Dr Rubal is a true ally when it comes to infertility...always treated us with respect and made me feel supported, heard and validated throughout the course of treatment...made an effort to reach out and check on me when things weren’t a positive outcome...made me feel like I was her most important patient...I could contact her and message her whenever...never made me feel like she didn’t have time, she was always very accommodating and empathetic. She never pressured me or pushed me to make a decision I did not feel comfortable with.
The clinic [Kaiser Permanente SoCal] is inside the main hospital building so it is very open to other departments, which does not provide much sensitivity or privacy for why you’re there. There are signs for “infertility” and chairs to wait outside, so it indicates to others patients what you’re issue may be, which is a little daunting...Some nurses could be a little more abrupt when responding to questions and would redirect or be dismissive.
How was your experience with Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Kaiser Permanente SoCal?
Dr Rubal is a true ally when it comes to infertility. She always treated us with respect and made me feel supported, heard and validated throughout the course of treatment. She made an effort to reach out and check on me when things weren’t a positive outcome. She always made me feel like I was her most important patient and that I could contact her and message her whenever and never made me feel like she didn’t have time, she was always very accommodating and empathetic. She never pressured me or pushed me to make a decision I did not feel comfortable with.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Kaiser Permanente SoCal?
Don’t be afraid to ask her questions, she will always support you and won’t make you feel less than.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Kaiser Permanente SoCal?
Dr Rubal treated me like I was her only patient. She took care to explain every process, every test, and even drew out diagrams to ensure we understood what she was telling us. She allowed us to ask questions and never rushed us out of her office. She always made it feel like we were welcomed to stay for hours.
Describe the protocols Lauren Alexandra Rubal used in your cycles at Kaiser Permanente SoCal and their degree of success.
During my first treatment cycle, we used Clomid, my lining did not do well with that form of treatment so she added in vaginal estrogen pills, which helped. She expressed that this may not have a positive outcome and encouraged us to save money by not doing IUI on a potentially compromised cycle. Our next 2 cycles we used menopur due to the thinned lining on clomid, did HCG trigger/ovidrel, and IUI. I was sent home with vaginal progesterone (endometrin). Our last cycle we used menopur, ovidrel, IUI and did progesterone in oil. We changed to the PIO per my request to ensure I was actually absorbing the progesterone because I did not like the vaginal suppositories.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Kaiser Permanente SoCal.
Most of my interactions were with the medical assistants and I had limited interactions with the nursing staff. Most interactions with nursing was via messages as opposed to patient care. At times, there were some more supportive - being more empathetic and understanding to questions or concerns. Some nurses could be a little more abrupt when responding to questions and would redirect or be dismissive.
Describe your experience with Kaiser Permanente SoCal.
The clinic is inside the main hospital building so it is very open to other departments, which does not provide much sensitivity or privacy for why you’re there. There are signs for “infertility” and chairs to wait outside, so it indicates to others patients what you’re issue may be, which is a little daunting.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Kaiser Permanente SoCal.
My care was covered 50% by insurance, my 3 cycles of medication and IUI with labs cost somewhere between $2500-3000.
The world needs more doctors like Dr. Rubal. She knows how to connect with her patients and create a safe feeling environment. She ensures you walk out of the appointment feeling confident and educated. ... Dr. Rubal is such a warm and genuine doctor. She walks in the room and wants to make a connection with her patients while creating the best plan of action. She always asked for our thoughts and feelings throughout the process.
The clinic [Kaiser Permanente SoCal] does an excellent job of getting you scheduled and keeping open various lines of communication. They are quick to call or email back and willing to work with your schedule. You know what your billing is up front and can take care of it right away when leaving. They are also very welcoming and friendly.
How was your experience with Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Kaiser Permanente SoCal?
The world needs more doctors like Dr. Rubal. She knows how to connect with her patients and create a safe feeling environment. She ensures you walk out of the appointment feeling confident and educated. Infertility can be scary but having her as our doctor made for a positive experience.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Kaiser Permanente SoCal?
Ask questions, she does an excellent jobs ensuring she answers any questions you have and makes herself available through email for any after thoughts or concerns once you have left your appointment.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Kaiser Permanente SoCal?
Dr. Rubal is such a warm and genuine doctor. She walks in the room and wants to make a connection with her patients while creating the best plan of action. She always asked for our thoughts and feelings throughout the process.
Describe the protocols Lauren Alexandra Rubal used in your cycles at Kaiser Permanente SoCal and their degree of success.
