Julia Kim

Dr. Kim is the perfect combination of extremely bright while still having wonderful bedside manner. I was so nervous when I went to my initial consultation. She was extremely thorough in explaining my treatment options with statistics and great detail. She answered every question I had. I left my consultation confident with her care and the plan we had set ahead. One of the hardest times throughout this process for me was understanding that letrozole/IUI was not working for me and I would likely need to transition to IVF. Dr. Kim delivered this news in a way that made me feel confident about IVF and ready to take the next step. She knew what was best for me and I am so appreciative of her honesty that it was time to move to more aggressive treatment. I was very nervous and excited for the egg retrieval. Dr. Kim saw me for every monitoring appointment through my egg retrieval cycle. This provided me so much confidence and reassurance. We got incredible results from our retrieval and we are so grateful for her treatment plan and care. When it came time for the embryo transfer I was extremely anxious. Seeing her throughout the FET cycle was so helpful for me to be able to ask questions along the way. Unfortunately our first embryo transfer did not take. I was devastated. Dr. Kim delivered the news in an extremely compassionate way. When I was ready to talk about my next FET cycle Dr. Kim took the time to chat with me on the phone about all of my concerns. I felt so reassured and confident going into the second FET. I am now currently 14 weeks pregnant. It still feels like a miracle. When I found out I was pregnant the entire team was SOOOO happy for me. It felt like I had a team of cheerleaders. Our first ultrasound to check for the heart beat was something I will never forget. All of the heartache, time, money spent etc became worth it. Dr. Kim was unbelievably happy for us. It was a moment I will never forget. We also had her share the baby's gender with us at that appointment. Tears of happiness were shed. I still send photos of my ultrasounds and keep my team at spring up to date on my progress. I am so so grateful for Dr. Kim and her helping our dream of starting a family come true.

Trust her advice and her data. She is extremely smart and will recommend the best course of treatment.

I cant remember exact numbers but I believe the egg retrieval and fertilization was around 22k. Each FET cycle was around 4500 to 5000

Julia Kim was very professional, courteous, informative, insightful, and made sure to manage expectations with me well while answering any and all questions I had, no matter how extensive. She also seemed excellent at assessing monitoring appointments and giving me very exact expectations to have. I felt 100% taken care of.

Be prepared with the questions you have, be empowered about what you want, and come prepared with a list of what you want known, so you can use her time efficiently and have all of your questions answered.

She followed a pretty standard protocol of medications and monitoring appointments throughout my cycle, including doses of Menopur, Gonal-F, and a trigger shot, following occasional monitoring appointments that became more regular as my trigger date approached. She did not make me take more medication than needed. She made sure I didn't have to order excessive amounts of medication, either, helping me save on cost.

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Dr. Kim's warm demeanor and genuine care immediately put me at ease during what could have been a stressful time. Throughout my journey, Dr. Kim demonstrated great professionalism and expertise. Her depth of knowledge and attention to detail instilled a great deal of confidence in me, and I trusted her expertise implicitly. Not only is Dr. Kim incredibly skilled in her field, but she also possesses a rare combination of compassion and empathy. She truly understood the emotional rollercoaster that comes with fertility struggles.

Come prepared with questions that you have in every appointment with Dr. Kim. Your time is pretty limited with her, although you can always use the portal to reach out.

Menopur & Follistim to stimulate egg growth. My eggs all grew around the same rate & size.

one cycle $9K and medications ~$4K

Dr. Kim provides quality service and is very trustworthy. The only reason I did not score her a 10 is that I felt she could have been a bit more communicative during the follow up visits - she was often only in the room for a few quick minutes and seemed to be in a rush. Overall, I thought my experience was great, but I can imagine that for someone who needs a bit more hand-holding and is less confident asking medical questions, it might be difficult for them.

Be proactive in asking questions (come prepared with the questions you want to ask).

I believe I had a very standard egg retrieval process - 10 days of injections (Follistim, Ganirelix, and Menopur) with the trigger shot and retrieval. 13 eggs were retrieved and 11 were frozen.

I believe the total cost came out to ~$13,000, which I paid upfront and had reimbursed through Carrot.

I have less issue with Julia Kim and more issue with Spring Fertility itself. It has grown way too big too quickly and they do not give you custom health care treatment. The nurses were amazing and I loved working with them. My new dr, who happens to be the president of the board of woman's fertility health in the US, based out of UCSF, advised me that the treatment plan was not the right plan for someone with my condition. I was over stimulated in the cycle (25 days long), no in depth hormone workup was ever done to identify why I was suffering infertility (Spring didnt care about getting to the cause of the problem). At the end of the cycle, my eggs stopped growing, which should have probably called to cancel the cycle, but we retrieved resulting in no embryos. I don't blame Spring for not getting Embryos, but I am unsatisfied with the protocol they chose for my condition, which may have resulted in a different outcome. Spring stimulated me as if I was a 25 year old with 30 follicles. I'm 32, with 5 follicles. The protocol should have been different.

