although ended in a miscarriage). However, our main struggle with the previous clinics was that the doctors weren't often present and we felt abounded at times during the treatment. I was so impressed and amazed by how available Dr Goldstein was for us during or outside of our clinical visits. She performed all my ultrasounds herself (I find this to be uncommon in other clinics!) and being able to see her on each visit and ask questions in person made a huge difference for us. I see IVF to be physically exhausting but more so, mentally challenging. She took the time to learn our history and made a personalized plan for us. She was so patient when we had thousands of questions and concerns towards the treatment and she knew exactly how to answer all of them with reasons. We definitely felt we were in good hands with her.
I got to see Dr. Goldstein on every visit...When I met her, the first 5 mins we talked about what I do, what got me interested in doing this, and what my future plans were. We had talked about the process, how it works and she gave me the information I needed to proceed...I was initially told I would have a good egg count, but I was shocked at how great my result were. I was extremely pleased...The procedure is very quick and recovery was easy for me.
[Beverly Hills Fertility] Pro: Very kind and informative Doctor and nurse staff. Very clean office Cons: Just come a little early to find parking on street and if not go to parking structure but it’s a bit costly and no validation there. Just allow yourself an 45 to and an hour there if you are there early mornings, it’s a bit slow to get in...I got to see Dr. Goldstein on every visit, office is really clean and easy to find. All the nurses were very helpful and staff was very kind to me. The location was perfect for anyone living in the Beverly Hills/ century city location. I was initially told I would have a good egg count, but I was shocked at how great my result were. I was extremely pleased.
How was your experience with Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
As someone who is 35 single and working on my career, the pressure of aging eggs started to stress me out a bit and wanted to freeze my eggs while I was still young.
Pro:
I got to see Dr. Goldstein on every visit, office is really clean and easy to find. All the nurses were very helpful and staff was very kind to me. The location was perfect for anyone living in the Beverly Hills/ century city location. I was initially told I would have a good egg count, but I was shocked at how great my result were. I was extremely pleased. They were very honest about the cost and timing of the process. Also they help sign up for discounts on the medication as well.
Cons: I never paid the parking structure but I know it’s a bit pricey but there are places to park on the street with meters. I’d give yourself 45-1 hr per appt just cause I knew it took about 10 mins to be called after my appointment set time, but once I was called it moves quickly.
Overall I had a great experience and would totally recommend going or at least making a visit for consultation.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
Don’t hesitate to ask any questions, she will answer you questions or find the answer for you.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
When I met her, the first 5 mins we talked about what I do, what got me interested in doing this, and what my future plans were. We had talked about the process, how it works and she gave me the information I needed to proceed.
Describe the protocols Ellen Goldstein used in your cycles at Beverly Hills Fertility and their degree of success.
For the egg freezing process I went through the following:
21 days of birth control and started other meds 4 days later. I took 1 oral medication Provera, 1 injection of Follistim and 1 injection of Menopur for 11 nights. They provided a walk through on how to do the medication but there is a video as well they provide and available to FaceTime if needed. After the 11 nights I did 1 trigger shot at the exact time needed and did the procedure the day after. The procedure is very quick and recovery was easy for me.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Beverly Hills Fertility. (Assigned nurse: Kayla)
Kayla was very responsive on email and provided me a handy calendar of my medication but I like to double check and make sure the medication I was told at the office matches the email too.
Describe your experience with Beverly Hills Fertility.
Pro:
Very kind and informative Doctor and nurse staff.
Very clean office
Cons:
Just come a little early to find parking on street and if not go to parking structure but it’s a bit costly and no validation there.
Just allow yourself an 45 to and an hour there if you are there early mornings, it’s a bit slow to get in.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility.
Cost for 1 egg freezing process: 1 consultation, labs, pelvic ultra sound, medication, anesthesia, 1 year of storage and the procedure cost about $12,000.
Dr. Goldstein was very hands on and spent a lot of time with us. She is very experienced and her recommendations and treatment plan made sense to us. Ultimately, we got the results that we wanted which was our top priority so we would continue to see Dr. Goldstein in the future and we'd highly recommend her to our close friends and family...at first, Dr. Goldstein wasn't as detailed in explaining the treatment and outcomes as I preferred but after I asked her to be more detailed she was.
The [Beverly Hills Fertility] clinic is great - very welcoming, very relaxed...Parking is expensive... The only weaknesses of the clinic were that sometimes they were over-scheduled with long wait times, and at first, Dr. Goldstein wasn't as detailed in explaining the treatment and outcomes as I preferred but after I asked her to be more detailed she was...all of the Medical Assistants know the names of patients and they are very responsive.
How was your experience with Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
Dr. Goldstein was very hands on and spent a lot of time with us. She is very experienced and her recommendations and treatment plan made sense to us. Ultimately, we got the results that we wanted which was our top priority so we would continue to see Dr. Goldstein in the future and we'd highly recommend her to our close friends and family. The only weaknesses of the clinic were that sometimes they were over-scheduled with long wait times, and at first, Dr. Goldstein wasn't as detailed in explaining the treatment and outcomes as I preferred but after I asked her to be more detailed she was.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
Have your questions prepared for the visits
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
The clinic is very hands on - all of the Medical Assistants know the names of patients and they are very responsive.
Describe the protocols Ellen Goldstein used in your cycles at Beverly Hills Fertility and their degree of success.
At first we tried a natural cycle protocol that didn't work that well for me, so Dr. Goldstein quickly adjusted to a birth control lead-in with stimulation/Lupron which worked better. I had also consulted a physician in India who suggested certain dosing of the stimulation drugs and Dr. Goldstein was willing to try it - to combination of achieving synchronization and more stimulation worked well for us. For the transfer we agreed to start with natural cycle transfer and avoid progesterone shots, and it worked for us and we are currently pregnant.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Beverly Hills Fertility. (Assigned nurse: Erika Gonzalez)
Erika was our care coordinator and she was very compassionate, knew us well, and helpful to follow through on the treatment plan. We were very proactive and wanting to understand the details of our treatment (personal preference), and both Dr. Goldstein and Erika were very responsive by email and in person during visits.
Describe your experience with Beverly Hills Fertility.
The clinic is great - very welcoming, very relaxed. The building it is situated in is a little weird because it's mostly residential. Parking is expensive and the clinic only validates for 12 minutes.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility.
Depending on the treatment, $10-15K per cycle not including embryo testing, anesthesia, embryo cryopreservation.
Describe Ellen Goldstein's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Beverly Hills Fertility.
Dr. Goldstein is very experienced and able to try various protocols with comfort and she does spend time presenting options and answering questions so that it can be a shared decision.
She [Dr. Ellen Goldstein] is well-informed, knowledgeable about the latest statistics and studies, honest about the available paths forward and their risks, compassionate, and incredibly caring...She knew my medical history by heart. And she always patiently and kindly answered our questions along the way and made herself available via email, even on weekends...Her in-depth knowledge, care, compassion, and generosity with her time all helped us through this process. I wish this level of care for anyone else going through this uncertain process.