She watched my Menopur prescription closely changing the dosages as needed for optimal results leading up to our IUI. She kept a close watch on our follicle count and growth ensuring safety and making changes to the plan as needed.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Kaiser Permanente SoCal.
Dr.Rubal’s nursing staff is awesome. They have such positive attitudes and made you feel like they genuinely cared about what you were going through. When good results came in they showed excitement and it really added to our experience.
Describe your experience with Kaiser Permanente SoCal.
The clinic does an excellent job of getting you scheduled and keeping open various lines of communication. They are quick to call or email back and willing to work with your schedule. You know what your billing is up front and can take care of it right away when leaving. They are also very welcoming and friendly.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Kaiser Permanente SoCal.
Our insurance covered 50% of our office visits and procedures.
I could not have asked for a better doctor to help me on my fertility journey. She [Dr. Rubal] was incredibly knowledgeable and explained each procedure in detail so there were no surprises. She truly cares and considers each patient when creating a game plan for treatment. ... During my 6 cycles of IUI we did clomid and progesterone. Once we progressed to IVF we did clomid, hormone shots.
They [Reproductive Fertility Center] were clean and friendly. The whole staff was always helpful and the nurses were great at explaining how to administer the medication. They would go over it until you were comfortable doing it on your own. ... It cost around $30,000 for everything including egg retrieval, freezing for a few months, medication and embryo transfer ... They were caring and very responsive with emails.
How was your experience with Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Reproductive Fertility Center?
I could not have asked for a better doctor to help me on my fertility journey. She was incredibly knowledgeable and explained each procedure in detail so there were no surprises. She truly cares and considers each patient when creating a game plan for treatment. She is incredibly drywall oriented and I was always comfortable asking her questions and she welcomed them knowing that I was nervous and scared to be doing IVF. We are beyond grateful for having a doctor like her!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Reproductive Fertility Center?
Trust her, but don’t be afraid to ask questions even if you think they are ridiculous. Just know that she will always explain the process in great detail.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Reproductive Fertility Center?
She is genuinely caring about her patients, she takes the time to get to know you and really listens.
Describe the protocols Lauren Alexandra Rubal used in your cycles at Reproductive Fertility Center and their degree of success.
During my 6 cycles of IUI we did clomid and progesterone. Once we progressed to IVF we did clomid, hormone shots. Once we did the transfer I was doing progesterone suppositories as well as progesterone oil injections, blood thinner injections, baby aspirin and prednisone for 14 weeks.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Reproductive Fertility Center.
They were caring and very responsive with emails.
Describe your experience with Reproductive Fertility Center.
They were clean and friendly. The whole staff was always helpful and the nurses were great at explaining how to administer the medication. They would go over it until you were comfortable doing it on your own.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Reproductive Fertility Center.
It cost around $30,000 for everything including egg retrieval, freezing for a few months, medication and embryo transfer
Describe Lauren Alexandra Rubal's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Reproductive Fertility Center.
We decided to only transfer 1 of my eggs for several reasons. The potential for carrying multiples can create a difficult pregnancy, the babies could have been born too early. I was a already slightly over weight and it could have been more difficult for me gaining too much weight. We just decided to be conservative with it.
Dr. Rubal recommended that simply try again as the fibroids were large but not in a bad location. I was very stressed out and she talked me thru my anxiety and stress. She was supportive of me doing a few homeopathic things to help with my lining. We did a second FET and everything went great. Dr. Rubal even came in on her day off to do the transfer!! I so appreciated it. My pregnancy test came back positive but a bit weak. We did 2 more test which were positive...I had an immediate connection with Dr. Rubal and she made me feel like a friend. She had a genuine concern for me and my journey.
the staff [at Kaiser Permanente SoCal] was warm, welcoming, and professional...it was mostly the same 2 or 3 nurses the office is a bit more open there so there was a friendly face every visit...Kaiser's clinics are a bit sterile etc. but they are clean and well kept...I follow Dr. Rubal to the Reproductive Fertility Center to do IVF. I was very happy to be able to continue using Dr. Rubal and not having to change (Kaiser doesn't do IVF)...My Kaiser plan covered 50% and 50% of the medications. It was about $2000 with appointments and medication for the IUI...The hospital had everything you needed there for blood draws, medication, etc. which is really convenient.
How was your experience with Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Kaiser Permanente SoCal?
I could not have asked for a better experience. Dr. Rubal held my hand the whole way. I felt like she was there for me. The process is stressful on so many levels. She was a good listener. She was able to reassure me when I thought I'd made mistakes. She was patient with me when I had her paged at home because I was panicking about something. She was able to talk me thru pros and cons of different treatments. She was very good at making sure the treatment plan took into account the whole picture.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Kaiser Permanente SoCal?