Get multiple opinions before choosing to work with Spring.

My treatment started with birth control and stim suppressants. Followed by 5 days of clomid. (My body didnt respond to clomid because the birth control affected my body to much.) Then they started me on Gonal F (low dose) slowly increasing my dose daily as my body was still not responding to stimulation after the birth control. Finally as I got closer to 10mm diameter, After 9 days of Gonal, they added Menopure, followed by trigger on day 25 after my follicles reached and plateaued at 18mm for 2 days.

Retrieval was ~$15k Meds were $5k

Dr. Kim, who has come from top medical schools on the East Coast was EXCELLENT, extremely well-trained, smart, communicative, and warm. The thing to know about Spring – they are the most scientifically rigorous which means they will err on the side of being conservative, and really increase all possible chances for you to have a successful IVF cycle. They do not employ practices unless they have been extremely well reviewed and replicated (for example, I wanted to do a blood test to see if I had endometriosis, and Dr. Kim said this specific diagnostic test was simply not reliable enough, even though other Dr.'s I had seen at other clinics suggested doing the test). I trusted her opinion and could see that the standards at Spring were much more elevated than other places (which is reflected in their success outcomes, as documented by the CDC). More importantly, after our first egg retrieval, Dr. Kim felt the results were OK (long story short, the embryos developed a little slowly), but not as great as they could be , and offered two tangible, scientifically reliable ways to tweak the protocol on the second round (surely enough, they worked and we ended up with higher quality embryos including an AA which we subsequently transferred and is now the baby in my womb!). Dr. Kim also consults with Dr. Tran (one of the founding docs, who multiple acupuncturists have told me is the best RE in the Bay Area, and has 20-30+ years of experience) about her cases. I loved this collaborative spirit at Spring, as having the eyes and expertise of multiple doctors on your case is a great added benefit. In a nutshell, I can't recommend Dr. Kim enough!

Come prepared with questions ahead of time. Dr. Kim is efficient (she has many patients), and if you don't have questions, she will be out the door before you know it. On the contrary, if you have questions, she will slow down and answer your questions thoroughly. She is extremely patient, so don't be afraid to ask her to repeat things if you don't understand, or feel confused.

My husband and I (both 35) tried to get pregnant for over a year, and it wasn't happening. Spring Fertility diagnosed us with tubal factor. After two egg retrievals, and one transfer, we now have six embryos including one that that has made us PREGNANT (yay!). As mentioned earlier, we started off with a basic baseline protocol (mid-follicular), which yielded good results. We yielded three BB euploids, but they had each developed slowly over 7 days instead of 5-6, which isn't ideal and we wanted to feel a little more cushion just in case, so we signed up for a second round. Dr. Kim tweaked the second round: (1) We did a mid-luteal protocol instead and (2) We dipped the eggs in calcium after retrieval, and as a result, we yielded three higher-quality euploids (AA, AB, BB) that developed in a more timely manner (5-6 days). Ultimately, we transferred the AA and I'm now pregnant! I'm also relieved to know I have five embroyos frozen for second baby in the future. Dr. Kim felt the results were OK , but not as great as they could be , and offered two tangible, scientifically reliable ways to tweak the protocol on the second round (surely enough, they worked and we ended up with higher quality embryos including an AA which we subsequently transferred and is now the baby in my womb!)

$50,000 for everything (two retrievals + a transfer)

My experience with Dr. Kim was great. She took the time to answer all my questions thoughtfully, and was easy to get in contact with throughout my treatment. When things did not go as planned, she explained the adjustments she recommended and the rationale for them. She has a great bedside manner, and addressed both me and my partner during my initial consultation, which I appreciated. When I had questions about family planning with a same sex partner, she was very knowledgeable and I felt very comfortable asking her these questions. She did all but one of my ultrasounds and came in on her weekend off to do my retrieval. Overall a great experience!

Your care team can help answer questions you might have, and you can always let them know you would like to speak with Dr. Kim if you have additional questions so they can book you a phone visit with her.

Had a luteal phase, progesterone priming, then down regulation cycle with an agonist. Each time there was a change in approach, Dr. Kim discussed the rationale and why she recommended it, which was very helpful.