The [Beverly Hills Fertility] environment is clean, airy, and welcoming. Appointments are almost always very on time. Overall, a well-organized clinic where they deeply care about your outcomes. We felt supported every step of the way...[nurse] was always organized and quickly scheduled my following appointments at the end of every visit. I will miss working with this team. I wish I could continue to work with them until my baby is born.
How was your experience with Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
I initially came across Dr. Goldstein on a virtual appointment with Maven. She is well-informed, knowledgeable about the latest statistics and studies, honest about the available paths forward and their risks, compassionate, and incredibly caring. I set another appointment where my husband and I could align on a path forward with her insight. We were so impressed with how caring she was that we transferred all of my frozen eggs from one of the most well-renowned doctors in our state to her. This was not a light decision because the previous doctor was in-network with our insurance and Dr. Goldstein was out of network. We thought this through and decided that it was worth spending our savings on going through this process while under Dr. Goldstein's care. We are both glad we made the switch. This has been one of the most uncertain and emotional processes we've been through. Her in-depth knowledge, care, compassion, and generosity with her time all helped us through this process. I wish this level of care for anyone else going through this uncertain process.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
Instead of spending days and weeks with your worries and feeling alone in this process, reach out to Dr. Goldstein. She made me feel fully supported through this process and the path forward was not as grim as my fears would make me believe.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
She genuinely cared about the results of the process as well as the pace of the process. We encountered a minor delay in the process and I could see on her face that she was genuinely sad that I was experiencing a delay. Unlike my other doctor, she knew me and my husband as people. She knew my medical history by heart. And she always patiently and kindly answered our questions along the way and made herself available via email, even on weekends.
Describe the protocols Ellen Goldstein used in your cycles at Beverly Hills Fertility and their degree of success.
We thawed my frozen eggs, created embryos, performed genetic testing on all, and proceeded with transferring one of the embryos with the best chance of live births. I am currently (happily) pregnant.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Beverly Hills Fertility. (Assigned nurse: Adri Simental)
Adri strikes a great balance between being professional, kind, and fun. She had an entertaining story to share every time she drew my blood and that made the process so much more pleasant. She was always organized and quickly scheduled my following appointments at the end of every visit. I will miss working with this team. I wish I could continue to work with them until my baby is born.
Describe your experience with Beverly Hills Fertility.
The environment is clean, airy, and welcoming. Appointments are almost always very on time. Overall, a well-organized clinic where they deeply care about your outcomes. We felt supported every step of the way.
Describe Ellen Goldstein's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Beverly Hills Fertility.
I greatly appreciate that she worked with my natural cycle to reduce unnecessary medications. She also explained the advantages of moving forward with a single embryo transfer (i.e. reduced risk of premature birth as well as many other possible complications). This was consistent with what my Ob from years ago had taught me. The choice was clear.
I loved Dr. Goldstein. I originally found her from this website and had to come back and review her because she really made a difficult experience for me, as painless as possible. I have PCOS and was worried I would have to go through intense treatments to get pregnant. Dr. Goldstein got me pregnant with Letrozole, and throughout each round she was so gentle, honest, caring, responsive, and positive. I got pregnant within 3 months of seeing her, and couldn't be more grateful for her care and compassion. Highly recommend.
It [Beverly Hills Fertility] is a clean, new, and beautiful clinic. Staff is friendly. If you are time, you are seen within a reasonable amount of time. If you are late, you might have to wait a little bit but they will always try to squeeze you in and never turn you away...[nurse] Erika was there throughout the whole process. She was also very vibrant, kind, and caring. She is responsive both through email and phone. I was very grateful to have her there supporting me as well. All the staff is amazing, but she is the one person I can name because we spent a lot of time in contact.
How was your experience with Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
I loved Dr. Goldstein. I originally found her from this website and had to come back and review her because she really made a difficult experience for me, as painless as possible. I have PCOS and was worried I would have to go through intense treatments to get pregnant. Dr. Goldstein got me pregnant with Letrozole, and throughout each round she was so gentle, honest, caring, responsive, and positive. I got pregnant within 3 months of seeing her, and couldn't be more grateful for her care and compassion. Highly recommend.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
Don't be afraid to ask questions. I know it is nerve wracking to begin this process, but take care of yourself along the way and remember we all have our journeys.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
Dr. Goldstein has a very honest and nurturing demeanor. She is always up front about treatment and the fertility process, while also remembering that there is an individual on the other side who is going through real life challenges. This is reflected in her treatment, and she is very responsive to calls/emails, etc.
Describe the protocols Ellen Goldstein used in your cycles at Beverly Hills Fertility and their degree of success.
We did 3 rounds of Letrozole for my PCOS to help my body ovulate. On the first round, I had unexpected bleeding, so we assumed that round didn't work. I got pregnant two rounds later.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Beverly Hills Fertility. (Assigned nurse: Erika)
Erika was there throughout the whole process. She was also very vibrant, kind, and caring. She is responsive both through email and phone. I was very grateful to have her there supporting me as well. All the staff is amazing, but she is the one person I can name because we spent a lot of time in contact.
Describe your experience with Beverly Hills Fertility.
I can honestly only think of strengths. It is a clean, new, and beautiful clinic. Staff is friendly. If you are time, you are seen within a reasonable amount of time. If you are late, you might have to wait a little bit but they will always try to squeeze you in and never turn you away. Only good things.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility.
Not completely sure
Describe Ellen Goldstein's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Beverly Hills Fertility.
I was shocked by how available Dr. Goldstein was for us. My first visit, she sat in her office with me and my partner for over an hour and just got to know us and our history. She cared, she laughed with us, she empathized with us. She let us email her at any time and called us any time we asked, even in the late night...she kept close track of my ovulation to determine the length of time to do the stims, and under ordered my medication so I wouldn't have to pay more than necessary...
Amazing clinic [Beverly Hills Fertility], well run and well organized. The girls are so friendly, they make themselves available to me whenever I needed it, and never bruised me when taking my blood a million times a month...I was greeted cheerfully, the girls would laugh with me and keep things light. They took care of me like I was their own. To give me my good news, they all got together and called me together and I was so touched I cried about it for days...
How was your experience with Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
Dr. Goldstein is something else. She is heaven sent for anyone going through infertility. She made us feel seen, she gave us her time, took the time to answer our 1 million questions, was willing to do what we were comfortable with without any judgement. She made herself available to answer my 1000 million questions, even when I would sent silly questions late at night she responded in 5 minutes. She cares. She would see me happy and get happy, she would see me nervous and reassure me. She would see my excited and set my expectations realistically. She took the best care of us, all while keeping us realistically hopeful the entire process. I couldn't rave enough.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
I would say to trust Dr. Goldstein. She really knows what she's talking about and what she's doing, trust her. I'm very into research myself, and would go research the advice or things she'd tell me and see that she really knows what she's talking about.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
I was shocked by how available Dr. Goldstein was for us. My first visit, she sat in her office with me and my partner for over an hour and just got to know us and our history. She cared, she laughed with us, she empathized with us. She let us email her at any time and called us any time we asked, even in the late night.
Describe the protocols Ellen Goldstein used in your cycles at Beverly Hills Fertility and their degree of success.