She is very warm and outgoing. If you want to feel like you are getting help from a friend she's for you.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Kaiser Permanente SoCal?
I had an immediate connection with Dr. Rubal and she made me feel like a friend. She had a genuine concern for me and my journey. I was very nervous about my decision to have a baby on my own. I attribute a big part of my courage to continue on my journey to the welcome reception I received from Dr. Rubal and her patience and understanding. Her warm and welcoming attitude was mirrored by her nurse assistance and everyone she worked with. She really created a comforting environment.
Describe the protocols Lauren Alexandra Rubal used in your cycles at Kaiser Permanente SoCal and their degree of success.
Unfortunately, I've waited to do this review and I don't remember the specific protocols etc. I am/was older when I got started. I was intent on just doing it as "natural" as possible. Dr. Rubal was totally fine doing it that way. After one IUI it became apparent my cycle was incredible erratic and in the interest of saving money on office visit waiting for me to ovulate we started a medicated cycle. We used clomid and I think that was it. On my 3rd IUI we were a little more aggressive. After 3 IUI I was required to have a consultation. At the consultation Dr. Rubal was very honest and explain that based on my age it was recommended that I start trying IVF. However, she knew money was a big issue for me and also said that we could keep trying IUI (Once I started the process I had mentally decided I would try 5 times.) and she recommended some medications for that but I don't remember. While waiting for my next cycle I decided I wanted to do IVF. I follow Dr. Rubal to the Reproductive Fertility Center to do IVF. I was very happy to be able to continue using Dr. Rubal and not having to change (Kaiser doesn't do IVF). I had a very successful Egg Retrieval. However, my first FET was cancelled due to poor uterine lining. I was disappointed. The egg retrieval made my fibroids grow quite large and were of a size to be removed. I had 2 when I first went in they were fairly small I don't remember the numbers. After the egg retrieval they were close to 5mm (I am guessing on the number it has been a year and a half). It was recommend as a possibility to remove they to improve my chances of conceiving. My age and financial situation made that a very difficult situation. Dr. Rubal recommended that simply try again as the fibroids were large but not in a bad location. I was very stressed out and she talked me thru my anxiety and stress. She was supportive of me doing a few homeopathic things to help with my lining. We did a second FET and everything went great. Dr. Rubal even came in on her day off to do the transfer!! I so appreciated it. My pregnancy test came back positive but a bit weak. We did 2 more test which were positive.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Kaiser Permanente SoCal.
I worked with Dr. Rubal at Kaiser and at Reproductive Fertility Center. At both places the staff was warm, welcoming, and professional. At the Reproductive Fertility Center I did have one nurse as a point of contact via email and saw her most times but not all. At Kaiser it was mostly the same 2 or 3 nurses the office is a bit more open there so there was a friendly face every visit. Both places had amazing nurses and support staff. This department in Kaiser really uses the email system which is soooo great. I've been using Kaiser my whole life and the RE department has been the best so far at communication and quick response times.
Describe your experience with Kaiser Permanente SoCal.
Kaiser I really liked that they were so friendly, warm, and responsive. The major drawback being location. The facility is a distance from where I live. The hospital had everything you needed there for blood draws, medication, etc. which is really convenient.
I liked that although Kaiser does not provide IVF that you could get that service across the street using the same Dr. I would not have liked having to start a new relationship with a doctor half way thru.
Kaiser's clinics are a bit sterile etc. but they are clean and well kept.
Reproductive Fertility Center was a little more homey and decorated nicer. It was expensive and they could have done more to help you mitigate the cost of your medications. For example they pharmacy they use has a discount program but no one pointed it out to me and so I didn't know to apply. Also, they use just one pharmacy and automatically put the prescriptions in. Somethings are available cheaper at Costco. They made it hard to comparison shop. It would only be an issue if you are paying out of pocket like me. (Kaiser I was covered) Otherwise the pharmacy was great just not the cheapest.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Kaiser Permanente SoCal.
My Kaiser plan covered 50% and 50% of the medications. It was about $2000 with appointments and medication for the IUI.
Describe Lauren Alexandra Rubal's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at Kaiser Permanente SoCal.