$8,750 for an egg freezing cycle

Having had 2 IVF cycle experiences with a doctor at another fertility clinic prior to consulting with Spring Fertility, working with Dr. Kim was an absolute breath of fresh air. She's an incredibly smart, savvy, efficient and communicates well and to the point without any kind of lack or disregard to empathy - her bedside manner is great. Dr. Kim takes her time to explain things in a way that allows a non medically educated individual understand exactly what is going on. She was an absolute pleasure to work with and we will most certainly see her again when the time is right. In the meanwhile, we have been referring her to everyone who asks!

Dr. Kim far exceeded expectations. We were fairly nervous considering our age, but Dr. Kim had a plan for us and executed it flawlessly to give us great results. The experience was far better than expected and we would recommend Spring Fertility and more importantly, Dr. Kim, to our family or closest friends.

Dr. Kim is an expert in her field, proven by her results, and I would recommend her experience and knowledge for fertility processes to anyone.

We were worried about our age, but Dr. Kim had a plan specifically for us that provided marvelous results. I would recommend her expertise to anyone.

The money spent was worth the results.

She's very to-the-point which I like. No sugar coating of what happened etc. It's a good fit for me. My visits are usually quick and so are the calls with Dr Kim. We are still trying transfers so hoping for success soon.

Dr Kim is good if you want to-the-point advice and visits.

We are doing IVF because we are both carriers of a genetic disorder. We don't have any known fertility issues. I prefer minimal drugs in my protocols which Dr Kim has been happy to oblige with.

Egg retrievals and embryo creation were about $20,000 each round (excluding drugs). We also did PGT-A and PGT-M because my partner and I are both carriers of the same genetic disease. Transfers are $6,000 each round (excluding drugs).

I believe Spring mostly transfers 1 embryo each time.

Dr Kim was very approachable and available for any questions through out the treatment cycle. Her personality and approach put me at ease and gave me the confidence that I am under the best care possible. She ensured all of the key communications happened over a phone call and she personally called me all times.

Trust her expertise and leverage her amazing team to make this process easy on you. No question is out of bounds, communicate your concerns if any and know she is your biggest advocate in this process.

I do not recall specific information.

Approximately 45k excluding medications

Not applicable

Dr. Kim is a rising star in the world of fertility. I recommend her to everyone and any one as much as I can. To say she goes above and beyond is not enough to describe how hard Dr. Kim works. She is relentless. She treats every patient as though you were a family member or sister.

it's definitely a roller coaster of a process. every step can be nerve wracking and anxious which is entirely normal, but rest assured you are in very good hands with Dr. Kim and her incredible staff

I had poor egg quality which resulted in going through 2 cycles. I'm not entirely sure of the strategy utilized in the second cycle but boy did it work! My husband and I feel very reassured by our second result

approximately 20k each cycle

not at that step

Dr Kim was friendly but direct, and didn’t sugarcoat anything. She gave us clear expectations and updates throughout the process, and called to deliver great news personally - from an airport while out of the office! My experience with IVF was exceptionally straightforward and I feel grateful and lucky for the care I received and the outcome of a happy, healthy pregnancy.

Ask questions if you need to, and lean on the nursing team. I felt like Dr Kim was doing a lot behind the scenes and I trusted her instructions, which were all related by the great nurses.

I did a mid luteal phase egg retrieval cycle with Gonal-F, Menopur and Cetrotide, with dual Lupron & Novarel trigger. I had an AFC of 9, and was thrilled to retrieve 11 eggs. They did ISCI to inseminate and 7 fertilized; I wound up with 4 blastocyst embryos and to everyone’s delight and surprise all 4 were euploid. Dr Kim outlined a clear attrition funnel based on my age and testing results, and my expectations/hopes were to get 2 euploids from one retrieval cycle. So results exceeded our expectations, we were thrilled. We then did a modified natural FET cycle with Letrozole, Ovidrel, Medrol and progesterone suppositories. We transferred our highest quality embryo and were successful on our first transfer; I’m currently 13w pregnant.

We were so lucky to have fertility benefits through Progyny. I think out of pocket it would have been $25-30k; with Progyny it was around $2500 for the retrieval and transfer cycle.

Dr. Kim is able to present academic and complex scientific information in a clear and relatable way. She's warm and approachable but not one to gloss over realities or facts, which was a balance I thrived under. She went out of her way our first appointment to diagram, break down and relate information to me about treatment and options that allowed me to feel in control. The ball was always in my court but I felt that she was actively supporting me and helping me navigate at every step of the way.

Don't be hesitant or shy about opening up. I was worried I might be judged for wanting to continue to live a full and happy life while on my fertility journey - I received compassion and understanding when I opened up about personal and professional goals that I wanted to balance along with having a baby.