My husband and I didn't want to do IUI. The low success rate didn't feel like something we could handle, and she was supportive of our decision without pushing in any direction. We did a relatively normal IVF cycle, where she kept close track of my ovulation to determine the length of time to do the stims, and under ordered my medication so I wouldn't have to pay more than necessary. She ended up saving me so much money, because my stims were relatively short. We did the transfer in the next cycle with minimal hormonal intervention which was refreshing, no trigger shot or anything (which was great because that first trigger was so hard on my body). I got pregnant the first round of IVF thanks to Dr. Goldstein's magic.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Beverly Hills Fertility. (Assigned nurse: Alondra)
Coming to the clinic for me felt like coming to my cousin's house. I was greeted cheerfully, the girls would laugh with me and keep things light. They took care of me like I was their own. To give me my good news, they all got together and called me together and I was so touched I cried about it for days. They were so good to me every step of the way I couldn't be more appreciative.
Describe your experience with Beverly Hills Fertility.
Amazing clinic, well run and well organized. The girls are so friendly, they make themselves available to me whenever I needed it, and never bruised me when taking my blood a million times a month. I don't have any weaknesses honestly. Bring a jacket for the waiting room lol
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at Beverly Hills Fertility.
They had to be within a certain time frame when blood work was involved, in order to get results back that day. But if it was just an ultrasound, the timing was more flexible than that
Describe the costs associated with your care under Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility.
I think the treatment was around 14k for IVF, and an addition 4500 for genetic testing. I could be wrong, don't quote me.
Describe Ellen Goldstein's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Beverly Hills Fertility.
I was strongly against having twins ( I don't think I can handle two at once, but more power to those who can). She was supportive of my decision, and instructed us when to use protection to prevent twins as well as only impanting one embryo.
Dr. Goldstein is a wonderful doctor and human...1. She saw me at every visit...2. She gave me realistic expectations and checked those with every visit as the process progressed. 3. She sincerely cared about how much money I spent on meds. She timed everything perfectly...4. She let me know from day one that she was available to answer any question as it came up and not to hesitate to reach out. Emailing her, even late at night, received a speedy response.
[Beverly Hills Fertility] Strengths: -Exceptional doctor and staff -Lovely office with validated parking -Short wait times -Price - I didn't do a lot of shopping around but I believe Dr. Goldstein is priced slightly lower than other clinics in the area. Especially if you factor in that the first year of egg storage is included in the fee. Weakness: Dr. Goldstein is the only doctor. I'm sure there's a backup plan if something comes up - I never asked!
How was your experience with Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
Dr. Goldstein is a wonderful doctor and human. This was my second round of egg freezing and some things stood out about my experience with her:
1. She saw me at every visit (as opposed to another clinic where I only saw my doctor for the consultation and retrieval).
2. She gave me realistic expectations and checked those with every visit as the process progressed.
3. She sincerely cared about how much money I spent on meds. She timed everything perfectly so I wouldn't have extra meds but also recommended upping the dose when it made sense.
4. She let me know from day one that she was available to answer any question as it came up and not to hesitate to reach out. Emailing her, even late at night, received a speedy response.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
Be honest and upfront with your questions. Do research so you know which questions to ask. She'll answer them and give you all the information you need to make personal decisions.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
Dr. Goldstein always took her time with me to address my questions and concerns. Her facility itself is brimming with kind employees who prioritize patient care. Her tone always comes from a place of confidence and knowledge but never from a place of superiority and arrogance.
Describe the protocols Ellen Goldstein used in your cycles at Beverly Hills Fertility and their degree of success.
I started with estrogen pills 7 days after ovulation.
Days 1-4: 225 follistim, 150 menopur
Days 5-11: upped to 300 follistim
Days 8-12: ganirelix
Day 12: trigger shot + what was left of follistim (about 275)
Day 14: retrieval
13 eggs retrieved, 10 mature
Describe your experience with your nurse at Beverly Hills Fertility. (Assigned nurse: Erika Gonzalez)
Erika was an absolute delight. She was always cheerful, compassionate and professional. Having a dedicated coordinator makes the process so much easier - I never felt like I was throwing my questions out into the ether. Erika was on it!
Every other person (finance, front desk, nurses, embryologist, anesthesiologist) at the clinic I interacted with was wonderful. Clearly, hiring people who are on board with Dr. Goldstein's ethos is a priority for the clinic.
Describe your experience with Beverly Hills Fertility.
Strengths:
-Exceptional doctor and staff
-Lovely office with validated parking
-Short wait times
-Price - I didn't do a lot of shopping around but I believe Dr. Goldstein is priced slightly lower than other clinics in the area. Especially if you factor in that the first year of egg storage is included in the fee.
Weakness:
Dr. Goldstein is the only doctor. I'm sure there's a backup plan if something comes up - I never asked!
Describe the costs associated with your care under Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility.
$8000 for doctor visits and procedure
$500 for anesthesia
$4000 (approx) for meds (I believe the range is 3-5k)
1st year of storage is included
[Dr. Goldstein] was kind, took time to explain everything and set realistic expectations given my body's limitations, and always answered questions quickly via email...The first cycle was cancelled due to a cyst, but it was gone the next month. I did 11 days of 150 iu Gonal-F plus 2 powder vials of Menopur per day, 4 days of Cetrotide at the end of the cycle to slow the bigger eggs, and got 10 eggs retrieved (9 frozen). The previous two cycles, I got 6 and 3, respectively, so this was a much better response.
[at Reproductive Fertility] I mostly worked with [the nurse], who was kind and great at calling with results, or explaining protocol patiently...$5800 for the retrieval and ultrasound appts; $3000 for the drugs...I would have liked more effort in figuring out why my insurance didn't cover this round of treatment when they had before, though I do think they tried...I'd also like there to be a payment plan to make it more accessible.
How was your experience with Ellen Goldstein at Reproductive Fertility?
Dr. Goldstein was the second doctor I went to in my fertility journey, and the experience was night and day different. She was kind, took time to explain everything and set realistic expectations given my body's limitations, and always answered questions quickly via email. I'm so sad it took me 3 cycles to find her - always go with your gut, and find another doctor if you don't feel like your first one cares enough!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Ellen Goldstein at Reproductive Fertility?
No advice
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Ellen Goldstein at Reproductive Fertility?
Dr. Goldstein is clearly very invested in her patients and very involved in the cycle from start to finish.
Describe the protocols Ellen Goldstein used in your cycles at Reproductive Fertility and their degree of success.
I have diminished ovarian reserve, so we started hormone treatment on the first day of my period, after I came in for an ultrasound. The first cycle was cancelled due to a cyst, but it was gone the next month.
I did 11 days of 150 iu Gonal-F plus 2 powder vials of Menopur per day, 4 days of Cetrotide at the end of the cycle to slow the bigger eggs, and got 10 eggs retrieved (9 frozen). The previous two cycles, I got 6 and 3, respectively, so this was a much better response.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Reproductive Fertility. (Assigned nurse: Gunay)
I mostly worked with Gunay, who was kind and great at calling with results, or explaining protocol patiently.
Describe your experience with Reproductive Fertility.