At my age at the time of transfer (42) I think it is sometimes recommended that you transfer 2 at the same time. Dr. Rubal said they were planning on just doing one and she felt that was the best coarse of action. After genetic testing I only had 2 embryos left of 11, so I felt if it didn't work having another egg to try again would be better. Also, I did a little research and found that while having 2 transfers upped your chances of becoming pregnant it did not increase your chance of carrying to a live birth. Lastly, as a single mom by choice I wanted to limit my chances of multiples.
It was originally recommended that we do IVF in order to conceive. However, we could not financially do that at the time. So we decided to complete rounds of IUI since it was covered by insurance. We did 2 rounds, which were unsuccessful. Dr. Rubal was aggressive, but cautious with my medications and timing of the IUI. She walked us through each stage of the process and was always positive with our treatment path. We took a few years off and went back to her this year. She remembered me right away upon coming back and was excited to get us on another IUI cycle right away
When the clinic did IVF, I was quoted $12,000-$18,000. But, Kaiser no longer performs IVF...he only thing I would say was negative was that they recently moved to a new facility which does not have a lab that sends blood to them. When I need blood drawn, I need to go to the Kaiser hospital which is about 20 minutes away...It was originally recommended that we do IVF in order to conceive. However, we could not financially do that at the time. So we decided to complete rounds of IUI since it was covered by insurance. We did 2 rounds, which were unsuccessful. Dr. Rubal was aggressive, but cautious with my medications and timing of the IUI.
How was your experience with Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Kaiser Permanente SoCal?
Dr. Rubal is very personable. I always felt comfortable talking to her about personal details. I also felt she really listened and did everything she could to help us conceive. Dr. Rubal took the time to really get to know us and our situation. She shared her knowledge and was always honest with us throughout our treatment path. When we ran into a bump in the road, she would deliver the news gently and then come up with a plan to overcome. She helped us deal at ease through the process, which was comforting with the stress on infertility.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Kaiser Permanente SoCal?
As hard as it can be, don’t stress yourself out. Stress can cause additional problems. Stay positive, enjoy life, and be patient with the process.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Kaiser Permanente SoCal?
Dr. Rubal always gave me information that related specifically to me and my current situation. She was very knowledgeable and always gave me the best option. Dr. Rubal was sympathetic to our struggles and went above and beyond to help us in our fertility journey.
Describe the protocols Lauren Alexandra Rubal used in your cycles at Kaiser Permanente SoCal and their degree of success.
It was originally recommended that we do IVF in order to conceive. However, we could not financially do that at the time. So we decided to complete rounds of IUI since it was covered by insurance. We did 2 rounds, which were unsuccessful. Dr. Rubal was aggressive, but cautious with my medications and timing of the IUI. She walked us through each stage of the process and was always positive with our treatment path. We took a few years off and went back to her this year. She remembered me right away upon coming back and was excited to get us on another IUI cycle right away. This last cycle she went a little more aggressive with the dosage of my infections to get better results, and we did! She recommended I transition to an IVF cycle because I had such a high reaction to the dosage. She then went around calling clinics on. Saturday for me so that I wouldn’t lose the results of my cycle.
Describe your experience with Kaiser Permanente SoCal.
Kaiser has been great with me. My insurance covers all IUI treatment costs, so that may help with my opinion of them. The only thing I would say was negative was that they recently moved to a new facility which does not have a lab that sends blood to them. When I need blood drawn, I need to go to the Kaiser hospital which is about 20 minutes away.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Kaiser Permanente SoCal.
All IUI cycles were covered by my insurance. When the clinic did IVF, I was quoted $12,000-$18,000. But, Kaiser no longer performs IVF.
She [Dr. Lauren Rubal] has been incredible to work with. She's always very thorough and takes the time to answer all my questions. She's very cautious when developing treatment plans and I truly feel like she always has my best interest in mind. Infertility is a long, hard journey but having the right doctor on my side has made it a little easier. She follows new studies and research and always has new insights to offer. I've seen 3 other infertility doctors and she is by far the best which is why i'm willing to travel 1.5 hours to see her. I highly recommend her to anyone struggling with infertility.
The clinic [Kaiser Permanente SoCal] has a great program in place. They are affordable, the facilities are clean and the pharmacy always has the medications I need for my treatment. I also love that they offer Saturday appointments and very early morning appointments so I can go in before work without affecting my schedule too much...The nursing staff is very nice and compassionate. They are quick to return emails and are accommodating when scheduling appointments.