At the start of each menstrual cycle, I would attend an appointment for a baseline ultrasound. Based on that reading, I would start a 5-day course of Clomid to grow and mature my follicles. At day 10-12 of my menstrual cycle, I would have another ultrasound and then be prescribed a "trigger shot" of Letrizole and timed intercourse, before coming back to the clinic on day 14 or so for the IUI.

I used fertility benefits through my husband's employer to pay for our treatments. I paid for initial bloodwork and genetic screening out of pocket before we triggered the fertility benefits.

Overall I had a good experience with Dr. Kim. She was knowledgeable, a clear and warm communicator, and I'm satisfied with the results of my egg retrieval. Visits with her did seem speedy due to the scheduling of the clinic, but she answered any questions I had in detail if I asked.

Do your research on egg freezing ahead of time. Be prepared to advocate for yourself if you have questions or concerns. I trust Dr. Kim to have shared medically relevant information with me, but getting enough knowledge for my own peace of mind required my own effort.

Menopur Follistim Very little ganarelix was needed Started cycle after ovulation Ended up needing about 14 days of shots We upped the dosages since my ovaries responded slowly, and one of them responded faster than the other, which is why my retrieval count was lower than desired.

About 16k out of pocket

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Dr. Kim was great. I had a not so great result from the first cycle that we were both disappointed in. She was great at handling my concerns and explaining the next steps we could take. She answered all of my questions throughout my cycle and was great at navigating a complicated schedule. I was able to have amazing results for my second cycle.

I know there had been some recent changes where you might see Dr. Kim at every appointment I’d recommend communicating with the team if this brings any concerns. I had Dr.Kim a majority of the time, but if you see another doctor on a potential trigger date you can hear about the trigger later in day than would be ideal for planning purposes. If you are using their in home nurse partner make sure you communicate that with your team.

I had a pretty standard plan that was adjusted for the second cycle to slow down to encourage maturation at a similar pace since I had huge spread the first cycle.

I had Stork Insurance so I was only had to pay 2,000 about, plus in home nursing.

Not applicable.

Dr. Kim was very trustworthy and professional. She is clearly an expert in the fertility arena and I felt good with her at the helm. We got a great outcome, so happy overall! When I told her I didn't want antibiotics during my procedure, she explained the risks but allowed me to go that route anyways. Glad I did, it would have been unnecessary!

Come with your questions ready to go. She will answer anything but is hyper efficient and doesn't have much time.

I was on Follistim and Menopur. They ended up using more Follistim than is normal and less Menopur. Not really sure why, but the outcome was good so I guess they were right in doing so! I also only had one of the two trigger shots because they were worried about OHSS. I was nervous about giving myself injections but it really is much easier than it seems! The needles are super tiny and you don't feel them go in much.

Total cost when all was said and done was $12,800. $3700 of that was medication. I have about $600 worth of medicine left over, so will just give those a friend most likely.

I liked Dr. Kim from our first virtual meeting, we met with a few doctors before we chose which one we'd move forward with. She was direct, explained things to us and made sure we followed. She was based in sound science but gave us suggestions on things that might help. She was really like a partner in our process.

If you are looking for someone who will be really direct on what will and won't work- she's the right Dr. for you.

She walked me through the things I'd be up against with age and PCOS. She shared specific statistics for both me and my husband. She then walked us through the proposed plan for starting and then why she made changes in second round.

Unsure- my insurance covered

We didn't discuss

I recently (last Year) underwent the egg retrieval process with Dr. Joulia Kim, and I cannot express enough gratitude for the care and attention I received. Including accommodating the options around my travels. Dr. Julia Kim was kind, patient, and knowledgeable throughout the entire process. She took the time to answer all of my questions and made me feel comfortable every step of the way. I would highly recommend Dr. Julia Kim to anyone seeking fertility treatment.

Just go there and ask all the questions you have, she will be happily address all of them

I am not super young (37yo), but with Dr. Kim, we could quickly assess my condition with the first Ultrasound visit, and then we waited for my cycle to start the medications. It seemed like the regular protocol

do not rememeber

Dr. Kim is very professional, has good bedside manner, is easy to talk to, approachable, and also very knowledgeable. She put me at ease and I appreciated her positive but realistic & straightforward outlook / approach.

Julia is great!

I think my protocol was very standard, same with dosing. Dr. Kim had be start the IVF stimulation in the middle of my cycle vs. right when my period started since it yielded better results from her experience, it worked well for me.

We had insurance coverage for the first round, I think we paid ~$12k out of pocket.

I would send anyone I loved to her. She fully understood our goals, did not gaslight nor belittle me, spent time answering every single question I had. I loved her. I even asked her questions on behalf of friends going through similar treatments!

Keep it up!

I do not

I have progony to the costs were minimal.