I would have liked more effort in figuring out why my insurance didn't cover this round of treatment when they had before, though I do think they tried. I saw that they didn't try to run it through insurance (as in, the $6k that I paid out of pocket isn't showing up against my out-of-network deductible). I'm calling my insurance tomorrow to try to figure it out. I'd also like there to be a payment plan to make it more accessible.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Ellen Goldstein at Reproductive Fertility.
$5800 for the retrieval and ultrasound appts; $3000 for the drugs, and still waiting on the anesthesia/procedure clinic bill. My insurance didn't cover this round at all.
Dr. Goldstein took into consideration our goals and finances and worked with us to find a treatment plan that was perfect for our needs. Dr. Goldstein also was always available between visits by email or a phone call...really took the time to explain treatment plans and options. She answered all of our questions thoughtfully being informative but also sensitive that we were getting a lot of information at one time. She took a whole-person approach taking into consideration our goals and treatments to match our goals...
The clinic [Beverly Hills Fertility] was clean and staff were welcoming. Dr Goldstein does all her own ultrasounds and even occasionally came to the waiting room to room me. The clinic is overall welcoming and a great place. The waiting room can get busy at times but there is always a place to sit...Dr. Goldstein took into consideration our goals and finances and worked with us to find a treatment plan that was perfect for our needs. Dr. Goldstein also was always available between visits by email or a phone call...
How was your experience with Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
Dr. Goldstein is absolutely amazing and I would highly recommend her to anyone struggling with fertility. She took time to answer questions and evaluate treatment options. We would not be pregnant now without her assistance. Overall it took 4 months - 2 months with IUI then a cyst occurred we needed to take a break. We had 1 more IUI after and now have a successful pregnancy! Dr. Goldstein took into consideration our goals and finances and worked with us to find a treatment plan that was perfect for our needs.
Dr. Goldstein also was always available between visits by email or a phone call. I feel completely comfortable in her care and know that anyone going to her is in good hands.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
I would recommend lots of open communication. The more you communicate the better Dr. Goldstein knows you and gets a feel for your needs. Be open and honest with her.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Ellen Goldstein at Beverly Hills Fertility?
Dr. Goldstein really took the time to explain treatment plans and options. She answered all of our questions thoughtfully being informative but also sensitive that we were getting a lot of information at one time. She took a whole-person approach taking into consideration our goals and treatments to match our goals. She also never hesitated with a call or an email to answer any questions that came up between treatments.
Describe the protocols Ellen Goldstein used in your cycles at Beverly Hills Fertility and their degree of success.
The first 2 treatments we used letrozole and IUI. The last (successful( IUI we used a combination of letrozole and gonal F.
Describe your experience with Beverly Hills Fertility.
The clinic was clean and staff were welcoming. Dr Goldstein does all her own ultrasounds and even occasionally came to the waiting room to room me. The clinic is overall welcoming and a great place. The waiting room can get busy at times but there is always a place to sit.
Dr. Goldstein was absolutely fantastic the entire way through the process. From the initial consultation, where she clearly laid out our options with a frank and honest discussion, to all of the times we emailed her with question and she responded within minutes to hours rather than days...We never felt pressured into one treatment or another; she made it very clear she was there to support whatever we needed. When we had questions we could email or call her, and we received responses usually within an hour, and this was even after hours...
the clinic [Reproductive Fertility] was easy to find, clean and modern, and we were receiving ultrasounds weekly so we always knew what was going on with the babies. They also went out of their way to work with my insurance (as I had fertility benefits I was able to use)...The nursing staff was fantastic. There were two or three nurses that we saw with regularity, and each were attentive and helpful....
How was your experience with Ellen Goldstein at Reproductive Fertility?
Dr. Goldstein is extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and very easy to talk to. We never felt pressured into one treatment or another; she made it very clear she was there to support whatever we needed. When we had questions we could email or call her, and we received responses usually within an hour, and this was even after hours. We could not have been more happy with our choice of doctor.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Ellen Goldstein at Reproductive Fertility?
Go with Dr. Goldstein. She was fantastic and very willing to answer all questions we had. It is extremely obvious she valued us as people, not just as a source of income.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Ellen Goldstein at Reproductive Fertility?
Dr. Goldstein was absolutely fantastic the entire way through the process. From the initial consultation, where she clearly laid out our options with a frank and honest discussion, to all of the times we emailed her with question and she responded within minutes to hours rather than days, she was great. If we were to go through a second round we would absolutely go with Dr. Goldstein again.
Describe the protocols Ellen Goldstein used in your cycles at Reproductive Fertility and their degree of success.
The primary issue we had with getting pregnant was male factor infertility. Dr. Goldstein's examination of my wife showed no problems on her side, and that we were ideal candidates for IVF (while my sperm count was a bit low, it was well over what was needed for IVF). She offered IUI, but given our ages we opted for the highest chance of success with IVF. She used a natural cycle approach, so we timed the medication the injectable medication in accordance to when her last cycle was. While taking the full round of injections we visited Dr. Goldstein at least twice a week for ultrasounds (which she herself conducted) and blood testing. At all times we could tell how the eggs were growing where she was. After the "trigger shot", there was the egg retrieval, which again was done by Dr. Goldstein. The eggs were fertilized and frozen in preparation for my wife's next cycle (again, in accordance with her natural cycle approach). A couple weeks (I believe) after the next cycle, we went back in for the transfer. Again, Dr. Goldstein did this. I was able to join my wife in the room while this happened, and she even provided us a picture of the embryo prior to implantation.
After the transfer, we continued following up with Dr. Goldstein, and we were scheduled to come back into the office to test and see if the transfer was successful. My wife and I were very excited though so we took at home test -- success. We emailed Dr. Goldstein, and she replied within a few minutes (which was typical for her) with a very excited email and we moved up the visit to confirm.
The first ultrasound that occurred after this period we were in for a surprise. Though Dr. Goldstein had implanted only one embryo, there were now two babies growing. Dr. Goldstein had been very clear that there was an increased chance for this to happen prior to the beginning of treatment due to "assisted hatching". Throughout the first 10 weeks after implantation Dr. Goldstein continued to have us come in weekly to check on their growth
As we continued through the 10 weeks, we also did a genetic screening test using my wife's blood (non-invasive for the babies) and the results came back that they were genetically normal and that they were identical baby boys. Dr. Goldstein was always careful to check with us before she told us the sex to ensure we wanted to know. After the 10 weeks, we transferred to the OB doctor who will be delivering the twins.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Reproductive Fertility.
The nursing staff was fantastic. There were two or three nurses that we saw with regularity, and each were attentive and helpful.
Describe your experience with Reproductive Fertility.
I honestly don't know of any weaknesses. The only doctor we saw at the clinic was Dr. Goldstein, so I can't speak to the other doctors' competencies. However, the clinic was easy to find, clean and modern, and we were receiving ultrasounds weekly so we always knew what was going on with the babies. They also went out of their way to work with my insurance (as I had fertility benefits I was able to use).
Describe the costs associated with your care under Ellen Goldstein at Reproductive Fertility.