How was your experience with Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Kaiser Permanente SoCal?
have been treated by Dr. Rubal for about two years. She has been incredible to work with. She's always very thorough and takes the time to answer all my questions. She's very cautious when developing treatment plans and I truly feel like she always has my best interest in mind. Infertility is a long, hard journey but having the right doctor on my side has made it a little easier. She follows new studies and research and always has new insights to offer. I've seen 3 other infertility doctors and she is by far the best which is why i'm willing to travel 1.5 hours to see her. I highly recommend her to anyone struggling with infertility.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Kaiser Permanente SoCal?
Feel free to ask a lot of questions and let her know if you have any concerns so she can address them. She's always very thorough and happy to provide insight.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Kaiser Permanente SoCal?
have been treated by Dr. Rubal for about two years. She has been incredible to work with. She's always very thorough and takes the time to answer all my questions. She's very cautious when developing treatment plans and I truly feel like she always has my best interest in mind. Infertility is a long, hard journey but having the right doctor on my side has made it a little easier. She follows new studies and research and always has new insights to offer. I've seen 3 other infertility doctors and she is by far the best which is why i'm willing to travel 1.5 hours to see her. I highly recommend her to anyone struggling with infertility.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Kaiser Permanente SoCal.
The nursing staff is very nice and compassionate. They are quick to return emails and are accommodating when scheduling appointments.
Describe your experience with Kaiser Permanente SoCal.
The clinic has a great program in place. They are affordable, the facilities are clean and the pharmacy always has the medications I need for my treatment. I also love that they offer Saturday appointments and very early morning appointments so I can go in before work without affecting my schedule too much.
I appreciate that although she has several patients, that she knows where we've left off, and what our plan is moving forward. I also saw Dr. Rubal at almost every single one of my ultrasounds during my two IUI cycles. There was only one time that I saw a different doctor...I appreciated the way Dr. Rubal explained everything to my husband and I at our initial consultation. From there, each time we met, I always felt like she answered all my questions, and gave me clear plans on where we should go next, without feeling forced that it was our only plan of action. I still felt like it was my decision to make for each part of the process, with a clear and understandable plan and guidance on what we should do.
Although you primarily see the same nurses [at Kaiser Permanente], everyone is so friendly and helpful. Anytime I had a question, I would email through my online portal, and always got a response within 24 hours...I took a break after my second failed IUI, and thankfully so, it was good timing because I was told that they are no longer able to help patients during this time as they are completely overwhelmed with patients. I am currently still waiting for my cycle to begin, but I'm not sure if they are able to take patients (current or new) at this time still. I really hope that I will be able to continue working with Dr. Rubal if we choose to do another IUI.
How was your experience with Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Kaiser Permanente SoCal?
I appreciated the way Dr. Rubal explained everything to my husband and I at our initial consultation. From there, each time we met, I always felt like she answered all my questions, and gave me clear plans on where we should go next, without feeling forced that it was our only plan of action. I still felt like it was my decision to make for each part of the process, with a clear and understandable plan and guidance on what we should do. I liked that I actually saw Dr. Rubal on every single one of my appointments, except one ultrasound. I was told I may see different doctors during my IUI cycles because I was going in for ultrasounds so frequently.
During my first IUI procedure, I was really nervous, not really knowing what to expect. Dr. Rubal made it very comfortable, by explaining exactly what she was doing, and walking me through the process. There were no surprises and made the process very comfortable. Dr. Rubal really knows what she's doing, and even though we haven't gotten pregnant yet, I really like working with Dr. Rubal.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Kaiser Permanente SoCal?
Don't be afraid to ask questions if you have any.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Kaiser Permanente SoCal?
I always feel like Dr. Rubal knows exactly who I am, where we are in my plan, and where we are going. I appreciate that although she has several patients, that she knows where we've left off, and what our plan is moving forward. I also saw Dr. Rubal at almost every single one of my ultrasounds during my two IUI cycles. There was only one time that I saw a different doctor, when I was told that I may see different doctors throughout my cycle for my scans.
Describe the protocols Lauren Alexandra Rubal used in your cycles at Kaiser Permanente SoCal and their degree of success.
My case being a bit unique, I appreciated that Dr. Rubal looked into what would be the best protocol for me specifically. Although I am only 30, I never felt like she categorized me as "you're so young, you'll be fine" or anything of that nature. She took me seriously, and allowed me to be my own advocate.
With my history of elevated LFTs, we jumped straight to an all injections round for IUI instead of using clomid or letrazole which could have irritated/inflammed my liver further. After months of working on getting my LFTs to stabilize, we used menopur (1-3 vials/night) to get my follicles to mature. Each cycle (we did 2), the plan was "slow & steady". With having PCOS, I have no shortage of follicles, and we wanted to be sure we didn't over stimulate. My first IUI cycle, I had 1 mature follicle before trigger, and the second IUI cycle, I had 2 (almost 3) mature follicles before trigger. Each cycle, I had a hard time thickening my lining, and therefore that could have been a reason for no implantation, but can't be certain.