I believe it was about $20K for the full freeze / transfer cycle and associated medications. However, I had an absolutely amazing fertility benefit called Progyny so my portion was only around $2K.
Describe Ellen Goldstein's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Reproductive Fertility.
Dr. Goldstein had all the embryos tested and ranked according to how well developed they were. Her strong opinion was that we start out with only one embryo transfer, and so this is what we did. The embryo that we chose was the "healthiest" one available.
Dr. Goldstein took a thorough history for both me and my husband, and explained well to us what could be contributing to our recurrent miscarriages. She ran tests on what she thought were all necessary rule outs...without testing for things that she thought were frivolous--though I got the impression that she would run other tests if I requested them...She was responsive at all times, gentle, validating, and patient...
Front desk staff [at Reproductive Fertility] is kind, responsive, and friendly. Parking was easy--there's a garage that you can pay for, but we were amazingly able to find parking on sunset. We saw the doctor herself and not nursing staff in her place...When we requested medical records she [nurse] was quick to respond, and when we needed tests ordered she got us the slips right away...
How was your experience with Ellen Goldstein at Reproductive Fertility?
Dr. Goldstein took a thorough history for both me and my husband, and explained well to us what could be contributing to our recurrent miscarriages. She ran tests on what she thought were all necessary rule outs (noting that the likelihood was simply poor egg quality, but testing for other possibilities) without testing for things that she thought were frivolous--though I got the impression that she would run other tests if I requested them. We made the decision to do IVF with eggs I had frozen a few years ago, and she explained what that process and all the risks would be for that. However, during the process of getting started with those eggs, I got pregnant again. I emailed her on a Sunday to tell her--but I was not hopeful at all given our history. She was immediately responsive, and positive but not annoyingly so given my emotional state. I asked her if I should use progesterone supplements because I'd read about that for women with recurrent miscarriages. She said she did not think there was evidence that I needed it yet and I should get tested for HCG/progesterone the next day, but offered to write the prescription anyway if it would help me feel better because it wouldn't hurt. I've never experienced that from a doctor before--I've been told no each time I asked an OB. I took her up on the offer and started the sups, and did HCG beta testing the next day. She called me personally with results as soon as they came in. Because the pregnancy seems viable so far, we paused on the process for IVF but are keeping the door open. I didn't feel any pressure from her to press forward with the embryo making...I've felt supported the whole way, and if this doesn't go positively, she is someone I would feel incredibly safe doing the next step of this process with.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Ellen Goldstein at Reproductive Fertility?
Dr. Goldstein addressed my feelings about having had recurrent pregnancy losses, and while she explained the statistics to me and the likelihood of different outcomes with IVF, she was attuned to how my grief/anxiety might impact my choices just as much as the data. She was responsive at all times, gentle, validating, and patient.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Reproductive Fertility. (Assigned nurse: Lizette)
Lizette was kind and responsive to emails. We never met in person. Her emails were a bit hard to understand, and we had to call for clarification a couple of times. She seemed to assume we knew more about the process/necessary steps than we did, but explained things in more detail when we asked her specifically. When we requested medical records she was quick to respond, and when we needed tests ordered she got us the slips right away.
Describe your experience with Reproductive Fertility.
The clinic is beautiful, clean, and in a great building. They do blood draws in house, though they send them to quest for results so it's easy enough to go to quest if you prefer. Front desk staff is kind, responsive, and friendly. Parking was easy--there's a garage that you can pay for, but we were amazingly able to find parking on sunset. We saw the doctor herself and not nursing staff in her place. It was as great an experience as something like this can be.
What specific things went wrong at Reproductive Fertility?
Lost results
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Reproductive Fertility.
Both my husband and I had a blood test for our karyotypes, STDs, and about a million other things for me but only those two for him...we were waiting for results and eventually were told that the order for his karyotype test had somehow not been logged in the system so Quest never got results for us. It wouldn't have been a huge deal other than he's afraid of needles so getting him to do another blood draw is an uphill battle!
Dr Goldstein used as little medication as possible and worked to meet my timing needs for the IVF cycle and retrieval. She also was able to meet my needs and special accommodations due to my anxiety and PTSD...She carefully monitored and titrated my medications throughout my more complicated IVF cycle to ensure that I did not get PCOS. She called and checked in on my multiple times throughout the process. Any concerns and she made the time to talk it through with me
The [Reproductive Fertility] practice is great and timely but I feel that they often don’t get back as quickly as I wished. So I found that emailing Dr Ellen Goldstein was just faster...~$21,000 for IVF cycle Not sure of the IUI but it was about 175 for ultrasound and consultation...They are very nice and always were caring and sensitive. I never felt that they were grouchy and always felt welcome.
How was your experience with Ellen Goldstein at Reproductive Fertility?
Dr Goldstein is attentive to every detail. She is careful and calculated and I trust her medical decisions completely. She carefully monitored and titrated my medications throughout my more complicated IVF cycle to ensure that I did not get PCOS. She called and checked in on my multiple times throughout the process. Any concerns and she made the time to talk it through with me. She was always professional and pleasant at each appointment. Dr Goldstein is always available and I didn’t need to search google for answers because she was always right there with the answer and a return email was often received faster than any google search would have even answered it! She really cares about me as a person and I feel deeply connected. She is part of my team, rooting for me and working with me step by step in this emotional journey. I couldn’t have done this without her (she was the 3rd provider I tried) and thankfully I found her! Every practice has its strengths and I feel that Dr Ellen is the perfect mix of all! Superb medical knowledge and understanding of statistics mixed with the human and faith aspect of knowing that we will do all we can and hope is never lost as it will only take one embryo to have your miracle. And she really gave me hope and continues to. Hopefully we will have our baby soon.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Ellen Goldstein at Reproductive Fertility?
Dr Goldstein was so supportive of me and my husband and gave us all the time in the world that we needed in our initial consultation - highly recommend that you meet with her for an in person consultation! She also is careful about how much of each medication she orders and she watches her spending carefully so that you pay the minimum needed for a successful IVF cycle. If anything comes up, email has been the easiest way for us to reach Dr Goldstein and also by far the fastest.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Ellen Goldstein at Reproductive Fertility?
While being treated by Dr Goldstein I really feel like she takes the time to talk to me, answer all emails, share my emotions and discuss the depths of whatever comes up in this process. She was willing to adjust and work with me in ways no other Dr was able - such as adjusting my timing of treatment to avoid Saturdays as much as possible for religious observances, she made adaptations to the typical procedures to accommodate for my needs as a result of my PTSD, she answered emails and call late at night and was available at a drop of a hat when things were confusing or unclear during the IVF cycle. She tracked all my cycle and meds as a human and I felt like I was her only patient!
Describe the protocols Ellen Goldstein used in your cycles at Reproductive Fertility and their degree of success.
Dr Goldstein used as little medication as possible and worked to meet my timing needs for the IVF cycle and retrieval. She also was able to meet my needs and special accommodations due to my anxiety and PTSD.
Describe your experience with Reproductive Fertility.
The practice is great and timely but I feel that they often don’t get back as quickly as I wished. So I found that emailing Dr Ellen Goldstein was just faster! They are very nice and always were caring and sensitive. I never felt that they were grouchy and always felt welcome.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Ellen Goldstein at Reproductive Fertility.
~$21,000 for IVF cycle
Not sure of the IUI but it was about 175 for ultrasound and consultation
Describe Ellen Goldstein's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Reproductive Fertility.
Haven’t had this as part of my treatment
What specific things went wrong at Reproductive Fertility?
Lost paperwork
Failed to call with results
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Reproductive Fertility.
Somehow the front desk staff lost some documents that we filled out and we had to have them resent a second time. They also didn’t call with my results until after I requested the results from the doctor. I was expecting the nurse to call me when the results were received.
I had my consultation with Dr. Goldstein who instead of diving into statistics or the numbers, started by getting to know me as a human including why I was pursuing this path, where I was at in life, what kind of support I had throughout the upcoming process, etc and she tailored her care and support to match. The "data" and numbers came only after there was an established mutual respect and trust that she cared about ME. I left the consultation feeling truly empowered and that she was going to be by my side the entire way. And I was right. My first injection was scheduled to be the day their office shut down due to the Pandemic in the early days in Mar 2020. The devastatio
Single egg freezing treatment [at Reproductive Fertility]: $5100 Anesthesia: $500 Operating Room Fee: $1500 Cryopreservation of egg: $1200 Per cycle...The clinic is very boutique feeling in a central location. Parking is a bit annoying and can get expensive but you can sometimes find street parking if you plan ahead. If you're just going for a blood draw, let the valet know and they won't take your car far. The front desk/billing department responding in a timely manner and my experiences were fine, however, there were times with other patients who I presume were in more sensitive situations than I, that I felt the compassion and care Dr Goldstein and Gunay show wasn't quite there and that at times, they were treated simply as a person who owes a bill. while this doesn't impede the care in any way, it's something to be aware of and be sure that you fully understand the pricing and terms. Read the contract thoroughly. I did and did not have any questions or issues but this is the only area where I witnessed some area of concern or question.
How was your experience with Ellen Goldstein at Reproductive Fertility?
Dr. Goldstein's communication and bedside manner are unmatched. She has this way of putting you at ease. She has genuine care and compassion and adjusts treatment based on what's best for you, understanding it's not always the outcome or information you want to hear. In my first cycle, I was not responding to the medication as we had anticipated. At my consult, I had I believe 17 follicles showing. On day 5, I had only 9 follicles and they were all growing very small. She expressed I might be a rare case that she might recommend cancelling. Because finances were not an issue for me regarding medication, she encouraged us to wait two more days to see the results and for me to de-stress as much as possible. I did and when I came back, my numbers had made a pretty significant rebound. We did have to adjust my number of days of stimulation but we ultimately ended up with 12 frozen eggs. Going from a potential cancellation to 12 eggs was just incredible and I'm thankful for her expertise and glad we held out. I wanted to do two back to back cycles but my numbers just weren't looking great so while we could have in theory proceeded, she advised me to wait and give myself a break. While disappointing, I appreciated her advice and the second cycle eventually occurred with another round of success.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Ellen Goldstein at Reproductive Fertility?
Come prepared with your questions, but don't stress if you don't know what to ask. She will educate you every step of the way and you can trust she's not out to just get money. She will always recommend what's best for you, but also understands this is a physical, mental, and financially tolling process. Based on your needs in each of those spaces, she will tailor her approach to how you address if things don't go as planned. I no longer live in LA but would happily fly back if I do another round or need to go through IVF in the future - she's that good.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Ellen Goldstein at Reproductive Fertility?
Dr. Goldstein has the most incredible bedside manner of any doctor I have ever met. This is NOT an exaggeration. Fertility decisions are never easy, whether you're faced with the unexpected or are trying to plan. It is an extremely personal process with a physical and emotional toll. I had my consultation with Dr. Goldstein who instead of diving into statistics or the numbers, started by getting to know me as a human including why I was pursuing this path, where I was at in life, what kind of support I had throughout the upcoming process, etc and she tailored her care and support to match. The "data" and numbers came only after there was an established mutual respect and trust that she cared about ME. I left the consultation feeling truly empowered and that she was going to be by my side the entire way. And I was right.
My first injection was scheduled to be the day their office shut down due to the Pandemic in the early days in Mar 2020. The devastation and unknowns were heartbreaking (especially as a single woman) but she helped level with me and I felt tremendously supported during a time of uneasiness for everyone. She checked in over the coming weeks just to see how I was doing and update me on the latest and when we got the green light to move forward again, she was ready. This time I had less support than I had anticipated due to the pandemic and again, as a single woman, I felt like she was the emotional support I needed. I didn't just feel like I had a knowledgeable practitioner, I felt like I had a friend who genuinely cared about me and looking back, I can't imagine having gone through this process with some of the dr's my friends have used. She performed every one of my ultrasounds, called with all of my results, always made sure I was knowledgeable about my levels, how many follicles I had, what sizes they were, and most importantly, educated me continuously at each and every visit. I never once felt lost or in the dark about what was to come and I know so much more about fertility in general thanks to her.
When I went to do my second cycle, my body wasn't ready and she found the best way to share the news that I should take a break. We could have pushed forward but she wanted the best results for me. When I did resume for the second cycle after a short break, she carefully considered the adjustments we would make and I had another positive outcome.
Describe the protocols Ellen Goldstein used in your cycles at Reproductive Fertility and their degree of success.
First round:
Birth Control
Menopur
Gonal F
Cetrotide
Novarel
Second round (I think this is what I took - might be off on one of these):
No birth control (it suppressed my ovaries too much)
Menopur
Gonal F
Lupron
Pregnyl
Rationale for changing up the second round is that the birth control seemed to suppress my ovaries and my eggs were not all grow at the same size (there was one too large from very early on). The second round, all my eggs grew at the appropriate sizes and together. We suspect the stress of Covid, BLM, and having to start/stop treatment and unknowns related to covid played a factor in my slightly lower than expected numbers (when I destressed, numbers went up). She also recommended some great therapists to speak with since I was suddenly alone, in lockdown, doing this challenging alone. I found an incredible and experienced fertility therapist who really helped as well.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Reproductive Fertility. (Assigned nurse: Gunay)
Gunay was absolutely incredible. My pharmacy told me that her notes regarding my prescription were the most clear, detailed notes they'd ever seen! She was incredibly timely in responding with any questions that I had and ensuring I understood everything Dr. Goldstein stated. She was always the last person I spoke with before leaving the office. She had an equally warm and compassionate bedside manner and approach. There were other nurses who did my blood draw and while my interactions were minimal, all were friendly and helped distract me (I'm terrified of needles). Gunay and Dr. Goldstein are a power couple in my opinion.
Describe your experience with Reproductive Fertility.