Although I didn't get pregnant from either cycle, I am aware of the percentage of success with IUI and therefore we are contemplating doing another IUI or moving onto IVF.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at Kaiser Permanente SoCal.
All the nurses are wonderful at this facility! Although you primarily see the same nurses, everyone is so friendly and helpful. Anytime I had a question, I would email through my online portal, and always got a response within 24 hours. While Dr. Rubal was out on maternity leave, I was still able to contact the nurses to get in touch with the other doctors who were filling in for her, and I didn't feel like there was a lapse in treatment. Although I didn't seek much treatment during her leave, due to waiting for my cycle to start, anytime I reached out to the nursing staff with questions, I always got a response on what I should do.
I especially loved the receptionist, Elizabeth, who was always so friendly and kind, and easy to work with. When you're really nervous, checking into the "INFERTILITY DEPARTMENT" can be a bit overwhelming, and even more nerve wracking. Elizabeth always has a smile on her face, and remembered my name and made me feel welcomed and like a friend.
Describe your experience with Kaiser Permanente SoCal.
I started seeking treatment in August of 2018, and each time I had an appointment, I checked in 15 minutes early, and was always seen on time and there was hardly a wait.
Through my first IUI cycle, in June 2019-July 2019, the response was still very quick, and wait times were minimal, with my ultrasound appointments only being 5-10 minutes at most. This was helpful, since my ultrasounds were early in the morning, before jetting to work and trying to get to work on time.
During my second cycle, patients from another Kaiser facility were sent to the Kaiser Irvine facility while one of the doctors was out of the office, and the office really became crowded and flooded in with patients. The wait times after check-in became longer, and the wait times in the rooms became longer as well. Sometimes, the wait was 45 minutes to an hour before being seen by the doctor. It became more overwhelming when one of the doctors left in August.
I took a break after my second failed IUI, and thankfully so, it was good timing because I was told that they are no longer able to help patients during this time as they are completely overwhelmed with patients. I am currently still waiting for my cycle to begin, but I'm not sure if they are able to take patients (current or new) at this time still. I really hope that I will be able to continue working with Dr. Rubal if we choose to do another IUI.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Kaiser Permanente SoCal.
My insurance only covers 50% of infertility (no coverage on IVF), so my copays were about $160 and meds were still very expensive.
Dr. Rubal was my first Reproductive Endocrinologist. I've suffered multiple miscarriages and was FINALLY referred to a specialist. She has been absolutely amazing. She has explained her course of action, the reasons for it and every risk and possible outcome along the way. Ive cried in her office and she has made me feel hope again.... We were investigating recurrent miscarriage. We first did all the usual blood work. Second made sure my tubes werent blocked and that my uterus was normal shape using a saline sonogram.
I went to Kaiser which does not cover any fertility treatments but did cover my recurrent miscarriage.... [Nurse] Every time I emailed the office with a concern I got an email back that same day or a phone call right away. I know her by name now.... We had several one on one visits [with Dr. Rubel]. I sat her in office and we went deep into detail about what was going on with me and how I was feeling. She was so informative and reassuring
How was your experience with Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Kaiser Permanente SoCal?
Dr. Rubal was my first Reproductive Endocrinologist. I've suffered multiple miscarriages and was FINALLY referred to a specialist. She has been absolutely amazing. She has explained her course of action, the reasons for it and every risk and possible outcome along the way. Ive cried in her office and she has made me feel hope again. We are still working on my rainbow baby but I have faith in Dr. Rubal.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Kaiser Permanente SoCal?
Tell her everything you are concerned about. Do not be afraid to email her office.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Kaiser Permanente SoCal?
We had several one on one visits. I sat her in office and we went deep into detail about what was going on with me and how I was feeling. She was so informative and reassuring but never gave me false expectations. Anytime I emailed her office with any concern one of her nurses would email or call me right away and set up an appointment for me to come in to speak to the doctor or answer any questions or concerns I had. Ive never felt like a number.
Describe the protocols Lauren Alexandra Rubal used in your cycles at Kaiser Permanente SoCal and their degree of success.