The clinic is very boutique feeling in a central location. Parking is a bit annoying and can get expensive but you can sometimes find street parking if you plan ahead. If you're just going for a blood draw, let the valet know and they won't take your car far. The front desk/billing department responding in a timely manner and my experiences were fine, however, there were times with other patients who I presume were in more sensitive situations than I, that I felt the compassion and care Dr Goldstein and Gunay show wasn't quite there and that at times, they were treated simply as a person who owes a bill. while this doesn't impede the care in any way, it's something to be aware of and be sure that you fully understand the pricing and terms. Read the contract thoroughly. I did and did not have any questions or issues but this is the only area where I witnessed some area of concern or question.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Ellen Goldstein at Reproductive Fertility.
Single egg freezing treatment: $5100
Anesthesia: $500
Operating Room Fee: $1500
Cryopreservation of egg: $1200
Per cycle
Dr. Goldstein took the time to ensure that my husband and I were active participants in our care. She completed a very thorough diagnostic workup that covered all bases. She discovered a small amount of scar tissue in my uterus, and recommended a hysteroscopy to remove it. My husband and felt comfortable and confident going into the surgery, and it went beautifully. After the hysteroscopy, we decided we wanted to pursue IVF, and Dr. Goldstein walked us through what the process would look like. She provided expert medical recommendations, but never pushed us in a specific direction. Instead she made sure we had the knowledge we needed to determine what course of action we were comfortable with, and supported us in our decision. Throughout the entire process, Dr. Goldstein was very hands-on. I saw her for every one of my appointmen
The office [Reproductive Fertility] is beautiful, and the staff was always welcoming and helpful. It's a comfortable place. All interactions I have had here have been lovely, and I'd highly recommend it. The clinic's website is also great; easy to navigate, and contains a wealth of information...I was always able to find an appointment time that worked well with my schedule. Our IVF cycle was very successful, and thanks to Dr. Goldstein’s communication and compassion, I felt at ease and comfortable throughout the entire process. I always knew what to expect, and as a result the stress level was very low. We are incredibly grateful to have 11 beautiful, genetically normal embryos.
How was your experience with Ellen Goldstein at Reproductive Fertility?
My husband and I sought treatment from Dr. Goldstein after experiencing our third consecutive miscarriage. We were heartbroken, exhausted, anxious - all the feelings that accompany loss of this magnitude. Dr. Goldstein gave us hope, and helped me to find the courage necessary to continue our journey. I am so deeply thankful to have found her, and cannot emphasize enough how comfortable I was throughout my IVF journey thanks to her outstanding care.
First and foremost, Dr. Goldstein took the time to ensure that my husband and I were active participants in our care. She completed a very thorough diagnostic workup that covered all bases. She discovered a small amount of scar tissue in my uterus, and recommended a hysteroscopy to remove it. My husband and felt comfortable and confident going into the surgery, and it went beautifully. After the hysteroscopy, we decided we wanted to pursue IVF, and Dr. Goldstein walked us through what the process would look like. She provided expert medical recommendations, but never pushed us in a specific direction. Instead she made sure we had the knowledge we needed to determine what course of action we were comfortable with, and supported us in our decision.
Throughout the entire process, Dr. Goldstein was very hands-on. I saw her for every one of my appointments, and she preformed all my procedures. Her communication was exemplary; far above and beyond that of any other physician I’ve had. Dr. Goldstein personally responded to all inquiries quickly, including those I had on evenings and weekends. She also proactively reached out with frequent updates so we were always very well informed about where we were in the process. Dr. Goldstein and her office were also flexible, and I was always able to find an appointment time that worked well with my schedule.
Our IVF cycle was very successful, and thanks to Dr. Goldstein’s communication and compassion, I felt at ease and comfortable throughout the entire process. I always knew what to expect, and as a result the stress level was very low. We are incredibly grateful to have 11 beautiful, genetically normal embryos.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Ellen Goldstein at Reproductive Fertility?
Dr. Goldstein truly made my husband and I feel like valued members of a team throughout our treatment process. From day one, she ensured we felt comfortable and confident in our understanding of our diagnosis and subsequent treatment. She is extremely accessible and lightning fast in her responses to any inquiries we had. We always felt valued, prioritized, and included every step of the way. We both feel incredibly lucky to have found such a dedicated, knowledgable and compassionate physician to care for us on our journey.
Describe your experience with Reproductive Fertility.
The office is beautiful, and the staff was always welcoming and helpful. It's a comfortable place. All interactions I have had here have been lovely, and I'd highly recommend it. The clinic's website is also great; easy to navigate, and contains a wealth of information.
I had a Hysteroscopy to remove the polyp in my uterus [with Dr. Ellen Goldstein]. This step was done first before I started my IUI cycle... She has made sure I have understood all my options every step of the way. She has called me, emailed and during these uncertain times she's set up a phone meeting so we can plan our next steps once we have the green light. I am so grateful I found her and no matter what my results are, I know I have a doctor on my side that holds my best interest at heart.
I was assigned Kyra as my nurse [at Reproductive Fertility] , I would receive emails and phone calls keeping me informed of appointments and what I should expect...It's a beautiful and clean space. The waiting room, even though I am not ever waiting for long, is very comfortable. Every room I have been is clean and maintained. It doesn't feel like a doctors office, especially none of the ones I've been in...I had a Hysteroscopy to remove the polyp in my uterus. This step was done first before I started my IUI cycle.
How was your experience with Ellen Goldstein at Reproductive Fertility?
Dr. Goldstein is the first doctor that took the time to explain why I am having difficulty conceiving. She has the prefect marriage of honesty and compassion without making you feel dim-witted. Within the first week of meeting her she scheduled a saline ultrasound that allowed her to see that I had polyps in my uterus. I feel like I have moved forward and have gotten so much accomplished within four months of knowing and working with her.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Ellen Goldstein at Reproductive Fertility?
I'd say meet with her. She does have your back. I was so vulnerable our first meeting and she has shown me that I can trust her.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Ellen Goldstein at Reproductive Fertility?
I honestly I am so happy to be working with Dr. Goldstein. She has made sure I have understood all my options every step of the way. She has called me, emailed and during these uncertain times she's set up a phone meeting so we can plan our next steps once we have the green light. I am so grateful I found her and no matter what my results are, I know I have a doctor on my side that holds my best interest at heart.
Describe the protocols Ellen Goldstein used in your cycles at Reproductive Fertility and their degree of success.
I had a Hysteroscopy to remove the polyp in my uterus. This step was done first before I started my IUI cycle.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Reproductive Fertility. (Assigned nurse: Kyra)
When I was assigned Kyra as my nurse, I would receive emails and phone calls keeping me informed of appointments and what I should expect.
Describe your experience with Reproductive Fertility.
It's a beautiful and clean space. The waiting room, even though I am not ever waiting for long, is very comfortable. Every room I have been is clean and maintained. It doesn't feel like a doctors office, especially none of the ones I've been in.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Ellen Goldstein at Reproductive Fertility.
I was fortunate that I only had to pay out of pocket for one procedure, hysterscopy. I called many hospitals in the area and found paying the $3,000 was the best option, financially.
my case was complicated by chronic endometritis with significant inflammation and Dr. Goldstein tailored the approach to ensure the best possible outcome (I only had two viable embryos, so it was important to do everything possible for a successful transfer). Ultimately, I underwent immunosuppression leading up to and following the transfer and am now almost 8-weeks pregnant...she never makes you feel judged, instead providing reassurance and answering questions with warmth and empathy.