We were investigating recurrent miscarriage. We first did all the usual blood work. Second made sure my tubes werent blocked and that my uterus was normal shape using a saline sonogram. When she suspected a bicornate uterus or scarring we then did a hysteroscopy. She wanted to remove and scarring before I tried to get pregnant again. When the hysteroscopy showed my uterus was nomal she prescribed progesterone and aspirin to start the next time I get a positive pregnancy test. She also referred me to another specialist to figure out what can be done about my endometriosis pain.
Describe your experience with your nurse at Kaiser Permanente SoCal. (Assigned nurse: Sorrell)
Every time I emailed the office with a concern I got an email back that same day or a phone call right away. I know her by name now.
Describe your experience with Kaiser Permanente SoCal.
I went to Kaiser which does not cover any fertility treatments but did cover my recurrent miscarriage. I dont think kaiser covers any fertility treatments which is an issue with our health care system in general
Describe the costs associated with your care under Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Kaiser Permanente SoCal.
I pay $430 a month for health insurance through kaiser. No fertility treatments are covered or offered. My recurrent pregnancy loss was investigate. My copays were $30 each time I saw the doctor
She [Dr. Rubal] was unavailable to answer questions, told me I needed surgery to remove large ovarian cyst and she would find me a well fit surgeon but then left on vacation for 2 weeks without telling me. Never followed up regarding my surgery for cyst removal. Through the 10 plus appointments, she always seemed to be pushing me out the door, rather than truly explaining my case and options to me.
The communication between the Doctors and staff is not the greatest, thus leaving the patient to have to advocate and explain personal situation frequently. On some day's this left me feeling like a number rather than a human. In Kaiser, you have to deal with each department separately, and they do not all communicate together which makes it very difficult to navigate...they would neglect to follow up regarding HSG tests or scheduled appointments.
How was your experience with Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Kaiser Permanente SoCal?
Dr Rubal is very caring and empathetic to the difficulties of infertility treatments. She is candid about the risks and potential negatives of each course of treatment. On the weaknesses, Dr Rubal threw climid at me even though she explained there was less than 5% chance it would work. Dr Rubal informed me that I needed to get another cyst removed before moving forward, but did not discuss what would come next after my cyst removal. Dr Rubal also neglected to follow up and be along with the symptoms I was experiencing due to a 7 inch cyst. I inquired about freezing eggs due to risk of losing my one and only ovary left prior to my surgery. Dr Rubal informed me there "was no way" which was very unsettling without fully understanding why there was "no way" to freeze eggs.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Kaiser Permanente SoCal?
Advocate for yourself, tell her how you are feeling and what you need.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Kaiser Permanente SoCal?
She was unavailable to answer questions, told me I needed surgery to remove large ovarian cyst and she would find me a well fit surgeon but then left on vacation for 2 weeks without telling me. Never followed up regarding my surgery for cyst removal. Through the 10 plus appointments, she always seemed to be pushing me out the door, rather than truly explaining my case and options to me.
Describe the protocols Lauren Alexandra Rubal used in your cycles at Kaiser Permanente SoCal and their degree of success.
HSG test (3 times) too see if tube is blocked
2 ovarian cyst removal surgeries
2 rounds of clomid
- 1 at 50 mg
-1 at 100 mg
both she only followed up via email and I never stepped foot into her office during the rounds of clomid
Describe your experience with Kaiser Permanente SoCal.
There are very few options through Kaiser's Reproductive Endocrine department. I believe there are only 2 doctors to choose from and the department is severely impacted. The communication between the Doctors and staff is not the greatest, thus leaving the patient to have to advocate and explain personal situation frequently. On some day's this left me feeling like a number rather than a human. In Kaiser, you have to deal with each department separately, and they do not all communicate together which makes it very difficult to navigate.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Kaiser Permanente SoCal.
Most was covered through insurance benefits. We had a 15 dollar co-pay for each visit. My HSG tests had no co-pay, and my surgeries had 15 dollar copay
What specific things went wrong at Kaiser Permanente SoCal?
Lost appointments
Provided conflicting information
Failed to convey critical information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at Kaiser Permanente SoCal.
Dr Rubal would inform me that her front desk/nurses would follow up with me and they would neglect to follow up regarding HSG tests or scheduled appointments.
She [Dr. Lauren Rubal] has been very helpful in our fertility journey. She meticulously explains every steps of the treatment plan and respects the decision we make, not forcing us to do procedures that we felt we’re not ready. She has a positive vibe that’s infectious and also has the gentlest hand in performing TV ultrasound...[protocol included] Clomiphene Menopur Ovidrel...she's sweet and exudes positivity in a challenging time. She meticulously explains every steps of the treatment plan and respects the decision we make, not forcing us to do procedures that we felt we're not ready. Second, she has the gentlest hand in performing ultrasound and doing pelvic examinations. Third, she's just a call-away every time we have questions.