The clinic [Reproductive Fertility] is clean, comfortable, and welcoming. Allow time for parking, as it can be a little difficult (street parking is available, though sometimes not very close, depending on time of appointment)...Dr. Goldstein approached my treatment in a very individualized way, tailoring the plan to my unique needs, both with my first child (Dr. Goldstein went against “protocol” to ensure the best outcome given my body’s response to certain injectables) and with my current pregnancy (tirelessly researching and consulting with other experts in the field to maximize the chance of IVF success despite my chronic endometritis with significant inflammation).
How was your experience with Ellen Goldstein at Reproductive Fertility?
I could not be happier with Dr. Goldstein. I first saw her in 2017 at Kaiser after two other IUIs and a miscarriage. Despite Kaiser’s protocol, she decided to adjust the approach (gonal-f vs another menopur cycle) based on my history and risk factors, which resulted in my beautiful baby girl.
After multiple failed IUIs at Kaiser in 2019, I decided to pursue IVF with Dr. Goldstein at her private practice. At that point, significant inflammation was noted on endometrial biopsy and I was diagnosed with chronic endometritis, thought to reflect infection from prior IUI. Dr. Goldstein did everything possible to ensure a good outcome despite this complication (e.g., researching, consulting, working with lab techs to figure out a way to culture my samples to obtain more information for better treatment planning). She explained all my options thoroughly and with empathy, every step of the way. When it became more apparent that my inflammation was likely an autoimmune response (as opposed to infection), she consulted with colleagues from across the nation to develop an immunosupression plan for my FET. I am now almost 8-weeks pregnant (strong heartbeat, on-track development).
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Ellen Goldstein at Reproductive Fertility?
IVF is scary, so share any and all of your worries with Dr. Goldstein - she never makes you feel judged, instead providing reassurance and answering questions with warmth and empathy.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Ellen Goldstein at Reproductive Fertility?
Dr. Goldstein approached my treatment in a very individualized way, tailoring the plan to my unique needs, both with my first child (Dr. Goldstein went against “protocol” to ensure the best outcome given my body’s response to certain injectables) and with my current pregnancy (tirelessly researching and consulting with other experts in the field to maximize the chance of IVF success despite my chronic endometritis with significant inflammation).
Describe the protocols Ellen Goldstein used in your cycles at Reproductive Fertility and their degree of success.
2017: Gonal-f IUI - she chose Gonal-f (vs menopur) since my body did not respond well to menopur (my lining was very thin and I ended up miscarrying at almost 7-weeks during the previous cycle). This was at Kaiser, so I was not always scheduled to see her, and when another doctor told me I had to try another cycle with menopur first (as per Kaiser protocol), I asked for Dr. Goldstein and she advocated for me. This resulted in my daughter.
2019: Egg retrieval, FET (5-day) - as I described earlier, my case was complicated by chronic endometritis with significant inflammation and Dr. Goldstein tailored the approach to ensure the best possible outcome (I only had two viable embryos, so it was important to do everything possible for a successful transfer). Ultimately, I underwent immunosuppression leading up to and following the transfer and am now almost 8-weeks pregnant.
Describe your experience with Reproductive Fertility.
The clinic is clean, comfortable, and welcoming. Allow time for parking, as it can be a little difficult (street parking is available, though sometimes not very close, depending on time of appointment).
Describe Ellen Goldstein's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Reproductive Fertility.
Dr. Goldstein highly recommended eSET for me for several reasons. My first pregnancy was complicated (my daughter was born preterm and with low birth weight following a rare placental abnormality) and a multiple pregnancy would increase my risk of complications this time around. With the chronic endometritis, we also did not want to transfer both of my viable embryos together, in case the inflammation interfered with implantation, etc. (better to have a second chance than losing them both at once).
Dr. Goldstein always took care to listen to all of my questions and did everything she could to give me the most information. She has the most calm and gentle bedside manner, but at the same time comes across extremely confident and knowledgeable. I always felt like she prioritized me and my partner's situation - but I'm sure she makes all of her patients feel that way because she is just so sincere!...She always followed up with me herself - not through a nurse - even letting me know I could call her in the evening if I had questions about a new medication/dosing procedure. She's fantastic. I can't say enough good things about my experiences as her patient.
The nurses here [Reproductive Fertility] are all nice and try to do everything they can to meet your needs and answer your questions...The one complaint I have about the clinic is the accounting department. The way they process your charges and calculate your totals are not on time, not transparent, and hardly ever pro-active. I am always approaching them asking for an update. They don't reach out to me on their own...I believe for 3 IVF cycles (one had to be converted into an IUI because I didn't have too many f
How was your experience with Ellen Goldstein at Reproductive Fertility?
Dr. Goldstein is very knowledgeable and thoughtful about her approach to infertility. She really does take each case individually, and takes time to make decisions that she thinks would be best to give you the best results. I always felt like she tried to provide me with the best possible solutions/medications/strategies to help us conceive. I always saw Dr. Goldstein when I came for my appointments, and she even came early at 7:30 am because she knew my work day started so early. She always followed up with me herself - not through a nurse - even letting me know I could call her in the evening if I had questions about a new medication/dosing procedure. She's fantastic. I can't say enough good things about my experiences as her patient.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Ellen Goldstein at Reproductive Fertility?
Don't look anywhere else - she's an amazing physician who is ALWAYS looking out for you and your best interest.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Ellen Goldstein at Reproductive Fertility?
Dr. Goldstein always took care to listen to all of my questions and did everything she could to give me the most information. She has the most calm and gentle bedside manner, but at the same time comes across extremely confident and knowledgeable. I always felt like she prioritized me and my partner's situation - but I'm sure she makes all of her patients feel that way because she is just so sincere!
Describe the protocols Ellen Goldstein used in your cycles at Reproductive Fertility and their degree of success.
I remember that for my first IVF cycle, I wasn't taking anything except my usual prenatal pills, folic acid and calcium supplements. For my next cycle, she recommended that I take an additional 4- 5 supplements which she said might produce better follicular counts. In addition, she slightly changed the medications I used from one cycle to the next, again, because she believed they would produce better results for me.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Reproductive Fertility. (Assigned nurse: Kyra Jackson)
The nurses here are all nice and try to do everything they can to meet your needs and answer your questions.
Describe your experience with Reproductive Fertility.
I would recommend this clinic because of Dr. Goldstein alone. She's the best doctor I've ever had, and especially for a such a sensitive and emotional time in my life, I'm so lucky to have found her.
The one complaint I have about the clinic is the accounting department. The way they process your charges and calculate your totals are not on time, not transparent, and hardly ever pro-active. I am always approaching them asking for an update. They don't reach out to me on their own.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Ellen Goldstein at Reproductive Fertility.
I don't have the exact figures, but they were running a promotion at the time we first started seeing the clinic. I believe for 3 IVF cycles (one had to be converted into an IUI because I didn't have too many follicles that cycle), it was roughly $30K. Please note: we already had 80% of our medications, so we only had to buy 20%, and that is not included in the $30K figure.