350 USD per consult...550 for Femvue study...1850 Ovulation package [costs at Dr. Rubal's office]...Clinic is shared with other doctors. Strength: lots of parking space, comfortable couches, wide TV-Ultrasound screen. Weakness: small space in the ultrasound area, no personnel during the weekends, and personnels tend to get busy...She [Dr. Lauren Rubal] has been very helpful in our fertility journey. She meticulously explains every steps of the treatment plan and respects the decision we make, not forcing us to do procedures that we felt we’re not ready. She has a positive vibe that’s infectious and also has the gentlest hand in performing TV ultrasound...[protocol included] Clomiphene Menopur Ovidrel...she's sweet and exudes positivity in a challenging time. She meticulously explains every steps of the treatment plan and respects the decision we make, not forcing us to do procedures
How was your experience with Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Lauren Rubal, M.D. (closed)?
Dr. Lauren is gorgeous, inside and out.She has been very helpful in our fertility journey. She meticulously explains every steps of the treatment plan and respects the decision we make, not forcing us to do procedures that we felt we’re not ready. She has a positive vibe that’s infectious and also has the gentlest hand in performing TV ultrasound.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Lauren Rubal, M.D. (closed)?
First of all, she's sweet and exudes positivity in a challenging time. She meticulously explains every steps of the treatment plan and respects the decision we make, not forcing us to do procedures that we felt we're not ready. Second, she has the gentlest hand in performing ultrasound and doing pelvic examinations.
Third, she's just a call-away every time we have questions.
Describe the protocols Lauren Alexandra Rubal used in your cycles at Lauren Rubal, M.D. (closed) and their degree of success.
Clomiphene
Menopur
Ovidrel
Describe your experience with Lauren Rubal, M.D. (closed).
Clinic is shared with other doctors. Strength: lots of parking space, comfortable couches, wide TV-Ultrasound screen. Weakness: small space in the ultrasound area, no personnel during the weekends, and personnels tend to get busy.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Lauren Rubal, M.D. (closed).
350 USD per consult
550 for Femvue study
1850 Ovulation package
What specific things went wrong at Lauren Rubal, M.D. (closed)?
Dr. Rubal is the most kind, considerate, warm, compassionate physician. From the minute I met her, i could tell that she is fully invested in her patients and they always come first. She is one of a kind and her passion for her profession is unparalleled...She looks at patients as a whole and digs deep to find a diagnosis before she starts any treatment. She has so much knowledge about infertility and she takes any amount of time you need to address your questions or concerns and she is extremely responsive when you need to speak to her.
Dr. Rubal will see you at every visit and she will give you her undivided time and attention. She does not leave any question answered. She also does not skip any steps. She makes to thoroughly do all diagnostic work up before proposing a treatment plan. Each plan is tailored to the patient's needs...If you are struggling with infertility or want to learn more about your fertility, Dr. Rubal is an outstanding physician.
How was your experience with Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Lauren Rubal, M.D. (closed)?
If you are experiencing infertility or have any questions about conception, don't look any further. Dr. Rubal is one of the most intelligent, passionate, and experienced physicians I have met. She looks at patients as a whole and digs deep to find a diagnosis before she starts any treatment. She has so much knowledge about infertility and she takes any amount of time you need to address your questions or concerns and she is extremely responsive when you need to speak to her. She is also extremely honest and trustworthy. She will always explain all your options and the riska/benefits of each. I am so grateful to have found her and received care from her.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Lauren Rubal, M.D. (closed)?
If you are struggling with infertility or want to learn more about your fertility, Dr. Rubal is an outstanding physician.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Lauren Alexandra Rubal at Lauren Rubal, M.D. (closed)?
Dr. Rubal is the most kind, considerate, warm, compassionate physician. From the minute I met her, i could tell that she is fully invested in her patients and they always come first. She is one of a kind and her passion for her profession is unparalleled.
Describe the protocols Lauren Alexandra Rubal used in your cycles at Lauren Rubal, M.D. (closed) and their degree of success.
Letrozole in conjunction with Menopur and HCG trigger. Dr. Rubal helped synchronize my follicles
Describe your experience with Lauren Rubal, M.D. (closed).
Dr. Rubal will see you at every visit and she will give you her undivided time and attention. She does not leave any question answered. She also does not skip any steps. She makes to thoroughly do all diagnostic work up before proposing a treatment plan. Each plan is tailored to the patient's needs.